It is a good thing that the tooth fairy does not bring money for NEW teeth!!! Between Andrew and Isaac I would be BROKE - I mean the tooth fairy would be broke!!
Andrew is having a hard time getting over his cold - so I thought. He gets EVERY symptom in the book when he is teething.
I was wiping some chocolate from an ice cream sandwich in the roof of his mouth and felt...something. Then he started SCREAMING!!! He has VERY sensitive gums because he has a new tooth coming in on top!
Isaac has two new teeth coming in. He is going to look VERY different! He has been missing one of his top front teeth for 3 years now. There is a little bitty tooth poking out of his gums. HE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A HOLE ANYMORE!! :(
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Look - Alike Contests
Okay, now that they are all done - I am not sure... Most of the results do not agree with what we (and others) think! Still, it was fun to do!
Bryce's Look - Alike Contest
a few days old:
4 years old:
This one kind of surprised me - I figured it would be closer to equal!!
4 years old:
This one kind of surprised me - I figured it would be closer to equal!!
Andrew's Look - Alike Contest
Since Andrew was born it has been a big controversy as to who Andrew looks like. Some say he looks like Mom, some say he looks like Dad, and some don't think he belongs to this family. I must admit, we do get MORE of "he looks just like his Daddy!" Well, I put it to the (technology test). This was FUN!
at 3 days
at almost 8 months
SO - I guess if you said he looked like Mom or Dad - YOU WERE RIGHT!!! If you said he doesn't look like he is ours, well.....
at 3 days
at almost 8 months
SO - I guess if you said he looked like Mom or Dad - YOU WERE RIGHT!!! If you said he doesn't look like he is ours, well.....
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Taste of Twins
Today I am getting a small taste of what it is like to have twins. I know, I missed what I would assume would be the hardest stage - the newborn stage. Still, a small taste. I am keeping a little GIRL that is nine days older than Andrew. Yes I am still keeping Lilah too, so that means I have a four year old, a two year old and two seven month olds. Yes, I AM CRAZY!!! I know!
Andrew is loving it. He flirts with her just like he flirts with any other woman! They are funny to watch and listen to. They are "talking" to each other right now. Andrew does his squealey talk and then Carter does a squealey talk back. They are SO cute together.
Bryce was excited when he found out we were keeping her today. Chrisanna brought her over yesterday and when Bryce got up and got past the confusion and concern of thinking that I traded Andrew in - he told me she was really cute and he wanted a little girl sister too! :)
Andrew is loving it. He flirts with her just like he flirts with any other woman! They are funny to watch and listen to. They are "talking" to each other right now. Andrew does his squealey talk and then Carter does a squealey talk back. They are SO cute together.
Bryce was excited when he found out we were keeping her today. Chrisanna brought her over yesterday and when Bryce got up and got past the confusion and concern of thinking that I traded Andrew in - he told me she was really cute and he wanted a little girl sister too! :)
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Sick AJ - STILL
I had to take Andrew to the dr this morning. He has had a cold for about three weeks now and has not completely shook it. Yesterday he started getting really fussy and clingy - which is not like Andrew (the fussy part anyway). We did not sleep AT ALL last night. He could not breath, he was coughing and sneezing, etc. So, I got up early (later than normal, but early because the boys were not up yet) got dressed and sat on hold for 25 minutes with the drs office. Apparantly the girls that answer the phone got there late this morning!
We went in and they weighed him - he weighed 16 POUNDS 3 OUNCES. That is major for him!! Apparantly his high calorie diet is working - which means he can start going on a diet! He was just over 15 pounds a couple of weeks ago!
He has two ear infections. This really surprised me because when Andrew is not feeling well he plays with his ears. He has not been playing with his ears so I did not expect and ear infection at all much less two! The dr said that all of the fluid from the cold got in his ears and that is why he has not been able to shake the cold. He is on Amoxicillin now. Still very fussy and clingy and unhappy. Looks like a garbage-pail kid! Snot ALWAYS covering his face, covered in throw up... His poor face has broken out from all the snot, tissues and burp cloths we have been wiping his face with. Poor baby!!
We went in and they weighed him - he weighed 16 POUNDS 3 OUNCES. That is major for him!! Apparantly his high calorie diet is working - which means he can start going on a diet! He was just over 15 pounds a couple of weeks ago!
