Mischievous Mia

Our elders LOVE Mia. They keep telling me that she is perfect. They say she is the most obedient little girl and just too sweet. Don't get me wrong- I love that kid. I agree that she is sweet and practically perfect, but obedient? No way. Here are two example just from yesterday.

1. I lined up the kids and asked who had been drawing on the bathroom mirror with a toothbrush. Justin and Emma both said "not me!" Mia just looked around and giggled nervously.

2. Mia came home from school and told me that she had been silly at school with Christine. They planted a raisin tree. I stopped her and asked if she really buried the raisins I had put in her lunch. She looked up at me and said she didn't feel like having raisins.

Kids

Mia: At school, we watched a butterfly movie. It had a bird that ate a butterfly. It was very sad. I love butterflies and I love nature. Birds eat butterflies because it is what they eat and it is part of nature. But that nature makes me sad.

Sometimes we call Emma our rule follower. She wants to know all the rules and tries to follow them exactly. Emma brought home yet another terrific tiger award from school. She brings home at least one or two a week. I jokingly asked if she was cheating and making her own papers to bring home. She looked offended and said she is not allowed to do that! Then she went on and on about how she tries really hard to be good and obey. She said that when she gets more and more terrific tiger awards she knows that she is getting closer and closer to being ready to go to heaven.

I love my Justin. He is such a sweetheart, and maybe a punk sometimes too. He heard kids making fun of one of his friends at school and calling him names. He told them to stop and tried to make sure his friend didn't hear. Then he went to the teacher and threatened to take it to the principal if it didn't stop. He was hurt and offended for his friend and wanted to protect him. He didn't understand why people would want to be mean to such a nice kid.

My Girls

Emma has been working on a zebra report. Most of it is done at school, but she also has been working on a diorama at home. As we put the finishing touches on her homemade zebra we set it in the diorama. She looked at the zebra, then at me and said "you know I am getting graded on this, right?" I guess we have more work to do.

I asked Mia to shut the fridge. She said "you forgot the jelly- yo!" When did my five year old pick up street slang?

The Darnest Things

Mia: Mom, I want those! (frosted animal cookies)
Me: No
Mia: I want those for my birthday.
Me: Okay, when it is your birthday,
Mia: Mom, I want cheese puff balls for my birthday too.
Me: Okay
Mia: What if I forget about it when it's my birthday?
Me: What if we both forget?
Mia: Then...we're DOOMED!

Emma: Sometimes I want to be all by myself with no children around.
Me: But you are a child.
Emma: Not a lonely one!

True Love

Today, Mother's Day, Emma asked if she could drink some distilled water. I said that I had bought that special water to clean some electronic screens, but it probably wouldn't kill her if she drank it. (I think I'm funny.) She looked at me and thought before saying. "Um, how about you take a drink first?"

Comedian

Justin has been on a roll lately. Last week someone let gas and he sat up straight and while slowly tipping over exclaimed "someone poisoned the waterhole!" It was hilarious. Perfect delivery. Then a couple nights ago he was teasing Charlie about his throwing. I was laughing at his comments until he said "you're almost as bad as mom." Then I stopped laughing and Charlie started.
Today Justin said "Dad, you're as lazy as me. Ouch. Ha ha ha." Um, hilarious, but not sure he gets it.

Physical

Mia was in the talent show for school. One of the performances of the night was a dance to "Let's Get Physical." It has been stuck in our heads ever since. The kids keep singing it around the house. Charlie and I tell them that it is not a song they should be singing because it is inappropriate. One day Emma replied "but I really do want to get physical." Charlie stifled a laugh.