Where has the week gone? Where has March gone? What do we DO ALL DAY?
Seriously, I cannot remember one day from the next. Everything blends together in a missmash of playdates and school drop offs / pick ups and squeezing in work and trying to feed my family healthy foods.
We have absolutely positively given up on giving Emma any food that contains dye. If you buy her something that has red dye 25, or yellow dye 6, etc etc etc, just know that I am going to toss it in the trash before she can get her teeth into it. Daddy and I have been observing some wild mood swings in her the past 6 months. A friend of mine has two kids with 100 different food allergies - one of them being food dyes. Her children turn into screaming whining fighting horrible monsters when they consume dye. It's surreal! Em rarely gets "crap", but she has been attending lots of birthday parties as of late where she gets goodie bags filled with junk - toys and snacks/candies. Her worst episodes come after we get home from these parties. We honestly thought she was simply exhausted from the play, but we have since come to realize that that may be part of it, but the CRAP she eats from these bags afterwards flips a switch in her brain and she becomes an absolute beast.
So, no more food dye. No more high fructose corn syrup. I am sure I will add to this list as time goes on but for now we will keep vigil and see if the behavior improves.
On a happy note, she continues to excel on the vocabulary building front. It never ceases to amaze me the words she comes up with! But I especially like the sincere mistakes, like yesterday when we were playing in our friend's backyard, "Mommy, can you help me get up on the hampick?" (As in hammock - but I think she was thinking hamper as I am always requesting she put her dirty clothes in the laundry hamper!)
Ben has become quite the artist. The other morning when he and Daddy were playing he requested, "Dad, can we play arfs and crabs?"
Arts and crafts! It never gets old.
Ben has also become Stewie from the Family Guy in that episode where he follows his Mother around everywhere saying, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy..." for hours on end. He does not need anything. He simply wants my constant attention. Thanks for loving me so much, little man.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Ahhh, Sun - er, Tuesday!
Emma: "This is the best pretend Sunday ever."
Since Daddy helped a family on Sunday and wasn't home in the late afternoon, we didn't have our usual Sunday evening family dinner. To make up for it, when Daddy's schedule got mixed around today and he found himself with an evening free, we headed to main street to have some chow. The kids behaved great without an iPhone in sight! (I know, right????)
Halfway thru the meal, Emma proclaimed the above phrase out of the blue. It was unprovoked and totally awesome.
Know what else is awesome? Ben learning to drink milk from a straw.
Since Daddy helped a family on Sunday and wasn't home in the late afternoon, we didn't have our usual Sunday evening family dinner. To make up for it, when Daddy's schedule got mixed around today and he found himself with an evening free, we headed to main street to have some chow. The kids behaved great without an iPhone in sight! (I know, right????)
Halfway thru the meal, Emma proclaimed the above phrase out of the blue. It was unprovoked and totally awesome.
Know what else is awesome? Ben learning to drink milk from a straw.
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| cuteness overload. |
Monday, March 26, 2012
Windy fun
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| Batter up! (get it? get it?) |
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| Running the bases! |
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| Now let's play chase the dog poop bag in the wind! |
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| Poop bags are more fun than baseball! Look at those smiles! |
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| Finish up with kite flying! |
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Fart jokes
Busy week. I am wiped out but figured I had better write some things down before they go far away in my mind never to be heard from again.
Spring has treated us good this week. Building 5 is back! We spent most of the afternoons this past week hanging out in front of our place with our super awesome neighbors. There was some bike riding, lots of racing around, BUBBLES! (Ben insists on the bubble machine whenever we go outside to play. It's as if play wouldn't be fun without the bubbles about.) and much much more. I got a set of baseball bases recently and we are looking forward to some hearty kickball games soon enough.
Em continues to push boundaries and press buttons. Daddy and I are trying very hard to keep our cool. Some days we do, some days we don't. The other day I was so angry at her it took every ounce of cool I had to refrain from throwing her out the window. I squatted down to meet her eye to eye with a look of disgust on my face and she actually put her fingertips on my forehead and attempted to smooth out the furrows thinking that if they went away she would be in less trouble. Her clever idea got her out of that particular predicament, but listen up, Em, it only works once!
This morning we needed to be out the door sooner than later and she was lollygagging around. The usual chorus of, "Em, drink your milk!" "Em, don't sit on the couch with no cloths on! We don't need your stinky butt on the cushions." "Emma, focus! Eat your eggs!" etc etc could be heard all morning long. At one point we were angry because we caught her in yet ANOTHER lie when Benjamin, sensing a need to throw some comedy on the fire to lighten up the mood around the penthouse said with perfect timing after the DOG farted, "Ut-oh, DADDY FARTED!" and then ran down the hall laughing his head off.
