Choice and Consequence

It all started with the girls out riding their bikes.  I was busy making dinner, and the boys were playing with cars in the family room.  Steve had called a few minutes before and was expected to arrive soon.  All was well.

About ten minutes later, Steve walked in the door.   We chatted about the day and he asked me if I knew that the girls were at the end of the street on their bikes.  I said, yes, I knew, and that as long as they were still on our road it would be ok. 

About five minutes later, I heard bikes pulling in and crying outside the back door.  Hmm.  The girls come filing in with tears pouring down their cheeks and talking over each other.  I can't make out a word.  But I can see that they've been rolling around in the dirt.  Aliza, who is usually impeccably clean, has dirt smears and rips in her shirt.  In her hand she's cradling something.  Grace looks a little hammered too, but that's pretty normal.

Once they've calmed down, their story starts spilling out.  They were innocently minding their own business while riding bikes.  Out of nowhere, this attack dog jumps up, knocks Aliza off of her bike, and eats her glasses.  That's right.  EATS her glasses.  She shows me the proof in her hand:  a pair of blue Juicy glasses that DO in fact belong to her.  They are snapped in half, missing the lenses, and have tell-tale bite marks. 

I'm starting to believe their story.

As I hug both girls' simultaneously (Grace was scared out of her wits too), I look at Steve and we both start snickering.  We couldn't help it!  The facts were all there;  a dog had in fact eaten her glasses.  But it was hilarious from a mom/dad perspective.  After composing ourselves, we started probing for answers to this mysterious dog. 

I will admit, our girls are sly.  They wanted us to believe that they weren't anywhere near the dog's house.  He magically appeared on the road where they were riding and attacked with no cause.  But Steve knew better.  He had seen them only ten minutes ago IN the dog's driveway and OFF of their bikes.  Not so innocent NOW, are they?  When we presented our evidence, they finally relented and admitted that they had been up to no good.  But how could we discipline when Aliza had scratches, a ripped shirt, and ruined glasses?  This was how my girls pleaded.  Ha!  And they were most worried about how Aliza was going to see without a pair of glasses to see with.

Here came the "I'm a mean mom" talk.  I explained that they made bad choices (going into the neighbor's driveway, approaching an unknown dog, lying about all the above) and now they were receiving the consequences of those choices.  No tears in the world were going to sway me.  I gave them one last hug, told them to put away their bikes, and giggled one last time with Steve.  Man were those glasses ruined!

My one hope is that they learned a lesson.  Don't lie to mom.  Please, please don't approach ANY animal without asking me and the owner first (this has always been a challenge with all of my kids).  And when we make a choice, there's a consequence.  The basic facts of life.

We'll see if it sticks.

Huh?! 10 Months??

Gage is ten months old.  It's gone by so quickly!  And not to say that I'm not counting the days till he's done nursing (because I SO am.  Hopefully next month??).  But he has been such a joy.  Here are some of the highlights:

Give me kisses on the shoulder after I pick him up.  Open-mouthed kisses.

Tries to hide his face when someone other than our family talks or smiles at him.  Example:  We were walking out of Costco and Gage was making noises with his fist and his mouth.  Like a ma, ma sound.  A woman behind us noticed and started copying Gage and teasing him.  Now the only way I even noticed her behind me was that as soon as Gage noticed her, he immediately stopped and slowly dropped his head down until it hit the bar in front of him on the cart.  And it stayed there!  He wouldn't pick it up :) 

Flaps his arms when excited.  This includes food he wants, drinks of his beloved water, a toy or book, when he wants to be held, and DOGS.  Gage loves, loves dogs.  The bigger the better.  What is it with my children and dogs?!  Luckily we have a history of living by neighbors with dogs, Massachusetts included.  Thank goodness for that!

Loves flipping through books.  I think he sat on his rug for a half an hour yesterday in the middle of a pile of books.  Even at church, when we're singing hymns, he fights to get at my hymnal.  To him it's just another book.  And his specialty are touch and feel right now. 

Can in no way crawl.  Not a bit.  Cries every time I leave him for a bit on his stomach.  But he's desperate to walk.  And he'll probably get the hang of that WAY before he crawls.  His poor little arms can't support his thick, chubby body. 

Throws everything.  And it's not the I'm a baby and I want to see what happens kind of throwing.  He thoroughly enjoys balls and seeing how far he can throw them.  The kids have taken it upon themselves to become the doggies and fetch what he dishes out (thus combining his two loves).  This has become his favorite pasttime.

This happy, rolly-polly guy is the love of our life.  He rarely cries and the kids all fight to sit by him or take turns holding him.  And he puts up with it happily.  Love you Gage!

So Long, Las Vegas.

Just about five years ago we arrived uncertain and jobless in the land of Las Vegas, NV.  But we were welcomed and made home and friends quickly.  Heck, I even discovered that I could run!  That, in and of itself, was an accomplishment :) But the wind's a changing and Steve is ready for a new job, which equals a new adventure for my family and I.  Hopefully we'll be up for the challenge and Massachusetts will be able to handle this wild, west coast bunch!  Here's a little last minute photo op to remember our lovely desert.

Who wants to be the mom?

This morning I took advantage of the fact that Aliza wanted to change and dress Gage. So yay for me, I was able to wash my face and get dressed before heading to the bus stop at 8:30AM.

I'm kind of keeping an eye on her as she is wiping his bum and getting him all cleaned up when the inevitable happens...he pees. And not just a small pee, but a huge arcing pee that I can plainly see from the bathroom where I'm getting ready! Aliza is yelling out and I'm answering back, "Cover him up!" but it's too late. As I come in laughing hysterically, I see that Gage has peed on the floor, on Aliza's arm, AND in her hair! I calmly tell her that baby pee is just like water (ha ha!) and to just go wipe it off, to which she magically does!

I finish the job, check the status of Aliza, and get Gage a new diaper (the other one was covered in pee). She handles the wetness like a pro and doesn't even want to change her clothes, to which I'm surprised. Maybe she IS a little mommy after all :)

Gage Emory Sparti

Hello out there....

If any of you still exist :)

Baby is here and perfect in every way. And I really mean it. He sleeps, eats, and pretty much never cries. Where did all my OTHER children come from??

We all love this little guy and I can't believe it's almost been two weeks since he joined our family. Here is a teaser until I get the professional photos up. Enjoy!

Battle of the Bulge

I'm going through phases...The first, is that I'll feel cute. I get a new dress. My hair gets cut and colored. I get a compliment.

Then I have the flip side. I'm weighed and measured at the doctor. I put on my swimsuit for the tenth time that week. I'm sweating like a pig in the 100 degree weather.

And yes, I'm 7 months preggo, and I know it. I'm just wondering why I couldn't be the gal that just carries her weight in her tummy. Does my entire body really need to be chubbier? And could someone explain to me why my chest needs to have grown two cup sizes already??

Some questions will never be answered.

P.S. Isn't it ironic that I decided to eat a candy bar after jotting this down :)

How Time Flies

Much has happened in the last two months. So much, I have all but forgotten my blog! But I have two very good reasons.

Reason #1: We moved. Yes, it's only a mile away from our old house, but it was still an upheaval of life. But things are progressing and we now have a wonderfully bigger home with a finished backyard. Plus, the kids are riding the bus to school! Yay for me!!

Reason #2: I'm 7 weeks pregnant! And not feeling totally fabulous. But I'm up, and I'm dressed, and that's half the battle.

So excuse my absence and I'll return when my stomach stops churning :)