Ben and Camping

Ben said the funniest thing this weekend though. He went camping with the deacons and they went to a campground 45 min away. In Houston traffic I would bet it took longer. And he was complaining WHY do we have to go places like that. (You know, camp in the WOODS?) I laughed out loud. Because that is what camping is! His favorite camp was on the soccer field at Saudi Aramco and in someone's backyard here in Texas because that's what the eleven year old scouts did here.

I fear this kid may prefer glamping where you can sneak in a few video games when the leaders aren't looking over actual camping.

Jacobisms

"Mom, it's not fair. The reeves have like a quarter mile long house and we have one that is like four rooms wide."

Explaining "retirement" to Ashlyn:
"It's like when you save up a lot of money, like, like a lot, like a thousand dollars. Then you don't have to work."
She asked a few questions and he got instantly frustrated she didn't get it.
"NO! It's like when you save a lot like a thousand, no a million, no, actually you had to save a thousand dollars to retire." And he was fully confident in his answer. How do I tell him a thousand dollars is a normal monthly mortgage payment???

Count Down Chains

My sister is teaching early morning seminary this year. Just thinking of it exhausts me and she has five kids 10 and under. I don't know how she'll manage but she will because she's super Kristie. She texted me after her first day of class ended today that she survived and therefore only has 179 days left. Of course that made me think she most certainly needed a count down chain for the year.

We made her one that we can mail but then everyone else needed one for their upcoming events. Madison for her birthday in a month, Jacob for his in December and Ashlyn until her school begins again. It made for a fun morning of craft making and working together.

Lucky Mom Reads Book

Ashlyn walks into our bedroom this morning carrying two books.

"Where is daddy?"

"At work."

Usually that answer brings an "oh darn it" and sulking. Not today. 

"GOOD!" she exclaimed. 

"Why is that good?"

"Because, guess what you get to do now!! Read me a book!"

She climbs up and over the top of me to situate herself and hands me a book.

Tummy Yuckies

Nearly every single day of her life Ashlyn tells me "my tummy isn't feeling so well." I never get more info from her so I have to watch hr body cues to see when she is really sick. This morning at leave-for-the-bus time for Jacob and Madison she came down the stairs and laid on my lap. Brian was home late this day so he took the kids and I stayed on the couch with Ashlyn until I remembered I left something in the van I needed before Brian drove away. I went outside to get it and decided to cross the road to the bus stop and give Jacob a hug for having a good morning with zero crying. That's a big deal for us these days and I'm trying to give lots of positive feedback for good behavior. Ben came out to the bus stop too to ask what his morning house hire was leaving Ashlyn alone. When we walked back Ben opened the door and I heard panic from the little lady. 

She was running to the door to tell us she was sick and had changed her mind and was running to the trash can in the kitchen to vomit. Just a tiny drip missed the can and first thing she said was I needed to clean up the floor for her please. I cleaned her up and got her on the couch cushions again then cleaned the floor. When the first yuck wave had passed and she felt a little better she started telling me how it was okay to go to school because they have TWO trash cans to throw up in so she would be just fine. We were bringing watermelon for the class snack and she didn't want to miss out. No ma'am. She slept on the couch next to me all morning except when we played mancala.

Much later she was ready to eat so she had a little applesauce. An hour later she had more. At lunch she said she wanted to eat some watermelon and pizza so I gave her a tiny bit of each thing. She took a tiny bite of pizza and immediately said "I can't eat this pizza." She says it all the time and I was about to tell her to chew and swallow. Then I saw the panic on her  face. I told her to spit it on the plate and she jumped down and ran for the kitchen trash can again.

Luck was not on her side this time. Her cute little bare feet pattered across the slick tile at lightening speed but the bimit projectile was just a little bit faster than she was. Her throw up made the floor very slippery and she slid then fell right on her butt. She bounced right back up and got some more in the trash can. What a trooper. I cleaned all of her and the puddles on the floor and she's been on the couch watching the tv the rest of the afternoon. 

Stuffed Up Juice Troubles

Ashlyn, you have stuffy nose today. Do you want a tissue to blow?

Yeah. I already got all the boogers out, it's the juice that's making the problems. The boogers left all their juice in my nose.

Ashie-ism of the Morning

"Mommy I want a pony tail today up high."

"Up high to the sky?"

"NO! I can't go to the sky!"

"You should get some wings then so you can."

"I cannot, there is no wing store. Send that funny message to Jennifer."

"Okay. Why?"

"Because she will totally flip out! Do people flip out if we send them funny messages? Like flip out of this country? She's going to love that message today!!"

Yawn Medicine

Madison has a nasty hacking cough so I gave her some medicine this morning. Ashlyn asked me if she could please have some medicine too, specifically some yawning medicine. She was not able to sleep well last night and requested that I email her teacher and tell her she was too tired to go to school today because she "didn't rest well because of all the yawns" that kept her up all night long.

Three Year Old Love

Ashlyn gave me a huge hug and told me she loved me. Then she gave me a big kiss and wiped the wetness off my cheek as she said, "I love you so I wiped the crumbs off."

That's a thoughtful three year old to wipe the cookie crumbs off her moms face after a kiss because she knew that's what I'd want.

No Longer an Expat

I just walked past the car keys and the small pile of junk that accumulates there. I noticed two one dollar bills and a couple coins. My first thought was, "I wonder where that came from." Second thought, "I need to find my bag of US money and put it away." Third thought as I shook my head, "Or I could USE it because I LIVE in America now." Sometimes I still think I'm an expat. Hehe.

Ashie-isms

Out of no where she comes to me and says, "Mom, God made us washable." 

That's some deep thinking for a three year old but spot on. 

Yelling from the top of the stairs to me in the kitchen, "Mom, where is my sock?"

"I don't know," I replied as I continue to scrub dishes.

Hands on hips, "But you are a MOM and you said you know EVERYTHING."

I've been caught.

Right vs Left

Ashlyn asked "is this my left hand?" "No, it's your right." She had a puzzled look and said, "but my teachers right hand is on the other side than mine."