Conversation Between Maisie and Me

I called Maisie downstairs, where she was being too quiet, to ask her a question about preschool.  After we talked she said:
Maisie: OK!  I am going to go back upstairs.
Me:  What are you doing up there?
Maisie:  Nothing.
Me:  Are you playing with dollies?
Maisie:  I said nothing.
Me:  Are you playing with trains?
Maisie:  Not yet.
Me: You are not playing video games are you?  Because you didn't ask for permission.
Maisie:  I am just going to go upstairs, now.
Me:  Maisie, you are not allowed to play video games right now.
**Long Pause**
Maisie:  Okay.
**She starts to go upstairs, turns around, looks right at me**
Maisie:  Mom?
Me:  Yes.
Maisie:  Your teeth are crooked.
**Turns and goes upstairs**

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

I Promise This Has A Happy Ending (and i may have a very sick sense of humor)

Yesterday we got home from a 3+ hour baseball game that Todd coached and Q played in while it rained.  It was their team's (Red Sox) first win of the year.  We are all elated!  Elated, until Everett and Maisie go upstairs to get ready for bed.  From the top of the steps we hear, "Umm, guys??," from Everett and "OH.  MY.  GOSH!!" from Maisie.  We rushed upstairs to find the gerbil cage, not just empty, but knocked to the ground and torn into pieces.  And there sitting beside the wreckage was Earl, our cat.

The boys were quite upset that their beloved cat, Earl, had seemingly eaten their beloved gerbils, Gimley, Johnny and Jefferson.  As we were cleaning up the carnage, we spy some movement in the corner of the room.  It was Johnny (Everett's gerbil)!!  HOORAY!  It wasn't a total loss!   Everyone went to bed a little happier, with a little hope.

Early this morning I was sitting at the breakfast table with Maisie, talking and reading the paper, when I heard something upstairs.  It was a definite scratching noise.  We creeped up the steps to eventually find, after much searching, Jefferson (Walker's gerbil!)  HOORAY!! (again).  

Life moved on throughout the day, we kept the doors closed "just in case" Gimley was still around somewhere, but we all noticed a real satisfied look on Earl's face and were not holding out much hope at this point.

Eventually it was dinner time, everyone was in a happy mood and hungry.  All of the kids were clambering around the dinner table (which I should point out looks into our foyer, which is also where the steps to our basement are) chit-chatty and excited as it was one of their favorite meals, steak bites.  Then without warning there was an audible gasp from Q, who was looking into the foyer.   And there was Earl, holding a limp Gimley right in the middle of his body, so that he hung in a perfect rainbow shape from his mouth.   Right.  At.  Dinner.  Time.  The cat had a look on his face that nonchalantly said, "WHAT?"  Todd immediately springs into action, picking the cat up and kind of shaking it a bit.  It should be pointed out here that we have never been cat owners and it was really obvious that we had no action plan for this scenario.  But the shaking seemed to work as Earl dropped Gimley from his mouth and the gerbil hit the wood floor with an audible "thump".  Todd, always thinking, scooped Gimley off of the floor and whisked him away to the bedroom.  Quentin was hot on his heels, trying not to cry.

I, on the other hand, was hiding in the kitchen laughing hysterically.  The scene was too much.  The fact that the stupid cat picked THAT moment, when we were all gathered to bring the limp gerbil up from the basement.   The look on the cat's face.  But it was the "shake and thump" that put it all over the top.  It was like a scene from a comedy!  Todd found the whole thing funny too, he's just a better parent than I am.  But every time we would pass each other in a room we would hide behind something a crack up.  And during dinner he would catch my eye and drop a steak bite from his hand so it hit the plate with a thump.   The kids were of course oblivious, but it would send Todd and I into hysterics.

I know this all sounds cruel, and it would be, except that the stupid gerbil LIVED!  He is back in his cage with his "brothers" and all is well.  And the kids spent the rest of the dinner time commenting on what a strong gerbil Gimley is.  ROFL!

I love my weird life...and family!

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

 Earl 

Gimley

Anxious Cows

I went down to the barn and was greeted by quite a few very antsy cows!  I think they are more than ready to be let in to the next pasture.  LOL!  (also check out the curious calf go after one of the chickens!).

OIHI!!!

This picture has been cracking me up all day!!   I realize it is just an oversight, but the overly pleased look on everyone's face just kills me!  BWAAAAHAHAHA!!

I just LOVE election season ;-)

Happy Birthday/Anniversary To Us!!

Todd and I have birthdays that are one week apart in June.  Summer is generally pretty busy for us, so we don't do much celebrating for each other.  Our anniversary is in August...smack dab in the middle of "birthday month" for almost all of the other Garners (3 kid birthdays, one anniversary, 2 extended family birthdays, all within 30 days).  Needless to say our anniversary goes by without much fanfare as well.  BUT NOT THIS YEAR!  OH NO!  Todd brought home a new-to-us jet ski :-)
Today was the first day we've had the chance to take it out to the river.  We definitely made some "newbie" errors along the way, but we had a BLAST!  WE are not quite yachtsmen, but we are well on out way :-D

 Look what I found on Walker's shoe :-D  (hint: it's a cicada coming out of its eco-skeleton)

 Getting ready for the maiden voyage.

 Hot dogs and grapes for lunch in the yard.  (yes, that is our truck, Grave Digger, parked...in the yard).

 Maisie had already finished her lunch and was off to play when I snapped the pic above.

 Spectacular day on the river!!

 Q and Todd tubin'

 Quentin and Walker getting ready for their turn together.

 Off they go!!

This one I have entitled "Stupid Crab".  I hopped off the tube right onto a big crab and it got me right on the little toe.  HURTS!!!  Of course my reaction to the whole thing has scarred the children for life.  Mother of the year.

Sweet Maisie Boone

Todd and I marvel each and every day at the differences between boys and girls.  We talk about how badly we wanted Sweet Maisie to be another boy, we said that even as we were living through with Everett's toddler years!?!?!

LOL!!

We still thought we knew best and there was no way we could EVER handle a girl!!  We often think that God was up in His heaven looking at the two of us and just shaking his head in pity saying, "Idiots."  And hence, Miss Maisie was born.  OH.  MY. How she has changed our little family!  The joy and pride that she brings to her parents and her brothers!  She is just so naturally giving and sweet.  These are traits we did not know existed in children!  Not that our boys are bad, they are just so very different.

Somehow, Sweet Maisie is turning four years old on Sunday (???).  She refers to this day as her "Pink Party".  She has come into her own this year without a doubt.  Not only does she fully realize that she is the baby, but also the only girl.  Even though everyone in our house is VERY anti-princess (movies, toys, books, especially clothing! etc.  NOT ALLOWED), Maisie has referred to herself as "The Princess" for about a year now.  Every morning as we brush her hair she bats her eyes at herself in the mirror and states in a very matter of fact manner, "Mom, little girls need bows," and I put a matching bow in her hair...it must match.  She twirls and talks about sharing, pink things and says things like "No boys, just girls."  Todd, The Boys and I pretty much just look at her in wonder.  We have never.  ever.  experienced anything like Sweet Maisie Boone.  

I stole this from my sister, Melissa.   :-D