I am so incredibly grateful that my children have a funny bone - and not just a bad toddler knock knock who's there? funny bone - but a real sense of "laughter is the best medicine" and timing is everything because if they didn't, I would probably spend way too much of my day with an ugly scowl on my face.
Spring has treated us good this week. Building 5 is back! We spent most of the afternoons this past week hanging out in front of our place with our super awesome neighbors. There was some bike riding, lots of racing around, BUBBLES! (Ben insists on the bubble machine whenever we go outside to play. It's as if play wouldn't be fun without the bubbles about.) and much much more. I got a set of baseball bases recently and we are looking forward to some hearty kickball games soon enough.
Em continues to push boundaries and press buttons. Daddy and I are trying very hard to keep our cool. Some days we do, some days we don't. The other day I was so angry at her it took every ounce of cool I had to refrain from throwing her out the window. I squatted down to meet her eye to eye with a look of disgust on my face and she actually put her fingertips on my forehead and attempted to smooth out the furrows thinking that if they went away she would be in less trouble. Her clever idea got her out of that particular predicament, but listen up, Em, it only works once!
This morning we needed to be out the door sooner than later and she was lollygagging around. The usual chorus of, "Em, drink your milk!" "Em, don't sit on the couch with no cloths on! We don't need your stinky butt on the cushions." "Emma, focus! Eat your eggs!" etc etc could be heard all morning long. At one point we were angry because we caught her in yet ANOTHER lie when Benjamin, sensing a need to throw some comedy on the fire to lighten up the mood around the penthouse said with perfect timing after the DOG farted, "Ut-oh, DADDY FARTED!" and then ran down the hall laughing his head off.
I am so incredibly grateful that my children have a funny bone - and not just a bad toddler knock knock who's there? funny bone - but a real sense of "laughter is the best medicine" and timing is everything because if they didn't, I would probably spend way too much of my day with an ugly scowl on my face.
Monday, March 19, 2012
'Snot working
*alternate post title: How to *mess* with your 3 year old's head.
Daddy took Ben for a quickie road trip to toss rocks into the Sound while Emma and I were at ballet class today. Ben, in his car seat in the back, kept grabbing at the old school pop up door lock on Daddy's new-used car pulling it up to unlock the door. Daddy, enjoying the moment, would quickly hit the electric door locks to relock the door. This annoyed the 3 year old to no end! He said over and over and over, "'Snot working! 'Snot working!" (Yes, it's late and I am going to translate: "It's not working!")
Daddy did this from Mt Sinai all the way home to Port Jeff. Ben announced the same darn thing every time with his girlie "Oprah" (Yes, Henry's Mommy, I was told) inflection, "'Snot working!"
Don't be jealous that my son is going to be a broadcasting bazillionaire and my daughter a professional athlete. The future is bright!!! :)
Daddy took Ben for a quickie road trip to toss rocks into the Sound while Emma and I were at ballet class today. Ben, in his car seat in the back, kept grabbing at the old school pop up door lock on Daddy's new-used car pulling it up to unlock the door. Daddy, enjoying the moment, would quickly hit the electric door locks to relock the door. This annoyed the 3 year old to no end! He said over and over and over, "'Snot working! 'Snot working!" (Yes, it's late and I am going to translate: "It's not working!")
Daddy did this from Mt Sinai all the way home to Port Jeff. Ben announced the same darn thing every time with his girlie "Oprah" (Yes, Henry's Mommy, I was told) inflection, "'Snot working!"
Don't be jealous that my son is going to be a broadcasting bazillionaire and my daughter a professional athlete. The future is bright!!! :)
Embrace it!
Our best pals out here own a pizzeria. Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately if you are referring to our waistlines) it is about 40 minutes from our home which means we don't get to enjoy it on a regular basis (read: once or twice a year...).
Well, this morning at 9am, we got a personal delivery of raw pizza dough, cheese, and homemade sauce from our pals. Why? I was mentioning the last time we were all together that I attempted to make a homemade gluten free pizza crust and it ended up tasting like pizza on a bisquik biscuit. They took pity on us and gave us the real deal to make. This afternoon Daddy and I got all Italian on ourselves and tried tossing the crust in the air and doing all things pizza parlor to make us a yummy pizza. I should have video'd the fun - we aren't very good Italians! But let me tell you, the pizza was DELICIOUS. Well, at least DADDY AND I thought the pizza was delicious. Emma and Ben, who LOVE pizza wanted nothing to do with it. Instead of getting all cranky on them knowing the only reason they aren't eating it is because it "looked different" than our normal pizza, we decided to EMBRACE it. The conversation went something like this:
Mom: "Wow! This pizza is delicious!!"
