Tonight Accalia started watching a Pippi Longstocking video we picked up at the library this morning, and pretty soon Ella and Cole wandered into the living room and watched for a little bit, too. This is how Cole and Ella sat for most of the time, perfectly happy and content to be close to each other.


When Ella wants to give a really big smile, she scrunches up her face so much she usually ends up closing at least one eye just like in this picture. Her shirt says, "I love being a girl."


So, other than going to the library this morning, Accalia also went to art after lunch and had a very good time. She was excited to report that there are twin girls in her class, but they don't look alike. Mercedes was over as soon as we got home and stayed over for the next three hours. Mercedes had asked if they could use Accalia's sewing machine (given to her last Christmas by Aunt Jessica and Uncle Jeremy), so they were at the table doing that. Accalia actually wasn't interested in using it, so she was sitting next to her painting the paper maché vase she made the other day. All of a sudden I hear, "Mom, come here quick!" and I look to see the cord from the machine to the foot pedal in two pieces. Mercedes had such a guilty look on her face, and what I pieced together later on (Accalia says she wasn't watching) is that Mercedes must have cut the cord in two. Who knows if it was an accident while she was cutting up some fabric or not, but it just annoyed me. This is about the third thing that Mercedes or one of her friends has broken since they started coming over to play. Things break, of course, but the things that have broken have done so because they're being really rough with the toys - pulling things apart, etc. Maybe that's how they are with their own toys (and Cole has broken plenty of action figures), but it's just annoying when it's our stuff, you know?

Anyway, today I was just having a hard time not being annoyed by the level of neediness that Mercedes and one of her friends, S., always seem to bring with them. They're always asking for things. S. came over for a little bit, and Accalia showed her the picture she made at art (bunny in a field of flowers sniffing a butterfly) and S.'s response was, "Can I have that?" I feel sad thinking about these little girls who might be so wanting of things at home that they're seeking it out here, but I just didn't feel up to the challenge today. I told Cory that there are only 78 days until school starts (Aug. 22). I know, that's just horrible, but I don't really feel too bad thinking about when the kids and I will have the days to ourselves again. Accalia wasn't feeling too great yet and seemed pretty relieved when I told them they could come inside for supper.

Enough of complaining about the neighbor kids. I sound like such a cranky mom when I talk about them, but I think I was just not having a big "mother hen to the neighborhood kids" sort of day. Ayone else ever feel that way?

Tomorrow nothing is on the schedule. I think the kids want to go to the park and feed the ducks.