Michael Fat Leg a.k.a Michael Flatley

Henry is wearing a black sparkly leotard with a built-in twirl skirt. He looks like a figure skater. All of our children have been Irish dancing after the Scarboros exposed them to Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance VCR tape last night while Robbie, Anthony, and I went to a museum and a bar. Anthony woke up to what must have sounded like rapid gunfire in the basement as the children's feet pounded the floor. They held out as long as their little bodies could contain themselves, then they unleashed. Evelyn and Henry thought the main guy's name was Michael Fat Leg, which we grown-ups found hilarious.

Henry has fallen in love with Olivia's new American Girl doll named Lanie. Olivia's Grandma Mary and Grandpa Mike took her to the Americal Girl store, and they returned with a soccer outift for the doll. She has her own mini cleats and shin guards to wear with her soccer jersey. Henry obsesses over it. The doll is the only one of us he'll kiss on the mouth. He asks for Lanie over and over again. He said to Anthony with desperation, "I want to hug Lanie!" Ant said, "Seriously?" Lanie even wears #2 like Olivia has on her soccer uniform.

One of our fun family games lately is for Robbie to lift Henry into the air and announce that he's Henry Man the superhero. Little guy then yells, "To the rescue!!!!" Robbie adds, "Able to run up and down the hall 60 times in one minute," and the girls laugh and laugh. My brother, who has been sleeping in our basement for a week, doesn't laugh about this part. Anthony has been making up songs about the kids as he plays his guitar. The girls enjoy it. Henry gets upset. "Uncle, don't sing that to MEEE!" I heard him yell today. Ant's song is about Henry's handsome look and his dislike of pants. He sings of how he runs everywhere he goes.

I introduced the children to air drums in the van. Henry really jams out, and I love it. When a song with great drums plays, I always tell him to play them. I think he likes Hot for Teacher the best.

I took down some Halloween decorations and noticed that Olivia made a haunted house that said "BOOOOB!" instead of "Boo!" She made it in first grade last year, but we never noticed the extra B.

As I diapered Henry and sprinkled baby powder on his bottom he wiped some of it with his finger. I reminded him that powder is not food and does not belong in his mouth. He thought I said, "pouter." He said, "Pouter. Like when Yaya (Olivia) goes to her bed?" I said, "Powder is this white stuff. Pouting is like this," and then I stuck out my lower lip and imitated his big sisters.

Vivian loves my brother. He smiles at her, and the girl totally lights up. She smiles with her whole face at him. I feel so lucky that he has been healthy for the last ten years. My children are so lucky to have him as a part of their lives.

Finally, food for thought. I feel like a bad mommy when it is past 8 pm, the girls are in goof off, rather than going to bed mode, Robbie is gone, and I want to push the "OFF" button on my girls. I lose patience, and I just hate it. However, I lose steam after 8 pm. I thank God every single day for the gift of my husband to my life. Now, you know what makes me feel like a good mommy? Making muffins. It sounds so silly, but it is totally true. When I bake up some nutritious muffins, and Ev says, "Mommy, these are the BEST muffins EV-UH!" I feel like a million bucks.