First thing we did this morning was our weekly grocery shopping at the Wal-Mart. Then, James went to paddle the muddy, stinky creek with his buddy Charlie and I rushed off to the gym for my 8:30 a.m. BodyPump class while Zoe kept Alli at home with her. It was her choice, she wanted her little sister to stay with her so they could play. I kept my phone handy all through class, but it all went just fine and I was thrilled. After the gym, I came home and cooked the kids a big breakfast; sausage and eggs for everyone except Zoe who prefers ham and eggs. Then we all raced off to get the big kids their required physicals for school so they can continue to participate in athletics. It was a clinic that the school put on and it went smooth as silk. Less than an hour later both Malcolm and Zoe had their official forms in hand and we are done with that for the year…..Yippy. Next, we dropped off the movie and picked up a book for Zoe and then the older kids went home to do an early Mother’s day with their Grandma Lou (Randy’s Mom). Zoe was excited because she was going to cook a zucchini recipe and take it along. I am glad she has taken such an interest in cooking. This is a skill that will be handy FOREVER! (Later she reported it was all eaten up so they must have liked it.)

Saturday afternoon, Daddy mowed, Alli napped and mommy cleaned the porch up and prepared the pots for planting. The rest of the day, we just played with Alli and goofed off around the house. Alli has been sick and demanding lately and we are suspicious that she has entered the “terrible 2s”. More and more she just has a total fit if she can’t get what she wants. For example; she has an Elmo DVD that she loves to watch. She will go stand by the DVD player and say “elbow”, which means Elmo. Then she expects us to jump up and put it on for her. Well, if you don’t, she will throw a total fit. Used to be you could offer her distraction, like read with her, and she would quickly forget, but not anymore. Now, she gets mad and stays mad and all weekend we were struggling with a mad toddler. I am sure that once we adjust to this new attitude it will be fine….but for now, she is wearing on our patience.