Love these Kids

Last night, after both kids went to bed, Cayman came into our room where Ian and I were talking on our bed. "Why aren't y'all sleeping?" "Well, Daddy just got home and I missed him all day so we're just talking and catching up." "It's snuggle time. Can I go get Boo and snuggle Daddy?" We didn't even have a chance to answer - off he ran to go get Boo and then ran back into our room to climb in bed with Daddy. I then had one of the best, clearest conversations with Cayman to date. For some reason we started talking about if he was going to work at Chick-fil-A like daddy. I REALLY, really wish I had recorded the entire (20 minute or so) conversation about Cayman making monies once he turned 5 and started working at Chick-fil-A. One time I just busted out laughing because of his facial expressions, the way he was moving his hands, and just the overall conversation. I felt like I should have been Bill Cosby interviewing one of the kids on "Kids Say the Darndest Things." Or whatever that show was called. Anyways. Cayman informed us that once he turned 5, he could start making chicken and salads. He could work at the drive thru window and he would be able to fix the window when it broke with Chick-fil-A's tools. He could make drinks, like lemonade and diet coke. He could count monies and give back people's change. It was hilarious. This morning, we had a few errands to run around town. I already knew Chick-fil-A was doing a promotion for free ice cream with a topping bar, so I promised that if they were good listeners and helpers while we were out today, that they could get ice cream after lunch. (I hardly EVER do ice cream before nap! Too much sugar!) But they were both very good for all of our errands, and they ate all of their lunch, so they got ice cream. While Cayman was eating it, he said, "I like obeying, Mama!" If only he ALWAYS like obeying. Maybe I should just keep gallons and gallons of ice cream in our freezer -- surely that would mean I'd have perfect angels, right? ;)

We went on a walk yesterday to the retention pond near our house. I took one of my most favorite pictures to date of the kids - and based on the angle I took it, you'd think that we were at some nice, peaceful lake in the middle of the woods, enjoying the scenery and peace and quiet. But nope. We were just at our retention pond. In our neighborhood. Slap dab in the middle of EC. As soon as we got there, Cayman put his hands up to his face and SCREAMED "DUCKS!! WE'RE HERE! COME HERE, DUCKS!" And of course, whatever big bubba does, little miss has to do exactly the same. The only difference - she doesn't really get the whole cup your hands over your mouth deal to scream even louder. So she put her hands up to her cheeks, as if she were pretending her hands were animal paws, and said, "Come er' ducks!" She's just as hilarious as her big brother.

I'm constantly impressed with Charis' speaking abilities. A few days ago, she jumped on my back while I was kneeling down doing something on the floor, and she said, "OOk behind you, Mama! Ook behind you!" Last night we were waiting for Ian to get home, enjoying a yummy bowl of popcorn, and she said, "Nec to you Mama," and she climbed up right beside me on the couch. I heard her playing in the bathroom yesterday and hollered at her to come out of the bathroom (usually she just gets into trouble in the bathrooms...ours especially...drives this mama CRAZY) But she said, "No, mama! Potty!" And I heard her trying to open the toilet seat. I hurried in there, pulled her clothes/diaper off, and put her on the potty. She did her usual, sit for 30 seconds, and then "I done! Get down, mama!" I made her go around naked for a few minutes, just to see if she would do it again. Of course, she wouldn't. So we went to her room for a diaper. As soon as she had that diaper on, she went somewhere off in the house and filled it right up. Next time, I will be prepared for a moment like this one - today, we went to Walmart and got her a potty and some big girl undies!

Too bad I accidentally chopped off her cute pigtails in this
picture (not in real life....)

Speaking of my baby girl - I can't believe her 2nd birthday is coming up so quick! It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Cayman's 2nd birthday down in Florida with new friends - carrying a tiny baby girl around the whole time. And now it's time for her 2nd birthday?! Already?! This is crazy. Anyways. I found this neat rug on Bed, Bath and Beyond's website for $9.99! It matches her room perfectly - she has all the Target owl bedding stuff. It comes with two bean bags for playing hopscotch. Now maybe we can teach her a new game so we won't all have to play "Ring Around the Rosy" a hundred times a day. :)