Daylight Savings Time and Christmas Lights

Daylight Savings Time:

Con: By the time I pick up the girls after work, it is very dark.

Pro: I get to hear Claire and Ellie talk about the Christmas lights and decorations on the way home.

example:
Claire (pointing at a house): Look, they have white lights, Christmas trees, a sled, and a moose.

Mom: That is a reindeer.

Claire: Oh. (A few houses later) Look, there's Christmas trees and a rein-ga-deer. (I did not correct her - it was too cute.)

Susan Socks

Claire was upset yesterday afternoon, after her dad told her to go get her "Susan Socks". Claire was upset because she didn't know which socks were her "Susan socks". It took me a few minutes, but I finally figured out her dad told her to go get her shoes and socks. After explaining that, she just said, "Oh".

Claire is learning to read and I am screwed.

We have lived in complete bliss for 4 and a half years now. I could get away with telling Claire anything I wanted, but now....someone thought it appropriate to teach her to read.

Tonight I was rummaging through a drawer and Claire spotted a tin of Ginger Snap candy. She grabbed it and said, "This is mine." I replied, wisely, "Not it is not. Does it have your name on it?"...knowing full well that they are mine and did not have her name on them.

Turns out I was wrong. She replied, "Yes, they do. See?" and pointed to the brand name "St. Claire." Darn. She was right. She is enjoying a Ginger Snap candy right now, as a matter of fact.

Poor Ellie

Ellie has a cold and lost her voice. It has been like living with a 2-year old that you have muted. Not a bad concept, but I digress.

Now that Ellie is getting her voice back, she is funnier than ever. She sounds like a Little Person (no pun intended) on helium. High-pitched little voice...so cute.

Mama Sue asked Claire how Ellie was doing. Claire said, "She sounds like a horse." I'm fairly certain she meant something else, however....we don't correct the cute ones.

My pre-schoolers have (overnight) become pre-teens? I think not.

Here's the scene.....Ellie is standing on her chair in the dining room, with a piece of spaghetti hanging out of her mouth and dancing. Claire looks over at Ellie, then looks at me and says, "Ellie thinks she Hannah Montana, but she's not. Right, Mom?"

How do you respond to that? That is, besides "crap"...

bad words from the mouths of babes

I recently had my first experience of trying to discipline my child, while trying really hard not to laugh (I was highly unsuccessful).

It reminds me of the time that Little Joe (about 18 months at the time) called me a butthead and Deedra and I were laughing so hard, that Russ had to take over....anyway.....

Claire came to me crying; she was so upset and told me that Ellie had called her a bad name. My mind instantly went down a list of possibilities. I decided to ask Claire what her sister had called her and prepared myself for the worst (they are in daycare, afterall). Claire says, "Ellie called me a cracker." Hmmm....I wonder where she learned that. I calmed Claire down and went to find Ellie.

Ellie is lying in my bed, watching TV with her Dad. Innocent and sweet as can be. I march up to her, take her little face in my hands, and say, "Do not call your sister a cracker; it is not nice." I didn't get the entire sentence out without a smile on my face, although I gave it a valiant effort. What did not help is my dear husband struggling for breath behind his pillow. Wimp.

I am sure Ellie was calling her sister a 'saltine' or Goldfish or Melba Toast. At least that is what I HOPE.

I know, I know....

I need to update this blog. Motherhood and full-time employment is kicking my butt....soon, I promise.

Bigger and Badder (but not in a bad way)

Well, the girls are getting bigger every day. Claire is talking up a storm (and you can actually understand her) and Ellie is not far behind her. They are so funny, that I would be posting funny stories about them every day.

Such as... Ellie and I were going to pick up Claire at school and I was singing along with a CD(a common occurrence while I am driving). I realized that Ellie was mimicking me. I'm not sure if she wanted to be like me or was making fun of me. I am hoping for the first one. But it was very cute.

Claire was mad at me (for some reason only known to her) and she kept telling me to leave her alone. When she felt better, she came and asked me if I was done screaming. ??

Ellie is beginning the potty-training stage. When she has a BM, she will bring me a diaper and the wipes, put them in my lap, and say "Shoo-whee". Funny. She is rarely not dirty. When Claire went potty in a restaurant (in the bathroom), Ellie tried to pull off her diaper so she could sit on the potty too. It was hard to keep Ellie away from the public toilet while I was getting Claire's hands washed. Good times....

Stop playing with my balls.

That is something you do not normally hear your daughter say. Claire and Ellie are playing with Play-Do. Claire is making little dough balls. Ellie is apparently trying to touch her balls. I can't stop laughing.

I am in awe of Claire....

I may have mentioned to Claire once that her birthday was coming up soon. Tonight she told me about her "Princess Party." We are going to have cupcakes, play games, color princess things, hit the Princess pinyana (I'm guessing this is a pinata), and open presents. Lots of presents. All her friends are going to be here and everything.

Oh boy, she has big dreams. I had smaller ideas. Oh well, we all know who is really in charge here.

It can't be!

I just realized that one month from today, Claire will be 4 years old! Really? How did that happen?

Look for your invite to her Princess Tea Party. =)

The adults will be having Jambalaya and alcohol. =) =)

Ellie cracks me up.

Claire always had great facial expressions, but I think Ellie has her beat on this one.

Tonight, while I was working, Claire and Ellie were sitting in an office chair next to mine. Claire was ordering Ellie around, as usual. Normally, Ellie complies or yells back. It is quite simple.

Tonight Claire gave Ellie an order and I glanced at Ellie to see her reaction. Ellie looked at Claire, then looked at me and ROLLED HER EYES! I was laughing so hard, I almost wet my pants.

She gets it. She will be a fine little sister. I'm so proud of her!

Maybe potty training isn't so bad....

Remind me of that when I am pulling my hair out because Ellie won't pee in the potty. Although when we walk past the bathroom, Ellie has to stop and point out the potty. I'm hopeful...

Claire is a potty'ing champion! She goes by herself, cleans out her training potty, washed her hands, and then comes to get me so she can get a sticker for her rewards chart. Yes, she gets ice cream anytime she wants. She went without ice cream for months, waiting for the pottying thing to work itself out. She has not had a pull-up or diaper on her body for 8 days and counting. Woo hoo! And she has pee'd in the big potty, but prefers her throne. I would too.

Today....she even POOPED in the potty by herself. I had to help her clean it up, but she did it! I did a dance and sang a song.

I'm so proud of her.

Knock on wood...

I think Claire is starting to figure out this potty thing. She has pee'd in the Dora potty (which looks more like a throne than a toilet) several times, but we have to force her to sit there.

Today I've been telling her to go sit on the potty and try to pee. She has been telling me no, that she doesn't have to pee. Just a few minutes ago I heard her yell, "Mom, I pee'd in the potty!" I ran to see and SHE DID! All by herself...unprompted (sort of). I never thought those 6 words would be so sweet. I hope this is the beginning of her beautiful relationship with the toilet.

I asked Claire to do something, like pick up her toys, or something. She looked me in the eye and said "No." I calmly explained to her that she should not tell Mommy "No." Claire's response: "That's good to know." And yes, she did eventually do what I told her to.

Nice. This is 3-1/2. What will 13 be like?

When Claire asks me something and I tell her no, she tells me that it is not nice to say no.

FYI

If Claire tells you her butt hurts, it means she needs to poop.

If you ignore her, you will pay the price. Trust me.

No pics. You're welcome.