… they have to wear shades.

This week, I learned that my kids? They look awesome in shades.

On one particularly sunny day (yep, we live in AZ. Don’t hate.) Zac decided that he just had to have sunglasses. I gave him one of my pairs (I have, ahem, a few). He rocked that look.

Lilly can rock a pair of boys (Diego) sunglasses, can’t she?

Zac has since practiced, and mastered, the “I’m inside but am still cool enough to wear my shades” look.

Seriously. Don’t you just want to eat him up? It’s ok… it would be weird if you didn’t.

I’m so proud I could cry.

Find out what else is being learned out there in the blogosphere by checking out JULIE’s blog!

DO YOU WEAR SUNGLASSES OFTEN? OR DO YOU RELY ON ANY OTHER “MUST HAVE” ACCESSORY?

A while ago, I posted about silly things that Lilly says. I called them Lillyisms and you can find them HERE and HERE.

This week, I’ve learned that I say some pretty silly things too.

For example:

“Would you two PLEASE stop stealing each other’s imaginary food!”
(Directed towards Zac and Shyla.)

“Get over here Kiwi Face!”
(Not a cute nickname. Zac actually had kiwi all over his face.)

“I am sorry, but it is time for the Easter Bunny and Dora to go to sleep!”
(Oh Lilly…)

“Ugh, I wish Zac didn’t know how to spell!”
(Specifically, the word “Blankie”… which we couldn’t find at the moment.”

“Lilly, nice girls do not walk around with their hands down the back of their pants.”
(Um, nice PEOPLE don’t walk around like that.)

“No, that’s not a surf board, it’s an ironing board. Guess you don’t see it in action very often…”
(Who am I kidding with the “very often” statement?)

“Seriously?!? Can I seriously smell your poo from over here?”
(I don’t need to explain, do I? I was not standing that close to Zac.)

What do you say that catches you by surprise?

I’m linking up with JULIE today… head over there to read some hilarious stories of what’s been learned this week.

I so enjoy JULIE’S BLOG, and her What I Learned This Week carnival!

This week, I discovered Instagram. I use the word “discovered” lightly. Kinda Christopher Columbus style… you know, a “it’s new to me” type of discovery.

Instagram turns iPhone pictures into masterpieces. This weekend the kids and I were playing outside. I turned around for about 6 seconds and, when I turned back, I saw this:

They’re not always friends, but they are more often than not. Anyhow, I took the pic and opened my Instagram app, and created this masterpiece!

This week, I also learned that kids are never too old for footed PJs! Each kid got a pair and they love them!

This week, I learned {yet again} that my children are independent. Whether it’s Zac insisting on climbing into the carseat by himself {like his big sister does}, or Lilly choosing this outfit to wear to school:

Yes, friends, those are short worn over sweatpants. Why? Because who am I to give her fashion advice?

Finally, this week I learned to never, EVER make evening plans on the first day {week?} after a long break. The kids had gotten used to sleeping in, so by the time this evening rolled around they were exhausted. We did our normal Monday night dinner with my sister, but it was disastrous and we left halfway through dinner and {gasp} before dessert!

So, we came home and the kids went to bed early. You know, after a lot of whining and crying. Now, I sit and think about watching The Bachelor. But, you know what, I think I’m just going to drink some tea and go to bed.

Do you watch The Bachelor, or any reality TV? What are your thoughts on it?

Don’t forget to visit JULIE for more learnings!

* I learned that my sister will, in fact, beat me by 2 minutes in the half marathon even though we ran together the whole time. Nice sister.

* I have learned that my office is freeing all. the. time. I also learned that I don’t think well when I’m cold.

* I learned that I like googling my name and seeing something other than my Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.

* I learned that I feel stress over my DVR getting full. What a silly thing to feel stressed about.

* I learned that other people’s disorganization drives me crazy. At least my disorganization is, well, organized. Theirs? Makes no sense.

JULIE learned a lot this week too… go check it out!

I usually pride myself on being a pretty honest person. Because A. I hate lying and B. I’m no good at it.

This week, however, I caught myself in two lies. To. My. Children.

I know I know… we should never, ever lie to our children.

Well, except about Santa Clause. And the tooth fairy. And where babies come from. Ok, not that last one. In fact, you should read Becca’s post about that, towards the bottom of THIS POST. (Called The Million Dollar Question). Hilarious. Movingrightalong…

This week, I learned that I am a liar. A clever, clever liar.

Exhibit A. The cake.

On Sunday, the kids and I were driving to Phoenix for Natalie’s son’s birthday party. It was an awesome party. I should post about it soon. Jeremy was working. Jeremy is always working during long drives, it seems. Although… he WILL be with us for a long drive coming up in October. More on that in a future post as well. Back to last Sunday. Before we even hit the freeway, Lilly had to go potty. So we stopped. 2 kids unloaded. Into the bathroom. Helping one, holding the other… Lilly sits. And sits. And sits. Nothing. She’s talking. Chatty, chatty, chatty. Doesn’t want to concede that maybe she doesn’t have to go as badly as she thought. I gave her a good long time people. I really did. And then… the lie:

“Lilly, if we don’t hurry, we’re going to be so late to the party that all the cake will be gone.”

Boom. We were in the car in a flash. We were a little late to the party. The cake, btw, was delicious.

Exhibit B. The tooth fairy.

Sometimes Lilly is great about brushing her teeth. Sometimes she resists. She has heard all about the tooth fairy now. Last night, was a resisting night. The lie:

“Lilly, if you don’t brush your teeth, they’ll be yellow. And the tooth fairy doesn’t want yellow teeth! She won’t come take them when they fall out!”

Boom. In the bathroom brush brush brushing away.

So, that’s not SO bad is it? I really am usually good about not lying to my children. Instead of saying, “Nope, we’re out of cookies” I say, “Nope, that’s all the cookies we’re having tonight. Maybe you can have another one tomorrow.” I think it’s important. BUT… this past week… I’m a big liar-liar-pants-on-fire apparently.

For more (hilarious) learnings, head over to JULIE’S BLOG.

And… show me some comment love… DO YOU EVER TELL (WHITE) LIES TO YOUR CHILDREN? (or, if you lie to me directly, feel free to tell me that too…)