My Own Barbershop Quartet

Barbershop meets Show Choir. My not-so-inner music nerd is jumping for joy at this video. See, music is cool and fun! May your jaw fall open on awe, and stay that way, as mine did.

Life with 3 boys leads to many interesting situations, comments, and questions. Often I get asked if I am planning to have my own basketball team. No, I reply. Now I have a new response. "No, I am not planning to have my own basketball team. I plan to have my own Barbershop Quartet." When they ask why on earth I would do something like that, I can just point them to my music degree and then show them this video. "Ah, I now understand,"will be the response. Now, how to convince my fabulous husband (who can sing quite well, and in tune) to be the bass?

Life is Nuts

Life is insane, as usual.

My fabulous husband went back to work Monday. Hooray for rejoining the ranks of the employed. On the down side, I am back to being the only adult around during the day. No more leaving the kids home while I go run errands. He also showed the kids the woods and creek behind the house. It is now common to have missing children, only to holler out the back door and wait for three little, very dirty hooligans to come trooping back up from the creek.

Thomas is doing well in school. He loves to read and reads to all of us often. Shocker, the kid needed glasses. One of these days we will get a picture up.

Jerry is Jerry. Less than a year until he is in school and we are all looking forward to the day.

Michael is no longer a baby. He looks so much like Jerry even I get them mixed up sometimes.

I am still teaching music and loving it. I am also doing well with Pampered Chef and loving that too. It is nice to get paid to have fun.

Currently I have two little hooligans in the back yard, still wearing their feety pajamas. Neither one wants to get dressed. I am quite enjoying the hysterical laughter coming through the open door. Love this weather! Wait, kids outside, laughter, this can't be good. Yikes, gotta run!

Tape It Together?

Michael comes downstairs and says, "Mommy, Thomas popped Jerry's Balloon."

Soon after Jerry comes downstairs with a sad look on his little face that still has red birthday cake frosting on it. Balloon pieces are in one hand, the string is dragging behind him in the other hand.

"Thomas broke my balloon. We need to tape it back together."

Good concept, Jerry. Good thinking. I think this job is a bit much for a few pieces of tape. Although, if we had a balloon we could have Thomas blow it up and it should float to the clouds with all that hot air he is full of.

You're Serious

Michael: Daddy, you're serious?

Daddy: yup

M: Daddy, you serious.

D: yup

M: Mommy, you serious?

Mommy: as a heart attack.

a little later, from the boys' room upstairs

M: Thomas, you serious?

M: Jerry, you serious?

Is he serious too? I think not. Now, where on earth he learned this one is anyone's guess. What a funny kid.

It Fits, Sort Of

Jerry, are you wearing Michael's shorts?

giggle giggle

I check the tag on his shorts.

Jerry, why are you wearing Michael's shorts, silly boy?

I didn't have any, so I took Michael's!

giggle giggle, goofy grin

Have You Ever...?

Been a while, I know. Been a bit busy around our house. Trip to the beach, time with lots of family, meeting new family, more doctor appointments than I have fingers and toes, starting school again, new students, and now home enhancements.

Every day I seem to find myself saying "I never thought I would...." Most of these are directly related to the hooligans. Most have my just hanging my head or walking out of the room until I can figure out how on earth to manage this new misadventure.
Have you ever been grateful to know that rubbing alcohol quickly and easily takes pretty pictures off the bodies of three little hooligans...



We won't mention the arms, legs, belly button, bum or other unmentionable parts that were also colored.

Have you ever cleaned ice cream or sherbet off the floor. The same bedroom floor on multiple occasions?

Have you ever cleaned the stuffing from a cat costume tail out of the space where the handle of the vacuum is supposed to slide down into the vacuum for easier storage? And then also found a toothbrush in said vacuum handle storage space thing?


Have you ever walked into a bedroom only to discover that your 4 year old decided that under the window is a good place to pee? Nevermind the bathroom that is only 10 steps away.

Have you ever scraped the popcorn off your ceiling? Have you ever cut holes into your ceiling? Have you ever eaten two plates full of mac n cheese and 3 hot dogs for dinner? Have you ever had your leg fall asleep while you are writing a blog post?

What on earth does tomorrow have in store for us?

A Nasal First

We had our first object other than a finger shoved up a nose today. Is it terrible that my first thought was "Crap! I don't want to drive to the pediatrician again today, and we have 2 more other appointments that I can't reschedule."

No, it wasn't Jerry. I am SHOCKED!

Michael was on the stairs fussing, so I went to rescue him from his brothers. He also needed a diaper change. I quickly discovered. Boy did that child stink! As I picked him up and started to put him on the floor I noticed something green in his nose. Not booger green, this was metallic, shiny, green. That silly little boy had stuck a bead up his nose. Thanks for the Dress Up necklaces, Annnnnntamanda.

Smart Mommy that I am tried to get him to blow out like blowing his nose. He blew out his mouth. I tried to show him. Not exactly working. Mommy moment... close the nostril without a bead and blow. Yes, I am brilliant. You may now bow down to my incredible brain powers. One quick blow and a bead flew out at me. I have never been so happy to see something come out of my a child's nose.

Bead, in the trash. Michael, running around with his big brothers.

Moral of the story... only objects the size of your finger should be placed in your nose. They are much easier to get out.

Fun idea... if you do stick an object smaller than your finger in your nose and it gets stuck, try closing the other nostril and aiming for your brothers. Their reaction could be pretty funny. If anything, you could have a contest to see who can shoot the farthest.

Mom of the Year Award, here I come.

I Spy

On the way home from dinner at Lolly's last night.

Kids: "Let's play I Spy!"

Thomas and Jerry fight over who gets to spy first.

Michael: "I Spy that house over there!" as we drive past.

I think we need to work on how to play this game with Michael.

A Horse Named Carl

We were out running errands earlier today. We stopped at a local farm for some fresh corn to grill. Across the street is a beautiful house with lots of green grass. And eating that green grass was a horse.

Jerry, "Look! A horse! I think his name is Carl"

We start to laugh, look at each other, shake our heads, and wonder where on earth he comes up with these things.

Jerry, "You want to keep me. You want to keep me forever and ever. I tell funny jokes."

Yes, Jerry. We do want to keep you forever and ever. Your jokes may not make any sense at all, but you sure are a funny kid. We can't imagine how boring our life would be without you.

And pink is his favorite color. In case you haven't heard. And purple is his other favorite. And he will jump off the top of a play set, but is terrified of butterflies. Crazy kids!

Calling All Baseball Fans

We were flipping channels this evening and came across a baseball game. Mets vs Yankees, in case that matters to you. Michael got a bit excited. So that might be an understatement. He went on and on like this for quite some time. He told us "out" at one point too. We both just sat and laughed at him. He is still holding the baseball and glove. He may have to go to bed with them. I think another family outing to small ball Carolina Mudcats is in order. What will he do if he gets to meet the players or walk onto the field again? And yes, this happens any time he sees baseball on TV and he carries the glove just about anywhere we go. He even puts socks on his hands for gloves and wears his bike helmet for a batting helmet. You could say he is a fan.