Slug Bug?

"I saw a race car slug bug!" ~Henri

All You Need Is...

I was just walking around singing "All you need is love, love... love is all you need."


Henri stopped me by saying "Uh-uh.... all you need is food and water."

He thought that was funny ;)

(Admittedly, he does have a point.)

Not Bad Words

I'm not sure what has been going on lately with my kids and bad language.

At dinner tonight, we were talking about "bad words" and Chase says, "Why did people even make bad words up?" I explained to them that it's not necessarily the fact that a "word" is bad, but more so the meaning placed on the word. For instance, someone could've made up Sloppy Joe and it could have been coined as a bad word.

Then Chase chimes in and says, "Yeah, but there are words that aren't even bad. Like shit. Shit is definitely not a bad word, because if you step in dog poop... you might say, 'Aw, shit I just stepped in dog poop.' See that's not bad." (I immediately covered my face) Then Claire added her two cents about what isn't bad (Damn) and then Henri his....he took the more appropriate route by saying "poop is better to use than shit." Nice.

All the while, I was in the midst of holding back laughter because they were SO serious.

Of course, I'm finding it rather funny that they are trying to justify this all at 7, 5, and 3... because I once did the same. Only when I was in middle school... my English teacher didn't like the way I made my cursive f's. She counted a spelling word wrong, and I said out loud, "That's a bunch of crap." She told me not to use bad language in her class... to which I replied, "Crap??? Crap's not a bad word."

Hmmm... for the most part the words they learned didn't come from me (nope... that's ALL Aaron... ok... and maybe Kanye... and a few other artists), but the justifications are all me :)


Come to think of it... here's where Claire got damn:

Mom Gave Names to All Her Children

I've always said it, "Bob Dylan is an amazing song writer, but I just can't listen to him sing." Claire's new favorite song is "Man Gave Names to all the Animals," of course, redone by Jason Mraz. If you don't know what I'm talking about check it out here.

So yesterday, Claire was taking an after school nap on her floor. Trying desperately to wake her up after about an hour, I started singing a new version.... which of course, she thought was funny and drove her mad at the same time. So here it is...

"Mom saw a girl laying on the floor

She slept so much, that she started to snore.

Couldn't see much, just a lot of hair.

She said, 'I...... I think I'll call her Claire.

Mom saw a boy sitting on the ground,

had so many toys that he couldn't be found.

She tried to get him to look her in the face.

She said, 'I..... I think I'll call him Chase.

Mom saw a boy that was super cute.

He liked to eat vegies and lots fruit.

And on his backpack was Bumble Bee.

She said, 'I....I'm gonna call that one Henri."

Different Perspectives

After I picked up Claire and Chase from school, Claire asked why Henri doesn't eat lunch at his school and began a conversation about why Henri should want to go to school. With that came 3 very different opinions on school.

Claire-- "School's FUN!!"

Chase-- "School's boring."

Henri-- "School STINKS!"

It's Over

Well, it's official. Friday was Henri's last day of his 3 year old preschool class. After a weekend of deliberation and his reaction as we went to leave for school this morning... we made the decision to withdraw him from preschool. While it's not the child I expected to want to stay home... I guess I'll be homeschooling after all.

Heartbreaker

Since Henri started preschool, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday have been the same. He always asks me "Where we going?" and as soon as I tell him "school".... he starts crying and telling me about how he doesn't want to go to school. Of course, I try my hardest to comfort him and tell him about all of the fun things he's going to do while he's there and even reassure him that I will stay for a little and play with him... but nothing I say or do helps.

So today, for the 6th time, I took Henri to school. He stays pretty close to me and keeps an eye on what I'm doing. I watch him play play-doe and help him get situated, but then there's the moment when he realizes that I'm going to leave. He suddenly becomes very clingy. I hold him and love him and tell him all the things he needs to hear. As I attempt to leave...Holding him, I try to pass him off to his teacher... only to have him hold tighter. Arms around my neck crying... "I don't want go school." I pry his fingers apart and hand him to his teacher. Screaming and crying... arms reaching for me... he looks at me in despair and desperation. I give him a kiss and tell him I'll be back.

I cry because I don't want to go... I don't want him to cry... I want to take him with me... and make it right. Only thing is... I'm not sure what is right.

Who Did It???

As we were getting the kids ready for bed last night, I walked into Claire's room to see Henri standing next to Claire's refrigerator holding a green marker. Her refrigerator had green marker ALL over it.

I say, "Henri! Did you do that? Who did that?"

Henri replies, "It no me, Chase."

Of course, with him holding the marker in his hand, I say, "Don't lie. Who colored on Claire's refrigerator??"

Again, he says, "I didn't do it. Chase."

With that, I called Chase into Claire's room (Claire is standing by quiet this whole time.). "Chase, did you do that?" I ask knowing full and well that my 7 year old knows not to do that. Of course, he answers while in shock of what he's seen, "No."

I turn around to blame Henri again then I see marker on the top of Claire's dresser. I'm beyond livid and at the time can't believe that Henri hasn't fessed up. THEN, I sit down on Claire's bed and see the side of her dresser. Now I should've taken a picture... but I was in the moment.

I said, "Claire!?? It was YOU!!! Why would you color all over everything???"

Her response, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

The whole side of her dresser was covered in words that she could write like: mom, dad, chase, and lots of "Claire hieroglyphic letters". After using baking soda and remembering that days earlier I went against my eco-ways and bought Magic Erasers... the marker finally came off.

Two First Days

This morning, Henri had his first day at preschool. We've been talking about it for awhile and the past week, I tried to "prep" him as much as I could for what was going to happen. Before we left the house, he told me that he was "scared". I stayed with him in his class for about 20 minutes and had to leave to take Chase his snack at school. Henri wasn't ready for it. He cried and cried.... it made my heart break. After about 15 minutes, I called to check on him. They said he was calming down. Thank goodness. I, then, for the first time in years went shopping by MYSELF. It was nice. When the time came to pick up Henri from school, I got on my bike and rode up to get him. He was the first one out and he looked so whooped. He was happy, but he just looked sad in his eyes. We hopped on the bike and he said, "Don't go too fast for me.". At that point, I'd do anything he asked... just want my happy, P&V Henri back. We had lots of fun on our bike ride and he told me "I love you" a million times... which hasn't stopped all day.

After Henri and I picked up Claire and Chase from school, Claire had dance. Based on how she ended dance this summer (bad attitude), I was nervous whether or not she would take the classes. I was happily surprised to see her walk right into the class and participate with great enthusiasm!! After her ballet and tap, she asked if she could stay for the jazz class. The boys (well, mainly Chase) were spent after 2 hours of being at the dance studio. But, Claire had lots of fun dancing with Miss Christy and meeting some new friends.

Tuesday's Fortune

Whenever we go to the mall at lunch, it's inevitable that we eat Chinese (and Chick-fil-A for Claire and Henri). Aaron and I have become accustomed to giving our fortune cookies away to the kids. More than the cookie they get excited about the little piece of paper inside. This time even more so, since they had fortune cookies on "The Penguins of Madagascar".

Now whatever Chase and Claire's fortunes were... I can't remember except for the fact that they both said, "I don't get it" and "that doesn't even make sense."

But then I read Henri's to them: The night life is for you.

And they both responded, "Oh, yeah. That's so true."