Emma whining and fussing: "I don't like this pizza! It's too wet. I want the cheese to attach back together." (She felt it was too saucy and the cheese wasn't what she is used to.)
Dad: "What? It's so good! Take a bite!"
Emma now crying hysterically (yes, she had just come home from ballet and was exhausted), "No, I hate pizza. I never want to ever eat pizza again. I only want to eat our normal pizza."
Mom: "Wow, Em, that's not nice. Bobby and Jen went out of their way to bring this food to us and saying that is disrespectful."
Ben: said nothing, pooh poohed the looks of it, hopped out of his chair and didn't get anything for dinner. (I refused to make him anything else.)
Mom, getting slightly annoyed but then REALIZING that her kids do not want to eat the yummy pizza which means MORE for her and Daddy(!!!) said happily: "Fine! Don't eat it. This pizza is great! All the more for Daddy and me!" (And I raised my embracing the moment hand up for a sweet high five from Daddy!)
Emma, suspect of my excitable attitude, then took a bite of the yummy pizza and declared, "This is good pizza!" and proceeded to eat a few slices.
Ben, did not get the higher law we were laying down and denied all yummiestness - his loss, not ours. Our gain, really. Because I got 3 slices instead of two. Thanks, Ben. And THANK YOU pizzeria owning pals for taking pity on us and providing us with a dang good dinner.
Well, this morning at 9am, we got a personal delivery of raw pizza dough, cheese, and homemade sauce from our pals. Why? I was mentioning the last time we were all together that I attempted to make a homemade gluten free pizza crust and it ended up tasting like pizza on a bisquik biscuit. They took pity on us and gave us the real deal to make. This afternoon Daddy and I got all Italian on ourselves and tried tossing the crust in the air and doing all things pizza parlor to make us a yummy pizza. I should have video'd the fun - we aren't very good Italians! But let me tell you, the pizza was DELICIOUS. Well, at least DADDY AND I thought the pizza was delicious. Emma and Ben, who LOVE pizza wanted nothing to do with it. Instead of getting all cranky on them knowing the only reason they aren't eating it is because it "looked different" than our normal pizza, we decided to EMBRACE it. The conversation went something like this:
Mom: "Wow! This pizza is delicious!!"
Emma whining and fussing: "I don't like this pizza! It's too wet. I want the cheese to attach back together." (She felt it was too saucy and the cheese wasn't what she is used to.)
Dad: "What? It's so good! Take a bite!"
Emma now crying hysterically (yes, she had just come home from ballet and was exhausted), "No, I hate pizza. I never want to ever eat pizza again. I only want to eat our normal pizza."
Mom: "Wow, Em, that's not nice. Bobby and Jen went out of their way to bring this food to us and saying that is disrespectful."
Ben: said nothing, pooh poohed the looks of it, hopped out of his chair and didn't get anything for dinner. (I refused to make him anything else.)
Mom, getting slightly annoyed but then REALIZING that her kids do not want to eat the yummy pizza which means MORE for her and Daddy(!!!) said happily: "Fine! Don't eat it. This pizza is great! All the more for Daddy and me!" (And I raised my embracing the moment hand up for a sweet high five from Daddy!)
Emma, suspect of my excitable attitude, then took a bite of the yummy pizza and declared, "This is good pizza!" and proceeded to eat a few slices.
Ben, did not get the higher law we were laying down and denied all yummiestness - his loss, not ours. Our gain, really. Because I got 3 slices instead of two. Thanks, Ben. And THANK YOU pizzeria owning pals for taking pity on us and providing us with a dang good dinner.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sprung Spring = best family day
...ever, ever, EVER! (Quack quote.)
I'm not sure why, but whenever I post from my iphone, "Blogger" mixes up the order of the photos after they upload. I don't know how to correct it, so I will just tell you about our day in reverse!
Emma's hair is long and gorgeous and a giant pain in the arse. She whines every time we wash it. She whines every time we brush it. She whines every time it gets zipped up in the zipper of her coat, gets caught in the seat belt, gets stuck around her neck in her sleep, etc etc etc (and BELIEVE me, there are tons of ETC). Daddy convinced her to get it cut even saying she could go to a proper salon for the first time ever to do it. She declined - not the get it cut part, but the salon part! She wanted me to do it again. (Any guesses how many more years I can pull this off?? Considering I am a "one style wonder" - she may get bored with me by 1st grade...)
