Things I never thought I would say.

The boys are crazy.  Perhaps it's the warmer weather bringing us glimpses of the summer ahead; perhaps they are sneaking pure sugar into their meals; perhaps they are just your typical boys but they are crazy.  I mean bouncing-off-the-walls, screaming-like-eagles (or I guess I should say dragons),  making-a-joke-of-everything, crazy.  This makes for times when I find myself saying to my own children things that when my parents said them to me, I swore I never would repeat to my own children.  Here's a short list of sayings that we all hated to hear in our youth and are destined to repeat to our own kids:

• "Because I said so."
• "Sit still for once."
• "Are you listening?"
• "Do you understand what I am trying to say."
• "No and I mean it."

And then there is the list that I never imagined I would say.  Unfortunately this list grows longer with each passing day...

• "Get your hands out of your pants."
• "Don't wipe your nose on me."
• "Don't step on your brother's {insert assorted body part here}."
• "Get your foot out of your bowl."
• "Take the {book, toy, piece of garbage} out of your mouth."
• "Please don't suck on my hair."

All is well in the Anderson Asylum for the evening as the three are safely tucked into bed.  The craziness is taking a brief rest, only to refuel for the morning.  Another day without needing a padded room - not for the kids, but for us parents who are trying our best to keep the craziness a bit controlled without investing in child-sized straight jackets.

The Big Catch

This afternoon the boys were apparently struggling to find activities to keep them occupied.  After literally bouncing off the walls, tackling one another, and other minor violations of household rules, Sam was sent upstairs to play in his room.

He came downstairs to play Chutes and Ladder with John and Ben and this conversation ensued:
Me:  "Is that a new shirt?"
Sam: "Yes."
Me: "Why did you change shirts?"
Sam: "Because I got my other one wet."
Me: "How did you get your shirt wet?"
Sam: "I was playing with the aquarium."
***At this point I could no longer stifle my laughter.  I tried but I just couldn't.  Ben sent John out of the room and maintained his composure enough to continue with the conversation.***
Ben: "What were you doing in the aquarium?"
Sam:  "I was trying to catch the fish.  I caught one but I let it go."

After a quick lecture on reasons not to play in the aquarium and a firm warning never to touch the fish or even the glass on the aquarium, Sam was sent upstairs to think for a bit.  Upon further inspection, Sam's hands had been in the aquarium long enough to be wrinkled.  Not only had he caught one of the angel fish, he caught two, and moved an aquarium rock onto of the third.  After replacing the plants and rescuing the third fish from beneath a rock, it appears one of the fish may not make it.

Perhaps this is all part of Sam's master plan to get hermit crabs once the fish are gone.

Almost two...hear me roar

Just in case you were wondering, the third child of my trio of boys is about to turn two.  Andrew is normally quite the mild-mannered fellow who goes well with the flow and isn't rattled by much.  All of this came to a crashing halt on Monday when my charming little boy turned into a screaming, kicking little monster.  This earned him a quick trip to his bedroom where he continued to rant for several minutes.  After a few minutes of isolation, I opened his door to take this picture:

Andrew in all his misery with his precious puppy and hippo in his arms.  I have no idea what brought this tantrum on and as quickly as everything started, it ended.  After five minutes of ranting in his room, two minutes of me struggling to put socks and shoes on his feet, and a quick wipe of the nose, I took this picture.

Happy-go-lucky Andrew safely aboard his wagon.  This summer could be an interesting ride with yet another Anderson male experiencing the ups and downs of being two.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

The boys provide us with entertainment.  The best thing is that the entertainment is free; the worse is that it can be never-ending and mind-numbing.  Some of the best laughs around our house comes from things the boys say.

Sunday, Ben cooked us a wonderful breakfast of buttermilk waffles, bacon and sausage.  The boys and I were dining together at the table (always an adventure) as Ben finished off cooking his breakfast.  In the interest of full disclosure I contributed to the adventure by letting a rather large, unexpected belch.  After excusing myself and apologizing profusely, John offers these words of comfort, "Don't be sorry, that's lovely!"  At least I'll always be lovely in an almost seven-year-old's mind.

Today, while sweeping and mopping the floors, Sam and I had an interesting yet odd conversation about bad people.  (As much as you can have a conversation with Sam right now.  Really it was like a continual banter with very little to no input from me.)  According to Sam, bad people don't care about their world so they don't clean their houses.  This was followed by lots of questions regarding why bad people are bad and if babies can be bad.  Apparently Sam believes in the old adage that cleanliness is close to Godliness.  Now, if only he would put this to work in his own room.

Life with the Seat Up

Yes, I am outnumbered;  three to one, four if you count my husband.  The three cats are male and probably even all four fish.  The Y chromosomes rule the house.

Hence the name of my blog, "Life with the Seat up."  Any female surrounded by boys with a single bathroom in the whole house can probably relate.  The seat is up, the floor can be disgusting, and you never have a moment of bathroom bliss without an inevitable knock or barge through the door.  After living with guys after graduating with college, you would think that I would no longer marvel at the male's inability to aim properly.  Yet I do.  So here in my little corner of the web I will regale you with stories of life with boys.  Boys who I hope will grow into wonderful young men.  Enjoy~