Just what is for boys or gwhirls anyway...

Something has been eating at me a little. 

OK...a lot.

Last week, I was loading the dishes into the dishwasher while the boys were watching TV in the other room.  I heard the Bunny Bee say loudly 'I love that toy!  If I was a gwhirl I would really really want that toy!  Too bad it's a gwhirl toy!'  Followed by his brothers again reminding him it was a girl toy, as if that was something horrible.

I stopped what I was doing and went to see what the toy was, but the ad was already over.  The boys would not tell me.  It was just a girl toy.  I tried to explain that I don't think there are such things as girl or boy toys.  I told the Bunny Bee if there is a toy he really wants, it doesn't matter if he thinks it is for girls, I will get it for him.  He shook his head no.  I then said Hey did you know when I was little I used to play with GI Joe's and some of Uncle Stephen's cars? 

The Big Guy looked horrified.  But you're a gwhirl!  Those are for boys!!!!

It didn't matter what I said, the boys were not.budging.  I left the room after again telling them if there is something they really want, they can talk to Mommy about it.

Which brings me to a few days later - Saturday afternoon.  Birthday party for a friend.  The boys were having so.much.fun!  Bounce house, pony rides, the Easter Bunny made an appearance... and there was face painting.  Only the Doodle Bop decided to wait in line, and only if I waited with him.  So wait we did.  He was incredibly excited and listened to the older girls in front of him discussing butterflies and the like.  When he was almost at the front I asked what he wanted.  He gave me the biggest smile and said A butterfly!

For a moment, I cringed on the inside.  Did you look at the choices on the board?  There's batman...and then I stopped.  I thought about the conversation I had tried to have with the boys a few days ago.  If he wanted a butterfly, he was getting a butterfly.  When it was finally his turn to be seated, I moved behind the table to get a good shot with my camera.  The older lady doing the face painting asked what he wanted.  I heard him.  Clear as day.  'A butterfly' he grinned. 

What? she said making a face, as if she didn't hear him.  She looked at the parents in front of her and asked what he said.  No one answered.  As I stepped forward to see what the problem was, she asked who his Mom was.  I am, I said. 

What does he want?, she asked. 

A butterfly, I said. 

She made the most horrible face and said 'And that's OK with you...' 

Yes! Whatever he wants, I said.  I was horrified.  And oh so mad.  I wanted to scream He's four!  So what if he wants a butterfly!  Instead I just smiled.  That lady actually shook her head, then started to paint his face... while admonishing him a few times for moving.  My heart was breaking a little on the inside.  She asked if he wanted glitter.  Big smile.  Yes!  Shook her head again and put the glitter on.  Watching my baby's eyes light up when he saw his face, I knew I made the right decision.

Who does that woman think she is.  And what is her problem with putting a butterfly on a 4 year old boy.  Hes not making a social statement, he just wanted to be like the other kids in line and he happens to like butterflies. 

How cute does this guy look.

Sit like a mayor!

After a rough day yesterday, I got some additional not so great news last night.

So today I am thankful for my crazy boys ... who are still managing to drive me absolutely nuts, but are making me laugh at the same time. 

I woke up to all three of them sitting in an empty toy bin while wearing their Dr. Seuss hats and crouching down.  Did you think the hats were floating in mid air? 
Um...yes.  Yes I did.  Now get out of the bin and get ready for school.

The ride to school?  The Bunny Bee tells me about a dream he had last night.  I was walking on my hands and my feet were up in the air!  To which the Doodle Bop has to chime in with Oh yeah? because we always have to one up a brother...Well last night I had the most serious dream of my life!  I'm true Mom!  Wow, the most serious dream of your life?  About what?  I can't tell you.  Why not?  You can tell Mommy anything!  OK, I dreamed....nothing.  There was nothing. Nuh-thinnnn!  See?  Scary.  Seriously.  I'm true.

Scary indeed.  Good thing we got that straightened out.

After lunch I was on the phone in the next room.  Which obviously means a free for all for the boys in the living room.  Because of course.  As I'm getting off the phone I hear the all three of them chanting I see London I see France...followed by the sounds of all of them jumping on the couch trying to pull down each others pants while still trying to hold up their own. 

What...don't act like your boys don't do that.

They hear me get closer and the Big Guy yells Mommy's coming!

And one of the twins yells out Quick!  Sit like a mayor!  No idea what that means but it's quite the popular phrase with them.  I walk in the room to find them all sitting like nothing was going on, though their grins give it all away.

What were you doing?, I ask.

