Exploring new interests

 I've given myself until the dryer buzzes for computer, so I'd better hurry. Those clothes are drying fast. Here's what we've been up to. Cleaning out the dead flowers from last year. You know, just in time for it to snow the next two mornings. My daffodils are about the bloom and the tulips are coming up. I thought snapdragons were annuals, but it seems like they have lived through the winter. I'm going to try growing columbines this year.

 Clara does this every Sunday. We read the paper, leaving it in a nice pile for the next person. If she is the next person, though, the paper is scattered all over the living room. She seriously peruses each paper, some more than once. Here she is solemnly contemplating an ad for Steven's Henager College. It's never to early to plan for your education. She spent over half an hour doing this yesterday.

And a little setup for the next picture: Last week I was laying on my bed when Nathan climbed up and said, "Want to look great, mom?" He then tried to apply the still screwed down lipstick he had onto my face. So I put some on, and then he wanted some. I regret to say I let him put some on, not because of the inherent wrongness of a boy wearing makeup, but because of this:

Today when I got home I didn't hang my purse on its hook. If I hang it up, it's safe. If it's anywhere else, its contents are scattered. Nathan likes to play that all the cards in my wallet are train tickets. And he had a lovely time with my lip gloss. He tried to shove it back down with his hand when he was done. Luckily though, the damage was minimal. I took him up and cleaned lip gloss off his teeth and lower lip. He had a great time, though, admiring his "mustache" in the mirror. Mustaches are manly, even if they're made by lip gloss. Right?

After a week's hiatus, mostly for self defense, we're back in underwear today. Not me, I always wear underwear. Self defense, for whom? Mostly my couch.

So, barring diapers for sleeping time, we've gone accident-free all day.

After the frustration of last week, though, I took  my revenge. I put the green potty away.

Today he asked where it was, and I told him the green potty was on vacation.
I really hated cleaning that thing.

As for Clara, she says "hi" sometimes. It's really cute. Right now she's being cute, hoping I'll let her type. It will soon devolve into screaming, though, so I better keep it short. This kid can scream.

Sorry, lappy don't got no pictures. It's not like we're withholding pictures to cover up any major injuries or anything.

No, really, the kids are fine. No bruises or anything. Just one snotty nose.

Learning new skills.

Knock on wood, but potty training is going spectacularly. Yes, the potty did stay in the kitchen for a couple of days. But, the green potty is now in the top of the closet (I got tired of cleaning it). And we've progressed to wearing underwear, and, AND, Nathan woke me up last night to go potty. I was so happy I had a really hard time going back to sleep. His diaper was still dry when he got up this morning. I'll remember that he did pee on the kitchen floor yesterday, though, to keep me grounded...And now we're on to the second pair of the day. Ah, reality.

Also this weekend, Clara learned to go down stairs. I'm really happy about this one as well. As she is. My kids are getting all sorts of independent. I'm loving it.