Thursday, April 2, 2009

Zeb and Zane's Music Box



Zeb and Zane and porcelain music boxes do not coexist without someone getting decapitated. This music box has been with us since the beginning of Zeb's and Zane's time here on this earth (yes it is still with us as I think it is still a vital part of putting the little people to bed, even though it has probably never lulled the boys and it makes not a bit of difference in whether they fall asleep at a reasonable hour or not). I will forever think that it should be twisted on for bedtime, so until Jamie decides enough of the annoying repetitive tune and throws it away it will be with us. The music box started its journey in one piece- it was lovely and plays a sweet tune. Its first encounter ended with a toe and a bird's wing missing, the next was a slightly more fatal mishap with one of the angels being decapitated. The third accident is a mystery and resulted in a very wobbly base, another decapitated angel and a completely broken drum. Zeb and Zane thought this somewhat sad and somewhat funny. The music box played on with its wobbly self and even though it was not as aesthetically pleasing it still had its place in our bedtime routine. The fourth and final straw occurred on dad's watch (maybe he did it, I'll never know). It resulted in a completely broken porcelain upper and the only thing that remained was the sweet little tune. So even though the tune probably annoys even the little people the music plays on!



Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Naked Party Potty Time

Why is it that one little person getting naked causes such a chain reaction among three year olds? Like that first glass of red wine...one naked toddler means there will be many more to follow. Then as nature would have it all the little people need to go to the "potty" and just like a bunch of females they swarm into the bathroom together-one little person on the little "potty" another one standing at the big "potty" yet another one spraying half on the rug and half on whatever "potty" he can get to and the supervising adult trying her hardest to assist so that as much pee as possible goes in the appropriate toilet bowl and NOT all over the floor, the toilet, the pants that hang down around the ankles which on a three year old is way too close for comfort and everywhere else pee somehow ends up (yes-all little people spoken about are boys and yes I've come to terms with the fact that pee is going to be everywhere forever and ever and although I'm trying my damnedest to teach the little people mad aiming skills I have grasped the fact that there is a hugely valid reason for the pee shooting male hydrant who can't get all the pee in the toilet bowl stereotype). After the last toilet training child is fresh out of pee (or so I thought) another decides he feels the need to try once more to squeeze yet a little more pee out. Of course, there is a reason the one wants to try to squeeze more out because instantly they all start asking for their "treat" or in the case of the boy who peed twice two treats and stickers to go on their "I peed in the appropriate place and now I get a sticker" chart. I look over to see that they are expecting not just one little jelly bean or m&m but a girl scout cookie which were recently discovered to be the favorite and the only real reason not to pee all over the floor (face it- boys really just don't care where they go, yep there I go stereotyping again, I'm telling you there is a reason for the stereotypes and I will never again buy into the idea they are only stereotypes and hold no validity). Umm I don't know who bought those but they need to be given a talking to. In all the mass chaos and nakedness I realize our naked little friend's mom is about to arrive and I'm sure she'll be wondering who exactly is running the show---and well I can tell her and anyone else who wonders the same question---they are!!
All for the sake of being diaper free!!!