These past few days have been one mess after another. It seems that my 2 girls have decided that their toys aren't good enough anymore and everything else is better (especially those things they know they shouldn't have). It all started with the cereal and the puzzle.
When Anne was younger we bought her a little pop-up house to play in and it has been a constant fixture in their room since. They love to read in it and talk to each other in it. But it has also become the place to run to and hide from mom and dad when they want to change their diaper, put them to bed or any other unpleasant thing. Recently it has become the place to hide when they have something they know they shouldn't.
The greatest example was the start of this set of frustrating days. Often Anne and Alicia get into the cereal and eat it while walking around the house. Usually it is not much of the problem, because vacuums here are wonderful and it means that they are occupied so I can get things done. This time I heard it all being dumped out somewhere in their room. I ran in and found the girls and all of the cereal spread out in this house. I threw them in their beds and cleaned it up. It was only a couple hours later before the next incident. They were really quiet so I went to check on them. I found them in the house in the middle of another big mess. This time it was a puzzle of mine they had found and dumped out. Of course it had to be a puzzle that I eventually want to make and frame. I just hope I got all the pieces picked up. The house is now in my room until I decide they can use it the right way.
Today's messy event is the best. Since they can't hide in the house, they have found that behind their bedroom door works almost as good. I have found them back there with gum and so many other things. Yesterday, somehow Anne got into my church back and got my lipgloss. I was talking to my mom on the phone and she comes and lays down behind me and leans against me. I thought she was being all cute, cuddly and affectionate. When I was done talking to my mom I found out that she was in fact hiding from me, with my lipgloss.
That brings us to today. I heard something drop in their room and decided to investigate, because it sounded suspicious. I found 2 girls with my chapstick and lipgloss all over their hands, faces and clothes. Alicia even had some on her back. Don't know how that got there.
At this moment, I am so frustrated with them for yet again getting in another thing they shouldn't, expecially something they already were in trouble for. But I was also feeling how funny it was in a way. I knew I needed a picture. I sat them down in time-out and got my picture. This is when they suspected that Mommy saw something funny in it all.
Look at her shirt, hands and face. You can't even see how bad it is in this picture.
Here is the proof that they figured out that mom thought it was funny. She has more lipgloss on her other cheek and eyebrow too.
Now this is the part where it gets funny. They are sitting in time-out...on different couches across from each other. They keep standing up, talking to each other, and laughing. Then the best part...Anne decides she wants to pray. So both of them are sitting there with their arms folded, praying. Anne does this about 4 times (during which I am watching and venting my frustrations out on Beate on the phone) and at the end of each one they both say "amen".
So...my question is this: How do you stay serious and discipline you children when they do funny, but naughty things?
Jared set up the bed when he got home from work. He left special instructions that only he was allowed to set it up. I guess I wasn't the only one that was excited.
Anne was a little unsure and hesitant about the new bed at first, but quickly warmed up to it. Alicia loved it too.
Anne even got to call Grandma Jensen and share the big news with her. Grandma was so good about being excited for her.
Alicia has also been upgraded to a "new" bed. She gets Anne's old one. She had no hesitations about it at all. Tonight is the big test. We will see how the girls do in their new bed, especially Anne.
Anne was so patient through all of it and loved pointing out all the fun things to us.
Don't we live in such a beautiful area. We love having visitors. So anyone who wants to come is more than welcome.
This is Annie on 2 of the rides that she went on. I am surprised that she did so well and wasn't scared on any of the rides.
Alicia even got to go on a ride with Anne and Aunt Rike. This is like the Dumbo ride in DisneyLand. I must have very brave kids, cause she wasn't scared either.
