Lots of Funny Shorts

My life is a comedy, at least I'm telling myself that so that I can look back and laugh at more things than to be stressed out. Here's a few few funnies from the Quinn family.

Raise your Feet

Lisette is very flexible, it almost makes me sick.  She likes to show off her flexibility at the table by squeezing her left foot from under the table, through the small space between her belly and the table, and up on top.  Every time we have gathered at the table you will hear at some point "Lisette, foot off the table."  She usually complies.  Moments later "Lisette, foot off."  Most times if we have reached the point of asking her 3 times in a row, that foot will quickly go from under the table, to right on top in just a second flat.  "Lisette, stop... put your foot down... Lisette, no feet on the table... stop it!"  Each time that foot goes down, then right back up.  And so on.  She tests her limits; with her flexibility and her parents all in one go.  Of course sometimes Franklin joins in "Wisette, foot down!"

Gross!

We are a very affectionate family.  We hug and kiss all the time, parents and kids alike.  Stephen and I decided long ago that our kids will grow up knowing that their parents do kiss.  Stephen came home for lunch, a somewhat rare occurrence now, and as he was leaving I stopped him at the door to give him a kiss.  Franklin was standing on the couch and had been looking out with window.  Just as we kiss we hear this very loud, "Gross!!"

He actually outbursts with "Gross!" many times about random things; the cat, his sister, me, the potty, food, his room.  Makes me laugh every time I hear it.  I know he picked that up from me.  And sometimes we might hear him say "oh crap!"

Kiss it

I've been very amazed and happy at how much a kiss can cure anything.  From the non-boo boo's that don't actually hurt but need a kiss, to the fell-down-large-lump-on-skin that must hurt far more than a kiss should cure.  I've also learned that blowing a kiss can heal just as well.  Now this has happened more than how many fingers I have...  Franklin pretends to fall down a lot; such a silly boy that is just like his father.  F: "Mommy, kiss it better."  M: "Did you hurt yourself."  F: "Yeah.  Kiss it better."  M: "Where do you want me to kiss?"  F: "My butt."

Franklin decides multiple times a day that I need a kiss.  I don't mind, usually.  Every so often I lay on the floor, on my stomach.  Usually that isn't wise for anyone near toddlers and preschoolers.  Of course its only fitting that my children turn me into Mommy-playground when I did the same to my mom, especially if I give them that opportunity.  On one occasion, Franklin quickly came, nearly belly flopped on my back, and then, with his face already so close to my bum, proceeds to kiss it, "Mommy, I kiss your butt."  He has found many occasions to kiss it, while I'm doing dishes, or cooking.  Yep, that kid doesn't get the concept of personal space.

Contest

My children are very silly and can be very loud.  Every morning I usually enjoy a contest between them.  They have 3 different contests that occur daily.  At breakfast they usually have a growling contest.  Yes, growling.  It starts simple: "Grrr!" from Franklin.  "Aaarrrr!" from Lisette.  And so on until it is very loud and high.  Yep, so fun.  I was on the phone with one of my sisters once when one of these contests began.  I explain what she's hearing in the background and that its all out of fun for them.  She replies, "How cute."  I respond, "to you." 

My favorite is in the car, the "No!" contest.  Don't misunderstand.  They aren't upset, or mad at each other.  It just starts with Franklin (he's always the one to start these contests) telling Lisette, very kindly, "no".  She smiles and says it back.  Usually this one has the most laughter between them as they get louder.  However, the most common contest in the squealing.  The most disruptive and least fun.  This one often ends with Lisette mad; you can take that to mean she is losing the contest to her brother.

'Fess up

(*disclaimer, TMI in this one) I wish I could say we have 100%, accident free success with potty training Franklin.  However, he's had a very recent and happy breakthrough with going poop in the potty every time when he's already up for the day and in underwear.  Our biggest struggle with him was getting him to tell the difference between passing gas and needing to poop.  He'd constantly announce, "Poop, mommy!" as he releases gas.  Not too fun when in the middle of a store and he says it loudly.  Now he'll say "Mommy, skinky!" when he farts or "Wisette skinky" when she has a bad diaper.  Not long ago I wasn't sure where the stink came from and I asked in general, "who farted?"  Franklin laughs and with his very excited enthusiasm "I farted mommy!" all proud of himself.  At least he doesn't get embarrassed, yet.

Christmas!

Though it hardly feels like winter; wearing shorts, T-shirts and flip flops, and running the ceiling fan in the middle of the day because of the heat, we are so happy to see Christmas lights.  Around 5:30 every evening, it is dark and the lights come on.  If we happen to be out and about, every home we pass with lights is announced, each one as enthusiastic as the next, "Christmas!" by Franklin.  He used to say "Snowman!" to everything Christmas.  Not sure where that came from, but we've been working on it.  I suppose he misses the snow as much as I do though.

Take Nap

Franklin is obsessed with the Wii.  And we don't let him play it as often as you might think, mostly because of his obsession.  It started to become our way of talking him into a nap.  Yes, he is 3 years old, but that boy still shows signs of really needing a nap just about everyday.  So now he says every day, "Mommy, play Wii, take a nap."  I ask him if he wants a nap and he'll say, "Yes, play Wii, take a nap!"  Nope, sorry kid.  Its the other way around.  Of course if he does take a nap, he doesn't forget that we made that deal.  The first words out of his mouth always are "Play Wii!!!"  Sometimes he even pretends to take a nap, but we are not fooled. 

Of course we even started using it as an incentive to leave Grandma's house, or where ever we might be and he doesn't want to leave.  We don't even mention it anymore and he'll still be happy to leave, all the while saying "Go home, play Wii."  Maybe once a week we actually let him play.

I have resorted to letting him watch a show in his room, with the curtains down, white noise low, and in bed.  Sometimes that is the only way I can get him to sleep.  He's like his dad, he can fall asleep watching something.  However, the doesn't work for Lisette.  When we're in the car, she will fight hard (and win) to stay awake if there is a movie on. But once its off, that girl is out.  It doesn't matter for Franklin though.

Mommy's Stress Ball

It's large, bouncy and green.  It helps me stress release at times and can be a lot of fun.  It also happens to be enjoyed by both the kids.  Franklin will bring, or toss, me this big green, bouncy ball and I will proceed to peg him with it.  Lisette will even go get the ball and throw, or hand, it back.  Yes, I toss this ball at my kids, as they laugh with delight and even try to hit me back.  They even try to hit each other with it.  Of course if they pick up any other ball to use they are quickly corrected, hopefully no harm done, and we all enjoy play time with mommy's giant stress ball.

Gabriel's Oboe

This one may not be funny, but it is unusual, though it makes me very happy.  We aren't very successful in taking away Lisette's dependence with her pacifier or animal blanket.  More like our dependence, I suppose.  She can scream and fight like no one's business when we are in the car, without her two items, and she is tired.  However, we turn on The Mission soundtrack, and play "Heaven on Earth" featuring "Gabriel's Oboe" and she instantly calms down.  So we listen to that song, a LOT.  Good thing its such a beautiful piece and I'm obsessed with the oboe. 

I should probably add right here that, thanks to Geoff DeSpain (band director at EAC), I have an oboe in my possession and have begun playing again.  I hope to play with the Symphony Orchestra next semester and I feel that I'm making good progress right now.  I've also began singing again.  Last month I sang at the college for 5 classes, doing a Jazz clinic with the Safford High Jazz Band and the Gila Jazz Connection for the World of Music classes.  This weekend I will be singing at a wedding with Tom Sullivan (my old band director: pianist for Gila Jazz Connection)!

Hope some of these made you laugh!