On the Eighth Day of Christmas

my children played with me: a teddy bear's birthday party. Whoever said a mother's life is mundane and boring? Okay, me, sometimes. But this morning Ethan held a birthday party for Eez Bear, his green Build-a-Bear that he sleeps with every night. I realize his name is Eez...I don't know whether he just happens to have the same name as Ethan's invisible friend, or if the spirit of his invisible friend entered his bear, but we had a birthday party just the same. Today his bear turned five; last week he turned two. We had a birthday cake made out of a tambourine and lincoln logs for candles, a bag filled with birthday presents (random things taken out of the bathroom drawers), and games (which hand is hiding the penny?). I'm glad my kids got the imaginative gene from somewhere, because it definitely didn't come from me. Oh yeah, the cowboy hat came from his friend Elli's dress-up box. She said he could borrow it until next time we get together.

This afternoon, we have doctor's appointments for both boys' ears to be checked: Ethan's to check on the tubes, and Aidan to see if the amoxicillin took care of the double ear infection. Ethan said, "Don't freak me out Mom. I don't want to go to the doctor." Don't you love how they pick up idioms from you?

And for those of you who may be craft or sewing minded (I'm not either of these but I still thought this was clever), here's a cute idea for you. We had a Christmas party for the Young Women last night. I am the 2nd counselor, over Beehives. I have two girls, both just turned 12, and our ward has 9 girls all together. Anyway, the YW president bought the presidency members gifts too: lotion, a "Take 5" candybar, and this:

When she first pulled it out, I honestly thought they were size 3-6 month girls' pants. And I thought, "She must have gotten her facts wrong, because I'm not having a baby anytime soon." Then I read the poem pinned on the pants:

Now don't get excited

and don't be mislead.

These are not for you

but your dishes instead.

Just undo the ties

and pull out the stitches.

You've gained two dishcloths

but lost your britches.

So when I untie the yarn pieces, I have two new washcloths! Pretty clever.

Any men who might have been reading this post have quit reading by now, bored out of their minds by kid stuff and sewing stuff. So I'll just take this opportunity to say GIRLS RULE!

Goodbye, until tomorrow!