Adams Canyon Hike With Jason

Sideways

Today is a walk-sideways-one-step-at-a-time-down-the-stairs kind of day. That's how sore I am. I wouldn't mind it so much except when the girls are fighting and I need to intervene it's hard to get there fast and even harder, I imagine, to be taken seriously when I'm hobbling around like this.

"Oh, look, here comes mom down the stairs. She looks really mad..."

[5 minutes later]

"We're in trouble. I bet she's gonna kick our asses.

Wait. She can't! because she's too sore.

Let's just keep fighting."

I need to stretch so ass-kicking is an option if it really needs to be done.

'Cause, you know, that's the kind of mom I am. The ass-kicking kind.

(sorry, mom, for saying "ass" so many times)

Ass.

Millie

7 is an awesome age. I ask Millie to do something and she does it! Happily even. I think I can officially say she is a bookworm. We were at Costco the other day and she was practically swooning over a chapter book that's probably too advanced for her right now, but how could I not buy it for her when a) it's book and she wants it b) she wants it bad c) hello? it's a book!

Jason has been reading the Harry Potter books to her nightly. They are on the last book of the series, which also happens to be the darkest, most grown-up book. I think this is one of those cases of know your own child because there are definitely 7 year olds out there who would be scared of some of the stuff that happens in the book. But Millie is not one of them. She can't wait for the next chapter. And the next and the next.

When there is a word or plot development she doesn't fully understand she is quick to ask about it. Jason is patient; he always stops to explain and doesn't move on until she grasps it. There are a ton of characters in the HP books and she knows them all by name. She remembers the charms and magical creature's names and everyone's peculiarities. I love it!

7 is an awesome age.

3 going on 65

Recently Laney has taken to talking like a 65 year old grandma. No one knows why, but here are some examples:

I

Laney: Mama? Do you miss my daddy?

Me: Yes. Do you?

Laney: Yes, because he is so adorable.

Me: [laughing] He is pretty adorable, isn't he?

Laney: Yes, he is and I want to squeeeeeeeze him.

II

Sugar booger. She calls people sugar booger.

As in, "Bye sugar booger daddy."

"Goodnight, sugar booger mommy."

"Oh, you are such a sugar booger."

??

Nutella, Anyone?

Getting Laney to eat has been a chore lately. In this photo you can see how desperate I am for her to eat something. Calories in! They make you less grumpy! So yes, I resorted to a bowl of Nutella. Or as Laney sometimes calls it, "chocolate peanut butter". It was a very small bowl. Now stop with the judging. At least I didn't let her eat it straight from the jar with her fingers.

Spring!

Millie is out of school this week for Spring Break. We're (I'm) looking for some old-school (cheap) entertainment. Remember sliding down the stairs in a sleeping bag? Well, we just mastered that one. The only problem is my heart is in my throat every time I hear that thump, thump, thump down the stairs. It might be a long week. I'm hoping for sunshine in spite of what the weather report says. And a girl can hope, right?

Happy Spring, everyone. (Yes, I know that photo of Laney is bleary. You try getting her to hold still for a second.)

Thank you Easter Bunny

In case I don't make it back here before Easter now I'm ahead of the game.

(Thanks, Jessie, for this photo)