Is spring really here yet? Hard to tell sometimes. We have some initial signs: the purple crocuses are out in force in the neighborhood and kind of looking like they are finished with their shift. It's so weird for me because I remember growing up and they'd always be just starting to bloom around Easter time. I miss having a yard like this  here the flowers are just worked into the lawn and seriously low maintenance. Our little garden at the side of the house appears to have a lot of survivors. I planted  several bulbs right around when Sandy hit as a sort of recovery choice after the landlord plowed the prior garden under. It looks quite promising, really!

But then we have these other weekends where it decides to randomly snow a "few" inches. Penny was SUPPOSED to go on a big field trip a couple of Fridays ago, but the snow started falling and just refused to stop. School wasn't cancelled, but the bus driver didn't think the roads were great and the principal cancelled the field trip. Penny was devastated to miss her first ride on a school bus. However, I'd already made arrangements for babysitting Paul, so we seized our first opportunity in a while to build a snowman together. It was nice to have a little Penny and Mommy time for a change. It was her first opportunity in memory to see that snowballs actually increase in size as you roll them through the snow. Penny really wanted a bunny to get ready for Easter and the hydrangeas look quite nice as buttons and hair. Of course, they both look pretty darned cute in their winter gear. 

We had our first big injury scare for Paul this week. The little cutie thoroughly enjoys coloring with Big Sister Penny. I get an inordinate amount of pleasure seeing them use my pencil case and colored pencils from fourth grade. However, Paul is not quite tall enough to see what he's coloring while seated at the table. Most of the time, he prefers to stand while coloring. Last week he took a tumble from the pictured chair - not too bad. Yesterday, it was Penny's folding chair, which of course collapsed on top of him. There was SO much blood in his mouth and I'll admit I got pretty panicky. I went through quite a few tissues, even a couple of paper towels before I could even see what was bleeding. I'm not sure exactly what he did, but it took a full day before he was able to chew anything. The only thing I can see wrong is some damage around the gum line of his bottom teeth. Poor little dude. We're going to see Penny's dentist Thursday just to ensure he didn't do any permanent damage. I feel a little overprotective by doing it since he's pretty much back to normal today, but there's a couple possibilities that are worth counting out. Aah, the joys of parenthood!

Talking to a Wall

Arrrgh! What do you do to get a four-year-old to listen to you?!! I feel like I'm talking to a wall half the time. Tell Penny to stop running ahead - she keeps going. "Penny, you were too far ahead, why didn't you stop when I asked?" The explanation varies from day to day, but is something along the lines of she had something more important to do. When I try to talk to her about the importance of listening, she tells me to be quiet because she doesn't want to hear about it. Every day is a trial and some days I just don't feel like fighting and I totally cave, only to pay for it later with more intense fighting. Is it just being four or is it that my inability to control my temper for the past year or more is kicking me in the butt.

Paul is also entertaining. He's really fond of throwing tantrums. Meal time tantrums involve actual throwing - not sure how much food we've lost to high-velocity spatter versus him actually eating it. Leaving any location usually is a throwing himself on the floor and writhing event. I feel bad for the various bonks he's given himself by just going limp in all kinds of crazy locations. I know there's a phase where this happens, but gosh, I hope it goes away soon.

I'm just tired of having to deal with the two of them throwing simultaneous tantrums every day at mealtimes, when we go to school, come home, etc. Ought to get extra entertaining when cutie number three joins the fun.