When my eldest was a baby, we used to coo and google at her. She hated diaper changes, so we’d make a big deal out of how fun they were and how awesome she was. Often we’d say, “Ooh! Stinky butt! Stinky, stinky butt!” And feign gagging sounds. It would make her giggle and laugh.

By the time she was verbal she’d say “Tinky butt!” everytime we’d sit her down for a diaper change.

Pretty soon, though, that endearing phrase became an issue. Especially when she started calling her Grandma “tinky butt” or perfect strangers, “You a tinky butt!” So we tried to curb the problem by declaring “No more stinky butts.”

Eventually DD1 out grew it, just in time for DD2 to start saying it. DD2 finally out grew it as well, and we finally thought we were done with the stinky butt phrase.

Except, about two weeks ago, my youngest daughter started saying it! Sheesh! We’ve decided to just ignore it and remind her that “we don’t say stinky butt.”

So, last night I was laying on the couch and my DD3 was cuddled up next to me. She made a funny face and declared, “STINKY BUTT!” I shook my head at her and was surprised to hear my 21 month old happily declare, “Stinky butt. I said a bad word, ’stinky butt.’”

Oy Vey.

I have no idea who told her “stinky butt” is a bad word. I know it didn’t come from myself, as I don’t consider it a bad word. Just inappropriate.

Either way, it’s a crack up hearing my youngest talk about saying “bad words.”

My Dad has been in Nebraska for over a month now. As soon as my folk’s sell their home, my mom and my younger sister and niece will be joining him. My girls don’t understand why “Papa” is gone to “Ne-gah-ska” and keep trying to figure out when he’s coming home, or when they’ll get to see him again.

A couple days ago I was herding everyone around trying to get us all dressed for the day. My eldest asked me where we were going and my middle daughter explained, “See Papa in Negahska.”

I had to explain, that “No, we’re not going to Nebraska today. Instead we’re headed to the store.”

Then today we pulled up at Costco to do some shopping and DD2 asked me, “Papa in Costco?”

No, honey. Nebraska and Costco are not the same place.

*** *** ***

My youngest really like touch games. She can recite the rhyme to “around the world” complete with the actions for tracing your face and tickling your chin. She also likes for me wiggle her toes while I recite, “This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none, and this little piggy went wee, wee, wee, all the way home!”

So, this evening, we were sitting together while I sorted laundry, and she leaned back. She lifted up one foot and asked me with the most earnest eyes, “Market toes, please?”

What a smartie.

In about four minutes I’m headed to bed. I’m not in the least tired, but I know staying up is not the wisest decision. Especially considering that it’s nearly midnight.

I’m actually in the mood to gab on the phone, but realize most of my friends and family are sane enough to actually already be in bed. So, I’m resisting the urge to bother people who are already asleep, and instead am doing a quick update here before I make myself turn in for the evening.

Probably the biggest news is that in about 12 days Dh, myself, and DD3 are headed to Punta Cana for a mini-vacation in the Domincan Republic. I’m way too excited for my own good, and can’t hardly wait till we board the plane. Although, I am a little concerned about the fact that our layover in Charlotte is thirty minutes! Gulp. Wish us luck on that one!

My two eldest girls will be staying with Grandma and DFS3 will be in respite care with a good friend.

It’s not the way we normally vacation, but it’s how it works out this year.

I know DD1 and DFS3 will do fine. DFS3 is still fairly oblivious and is happy as long as he’s fed and held. DD1 is a raging extrovert who thrives on newness. She’ll see the time as an opportunity to try new things and have almost-undivided Grandma attention.

The child I’m the most worried about is DD2. She’s my shy-gal. She’s also my most likely to be homesick. I spoke with her today about how she is going to spend the week with Grandma. She seemed excited. But then, she was that way when it was time to have a sleep-over with the cousins. All excited and happy until the reality of the situation hit home.

Be praying for her if you think about her next week. She’s going to need lots of brave vibes and encouragements.

Our purpose said best here:

“They [The Tea Parties] are about opposition to our tax money being spent in a reckless, foolish fashion and at an unprecedented rate, tripling the deficit with thousands of earmarks and tons of pork. They are about a bunch of politicians who signed onto a spendulus bill they didn’t bother to read and that they rushed through before anyone else had time to read either. They are also about the government taking over private enterprise — determining the salaries of privately employed individuals, demanding resignations from US executives and even getting into the business of guaranteeing our automobile warranties.”

