Conversations with Eleanor

Eleanor: Thank you, Grandma, for making this dinner (it was tacos, fyi)

Grandma: Oh, you are welcome.  Your grandfather nevers says 'thank you for dinner'.

Eleanor looks at Grandpa: You should be ashamed of yourself.

Seems things are going exactly as everyone (including Grandpa) had hoped from the Christmas visit to Milwaukee. 

Conversations with Eleanor

Eleanor: Papa, do you have friends? How do you have friends?
Papa: I have friends from places I've worked and from when I used to go to school.
Eleanor: Oh. I have a lot of friends at my school too; right momma?
Me: Yes, Eleanor
Eleanor: Momma how do you get friends?
Me: Well I try to be nice and say nice things.  How do you get friends Eleanor?
Eleanor: Well, I just go up and ask them, or I'll be nice... (LONG. PAUSE.) actually, people just come to me and ask to be my friend.

Seriously, who has confidence like that?  THIS GIRL.

Conversations with (or against, really) Eleanor

Jason and I put Eleanor to bed, and about 15 minutes later I heard the sleigh bell on her doorknob (shut it, at least we don't lock her in the room anymore).  She always comes straight into our bedroom, so when she didn't come around the corner I figured  I was hearing things.  Jason concurred. 

The next day, Summer told me that Eleanor came in her room around 9pm.  "Why didn't you come and tell us, Summer?"  "mumble mumble mumble rabble" (literal transcription of events)

Apparently, Eleanor wanted to watch Pirates of the Caribbean.  Like always.  So Summer turned it on, then set the sleeptimer, since she gets screamed at by Jason like a wailing banshee if her TV's on when he wakes up in the morning.  Summer passes out and 60 minutes later this happened:

Eleanor: "SUMMER! SUMMER! GET UP NOW.  THE MOVIE IS BROKEN AND IT'S NOT WORKIN ON THE TV"
Summer: "huh? where am I? who are you?"
Eleanor: "Summer, you have to fix the movie.  Why did you turn it off?" (completely disgusted at this point)
Summer: "I didn't shut anything off. It was the sleeptimer because you should be asleep"
Eleanor: (tossing blankets and pillows to find all the remotes) "well, turn it back on, it wasn't done."
Summer: "Fine, just cool out a minute.  Do you want to sleep with me tonight? Why don't you go get your pillow..." CUT OFF
Eleanor: "I'm not sleeping with you. I'm mad at you and I do not sleep with people I am mad at."

While I agree with her theory, I can't help but feel that her delivery will leave her 40 years old with 6 cats living in a scary 500 sq. ft. apartment. Or my house. *shivers*

Summer Vacation Day 1

I don't even want to talk about this. 

This is what 7 hours with Summer and Eleanor looks like. I think he developed a limp.

Shit everywhere.  Forts, toys, boxes, the closet looks like it threw up, more toys, spots on the floor from where bubbles were blown and dried up... where am I? Club Kallas/Sauer. 

wtf is this? A pile of wet towels, swim suits and a riri.  But, you'd be guessing too, since no one would answer your question "WHAT IS THIS DOING HERE?"

These two seriously looked like they wanted to murder me when they walked in.  I don't think they enjoyed having house guests.  In fact, I think they wanted to eat me for the drama they endured all day.

I think the notion that this was a crime scene pretty much sums up the day.  This is Eleanor's outline of Francis' stupid body.

I didn't even know I HAD a playpen. Gawd, where's my cat?

So I ask, on day 2 of summer vacation; what fresh hell waits for me today? I logged onto the home cameras and saw Eleanor washing the dishes, and I thought what is worse? a house that wasn't cleaned by the Dynamic Duo, or one that WAS.

helping, helping, not helping...

Grounded

Don't ask what for... it doesn't really matter does it?  And yes, when I scream at her, I do have to lift my chin up.  We're not exactly eye level anymore.  damnit

hahahahaha She's all sweaty and hot.  Whatever. :) Like my sister reminded me; I think she can handle our 1500 sq ft of grass when her MOTHER AND AUNT KATEE had to mow acres of grass growing up.  WITH HILLS, SUMMER.  Have you ever tried to pull a whirling sharp bladed machine that weighs as much as you do up a damn hill at a 45 degree angle?  I prayed to fall and for it to take off my feet so I would never have to do it again.  And p.s. dropping it over the 8 ft retaining wall will NOT break it. Trust me.

Eleanor's Tounament

The reviews are in: Its just plain awesome to watch Ellee chase and kick the crap out of other little kids.

This weekend was Ellee's interschool tourney.  She could sign up for two events that she thought she was super awesome at.  She did weapons and sparing.  uh huh.

Yes, the instructor is acutally HELPING the other child punch Ellee.  Good Lord.  Summer's got about 6 more months before Hellcat figures out how weak her big shister is.

The Blind Leading the Blind

This is at a great new shopping "village" that just opened by us.  There's a farmers market on the weekend, and music and other fun stuff for the kids.  I didn't realize that Eleanor has no idea what a hula hoop is. And yes, strangers be careful around Eleanor; you might just get swept up and forced to dance.

This one Ellee assaults Summer at about the 13 second mark.  She bled. lol  So much for trying to teach her how to hula hoop.  I'm sure Summer would have managed to break something anyway; like a tooth or an arm.

Damn You Daylight Savings

These were both taken about 25 minutes after getting home school.  She does play PRETTY HARD at school, but her body's clock has been whacked since the time change.

gardens and dog baths

   With the weather finally stable enough, into the gardens we go.  Everyone was SUPER helpful from Summer right down to the dogs.

Thanks, guys, for diligently pulling all the sticks OUT of the firepit back on the lawn.  Jason loved it.

She needed to loop her overalls around her waist since she wanted to see her shirt; it has dogs on it.  Ok...

Just diggin' a hole

Not sure what the issue is, exactly, but it never seems to matter when these two just want to bantor. 



Eleanor is drying Frank off from his bath.  She loves it; they hate it.

"I'd rather have a beer"

And Frank gettin' all his lady parts scrubbed.  LOL Keep an eye on Ellee. (like I have to say that)

I'll have to get actually garden pics up soon.  :) Right now, its all about this group of clowns antics.



We are a yellow belt!

And I say "we" people.  It's seriously taking a village with this one.  :)

Summer is home from a long weekend in Arizona with her bestie Julia and fam.  We're grateful she found normal NICE (former Wisconsinites) family to hang with.  They are good people to take in this hot mess. 

10 minutes later; no treats.

kitty treats!!

someone moves pretty fast when there's cat treats at stake

Eleanor's Tawkwondo Adventures

You'll NEVER guess which one is Ellee. Just a few hints; the instructors are never far away, she watches a LOT of Scooby Doo and she's a complete Skittlehead.





Happy Friday.

Conversations with Eleanor

Papa:  "Ellee, what movie do you want to watch?"

Eleanor: "Pirates of the Caribbean"

Papa: "Which one?"

Eleanor: "I don't care"

Summer: (In a weak attempt to tease/embarrass Eleanor)"oh, do you like Jack Sparrow? Do think he's cute?"

Eleanor, pointing at the tv "YES! LOOK AT HIM"

Welcome back!