Goldie and Rainbow

Yup.

Fish.

Because there wasn’t enough animal poop to clean in my life, right?  Actually, I kind of like these little buggers.  Oh, I have no illusion that they will last long.  These little fish never do.  But I do find myself mesmerized by their motion whenever I walk by their little bowl.  There is something so soothing about watching a fish swim.

So, Goldie and Rainbow came into our life in a little plastic bag.  The girls had their school carnival on Friday and we went down for some fun.  There were a ton of easy games to play, candy to win, teachers to dunk, and games to play.  It made me a bit nostalgic.  The cake walk, the ring toss, and the ping pong ball throw where the prize was your very own goldfish in a bag.  Timeless.  Of course, I remember our school carnival at Soleado being outside on the playground.  Here in the land of gloom, it was held indoors.  But aside from that, everything seemed unchanged.  Same games; same prizes.   We spent quite a few tickets on these here goldfish.  Leina won first and Kulia put on a brave face but the tears were welling.  Leina was feeling magnanimous and agreed to wait in line again to win her sister a fish and, several attempts later, she did.

And so, here they swim, our carnival fish.

Anybody want to take bets on how long they last?

How You Doin'?

I have no idea where the time has gone.  It’s like cash in Kevin’s wallet.  One minute it’s there, the next it’s gone and all that is left is a bunch of crumpled food wrappers strewn about.  We’ve just whittled it away I suppose doing “the usual”.   For Kulia, “the usual” is a bowl of snacks with a bottom layer of goldfish cracker, then Cheezits, and topped with pretzels.  This layer order is of paramount importance.  Should you offer her a bowl with Cheezits on the bottom, she will shake her head sadly and look at with such loss of respect that you will hurry back to the kitchen to right the terrible wrong you have brought unto the world.  For Leina, “the usual” involves Kidz Bop blasting on the stereo, elaborate dance routines, and a dog jumping along and barking her head off.  For Kevin, “the usual” is coming home after a long day of work to nap on the sofa while snuggling Kulia who is eating her snack and watching Leina and the dog go crazy.  For me, “the usual” consists of soul draining amount of dishes, laundry, and tidying up all while being forced to listen to Kidz Bop and a manically barking dog.  Yup.  That about sums up our life right now.  Just good crazy fun.

Of course, there have been a few memorable events.  Leina entered year 2 of Daisy Scouts.  She remembered all the words to her Scout Promise at her ceremony and has another pin for her vest.  She loves it.  And I even survived being Cookie Mom this year.  Phew.

I'm A Little Daisy

And we have a new addition to our family.  No, not another kid.  Don’t even joke about that.   No, thanks to some very generous valentine cash, the girls finally saved enough to get a hamster.  Yup.  That’s right.  Yet another thing for me to clean.  Actually, he is very cute and tiny.  His name is Diamond and he sleeps all day and runs like a maniac all night on his little hamster wheel.  Leina loves to set up elaborate Lego mazes in our bathtub for him to run through.  So far, she has remembered to close the drain before setting him free.  He seems to enjoy himself so I figure it’s probably ok.  I can’t get over how tiny he is!  Even more amazing is the fact that the hamster cost $10.00 and everything else cost $90.00.  What?!?!?

Diamond

So, I think that’s everything of note.  So long February!  I feel I hardly knew you at all!

Kulia Signing Off

Tiffany looked around the woods.  The shadows were growing longer, but they didn’t worry her.  Bits of Miss Tick’s teachings floated through her head:  Always face what you fear.  Have just enough money, never too much, and some string.  Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your responsibility.  Witches deal with things.  Never stand between two mirrors.  Never cackle.  Do what you must do.  Never lie, but you don’t always have to be honest.  Never wish.  Especially don’t wish upon a star, which is astronomically stupid.  Open your eyes, and then open your eyes again.

-A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

I never got into the Disc World Series.  I thought it was ok but it never hooked me the way some series do.  So imagine my surprise when I picked up The Wee Free Men and couldn’t put it down!  Mr. Pratchett has written a sub-series in his Disc World for young adults, and I adore them.  Adore!  This quote is from the second book and it caught my eye because I’m constantly battling the kids over one particular thing.  Being Responsible.  You have no idea how hard this is to grind into their stubborn little brains.

“Leina, you need to clean up the toys over there,”  I’ll say.

“But I didn’t play with them.  That’s not my mess.  Why do I have to to do it?  Kulia should do it.  She was playing with them!” is the reply.  Said in the most whiny, disgusting voice ever.

Where do my girls get the idea that if they didn’t do it, it isn’t their responsibility???  They will spend 20 minutes arguing about who made what mess instead of spending the 2.5 seconds required to just clean it up!  Why is this?  Why?  I know plenty to grown ups with this attitude as well and these are the people I avoid like the plague.  Not my fault, not my problem.  It’s a horrible, self-centered, greedy, and egotistical way to live your life.  (Can you tell this is a major issue for me?)   I have managed to quash “it’s not fair” from this house.  Next on my list is “but I didn’t do it, why do I have to fix it?”  How, you ask?  I’m not quite sure but don’t worry, I will find a way.  Oh yes, I will find a way.

Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your responsibility.