It really is time that we stood up and had our voices heard. Stop spending money you don’t have, on things we don’t need or want.

My husband just recently celebrated a milestone birthday. To commemorate it, my kiddos and I set out to make him an extra special birthday cake.

In this house, “extra special” generally means: “Something we’ve never tried before, but think we’ll have a blast doing.” So, inspired by Rachel’s rainbow cake, we set out to make one for my hubby.

As per instructions, we divided our cake batter into six bowls, and then I placed a little spoon of food dye into each bowl and asked my girls to mix the batter up. The girls had a blast mixing the colors in the batter and watching it transform from a dull white cake batter, into a vibrant shade of pink, green, purple, red, orange, or blue.

At one point, DD1 started giggling; she gave me a hug and exclaimed, “Our cake is like magic!”

After we baked the rainbow cake, we carted it off to my sister to have her guide us through the process of turning the magical rainbow into a more manly replica of Dh’s Police badge.

Everyone got a giant kick out of A) surprising Dh with the badge and B) watching his reaction when he opened the cake to find all the yummy magic the girls had packed into his surprise rainbow cake.

My youngest daughter is 18 months old and currently working on catching her pees in the potty chair. Consequently she spends most of her day running around nekky. We have lots of little talks about “pee-pee in the potty” and not a half an hour ago I put her on the toilet to give it another whirl.

She didn’t need to go so we decided to abandon that idea and just go sit down and eat breakfast. About five minutes into breakfast and she looked up and eyed me with bright eyes.

“Mama! Go potty! Mama! Go Potty NOW.”


So I swooped her up and off we ran to the bathroom. Her little legs dangling with my palms under her armpits. Carrying her away from my body, just in case she really did need to go right. now. As we hurried, she looked me in the face. Smiled the sweetest smile and declared, “I wuv you, Mama.”

She melts my heart.

The house is half asleep. DD1 and DD2 were shuffled off to bed promptly at 8:00, and the two youngest appear to be hanging in for the long haul. I’m not sure why they’re insisting on staying awake. Especially since my 18 month old just approached me and stated, “Mama. I’m dored.”

I clarified, “You’re bored?”

She nodded, “Yes. I’m dored.”

Ugh. Then go to bed. LOL.

Seriously. I spent an hour on the phone waiting on hold to argue with the US about my two youngest daughter’s citizenship status. Just so that I can get them a passport. Meanwhile I’ve made no headway and am >.< this close to calling my State Representative.

After I got off the phone, I headed out to my folks. Only to nearly run out of gas. I had to go to THREE different gas stations before I could find one that would allow me to use a Debit card at the pump. I’d have gone in to pay, except I had four kids in the car. Two of them (the babies) were asleep, and I was just not doing that to them. Not for stupid gas.

I left half my kids with my folks and went up to Children’s hospital for DFS3’s appointment. We were there nearly all afternoon. Got back to our car to return home and found out my van no longer reverses.

I. am. not. making. this. up.

We got home in time to have dinner and say Good-bye to my Dad. Who, is officially moving to Nebraska. My mom will follow as soon as their house sells. So, at least she’ll still be around.

But still. Today sucked. As my eldest says, “really alot.”

And the sad fact is that today is still not over. It’s 9:00 p.m. and I have an entire house to clean in preparation for DFS3’s caseworker and GAL visit.

Sigh.

I’m tired. I want to go crawl in a hole and rest for a week. Today was exhausting.

I looked at the calendar today and was stunned to see how far into March we’ve already made it. 2009 is leaping forward at warp speeds! I’m almost dizzy thinking about it.

One of the highlights of March, was our grand camp out to get DD1 into kindergarten next fall. We’ve gone back and forth as a family about what we really want to do. Send her to this very specific school, or homeschool. Because entrance into this Kindergarten is so stiff, we decided to go ahead and enroll her. We can always back out at the last minute, but we won’t have the opportunity to send her at the last minute.

If that makes any sense?

Anyways, in order to ensure a spot for her in the 2009-2010 Kindergarten class, Dh camped out for three days. He was joined by over 200 families waiting in line for the very same purpose. Thankfully, we were the fourth family in line (third family waiting for K5), so we can happily declare that DD1 has a spot reserved.

The three days of camping were a hoot for the whole family. Thankfully the weather held up. Despite being insanely windy, temperatures stayed above freezing and we had a blast hanging out together as a family in our very own tent.