"Is Dad really in charge?"

My kids just astound me sometimes. I have no idea why they do the things they do. I was reminded of a story about Landon the other day. He was probably two and we were at the DMV getting my license renewed. It had been a year past the expiration date and so I had to take the test and everything. Grant was still little enough to be happy no matter what we did and Landon was being very good. Charming everyone around him. While I was waiting for my turn to take my picture Landon was dancing around being so cute. The lady who was working was getting a kick out of him. She proceeded to say "Oh, your little boy is the cutest thing I have ever seen." At that moment while I was about to respond proudly Landon decided to stop dead in his tracks and spit on the floor. I looked at him and had no words. Why? What would posses him to just spit on the floor like that? I almost wanted to laugh, but I could tell that the lady that thought Landon was the cutest thing in the world, was not very amused.
Landon has learned the art of reverse psychology. He threw a rock at the window and it broke. He did not tell us about it until we discovered the shattered glass. He then fessed up. I told him he was going to have to be grounded for two days from going outside to play. (thinking about this punishment, I might do something different next time. It was more of a punishment for me.) He then looked at Neal and I and said "YES, I love to be grounded." Last night Landon did not eat his dinner so I told him that if he doesn't eat his dinner not to ask for snacks later. He then says, "I hate snacks. Thanks Mom." I think he thinks it is working. He is very proud of his new discovery.
Grant has been my easiest kid, until now. With Landon I always knew when he was doing something he wasn't supposed to. He is so loud. Grant on the other hand is very quiet and fast when he is being mischievous. I seriously left the room for two minutes. When I returned, Grant had dumped every last ounce of the dishwasher detergent all over my kitchen and laundry room. We shop at Costco, so there was a lot. He is constantly getting into things. He is not a mean kid, but when we are at the park I have to watch him like a hawk. He will go up to a kid and just pour a cup of sand on their head and just walk away. Not even a kid being mean to him, just some random nice kid. He is constantly disappearing from me. He will walk out of the house without telling me. Which often times ends up with me running outside around the neighborhood in a towel in front of a bunch of construction workers.
Aliya is a girl. That is about all I have to say. She is emotional and irrational and very sensitive. Everything is the end of the world for her. I am puzzled at some of the things she says. She is a talker and she asks a million questions about everything. Which in theory is good and healthy, but is a little overwhelming at times. On one of my visits to Seattle to visit my sister, Neal stayed home with the kids. I got a phone call one night and it was Aliya. She says "Mom, I need to ask you a question. Is Dad really in charge?? " I about died. Aliya is the kind of kid that has to discover everything on her own. She will not take my word for it. I admit that it's what I love about her, but might be a problem when she gets to the dreaded teenage years.
Some times all of these crazy things my kids do make me want to pull my hair out, but most of the time it just makes me laugh.