Things that have gone on lately

Eli can say so many words now that I can't keep up. Yesterday we were sitting at the table and Timothy walked in. Eli yelled, "Mommy, Daddy home, Mommy!!" So cute.

I was about to be super impressed with his smarts two days ago when he pointed to his yellow bib and said, "Yella bib, Mommy!" But then he spent the rest of the day pointing to everything in our house and saying, "Yella!!" So now he has three favorite words--Mommy, cool, and yella.

He loves to be read to but he has absolutely no attention span, so he climbs on my lap, "Lap, Mommy!!" and opens a book, points to something and says either "Cool!" or "Yella!" and then promptly climbs back off my lap to get the next book. I weary of the on/off process sometimes, I admit.

Also cute was listening to Miriam today. She was using the potty but took forever. I realized why when I walked by the door and started listening in on the animated conversation she was having with . . . something. Very imaginative. Very hilarious. That is one thing I love about that girl--she can always amuse herself.

Today Emeline got mad at Cowen and yelled, "I hate you, you big dummy!" Uh, none of my other kids have said things like that. Is that a third child thing? She's too small to defend herself physically so she's taken to loud shrewish insults?? She's left out of the dynamic duo that's comprised of Miriam and Cowen so she has to have a larger-than-body personality to make up for her position in the family? Or is she just a normal kid that heard someone, somewhere use the term dummy and she's stored it up in her brain for the perfect moment? I don't know, but, man, that girl has a mouth on her. (And no, I refuse to acknowledge even the slightest possibility that I taught her to yell when she's mad.)

I made lasagna for the first time yesterday. Everyone makes it out to be this terribly involved process. It's pretty simple. And tasty. Miriam loved to layer the noodles and Emeline loved to layer the cheese and Cowen was mad the girls wouldn't let him help. He got over it.

Timothy likes his new job. We redid our budget based on all the changes. Does anyone else hate budgeting?? Raise your hand high if you do. Yeah, that's what I thought. A universally hated pasttime. Especially when your spouse expects you to stick to the budget. Bah humbug.

Now I must go to sleep. But before I leave, may I point out that Waltzing Matilda and Shortnin' Bread rank high on my children's favorite songs to learn ever. You should teach them to your children. Night.