In the Spirit of Christmas

This post is actually something that happened last Christmas Eve, I've been meaning to write about it since then.  We went to the annual Christmas Eve Children'

Vivian wearing her Moana necklace playing with GrandJoe.

s service at my parents' church that is usually packed to standing room, as it was last year.
Vivian was wearing a new Moana necklace with her outfit, which glowed when a button on the back was pressed.
As the service progressed, the lights were dimmed, then went off completely, as the shepherds and the wise men processed.  There was one glowing light that represented the North Star to guide them through the darkness.  That it is, until Vivian, uncomfortable in the darkness, pressed the button on her Moana necklace.  A glowing green light eminated from the orb of the Heart of te Fiti.  Nana gasped and quickly covered it with her church program.  Luckily the Wise men were wise enough to continue on their way to the manger and were not tempted to reroute towards the Heart of te Fiti.

Merry Christmas to all.

Cinderella and the Mailman

Vivian was "reading" Lanie Cinderella the other day, while I was getting ready for work. 

Lanie's latest reading behavior is to interject, "what's that?" throughout the entire book, multiple times a page.

"What's that?" she asked.

"That's the mailman," Vivian replied.  "He is bringing the mail."

I thought to myself she'll explain the delivery of the invitation to the ball.

"He's the one who brings all the packages that you order on the computer." Vivian continued.

"Oh, yes." said Lanie.

Or that.

Frankie the Frog

Vivian had a homework assignment last week of bringing her stuffed frog home from Kindergarten.  He was supposed to be involved in our family activities and outings and then we were to journal our experiences in the class book.  At first I misread the assignment and thought he was with us just for the weekend, which was good, because it made me do all the photo taking and printing and get the bulk of the work done on Sunday. When we reread the information that night I realized we had a whole week with Frankie.


Of course, every single activity that we did outside of the house, we forgot to get Frankie.  So Frankie did not get to choose a Christmas tree, put lights on the tree, go to the park, go to dance class, or go on a playdate...

Frankie's missed outing to find a tree.

We did remember when we folded laundry and went to dinner at my parents. He got to hang out with the family, so that was good.
On the actual Sunday night before Frankie had to return to Kindergarten, he disappeared, no where to be found.  Vivian's things tend to do that. We had a few talks about how very, very sad her entire Kindergarten class would be if Frankie was lost, including her beloved teacher. Vivian was not entirely persuaded. We discussed how it wasn't fair that some children got to keep Frankie for a longer time than others, and everyone should have a chance. Nothing.

Sam wanted to pose with Frankie.

Eventually I gave up to read stories, figuring I'd deal after the kids went to bed.  I sat down on the couch and out of the corner of my eye I spotted something that I first thought was the dog. It was Frankie, sitting on a dining room chair, pushed in under the table. I retrieved him and kept him safe until the next morning and lectured Vivian on how much trouble she would be in if Frankie didn't make it to school.

A Bug

Vivian has had an upset stomach for a few days now and keeps asking why her stomach hurts.  I told her she probably had a little bug and needs to rest and drink.
She asked me again a little later and I said, "remember, it's probably a little bug?"
"Or a fly," she told me.
"Um, I think a bug, which means a little sickness."
"Right. Like a fly. Probably a mosquito.  Remember mosquitoes make big bites on me? I think one did it inside my stomach.  I have a mosquito."
"Perhaps."

Frosty and Playdate

I was driving to work with Lanie the other day listening to "Frosty the Snowman" on the radio.  I asked Lanie if she liked the song and she said, "yes."
"Yes, mama, I like Frosty." pause, and a minute later, "I think we have Frosty over for a playdate."
At this point I've deferred a simple, "yes, that sounds nice," instead of reasoning it out.
"Actually," Lanie said, (it's about a 6 syllable word when she says it), "let's go to Frosty's house for a playdate!"
"Great!" I agreed.

Folding Laundry

I was folding piles of laundry the other day, while the kids were getting dressed.  Sam tossed a clean shirt that he decided not to wear in my direction.
"Um, you could fold that, Sam," I told him.
"No, it's okay mom, you can fold it. You're the professional," he answered.

Lanie's Nail Polish Fiasco

Lanie was supposed to be napping yesterday and skipped her nap.  I came home from the gym and put her back in her bed.  She still didn't sleep and insisted in "going downstairs."  I needed to go and run some errands with Vivian so I settled her in my bed as a compromise.

While I was out, I got a text from Chris, that Lanie had "gotten into my nail polish."  I had painted both her and Vivian's nails that morning when they had asked me too, already. Apparently that wasn't good enough for Lanie. She got a child's chair from another room, dragged it into my room, and climbed up and got it off the dresser.  Dark purple.  The same color her sister also applied in my bed around the same age.

Link to:  Vivian's Make up fiasco

When I got home she was standing in the hallway with a smile wearing gloves.


"Why are you wearing gloves Lanie?" I asked.
"Oh, you no see my hands mama," she replied.
"Really?" I asked.
Through this whole encounter she was giggling, encouraged by the other two.  I finally closed them in one room and put her in time out.
"If you can't listen to mummy and daddy, Santa won't give you presents," I told her. She burst into tears. We revisited the topic later, but not after her asking me two more times to use my nail polish that day and she cried when I said no.

Time out.

It is now all hidden.

Vivian and Lanie's hands yesterday.

Bathroom Shenanigans

I relaxed on the couch for a little while yesterday morning.  Lanie used the bathroom and then took the opportunity to do a little decorating with toilet paper.

Sleeping Arrangements, Part III

My child who every few weeks has a sleepless night and wanders around.  Sometimes I find her sitting in her rocking chair rocking back and forth in the dark, which is a little disconcerting.  Other times she will wander, downstairs to see what Chris is doing and hang out with him, I'll find her in bed with one of the other children, or she'll climb in bed with me and stroke my hair.

Sam is sound asleep.

Other times, on different days, I'll find her "resting" in various places around the house. 

"Mama, I nap here in Jack's bed?"

Jack discovers her in his bed.

Lanie resting on the bathroom floor while I take a shower.