So this evening after her bath she sat remarkably still on the toilet seat while I chopped away! She told me she wanted it cut to her chin, I figured that gives her about 6 months for it to grow back in long for Aunt Miki's wedding in CO in September where she will be a flower girl - so we went for it! (see pics below for the results!)
We started out our Sunday morning at our favorite hiking spot, Avalon. We had every intention of hitting a wooded trail, but the shade from the trees made the air cooler than I anticipated so we stuck to the meadow which gets tons of sunlight and has some fun inlets with things like GIANT ROCKS to climb all over. (see pic below) Afterwards, Daddy and Benny napped (sound familiar - boys sure are slackers on Sundays) while Em and I athlete-ed it up in the yard. We climbed trees (see pic with her "before" hair look), we played soccer, we played softball (actually "blowup beachball"), we rode bikes, and played lacrosse. Finally tuckered out (thank goodness!!) from all the outdoor activity, Emma said to me, "Mom, can you get me the blue chair so I can just sit here and relax and watch the DAFFOLOPES (yes, daffolopes - not daffodils) grow?" Absolutely, my sweet girl, absolutely.
I gotta tell ya, it's amazing what GYM class three days a week does for the seemingly uncoordinated daughter of two all star athletes. She entered preK in the Fall all gangly arms and legs. She has emerged this early Spring with MAD SKILLS. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I said, "Good _____, Em!" Fill in the blank with whatever sporty move we were working on. This kid has gotten it! Can I get a "Heck ya!" from all you hoping as much as me for an athletic scholarship to any university of her choice? :)
We ended the amazing day with Daddy cooking fresh clams from the Sound in a spicy sauce with artichoke linguini pasta. Can you say YUM??? And can you say "Mommy didn't have to cook" or "Mommy didn't have to clean up?" I LOVE YOU, SUNDAY. Please come again soon.
I'm not sure why, but whenever I post from my iphone, "Blogger" mixes up the order of the photos after they upload. I don't know how to correct it, so I will just tell you about our day in reverse!
Emma's hair is long and gorgeous and a giant pain in the arse. She whines every time we wash it. She whines every time we brush it. She whines every time it gets zipped up in the zipper of her coat, gets caught in the seat belt, gets stuck around her neck in her sleep, etc etc etc (and BELIEVE me, there are tons of ETC). Daddy convinced her to get it cut even saying she could go to a proper salon for the first time ever to do it. She declined - not the get it cut part, but the salon part! She wanted me to do it again. (Any guesses how many more years I can pull this off?? Considering I am a "one style wonder" - she may get bored with me by 1st grade...)
So this evening after her bath she sat remarkably still on the toilet seat while I chopped away! She told me she wanted it cut to her chin, I figured that gives her about 6 months for it to grow back in long for Aunt Miki's wedding in CO in September where she will be a flower girl - so we went for it! (see pics below for the results!)
We started out our Sunday morning at our favorite hiking spot, Avalon. We had every intention of hitting a wooded trail, but the shade from the trees made the air cooler than I anticipated so we stuck to the meadow which gets tons of sunlight and has some fun inlets with things like GIANT ROCKS to climb all over. (see pic below) Afterwards, Daddy and Benny napped (sound familiar - boys sure are slackers on Sundays) while Em and I athlete-ed it up in the yard. We climbed trees (see pic with her "before" hair look), we played soccer, we played softball (actually "blowup beachball"), we rode bikes, and played lacrosse. Finally tuckered out (thank goodness!!) from all the outdoor activity, Emma said to me, "Mom, can you get me the blue chair so I can just sit here and relax and watch the DAFFOLOPES (yes, daffolopes - not daffodils) grow?" Absolutely, my sweet girl, absolutely.
I gotta tell ya, it's amazing what GYM class three days a week does for the seemingly uncoordinated daughter of two all star athletes. She entered preK in the Fall all gangly arms and legs. She has emerged this early Spring with MAD SKILLS. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I said, "Good _____, Em!" Fill in the blank with whatever sporty move we were working on. This kid has gotten it! Can I get a "Heck ya!" from all you hoping as much as me for an athletic scholarship to any university of her choice? :)
We ended the amazing day with Daddy cooking fresh clams from the Sound in a spicy sauce with artichoke linguini pasta. Can you say YUM??? And can you say "Mommy didn't have to cook" or "Mommy didn't have to clean up?" I LOVE YOU, SUNDAY. Please come again soon.
