Comanche, the dead horse

This weekend we went to the Natural History Museum on the Kansas University campus. While we were there we saw a preserved horse named Comanche from the 1800s. They had pictures beside the actual house explaining how they had kept the horse looking good for so long. After viewing the display, Drew said, "I guess we'll know what to do next time we find a dead horse."

That was my favorite line from the weekend. 

the cutest one

Julianna does not lack confidence.

Last Wednesday, after her class at Dillon Nature Center, she told me this: "I was the cutest one at Dillon Nature Center today." I asked if someone had told her that and she said, "No, I just knowed."

Then tonight when I was helping her into her jammies, she said, "For goodness sake, I looked cute today!"

She never fails to make me laugh.

romantic painting

Tom and I do not celebrate Valentine's Day like other couples. We do not do flowers and candies. This year we decided to direct our Heart Day funds into our home remodel budget. So on Valentine's Day the whole family had dinner by candlelight and I gave the kids a small gift to celebrate. (Drew and Julianna got goggles and Lily a swim cap.) After we gave them the gifts we explained to them that mom and dad were going to be painting the living room for our gift to each other. We explained that it was a lot of work to paint a living room and wasn't that a nice gift?

Last weekend Tom finished the living room painting (including two coats on the ceiling) and this week he had moved on to the kitchen. Last night he finished the kitchen and had moved the painting down the stairs and started on the family room. Tom is doing all the painting himself, as he is very particular about how perfect it needs to be. I am helping in other ways. I'm the gofer and the 'help wherever I can' person. But, to be clear, Tom has shouldered the brunt of the project, obviously.

Ok, now that you have the background of our Valentine's Day, you can fully appreciate the conversation I had with Drew this morning. Drew came down into the kitchen and looked around this morning. When he went to bed last night the kitchen was half done; and when he woke up, the kitchen was completely finished.

Drew: Geez, Mommy. You're going to have to do something really big for Valentine's!

Me: What? Why?

Drew: Because Dad has, like, painted the whole house!

I wish you could hear how flabbergasted Drew was that Tom had 'like, painted the whole house'. It is still making me laugh right now.

my name

I've been thinking about blogging about the sweet difference in the way my children address me. They each call me something different and it seems to fit with who they are and where they are in life. Julianna calls me Mama and I love it so much. It's the sweetest thing ever to hear, "I love you, Mama." Drew calls me Mommy and, again, the sweetest thing ever and so short lived. I know it's only a matter of time before he only calls me Mom. Lily calls me Mom. She has done this for a very long time. She started calling me Mom while most kids at her age were still saying mommy and daddy. She just is too grown up for mommy now.

I was going to write all about this very thing....until today. Today Julianna started calling me Mom Stivers....and that just doesn't have the same ring to it as Mama.

Oh how I love my children.

with a twist

Every mom that works hard to make her house presentable for guests, but leaves it pretty messy most of the rest of the time, has had a similar conversation to the one that follows. Except in this conversation Julianna adds her own twist.

Julianna: Who is coming over today?

Me: No one.

Julianna: Then why are you cleaning?

Me: Because I like to have a clean house.

Julianna: Well, I like to have a dirty mouse.

Me: A dirty mouse?!

Julianna: (laughs) I mean a dirty house!