A Make-up Brush or a Man-Tool

I had the unexpected pleasure of the little Murray's company today because Jake was sick and daycare closed. I have been making "play make-up" for Sophie because they no longer make cosmetics for kids that are strictly pretend- everything is "real", as in"real messy"- and this was our chance to try it out. While Luke was at school, Sophie and I spent the morning applying (and reapplying) eye shadow, blush, nail polish and foundation. She trowels it on like a pro. The real problem came when we picked up Luke from school. He kept on trying to finesse his way into her make-up bag, and when that failed, he just stole it. He trowels it on like a pro too. Both kids were crying all the way home. He wants me to get him his own make-up bag, but no can do. Just seems wrong to get a 4 year old boy his own cosmetics. But if he still wants one when he's 14, I'm there!
In the meantime, I need to come up with a reasonable facsimile- maybe a Doctor Kit? Special thanks to Aunties Hannah, Emily, Linda and Danielle for coming up with the empty or unused cosmetics, brushes, and bags!

A Promise Made is a Promise Kept

Well..... apparently yesterday when the boys asked to go to the Mall of America and I said it wasn't Tuesday, they took it to mean that if it was Tuesday, we would go. Today was Tuesday. So we went. Luke and Jake bugged Molly so much that she finally called us. We took the boys on the rides for the first time this school year. Jake grew so much over the summer that he was able to go on all the rides that Luke could, although on a few he still needed an adult to ride with. They enjoyed all the rides, but got the most giggles out of the bumper cars. I did too. It was really fun to see 4 year olds driving (er, crashing) cars by themselves. They also got a kick out of the ride that brought them up 20 feet or so and then dropped them in bouncy increments back to the ground. They even held their hands in the air for that one! After 3 hours of nonstop rides, we headed home. (I snuck in a 5 minute side trip to Old Navy for Halloween T's when they were in the bouncy house. They were thrilled when I gave them their new skeleton t-shirts on the ride home.) Awesome day...

"Dress-up" is Not Just for Kids-Just ask Grandpa!

The week has been busy as usual. Nate, Jake, and Max came last weekend to visit. Max learned to crawl so I had to keep a super close eye on him because he was intrigued by the cats. Nate and Jake found the dress-up clothes in the toy closet and split a costume. Nate wore the police uniform pants and shirt, and Jake wore the S.W.A.T. vest and helmet. I found two guns (a starter pistol and a western gun) and off they went, shooting up the place! They were even more delighted when Grandpa came home from a 9/11 ceremony in HIS dress-up clothes. (Actually his SPFD Honor Guard uniform, but don't tell the boys!) He was upped a few cool points in their eyes for that.
I called Alaina to wish her a happy birthday, and asked what she was doing. She told me she "was sitting in her dorm like a loser", so I arranged a quick party. When Max went in for his nap, I took her, the boys, and My girls to the Olive Garden. Happy Birthday Alaina!
On Friday, Sophie, Grandpa and I went to my physical therapy. The staff got a kick out of Sophie in full diva mode with her purse, sunglasses and baby. They just had to come in back to tell me everything was fine- Sophie was coloring and grandpa was holding the baby! We went to preschool and picked up Luke and Jake too as a surprise for the boys. When we dropped Jake back home, he wanted to know where Sophie and Luke were going. He was very disappointed, and asked why they got to come home with me. I explained that their mom and dad were working, so they HAD to come with us. When Molly got Jake out of the car he asked her why she couldn't work too! (Like daycare for 6 kids 4 yrs and under isn't work!)
Today I picked up the boys from school and took them to lunch. We headed out to the Pumpkin farm, but it doesn't open until Thursday. Plan B was a trip to grandpa Dick's to feed apples to the horses. My dad didn't tell me until after the fact that the weeds I was pillaging for apples in was in fact Itch Weed! What? He forgot I was a city girl? Thanks Dad! After a quick trip to the house for soap and cold water, we played kickball, looked for butterflies, and sat on the glider for a while. We picked a couple flowers for Molly and went home.
I also need to report a few things I'm proud of. #1 On Thursday I drove through Minneapolis down to Shakopee for a Junk Sale with my cousin Robyn. I didn't get lost or freak out even through construction and huge Semis in traffic! #2 On Sunday I drove to Minneapolis to buy something from Craig's List and didn't get killed by the weird, toothless, but ultimately very nice hippie that sold me an old sewing machine cabinet for a project. And on the way home from that, I stopped at a Farmer's Market in the 'hood where Diane and I were the only non-Hmong people there. #3 I graduated to a neon green elastic band in my physical therapy! Yeah. I'm a big girl now.

The Aftermath of A Hurricane

This is the first week of school. My house looks like a hurricane went through it! Hannah and Zach moved out. Emily came home and moved in with Hannah. All that's left is a jumble of unwanted possessions and dust bunnies. I have spent a part of each day going through Zach's leftovers in his room. (maybe our new master bedroom?) After that I have Hannah's room (actually my half done sewing room) and then on to the basement and the garage. The girls have conveniently "forgotten" what they don't want to take to their new house. I am planning on loading the car this weekend and moving it for them. I win! Zach was banned from class and his dorm room on Thursday when he came down with the flu. He was sent home with a mask and a warning not to come back until he is fever free. Such is life in the reality of H1N1!
Since Luke has started school, I had Sophie alone for the morning. I had to hop in the shower before I went to physical therapy, so I packed Sophie's things into the bathroom with me. I forgot how hard it is to do anything with a 2 year old. Just so I wouldn't get too full of myself, Sophie reminded me "Grandma, you have a big butt!" thanks, Sophie.
We spent the morning playing "baby", polishing her nails (orange this time), and snacking on grapes for breakfast. It could've been worse. She dug out the Fischer Price farm, and was upset that the piggies had dirty feet. I explained to her that pigs like mud, but she wasn't satisfied until I had her look at the smile on the pig's plastic face. All is Good.
Luke came home from school and we had lunch and napped. He was a little fidgety and I had to warn him a couple of times. Probably the first day of school excitement. He told me he loves the fall. That makes one of us....