He has two ear infections. This really surprised me because when Andrew is not feeling well he plays with his ears. He has not been playing with his ears so I did not expect and ear infection at all much less two! The dr said that all of the fluid from the cold got in his ears and that is why he has not been able to shake the cold. He is on Amoxicillin now. Still very fussy and clingy and unhappy. Looks like a garbage-pail kid! Snot ALWAYS covering his face, covered in throw up... His poor face has broken out from all the snot, tissues and burp cloths we have been wiping his face with. Poor baby!!
Christmas Decorating
We put up Christmas decorations last night and today. We decided, for the first time since we were married, to get a real tree. We went last night and got it and put it up while we listened to the Razorbacks beat LSU (who was ranked #1 before we beat them in the third overtime - by two points). Oh yeah - sorry! So, we were working on the tree and the star would not stay on the top. SO, we decided to get a bow for the top instead. We went to the store to get one, and all we could find were red. My decor is blues, silvers and pearls. I decided that I would make a bow. Got home, and OH YEAH!!! I have NEVER made a bow before!! Paul got online while I was playing with the ribbon and found some instructions on how to make them. The two of us sat down together with our little homemade, bow-making contraption and made this bow. I was pretty impressed with our work for it to be the first time! It is a little bigger than I would have picked for our tree, but it works!
Caleb went on and on the whole way to buy the tree saying that it was a waste of money and he wanted the fake tree and blah blah blah!! The fake tree is BIG. Last year we only put half the tree up (it was in a corner). I don't have a corner to put half a tree in this year and with Andrew being mobile - I really wanted the tree out of the living room. So, it is in the front window - in the dining room.
Caleb went on and on the whole way to buy the tree saying that it was a waste of money and he wanted the fake tree and blah blah blah!! The fake tree is BIG. Last year we only put half the tree up (it was in a corner). I don't have a corner to put half a tree in this year and with Andrew being mobile - I really wanted the tree out of the living room. So, it is in the front window - in the dining room.
We had a very relaxing Thanksgiving. We started stuff on Wednesday evening, so we did not have to cook all day. Bryce helped Daddy clean out the turkey before he put it in the ice chest to sit in ice/salt/herb/spice water over night. After Daddy put the turkey in the ice chest and started filling it with all the liquid, a bag floated out of the turkey. He missed some of the insides!
Daddy made another beautiful, delicious turkey. He really has it down! We had way too much food - but it was all stuff we HAD to have for Thanksgiving dinner! The boys seemed to enjoy the food - especially Andrew and especially the Watergate salad!! He ate most of the bowl of that the last couple of days!
Below is a lesson in what happens if you don't watch the rolls while they are rising and they rise too much! They cooked perfect though and were delicious, but we all (including Heather, her boyfriend and his family) got a good laugh from it. Paul sent a picture of one roll with a frame around it that said "waz up" to my sisters phone. Some thought he was sending a picture of someone mooning the camera!! No - just my (bread) rolls!
Bryce removing the bag of "uckies" from the turkey.
Making sure there are no more uckies in the turkey.
Butt rolls, anyone?
Daddy made another beautiful, delicious turkey. He really has it down! We had way too much food - but it was all stuff we HAD to have for Thanksgiving dinner! The boys seemed to enjoy the food - especially Andrew and especially the Watergate salad!! He ate most of the bowl of that the last couple of days!
Below is a lesson in what happens if you don't watch the rolls while they are rising and they rise too much! They cooked perfect though and were delicious, but we all (including Heather, her boyfriend and his family) got a good laugh from it. Paul sent a picture of one roll with a frame around it that said "waz up" to my sisters phone. Some thought he was sending a picture of someone mooning the camera!! No - just my (bread) rolls!
Bryce removing the bag of "uckies" from the turkey.
Making sure there are no more uckies in the turkey.
Butt rolls, anyone?
Trip to Texas
We went to Texas last weekend and came home Tuesday morning. I got to have a night out Saturday night - went wedding shopping with Em! It was nice to have only one kid with me (the quiet one!). I really enjoyed seeing Emily - and the kids enjoyed seeing her kids Saturday afternoon.
We spent the weekend with Marmar and Papa. It has been a couple of months since we have seen them so the boys were very excited about going down there.
On the way home we decided we would FINALLY stop at Bryce's cafeteria. The boys always measure our trip by seeing Bryce's cafeteria in Texarkana - that is about half-way. We have said everytime we go through there that one day we would stop there to eat. Bryce gets so excited and everytime we see it we hear over and over "There is not a Caleb's cafeteria or an Isaac's cafeteria or an Andrew's cafeteria. Just a Bryce's cafeteria." On the way Bryce kept saying he better get to eat free because he owns the place. Then while we were there he kept saying stuff like "if someone doesn't get over here and get me a drink, I am going to fire them!!" Here is a warning - you NEVER want to work for Bryce!!
