They Hook You Before They Morph Into Attitude Mongers

Just for the record:

I don't think I'm going to survive having six teenagers.

Already I hear myself saying, "watch your attitude," 25 times a day.

Realistically I'll have a house chalk full of teenagers until the year 2024.

It's only 2013 and I'm already exhausted by it.

I suppose that's why they come in such cute packages.

To make sure you're good and hooked on them before they morph.

Enough to get you through until they're adults and saying such things as, "gosh Mom, you were so right."

Also, if you find you have a tangled slinky that just won't come undone, it can then be used as a princess crown.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle folks.

During church yesterday I was listening and feeling all and all good about life when Cali leans in and starts whispering loudly about something or other.

"Cali, I'm trying to listen to what's being said right now."

"Okay...

I'll just draw cheese."

And she totally did.

For the whole meeting.

See?  They hook you before they morph into attitude mongers.

It's a good thing.

Little Stories

Is it bad that I've stashed the hot chocolate where The Circus can't see it?

Is it bad that I drink a mug of it every night before bed, after they've already been tucked in?

Because it's mint.  And chocolate.  And warm after working all day.

And it's Stephen's, which means if you just cover up the "en" it has my name on it, so by all means, I have the right to stash that stuff out of sight.

Right?

Also, when you start out a work email in your department about a notice for the road being repaved outside your building, and the replies go and go until finally you all end up with an email that contains only this:

you know you're working with a fun group of people.

And last but not least this is what you get when you have a Navigator full of girls (it's night and you can't really see anything, but that's okay because this is about what you can hear :)):



and unfortunately what the video doesn't show (which makes me very sad that it got missed) was at the very moment that the video ended, my cell phone rang, blue tooth through the radio, which cut the song off and there was a collective, heartbroken

"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"

as I answered The Man's phone call.

Man, I so wish we'd gotten that part.

cas was moody

Cas was moody. 

This seems to be the case a lot lately, you know, the drama of being a pre-teen.  Everything is just so "uh!"

But she felt this attitude was justified this time.  She had to get her shot to be able to register for middle school.  Which she is very much looking forward to. 

She was sullen for days before going, giving me dirty looks and pouting with her arms folded across her chest.  Because this is all my fault, right?  I had to grit my teeth together a few times to not lash out at her about the treatment I was receiving. 
Though I wasn't lashing out at her I was reminding her that her attitude was uncalled for and I certainly didn't deserve it. 

It was making me mad.

She even went as far as to turn her attitude on the doctor.  Keeping the sullen pout on her face and mumbling bare minimum answers to his questions.  Being a pediatrician he's seen this before, and he handled her beautifully.

Brynn tagged along for the ride.  She had some warts on her toes that she wanted gone.  She was excited at the prospect of having them taken care of. 

We sat in the tiny room waiting for the doctor and I looked at the two of them and couldn't help but laugh.

I told them
you know, when we leave here you two are going to be flip flopped.  Cas will realize that it really wasn't that big of a deal and Brynn isn't going to be a happy camper at all.
The irony intrigued me and I laughed at them.  Of course, neither believed me.

When it came right down to it, both were brave and strong.  Cas took her shot like a trooper, despite the days of brooding over it, she stood still for it, and even giggled when it was done.  What do you know, the worst part of it was anticipating it.  Mom may know a thing or two after all.

Brynn held still as wart after wart were frozen.  She clenched her teeth, gasped, pressed her hands over her eyes and held perfectly still.
Freezing warts hurts, doesn't it Brynn. 
She walked crooked for a couple of days, and complained about blisters, but is still happy with her decision to have it done.  I am too actually, I'm a forgetful mom and it's hard to stay on top of self treating them at home.
And when you don't stay on top of self treating them at home, they get bigger.  And spread.

We walked in with a sullen Casidee and a bouncy Brynn.  We walked out with a bouncy Casidee and a limping Brynn.

One thing's true for all of us.  Shopping for Easter dresses makes it all better.