Kids, I love you all unconditionally. Deep, never-ending love. Nevertheless, y'all wore your poor mom out today. The day started like any normal school day. By the time I roll out of bed, Aiden is already dressed and eating his breakfast. (He fixed himself.) Hubby and I get the kids ready. I fix breakfast. (Yes, Aiden eats again.) I shower, listen to my favorite podcast and get dressed. Then up, up and away we go. (Oh, they eat again once they get to school too.)
The day progresses well until Eve walks into my office. Red faced and crying. I look over her quickly as she and her teacher approach. She not bleeding or signaling that she's in pain. 
It turns out that Eve doesn't really care for playing outside during recess. (It's too hot she says.) Then to make matters worst, she forgot her lunch box at home and refuses to each school lunch. (It doesn't look good she says.) When I asks her if she wants another snack, she says, "But Mom, I left my cheese and olives at home." Yes, my child love to eat cheese and green olives with her lunch....daily. She has told me that she can't wait until she's grown so she can drink wine too. (SMH). Oh and....Kindergarten is nothing like preschool she says.
So after Eve leaves, I am approached by Elijah's teacher. Apparently, Elijah hit 2 kids while walking in line. Did I question the teacher further? NOPE, because this sounds like something he would do. The teacher did explain that the other 2 kids did not hit back and consequences were dealt accordingly. I said, "Ok, I'll handle Elijah."
Fast forward 3 hours and now Elliott wants to act as if he lost his mind!!! And when I picked him up, his teacher gave me that, "He's a handfull....this child is wild....whew I'm glad you're here to get him" kind of look. I don't know how many times I have to tell this boy to sit down, stop, be quiet, no running, sit down while you eat, etc. It gets tiring.
Then to have 16 or so kiddos who decided to be buck wild/loud afterschool and see that some my offspring are joining in the craziness is embarrassing. I don't care who is acting crazy, if you came out of my womb, you better act like you got some sense!!!!

​Needless to say, I had to vent to a friend, drink a couple of beers and eat some hot-wings to woosah this frustration out. 

BTW....Aiden was perfect!

This is Eve. She is my little fashionista. She has been dressing herself for the past 2 years. (She's only 4.) And when she dresses herself, she looks GOOD! Everything matches and is either color coordinated or color-blocking.

Here are a few fashion statements from Eve:

-I don't like to wear jeans. Jeans don't make me feel pretty.
-Oh, mom. You shouldn't wear that. Let me show you what to wear.
-Daddy, can I dress you today. 
-I just look so fashionable today you guys!!!!

So now Eve has asked for a Youtube Channel to share her fashion expertise. Yeah....we're gonna do it!

For some people, waking up in the morning is easy-peasy. For others, it is a traumatic experience. Eve woke up in the worst of moods. Two bad things had happened before she even said "Good Morning." First, her brother woke up before her. Yep, you read that right. She was upset because she didn't wake up first and wasn't the first person downstairs. I don't know when this became a competition, but whenever there's a competition in our home, there's always the same winner......Elijah (The Athlete). Nevertheless, she was very upset. 

Secondly, she woke up with a crook in her neck. I'm in the laundry room, transferring loads when she comes in. 

Eve: Mom, my neck hurts.
Me: Eve, you probably slept wrong.
Eve: No I didn't. I sleep on the bed. (Trust me, that's worth noting.)
Me: (deep breath) I know that honey, but you just have a crook in your neck.
Eve: Well take it out Mom.
Mom: It's not something you can take out, you have to massage it out. Go ask Elijah to massage your neck.
Moments later.
Eve: Mom, Elijah doesn't know how to do it.
Me: Then go ask Aiden.
Moments later.
Eve: Mom, I hate to tell you this, but Aiden doesn't know how to massage my neck either.
Me: ...(Thinking....What 4 yr old says, "I hate to tell you this...")
Me: Okay Eve, I'll do it. Just give me a minute.

FYI....Her neck hurt the entire day. She couldn't eat at the dining room table (so she says). Therefore, he food had to be brought to her. She had to rest on the couch and watch ALL of her favorite shows while eating her favorite snacks. It felt better when we went out though.

BTW...I never got a "Good Morning Mom."

Meet Elijah. He's full of energy and very competitive. Seriously, he's competitive when there isn't a competition!!! When we walk to the front door, Elijah yells, "Ha ha, I'm first." The rest of us just stare at each other wondering when did anyone say "on your mark, get set and go." He's even competitive when fishing. While 3 of the 4 Lockhart kids went inside when the fish weren't biting, not Elijah. He hung with the adults determined to catch a fish. 
But his competitive nature goes deeper than that. Many of my readers know I enjoy running/walking 5ks. I complete about 1-2 per month.

Well, after each and every race Elijah ask me, "So how did you do Mom?" 
Me: Well in my age category, I ranked 67 out of 93.
Elijah: ......(Covers his mouth in a failed attempt to hold the giggles in.)
Me:....I just stare at him....
Elijah: Wow, Mom. That's so far from 1st place. (and he laughs....out loud.....LOUDLY)

I know this might make him seem mean, but......okay it's definitely not nice! But this is what he says to me after every race. Well, not every race. At first, he was proud and supportive of me. That was until he ran his first race. He won 1st place in his age category. His average pace is 12-13 mins per mile. Yeah, he's darn fast. So now it's like he's waiting for me to get first place. Although, I think he would settle for me getting second.

