Bewitching Hour

Popsicles post quiet time.
Visit with Milly, the neighbor's dog.
Quick paint project for girls.
Make their dinner.
Water from paint all over floor.
Girls don't like dinner. Not eating.
Drop part of my dinner on dirty floor.
Eat it anyway.
Work meeting online at 6p.
Sawyer vomits into my hands and on floor at 5:46p.
Fast cat bath in kitchen sink.
TV is not working.
Meeting in 3 minutes.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom dvd will do.
Go to online meeting.
Sawyer playful, seems ok.
Sawyer bites Sullivan.
Sullivan's ok.
Finish meeting.
Mama sighs in relief.
Daddy calls...
Wants to see girls before working out.
Daddy swings home.
Girls refuse to give hugs or kisses.
Mama cleans up dinner mess.
Girls warm to Daddy.
Ahhh...sweet smiles.
Daddy goes to work out.
Mama puts girls to bed.
Daddy comes home.
Daddy gets called in to hospital.
Mama needs to mop kitchen floor.
5p-8p.
Truly the Bewitching Hour.

A Grape Setback

As a mom of two girls, I try to work on "lady-like" manners every so often, you know...sitting with legs together, keeping a dress or skirt down, table manners, etc. Well, yesterday I suffered a bit of a setback in this quest as I overheard Lee and the girls at the lunchtable. Sawyer and Lee had just begun rolling grapes back and forth on the table and Sullivan wanted in on the action and grabbed a grape or two of her own. And then this happened:

Lee: Hey Sullivan, put your mouth on the edge of the table and I'll roll one in!
Sullivan: Yea!!!
Lee: Wait, watch out for Sawyer's foot!

And then it all broke loose with Sullivan drooling on the table's edge, trying to gobble up grapes, Sawyer's feet on the table (and in Sullivan's mouth as well?) and squished and lost grapes on the floor.
I had to laugh!

Manners will begin another day. Ha!

My I love you

A friend recently posted a piece of this poem on her blog and it seemed to capture so much of the joy and challenges as a parent. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

                                               You are my I love you   by Maryann K Cusimano

I am your parent. You are my child.

 I am your quiet place, you are my wild.
I am your calm face,  you are my giggle.
I am your wait, you are my wiggle.
I am your audience, you are my clown.
I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down.
I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice.
I am your dandelion, you are my first wish.
I am your water wings, you are my deep.
I am your open arms, you are my running leap.
I am your way home, you are my new path.
I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath.
I am your dinner y,ou are my chocolate cake.
I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake.
I am your finish line, you are my race.
I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace.
I am your favourite book, you are my new lines.
I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine.
I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo.
I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you.