It's a Wonderful Life.

(Three peas in a pod.  All freezing.  All tired.  All ready for bed.)

If you called me a drill sergeant or a human garbage disposal you would be right.  To add to my mood, while reading The Gift of the Magi to my kids tonight I came across this phrase, ". . . life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating."  I would concur, on days like today.

My poor kids, putting up with a grouchy, demanding mother.  They are so patient.  But maybe they shouldn't be naughty, either.  I love them, but sometimes . . . . 

Completely unrelated, do you ever clean off your kids' plates because you can't stand to see food wasted?  Food that couldn't be saved for leftovers because it was just one bite here or there?  I hate waste.  But I also hate extra calories.  What do you do?  I know, I should just throw it away. 

By the way, they weren't naughty for not licking their plates clean.  Sweet Lincoln, in complete hysterics over his hunger and me not letting him eat before dinner, threw a stuffed elephant at my head!  It's hilarious and awful at the same time.  I asked myself, did he really just do that?  It was a delayed reaction.  Needless to say, he was off to his room for some "personal reflection time."

And Annie, being sufficiently warned NOT to eat anything while I was laying down for a 30 minute power nap (before dinner), ate three packages of fruit snacks, one popsicle, one string cheese, and graham crackers, subsequently leaving all the wrappers on the floor!  She's not old enough to think about hiding the evidence.  Few things irk me more than when kids eat right before dinner and then . . . they don't eat dinner!

I'm sure glad today is over.  These are days that keep life real.  Very real.  And I'm so glad when I can climb into bed, waiting to start over tommorow, choosing to have a better day.  But first, Ben and I are going to watch It's a Wonderful Life.  And it is.  Most of the time.

p.s. after reading this Ben said that I shouldn't share so many of Lincoln's "exploits," lest I paint a picture that he's a bad kid.  In all honesty, most of my posts involve the youngest two because they're home so much more than the big boys.  If I had blogged when they were young, boy, you would've read about some fabulous exploits.  Horrible exploits.  But alas, they are boys through and through, all three of them.  Curious boys.  And they've all gotten into mischief more than I can count.  I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.  Who wants boys who sit around all day playing video games, anyway?  btw, Lincoln is probably my most compassionate child.  Most aware of feelings.  He is full of goodness . . . even when he's getting into trouble.  Usually.