From the terrible twos, to the tragic three's.

Everyone has always said how the two's are terrible. And on most day's I'd have to agree. But now that I'm approaching three with not one, but TWO kids to turn three, I think that the three's may very well be worse. And I say that for the following reasons:

- They've long since perfected the art of the temper tantrum.

- They've become fully aware of what the word NO means, and they use it rather freely.

- In turn, they know that Mom says NO, and they ignore it, fully knowing it makes mom mad!

- They know full well when Mom is busy, and when she isn't, in turn, knowing full well when to test the rules, and push buttons.

- They are seasoned beggars.

- They've learned from their older siblings what "Its not fair" really means, and they use it freely.

- They know that if they hit, punch, kick, or take a toy away from someone that mom IS coming, and there WILL be punishment, but they also know how far away mom is by the sound of the footsteps, and they know the EXACT moment to either spew out "I'm sorry" to the person who was wronged, or to start pointing fingers at each other.

- They realize what day and night are, and when its light and dark. And they insist on using it as an excuse EVERY time you attempt to give them a nap, or put them to bed. NOT an easy hurdle to overcome when said 2 3/4 year olds need to go to bed before the light of day actually fades into darkness in the summer time.

- The kicker of them all, is they know now, when to pull out the world famous "I love you mommy" with a hug, just in enough time to put out the fire brewing in mommy's nerves.


So, I officially am dubbing the three's, TRAGIC THREE'S. Because if your three's are anything like my almost threes, EVERYTHING is a great tragedy with them. Everything can wilt them to the floor in a puddle of crocodile tears, everything hurts their feelings, everything isn't fair, and they just aren't big enough to do what the big kids do.

Here is evidence of my almost tragic threes:



This is Kaleb after waking up from a nap in the car. Look at that scowl. This look was immediately followed by "Don't take my picture mommy." And. . .



















The scowling point. Take HER picture mommy.













Kendyl just as cranky. I unbuckled her so she could get out. She insisted on buckling right back up, only the top one, slouching in her chair, and giving a dirty look.



















PUT THAT THING AWAY MOM!!!!!!! This was just as the crumple of tears was coming on because she didn't want her picture taken, she wanted Kalebs picture taken.



Sigh. Whats a mom to do?








On a side note, we're going camping this weekend. In a tent. With all four kids. And all three dogs. With Matt and Sara. With their two kids. And their dog. And the weather may rain. ALL. WEEKEND. LONG. Big breath. Big deep breath. It's gonna be ok. Really it is!!!

This camping trip has been planned for a while. We were supposed to go Memorial day weekend, but things fell through. This is the only weekend we could go before Dallas's surgery. We're hoping to go several times this summer. And wouldn't you know, the one weekend we NEED to go, when we NEED to do something fun for Dallas before he has surgery, and its a 40% chance each day for rain.

I must be nuts.


I'll post more pictures next week. I have them from field day, and the zoo field trip, and other random ones, but I don't have time right now to post them.