Tantrums Galore

Today is the third day in a row the little Pip has thrown an hysterical tantrum.  Monday night, she lost it because she didn't want to go to the bathroom herself and we told her that my going meant I would take her pillow pet for the night.  It went downhill from there with her screaming, pushing me, crying and fighting both me and Hans over her pillow pet (I ended up making the decision for her because she obviously needed to pee and would not go without me) and then over listening to Hans talk to her.  After more than a half hour of this, with her screaming my name from time out over and over again, she finally settled down and Hans got her back to bed.  I went to hug her and the little twit, who even worked herself into hyperventilating, said she still wanted her Christmas lights on because she wanted to read.

Yesterday's tantrum was because I began to put her hair in a ponytail.  I was brushing her hair and had started putting in the holder when she came unglued.  She hadn't even noticed until I was almost finished and then screamed, cried and stomped her feet as she pulled away from my and tried pulling at her hair.  That was another ten minutes or more.  I put her in her room, telling her the behavior unacceptable.

This morning is Lunchbox Day at preschool.  Abby kindly gave her some Valentine hearts candy to put in her lunchbox for school.  I put her peanut butter bread in and some carrots.  Little miss decided she didn't want anything but the candy and lost it when I disagreed.  More hysterics.  Argh.

She is so STUBBORN.  However, she has seemed less inclined to require I accompany her to the toilet...

What Color?

After climbing onto her father's lap, Pip looks at him and asks, "Papa, what color am I?"  Hans doesn't know what to say, so she asks again, louder, "Papa!  What color am I?"  Hans fumbles for a response, but still doesn't say anything.  Exasperated, she looks at him and says, "You are green, I am pink, and Abby is purple."

Why I Shake My Head

Hans and the children are watching Merlin.  Pip is especially excited about this show which is based on the stories of Arthur and Merlin and Camelot.  While watching the other night, Pip gets involved in her imagination.

Pip: I have a 'tending jar of gummy hammers.  Eli!  Do you want a gummy hammer?  I have a 'tending jar.  Rainbow ones.  Do you want to try a 'tending rainbow gummy hammer, Mama?  A 'tending one.  Rainbow one.

She earnestly repeats this to her father, who says he wants two of them and teases her when she only puts her hand to his one time because she didn't really have two in her hand for him just one even though she said she had two.

This is a normal evening.

Most days I play Candyland and Feed the Kitty with Pip.  These are her games.  She cheats.  With Candyland, she's no longer stacking the deck with a candy card on top just for her, but she does sometimes forget that she's already gone and goes again.  With Feed the Kitty, she's started sneaking mice from the kitty bowl to give to me instead of giving me hers when she is supposed to.  I even saw her hiding some mice under her dress while she was playing.  She is a good sport when she loses, although we often have to continue to play until she wins.

Her drawings have matured from happy balloons and happy potatoes to rock people with smiling faces and arms and legs.  She said she drew glasses on one yesterday, but it had to go in her save box and that's why she couldn't let me see it because it was for "save."

I've signed all the children up for indoor soccer.  Abby and Eli both have games on Saturdays, nowhere near the same time, for the next 6 weeks or so.  Pip just has soccer on Tuesday eves for the month of February.  It's going to be fun watching them, especially the little one running on the turf in the sports center with other 3-5 year-olds.

Snow Days

We just got the phone call from Arlington to say that school is closed tomorrow too.  That'll be the third snow day.  I'm sure I won't find out about the kids until about 5AM.  One snow day is fun.  The kids spend most of the time outside playing, sledding, making snowmen and snow angels, and freezing their fannies.  The second snow day is okay.  Kids are still excited to miss school, still excited to play outside, but they mysteriously get colder faster than the day before.  What am I going to do with another snow day?  Our house is little and the hubs likes it quiet for reading.  I'm annoying since I sing-narrate what I'm doing with Pip...

Hans took the older kids to the park for sledding again today.  Pip didn't get to go because she needed a nap.  She feel asleep in Hans's arms last night at 7 and slept 12 hours.  She sobbed and sobbed about having to take a nap, finally falling asleep clinging to me in my bed.  Hans is now on a date with Pip to get ice cream at Dairy Queen.  She was so excited to have her special time with him to the "milkshake store."  Can't wait to hear her report when she gets home.

I'm a Terrible Mother

That's what my oldest said.  Why?  Because I insisted she change her nice boots for her snow boots and put on snow pants, even though she had already dressed and was about to head outside.  Pip is mad at me too for similar reasons.  She does not want to wear two pairs of pants, especially if one is her snow pants.

I don't care if she thinks I'm a terrible mother.  I know that someday she'll do the same thing to her daughter that I'm doing to her.  Warm and dry is better than cold and wet or frozen.  I know she'll remember me the same way I remember Mom.  Frustratingly right.

Um, Well, Uh...

I have so many things I need to write about and put into this blog.  Except I'm going to write about Abby's day.

She started regaling the events of today in a horrified manner the moment she walked in the door.  She described in detail her disgust at having to watch that movie about puberty and periods.  It included rather graphic illustrations, including distinctive hair and breast growth.  She's upset that I signed the permission slip for her to watch the video.  It even had animation for the egg's journey ending with a girl's cycle.  Her voice raises with disdain as she recounts the entire video.  I did ask her if there was anything other than what I already covered with her and she confirmed there wasn't.  So there you go.  We survived our first kid through the trauma of learning about her body.  Praise God.

Squarrels

Hans is playing Squarrels with the kids at the table.  Hazel has the golden acorn and doesn't want to let Abby pick any cards from her hand.  She sings about how she's so good at Squarrels.  Ooops...Abby snitched the golden acorn from her and Hazel shrieked.  She shouts every play.  Eli's praying he doesn't get the rotten acorn in the Whirlwind...

I'm really going to have to video this sometime for everyone to see the entertaining value of this.