The Dog Days of Summer

It's my first week alone with ALL the kids as a stay at home mom and I have to say that I am ready for school to start already.  I'm not quite sure why, but our house is the only house where all the neighborhood children like to hang out.  I honestly don't mind most of the time, but as you all know I have a very neurotic dog who likes to bark at the wind, so every time one of them rings the doorbell or goes in and out, I get to hear my maniac dog bark her head off. Excederin take me away!  Or Calgon, it doesn't matter!

Natalie has discovered a new treat that is easy to reach and has a crunch that keeps her coming back for more.  Can dog food hurt humans?  Yep, my baby is addicted to dog food.  The poor dog hasn't eaten for weeks because we have to put it up from the baby. She can't leave it alone. It's like having a short, crawling crack addict in the house.  

Natalie has also decided that she wants to do anything or go everywhere her brother and sister are going.  We get a small fit every time they ditch her for some non-baby time.  Poor thing.

Ryan may need a force field because otherwise I may have to strangle him.  Here is a typical conversation with my 7 year old.  We were on our way to SL to run some errands and have lunch with some of my teacher friends.  He was acting up and being generally obnoxious.

M:  Ryan, if you don't settle down I'm going to leave you at Uncle Kerry's house during lunch.

R:  (Silence)

M:  (Thinking he has been sufficiently subdued)

R:  They have food there; I can still eat.

M: (Dumbfounded silence trying not to use my secret ejector seat)

B: Mom, isn't that back talking?

M: (Teeth clenched together) Yes.

I let it go for that moment and then he was grounded for an hour when he got home. Otherwise, I may have pitched a fit at him.  That wouldn't have been pretty.

By the time Paul got home I was D-O-N-E.  At the suggestion that I run a quick errand down the mountain, I jumped at the opportunity to have some time alone.  It's the simple pleasures that keep you going.

I find it incredulous that I can keep 30+ students on task and behaving well everyday in my job and yet my own 3 children make me wish my wine drinking parents had left a bottle or two behind.