Sleepy Tiger, Grouchy Dragon(fly)

Here we are during the "sun downing" stage of the evening. Naps were scarce and naughtiness is plentiful. My babysitter, Elmo, is doing his best to put the kids into a comatose state if only for a few precious moments. I have been researching which kind of wall paint I can wash "washable crayola" (yeah right!) and processed cheese off of. Researching paint is not very fun.
Moms- have you ever had one of those days that you wondered if giving your children a bag of marshmallows and some scissors would keep them busy long enough to take a 15 minute power nap? Ava starts back to preschool next Monday- afternoons- during Eli's nap time-score! For now, I will rely on my Sesamese au pair, Elmo, to give me that few blissful minutes of reprieve from the outer orbits of insanity that is life. I wouldn't want my life to be even an iota different. That's parenthood for you....self inflicted craziness!

And the verdict is....

Eli really has no idea how close he came to being sentenced to 10-15(days) in a cast. Today we saw the ortho doc for Eli's persistent limp. He decided on another set of X-rays and a leg cast. Our conversation went something like this....

Doctor: I don't think your son's foot is broken, but I think he should wear a cast for 10 days to 2 weeks to give it a chance to heal....

Me: ELI! Get quit climbing the chair. No! Stop jumping! What did you say doctor?

Doctor: I think Eli-

Me: Son! Stop climbing the wall! That coat rack is not for you to hang on! I'm sorry...What about a cast?

Doctor: The cast would-

Me: Eli please stop jumping off the chair; you're going to break your neck!

You probably get the point....After redoing the xrays, witnessing Eli climb everything in the office, break into the patient bathroom twice and scale the toilet, and watch my son jump so high that he seemed to hover in midair for a few seconds, the good doctor decided to re-evaluate the foot next Tuesday....whew! Because Eli is rather....um...special in his Houdini-like behavior, the doctor can only do a full leg cast- all the way to the hip. As fun as is sounds to have my toddler virtually immobilized, I am glad we are granted another 6 days reprieve. (I can only imagine the various tortures my daughter could devise for him...) Please pray that Eli takes a "step" in the right direction before next Tuesday. (Yes that was an atrocious pun- I agree)

We are quite a photogenic family, aren't we?

This is Ava's signature "Silly face". She is wearing her new school outfit that we bought today on our "girls only" shopping trip.

Yes, he stacked all the blocks himself. This is probably not uncommon in the one and a half year old.. but please, let me have my proud mama moment.........thank you.

Do they make "Manly" ballet shoes??

I guess all of that limping must have worn little man out! We go on Wednesday to see the Ortho Doc. Pray that Eli makes a miraculous recovery before then or else he may very well end up in a cast. At least I would always be able to hear him coming! Poor little man walks like a second rate ballerina...he still can climb like a mountain goat though!

Your are so beautiful.....to me....

This is my new junk shop purchase. I so love it! Eric said he felt like someone's grandma just moved in. Whatever Eric...It's an antique and I love it...so in your face Eric....in your face...

Can anyone speak my langauge?

This picture was emailed to me and it struck a funny chord. So often I get coworkers and friends discussing which new films they have watched recently. "Conderman! You seen Rush Hour 3 yet?" "Nope, just Shrek 3." or "Ness, you gotta see Boure Ultimatum!" (me) "Does it have princesses? No? How about talking animals? no? Dancing penguins? Lost dinosaurs? Humerous cartoon vegetables that tell bible stories? No?"
Somehow I doubt that my coworkers want to discuss which Disney princess married the handsomest prince (Cinderella, hands down!), Does Larry the Cucumber deserve his own star on the walk of fame (He sooo does!), and are they going to make an Ice Age 3 (Ava says yes, but I don't think so). They should make a People Magazine that moms with toddlers/preschoolers can read and appreciate. "Littlefoot and Cera...Engaged!" "Shrek opens up about working with Donkey" "Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs...the REAL story...."