Cinderella

Usually when we eat dinner the kids are done with their food long before Aric and I are done. Tonight was no exception. All of the sudden I see Aric have this "look" on his face. I turn around and see salad on the floor that used to be in a bowl, on the counter. My kids are throwing salad at each other, ripping it up, and then tossing it back and forth. Opening drawers and proceeding to throw it in the drawers as well. I can't even imagine what went through their heads. It must have been something like "wow let's have a salad fight and get it everywhere! I bet I can mess a bigger mess than you!" Brecklen and Hannah are in this phase right now where everything is a contest. Brecklen will say something like "hey Hannah I bet I can drink more OJ than you, or I bet I can hit you harder than you can hit me!"

... At first when I saw this huge salad mess I told them to clean it up while I finished my dinner. They each took a few cups each out of the drawer that they just threw salad in and procceeded to put the salad in their cups. It was too funny to watch. They were still having fun, and cleaning their mess. Yeah!! I really didn't care how they got the job done, just that it was done. I have to give them kudos for creativity. At this point they were ready to leave the rest of the wilted salad for me to clean. Oh no sister, I'm not cleaning this mess today...

A few of you might recall that I became sick with (I think) a random ear illness that put me out for 6 weeks during the summer. Lucky me it came back mysteriously on Friday. It is not even as bad this time around, but still not so fun.

So now getting back up to speed....

I hand Brecklen a wet paper towel and said "Get to work Cinderella."
"I'm not Cinderella" he says.
Of Course Hannah pipes in "me Cinderella?" (She loves anything to do with princesses).
"Yes, you Hannah Cinderella. Get to work you two."

For some reason, it worked and my floor is clean. No fighting, no crying, they just did what I asked them too, that doesn't happen everyday! Hannah even cleaned under the table, which was a bonus. I told her she didn't need to, but she just kept on going.

It's too bad there are child labor laws. I am actually kidding on that. But I did realize they are capable of so much more. Out of my moment of desperation, I finally got them to listen and not whine. I love those times, so far and few between! I will cherish my moment of Victory.... until tomorrow, when the next cup of juice tumbles off the table. Maybe I'll make them draw straws to clean up the mess. Let's see who will be more carefull now! Haa Haa Haa (Evil laugh!)