Muted

I went with Cameron to the dentist today--2 small fillings and then sealant to prevent other cavities.
Needless to say, he didn't say a word to either the hygienist or dentist. He just nodded or shook his head, and when asked a point-blank question he would just grimace or get a tight grin.
The various procedures went without a hitch (no needles were required), and we came home.
Cameron then went back up to his room due to all his mouthiness before and after school.
He also missed out on ice cream for the same reason. That is truly just desserts--you might even say it is the one dessert that prevents cavities!

Train up a child.....

Today Cindy and Erin concentrated on cleaning up Erin's room especially nice. Cindy was especially eying the egregious eyesore that was her bookcase.

Amazingly, Erin attacked it with gusto, even adjusting the height of the shelves to better fit the displayed accoutrements of girldom.

And she did a really great job!

Cindy congratulated her, saying, 'You're a regular Martha Stewart!.....By the way, do you know who she is?'

'Yeah,' Erin replied, 'She's a lady who slaves all day!'
* * * * * * *
Which reminds me of a recently read joke (especially funny as Cindy and I have had some fun spoofing some of the advice in Fascinating Womanhood)!

A boy asked his mother the following question: "Mom, why are wedding dresses white?"
The mother looks at her son and replies, "Son, this shows your friends and relatives that your bride is pure."

The boy thanks his mom and goes off to double-check this with his father. "Dad why are wedding dresses white?"

The father looks at his son in surprise and says, "Son, all household appliances come in white."

A Tale of One _____ [Rhymes with 'City']

Feeling rather worn after dealing with Erin and Cameron, Cindy was talking to Makenna and me, dreamily wishing, 'I wish I had a big piece of chocolate cake right now!'

At that point, Makenna turned around to show off a balloon she had stuffed up her shirt.

Cindy told her, 'You don't need any--you've eaten enough already!'

Cindy tried to pull down on the balloon string, to which Makenna said, "Hey, don't pull on my stomach!"

'Your stomach? It goes up to your chin!!!'

'Then don't pull on my boob! she rejoindered, demurely adjusting her one protruding bosom.

The Code of the Convict[s]

Erin was smarting off to Cindy, so Cindy sternly directed her to go to her room. I helped escort her up as she continued to complain about her treatment.

As she finally climbed the last couple stairs, she yelled out, "I HATE YOU MOM!" [Cindy and I both laughed at that!]

Cameron, who was already serving time for general mouthiness, chimed in from his room, 'Good one, Erin! Gimme five!!'

Now she is saying that she hates Cindy EVEN MORE, because it is so boring in her room, etc., etc. I guess putting her in her place [in this case, her room] is paying handsome dividends!

And it is much quieter downstairs!

Cameron's Newest Trick....

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

After all, he is a Floyd, and he does take after many of my brothers.

Anyway, this past week he showcased his latest talent: burping at will.

He was very proud of himself.

VERY proud.

A realist at work....

Yesterday as Cameron and I were tossing his latest little squishy ball* around in the frontroom, he made a rude comment to me, then to Makenna.

Dropping the ball on the floor, I decreed, 'Playtime is now over.'

Cameron moaned, then in a display I have never seen before, without askance he looked at Makenna and gave a sincerity-laden apology, and then did the same to me.

He must've noticed my stunned visage, as he then launched into a cryptic elucidation. 'I do what I have to do [i.e., to get what I want].'

Yeah, we started throwing the ball back and forth again.

*Note: He gets these squishly little balls with tentacles every Friday at school, when all the kids who have not gotten into trouble that week get to pick something from the teacher's basket of toys. He is very imaginative with them. 2 weeks ago he popped one of the them, but rather than throwing it away, he began encasing different parts of his body (not, not that!) in it.

Enjoy the photo of leper boy! Gross!

Baby Steps

We can now say that Allyson has taken her first bona fide steps.

Yesterday she tottered for about 5 before biffing it.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a staged re-enactment.

Or maybe she was just reaching for a cookie in the above picture...

The times, they are a'changin'

As I sat watching a Brady Bunch episode with Cameron and Makenna, there came a scene where Bobby was realizing how much of a stinker he had been, and was explaining how he had really learned a good lesson.

'There!!' I exclaimed to the kids, 'Look at that! A kid who knows he did something wrong and not only does he feel sorry about it, he actually apologizes!'

Erin had walked into the room just before my animated exclamation, and thus immediately retorted, 'Yeah, but that was like...1762! Not today!'

Cameron piled on, 'Yeah, that was like Year Zero!'

Once again, REAL reality and television are lightyears apart.