Spring and Other Stuff

Time for a catch-up post of randomness.

I can't remember if I wrote that there is a new cousin across the pond -- Eric's sister had her baby on March 15. Poor thing, she went something like 17 days past her due date which beats my record of 14 days overdue with Peabody. MIL flew to Scotland a week before SIL's due date, and ended up having to extend her ticket since she was supposed to return before the baby was even born. Baby girl is very cute and we get to meet her soon when they come over to visit.

With our tax return we finally ... finally ... FINALLY replaced our nasty old couch. For the past few years every time I took off the slipcover to wash it I would look at the upholstery underneath and say to myself, "That's it! This thing has to go!" And then I would sit down at the computer and start couch shopping and gasp at prices and then I would get up and wash the slipcover and put it back on. So that happened every 3-4 months or so and meanwhile I did my research and we decided on an inexpensive sofa from IKEA that consistently got good reviews for holding up pretty well to family abuse. And, bonus, it also has a machine-washable cover. It used to be that the only washable cover option was white which I really did not want -- one reviewer said she liked having a white couch because then dirt showed up which encouraged her to wash it frequently. I, however, like not knowing that my couch is dirty and would prefer to wash the cover when it is convenient for me. IKEA recently added several more machine-washable options, so we went with a sort of beige with a lighter contrast piping. It pretty much matches our carpet but hides dog fur so I feel like that is a fair exchange (while Mama Dog is not permitted on the furniture she does sneak up there from time to time plus fur gets on socks then transfers to couches.) We got a matching ottoman too with storage underneath and we are overall really happy with everything.

I posted the old couch for free on a yard sale group on Facebook -- honestly I was afraid no one would want it and we'd be stuck with trying to get rid of it but someone took it by the end of the week. The Boogie was really sad to see it go. She said she loved it and she cried and cried about giving it away. Thankfully she wasn't home when it actually went and there haven't been any more tears.

Good-bye, old couch. I sure hope your new owners gave you a good cleaning.

The Boogie got to sing in the spring program at her cousins' school in April. She was elated to be part of it -- she told everyone that it was a dream come true! I was really impressed with how well she memorized all the songs. She had about 2.5 weeks to do it (because I didn't think to ask if she could be in the choir until then.) She sat in the front row and did very well although she was the most fidgety of all the kids. She said, "I couldn't help it! I was so itchy!"

We got the girls bunk beds for their birthdays, and I made duvet covers out of flat sheets. The original plan was to buy the covers at IKEA, but ours didn't carry the ones we wanted, and I'm actually really glad because I like the ones I made even better.

Peabody has been saying funny things. I wish I would write all of them down like I used to do with the Boogie's words. Here are a few recent ones that I do remember:

-While I was making up her bunk (on the bottom): "Be careful for the wood, Honey, it's very bonkable." I guess it's appropriate that she calls them bump beds.

-She often wakes with some pretty admirable bedhead. One morning it particularly wild. "Wow, your hair is super crazy today," I said.
"Yeah," she agreed, "my hair had a party last night."

-While riding in the car the Boogie said, "When I grow up I want a house with a balcony!"
Peabody had to chime in: "When I grow up I want a house with a bench. An' a hamster."

-She told her sister, "Girls are very very polite ... but boys are cruel."

-The little man had to have a couple of shots. Peabody wanted to know why, and I explained that they were to keep him from catching certain diseases. For the rest of the day she told anyone and everyone, "I have a terrible disease. Dere's somefing blocking the way for the water can't go down my froat [throat]."

-"Honey, a aar'vark is not somefing gross dat you clean up. A aar'vark is jus' a animal."

-I asked both girls if they like their names. The Boogie likes hers, but Peabody said no.
"Do you wish you had a different name?" I asked.
"Yes," she said.
"What do you wish your name was?"
"Rainbow," she immediately replied. Huh. Never would've guessed that.

She asks on a regular basis if she can drive, or if we would please teach her to drive. "No," we would say, "you don't know how." "Then will you teach me?" she would plead.

Finally one day Eric let her sit on his lap and "drive" around the church parking lot. She was so excited and then bitterly disappointed when she wasn't permitted to drive home.

She talked about her upcoming birthday for months. MONTHS. We counted down months, then weeks, then days (or sleeps.) What she really wanted was a doll with the same name as hers ... and she got her! Plus matching outfits. Too cute.