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| proof of the choppage - 6 inches off!! |
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| Bad blurry pic, but it is super cute!! |
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| Rooster boy crashed out on floor after hiking! |
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| Tree climbing before the great choppage! |
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| Our Sunday morning family hike in Avalon! |
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| Watching the daffoLOPES grow. |
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
We are...
...very busy on this warm Winter day. It is 71 and sunny. Absolutely unheard of for March 14. The tulips are blooming and the daffodils are sprouting up. Even the ones we transplanted last Spring are coming thru! Woohoo!
We've gotten out "to explore the big wide world" (Thank you Quack, Peep and Chirp) everyday this week. Today so far we have jumped rope, rode bikes, sidewalk chalked trains and tracks, played tug of war, limbo, and tennis.
We've gotten out "to explore the big wide world" (Thank you Quack, Peep and Chirp) everyday this week. Today so far we have jumped rope, rode bikes, sidewalk chalked trains and tracks, played tug of war, limbo, and tennis.
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| The rope jumping is quite funny... |
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| Mom, please draw Thomas for the 147th time? |
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
They really do listen...
During the great Pink Eye Fiasco last month, my children heard "Don't touch your eyes!" every 17 seconds. Now, whenever I rub my allergy riddled eyes, Ben says, "MOM! DON'T TOUCH YOUR EYES!"
I also spend a lot of time saying, "Ben, don't pick your nose." Yep, you guessed it, when I scratch at my allergy riddled nose he chastises me, "Mom, don't pick your nose!"
I read this article yesterday and got to thinking about our parenting skills. Overall I like to think Daddy and I are good parents. Whether at school or in someone's home when I am not around, I often get told "your children are so well behaved" or "your children are so polite" or "Emma is so sweet and nurturing with the little ones" etc, you get the picture. (When I am with them, their behavior definitely is less angelic... Go figure.) I personally need some work on 4, 5, 6, and 9. (Hey, that's less than 50%, right?)
We do a lot of #5 in this house. #9 is rare, but it does happens in extreme situations. Out in public, #5 is tough for this selfish Mama, because I am usually enjoying being out of the house and to simply get up and leave when a child acts out is more punishment for me than the kid! :)
While I don't agree 100% with the author, she makes many great points. I definitely need to be more authoritative and not give in so easily when they manipulate me with their tears because "it's easier."
So Emma and Ben, watch out! There is a new CEO in the house. Things are going to change around the penthouse - for the better for all of us. Because really, when a kid acts out they simply want attention - maybe a little alone time with us - something we try to do, but don't do enough of.
I also spend a lot of time saying, "Ben, don't pick your nose." Yep, you guessed it, when I scratch at my allergy riddled nose he chastises me, "Mom, don't pick your nose!"
I read this article yesterday and got to thinking about our parenting skills. Overall I like to think Daddy and I are good parents. Whether at school or in someone's home when I am not around, I often get told "your children are so well behaved" or "your children are so polite" or "Emma is so sweet and nurturing with the little ones" etc, you get the picture. (When I am with them, their behavior definitely is less angelic... Go figure.) I personally need some work on 4, 5, 6, and 9. (Hey, that's less than 50%, right?)
We do a lot of #5 in this house. #9 is rare, but it does happens in extreme situations. Out in public, #5 is tough for this selfish Mama, because I am usually enjoying being out of the house and to simply get up and leave when a child acts out is more punishment for me than the kid! :)
While I don't agree 100% with the author, she makes many great points. I definitely need to be more authoritative and not give in so easily when they manipulate me with their tears because "it's easier."
So Emma and Ben, watch out! There is a new CEO in the house. Things are going to change around the penthouse - for the better for all of us. Because really, when a kid acts out they simply want attention - maybe a little alone time with us - something we try to do, but don't do enough of.
huh?
No sleep for the Batter bunch last night. Well little sleep to be honest. Emma was awake for no reason whatsoever from 3:30-5:30am, then Ben woke up in rooster fashion at 6:10. So much for Daylight Savings Time. Boo.
I had something to write about but I am so tired I cannot remember what I wanted to tell ya.
Oh, well. Check back later! :)
I had something to write about but I am so tired I cannot remember what I wanted to tell ya.
Oh, well. Check back later! :)
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sunshine day
Everybody's happy!
Even the bees! Emmaism: wow, the bees sure do like to connect the lector! (say what?)
What to do on a sunny Springlike day? Bust out the bike and learn how to ride it with confidence! (Or make Mommy pull you everywhere because you are a handsome prince...)
