Mean Lizard

Yesterday I was in the backyard with the girls when Kate discovered a little garden lizard. She was very interested in talking to the lizard and wanted to touch it. She poked it a few times and after my encouragement, picked it up.

It wiggled and then bit her.

(shrieks & hysterics)

She insisted on going inside after that and once she was calmed down (it scared her more than hurt her), we decided to name the lizard. And what was the name Kate & Emma came up with?

Sinbad Stupidhead

An obvious choice since the lizard was both bad and stupid. Right? Then Kate told me that she was going to go back outside and find that lizard so she could put poop on it. Lovely. We were relieved of that chore by our dog, Jelly, who had already eaten the lizard. Darn.

Now we know that Jelly is a good guard dog and was protecting her from the mean lizard.

Kate's Powers

This morning I was chatting with a co-worker about kid stories. I mentioned how I took the kids the park yesterday after dinnner and when it was time to leave, one of them begged for a slurpee on the way home. When I said no, she cried and screamed the whole way home.

My coworker asked which child it was, and I said "Kate. Always Kate".

My coworker replied "Hmm, when she gets older, I hope she uses her powers for good".

Little Mermaids

Every summer, Miss Kelly gives all the kids at school swim lessons. The first year is usually just about getting the kids comfortable in the water and dunking their heads and gradually works up from there.

Yesterday when I picked the girls up from school, Miss Kelly reported that they are officially swimming on their own. Now, I have to take her word for it, because we don't have a pool of our own, and when we go swimming at Grammy's pool, all they really want to do is crab walk around the edge of the pool. So we haven't actually witnessed any of this 'swimming on their own' first hand.

But we look forward to it!

Middle Names

Yesterday, Kate was asking me about middle names. She wanted to know her cousins' middle names. I wondered if she even knew her own middle name, so we talked about that for a while.

Katelyn Paige...

Emma Reese...

Then Kate says "I wish my middle name was Grandma Kathy".

What???

Kate goes on to explain to me that Grammy is her first name, and Grandma Kathy is her middle name. Don't you know that, Mommy? You need to talk to Daddy. He knows.

Apparently I just got schooled by a four year old. At least she thinks so.

(this all started because Eric read stories on Monday night and Tuesday is book sharing day at school. The girls brought the books that Daddy read, which were gifts from Grammy on their very first Christmas when they were only 10 days old. This was all before we started calling her Grammy, so her inscription on the books says that they are from Grandma Kathy.)

The Many Uses of Toilet Paper

Yesterday, the girls were fighting over a toy and Kate ended up in tears. I referreed and got it resolved, and just after that, Kate decided she needed to go potty. I helped her get a wad of toilet paper so that she could do pat-pat, which she did...and then she used the same wad of toilet paper to wipe her tears with.

So then I made her ask Daddy to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Just kidding!

I washed her face, I promise.

15 Midgets and Cinderella Beds

At the park yesterday.....

Kris: Ok, you have 15 minutes left to play.
Emma: Let me check your watch.
(I show her my watch & she pretends like she can read a clock)
Emma: Yep, 15 midgets!


Then at bedtime, they requested that I read Mr & Mrs Noah, which led into a discussion about God, Jesus, and heaven...

Kate: Can I have my bed in heaven?
Kris: You can have any kind of bed you want.
Kate: I'm gonna tell Jesus I want a Cinderella Bed!

Wishing Wells

Anytime we pass a wishing well, Kate & Emma will ask for a coin to throw in. We passed by one or two at Disneyland last week and another at the local mall this week. So we gave them pennies and told them to make a wish. We expected them to wish for toys or candy (especially at Disneyland), but they clutched the pennies to their chests with both hands squeezed together and said...

I wish I could go to Grammy's every day

and/or

I wish I could see Auntie Erin's new puppy and kitty every day.