You know you have a large number of small children when...

Your discussions about who needs to ask permission to pour a drink start to resemble discussions over gun control.

At this point one of us thinks that because there have been a high number of spills lately, a strategy must be implemented requiring all children to ask for a drink when they want one. The other parent feels that the children who ask permission are not actually those who pose the spill threat, and that those who pose a spill threat are not going to ask for permission no matter how strongly the point is emphasized because 2 year olds don't really listen that well, particularly when trying to assert their independence and ability to care for themselves.

Other moms of a large number of small kids, how do you deal with deciding who is old enough to get a drink independently and who needs to ask permission?

This is why I'm going to have 50 gazillion kids 5/27

This afternoon, Papa Bear was walking around picking up some pieces of paper that Thumbelina said to me "If we have the energy to make the mess, we have the energy to clean it up." I asked him who told him that, and he said that he made it up himself.

He then proceeded to empty the dishwasher, clean up his room, the front room, and sorted and put away all of his little sisters' laundry.

See? With kids like this, I have zero excuse, no excuse at all for not having 50 gazillion of them.

This is why I'm going to have 50 gazillion kids 5/24

Papa Bear's new thing is to start sentences "According to my calculations..." Thus far, according to his calculations, it is 133 days, 16 hours and 53 minutes until his birthday.

Also, according to his calculations,

* if she had her way Goldilocks would try to play the computer for 6 1/2 hours!
* a bag of cereal feeding 5 kids 1 serving per day should last us 6 days, then with two servings left over and he would give those last two to Goldilocks and Baby Bear while he and Yogi ate toast for breakfast.

According to *my calculations* there can never be too many kids who enjoy making calculations. That's the reason for today as to why I'm going to have 50 gazillion kids.

See this? This is absolutely, beyond a doubt why I'm going to have 50 gazillion kids

So, Thumbelina is one!  AHHH!  So, there have been ongoing discussion on when to have an offspring refresh and bring in a newer version with Horde 6.0.

Gil has taken a decidedly "pro" refresh stance, however to assuage my concerns, he wrote this lovely, profound 507 word essay.  I was moved by the beauty of the sentiments contained therein, and with his permission have decided to share it with you all.

Now that you've read through the entire thing, go back and read the first word of each line.  EPIC.  I am married to a genius, I tell you.  A genius.  What nobility of expression!  What creative joy!  What an eloquent, stirring apologetic in favor of 6.0 coming sooner rather than later.  This is the single clearest example of why I am going to have 50 gazillion kids.  A masterpiece, Gil.  An absolute masterpiece.  THIS MAN DESERVES A BRIGHT NEW SHINY BABY!

First, however, we need to close on our Dandelion Estate Upon The River, complete with enough bedrooms that even *I* am uncertain as to whether we can sufficiently fill them.  However, given sufficient space and this stirring argument in favor of BABIES, I certainly intend to try.

I'm getting worse at this

HOW CAN IT BE?!  I shouldn't be this bad at blogging!  My kids are hilarious, and I have so many of them, so why can't I actually write it down?  I might need to start doing weekly summaries of "insane things I posted on Facebook that my children did recently" because this degree of blog neglect?  Not good. Bad.  Bad Pregnant Papist Who is FAILING at living up to her name!

It's after midnight on the East Coast, which means that it is Thumbelina's very last day being "zero years old."  That's right, folks!  Thumbelina turns ONE on Wednesday!  How did this happen, you ask?  I HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA!  NONE AT ALL!

I need help, people.  I don't know what to do do celebrate her last day of being a non-1 year old, or her first day of being a 1 year old.  I mean, aside from MOAR CAKE!  Or maybe lollipops.  Thumbelina likes lollipops.  See?

Extended breastfeeding for the win!  And we win.... lollipops?  Ok, then!