The food was not that great, Bryce did NOT eat for free!! They do however sell tshirts. Since we will NEVER stop there again - we bought Bryce a tshirt. Here are some pictures of him in his shirt - the restaraunt is behind him.
We spent the weekend with Marmar and Papa. It has been a couple of months since we have seen them so the boys were very excited about going down there.
On the way home we decided we would FINALLY stop at Bryce's cafeteria. The boys always measure our trip by seeing Bryce's cafeteria in Texarkana - that is about half-way. We have said everytime we go through there that one day we would stop there to eat. Bryce gets so excited and everytime we see it we hear over and over "There is not a Caleb's cafeteria or an Isaac's cafeteria or an Andrew's cafeteria. Just a Bryce's cafeteria." On the way Bryce kept saying he better get to eat free because he owns the place. Then while we were there he kept saying stuff like "if someone doesn't get over here and get me a drink, I am going to fire them!!" Here is a warning - you NEVER want to work for Bryce!!
The food was not that great, Bryce did NOT eat for free!! They do however sell tshirts. Since we will NEVER stop there again - we bought Bryce a tshirt. Here are some pictures of him in his shirt - the restaraunt is behind him.
Isaac's Colorful Turkey
This is the turkey Isaac made for school. They did them for the Thanksgiving feast - which we did not go to because we went to Texas and skipped two days of school!
Habitat Box - Destroyed
This is how Caleb's habitat box came home from school. Someone tore it apart while it was in the classroom. You can't tell but there are holes in the foam and snow wiped off. I find it very irritating that we spent time and money to make this box and write his report and it gets torn up during classtime. NOTHING was done to try to fix it either!! ARGHHHHH! How does this encourage the kids to do big projects like this? Where was the teacher when this happened?
Thursday, November 22, 2007
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Just wanted to post and tell everyone HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I know I have not posted in a while - I will...SOON!!
At dinner (or lunch, actually) while we were fixing plates, etc, we took turns saying what we were thankful for. The kids started before we even had a chance to say anything about it.
Daddy was thankful that he was able to be home and spend time with his family, who he has been missing a lot lately!
Mommy is thankful for all of her gorgeous, healthy, BOYS.
Caleb is thankful for (all of the animals).
Isaac is thankful for Jesus and the animals and his family.
Bryce is thankful for (everything everyone else said).
Andrew is thankful for bababababa.
We were all very thankful for the chance to enjoy each other today. We did nothing (other than cooking...), had no where to be, just took it easy! It was much needed!! I will post more about our day and some post from over the past week when I get a chance.
At dinner (or lunch, actually) while we were fixing plates, etc, we took turns saying what we were thankful for. The kids started before we even had a chance to say anything about it.
Daddy was thankful that he was able to be home and spend time with his family, who he has been missing a lot lately!
Mommy is thankful for all of her gorgeous, healthy, BOYS.
Caleb is thankful for (all of the animals).
Isaac is thankful for Jesus and the animals and his family.
Bryce is thankful for (everything everyone else said).
Andrew is thankful for bababababa.
We were all very thankful for the chance to enjoy each other today. We did nothing (other than cooking...), had no where to be, just took it easy! It was much needed!! I will post more about our day and some post from over the past week when I get a chance.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Peek-A-Boo
Andrew's new carseat is big enough that he can play peek-a-boo in it - and he does ALL the time. He loves the seat! He would cry every time we put him in the other seat, he NEVER cries with this one!
OH, he REALLY plays peek-a-boo - ALL THE TIME!
That pillow spends more time OVER his head than under it! This is how I get greeted almost every time I go to get him out of the car.
OH, he REALLY plays peek-a-boo - ALL THE TIME!
That pillow spends more time OVER his head than under it! This is how I get greeted almost every time I go to get him out of the car.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Grab the Tissues!
Heard this on KLOVE earlier tonight. Crying while cleaning the kitchen. This is a 13 year old boy - AMAZING!
Mean Moms
Thanks for sending this to me Dad, did you and Mom write it? I am VERY thankful for my mean Mom - and Dad!! I only hope I have the strength and courage to be just as mean to my children!! I love you both! To me, one of the biggest compliments my children can give me is to tell me I am mean - and this explains why!
