Scout, Navy, Dash and I went on our annual strawberry picking jaunt.
I’ve learned the tricks of the trade, and have this day of ours down to a science.
Wear junky clothes.
Or bathing suits.
Let the boys go shirtless.
Purchase the smallest bucket, because by the time they get in the car for home, they are stuffed to the brim with strawberries.
And bring wipes.
Lots of lots wipes!
Just when I thought I was lucky enough to get a really sweet sleep-in because my kids were getting some extra zzz’s also, I realized I was wrong.
Unfortunately, someone taught Scout and Navy to use the remotes.
Guess which two got an extra Saturday morning chore?
I think Dash has found my Achilles Heel.
I am all for one of my kids asking for something a few times.
But when Dash asks for something 1000 times in a row, I could go NUTS!
(Here is Dash seconds after waking up, saying “BaBa Baba Baba”.
(Good thing I am sometimes prepared with one and the camera!)
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His latest asks:
Muh Muh Muh
“More” which has been around a long time, but hasn’t gone anywhere.
Buh Buh Buh
“Book” which is usually directed at my mom, so this one is manageable.
BaBa BaBa BaBa
“Bottle” and he doesn’t let up until it is literally in between his lips.
Poo Poo Poo
“Pool” and if anyone is in it, then clearly it is his right to be in there also.
Ereo Ereo Ereo
“Cereal” and he wants to have his own bowl with his own spoon.
Bye Bye Bye
“Bye” he will stand at the door and ask every minute of every day to go bye bye.
And if someone leaves without him, he lays on the floor kicking and screaming in a tantrum!
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I am sure there are more things that he constantly says, but these are the handful of favorites he has.
I think it is VERY safe to say that he will definitely be my persistent child.
Let’s hope that translates to getting good grades, getting the top-notch girls, getting raises, and becoming the President of the United States.
Time will tell.
On any given day, you can find this boy with a wad of bread in his hand.
Don’t be fooled, he wasn’t modest this time around with only two pieces.
There is a third hidden piece behind there.
I feel like our grocery bills have increased lately, but this whole scenario is probably one of the reasons.
This boy has incredible Monkey Sitting skills.
He’ll sit like this for 10+ minutes.
I don’t think I have seen him lose his balance even once.
He’s even conquered the balance while drinking.
Impressive.
Navy came running out of her bathroom asking if she smelled good.
She did.
A little minty/watermelony.
I asked her what her secret was.
She said, “Scout and I are making a secret potion.”
SCOUT!
He knows better!
She does too, but gets stars in her eyes when it comes to primping.
Just a huge economy tub of dry skin lotion mixed with watermelon kid toothpaste and minty adult toothpaste.
Yeah, there was a big talk about wasting.
But a bigger talk about how smelling good doesn’t trump being sticky all over.
She disagreed.
He snickered in the background.
I am always up for a good laugh, but their Karate teacher is a little too stern for two mustachioed students.
So they were sad, but I made them shave before going to class.
But the “Hitler” and the “Ponch” made their way to above their belly buttons during class, and immediately after, guess who was running around hairy again.
With all of the money put towards toys in our household, it is always a little surprising to see that they usually sit in their place forever. But there is one toy that never seems to get old for my three. Every Monday as I do laundry, one or all of them is using the laundry basket as a boat, or a trap, or a car, or a house, or a fort, etc. I wish I could go back in time to tell myself to just invest in a few white plastic baskets and call it a day.
But notice that I said “a few”.
Because poor little Dash never gets his own turn with Icka around.
As soon as she sees him holding the basket, she is SURE she can improve upon his imagination, and leads the play time.
Clearly, he thought she was using the basket this time as a jail, and was trying to become the escapee.
But she was quite the tough warden!
We certainly fill our days up with lots of different things. But when all is said and done, I think my favorite thing we do, is hang out as a family in the Family Night Room, and watch our kids play nicely together. This was one of those nights.
There was a little “Ring Around the Rosy”.
With the “all fall down” part being the best part.
And then there was a bigger brother answering the constant calls of the little brother of “boo boo boo”.
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Parties, beach, pool, mall and everything else can go by the wayside when compared to happy family time.
Dash is classic! He is easily the most independent child I have. If he is hungry, he goes and gets what he wants. If he wants to get into the bath, he gets undressed. If he wants a toy from someone, he goes and beats them up until he gets it. (Now I am rethinking it — is he independent or just naughty?)
This day, he went and got himself an applesauce. Good thing Navy was there to open it for him and get him a spoon and bib.
He was outside on a table by himself eating it. I kid you not (I have a video) the kid ate it perfectly! He didn’t spill or mess up even once. Then our little mother figure Icka came to feed him some, and it got all over the place. Down his bib and all over the table. Dash was getting SO mad at her, it was hilarious. So I went out and moved him to his high chair, where he had the spoon all to himself once again.
I love this kid’s independence.
Maybe that will translate to making the bed and cleaning his room when he is older without being asked!
Or more likely – the little mother figure will drive him mad and the whole independent thing will backfire, and I’ll get a lazy mutt.
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