The Love of Broadway Musicals Continues...

Asher has found a new favorite song on my iPod. I like to think he likes it because of its peppy tune and witty lyrics, but I worry that he may like it because Annie and Frank have a relationship like Asher's mom and dad--except Asher's mom and dad don't sing nearly as well.

Our last Broadway family favorite: http://clydecurtisfam.blogspot.com/2009/01/life-is-cabaret-old-chum_26.html

Luke to the rescue!

Today, I was running from Nate and Asher, who thought it was really fun to pin me down and tickle me.

I shouted, "Luke, Luke, come and help me!"

Luke came running, "Mommy, I'm coming! What is it? Monsters, lions?"

Scenes from a Marriage: Chores and Guilt

Emily: Nate, that mop you got is awesome!
Nate: Oh, good.

a little later in the day

Emily: Nate, that mop makes it so easy to mop the floor!
Nate: Oh, good.

that night

Emily: Seriously, have I told you how great that mop is?
Nate: Emily, I get the hint. I'll mop the floor, ok?
Emily: Oh, maybe that was a little Freudian, but seriously, I just wanted to tell you how rock star the new mop is.

Clearly, I'm getting a little too excited about new cleaning products.

Happy Birthday, Lukey-boy

Pros of having your kids' birthdays nine days apart:
1) sometimes, you can combine a park date birthday party for them (like we did last year)
2) you get all the birthdaying done in one month
3) you're sure the kids are getting the same amount of stuff because you're buying it all at the same time

Cons
1) you have to do all the birthdaying done in one month
2) you have to do two parties when you realize the kids are getting confused and fight over who's birthday it REALLY is
3) you know exactly how much each kid gets and realize that #2's $10 of sand toys doesn't equal #1's 2 video games--though the enjoyment they'll get is the same.
4) the second birthday celebratee has a slightly more burned-out mom planning his events (so, she plans on doing a petting zoo birthday party, really, she does. After all, we did a big train party for #1 when he turned 3. But, Mom can't get it together and decides to have a "party" during our normally scheduled playgroup instead.)

For Luke's family party, we had grilled pizza, yellow train cakes with chocolate frosting, and lots of fun as Luke couldn't believe his good luck--a train cake, sand toys, small trucks, a dog shirt, and jungle animals? He was especially tickled to learn that we were singing Happy Birthday to him instead of to Asher.

Happy Birthday, Asher-boy!

Here are Asher and Luke blowing out candles on Asher's birthday pie. My face says, "Please don't spit on that lovely pie!"

So, for Asher's birthday, I said he could go to a movie or Build-a-Bear or the zoo with a friend. He never really picked, and I never really followed up--lucky me. I suppose that won't be happening much longer.

Instead, we had the usual family party. Asher got some Crocs, a book (not a hit), XBox and Leapster games, and a few other "awesome" (to quote Asher) gifts.

I asked Asher what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday and he said that he wanted sugar cookies instead of cake. Hooray! I was happy to oblige, made some Asher-safe sugar cookies, and then, bought the family a Pie Snob lemon meringue.

I picked it up with Asher in the car, and he said, "Mom, what's that?!"

Foolishly, I said, "It's a pie for your party."

"What flavor?"

"Lemon," I said (no clue what I was doing).

"Lemon!? Yum, yum, yum!"

That's when I had to break the bad news that he couldn't eat the lemon pie I bought for his birthday. I'm guessing egg would be like the major ingredient of a lemon meringue pie. Unless Asher wanted a trip to the ER for his birthday, he wasn't getting anywhere near that pie, except to blow out the candles.

Still, like the zoo, Build-a-Bear, and the movie, he forgot all about the pie and was quite content with his sugar cookies.

And, now, anyone he sees, he has to stop them and say, "Hi. I'm five."--whether he knows them or not.

Happy Birthday, Asher-boy!

I Have No One But Myself to Blame: Asher's Lunch

Mom: Asher, did you eat your chicken in your lunch today?
Asher: No.
Mom: How about your broccoli?
Asher: No.
Mom: Your rice?
Asher: No.
Mom: So, Asher, you ate pears, marshmallows and juice for lunch today.
Asher: No, Mom, I ate marshmallows and juice for lunch today.

That Cousin Luke is a Bad Influence

I think maybe Cora should stay away from Luke--he's a bad influence:

Today's Structured Playtime

Seriously, this is the best I've got for parenting today...I brought Luke Buzz and Woody while he watches Toy Story so I could get caught up on some computer things. (You know, important things, like, er...blogging.)