Out of the Mouths of Babes . . .

Do you remember that saying, that little ears have big mouths? My 3 year old must have the world's smallest ears, because he sure does know how to talk! I've been joking around for days that he didn't come with a mute button, but seriously sometimes he needs one. Recently, my mother thought it would be great to teach him the Junk song. As in, "whatcha gonna do with all that junk, all that junk inside yo trunk . . . " Picture a three year old running around at the playground, the pool, Sunday School, the grocery store, singing that. Other kids sing the ABC song, but not mine, oh no, he sings the Junk song.

However, I suppose it is a marginal improvement over the Sexy song, as in "I'm too sexy for my shirt," by Right Said Fred. He picked that one up from Shrek 2, and spent several excruciating minutes screaming it at the top of his lungs in the middle of the mall the other day.

He's also picked up several other bad habits from his dad and I. One day in the house I was running around trying to find the ringing telephone, muttering "oh, sh*t" under my breath the whole time. Miraculously, every time our phone rings now, there goes Sammy, muttering the same thing as he runs frantically around the living room looking for the phone. And he has an endearing habit of saying, "ah, dangit" every time something doesn't work exactly the way it's supposed to (thanks, Mike!).

I can't stand these things - but in all actuality where did he learn them from? Yes, it was Meemar who taught him the Junk song, but every other annoying little habit came right from us. So, whose fault is it . . . the fault lies within. We seem to spend an inordinate amount of time teaching our kids the "right" things to say, and the "right" way to do things. But at the end of the day, the lessons that stick with them are the ones that they learn from observation, not from lectures.

I hate that he has picked up some bad habits from us, but at the same time, when I watch him showing concern for another child who is crying, or when he says prayers along with us, I know that we're obviously doing some things right. So, I'll take the Sexy song any day - as long as I can get a hug from my little man!

What are your kids observing?

How did she pee in YOUR pants??

Today, my daughter peed in my pants. Yes, that's correct, I said MY pants.

First thing in the morning, I laid her on the floor to change her diaper. Sophia was screaming her head off, which makes me jumpy to begin with, and we were getting ready to have coffee with a friend, so I already had myself and Sammy ready to go. I was sitting spread eagle, with her in between, and when I opened her diaper I leaned over to grab a wipe.

About that time, I felt a sudden warm feeling, right in my personal areas. I looked down, confused, to see that my pants were wet, and the wetness was spreading. But I wasn't peeing. It was Sophia! In my haste to grab a wipe, I forgot to make sure she couldn't spread the wealth and make any one else uncomfortable. Everyone says that boys pee on everyone, but to be honest I think my daughter has sprayed me at least double in the last two and a half months than my son did the entire two years he was in diapers.

I guess that's life - you have to make sure your bases are covered. Don't borrow more than you can pay back, and always have a backup plan, because sooner or later, someone's going to pee in YOUR pants, and you're the one who's going to have to deal with it. Laundry, anyone??

Wait a minute, that's MY toy . . .

Why is it that children don't want a toy until they figure out that someone else is playing with it? Today I took Sammy and Sophia to the splash pad with some of our friends from church. I brought along a few of those small sand pails you can pick up at the dollar store, and some shovels. Even though it's a splash pad, kids still like to dump water, right?

We had been there for almost an hour already, and Sammy wanted nothing to do with his sand pails . . . until he looked up and noticed a little girl having a grand old time with them. It turned into an all out grabbing war - Sammy pulled the bucket towards him, the little girl pulled the bucket back to her . . . Luckily, although we were grabbing toys, nobody was smacking anyone yet! Sammy is yelling the whole time, "That's MY bucket! MY bucket!"

I think that at times, even as adults, we can still turn into our three year old selves. Here we are, going along in our daily lives just fine until we look up one day and notice that the neighbors got a new car, or a coworker is going on an all-inclusive vacation to Maui. Before, the car you had in the driveway ran just fine, a/c was cool, windshield wipers worked, but once Neighbor Nancy pulls in with her brand new SUV you can't wait to trade in the old model for something to show up that Nancy girl and let her and everyone else know that you, too are the proud owner of a $600 car payment.

