Lucky Santa!

You all know how excited I am that someday, maybe, hopefully soon, I'm gonna get to be a teacher.  However if I had to have another job, I guess being Santa would be an amazing second choice.  I mean seriously?  How awesome would it be to be the one who gets to wait until four precious babies fall asleep, and then sneak up and back from the attic down the chimney with a whole bunch of things you just know they're gonna love and lay them out near the Christmas tree.  And to be able to anticipate that look of joy, that expression of pure, "holy cow did i really just get one of THOSE!?  AND A SET OF THESE TOO??"  on the faces of four little angels who probably deserved more, but who will be just as happy with the few...I tell you what.  That Santa?  Sure is lucky.  

Merry Christmas, y'all.  

Winter Dance

Last night, Caitlin had a dance put on by her school (made up of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders).  Before I get into the meat of the story can I just give you today’s dose of WTF??  When I dropped her off at the dance, there was not one, but TWO limousines.  As in, some parents had obviously paid to have a limousine take their child (a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader, remember) to a 1 1/2 hour winter dance.  REALLY?  Does this mean that by the time prom rolls around they will be showing up in helicopters?  I. Mean. Really. 
ANYWAY.  This story is really about Caitlin.  When I found out about this dance, I wanted to make sure that Caitlin was going to have fun.  (Low key fun, NOT limousine fun of course).  Turns out Caitlin and I have very different ideas about what makes a dance fun.  (I think I was projecting my 8th grade self…the age I was when I went to my first dance on her third grade self.  Not a good match.)  Here’s how it went down:
About 30 minutes before the dance, Caitlin comes downstairs with her wet hair thrown up into a tight ponytail, in tee shirt and jeans.  I cringed a bit at the hair (yes, mom.  now I understand your mortification at having The Daughter With Perpetually Unbrushed Hair) and said she was ready to go.  I was about to comment on the hair, when Matt stepped in (he was NOT the kid with perpetually unbrushed hair.  Or untucked shirt.  Much the opposite I think).
“Caitlin?  Don’t you want mommy to blow dry your hair?  I mean, it’s nice, but…”
“Hmmm.  Daddy you might be right.  I might get sick with wet hair.”  Whatever. 
So upstairs we go.  Before we do a quick blow dry I quietly plugged in the curling iron.  Just in case. 
And she let me curl her hair!  I got caught up in the victory and asked her if she wanted to wear make up!?  And take my cell phone?  And wear some perfume?  And maybe some of my earrings?  (all of which would have thrilled me at her age).
“No mom.  No make up.  And PLEASE don’t make me take your phone because I won’t be able to dance with that big thing in my pocket.  AND I don’t need perfume.  Ew.  I put some lotion on my hands here smell this-“ (She put out her hand…it had a very faint lotion-y smell)  really mom, I’m good.  CAN WE GO NOW?  I’m ready to get my dance on!"
Sigh.  I guess all she wanted to do was dance, dance, dance. 
Afterward I was pumping her for information, “did you have fun?  Who was there?  Did you see any boys?  Did you dance with any boys?” 
“What?  EW! No!!  But I sure am gonna be sore tomorrow.  I was dancing a LOT!  And the dinner was so good!  Oh!  And look at this balloon I got!”
…and that was it.   
I probably should be thankful that she is so uninterested in the social aspect of these things. That it’s still fun to just go and dance like no one’s watching.   And also thankful that she is so patient with my spastic parenting.  I’m sure these days are numbered….

Tuesday Bullets (with a few pictures)

Good Morning!

• Six.  That is the number of times the babies (Hannah and Ben but mostly Ben) got us up last night.  SIX TIMES.  This morning Matt and I were comparing notes, “So, I got Ben three times, and Hannah once.  You?”, “Well, I know I got Ben at least twice, but there could have been a sleepwalking third”.  Needless to say 6:20 came extra early this morning. 
• Hannah’s preschool Christmas program was last night and it was so hilariously cute.  All of the kids wore their Christmas pajamas and tried desperately to remember the words to 6+ Christmas carols.  No easy feat for a three year old!  At the end, they got to see Santa.  Here are a few highlights:

Hannah with Ms. Lori…the same preschool teacher Caitlin had.  They both love her!

Making an entrance…

Cradling her baby in the manger.  Since no one else appears to be cradling, I’m pretty sure she was about three steps behind. 

Talking to Santa with Ben.  Good thing he didn’t ask if they’ve been naughty…they might have had to lie to Santa which, I’m pretty sure is a no-no…

With Nana and Dee afterward…she loves her flowers!

• Potty training part 542 started yesterday.  Have I mentioned how much I hate potty training??  We went through four pairs of pants before 9am yesterday…and one incident took place at the vet.  Fortunately it is a place that is used to urine on the floor.  This morning seems to be going better…we have not had an accident yet (knock on wood). 
• We decorated our Christmas tree this weekend…it was great!  We had apple cider, and pandora provided Christmas carols (I’ve lost all of my Christmas CD’s…I’m going to blame Ben).  It is always fun to see the kids rediscover all the old ornaments. 
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• Ben just had an accident.  Awesome.  Gotta run and try to round up a clean pair of pants.  Y’all have a great day!