Murphy's Law

Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will."

All parents know that Murphy usually comes to visit right before family pictures. I have been thinking about family pictures for a month now because I wanted to get an updated photo for our Christmas cards. 

We were enjoying an afternoon at the Museum of Natural History a few days before Thanksgiving. The kids love the children's area. They have an art section in the children's area with crafts and projects. This day they had non-washable spray paint. I steered the kids toward the other craft. Eventually, Paul expressed interest in the spray paint. "Okay, but please be careful." He did great. Now Caleb wants to try. He kept spraying his palm, but otherwise did okay with assistance. I was occupied washing Caleb's hands when Camille sprayed her face with green non-washable spray paint. Hello Murphy! I could not stop laughing. The lady at the art center kept apologizing while I couldn't stop laughing. It was just so incredibly ironic.

So the family pictures were put on hold until after Thanksgiving. While at the museum, Paul told me, "You shouldn't laugh at Camille because it isn't nice and it really isn't that funny mom." Caleb was confused and he didn't understand what I kept laughing about. It turns out that neither of my boys could see the green paint on her face. ????? We knew Paul was colorblind, but we thought Caleb was fine, until now. 

Then, Murphy came to visit a second time after Thanksgiving. 

Caleb gave himself a haircut. I was helping Paul with his homework when Caleb came up the stairs wearing a ninja headband. At first I thought it was the headband squashing his hair funny or a trick of the lighting. I couldn't stop looking at it. Something was off, "Caleb what is wrong with your hair?" He looks at me with a confused look. I go in for a closer look!!!!!!! "Did you cut your hair?!" His reply is, "yes, I was making it look good." .He was going for a mohawk and cut down the center all the way to the back. I sent him to the bathroom where he could get a look at his good haircut. He started bawling and I started laughing. I can be so insensitive sometimes. I just couldn't stop laughing. I tried, I really tried not to, I just couldn't. The poor kid is so embarrassed. I think he learned his lesson, but that does not change the fact that Christmas is around the corner and we have pictures scheduled for next week.

It's Autumn Time and the Leaves Are Not Falling Down

Here is a compilation of some things we did this Autumn:

We went to the aquarium with Grandpa. Caleb is feeling
a little hungry for octopus.

Paul is trying to touch a stingray.

Cheesers!

Butterfly Pavillion. There were so many butterflies! Most
of them were neutral colors though and a little hard to see
for our three colorblind people that went. :)

We have been doing preschool at home this year. It has been going well
 and I am liking the low stress of it.

Dirt and water are just too tempting to leave alone.

Paul joined the cub scout pack at his elementary school. He has really liked
it. They do the flag raising at the high school football games. We like to go
watch the games and you can't beat free!

Pat rigged up some climbing gear to the front porch for a little kung-fu
fighting. The boys had a blast.

Playing on the frog statues in front of the natural history museum.

Doing the zoo thing with our good friends. I love that they live across the
 street! Caleb, Mason, Camille, Sohpie "Phosie"

Feeding the birds.

The kids loved it. Paul is a nervous wreck when he comes with us, which
rubs off on the other two kids. It was nice to go without him this time.
I hadn't realized before that Caleb and Camille would have fun with it. I had
just assumed they ALL didn't like it.

Arboretum Pumpkin Patch

Emet and Camille

Water! Water! Water Baby!

We visited Grandpa in Baton Rouge for Thanksgiving. The kids love to go
and play with his dog because they know I will never get them one.

No More Pacifier Camille

I sent Camille to her room after she colored on my dining table. Later, she was scolded and made to scrub the table. This, I suppose had no affect on her because shortly after, I caught her coloring the dining table chairs. I had tried so hard to keep my calm the first go-around. The second time, well, I was angry. I reacted rash and immaturely. I took all her pacifiers and threw them in the trash. Very mature, I know. I am not proud of it. I understand that the punishment had no direct relation to the "crime," but I wanted, in the moment, to affect her and I knew the pacifiers would affect her. We had been trying to take them away for a while with no real success. I blew my top and then there was weeping and wailing and thrashing.

A week later she discovered the tylenol bottle was an acceptable alternative. She sucks on this empty medicine bottle all the time. I know that I need throw it away, but she'll just find something else to suck on and I don't want it to be her thumb. What do I do?

Camille's new pacifier.

I love this girl's enthusiasm.

Smile!