prayers, horseys, and attitudes

Eve really likes to pray...and I am glad :)  She usually volunteers to say the blessing at mealtime, pray before bed, and even raises her hand to pray at chapel/See You At The Pole for Mother's Day Out.  Her prayers recently have gotten more and more hilarious... mostly because she rambles on and on.  A few nights ago, her prayer for dinner was "dear heavenly father (she got that from her papa), thank you that we love EVERYTHING that we love and we eat EVERYTHING that we eat and we love our friends and our family and thank you that i dont want to eat ANY of my dinner.  amen."

I noticed a few red spots on the back of Coleman's neck this morning and pointed it out to Eric.  I'm sure it's nothing of importance, I had just never seen them before.  Eve heard me, and said "i know who can fix those red spots!"  "who?" "God can.  I can just lift up my shirt, and tell him to come out of my heart to go into Coleman's neck.  He can use his special tools that wont hurt Coleman, and he will fix those spots."  She lifts up her shirt and says, "Ok, God and Jesus...come out. (long pause)  Momma, why is he not coming out?"  i love the way her mind works.

Eric and Eve have some special things that only the two of them do together... like when Eric throws Eve into the mirror after her bath, or when they chase each other around and around the pantry in our kitchen, or when Eve gives daddy SPECIFIC instructions on hide-and-seek.  It sounds something like this, "Daddy, you go hide in the closet with the light off, and I'll go count to fifteen and come find you and when I open the door, you say 'rawr!!'" :)  Another one of those things is riding the horsey.  I'm sure LOTS of dads play this game with their kids, but I'm not sure how many dads can do the following tricks (as a horsey, of course).  First, Eve grabs a baby blanket to wrap around Eric's neck for reigns.  Then her commands go something like this, "Getttttty up, horsey!"  "Eat grass!"  "Get me a rose, horsey!"  "Give it to momma!"  Then Eric dumps her off his back onto the couch.  Eve and her daddy have a fun connection, and I look forward to watching it grow over the years.

Although I hate to end this blog on a downer...I want to document/remember the annoying, ridiculous, insanely silly, interesting things that are HUGE on Eve's "these things make me melt down" list.  Most of these things revolve around her morning routine.  It is a nightmare.  Really.  She can pretty much throw a fit about any of the following things on any given morning: choice of outfit, length of sleeves, pulling pants/tights up too high on her belly, wearing socks, putting on any shoes except flip flops in summer or her stinky, silver ballet flats in the winter, brushing teeth/brushing hair out of order, which bow/clip to wear, where on her head the bow sits, the position of her panties/tights, and putting on a jacket, sweater, or double layers of any kind.  We spank the girl... frequently... but still she cries about these things.  Boy, does she cry.  Eric and I have a really hard time understanding what it is that sets her off so quickly about these things.  I try to be accommodating to some of her quirky ways, but let's be realistic.  The kid cant wear the same red penguin dress with no tights or bow and her stinky shoes everyday!!!  :)

Clara, Clara, Clara.  I am amazed at the transformation in personality that I have witnessed in the twins over the past 6 months or so.  Clara is strong.  I always knew she was, but I had NO IDEA she was as feisty.  The girl knows what she wants, and she will let you know if you don't give it to her.  When we first brought the girls home from NICU, Ellie was the fussy, needy, 'i want to be held' type.  Clara was easy.  She slept excellently, didn't require much attention, and rarely cried.  Wow, how things have changed :)  Ellie is a sweetheart.  She is laid-back, gentle, easy to please, and happy.  She doesn't sleep quite as long as Clara, but she wakes up in a pleasant mood.  She is thoughtful and analytical.  Ellie is quick to catch on to "no" or a pop for disobeying.  Clara is a go-getter.  She is adventurous and determined.  She will scream instantly when you tell her "no" or take away something she has gotten into.  When she escapes from our barricaded living room and crawls quickly for the steps, she yells and kicks as soon as you pick her up to bring her back into the "play-zone".  She arches her back and fusses when you put her in her car seat and she takes whatever toy she wants regardless of who is/was playing with it.  Clara is also hilarious.  She giggles and chuckles constantly and can easily (and quickly) turn her screams of frustration into a belly laugh at something Eve or Ellie is doing.  She is a delight when she is satisfied.  If not, LOOK OUT :)  I look forward to watching her grow into a little girl who can reason things out in her mind...and hopefully reduce the melt-downs.