The Things They Say #417

Benjamin loves bread. He most likely inherited that from my dad, who - as my grandma use to tell us - would walk out the house on his way to school with a pieces of bread in each pant pocket. 

The other day Benjamin was asking for a snack and he asked if he could have “Nothing Sandwich”. Norm asked him what kind of sandwich that was... to which he replied “Bread stuck upon one another”. Had to give it to him... how can you turn that down?

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We went bike riding the other day and when we got to the green field Nico didn’t want to take off his helmet.

Nico, it’s time to play. Let’s get your helmet off

No!

Why not?

Birds will fly up and land on my head!! Need my helmet to protect my head!!

So he kicked the ball in the green field with his helmet on.

Monkey

Dear Monkey,

Earlier this month, Benjamin turned 5 years old. And on his birthday he pointed out that I didn't do a good job at sewing you back together the last night your head started coming apart from your body.

Casually (mainly because I am running out of techniques to sew your head to your body and succeeding) I said: Benjamin, you are turning 5 today... maybe it's time that Monkey becomes a decoration?

Benjamin hesitated for a moment and then said "Yes, he can be a decoration now". The moment those words came out of his mouth I noticed the look in his eyes and my heart broke a little. Benjamin's baby years are coming to an end and I am not sure if either Benjamin or myself are ready for it (I know you are, Monkey).

Monkey, I have no idea how you've made it 5 years and we haven't lost you. Perhaps because you belong to Benjamin. Nico's giraffe didn't even make it 2.5 years before we lost it and had to buy a replacement.

Although you are supposed to be on the shelf now, I still see Benji cuddling with you - I am so sorry you are about to be decapitated... in case you haven't noticed, your head is literally hanging by a thread - and I will let it be because he still needs you and I know you will faithfully be there for him until one day you will for real stay on the shelf, but Benjamin will be the one to make that call, whenver it is.

Jack of Multiple Trades

Because extreme situations call for extreme measures and my children's hair was beyond extreme, I decided to tackle haircuts today. I had tried this a while back, I don't remember exactly when it was, but I do remember attempting to cut Benjamin's hair in the backyard... it must not have gone over very well considering I've been paying someone to do so ever since.

After watching a couple of  YouTube videos until I found the one that was easiest to follow (which I am linking on this post mainly so I can reference back to it when it's time to do this all over again), we now have two civilized-looking little boys!

Here are some before and afters: 

Although I sharpened our hair scissors with Norm's knife sharpener, it was still quite dull. Need to go ahead and order a new one on Amazon so it can get here by the time we have to do this all over again.

I'm pretty proud of of how their haircuts came out! And so proud of them staying still with minimal complaining (all thanks to PBS Kids).

Easter Rocks

For a few weeks now the boys have been asking to paint Easter rocks and do a rock hunt (instead of eggs...). After much turning their suggestion down and them insisting, I finally asked: How are we going to stuff an Easter rock for the hunt? You just hide the rock and the candy or special treat next to it, Mom!

So we finally gave in, because honestly egg supply is limited and therefore rationed so I much rather eat them for breakfast than paint them. And also because, why not? The whole world is upside down at the moment, so why not embrace Easter Rocks? Besides, Jesus was buried and rose from inside a rock... so it all ties together.

We decided to completely embrace it, because if you are going to do something you are going to be in it 100% and not half-ass it.

We went down the street and got rocks.

Yes, she was trying to eat the rocks so we moved them out of her each... she still tried to lick the dust ...

Then we washed them when we got home:

  

And also yes, Nico stuck his hand in the water stream and splashed us all. 

We had to let them dry for a couple of days

I ordered paint online for curbside pickup (starting to fully embrace this not going inside the store lifestyle).

Then we painted them!

  

 

So next we get to hide them about the yard and place a piece of candy next to them (according to Benjamin).

The Things They Say #632

Today I went to clean Nico’s nose and he became particularly upset by it. I asked him why he’s upset to which he answered “ That is MY booger. You CANT take it from me!”

The other night the boys were horsing around before bed and Nico fell and hit his forehead... after he had calmed down and I was tucking him into bed, I asked him “how’s your forehead doing?” He looked at me a bit, stuck his lip out, grabbed his forehead where he had hit it and said “not perfect”

This afternoon we were walking down the street when Benjamin stopped at a house, stared down at yard sand said “uhm, they are growing flowers out of their grass” (referencing thedandelion  weeds that has bloomed...)