Lessons of the Day

And so here is what I learned today:
1. Washable marker does actually wash off of dressers, barbie houses, books, clocks and kids, but is not as easily washed off of the CAT! Izzy is now sporting a nice set of blue stripes. When asked why her room was markered the doer replied "I wanted to make you happy." and when asked about the cat the answer was "I wanted to make her happy". I think the offender now understands that putting black marker all over a white dresser (among other things) does NOT make Mommy happy!

2. A 3-year-old does NOT understand that you don't need to get out every single present and play with it the day after you get it. Note to self: next year hide some gifts for a week.

3. Don't ask the girl if she would like a bacon and cheese omelet. The answer will be NO! Instead ask if the girl likes bacon (yes), eggs (yes) and cheese (yes). Then make the omelet, cut it in half, give half to the younger brother...at which point the girl will start asking (or screaming) for a whole one like brother's...NOT CUT UP. At which point, produce the other half, strategically placed on a Princess plate. Smiles all around!!

4. Never give one child a new toy for the tub without also having something new for the other one to play with. Or else the one who didn't get the new toy will start dumping cup-fulls of water on the head of the other one...resulting in blood-curdling screams that are magnified by the bathroom's acoustics. Smartly, I found a long-lost doll for the younger one to play with ending said water fight!

5. If the littlest one won't pick up his own toys and you generously start doing it yourself, remember to put away the box of chocolates from the table BEFORE you start cleaning up. Or else the non-cleaner-upper will find the box of chocolates and start eating them (and feeding them to the dog) without you knowing. :(
6. No matter how much your head knows that going in to rock a screaming boy will only delay the cry-it-out part of the night, your heart still hurts hearing him cry "Mama!" Blogging will help busy your mind while the crying subsides and by the time you are done blogging the house will be quiet again!