Nah-thinnnn! yells the Doodle Bop while they all laugh.

Today I am thankful for their random craziness.

Vampires and baby chicks

Happy Sunday!

This morning I have sort of a mishmash of things I wanted to put into posts this week but I didn't really find a way to work them all in with the week we have had.  Last night it struck me, it's all kind of kidspeak anyway...so here goes. Pieces and all.

The Bunny Bee was talking to my sister Ali the other day about Vampires for some reason.  He told her that if he was a Vampire he would drink blood.  When she told him that was pretty gross he said with all seriousness 'Yeah but if I was a Vampire it wouldn't.be.gross.'

The twins have been sick all week... alternating between stuffed up and runny noses.  When it started with the Bunny Bee I went out and bought special tissues with the Vicks vapor rub in them and the Doodle Bop has complained all week that he doesn't like them.  'They make my mouth taste too minty!'

The Big Guy and the Bunny Bee have been trying to outdo each other all morning... 'I can balance 100 pancakes' said the Bunny Bee.  'Oh Yeah?  Well I can balance 100 pieces of bacon - on my nose!' said the Big Guy.  Who wouldn't love to see that.

And the best part of the morning so far?  The Bunny Bee saw Al cracking some eggs this morning (which he has seen in the past) and stood there puzzled.  'But Dad... isn't there supposed to be Fur in there?  Where's the fur?' 

Um, fur? 

'Yeah... I thought there were supposed to be baby chicks inside the eggs'. 

And yes... then I had to go over the whole egg - baby chick - chicken...that we eat...sort of thing. 

Again.

Baby fever, pre-K style

Last night the boys and I were snuggling on the couch before they went to bed.  They had gotten in trouble so there was no TV, yet they insisted on sitting in the dark (like they do when they actually watch TV before bed). 

With nothing else to do, they suddenly had lots to chat about as they all tried to cuddle with me at the same time.  (That was so much easier when they were all tiny!)

Out of what seemed like nowhere, the Doodle Bop asked for a baby.

You want a what?! I gasped.

Baby!  I.want.a.baby!  Angel has a baby.  Cam has a baby.  I want to be a big brudder.  Get a baby... boy.

When I got over the shock I had to laugh.  Angel and Cam are his 4 year old friends in pre-K... who clearly do not have babies.  But their moms have had babies recently.  And now the Doodle Bop - who is technically the youngest in the family - thinks he can just order one up to be one of the cool kids.

The Bunny Bee and the Big Guy agreed with the baby part, but decided they wanted a gwhirll!

There was a time I (quite a while ago) where I remember asking the boys if they wanted a baby brother or sister and they all looked at me and said no more babies... and the Big Guy made some kind of comment about how there were too many kids in this house.

To think I always thought the boys would come home from school asking for things like the newest pair of sneakers someone wore, or a new toy a friend got. 

Nope, my kids are requesting a baby.

Song lyrics, sleep cleaning and tacos

Kidspeak is still alive and well in the house. 

The boys have been doing and saying the strangest things lately. 

Yesterday we made a run to Target.  On the way out the boys broke into an impromptu concert of Frosty the Snowman... where the Bunny Bee sang loudly 'frosty the snowman, had a teeny tiny cold'.  (Sing it, it sort of goes actually.)  I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe.  And he was all what, those are the words!

Last night I was on a mission to find one of the twins red Santa shirts for school in the morning.  I couldn't put one on one and not the other - the boys would throw a fit.  I tore the basement and bedrooms apart looking for this freaking shirt.  The Big Guy tends to hoard his brothers clothes sometimes (that are too small for him no less).  I had been in there while he was asleep with a flashlight taking things out of his armoire and putting them on the floor.  I told myself I would go through it all and get it organized in the morning.

Well after 11pm Al noticed the Big Guy's light on.  He found him furiously putting away all his clothes.  His eyes were open but I swear to you it was like he was still asleep.  He couldn't hold a conversation but he was so pissed about his clothes.  Al had to put him back in bed twice to stop him from cleaning (or maybe I should just say stuffing).

Today we went up to Al's office after the boys got out of school to go get tacos with Daddy and some of his coworkers.  We drove over to La Lupita in Olneyville.  The boys weren't sure they would like the food.  We eat tacos at home, but not like the ones made at La Lupita.  Let me tell you, soooo good.  I am not a giant taco fan but these were Amazing!  Fresh, not at all spicy or greasy.  The boys and I got chicken tacos and they ate it all.  Bunny Bee was addicted to eating the limes whole too.