Even the bees! Emmaism: wow, the bees sure do like to connect the lector! (say what?)
What to do on a sunny Springlike day? Bust out the bike and learn how to ride it with confidence! (Or make Mommy pull you everywhere because you are a handsome prince...)
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| She has much more confidence! |
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| Lazy boy. |
Friday, March 9, 2012
Porta potty?
I'm sooooooo very tired, but I must post this before the details go awry in my brain.
Today my pal and I took the Awesome Foursome for a good LONG hike - 3 miles to be exact. I brought along the red wagon so when little legs got tired they could relax for a bit AND the Mamas could take turns pulling burning some extra calories so we could eat left over Daddy birthday cake. Win-win for all!
At the 2.5 mile marker Ben announced, "Mom, I gotta get the poops out!" NOOOOOO! "You gotta hold it buddy, we are almost back to the car and we will drive really fast to the house." "Okay, Mom. Let's go to the car. Let's go fast."
10 seconds later, "Mom, I gotta get the poops out!" NOOOOOOO! "Okay, buddy, you wanna poop on the leaves?" (Seriously, I had no other alternative!!) "Yes! Yes, Mom. I poop on the leaves."
So we parked the wagon, the other 3 watched in fascination as I cradled Ben in a crouch so he could poop in the woods off to the side of the trail. The challenge was that Ben pees while he poops and I could not figure out how to "aim" that while in the crouch position. (Any Daddy readers out there with advice, feel free to comment!)
Have you ever seen those decals on a truck with Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes) peeing on whatever it is the owner of the vehicle dislikes?? Well, Calvin's stream arcs in the decals, and well, the artist got it right because Ben's stream - it arced. It arced so very high and so very powerful that it hit my hair that was hanging in my face as I bent over to cradle him.
But that is not the best part. The best part is that my pal saw all of this go down and immediately ran over not to help wipe Ben's butt, but to grab a wipey from the bag and clean the pee out of my hair while Ben finishes up.
That, Emma and Ben of the future, is why it is so important to have good friends. Friends who will clean pee out of your hair without hesitation.
And, when all was said and done, my pal was the one who kicked the dirt and leaves over the poop. Yep, she's a keeper.
Today my pal and I took the Awesome Foursome for a good LONG hike - 3 miles to be exact. I brought along the red wagon so when little legs got tired they could relax for a bit AND the Mamas could take turns pulling burning some extra calories so we could eat left over Daddy birthday cake. Win-win for all!
At the 2.5 mile marker Ben announced, "Mom, I gotta get the poops out!" NOOOOOO! "You gotta hold it buddy, we are almost back to the car and we will drive really fast to the house." "Okay, Mom. Let's go to the car. Let's go fast."
10 seconds later, "Mom, I gotta get the poops out!" NOOOOOOO! "Okay, buddy, you wanna poop on the leaves?" (Seriously, I had no other alternative!!) "Yes! Yes, Mom. I poop on the leaves."
So we parked the wagon, the other 3 watched in fascination as I cradled Ben in a crouch so he could poop in the woods off to the side of the trail. The challenge was that Ben pees while he poops and I could not figure out how to "aim" that while in the crouch position. (Any Daddy readers out there with advice, feel free to comment!)
Have you ever seen those decals on a truck with Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes) peeing on whatever it is the owner of the vehicle dislikes?? Well, Calvin's stream arcs in the decals, and well, the artist got it right because Ben's stream - it arced. It arced so very high and so very powerful that it hit my hair that was hanging in my face as I bent over to cradle him.
But that is not the best part. The best part is that my pal saw all of this go down and immediately ran over not to help wipe Ben's butt, but to grab a wipey from the bag and clean the pee out of my hair while Ben finishes up.
That, Emma and Ben of the future, is why it is so important to have good friends. Friends who will clean pee out of your hair without hesitation.
And, when all was said and done, my pal was the one who kicked the dirt and leaves over the poop. Yep, she's a keeper.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
toilet humor
Benjamin continues to AMUSE us every minute of the day. I really need to hook up web cameras all over our home so you can just log on and be as entertained as we are on a daily basis. Seriously, I cannot keep up with his funny language - I want so desperately so blog every sentence he speaks because his use of the language is so pure, so genuine, but instead I give you this:
Today while standing behind my son as he peed into the big toilet (I have to stand behind him and use my knees to corral his buttocks or his stream, or should I say his newest toy, will splatter all over my bathroom) - wait, before I write what I want to write I MUST write: Ben loves to purposely pee with enthusiasm, meaning, he will force his pee out to have a giant hearty stream... TODAY, while standing behind my son he did something NEW, he grabbed with both hands at his powerful stream and tried "swatting" it all over the bathroom. I immediately put the kibosh on that "joy" with my all to familiar, "Benjamin, NOOO!" He looked up at me all innocently-what-Mom and said, "I grab the pee pee." Thanks for the play by play, Ben!
