Dexter was eating one of those dinner mints when he said, "hey mom, this taste like Chalk." "When did you eat chalk?" "The other day I ate some because I was super hungry." Poor starving child that has to eat chalk to keep himself alive!

Tia had a birthday party at Chick-fil-A. We were all in the car ready to when she said, "Guys we are going to my friends birthday party at chickalay, you know where the cow is?"

I was wearing a looser shirt and bent over to grab something. Toby was right in front of me and in a very quiet giggly voice said, "I see yo boobies mom!" "No you don't!" as I push my shirt back up. He just sat there for a second and with the biggest smile said, "I like boobies...." and started laughing so hard. I can't wait until he is 16 years old and reads this...he will be mortified! :)

Bedtime goes either one way or the other! Well this particular night was the OTHER! I put kids down and soon one by one they needed to use the bathroom again. About 30 minutes passed and Mac said, "mom I need to get some more drip drops out." "FINE GO TO THE BATHROOM AND GET BACK IN BED AND I'M GOING TO SPANK YOUR BOTTOM WHEN I GET UP!" I was sitting in my chair in my room at the time! About 30 minutes later I hear, "I'm waiting..." "WHAT MAC?" "I'm waiting for you to come and spank my bottom." David and I just started laughing and he said, "what is wrong with that kid?" Apparently my kids are used to me following through and obviously my spank need a little sting so they won't remind me to get up and spank them in the middle of my show!

We were driving back from dropping off the kids at school when I sneezed a few sneezes! In a wondering voice Dexter said, "mom are you going to die?" I started laughing and said, "I sure hope not, that would be so sad." Mac couldn't resist and input and said, "I will not be sad if you die." "yes, you would be so sad, who would cook your food for you?" "Dad can cook." "Well who would wash your clothes when they got dirty?" Dexter answered this one with, "Tia can wash our clothes." I felt like I was losing the battle of "being sad if mom died!" Mac had one last jab, "dad could be our mom and our dad and I wouldn't be sad!" I just laughed and said, "I would love to see that happen!"

We have this clear container with a lid filled with CANDY that we call "good choice awards." I take little opportunities to point out when the kids are making good choices and give them a treat! The other day it was a rough day for Dexter. All the kids were sitting on the couch and we were talking about all the "good choices" they have been making today! I came to Dexter and told him that I couldn't think of any good choices that he made that day...ANY! I asked all the kids if they could think of a "good choice" that they saw Dexter make. Tia said, "he broke the vacuum." "Why yes he did...but lets think of a good choice that he made. Mason piped in, "he broke Dad's flashlight." "Yes, he did...but help me think of something GOOOOOD that he did." Joey piped in..."he he he hit me really hard in the back." "GOOD CHOICES KIDS...WE ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD CHOICES THAT DEXTER MADE!" Mac said with Toby repeating him, " he colored on his hands and he didn't take a nap." I was laughing at this point because I honestly couldn't think of ANYTHING good. Normally I don't go out of my way to find something good to reward, but I felt Dexter needed a little loving attention with all the negative attention he brought upon himself that day. David asked him to pick up the papers off the floor and put them in the garbage. He jumped at the chance and FINALLY made a good choice and got a piece of candy! Wow, that was painful!

We were at Walmart flat screen shopping with our kids. We finally decided on one and I sent for help while David waited with the kids. The only associate that was in site was 4 feet tall. He was very pleasant and followed me over to where David was waiting. David gave me this look of what the heck are you thinking. I walked a couple steps in front of him and tossed the kids in one cart and tried without too much giggling and pointing from the kids, managed to get them out of site before all the comments came flowing out! We rounded the corner Mason said, "Mom hes so tiny he's like this big!" as he measures up to his shoulder. Dexter said, "mom...why he soooo short?" Joey's, "he like a tiny baby mom." Mac, "what happened to his arms?" I explained how some people are made just a little different but inside we are all the same and we don't need to point or giggle because that might make them sad! Boy oh boy am I so glad I picked up on the look from David to disappear with our kids!

I took the kids to the park and Joey asked me for a treat. I told him playing at the park was his treat. He scoffed at me and said, "but we didn't eat it!"

Toby was picking a scab on my arm and I said "OWWWE!!" He shushed me and said, "be brave mom, be brave!"

I overheard Mac's intense conversation with my Friend Leanne. He was telling her that he went to New York City. Leanne told him that she had been to New York City to. Mac proceeded to interrogate her. "Did you go on a big boat?" "I did." "Did you go on a train under the ground?" "I did." "Did you see the Statue of Liberty?" "I have seen the Statue of Liberty." "Did you go to the time square and see the lights." "I did." At this point he was a little confused and said, "BUT I DIDN'T SEE YOU THERE!" Leanne started laughing and said, "it would have been a pretty small world if you saw me there!" He is a funny kid!

Our neighbor Hannah that lives across the street was born in China and raised in Malaysia until she was 22. She is now 65ish and hasn't missed a beat! She babysits once in a while for us and loves for the kids and I to go on walks with her and her dog Jasmine! She came over the other day while the kids were outside riding bikes and asked if Tia could go on a walk with her. Dexter was closest and started to ask if he could go. I told him no, just Tia was going to go. He started to whine and asked, "Why does Tia always get to go with Hannah?" I told him in a voice that Hannah could hear, "Because Hannah is racist and only like Chinese girls!" Her back was turned from me and I have never seen her shoulders shake so hard with laughter! It was pretty funny and a little true! Or maybe she just feels bad that Tia is surrounded by all these boys!

Tia has been so confused these last few weeks...or maybe she doesn't know! She came in telling me about her "cankachew" "A WHAT?" "My cankachew right here in my mouth!" I'm pretty sure she meant a canker sore, but who knows!

She also was telling me how her wrist hurt which was her waist...and then her ankle hurt and it was her shin. Bless her heart!

The kids were taping sticks when Tia came in with an empty roll of tape and said, "mom the army tape ran out of batteries!"

We were sitting down to dinner when out of the blue Dexter announced, "hey mom, I have a girlfriend." My eyes got big and said, "Oh really, what is her name?" He got this funny look on his face and said, "I don't know her name, but she has a rainbow shirt on today." It wasn't until the teasing from his other siblings started that he knew what a mistake it was admitting he liked a girl! Funny boy!

Joey came in crying, "Dextah hit me...Dextah hit me!" I called Dexter in the room and started lecturing him. He interrupted me in mid sentence and said, "mom can I just let him hit me back and call it even." I have to admit I was a little caught off guard. Then I started laughing, rolled my eyes and said, "Yes, go ahead Joey, hit Dexter back!" I am such a good mom!