Wednesday, November 24, 2010

toothpaste trick

I was trying to get the boys in bed this evening and beginning to show signs of impatience. I fixed the covers just right for the smallest one. I reminded the largest one to keep his head on his pillow and whisper, I fixed the covers again and offered more reminders. Then headed to the bathroom to check on the middle sized boy. He was sitting, slumping, frowning on the bench looking down at his tooth brush. I asked him what was wrong. "This tooth paste tastes bad" He answered. I assured him that we could fix the problem and asked him to show me which toothpaste he had used. He explained to me that tucker had put the toothpaste on his toothbrush for him while he was getting his pajamas on. I smelled the toothbrush. Soap. I then interrogated tucker as to what exactly he had put on his brothers toothbrush. He initially tried to convince me it was toothpaste but as soon as I mentioned the smell of soap he admitted he had in fact put liquid hand soap on the toothbrush. Now I can see how this could be a harmless practical joke, however I was already showing signs of impatience and then seeing The middle sized boy with such a sorrowful look on his sweet face and the redness and tears building in his tired eyes I sent the largest boy to his room. Cared for the middle sized boy and cleaned his toothbrush of all soap. I then summoned the Largest boy to my bedroom where I had a few quick words with him about his middle sized brothers feelings and then sent him on his way to make it right. He offered his apology. But I could tell by his response that the middle one was still hurt. So I helped him explain to the largest one how it actually made him feel. Then the largest one began to explain that he had intended it as a joke, and sincerely thought that the middle one would taste it and spit and spit and laugh and spit some more and laugh some more. With the explanation of the intention of this prank both boys began to giggle and laugh. I smiled and left them to enjoy the moment with each other and realized how these small moments of communication really make our home a happier place. Then I straightened the covers once More for the littlest one, and kissed them all good night.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Dear T-Dog


A note to Tucker from a good friend. I found this recently and am still baffled by it.

actual coversation 11-12-2010

As I walk across the kitchen with a bowl of peeled apples it begins..................

R: What are we gonna make? we could either make apple pie or
F: chicken pie
R: No, we could either make apple pie or
F: chicken pie
R: no we could either make
T: Chicken pie
R: No! We could
T: make chicken pie and apple pie
L: Rollin come in here so you tell me what you'd like to make
R: well there are a few things I'd like to make, apple pie, apple sauce, apple juice or apple bread. So can we?

fairies

I was mesmerized by by the dust dancing in the sunlight, "look boys, dust fairies". "Those aren't fairies" Tucker said. "yes they are, they are just so tiny we cant see their wings" I explained. "There is no such thing as fairies" He protested. Rollin spoke up "yes there is Tucker. There's the Tooth Fairy". Tucker thought for a moment and said, "Well yeah there's the tooth fairy, but theTooth Fairy has proof." "proof?" I asked "have you seen the layer of fairy dust on everything in the house?" "yeah, but that's not good, it's not a good thing" he said. I Explained "well we might not really care for the dust but if we happened to be a dust fairies it would be our favorite thing." Satisfied. They smiled and skipped away.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

mid night ramblings

Fynn often comes to get in bed with me in the middle of the night or early morn, but last night he was particularly verbal. He literally curled up next to me as said "I'm Told" so I pulled the covers up over his little naked body. He refuses to wear pajamas. He immediately kicked them all off and grumbled "I don't want tovers". I fell right back to sleep, then woke again to his whiny request "I'm told I need tovers". I covered him and fell back to sleep once more. I flipped over and Turned toward Thadeus who was on my other side. Then Fynn woke me again, once more irritated, he explained "youw haiw is in my face, I need you to have youw eyes facing wight towawd me". So we shifted around a bit and I turned to face him. He scooched closer until our noses were almost touching. I fell asleep, and awoke once more when he demanded "stop bwowing youw aiuh on me". I tried to back away from him a bit and aim my nose so that the air would not flow in his direction. taking special care to keep my eyes facing right toward him. I fell asleep once more. The next thing to wake me was Thadeus' alarm rythmically beeping at 4 something. Then I heard the random noises of his morning routine. Rocking back and forth between sleep and wake. Then I heard the distinct "doodby daddy" from the little naked boy next to me. we slept again for a bit. Then as soon as the sunpeeked it's first ray of light our way, request for breakfast, and cereal and pizza began, and talk of the day ahead. Also a bit of whining for still being "told" but not wanting "tovers".

Thursday, November 4, 2010

No time for reading

I have been waiting all day to read to the boys. It would seem Everyday I start out thinking I will read to them in the evening when things slow down a bit. But everyday when I mention it is time for a story they instantly break into an imaginary game of this or that and I find that I don't have the heart to stop it. Currently there is a battle between a Short Face bear (Tuck) and a Sloth (Fynn) and another Short Faced bear (Rollin). Every move is so carefully orchestrated, every sound is planned, intermissions occur only for rest or to plan the next act. It seems their imaginations are nocturnal. I suppose that means morning would be a better time to read and be still, but I somehow feel that it will still be a challenge.