Eeeeeewww!

I found this under the coffee table tonight:

If you, like me, are uttering the phrase, "What the...?", allow me to share the explanation I received from Lindy:

This is a gum-collecting device. There are currently three categories for your ABC (Already Been Chewed) gum. Pink, Blue, and Weird (yes, the spellings are creative, we know.) As you can see, the plethora of gum balls Lindy chucked in her mouth (all at the same time) belong in the Weird category due to their non-pinkness and non-blueness. Makes all sorts of sense now, doesn't it?

Or does it?

Not Again!

My middle child has a habit, nay...a talent, for hurting herself. It happens so many times a day that it is becomeing harder and harder to express sufficient sympathy. At times I just want to lock her in her room just to prevent her from damaging herself.

Today was no different. While in the shower (no creepy bugs this time) I heard a very loud, very shrill scream coming from outside. Recognizing Ellies' cries of distress, I quickly hopped out, grabbed a towel and met Lindy in the hallway as she ran in to inform me that "Ellie wrecked on her bike and hit her head". I sent Lindy out to usher in the wounded in while I hunted for some clothing.

I made it outside just in time to see a bloodied, dirty, screaming little girl limping down the sidewalk. Once we cleaned the dirt and rocks out of her forehead and leg, I saw that the injuries were not too severe. In order to calm her down, however, I whipped out our extensive first aid kit and gave her whatever she wanted in order to help stem the flood of tears.

She'll survive. She's a tough kid. But I have to wonder...why did she have to mar the forehead right before family pictures? Seriously? Thank heavens for Photoshop.

GRRRRRRR

I went to Costco today. With the children. I know, stupid.

Do ya wanna know what's even more stupid? Loading all your ginormous oversized purchases onto the little checkout conveyer thingy, children screaming all the while, and finding out you don't have your wallet with you.

Not my day. Again.

What a Day

This morning I made a new friend in the shower. Why is it that such a tiny little thing can cause such commotion?

After I rid myself of my showering buddy, another bug friend decided to sting my little baby on the wrist. It took me a little while to figure out why Curtis was suddenly screaming like a banshee. He finally started showing me the "owie" on his wrist and I caught on. Poor baby.

During the excitement, Ellie decided to adorn herself with a little bit of glitter. Okay...a LOT of glitter. Face, arms, shirt, legs. And hair. Lots and lots of tiny little sparkly bits floating around in that mane of hair. And no...it did not come out in the bath. So, if you see a bright object walking towards you it's probably my middle child wandering around in the sunlight.

Is it time for bed yet?

Waterton - Part 2

One of the highlights of every trip to Canada is a stop at Red Rock Canyon. It has long been our habit to rid our comfy toes of socks and shoes and submerge them into the icy-cold glacier water. When I say cold I mean COLD! This is glacier water at its' finest. Curtis was not sure what we were doing to him at first, but he soon was romping around like the rest of us and was fairly peeved when I declared it time to cover up those red feet. Mothers are so unfair.

Back in the day, prior to the Jones family offspring, Ian and I would spend an afternoon hiking up the canyon. It can be a little tricky--sometimes there is very limited footing except through some fairly deep water--but it's so rewarding to be able to hike where few others can get. One of these days I'm leaving the kids with grandma and grandpa and we're going to try it again.