Mean Moms
Someday when my children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will
tell them, as my Mean Mom told me: I loved you
enough . . to ask where you were going, with whom,
and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you
discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours
while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger,
disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must
learn that their parents aren't perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the
responsibility for your actions even when the
penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough . .. . to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm
glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the
meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids
ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.
When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches.
And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was
different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all
times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She
had to know who our friends were, and what we were
doing with them. She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve
to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work We
had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to
cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash
and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie
awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time
we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had
eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn
when they drove up. They had to come up to the door
so she could meet them. While everyone else could
date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.
Because of our mother we missed out on lots of
things other kids experienced. None of us have ever
been caught shop lifting, vandalizing other's
property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated,
honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean
parents just like Mom was.
Mean Moms
Someday when my children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will
tell them, as my Mean Mom told me: I loved you
enough . . to ask where you were going, with whom,
and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you
discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours
while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger,
disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must
learn that their parents aren't perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the
responsibility for your actions even when the
penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough . .. . to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm
glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the
meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids
ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.
When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches.
And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was
different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all
times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She
had to know who our friends were, and what we were
doing with them. She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve
to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work We
had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to
cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash
and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie
awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time
we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had
eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn
when they drove up. They had to come up to the door
so she could meet them. While everyone else could
date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.
Because of our mother we missed out on lots of
things other kids experienced. None of us have ever
been caught shop lifting, vandalizing other's
property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated,
honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean
parents just like Mom was.
To Sum Up My Day
I cheated and fixed peanut butter and jelly for dinner. I got the boys sat down and eating and went to the pantry trying to decide what to fix for dinner! Hmmmmm!!
Then not even five minutes later I walked into the living room and did not see Andrew in there. I started frantically looking for him and realized he was in his walker in the kitchen. Both times I was looking for dinner for the boys - I was triping on him!
I did not sleep last night. The dogs were barking at something all night. I kept going and telling them to shut up, but it did not work. When they FINALLY decided to stop barking Andrew got up coughing.
I am about to pass out!!!
Then not even five minutes later I walked into the living room and did not see Andrew in there. I started frantically looking for him and realized he was in his walker in the kitchen. Both times I was looking for dinner for the boys - I was triping on him!
I did not sleep last night. The dogs were barking at something all night. I kept going and telling them to shut up, but it did not work. When they FINALLY decided to stop barking Andrew got up coughing.
I am about to pass out!!!
Plants
I am REALLY starting to figure out the indoor plant thing!! I have had some great plant teachers though! The boys were talking last night about how old a couple of my plants were. I had not thought about it, but a couple of these came with us when we moved up here from TX. I figure they are close to five years old!
These are my "teachers" and their sad stories!
This is the oldest plant.
It has really survived a lot!! When I first got this plant it looked similar to this:
As a small baby plant, it got beat up by a small baby human named Isaac. Isaac pulled the plant out of the pot. Luckily it was not long after I repotted it from the store pot. It had not had time to root into the new soil, so I was able to save it. I was not sure that it would survive, but that was five years ago, and two moves ago! It really needs some grooming - cut off the stems that can't stand anymore - but those are the original stems - hate to cut them off!
The small plant is one of my newest plants. I figured I did so good with the first one - I would try again. They are easy to keep in the house because they don't like direct sunlight - it burns the leaves. So I can put them ANYWHERE (not in the sun) in the house and they do great. I only water when the soil is bone dry - that is important survival trick for them because I frequently forget to water!
This is another that has survived two moves, but was not pulled out of the soil by little hands!
It is another one that does not need direct sunlight and the best part...it actually TELLS me when it is thirsty. I don't water it until it starts to wilt. When it starts wilting I give it lots of water - til it comes out of the pot and fills the tray underneath it.
This one has the saddest story though:
I have had this one for probably around two years. It had gotten really stringy and ugly and needed a lot of trimming. It had been hanging outside at the old house, but when we moved I had no where outside to hang it, so I put it on the fence in the backyard. It froze MANY MANY times last winter because I forgot about it until it looked to bad to save. For some reason, even though it was dead, brown and really ugly, I never took it down from the fence. This spring when we started doing work outside, I went to throw it away and noticed it had new sprouts. So, I decided to cut all the dead off, leave it outside and see what it would do. I never remembered to water it - it only got rain water. Somehow it survived. I brought it in the house when it started getting cold out again. I made a spot for it (for now anyway) in the kitchen. It was growing good, the shape was uniform all the way around - until this week. Late Saturday night I watered all the plants with Miracle Grow. This is the first time THIS plant has had Miracle Grow. All of the tall sprouts are new since Saturday night. This plant REALLY loves Miracle Grow! I think he deserves a nice pretty pot now!
