My kids

Here are some of the things that have been going on lately...and making me smile:

...watching Phineas and Ferb with our kids and listening to Braeden and Emma talk about the literary elements.  (Do you two recognize how nerdy this is on so many levels?)

...birthday talk.  Emma and Mark were discussing gift ideas a fews days before our birthday.  Mark said, "I usually just get away with no gift by making something out of Lego."  The day before our birthday Mark said, "I have a perfect gift for you Mom.  I will do you hair tomorrow."

"I kind of like to do my own hair, " I said.  I have been a victim recipient of his hairstylings before.

He said, "I can't believe it.  You are rejecting my gift."  I told him of course I wasn't.  He said, "Yeah, you sort of are."

(I sort of was.)

...going to Prospector Liquidators with Braeden and Emma.  Emma had been before with Adam.  Braeden and I had not, so the three of us went a few weeks ago.  It's a terrible store.  Really junky.  B. and E. like it because they can afford everything inside.  Before we went in, Emma said, "Just breathe through your mouth Mom...there's a smell inside the store."

...business dealings with Mark.  He wanted an app for my phone.  I told him to cough up the $.99 and I'd be happy to get it.  He hunted around his bedroom and found a penny.  I figured he was thinking somewhere along the lines of "now I have $.98 to go."  But no.  He said, "Now, when I get a dollar, you can give me that for change."  He was so proud of his foresight.  Is it any wonder that kid is top of his class? Top of his class.

...celebrating St. Patrick's Day by watching "Waking Ned Devine".  Adam and I had seen it before (we love it) but none of our kids had.  There's a picture of a naked man riding a motorcycle on the back of the DVD case.  When he saw it, Braeden said, "What kind of movie is this?"

Emma gave me a stern look and asked, "Is this movie appropriate?"  (They trust me so much.)  They loved the movie though.  How can you not?

...living with Mark.  I am the luckiest girl alive that he's my shadow.  Occasionally we have snuggle time for recess.  Occasionally he wants to run away from home and I want to help him pack.  But always, always, things are interesting.  I forced him to read Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran for school for a book report.  (There's really no other nice way of saying it.  I forced him.)  He argued and complained and I didn't budge.  Olivia had told me that Lili, fellow third grader, loved the book.  I was sure Mark would too.  If he would. just. read. it.  He started to.

Then one day, he closed the book and said quietly, "I will not read this book.  Wolves killed a baby buffalo."  I convinced him it was an isolated incident (I had no idea) and that he still had to read the book.  I was not going to be dissuaded.

Until the next day.

Again, during silent reading time, he closed the book.  He had tears in his chocolate brown eyes.  He said, "Now it is a boy that died.  I won't read it."

I finally relented, not wanting to scar him emotionally.  At least not more than the usual amount of emotional scarring.  Mark said, "I don't think Lili (his quiet, pretty cousin) really read this book.  I don't think she could have handled it.  Maybe she skimmed it." 

Later he took an arsenal of swords outside so he and his friends could pretend to kill each other.

I don't get it.