Em's neck is better today, still slightly stiff, but keeping her out of gym (and coloring in the nurse's office - who knew?) seems to have helped the stubborn muscle to heal. That didn't stop her from getting into major trouble this afternoon (I can't even remember why) and placed in a time out in her room with the door closed for 30 minutes. Flash forward to before dinner, Benjamin did something she didn't approve of and she sent him to time out in their bedroom and closed the door on him. I watched the whole thing go down from the kitchen. When I queried her about if she had "the authority to give Benjamin a time out or is that something a Mommy or Daddy needed to do" she - with full surprising knowledge of the word 'authority' - replied disappointed, "Mommy and Daddy."
Today while standing behind my son as he peed into the big toilet (I have to stand behind him and use my knees to corral his buttocks or his stream, or should I say his newest toy, will splatter all over my bathroom) - wait, before I write what I want to write I MUST write: Ben loves to purposely pee with enthusiasm, meaning, he will force his pee out to have a giant hearty stream... TODAY, while standing behind my son he did something NEW, he grabbed with both hands at his powerful stream and tried "swatting" it all over the bathroom. I immediately put the kibosh on that "joy" with my all to familiar, "Benjamin, NOOO!" He looked up at me all innocently-what-Mom and said, "I grab the pee pee." Thanks for the play by play, Ben!
Em's neck is better today, still slightly stiff, but keeping her out of gym (and coloring in the nurse's office - who knew?) seems to have helped the stubborn muscle to heal. That didn't stop her from getting into major trouble this afternoon (I can't even remember why) and placed in a time out in her room with the door closed for 30 minutes. Flash forward to before dinner, Benjamin did something she didn't approve of and she sent him to time out in their bedroom and closed the door on him. I watched the whole thing go down from the kitchen. When I queried her about if she had "the authority to give Benjamin a time out or is that something a Mommy or Daddy needed to do" she - with full surprising knowledge of the word 'authority' - replied disappointed, "Mommy and Daddy."
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Spoke too soon, dang it.
Well, by 3:00 this afternoon poor Emma's neck was stiff as a board again. So weird! I think she probably overdid it in gym class. She LOVES that darn gym class.
I gave her Motrin before bed and am praying for another good night's sleep. If she wakes up fine in the morning I will send her to school with a note to be sidelined during gym. She will protest, but we cannot again go through the tears we have been having for the last 3 evenings.
Ben, on the other hand, is all smiles. Today - as he was getting in trouble for PURPOSELY (do you see a trend in his behavior?) spilling the bubbles all over the deck that I told him not to spill, I said to him, "Ben, did you spill the bubbles on purpose or was it an accident?" "Mom, it was an agga-ci-dal-ent," said with a sh*t eating grin on his face. Seriously, he couldn't have been cuter. The "aggacidalent" couldn't have been cuter. And his high pitched girlie voice couldn't have been cuter. Daddy was witness to the cuteness and we did not succeed in keeping straight faces. Ben saw us laugh. We broke the parental discipline code 6.4b and he caught us. This. Child. Must. Not. Rule. The. Roost.
But he does. And, his comedic timing continues to be impeccable. Coming from an entertainment background, I have decided to encourage this ability and send him out on the stand up circuit as soon as his sentences are longer than 6 words.
I gave her Motrin before bed and am praying for another good night's sleep. If she wakes up fine in the morning I will send her to school with a note to be sidelined during gym. She will protest, but we cannot again go through the tears we have been having for the last 3 evenings.
Ben, on the other hand, is all smiles. Today - as he was getting in trouble for PURPOSELY (do you see a trend in his behavior?) spilling the bubbles all over the deck that I told him not to spill, I said to him, "Ben, did you spill the bubbles on purpose or was it an accident?" "Mom, it was an agga-ci-dal-ent," said with a sh*t eating grin on his face. Seriously, he couldn't have been cuter. The "aggacidalent" couldn't have been cuter. And his high pitched girlie voice couldn't have been cuter. Daddy was witness to the cuteness and we did not succeed in keeping straight faces. Ben saw us laugh. We broke the parental discipline code 6.4b and he caught us. This. Child. Must. Not. Rule. The. Roost.