Three years ago when Sammy was born, our budget was not in a place where I was able to stay at home with him. I felt very angry about this, even though there was nothing we could do to change the status for the time being. As a result, I started looking for something to fill that emotional wound . . . and I found a Jeep Commander. We bought it used at a Hummer dealership, and actually got a really great deal, even though we really didn't need a new car. I find it interesting now that we thought we couldn't afford for me to stay at home, but we did think we could afford an *almost* new car.

I loved that Jeep . . . and I still do. Full time four-wheel drive, with a Hemi - it's a thrill to step on the gas and roar onto the freeway. It has three sunroofs, a pop down DVD player for the kids, the foldaway third row seat . . . but after all this, it's not really worth it. And I'm honestly not sure it ever was.

Now that I'm at home, we're looking for ways to cut the budget. We've tossed and turned, stayed up nights, tried to figure out how to keep our old friend, but like overnight visitors and dirty socks, after a day or two they really start to stink up the place. We talked to my dad, and he's had the best insight I've heard so far - "That's a pretty expensive car payment for someone who doesn't even have a job . . . "

So, like a jealous lover who's been left behind the morning after, my emotional band-aid sits in the driveway, waiting for a new thrill-seeker. Mike has started driving it back and forth to work, hoping that someone else will see her and take her for the joyride we've had the last three years. We've listed her on Craig's List, and also on AutoTrader. But so far, no one's taken the bait.

What did we learn from this? Don't use things to fill an emotional wound. That's what prayer and family are for. Enjoy the ride, but don't drive the gas-guzzler home. And like my good friend Dave Ramsey says, "Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else."

Here's to living like no one else . . . Anyone want to buy a Jeep??

Fun at the Library

Yesterday we went to the library, which we have not been to in over a year. I had to get a new card, where they notified me about all of my late fees (all of $5), and about the book I turned in that a dog had chewed the corner off of. Thanks, Kona, way to make Mom proud!

While I was getting my card, Sammy ran over to the children's area, where he picked out several different board books and sat on the children's couch. I looked over, and he was "reading" the books by looking at the pictures and telling himself a story. He absolutely loved it!

Sammy told me he wanted a book about dinosaurs, and so we found two of them. We also got a book called "Are You Going to Be Good?" Hopefully that can help us nurture that inner conscience in Sammy, which is always a challenge for every parent.

I just love that Sammy is so interested in books. We have been reading to him daily since he was born, and it's so exciting for me to see what a little reader he is becoming!

Welcome to Chase Place!

After hearing so much about other friend's blogs, and checking out how cute they are, we're doing our own! Welcome to Chase Place . . . I'm hoping to update at least 2 x per week, but we'll see how that goes, considering everything we've got going on!

We had an awesome weekend - I went to the spa with Mom and Trish and Trish's Mom, to celebrate Mother's Day and my birthday. I am so thankful to Aaron and Trish - what a great birthday present! The lady who did my massage kept telling me that I didn't have to worry about my kids or my husband, because today I was a "Spa Girl." She kept calling me a "Spa Girl," which made me feel so NOT a "Spa Girl!"

Today we went to church, where I ran into two people that I know from other places. One lady, Michael and I met in the pool at Westwood Shores last weekend. Turns out, she lives here in Katy and has gone to our church since 1997. Her parents live in WWS and they were out visiting. I also looked over during worship and saw my Weight Watchers leader . . . now I'm in big trouble. If I don't go to church, she's going to ask me where I was at my WW meeting. And, if I don't go weigh in at WW, she's going to ask me where I was at church!

Speaking of Weight Watchers, I now officially have 0.4 pounds to go to get to my pre-baby weight. Wow, with Sammy it took me two years! Of course, I gained 36 lbs with him, and only 21 with Sophia. Maybe I could do this baby thing more often . . . or not!

This evening we went to Aaron and Trish's and had dinner. Trish always makes the BEST main dish - tonight we had a pork roast that she rubbed with a lot of spices. Sammy had a great time swimming in the pool, and we convinced Meemar and PappaTony to come over and have peach cobbler with us. As soon as PappaTony got there, Sammy jumped right out of the pool and ran over to give him a hug! I'm glad that my training to hug grandparents as soon as they got there is working out!

Have you checked out my new haircolor? After years (and I mean YEARS) of being a blonde, I've decided to return to my roots, and become a brunette. Everyone says it looks good, and makes my eyes really pop. See my facebook for a picture! www.facebook.com/lnchase

"Spa Girl" is off to take a shower and wash my hair, then go to bed . . . check back soon!