What does Pudding & a Salad Spinner Equal???

It equals Braden is bored. Yep, today was one of those days. Every chance he had to get hold of something he shouldn't have, he did. First, while I was putting Berk down for a nap, I heard the sound of my fridge being slammed shut, so I figured he was getting a snack or a drink or something. Unfortunately, I was right. Even though we have pre-made Chocolate milk in the fridge, Braden decided to make his own. This apparently required several containers for the choc. syrup, from cups to measuring spoons to bread pans. It was at this point he must have remembered that yesterday he had used all the milk and we were out. So I found trails of dots of syrup from the bar stools back to the fridge. Ah, classic Braden. We discussed not making chocolate milk by himself for a few minutes as well as not wasting food (yesterday's milk) and I cleaned up the kitchen, and changed my clothes (his hands were chocolaty when I hugged him after our talk). I had to lay down on the couch for a while to put a heat pack on my neck. Yesterday, while brushing my teeth I tweaked my neck and pinched a nerve. Dang oral hygiene. After a trip to the chiropractor, ice and heat it actually felt better, but stiff. But I digress...

After Berk's first nap Braden decided he wanted Taco Time for lunch. he loves that place cause they will put chicken in his cheese crisp- tons of places won't. But that involved about a thirty minute round trip but he had been pretty good, so I figured why not. Why not? Oh, because for one, Berk hates his car seat these days, I can't wait to flip him forward. Two, because Braden nearly fell asleep and I promise you, a near nap is SO much worse than NO nap. As a result he was Uber cranky and our good day just went downhill from there...

I really try to make sure Braden gets a snack and either an activity or a new show turned on when I put Berk down for naps so he will be quiet. Today it worked like a charm. A little Tom and Jerry, classic I know, and Berk was down without any interruptions. So, I thought to myself, I am going to take a shower. I called Braden into my room to check on him and he said his movie as not over and he was going to have some pudding. Sure, sure, fine with me. After literally a 3 minute shower, I found him back in my room playing under my bed in some bins I use for storage. What a flashback I then had as I realized he had changed into my biker shorts from my high school track days...who knew I even still had them...scary. As I was chuckling about that I realized he had some pudding on his arm and asked him what happened, "Oh, I'll just show you" he said. Gulp.

The mess was staged in three, no four areas. 1. The kitchen table. Where he had gotten my salad spinner (from who knows where) out and filled it with an entire bag of baby carrots, some cereal and, I am guessing, two chocolate puddings. Area 2. The kitchen counter. Where he had several "drinking" utensils including a medicine syringe and a straw as well as that lovely (half gone) bottle of chocolate syrup. Area 3. The bar stools. Which were neatly arranged in a train formation with pudding on honestly everyone of them. And finally, area 4, which I found about ten minutes later, the guest bathroom. This is my 'pretty' bathroom with cream towels and shaggy rug, and about, again I am guessing, a cup of pudding and/or syrup from floor to ceiling. Deep breaths. Begin counting to 10 in my head while quickly dialing my M-I-L's phone number (she lives close and I needed help holding Berk while I cleaned-I explained) Now, in his defense, the mess in the bathroom was a result of trying to clean up himself from the mess in area 3. It was everywhere though, including the toilet lid & bowl, and since that seemed to gross to touch, when he needed to pee he went in the tub. No biggie, right? Unless you remember from an earlier post, that we "grow 'spearaments" in there. It really couldn't have gotten any better.

So now as both boys are in their beds asleep, I am thankful that for one, I am not picking beads out of the carpet again and two, that chocolate smells really good when you are cleaning it up.

Braden boy, I love you, but I think you and I both are ready for preschool to start on Tuesday.