Pray for Me

Owen's two best friends (twins) are sleeping over tonight, bringing the total number of children to 5.

What I've said so far: Patrick, honey, you can't use the Nerf gun. You'll have to find another weapon.

They've been here five minutes.

Thank god for the DVD player and the wine.

Friday Verse

Tenderness and Rot
by Kay Ryan

Tenderness and rot
share a border.
And rot is an
aggressive neighbor
whose iridescence
keeps creeping over.


No lessons
can be drawn
from this however.


One is not
two countries.
One is not meat
corrupting.


It is important
to stay sweet
and loving.

Power Words

I was supposed to meet a friend for coffee this morning before work, but I was held hostage by a three year old.

Crying, I want you to help me get dressed!

I start to help.

I don't want you to help me!

I stop.

Help me!

Don't help me!

Heeeeeelllllp meeeeeee!

Just last night I was saying how it had been so long since Patrick had a major meltdown.

I didn't know my words could be so powerful.

Tonight I'm going to mention how long it's been since we've won the lottery.

You never know...

Thoroughly Modern Santa

Nora: Santa has elves who check up on us to see if we're good.

Owen: Don't be ridiculous, Nora. Santa doesn't have elves.
He uses remote control cameras.

That's a Lot of Mittens

Last night I asked Patrick to carry his lunchbag and jacket from the car into the house.

He said, I can't! I only have two hands!

*Pause*

I only have two hands. Owen and Dad and Nora and you only have two hands. My friends at school only have two hands. Everybody only has two hands.

Except centipedes.

Today I'm Half-Full

Riding in the car with noisynoisynoisy kids, but enjoying it when all three started singing the theme song to Pirates of the Caribbean.

Buying a new shower curtain. (I know. This is my life. But at least it's an attempt at homemaking.)

Nora stabbed Patrick in the face with a fork. It was an accidental collision. He'll have a scar, but that's nothing compared to coming thisclose to being a one-eyed pirate.

Bringing the kids to a grown up party where they were well-behaved.

Balsamic glazed pearl onions and beets with crumbled bleu cheese.

Jane Siberry is coming to Vermont.