Colorado Crockers

Dearest Eliana, I can not believe I am the mommy of a 7 year old. When you woke up and I told you I didn't know how to be a mommy to a big kid, you pragmatically told me "ask Mrs. Amy. She has done it twice". Ahhh yes. You have so many great qualities, child, but the ability to get a joke isn't one of them. I love watching you read the children joke book and having to explain why they are funny. While jokes my not be your thing, it isn't because you don't like silliness  You love to pretend and explore make believe worlds of your own creation. You creativity is so endless, I am blown away on a daily basis. I am enjoying this stage of independence and responsibility. I love that you can care for your brother for me when I need your help. You can make your own breakfast, get snacks for your sisters, sort laundry, sweep and mop, clean a bathroom and ride a bike. You are pretty sure you know everything and hate to be wrong. Little ...

 This is the fairy birthday cake. I wanted to get these cute little cup cake wrappers with little paper toppers with fairies. Eliana told me that wasn't very creative. She didn't want CUPCAKES but a real CAKE and she wanted me to make the fairies. Right. I will get right on that. Annabelle just nodded.  Each child who came got fairy wings, a wand, a butterfly hair clip, bright colored fairy hair and a necklace. The were all beautiful. I think all children's birthday parties should include alcohol  Not for the children. For the poor parents who throw them...and the ones who are forced to attend. This years theme for Eliana and Annabelle's birthday was "Fairy Garden". Of course Matt was in Korea the whole week before the party. And the week before that we were recovering from Sandy. It was a feat to pull off, but we did and the girls seemed to have a lot of fun.

Some children have imaginary friends. My son has a best friend already, who isn't imaginary, but seems to be along the same lines. My son loves boobs, mine in particular. Yes, I am sure when he is a teen this post will embarrass the crap out of him, its ok, we have a therapy fund set up for all our children. We sort of expect to screw them up and figure the best we can give them is Jesus and a good therapist. I have happily breast fed all my children. I do this because it is unequivocally best and because I am cheap. Somewhere in my head I once upon a time believed it would help me lose weight. That dream died so I enjoyed another brownie. All of my children have enjoyed nursing, and I pretty much have always enjoyed it too. My son takes this to a whole new level. At first I would say it was a newborn thing, and then I blamed it on a growth spurt. Now lets just call a spade a spade, it is straight up gluttony  The chunk has fat ...

Should. This word and I don't get along. Maybe it is my authority issues, or maybe I am lazy or maybe just obstinate  My reaction to "should" is always "Says who?!" My questioning nature (which sounds so much nicer than "rebellious")  shows up more and more in the way I choose to parent my kids. First, I must confess, I really like my kids. Not just " love them because they are mine" though that is true, but like them as people. I find my days go so much better when I treat them like that, like people I share a home and a life with, rather than treating them like something that needs to be managed or controlled, or on my worst days, escaped from. Elie is in the first grade. Actually, it would be far more accurate to say she is first grade age. Because we are not doing first grade. First, I thought it was because I just suck at home schooling. After a bit, I realized I suck because I don't buy it, I dreaded doing it and it felt...fak...

Extra credit given to those of you who said "whoa..." in Joey from Blossoms voice in your head :) Alright, who can tell me which kid is which?!