April Fools

I have always loved being a prankster, and have done little things each year, starting when it was just Jon and I and continuing on with the kids. However, last year April Fool's day escaped me. It came and went so quickly and I didn't do any pranks. My kids weren't too happy with me and reminded me of it for the entire year, so I tried to make up for it a little today. We had fun. . for the most part.

We started the day with putting a fork in their cereal. Because it was hidden under the cereal they didn't notice until after they took a bite. I stuck little bits of dried prunes (I was out of raisins) on their toothbrushes, looked like little bugs. I then started to comb/brush their hair, but used a fork instead. Sleepy as they were, they caught on within a couple of strokes. I took Shaylin's and Jon's glasses and cut out black construction paper the shape of their lenses and taped them on to them. Therefore, rendering them "blind" when they put their glasses on their nose. After Jon was gone to work, the kids gone to school, and Hailey off to preschool, I didn't have anyone to prank for a little while. When Hailey returned I served her lunch.
The PB&J sandwich was normal, the apple had a friend, and the peas were actually a green fruit roll-up with sunflower seeds inside, cut out in the shape of peas (the picture makes them look darker than they were). She thought it was hilarious and saved the prank for Shaylin and Zachary when they returned from school. However, they had a little trouble getting in the house because I posted this on the front door: WET PAINT--COME IN THE GARAGE DOOR. And then I posted this on the garage door: WET PAINT--COME IN THE FRONT DOOR. It was funny to hear them go back and forth for a little while before remembering that it was April Fools day!

Dinner was a little more challenging, but still just as fun. Mashed potatoes and gravy, with cooked carrots. Zachary does not like cooked carrots--hence the face I caught with the camera. This was of course before he even tried them. Finally, he relaxed and tried them and found it to be vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce, and dried mango-pineapple bits for carrots. Yes, they got to have dessert first! Which leaves us with dinner still, right?Or is it more dessert?Nope, it's dinner. Meatloaf with pink mashed potatoes. Thanks to familyfun.com for the recipes and ideas.

I was content with being done with the pranks for the day, but I had prepared one more. However, because it was getting late and the kids were tired I was going to skip it and not bring it up. Then it happened, Shaylin came down after showering and asked me to brush through her hair, the letter was sitting there on the table with the other mail, and she thought it was her report card and opened it and read it while I brushed her hair. Well, it wasn't her report card. I had typed up a letter to resemble one from our school district 'informing' us of a change in the school year schedule. It stated that we would now be on year round school, with no summer break, and only minimal breaks throughout the year (not your typical year round school). This brought immediate tears on for Shaylin, which brought Zachary from the other room and immediate tears and wails of unfairness and injustice in the world, which brought Jon downstairs to read the letter. It felt like 30 minutes had passed by, when it was actually maybe 60 seconds of me holding it in just long enough to get Jon good. I hadn't really been able to prank him much all day. I held out long enough and he began rereading the letter, and then I told the kids how I thought it was odd for this letter to arrive today of all days. Shaylin then proceeded to tell me that the school would never pull this mean of a prank and that she was sure it was true. {Insert enormous guilty feeling on mom here} There were more wails of, "How could they take away our summer?" Then Hailey saying, "we should write them a letter and tell them they can't do this!"

I finally fessed up and told them that no, the school wouldn't pull this mean of a prank, but their mom would! I did feel terrible for making them cry. I was expecting them to give me the TNF statements (that's not fair), but I didn't expect tears. Once the joke was realized they thought it was pretty good and wanted to share it with friends, but they'll have to wait until next year. It's time for bed and I'm out of pranks. . .well I have one more up my sleeve for Jon, just a little bit of dried prune in the end of the toothpaste tube. At least the kids won't be complaining this year that I forgot April Fools day!