The Contest

I am not sure how they started it, but the girls had a self-inflicting wedgie contest the other day. Allie won.

Jack is here!!!

Baby Jack arrived at 1:30 a.m. this past Thursday!

Discipling Allie

Without question, Allie is our child with the most attitude. She's a total rebel. Every time you ask her do to something (or not do something) her first response is "no". You can even trick her by asking, "Do you want a treat?" Her first response is, "no...uhhh...yes".

So the other day we had another rebel moment. I can't remember what she did, but she earned herself a trip to time-out. When she arrived at the designated corner, she threw herself back and laid prone on the floor, screaming. Too bad for Allie, because that's not the way we do time-out at our house.

So I picked her up and took her to a new corner. She wailed through her 3 minute time-out. After which, I sat her down and did the all important parental review with a touch of love. So we talked.

If you have ever tried to have a serious conversation with a 3 year old child, you know it's challenging at best. This time was different. I was making a connection. She was staring up at me totally focused on what I was saying. We reviewed why she went to time out and how it was bad and that she shouldn't do it again. I told her I still love her, but she can't behave the way she did. It was an amazing Daddy-daughter moment until...she stuck out her little finger and said, "Daddy...boogie in your nose. I get it for you." And up my nose went her finger.

Yeah...my message really got through.

Hannah's Prayer

So tonight as we put the kids to bed, I was in the room as Hannah was saying her bedtime prayer. Hannah has become very proficient in her prayers. She thanks Heavenly Father for all her stuff. She asks Him to make sure the new baby doesn't hurt Mom (because Jenny is very uncomfortable). She asks that her sisters will be good and listen. She thanks Him for everything.

In fact, she thanks Him for everything she has multiple times. Tonight she finished up her prayer with, "And thank you for everything we have, You're the best!"

I think that sums it up.

Dora, Dora, Dora

I'm not sure what the household average is for watching television. Overall, I thought we were doing pretty good. Then Allie changed that perception for us.

As with most 2 year olds, Allie is obsessed with Dora. If it's not Dora, then it's her cousin Diego. Then it's back to Dora. As good parents should, we try to limit the time she spends watching TV. During non-TV times we try to get her to do learning activities. We work on numbers, colors, and other stuff.

I had no idea what a powerful influence Dora is. Allie is sporadically counting to 5. But the other day, as Jenny was jotting down the next week's menu, Allie starts counting, "Uno, dos, tres, quatro, cinco, seis, sieta, ocho!" What the pickles! She can count to eight in Spanish, but she doesn't count in English.

I can't decide whether to ban the TV or double the time she spends in front of it.

What Grown-ups say

So a few weeks ago, we had the carpets cleaned, never buy a house with white carpet. So Jenny and the girls have been banished to the basement as the upstairs carpet dries. Jenny is working on a quilt for the baby and Madi is in the room working on her homework.

As she is working Jenny finds a mistake in her quilt square. In her frustration she says, "Darn it pickles!" Literally, she quoted Higglytown Heros and said, "Darn it pickles!"

Madison looks up from her homework with a slightly confused face and said, "Mom, I thought grown-ups say, Oh crap!"

Holy Pickles, kids hear everything!

Diet Time

How do you know when it's time to go on a diet? Maybe it's when your pants d0n't fit. Maybe it's when your shirt buttons scream for mercy. Maybe your 2 year old and 4 year old help you out.

Allie's new source of entertainment when I carry her is to gently pinch my cheeks and say in a very soft voice..."Chubby cheeks. Chubby, Chubby, Chubby."

I also started the new Nu Skin weightloss program. It has meal replacement shakes. So as I was making an afternoon shake, Hannah asked me what I was doing. I responded, "Making a shake."

"Can I have one?" she asked.

"No, these shakes are so Daddy isn't fat anymore." I replied.

I then proceed to join my family at the table for lunch. Sipping my shake, Hannah says, "Dad, I can still see your fat."

I guess I need to drink more shakes.