Zack's Hairy Armpits

As my screen saver scrolled through my pictures, Matthew, who wasn't wearing his glasses, was very surprised to see that Zack has such long armpit hair.

Oh, Go Fly a Kite!

Yesterday afternoon, as I was taking my 20 minute (translation: 90 minute) power nap, the kids came into my room and started rooting around under my bed for the two big kites I bought from Costco last spring. We had never even taken them out of the packages. I started getting all bugged and was trying to shoo them out of my room while asking them what they were doing. They answered, "Dad told us to." So I dragged myself up to help them put the kites together, a big mermaid with wings (huh?) and a dragon.

We got them both put together, but when we went outside, there was not even the tiniest hint of wind. The trees were absolutely still. We licked our fingers and held them up to double-check, but couldn't feel a bit of wind. The package instructions recommend at least 7 mph winds, but Matthew and his friend wanted to try anyway. So they ran and ran and ran . . . and got the kite up. But it only stayed up as long as they were sprinting across the yard. They ran with that big dragon kite for about 30 minutes, while I got tired just watching them and went back inside.

Eventually, Steve came into the kitchen and asked where the kids were. I said, a little peeved, "They're outside trying to fly a kite with no wind at your suggestion." He, of course, busted up laughing, and then I finally got it. They'd been pestering him for a while because they were bored, so he told them to "Go fly a kite."

But I Wasn't Laughing

I've been told during my whole life as a mother to write down the funny things that my kids say. I've done a little of that, but unfortunately, not nearly enough. I've just been re-reading some old journal entries and came across several things my kids said and did that I had absolutely no memory of. Not even an, "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that." How could I have possibly forgotten about Abby washing her hair in the toilet. But even after reading about it, I am drawing a complete blank. I remember a lot of what my older two kids said and did, but as my brain becomes more fragmented with age and children, I seem to forget a scarey amount.

The title of this blog refers to something that my oldest daughter, Anna, said when she was little, about 9. Steve was laughing at something that she had said, and she wasn't happy about it. She didn't like her dad to laugh at her. He tried to explain to her that he wasn't laughing at her but was laughing with her. Her answer was simple, yet disarming: "But I wasn't laughing."

Though Anna didn't find that funny, this blog is dedicated to things that we, as parents, do find funny. I'll try to dredge up past favorites from my crippled brain as well as add new gems as they are bestowed.

I love the baffled look my kids give me when I burst out laughing at something they have said. And Matthew always groans and pleads, "Don't tell everyone - you always tell everyone!" I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see some of my favorite Matthewisms posted on the internet for all to see (as I cackle with glee)!!!