Happenings

Drew has decided he loves Pempto Bismol. He has always been a gassy, acidy little fellow. We have to cap his four back teeth because his reflux was so bad when they were developing. Anyway, when complaning of a tummy ache one day he discovered he liked the little pink pills and now he requests Pepto Bismol almost daily.
David is into dwarf planets. They are learning about the solar system at school and he has a little song that he sings that names them all. Grown up that I am, I though it was hilarious to check him out a book on Uranus and set it out for Keith to read at bedtime.
Me? I have discovered "Words with Friends" but I am mistrustful of some of my opponents. I think many of them are using "Cheat with Words with Friends." I'll still play though. I don't mind losing and it is a nice little activity after the kids go to bed.
Soccer practice starts this week for Drew, and David's t-ball will start up shortly as well. Bring it on. I am sick of indoors and once the Bachelor finale airs I will be done with tv. Actually, don't hold me to those last five words.

I can't give him a time out, so I'll settle for a post

I want to put a certain little pre-K boy in a long, long time out. And it's not my little pre-K boy. Remember when David got bit? He's also been kicked, punched and choked by this other kid. Let's call him Bob. From day one, David has scooted away, told him to stop, and finally started telling the teacher. I saw a scratch on David's neck a few weeks ago on the same day that I watched Bob kick David in the line to go home. I e-mailed his teacher. I like his teacher and was happy with her response.
Last week, we had a class playdate at the park. Only four kids showed up. Bob was among them. Somehow, in the crawl tunnel Bob bit David's head. And Bob beat up on my little cousin who was also there. My cousin doesn't go to school with them, he was just hanging out at the park with his mom. Apparently Bob doesn't have to know a kid to hit them. Today, David told us that he had to run in the hall at school. David didn't want to run; it made him sad to break the rule. But Bob was trying to get him. So at dinner we did some more practicing on what David should say to Bob. Instead of, "Stop that," we told him he can say in a really rough voice, "CUT IT OUT, THIS IS GETTING REALLY OLD, BOB!" I think I may have to schedule a conference with the teacher if I keep hearing about this. Under no circumstances will I tell one of my kids to hit back. I think that sends a bad mixed message.
It also came out tonight that Bob watches his dad play "Halo." Maybe it's his dad that needs a time out?
The boys got out their stuffed animals today and asked me to take pictures of them with their favorites. I love how innocent this age is. I dread the day they realize that carrying around blue plush dogs is a babyish thing to do. Aside from our blankeys and animals, we're about as rough and tumble as you can get around here. I don't mind a little bit of horseplay, but you can't blame out and out bullying on "just being a boy." Drew's teacher may have her work cut out for her tomorrow. In rehearsing what David should say, Drew started telling us what he was going to tell "Tom." Tom is a kid that I think kicked Drew once, but Drew just plain doesn't like him. We are a little worried that Drew will go regulate on Tom. Like everything else, Drew wants what David has. This includes a nemesis.

Now I know what chopped liver feels like

I'm losing the boys. Both of them. They follow Keith around like little ducks. All. The. Time. We have to rotate who gets to sit by him at dinner. If it's an odd day, Drew gets to sit by Daddy and say the prayer (he was born on the 13th.) David, whose birthday is on the 8th, gets to sit at Keith's left on the even numbered days.

Keith had to take care of David a lot after Drew was born. So those two have been thick as thieves for a while. But Drew? He's turning on me. Oh sure, after playing Mario with Keith, he'll come and give me a kiss and tell me I'm his Princess Peach. But heaven forbid I get to buckle him in his car seat when Keith is around.

Keith took them to Lowe's to build music boxes this morning and then they went to Academy to get t-ball pants and a soccer goal. They ended their activities with a trip to Subway. Those three have a blast together. And I can't complain, I went to my old BFF's Valentine's Tea while they were doing all this. I just want them to think I'm fun too.

I actually got out my cookbook this evening and started letting them pick out desserts that we would make together just to reassure myself that they still like to do some things with me. We plan to make a strawberry pie, a mud pie, and a banana cake in the near future.

But once those things are made and eaten, I think they'll run straight back to Keith's arms. Oh well.