Quotes

Have you ever read the quotes I have on the side of this blog? They make me think of Stephanie.

"I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." — Marilyn Monroe

Romans 7:18b
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

You all thought I was just being funny with those, didn't you?

I do like this next one best though. . .

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." — Dr. Seuss

Should Have Named Her "Herman"

S I G H

Oh, my Sweet Girl.

I seriously need to have a talk with your older brother and sister because they so did not prepare me for you.

You're so clever and sweet and smart, but, girl, come on.

So, Monday, I was upstairs with the little ones. Stephanie went to the bathroom and came back and said, the wind blew the door shut.

I said, "What? The window isn't open. It's cold out." and then forgot about it thinking she was in her pretend play mode.

Later I went into the bathroom and it was COLD in there. The window was open. It's an old window and I don't know how to explain it - it's like deep set into the wall so there's kind of like a shelf there. And it opens downward and basically rests on the shelf.

And it was shattered.

It's still in the pane but it's broke all to heck. She had climbed on the sink, unlocked it, and then must have dropped it open. Which probably would have been okay except there was something lying on the shelf and the glass part landed on that and just destroyed the window.

She felt really bad when I told her it was broken. She had no idea she had broken it. She felt even worse when I told her I was going to take the money out of her piggy bank for it. She just started crying like the world was ending (she's a miser in training). Finally, I had to tell her I wouldn't really take her money but she needs to just leave some things alone.

I'm just so in shock or something. Just in case you're wondering - this makes the 5th broken glass in about a month for us. First some idiot broke into the delivery truck and smashed both side windows and a mirror. Then last week some drunk idiot got thrown out of the bar next door and smashed our big (over 5'x6') store window. And now this.

This one, unfortunately, is just going to get cardboarded, taped up, and covered up until a later date. It was a piece of crap window and when I replace it, I'd like to get one that doesn't leak so much cold air in the winter! It's also a north-facing window so it was going to be covered up soon anyway to keep the drafts out.

But still, Baby, I'm counting the days until you start school - you clearly need more stimulation than I can give you.

Somewhere, up there, (my) Grandpa Koehler is laughing his @$$ off. I think I can even hear him.

Artwork Wednesday #7

Ok, I drew the outline of the donkey and its wings but Stephanie asked me to and she colored it in.

November 2009 - 4.25 years old

"Dragon Donkey in Flowers"

Headache

My little Stephie's forehead has been hurting her for a few days now. That means she has a headache. I called the doctor and they're not worrying about headaches, they said watch her breathing and if that gets labored, bring her in or take her straight to the emergency room.

Luckily, none of the kids have any problems breathing.

Anyway, I know she didn't feel good Monday night because she sat right beside me on the couch and fell asleep on my shoulder. So I put her to bed in her clothes.

At midnight she woke up crying - she was upset because the light was left on in the living room but nobody was in there. So I turned it off and she was fine.

At 5am, she came in my room all upset because she couldn't find her pajamas. I put her back into bed and told her she didn't need them this one night. I didn't even realize she had taken her other clothes off until I was covering her up so I just put two blankets on her. (Hey, I was tired - I'd been sick all day too and I don't like 5am!)

When she got up in the real morning, I gave her some more Tylenol but, otherwise, she seemed to be back to her usual self.

The Craziness Continues

John was watching the kids the other day while I worked in the store. (Win-win - I get a break from the kids and he gets a break from the store.)

Stephanie asked him for some water. She had just finished some milk and it was only about a half an hour until dinner so he told her he would get her some when it was dinnertime.

About 2 minutes later, he hears a quiet sigh, and a "I'm so thirsty."

He didn't say anything.

Another 2 minutes later, there's a slightly louder sigh and another "I'm soooo thirsty."
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Now when she asks to do something and we tell her no, she advises us, "When I'm a grown-up, I'm going to {insert whatever it is she was told no for here}."

She's going to eat cookies before dinner, stay up late watching Futurama, carry the cats all over the house (she does that now, so we try to intervene when they get tired of it), drink soda all day long. . . on and on the list goes.

And, apparently, I'm still going to be living with her then. It is not easy for a 4-year-old brain to grasp the fact that when she is a grown-up, she will probably rather not be living with Mommy.
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She also tries to be sneaky. Just now, she asked if she could use the glitter paints and I told her she could - after her nap. So I see her walking in a sneaky way and tell her to come over here. So she hides what she's carrying behind a box and comes over. Eventually, she brought it over and it was some glitter paints. I thought I had them all put up out of reach. Apparently not.
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Yesterday, we went to the store and she tried to steal a toy by hiding it in her pants. I might not have noticed but she was grabbing her crotch and walking funny. I was going to ask if she needed to go to the bathroom but it was pretty obvious she was hiding something.

Guess who gets to ride in the cart next shopping trip?
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I put her down for a nap the other day and laid down with her. She yawned and said, "You were right, Mommy, I am tired."

Frightening Fours

You know, I thought once we were out of the 3's, it would be smooth sailing for awhile.

But ever since this child turned FOUR, she's been trying to give me a coronary.

This weekend, she flooded the bathroom AGAIN. This time she put too much toilet paper in the toilet and it rebelled. That was so much fun - I really, really enjoy cleaning the bathroom and would like to do it every day. That was sarcasm, folks.

And last night, I found her sitting in the bathroom sink. Her forehead hurt, she said, so she was dabbing water on her head.
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Sunday, at Hayden's last football game, she told everyone who asked that her name is "Snow White."

I guess that makes me the wicked step-mother. Which is better than the Disney alternative - that would be the beautiful, patient, kind, sweet, DEAD mother.

Why are all the Disney mothers dead? Snow White, Cinderell, even the newer ones like Belle and The Little Mermaid - all the mothers are dead. Pinochio never even had a mother. Bambi. Oh, wait - Sleeping Beauty's mother was alive! And her father too! Of course, they didn't raise her but Yay! for Aurora Dawn! That was her name, wasn't it?

Well, I have to go now - Snow White wants to play on the computer. And, the vacuum has been sitting neglected all weekend. And that laundry hasn't jumped into the washing machine on its own yet.

Didn't Want a Nap?

I put Stephanie down for a nap today.

She said,

"I thought I was going to have a good day today. But I guess not. All because of YOU."