a-walkin' we will go

The two hours between dinner and bedtime can sometimes seem like four or five hours if the kids are not in good moods. Tonight was one of those nights, so I suggested a walk. It's always good to get them out of the house when they're cranky. And, let's be honest, FLORA was cranky; she is almost a 2-yr-old. Scout is still blissfully happy just being in the same room as Mommy and rarely needs diversions. These days, he's too busy perfecting his mad walking skillz to care much about being entertained (I just watched him walk all the way across the living room! He's getting good!).

Unfortunately, I realized AFTER I had already said the "w" word that both of the strollers were in the car with Chris. Since it's impossible to derail a 2-yr-old brain once it is set on a particular activity, we walked the "old-fashioned" way......meaning I put Scout on my hip in the sling and Flora on the leash and out we went a-walkin'.

It took us 25 minutes to walk around the block two times, but I think they both really enjoyed it. Flora stopped to pick flowers, point at rocks, and rescue fallen leaves. She even got to see a couple of rabbits hop across the sidewalk in front of her. Scout chewed on the sling (he has four teeth popping through right now), looked at me adoringly, and laughed at Flora.

It was fun. I think we'll do it again sometime. I guess I'll have to get another leash soon so Scout can walk too!

We've Got Worms

Today, Flora fell down and noticed the carpet for the first time. She spent a minute examining our shag carpet very carefully before concluding, "Worms." Yes, apparently we have a blanket of worms covering our floor. From an almost-2-yr-old's perspective, it's really the only reasonable explanation for shag carpet.

After making her gruesome discovery, Flora ran to the kitchen and "psh-psh" (pretended to put soap on her hands), then she ran to the refrigerator and "ch-ch-ch-ch" (pretended to put water in her hands), and then ran back to the carpet and "sh-sh-sh" (cleaned the carpet).

Thanks, Flora! That was so much cheaper than the carpet cleaner we rented last week.....and apparently the carpet cleaner was defective since it left worms all over our floor.

The Bad Idea

It all started with a runny nose. This particular runny nose did not appear to be a cause for alarm, but certainly cause for extra attention. A lot of terrible things start with runny noses, after all. Despite the occasional eruption of snot following a sneeze or the constant trickle of snot needing to be wiped up, it was a fairly normal day. There was no warning that one of the worst nights ever was just a sunset away.

The kids went to bed at normal times and the parents settled in for some TV and popcorn. After an hour of happy relaxation, the chaos commenced. It started with a pitiful wail and a cry for "MOMMY!" Mommy wipes a nose, provides a drink of water, and tucks back into bed. Thirty minutes later, Mommy is again hailed to comfort a runny nose back to sleep. Thirty minutes later.......and thirty minutes after that, and........uh-oh, this is going to be an all-night occurrence.

"It would be much simpler if we just brought the little runny nose girl into our bed!" said a parent (there is a debate raging over exactly which parent had this brilliant idea).

Brush teeth, put on pajamas, and settle into bed with three pillows, two sleepy parents, and one runny nose. What fun! Silly songs and cuddles seemed a great way to start the night, but soon it was time for sleep. Unfortunately, once you get a little girl excited about sleeping with her parents, very little sleeping actually happens.

Tossing, poking, kicking, wiggling, tickling, and honking noses were bestowed on tired, unhappy parents. Sleep would seem just within reach and then get chased away by the sound of someone's sudden urge to count the ceiling fan blades out loud.

At nearly 1am, the sleepy little girl finally ended the nighttime fiasco by asking, "All done, Mommy?" in a pleading voice. "Yes, your parents are done torturing you, Little Girl. You can go to sleep now." *sigh* Who's idea was this, anyway?

Back to the little girl's room, rocking, singing, and, finally, sleeping.

And then runny nose #2 woke up........and seemed to stay up for the rest of the night.

Is it naptime yet???