We were sitting on one end of the room at the last table and we were talking about the decor.  Bunny Bee loved the 'party hats' on the right.



Al asked the boys if they would like to come back again for Taco Friday one day.  Doodle Bop and the Big Guy said yes, while the Bunny Bee said no.  I asked him why, reminding him how much he loved his taco.  And that child looked at me and replied ever so loudly,

"Yeah but I just don't like it here.  It's too spanishy."

I nearly died on the spot.  I clapped my hand over his mouth as my jaw dropped and every one of us at the table just stared at each other for a moment.  As I lunched into a we don't talk like that (while not being able to make eye contact with anyone else in the restaurant who surely heard that), Al reminded the Bunny Bee that he too is Spanish - just like Daddy.

This from the child who loves speaking words in Spanish where he gets to roll his R's, is always trying to get the accent just right (and even has an alter ego named Carlos...more on that another time).

Mortifying.

And the worst part is that I really drill the whole we are Italian, you guys are also Spanish sort of thing.  They know Abuelita is from Guatemala and that Bis Abuela is living there right now.  They hear Spanish spoken every weekend and we are in the slow process of teaching them the language.  It is so important to me that they know who they are and have pride in it.

For the love of God, where do these things come from.

Mercury's in what?

Is there a full moon I'm not aware of?  I do keep hearing something about mercury being in retrograde but what that means I have no idea.  The boys have been teetering on the side of crazy and while sometimes its comical, other times I just want to bang my head.  Or you know, drink wine.

Thanksgiving was so nice with the family.  The part that I didn't mention?  Is that all of my younger cousins from the teenagers on down to the littlest of the little (who is going to be 3) make up one ginormous kids table.  When my brother, sister, me and two of our cousins our age were all small we called the kids table the table they attached to the main one.  Well, we still sit there but the family has expanded so much all the rest of the kids after us (including our own) sit at one giant table in the next room. 

The twins are next to the youngest so one would think they would sit there very quietly to eat with a handful of teenagers scattered around the table too.  Not my guys.  Over all this loud noise I hear them competing to yell the loudest.  'Guys guys guys! Wait! Watch me!'  And then one sits up in his chair on his knees and dances like crazy with his eyes shut and the biggest grin on his face.  Then the other twin.  And they had everyones full attention too.

Sunday night Al and I watched Julie's girls for awhile.  The Big Guy gave his brothers the talk before the girls got there.  'No talk about marrying!'  That lasted all of 10 minutes as everyone sort of paired up.  I would hear the Bunny Bee repeatedly say 'K.  K... I love you.'  Oh my god.  When I called him into the kitchen where I was cooking by his whole name, all the girls wondered who I was talking to.  'What mom.  I do love her' he said all defiantly.  Um, you're four.  Last night I happen to notice what K wrote on the chalk board.  'I BUNNYBEE LOVE'  (OK, not really Bunny Bee but you get the picture.)  And the Bunny Bee's yelling 'No Mommy don't erase it!  It says she Loves me!'  Jules.....

Yesterday we went to pick out the Big Guy's birthday party invitations at iParty.  Which is right near Snip-its.  The boys started yelling for Snipits and I reminded them we already said goodbye to them.  The Bunny Bee says Yes, I know.  And within seconds composes a whole entire several minute song to the tune of Bye Bye Miss American Pie ... about Snip-its - 'Bye Bye Snipits Haircu..ut place...' I actually stopped the car and turned around as he sings 'I'll miss you for my life' ... and on and on.  His brothers laughed hysterically.

OK this seems like its all about the Bunny Bee.  It has really been all 3 of them, he just has the most memorable crazy stuff going on right now.  Speaking of right now, they are sitting on the couch with the tablet taking turns playing games and yelling 'Christmas Nuts!' 

Where do they get this stuff from!

Sick day

The Bunny Bee is home sick today.

Which is pretty amazing because he hasn't gotten sick since the first week of school (yeah, I said the first week. It took him all of 2 days). I think I have the unseasonably warmer weather to thank for holding off cold season longer - minus the pre Halloween snow that is.

After having a minor runny nose the last few days, he had a meltdown at bedtime over not being able to breathe. I thought he was exaggerating since he'd been fine earlier that night at my grandparents house. By 4:30 this morning all I could hear was crying from his room. Congested, could not breathe. Beside himself. Woke up his twin brother of course. I took him to my room to calm him down and the Doodle Bop followed of course. He would not sleep without him. By 5:30am they were both on the livingroom couch watching TV.