When we train together, which is not often (though it should be), he runs ahead of me saying, "Come on Mom, move your legs faster." "Mom, my legs move like this and your legs move like this (he's running in slow motion)."  "Come on Mom....RRRUUUUNNNNNN!!!" So yeah, he's a tough coach too.

Even when he meets someone new, his first words before "Hi" are, "I bet I can beat you in a race." He sizes up everyone!!!!!!

​But he's my little 6 yr old athlete and I wouldn't want him any other way. 

GO ELIJAH GO!!!!!!

I'm in the last days of summer vacation. 
The last days of sleeping until 9am.
​The last days of kids practicing "self-feeding"
The last days of playing games on the iPad for endless hours
The last days caring less if the kids had a bath that day or not
The last days of watching tv until 1am
The last days of allowing the kids to dress themselves
The last days of getting turnt on a Tuesday (thanks sister!)
The last days of picking clean clothes from the basket to wear (not folding clothes..HA)
The last days of allowing wine or beer to be my actual dinner (hold up....that's a lie)
The last days of freebies and festival
The last days of the Summer Series at the Levitt Shell
The last days of playing on SnapChap and Facebook filters
The last days of watching and re-watching Jurassic Park (I might get a Sex in the City Binge in soon....hopefully)


I am now in the days of prepping
Prepping for school supplies
Prepping by attending doctor and dentist appointments
Prepping by getting started on those "summer packets" the teachers gave out in May
Prepping by trying to spend time with every friend and most family members
Prepping by getting the kids to remember that bedtimes do exist.
Prepping to get my attention span at an adequate adult level
Prepping, prepping, prepping......getting ready........

I'm sure that my prepping list should be longer, but I can't really think about what else I should be doing.....

Elliott and Elijah were arguing in the back seat.
Elliott: Elijah, let me see your toy.
Elijah: No I’m playing with it.
Elliott: Come on Elijah. Let me see it for just a little bit. I’ll give it right back. And I’m for real this time.
Elijah: I said no!
Elliott: Fine then. I’m not gonna be your friend anymore!!!!!!! (That statement has brought many kids to tears.)
Elijah: That’s okay. You don’t have to be my friend, you’ll always be my brother.
Elliott: ...silence...


1 point for Elijah and 0 for Elliott

I love these guys. #twinsforever #brothersforever

Elliott is a self-proclaimed artist. He has always had a knack for drawing and the comprehension of colors. Before Elliott started Kindergarten, we as a family always admired his drawing and painting. We nurtured his interest by taking him to art gallery and showing him how to appreciate all forms of artwork and how to respect other artist.
 
Yeah…. appreciating all forms of artwork and how to respect other artist. That was a hard lesson for Elliott. On a trip to the Brooks Art Museum, many local artists had booths set-up outside to sell some of their work.
Elliott: (Loudly): What is this?
Me: These are some of the other artist in Memphis selling some of their arts and crafts.
Elliott: This doesn’t look like art to me. I really don’t know what all this is.
(The local artist begin to stare.)
Me: Elliott, art comes in all different forms and sizes. It's about creating, drawing or making something that speaks to you.
Elliott: Oh, okay then. But my artwork could be up here too.
Me: Yes, it could Elliott. You’re an artist too.

Then he proceeds to stand awkwardly close to many of the artist explaining how he is an artist, but not like them because his artwork is different.
Elliott is very serious about his artwork. If you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, he will simply reply, “I’m already an artist, so I don’t have to wait until I grow up. See look! (Raises up his shirt.) You can see my ribs already!!! Whoever told him about the saying “a starving artist” shame on you!!!!!
Sometimes his seriousness about art gets a little out of hand. I have rarely, very rarely, had to be interrupted during instruction at work. Well, one day during Art Class, Elliott has a conniption fit. Apparently the Art Teacher instructed the class to draw a beautiful city landscape. Well, Elliott wasn’t feeling it. She brings him into my room and he is crying hysterically!!!!! He cries so hard that he throws up!!!!!!!! After about 10-15 minutes he calms down enough to tell me what happened.
Elliott: The teacher asks us to draw a beautiful city landscape, but that’s not what I feel like drawing! I want to draw a beautiful countryside!!!
Me: Elliott, you should what the teacher asked you to do.
Elliott: BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT I FEEL. THE ART TEACHER SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS!!! SHE’S AN ARTIST TOO. ARTIST DRAW AND PAINT WHAT THEY FEEL!!!
Me: Whew…..Elliott, write a letter apologizing for you behavior and go back to class.
 
                His latest outburst was when another student was admiring his work and wanted to copy his drawing. Elliott politely yells, “I’M THE CAPTAIN OF THIS SHIP! YOU DO YOUR OWN DRAWING!!!”
Yep, that’s Elliott the Artist. And I love him!!!!

Eve really wants to be a mermaid. She talks about this all the time. Well, one day I decided to entertain this notion and converse with her.
Eve: Mom, I really wish I could be a mermaid.
Me: Yes, I know. That would be awesome. We could be mermaids together and could swim and play all day.
Eve: Yea, but we wouldn't have any legs. Daddy would have to carry me places.  How would you get to places?
Me: Dad can carry me too Eve.
Eve: Wait, wait, hold up. What??? (Eve gestures her hands in front of her in that universal "stop" position.)
Me: (I give her a little side-eye.) Dad can carry me too Eve.
Eve: Are you sure  about that Mom? Because I'm not!!!

​I tighten my lips and do a silent nod. That's the end of that conversation.