Overheard from the Family Room . . .

. . . "No, no, I'm the mom! And that means I don't need any rest. I do everything that the family needs. I do NOT need to rest. I do NOT need to go to the doctor. OKAY??? I am the MOM!", Princess #3 says to "dad" aka Princess #1, who was also moonlighting as a doctor.



Is that really her perception of me? Me, the enforcer of the hated daily rest time. Explained to her daily, as "I know you don't need any rest, but Mama needs rest time, so choose to show Mama love by having a cheerful heart and being quiet!!!! Thank you in advance for your cooperation." Very interesting . . .

Potato, Potahto

On our way home in the dark early evening last night, I tried to engage Princess #3 in a little Christmas fun, spotting Christmas lights. Here is the result:

Queen: Princess #3!! Look at that huge tree covered in lights!! Wow, isn't it amazing??
(Now I shudder to think how much I must have sounded like my own mother did when she pointed out the Oregon Trail marks along Hwy 97 during every childhood trip to Bend, OR :)!!)

Princess #3 (in a completely disinterested voice): Oh, you mean that giant mushroom with Christmas lights?

Hey, in my defense, is it every day you get to see a giant lighted mushroom???

Ham Please

This face right here says it all. I love it a little more each day.

Little By Little

As most of you know, I am a Christmas junkie. I love this time of the year! Usually by now my decorations would be up, the tree up, cookies a-baking, but this year I am apparently taking the bit by bit approach to the holiday. Which is fine. It is allowing the girls to help decorate more (read that as: do the dusting-hee!) and have more say in what snowman goes where, and that is fun!

I'm loving how each daughter's personality is revealed by how she chooses how to decorate. Princess #1 is a traditionalist, this snowman goes there, because that's where he's been since I can remember. Princess #2 is a flyin'-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of gal, this snowman goes here because it looks fabulous (a Fancy Nancy reference there, in case you missed it!). While Princess #3 is all about staging (read that as: quantity, as in I want them all here!), she very carefully groups her decorations all in one location. The Prince obviously is a bit young to get in on the action, but does notice the different things popping up in his line of sight and is especially appreciative of any put in his reach.

So as December begins, I hope each of you is enjoying getting ready to celebrate the Christ-child's birth in your own special way. I know I am!

Nine Months!

As is my tradition on this blog, here is the latest and greatest about the Prince as he reaches his 9th month:

. . . has 7 teeth, number 8 should be with us shortly.

. . . wears size 3 or 4 diapers.

. . . wears 12-24 month size clothes and size 15-18 month size shoes.

. . . crawls everywhere, very quickly, very stealthily.

. . . craves the excited squeal that he gets after getting into a sister's stuff.

. . . snorts like a pig.

. . . loves to snort like a pig at the dinner table and then pauses for his people to laugh.

. . . loves to sniff.very.loudly.and.often.

. . . plays with Mama's hair very gently, especially after naps.

. . . loves to be outside.

. . . pulls up to standing on anything that will stay still long enough.

. . . is obsessed with Jackson's (the doxi-beagle) tags. Sorry Jack.

. . . cruises along the furniture or bath tub or anything else that is long enough.

. . . love, love, loves his sisters.

. . . love, love, loves his mama and daddy.

. . . and they all love, love, love him too!

Reassurance

Princess #1: Mama, would you just drop us off instead of coming in too?

Queen: long silent pause

Princess #1 (hurriedly interrupting long silent pause): It's not that I'm embarrassed by you or anything, it's just so much faster if you just drop us off.

Good thing she clarified, else I might have been forced to come in just on account of needing to do my "motherly" duty and embarrass my child simply by existing. :)

Happiness Is . . .

. . . having daughters who totally dig the fact that you knit. And in fact, will find something that has been knit in a catalog and ask if you will make it for them.In their specified colors.Starting as soon as possible. Because they love what you make them. And because they love what you make them, you want to make what they want!!

{Next up: Felted iPod cozy for Princess #1. Can't wait to start in on it!!}