Santa Is Watching

Christmas time is always a good time to promote peace and harmony among the kids, especially when you can throw in "Santa's watching" every now and then to ensure good behavior.  Katie and James were playing outside, occasionally taking turns barging in the back door to report wrong doing on the other one's part.   Tired of the constant tattling and petty arguments, I pulled out the "Santa's watching".   That worked for a short while, until they both came in yelling at one another and shouting about each other's offenses.  Trying to sort out the problem, I asked what was said.  Katie shouted, "James told me to shut up!"  James immediately interjected, "Katie was making faces at me and told me to shut up first!" and he stormed out of the room.  Left with just Katie, and already passed the point of annoyance, I said with a firm voice, "Santa doesn't like it when you are rude to one another, and he certainly does NOT like it when children say 'shut up'".  Katie looked at me and said, "But I didn't say 'shut up' to James."   I then added, "And he also knows when you are and are not telling the truth."  With deep worry in her face, she simply said, "Oh NO!!" (12/4/11)

The Compliment

With Christmas fast approaching, Danny was a bit more congenial.  Overcome by the holiday spirit, he decided to give James a compliment instead his usual affront.  Putting his arm around him, Danny said to James,  " Your butt isn't as smelly as it usually is." Ahh, the season of joy.  (12/10)

The Wonder Pets Flaw

Katie, home sick with a fever, was laying on the couch most of the day. When I heard The Wonder Pets on TV, a show she despises, I knew she must've fallen asleep. As I enter the room, I hear the trademark lyrics "the phone, the phone is ringing..." to where I find James sitting on the couch with a look on his face. He turns to me and says, "No wonder Katie doesn't like this show. It's not even a phone! It's a cheap tin can!" (11/23/11)

How to Pick a Pumpkin

Danny's advice to James before going pumpkin picking:  "The dude doesn't pick the pumpkin; the pumpkin picks the dude." (10/3/10)

No Refunds

Over the summer, Katie held a "garage sale" where she sold some of her belongings to family members and was happy with her profits.   This morning, while in our bedroom, she came across a paperweight with her photo in it that she had made in school.   She asked Tom, "Hey! What are you doing with this?  This is mine!"   Tom, having bought it at her  garage sale, replied, "You sold it to me, remember?"  While examining it in her hand, she said, "Well, I'm taking it.  I need it for my book."   Defeated, Tom said, "Then can I  have my money back?"  Already running out of the room, she yelled, "Sorry! No refunds!" as she slammed her bedroom door.   (10/1/11)

The Tweeter

I have a human twitter account. The name is Katie and she tweets everything we do from an open window in the living room or from the curb of our sidewalk. If you want my status update, just pass by my house and you can have all the info you need.  Her latest tweet from the living room window was to our neighbor: "Hi! I'm coming outside right after my mom gets dressed.  She just got out of the shower!"  (9/4/11)

Circumventing the Rule

After the constant bickering escalated to name calling, I shouted, "Alright, now everyone stop it! There will be no more name calling in this house."  Danny immediately turned to his sister and said, "Katie, I need you to come outside with me a minute.  I have something to tell you." 
(8/2/11)