The Crabbiest Human In the Universe Makes a Choice...

(written Tuesday afternoon)

Today I might possibly be the crabbiest human on the face of planet earth.

OK, maybe the crabbiest human in the universe.

Yeah, that about sums it up.

So why why WHY would Bubbalu choose this day to break his own "see how many forbidden things I can get into and destroy/maim/render useless/deface/shred/combust" record?

Methinks it may have something to do with the 4:30 wake-up. He stealthily crept into our bedroom and from 3 inches away stared at my face until I startled awake.

"Mommy, I has to go potty".

On one hand, hip hip hurray to Bubbalu for staying dry all night long as a JUST turned 3 yr old. On the other hand, Bubbalu has a hard time going to the potty by himself and needs Mama (*AHEM* or PAPA...) assistance.

As a parent, some days are SO frustrating and mind-numbingly exasperating that you just HAVE to make a choice to choose joy. You can choose to completely lose it, or you can smile, laugh and go about your day.

Today, Bubbalu has been very...uh...inventive in his creativity and pursuit for knowledge and the inner workings of, well, EVERYTHING.

Near the end of this trying day, Bubbalu cajoled Lil Chick to once again climb the stairs and go and play in Mommy and Daddy's bedroom. Normally this is just fine as I have a strategically placed basket of books, dolls and cars for them to play with instead of wreaking havoc. I was downstairs in the laundry room, and having a dryer that isn't QUIET covers up the kids being TOO QUIET.

You know, the TOO QUIET that causes you to run. No, SPRINT.

I was just thinking to myself, "Hmmm, wonder what they're up to?" and heard a loud THUMP. Then a few more. THUMP thump THUMP.

What in the world are they up to!?

Raced upstairs to find that Bubbalu had located Mama's Christmas wrapping paper stash hidden under the bed...in a huge plastic under the bed type storage bin.

How how HOW he managed to pull it out (it is HEAVY - remember, I shop at Costco. Costco has AWESOME wrapping paper. True to their norm, you get a LOT of wrapping paper per roll. Each weigh a TON...and I had at least four of those in there as well as numerous other paper rolls), unlatch both handles and get the double sided lid off is a mystery to me.

Then he must have decided that since it was hidden under the bed, put away neatly and clearly MEANT for him, he started to investigate.

Really now, it wasn't that bad. From my view into our bedroom I just had to take a deep breath and just choose joy. Choose to smile and not to scream.

Then I followed a paper trail into our master bathroom.

And again had to CHOOSE JOY...after gasping out loud, of course.

Bubbalu had triple lined every square inch of the place with wrapping paper.

BRIGHT, GLASS HALF FULL SIDE:

-my previously undecorated for the holiday season bathroom is now VERY festive
-my boy understands which colors coordinate perfectly for wrapping
-my boy knows QUALITY paper...he chose the best, most expensive wrapping paper for his "decorating"
-my boy knows how to entertain his younger sibling for great lengths of time
-my Christmas wrapping paper stockpile is now so low I must replace some posthaste
-my paper recycle bin is VERY full

And that is it. No DARK, GLASS HALF EMPTY side. Why???

Because THIS Mama, despite starting the day off as the crabbiest human in the universe, is choosing JOY...

A

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