Rotten Eggs...

So I am constantly trying to think of new and exciting ways to get the kids up and moving in the mornings. With Adam working out of town, and me alone on Mondays, this is much like herding turtles. This week I resorted to an old trick, after many attempts to light a fire under them, I announced, "The last one dressed is a rotten egg." It was opening day, and we were all wearing our Reds gear. I questioned Adam Jr. about if he was going to finish getting dressed. He came in to TJ's room to be sure that TJ was wearing the same outfit as him (reds jersey and jeans). I told him TJ was going to be the last one dressed. He then dutifully stands next to me with his little head sticking out of his shirt, but his arms not through. He tells me he won't finishing getting dressed until TJ is dressed because TJ shouldn't have to be the rotten egg. I think they are all too sweet to be rotten eggs. Back to the drawing board for this week.

Bath Time

I was giving TJ a bath last night. He is now four months old and LOVES baths, so I decided that we should add some toys to his bathtime ritual. I got a little plastic frog that squirts, and we were playing in his tub in the sink. I squirted him, and at first no response. He looked surprised. Shocked even. I thought, try it again, he just wasn't expecting it. So I filled up my frog and aimed, squirted him square in the belly. He smiled his huge smile, laughed, and then peed right at me. I guess he figured out the game!

Several times...

On Saturday we were outside eating a picnic lunch on the porch with the kids and their cousin Chloe. Somehow the topic of "being grounded" came up. Chloe was quick to tell all the kids that she has never been grounded. As background, I must mention that Ashley has what some call a strong personality. She has also tried her hand at such crafts as forgery and deceit. She is clearly one that has to learn some life lessons the hard way, but does learn them. So, as she was listening to all the kids weigh in on who has been and who has not been grounded, and for what offense this had happened, she sighed. She then said with her dramatic flair, "I have been grounded before. (long pause as her dad and I looked at her she added)....SEVERAL times." Guess that whole teaching her its better to tell the whole truth from the beginning worked...

Two brothers..two penises

So we were all trying to get baths on friday before daddy came home from work as a surprise. In an effort to entertain TJ more than to clean him, I decided to undress him and put him in the bath with Adam Jr. We had tried tummy time on the bath mat and other bath time games, and nothing was working. He loved it. He adores Adam and the feeling is mutual, so they were having a great time cuddling in the bath. I even let go long enough to snap a photo. Then the girls figured out that something was going on in the bathroom and came running in. Laney ran right up to the tub and exclaimed in her Laney way, "AHHH...TJ is in the bath with Adam." Ashley immediately inquired if TJ could bathe with her as well. Before I could answer, Laney took over. No, TJ cannot bathe with them. When Ashley pushed about why not, Laney answered matter of factly, "Because they have two penises. We don't have a penis." And then the girls left the bathroom, apparently satisfied that in the Ruschman household, a penis is the necessary ticket to bathing with the new baby.