Kid Conversation

Peach loves playing doctor and will often come up to me out of the blue and ask, "mom, are you sick?"  This was a particular doctor visit:
Peach: "What's wrong?"
me: "My tooth hurts"
Peach gets out the blood pressure cuff and, with my help, puts it on me and "measures" my blood pressure.
Peach: (very authoritatively, with furrowed brow) "You got too much blood!"
She goes on to "measure" other things and The Frog comes over and puts the blood pressure cuff back on
The Frog: "You don't have any blood!!"
me: "Really?  Peach just told me I have too much blood!"
The Frog: (Leans in and whispers) "That's my sister.  She doesn't know much about doctor stuff."

I Hate You

I don't know where the kids got this from... but lately they've been saying "I Hate You" sooooo much!  In their pretend play, to Jay & I when they don't get their way.  I would have never DREAMED of saying this to my parents.  It's just soo RUDE!  (I think...)  Should something be done?  Is it just a phase?  Should I be worried?

I've been trying to say back to them what I think they really mean:
kid: "I hate you, mom!"
me: "Don't you mean you are disappointed that we can't do that right now?"

Thoughts?  What do you do? What did your parents do?  What do you wish you or your parents did?

Kid Conversation

For some reason, lately, The Frog thinks it's HILARIOUS to run outside BAREFOOTED in this below-freezing weather (and our sidewalks aren't completely clear either...)

Jay: [Frog], I insist that you put your boots on to come outside and help me shovel.
The Frog: I don't insist.

Which reminds me... Jay bought a new snow shovel the other day, and the kids were with him and convinced him to get one for them too.  The Frog LOVES it, and yesterday after an early-morning grocery run, he begged me to shovel the driveway.  What could I do but say yes? :)

Kid Conversation

I almost always have a burp cloth on my shoulder when carrying Hazel around, and often leave them all over the house, as a result.  The Frog found one and brought it to me saying:
The Frog: "Here mom.  You can use this when that one has too many burps on it."

Life with a Potty-Trained Child

Potty-training has been sooo long and drawn out with The Frog, and even now, he still has occasional accidents.  I never thought I would be so proud of someone for taking them-selves to the toilet to do a #2, but really I still feel so triumphant every time.   Some funny things about The Frog using the toilet lately I wanted to remember so I could tell his future dates ;)
Whenever he needs toilet paper, he gets off the toilet and give the roll his full attention.  Then, using both hands, he rips the toilet paper (always only 1 square) verrrrry carefully.

The other day, The Frog had been outside without mittens on and when he came in, he said (more like bawled...) his hands were freezing and he needed his mittens.
Fine.
We all went about our daily business and later The Frog comes running through, with a particularly proud look on his face, and soaking wet mittens.
The Frog: I used the potty!!
Jay: Good job!
Me: Were you wearing your mittens while you used the potty?
The Frog: Yep!  And I washed my hands!

Hence, the wet mittens.

As of yesterday, I have commenced the training of little Peach, who I fear has lost the eagerness she had right before Hazel was born.  Any pointers would be appreciated.