Antics

Living with my two crazy-active boys is sort of like riding the big daddy roller coaster at the amusement park everyday.  Stay on edge, because you know the big drop is coming, and once it's over, there will be at least two good aftershocks.  It is just amazing we haven't yet made a trip to the...well, I'm not going to finish that sentence.  Today Asher fell off of the arm of a couch, was spilled off of a stepladder by his brother (mad that Asher was reaching a craft taped to the wall and pulling the google eyes off of it), scraped up the back of his thigh on the hearth brick, and was involved in about a hundred wrestling maneuvers with his brother, none of which resulted in paralysis, surprisingly.  Do you think I'm an inattentive mother?  Ask Reuel, I'm not.  I may have prevented 25 more dangerous episodes during the day.  I just can't possibly stay on top of all their antics.  And, overall, they are very coordinated and agile little boys, and not nearly as accident prone as some other children I've met.  Two days ago I took it upon myself to move the couch from Asher's bedroom into Owen's because Asher had sneaked by me for the too-many'th time, climbed the couch arm, and catapulted himself head first into his crib.  This resulted consistently in him landing on the front part of his neck, with his head flexed upward, and then completing a somersault from that absolutely hair-raising, spine-tingling, will-I-be-caring-for-a-paraplegic-tomorrow position.  And then, victorious, uproarious giggling.  One can say 'no' all one wants and give a swat, but when the action is seen only as glorious accomplishment, the couch must just be moved.  Asher's favorite new word is 'UMP!', which means 'jump' and is accompanied by said motion.  He's getting pretty good.  On Saturday some wonderful friends invited us to the Museum of Science with them, and in a split second, Asher had scaled the platform containing the T-Rex dinosaur bones, ran to the middle (out of arm's reach unless I myself also scaled the platform) and proceeded to DANCE.  And giggle.  The exhibit guard gave me dirty looks and came right over, despite seeing I was doing my absolute best to retrieve him.  Perhaps there is a general lack of restraint in our home, since we let them jump on beds and the couch in the computer room.  All I can say is our house isn't *that* big, and the winter is seriously long.  Guilty.  We may be starting sit-still training (sans movie) soon, though. 

Speaking of active, Owen is doing just fantabulously on his bike.  We take bikes and head to a local trail (loop) about 1/5 mile around, and Owen goes around...and around...and around.  The first time he headed round the loop in the opposite direction, he quickly realized there was a downhill.  I hear 'MOMMMMYYY!!!' as he's sailing down, I'm yelling, 'USE YOUR BRAKES!!' and then I see him drive off onto the grass next to the path until he'd slowed enough, and continue back on the path all without stopping/falling/dismounting accompanied by, 'IT'S OK, I'M NOT SCARED ANYMORE I FIGURED IT OUT!!'  Very cute.  And nice to avoid any scraped elbows.

Lots of wading pool playtime recently.  I was awaiting the shrieks when Owen turned the hose on Asher, but he is a tough kid.  That is some cooooold water coming out of the hose, and Asher takes it like a man.  Owen does not when the favor is returned. 

For snacks on Friday, I popped a bag of popcorn for the boys to share.  I did some emailing.  Owen runs over, "Mommy, you know the popcorn seeds before the popcorn is fluffy?  You know how I'm not supposed to bite those?  Look mommy, I split one in half!!!  [Opens mouth wide]  And see, I didn't crack up even one of my teef!  Not one!"  And in a similar vein, Owen comes over looking sheepish, "Mommy, I fink I just did something dangerous, but I didn't break my head at all.  Was it dangerous or not?"  Well, what was it Owen?  [Description of belly-flopping onto couch cushion put on the floor from arm-of-couch height or something similar I can't quite remember]  Yes, I think that is very dangerous.  It's not a good idea at all, please stop that.  "But Mommy, if it's not breaking my head or my bones why can't I do it?"  Owen, why do you think you shouldn't do that?  "Oh, you don't have time to take me to the hospital today."  (He learns!)