All of those were Seph's pictures. This is one I took.

Cotton's got her first tooth! Very exciting--she's a big baby now.

Seph has a piano recital in May, and I'm excited about it. Over the last week or two she made a big jump in her playing. Everything seems to have clicked in her head, and she can play a few pretty little songs now.

Rone's new trick involves scaring me out of the small amount of sleep I get. As many of his tricks do. He's been getting bloody noses--generally about 3am. Fun. I think it's just allergies. Pollen goes up, he refuses to blow his nose, eventually something scrapes and he's got blood fauceting out his nose.

The alternative theory is his head is leaky.

I gave Rone a deal. I often do this, as a way of getting through the day. Clean up tv room = gum. Wipe up bathroom = computer time. To seal this particular deal, I'd offered Rone my right hand, in the traditional form for a handshake. Rone considered it, looked at me, wound up and slapped my hand as hard as he could.

I could not stop laughing for a full minute. Thank God he's not an ambassador or something. Or tall enough to be considered civilized.

Apparently, this homeschooling thing is lacking a course in manners. I'll work on it.

Poor Cotton has to put up with a lot. We keep calling her Smunchie, we taunt her with food she can't eat, and we make her wear ridiculous things. All of her bodily functions are discussed with sarcasm or humor (sometimes dread, but that's mostly me). She's been called fat by the other kids. And despite my being able to keep both Seph and Rone from ever having a sunburn, Cotton's gotten too much sun twice this week alone.

Luckily, she still has her hands and feet to chew on, so she's pretty happy. It's not like she can reach her feet, what with the gigantic baby thighs in the way (how she's got my things already is baffling), but I'm sure it's' a comfort to her that they will be there later.

A mural in South Austin, on the wall of what I think is a neon sign workshop:

The traditional:

And the inspiration for Rone's new Rule #1:

After witnessing that, Rone said, "Rule #1 is: Babies do NOT like bluebonnets." Old Rule #1 was: No shaking the booty. Don't know why, other than he heard it from a friend, and really, really liked it.

This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had none
This little piggy went to the farm
And this little piggy went wee-wee-wee-wee all the way to the farm.

Do Not Play With Broken Glass! Stop Tossing It Into the Air and Give It To Me!

Paired with, as a freebie:
Next Time You Find Broken Glass Leave It Alone and Come Tell Me! Stupidhead!

No More Food For You Until You Stop Puking All the Time

If You Talk To Me While I"m On The Phone, You Will Always Just Get A Mean Look

Don't Open the Door for Strangers

Don't Run Out the Side Gate to Talk to Strangers in Our Neighbor's Yard

Don't Grab The Baby By Her Head

And, lest you think we're too negative at the Mommy Academy:

Yes, You Should Flush Every Time You Poop

Nose Blowing, A Review of Methods and Accomplishments

Feel free to sign up for a lecture or two. I'll happily holler at your kids awhile. Or you can come explain basic civilization to my kids. I'm failing, it seems, because none of those are made up. The broken glass nearly gave me an aneurysm.

On her actual birthday:

Outer-space princess, ready to go!

And, Baby, ready to man mission control:

There was much running around, flying saucer crafting, glowy bracelet wearing, and Star Wars watching. All in all a great party. The weather was perfect, and since we've got the projector until tomorrow, tonight we're going to watch The Princess Bride out back. Yay!

Chance's escapades last Saturday made the local paper. He's an alternate for state, and he'll be heading to Houston if we are not out of town.

The kids are cutting out decorations for the big outer-space party this weekend. Cotton is supervising. Oddly, her version of supervising looks a lot like hanging out in the saucer spitting up. Imagine that!

MenCotton on Easter:

An incomplete list of things Rone has put cayenne pepper on:

potatoes
bread and butter
milk
meatloaf
fries
rice
apples
his finger, then licked it
ice cream
cake
waffles
french toast
roast pork

At least he's eating.