Believe me when I tell you that you would think the Bunny Bee has the plague. No temperature, still has an appetite... just the congestion... but oh the tears followed by the 'whhhhy am i sickkkkk'. This morning on the way to take his brothers to school the most adorable thing happened. I turned the radio down a bit so I could hear what was being said better.

'OK, don't fweek out. Don't panic. I'm going to school without you but I will be back very soon and I will miss you. I will even draw a picture for you' said the Doodle Bop. Then I noticed he was looking at the Bunny Bee with such concern.

The Bunny Bee told him he needed to put his name on the picture so he would know it was his and the Doodle Bop agreed. Then the Doodle Bop said 'Now I am going to give you a kiss on the forehead' and I watched in the mirror as he put his arms around his twin to give him a hug and kissed his forehead. I melted. The Big Guy chimed in with 'That's right buddy and I'm gonna give you a high five'.

Moments like these I wish I could freeze.

(Maybe without the sickness part though.)

Is it a full moon?

The last two days the boys have been full of crazy and funny things.  I have no idea why, but I'm wondering if there is a full moon I didn't know about.

Yesterday I picked up the boys from school and the Big Guy hops in the truck and tells me I need to hurry up so I can 'Follow that silver truck over there!'  I turn around and say What?!  and he proceeds to tell me one of his kindergarten friends was having a late Halloween party after school (uh huh) and she invited him.  She told him to tell me to follow her Mommy's truck home. 

Ha ha ha ha!  Yeah.  Um, no. 

The poor thing was so upset when I tried explaining that we don't just follow someone home and as nice as it was she invited him, only Mommies arrange play dates.  (This comes in second only to the time he ran out of school yelling another 5 year old's address at me so I could take him over.)

Last night I got tough with the boys and made them clean their rooms.  The twins were so proud when they were done.  They did their best to put toys away and make their beds. 

Then I noticed this.

What they said in unison with straight faces.  When I asked what THAT was under the bureau they seemed proud to tell me that's where they put 'everything else!'  Because of course.

The Bunny Bee has been begging me for days to play Cut the Rope on my phone.  While Al lets the boys play on his phone, I tend not to.  They know what they are doing, but my phone is like my lifeline and I worry there will be an accident.  This morning I sat the Bunny Bee down on my bed and reluctantly gave him the phone. 

Realizing I hadn't set the game up for him I turned around to do so and found him already pulling up the app and playing.  Then he promptly complained I hadn't unlocked enough levels.  (Um, because I suck at that game.)  I told him I didn't play much because it was not a very easy game and he said

'Oh Mommy, maybe some time I can sit down and show you how to play because I'm good at it.' 

Well OK. 

Then he throws in 'Oh but not right now Mommy, I'm busy playing.'  (Did I mention he's only FOUR?)

And lastly, leaving the house to go to school this morning?  We notice this on the front steps. 

The boys thought it was hysterical something took off the top and threw out the glow sticks from Halloween.  They decided it must have been a 'naughty squirrel'.  Where they come up with any of this I have no idea.  The hole in the side of the pumpkin's head?  Not so funny to them.

The Big Guy then asked me why he hasn't noticed hands on squirrels.

Oh.dear.

Kidspeak, sometimes British

The boys are always saying crazy things. 

Their speech is so much better now compared to when they were little, but there are still some things we seem to say a little... different.  I really started to notice it on vacation.  The twins 'helped' during a magic show by yelling things at a clown.  "Abracadabra. Alla ka-zehm!"  (Instead of kazam.  The Doodle Bop sounds British, I swear.) 

Audrey tweeted something the other day about the way her boys say the word 'girl' (like gurl)... made me laugh because when mine say it it sounds like gah-whirls.  I can't even duplicate they way they say it, but all three say it the same way. 

When the Doodle Bop was smaller there was a commercial about the Earth and he would point at the TV and scream 'Ert! Ert!'  Which for some reason took me weeks to realize he was pointing out the Earth. 

Another oldie but goodie?  Boo bananas.  That my friends?  Would be bananas.  No matter how many times it drove me nuts and I had to correct it, I was still sad to see them finally get it right. 

Things that still come out pretty funny?

Banilla.  Vanilla.

Boo boo bandaids.  Bandaids.


Bwah ders.  Brothers.


Troop a door.  Jupiter.  (Come on, didn't you see that one coming?!  Obviously!)

And one that cracks me up every time.  All three say Statume.  Statue.

But the best part?  Not only is anything that does not move become a statume, but there is the most famous of all.  I'll see if you can guess.

The Statume Mah-libertee!