Proof positive

If there was any remaining doubt (can't really say much was left) that boys and girls are like night and day, it has vanished.

Scene one: Helping the girls in the bathroom this morning Trace saunters in and proceeds to use the step stool in front of the toilet to climb up onto the toilet and stand on its lid.

While we've become accustomed to his putting things into the toilet (a Dr. Seuss board book is his latest casualty), he's now added this bigger, better trick. And as I'm saying, "no, no, no," he stood there grinning at me, thrilled with his latest idea.

Scene two: A trip to the backyard removes him from any toilet incidents. Yet, turning my back on him for about three seconds provided just enough time for him to climb into the sand portion of the sand and water play table and get to his feet. Even Alena and Alivia weren't quite sure they were believing what they were seeing. You'd need to stand in it, why?

Scene three: After lunch while everyone else was reading books or doing puzzles, Trace completely emptied the bottom shelf of the bookcase and climbed into it. "Why is he doing that mom?," Alivia asked.

"I don't know," was all I knew to say. Because I too was asking myself "why would you do that Trace?"

"He does boy things," I followed up. This seemed to satisfy her need to understand. Although mine was still a bit unsatisfied.

The task of removing all books, blocks and puzzles from the shelf certainly wasn't worth the space he then had to climb into. Not to mention the two dozen times to banged his head into the shelf above. A seat on the couch would have been more easily gained and comfortable.

Oh, but that's right. The couch is for running, climbing and other various stunts.

A better than fair day

What's not for kids to love at a fair? Junk food, rides and animals. All things that make them smile, bounce around and ask for more. Our visit to the Butler County Fair's opening day proved not to disappoint them.

Alysse loved the chocolate covered cheesecake. And holding it herself made it even better.

This little police car was an attraction for Alivia. The lights on top even worked!

Okay, maybe not as fun as his ride on the REAL pony, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.

She simply had to ride by herself. Who needs dad to hold them anyway? She's getting as big as she looks.

A 4-Her was kind enough to offer Alena and Alivia a chance to pet her duck. Of course, the girls took her up on the offer.

From one oldest to another

My Alena Grace:

There are benefits of being the oldest, the first born. No hand-me-downs, everything you get is new. You're always the first to do something new or reach a milestone ... first to walk, first to have a first birthday, first to start preschool. By default, a bigger deal is made of all your "firsts."

You were the first baby I'd ever held that was my own. The first baby to be brought into our home to stay. The first to teach me a mother's love. The first. It has its privileges.

It also has its disadvantages. Also by default, I expect more from you. You should know better than to jump on the couch. You should know better than to hit. You should know to share. You are the oldest, after all.

By this birthright, right or wrong, you are responsible beyond your years. Greater expectations and discipline are sought from you. You become the target of my frustration, brokenness and exhaustion when you have no ability to understand any of the three. And for all of it I'm sorry.

I see in you the worry-wort, hot-head and caretaker that I believe are genetically yours. Passed down from myself, your grandmother and your great-grandmother. All first born, by the way. I sometimes see these traits in you, and wish I could somehow undo them all. I also wonder how much I've taught you, versus how much you were destined to acquire despite my example.

Chances are you will always expect more from yourself than others do. Chances are you will worry constantly, and when there's nothing left to fret about, worry about that too. Chances are you will feel responsible for things you have no control over or ability to change. Chances are ...

In life, though, you take the good with the bad. What you get in high expectations, you don't get in hand-me-downs. You'll have to accept my desire to instill discipline in you, in exchange for a part of me only you will ever get to hold.

However, despite the unfairness, our conflicts because we both know best and all the other "bad," I promise you unconditional love you'll never know from another and the promise you'll begin to understand it all when you hold that very first baby of your own.

Until then, please try to understand I only want the very best for you, even if it brings out my worst.

Love, Mom

Ten things

Ten things I'm loving right now ...

10. The window boxes we've added to the bottom floor windows across the back of our house. A little birthday project for myself, and a wonderful addition to our backyard. The beautiful blooms and fragrance they add ... euphoric.

9. Sugarland's new song "All I Want to Do." Simply put it's catchy. All four of the kids dance as soon as they hear it and Alysse sings along with the chorus.

8. Flip flops and painted toenails. I think Alena has worn flip flops since she started walking. She's a bit flip-flop obsessed. This summer we've got two little girls flipping and flopping. Plus, they both simply HAVE to have their toenails painted (theirs always look better than my own do).

7. Grilling. I've always preferred a hamburger off the grill, but we've gotten braver with our grilling this summer. Besides delicious food, an added benefit is Alena and Alivia love it too. They'll eat an entire New York strip steak between them when dad's grilled it.

6. Alivia's bird bath/squirrel feeder/bird feeder area. First came the brightly colored bird bath from Jungle Jim's, then a hummingbird feeder, then a regular seed feeder. Add two corn feeders for the squirrels, and Alivia's little nature preserve in the backyard has provided us all with entertainment. Spotted so far: a deer, four mallard ducks at one time, a chipmunk, an entire pack of squirrels and more birds than you can imagine. Jason's waiting to see a rhino. Fun and educational.

5. Our Little Tikes sand and sea play table. I've loved this thing since the first day it made its backyard appearance. Surviving its second summer and going strong, this diversion manages to occupy all four of the kids at once. Not a small feat!

4. Alysse's cute baby tan. I swear the little one gets greased from head to toe with 50 SPF every time we're going to be outside for a period longer than 20 minutes or so. Still, she has managed to acquire the cutest baby tan ever. Slap the stripped swimsuit on her and she looks like she could appear on Baby Baywatch.

3. New utensil users. Trace and Alysse have begun perfecting the use of forks and spoons. They are actually quite efficient at stabbing food and getting to their mouths when they aren't using them as weapons or drumsticks.

2. Water play. The kids love running through the sprinkler, a spray from the hose or rolling around on the sprinkler beach ball that made its way home from Target this summer. The squeals and gasps as the cold water hits them is summer at its best.

1. Alena and Alivia's imaginative play in their play set. The upper part of our play set is a bit "treehousey" and the girls have taken to playing in it like a playhouse. The step from one level to the other makes a perfect seat as one drives the other to Target or the grocery store. Sometime one goes to the doctor or they play house. I love the imaginative play and never dreamt they'd have such fun pretending.

Cute times two

Don't let the cuteness fool you. This pair is rotten, ornery and a bit more rotten. The smiles mean they're plotting!

P.S. Today I'm thankful for:

• Trace falling out of his dump truck ONLY once today. His newest trick is standing in the back of his Tonka dump truck. TaDa!
• Alysse falling off the couch ONLY twice today. Her newest trick is getting on the thing and then running from one end to the other. Giggles.
• Alivia wanting to be cuddled after her nap.
• the knowledge that whatever I may be struggling with, I'm blessed to have four wonderful children and a loving husband.
• the chance to eavesdrop on phone calls received on toy telephones.