But he does. And, his comedic timing continues to be impeccable. Coming from an entertainment background, I have decided to encourage this ability and send him out on the stand up circuit as soon as his sentences are longer than 6 words.
料亭 is GOOD!
Emma woke up this morning with her neck back to normal. Phew! I am wondering if I should return the $19.99 heating pad I bought since she wouldn't let me use it on her, but I am thinking I will get plenty of use out it in the upcoming years so I might as well hang onto it...
I am happy to report that Ben has not had any more "on purpose pees" on our electronics. The leappad computer he peed on last week did not survive. It is now educating the worms at the dump. Boo.
We had a nice preBirthday dinner for Daddy at the Japanese place on Main Street in our village Saturday night. It truly is getting easier to go out for dinner with the kids in tow. We don't do it very often for $ saving purposes, but it is nice to know they aren't going to run rampant or scream their heads off anymore. (Surely it has NOTHING to do with the fact that youtube plays videos quietly on both our iphones - *cough cough*.)
I just glanced over at Emma eating lunch. She is 'babying' her neck. She says it feels fine but it obviously is still tender. Thanks, Mr. Murphy! :(
I am happy to report that Ben has not had any more "on purpose pees" on our electronics. The leappad computer he peed on last week did not survive. It is now educating the worms at the dump. Boo.
We had a nice preBirthday dinner for Daddy at the Japanese place on Main Street in our village Saturday night. It truly is getting easier to go out for dinner with the kids in tow. We don't do it very often for $ saving purposes, but it is nice to know they aren't going to run rampant or scream their heads off anymore. (Surely it has NOTHING to do with the fact that youtube plays videos quietly on both our iphones - *cough cough*.)
I just glanced over at Emma eating lunch. She is 'babying' her neck. She says it feels fine but it obviously is still tender. Thanks, Mr. Murphy! :(
Monday, March 5, 2012
I'm falling behind!
So I will catch up with pictures! (Em woke up Sunday morning with a kink in her neck. She walked around the entire day with her poor head cocked to the side. She didn't wake up much better this morning but I sent her to school anyways. At 9:10 I received a phone call from the nurse that she was in the office because she couldn't stop crying because her neck hurt. I went and picked her up. I saw her cool blue eyes calculating and storing the knowledge that if she cries and goes to the nurses office, Mommy will come pick her up... We got home and she was in great spirits. "Mom, can we watch a movie?" Yes, her neck hurts and she will have to miss ballet tonight, but this kid is going to school tomorrow and I am not picking her faker butt up early.)
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| Emma demonstrates proper chopstick use. |
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| Emma is broken. I am sure this position on the couch exacerbated the condition. |
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| Ben used the sticks like a champion - he just didn't eat anything he picked up... |
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| We love this tree! |
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| Ben totally digs doing Mosaics - Emma not so much. Go figure! |
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| What to do after the dreaded call from the school nurse to come pick up a little girl... |
Friday, March 2, 2012
Benjamin, NOOOOOOO!
Twice today my perfect little son PURPOSELY - as in, I am three and I am going to rebel because you said or did something that I did not agree with - peed NOT in the toilet. The first time he was cracked because I made him put underwear on (sometimes when he needs to poop I strip him down so when he is "finally" ready we can kerplunk him on the toilet to let loose). He kept saying he needed to "get the poops out" so he was naked for hours, but the lying little turkey is simply a nudest and when I cracked down on him with the underwear within seconds he peed in them and all over my bedroom carpet. The second time was after dinner before his bath. Again, naked from the waste down, he decided that peeing all over his "computer" was good revenge on Mommy who was multitasking making homemade pizza dough, finishing up the Friday laundry, and keeping Emma in Arts and Crafts heaven so she wouldn't whine and fuss ignoring him when he wanted to "snuggle hug."
I rinsed off the computer and let it drain upside down hoping it would come back to life. It just started randomly talking to Daddy and I from the kitchen where it is drying out, scaring the crap out of us, so I guess it survived the golden shower. Is that even an appropriate phrase for a baby blog? I need some sleep.
Rooster boy slept in until 6:10 this morning. Fingers crossed for 7:00am tomorrow!! Please?
I rinsed off the computer and let it drain upside down hoping it would come back to life. It just started randomly talking to Daddy and I from the kitchen where it is drying out, scaring the crap out of us, so I guess it survived the golden shower. Is that even an appropriate phrase for a baby blog? I need some sleep.
Rooster boy slept in until 6:10 this morning. Fingers crossed for 7:00am tomorrow!! Please?
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