7 am

The Buzz grabbed the camera off the table this morning, and as you can see, I wasn't yet through my first cup of coffee, and thus unable to muster the will to launch into the "that's not a toy" speech.

He documented the 7:00 am rush around here quite well.  

Its just plain so sweet to see what a 3 year old views as important artifacts at the crack of dawn.

couch date

If there is one thing we have done right around here, its bedtime.  

Every night they get a bath, story, prayer, and a kiss.  No more no less.  (Well, sometimes no story when we're grouchy.  But the bath is non- negotiable.)

All 3, tired or not, go to bed and stay there.

Love.it.

So when one occasionally gets up and can't sleep, it calls for a late-night couch date.  We watched Survivor clips and ate kettle korn.

He has been calling me by name for the last month, never Mama.  He sounds like such the little business man.

Tonight's convo included this:

"Tonya, why does Grandpa Howard have a head with not much hair?"

"Tonya, yogurt is not food because you don't use your teeth.  You just swallow without your teeth."

"Tonya, I really like this room we're in.  This one right here."

(when I said he could have a snack)...."Well Tonya, that's really very nice of you!"

"Tonya, you know why I can't put this shirt on by myself?  Because it has the same color on the front as on the back."

"Tonya, you're my favorite girl."

A good night for all.

And I realize in looking at that picture that I need to be as good at putting sunscreen on myself as I am at putting it on him.  Holy moly.

Great Paint Project III

Done.  d-o-n-e.  Done.

I'll post more pictures when I get stuff on the walls and some matchy-matchy organizers for toys.  But for now....Done.

Folks, I have a few announcements to make before we close the book on the Great Paint Project...

1.  The new HGTV line of paint is not as good as Duration, regardless of what Levent or Tim say.  I always use Sherwin Williams paint because I looooove it, and until now I've always used the Duration line.  Its great thick stuff with zero VOC's and you can patch it over and over without it showing.  It goes on smooth, holds secrets, and stays.  I got all excited and got all cheap and bought the HGTV line for the blue.  Duration costs about $25/gallon more but its worth $100/gallon more.

2.  Don't tape.  Just get a good brush and a steady hand.  That stupid tape took years off my life.

3.  Don't do a paint project when your baby is learning to walk.  I missed her first steps.  And her second.  Blah.

4.  Keep going until you get the right color.  And as I've heard from multiple readers, the name really really matters.

5.  Change......sigh........is good.