Just a normal day....

 Exhibit A - Cambrie clinging to the top of the stair railing.

Coincidentally, I was in the kitchen, texting Greg about an incident with Kenzie. I was explaining to him that our plans had suddenly changed (since he'd left the house 25 minutes earlier) and we were no longer going to soccer practice. Instead, Kenzie was going to her room for the night (without dinner). When will they ever learn that they can choose their behavior, but they can't choose the consequences of that behavior?

No worries, I am getting to the part about Cambrie.

But back to Kenzie.

For reasons known to Kenzie and only to Kenzie, she decided to make a nice gash in the material of not one, not two, not three, but all four of our kitchen stools. Granted, they are in sad shape -- no doubt. (And believe me, I handled the situation much better than I might have if they were not in such bad shape.) BUT, just because they are stained with markers and food...they were very usable...and we aren't in the market to replace said stools. Now, however, it looks like I will be figuring out a way to recover them...

As a result of THAT choice, Kenzie was told she isn't allowed to sit on the stools for awhile. (I know...not really a punishment to most of us...but what is the natural consequence for cutting a stool?) Apparently, in her 5-year-old mind, this "punishment" translated into, "you will never, ever, be allowed to eat, drink, socialize or do anything fun again." Suffice it to say, she pitched a fit....and threw a pencil.

With that, she was informed that she would not be attending soccer practice or eating dinner.

And I carried her upstairs.
Whew -- so with THAT background, I can tell you about Cambrie.

I was in the midst of texting Greg about our situation when we heard, "Somebody help me! Somebody help me!" I sent Cannon to investigate the whereabouts of the desperate voice and he discovered Cambrie, clinging to the stair railing. (Thankfully, no children were endangered or injured during the taking of this picture. I'm not sure what her fascination is with the railing - -last week she got her legs stuck in it.)

I got a snappy reply from Greg (in response to Kenzie's attack on the stools) which simply stated, "Nice." Not long after, I sent him the picture of Cambrie, to which he replied, "Sounds like you can't be trusted with the kids alone." I quickly responded with, "You are probably right about that. However, for the record, I believe Kenzie cut the kitchen chairs this afternoon -- while you sat at the kitchen table!"

Exhibit B - After many minutes of ranting and raving, things got quiet...too quiet.
This time, I went to investigate.
Admittedly, I panicked when I opened the door and didn't see her on the bed. A quick scan of the room, however, and it all made sense. She was asleep, UNDER the laundry basket, on top of the dirty clothes which she had dumped out of the basket.
Well now, if that isn't a proper and appropriate way to deal with bad behavior -- I don't know what is.

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Blogging is such a blessing. I can't wait till my kids are old enough to appreciate the things I so lovingly put up with on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis.
Hey, at least we're keepin' it real.