I also have a fairly new ivy (different kind from the two above). I am still trying to learn this fellow! He needs more sunlight than the other two, so I am still experimenting with where he needs to be. And I have two African Violets. I had one before we moved that I had had for a LONG time. They are finicky little plants though. It had a perfect spot at the old house, and I could not find that spot here. I decided a couple of months ago to try again. I got two new plants and put them both in my bathroom (I have a glass block window and the sun never shines directly in it). I was concerned that there would not be enough light through the glass blocks, but I have had flowers blooming constantly since I got them!
Hopefully, now that I have bragged on them all and how well they are doing, I did not jinx it. My luck - by next week they will all be DEAD!!
These are my "teachers" and their sad stories!
This is the oldest plant.
It has really survived a lot!! When I first got this plant it looked similar to this:
As a small baby plant, it got beat up by a small baby human named Isaac. Isaac pulled the plant out of the pot. Luckily it was not long after I repotted it from the store pot. It had not had time to root into the new soil, so I was able to save it. I was not sure that it would survive, but that was five years ago, and two moves ago! It really needs some grooming - cut off the stems that can't stand anymore - but those are the original stems - hate to cut them off!
The small plant is one of my newest plants. I figured I did so good with the first one - I would try again. They are easy to keep in the house because they don't like direct sunlight - it burns the leaves. So I can put them ANYWHERE (not in the sun) in the house and they do great. I only water when the soil is bone dry - that is important survival trick for them because I frequently forget to water!
This is another that has survived two moves, but was not pulled out of the soil by little hands!
It is another one that does not need direct sunlight and the best part...it actually TELLS me when it is thirsty. I don't water it until it starts to wilt. When it starts wilting I give it lots of water - til it comes out of the pot and fills the tray underneath it.
This one has the saddest story though:
I have had this one for probably around two years. It had gotten really stringy and ugly and needed a lot of trimming. It had been hanging outside at the old house, but when we moved I had no where outside to hang it, so I put it on the fence in the backyard. It froze MANY MANY times last winter because I forgot about it until it looked to bad to save. For some reason, even though it was dead, brown and really ugly, I never took it down from the fence. This spring when we started doing work outside, I went to throw it away and noticed it had new sprouts. So, I decided to cut all the dead off, leave it outside and see what it would do. I never remembered to water it - it only got rain water. Somehow it survived. I brought it in the house when it started getting cold out again. I made a spot for it (for now anyway) in the kitchen. It was growing good, the shape was uniform all the way around - until this week. Late Saturday night I watered all the plants with Miracle Grow. This is the first time THIS plant has had Miracle Grow. All of the tall sprouts are new since Saturday night. This plant REALLY loves Miracle Grow! I think he deserves a nice pretty pot now!
I also have a fairly new ivy (different kind from the two above). I am still trying to learn this fellow! He needs more sunlight than the other two, so I am still experimenting with where he needs to be. And I have two African Violets. I had one before we moved that I had had for a LONG time. They are finicky little plants though. It had a perfect spot at the old house, and I could not find that spot here. I decided a couple of months ago to try again. I got two new plants and put them both in my bathroom (I have a glass block window and the sun never shines directly in it). I was concerned that there would not be enough light through the glass blocks, but I have had flowers blooming constantly since I got them!
Hopefully, now that I have bragged on them all and how well they are doing, I did not jinx it. My luck - by next week they will all be DEAD!!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
HE FOUND THE BATHROOM!!!
This is what happens when you lay your (dare I say) too quiet child down on the floor for a bottle and get busy:
you suddenly remember about said too quiet child and go to find him....you find him in the bathroom eating I don't want to know what off the floor (this IS the boys bathroom)!!
Luckily, I do know it is a napkin that was carried from the kitchen earlier, but that does not make me feel that much better!! It looks like he is wiping his nose in the first picture and then eating the napkin proudly though!!
I told the boys they have to start keeping doors shut. They have done great remembering to close THEIR doors so he doesn't eat and throw up on their toys. Not doing to great remembering the bathroom door though!!!
you suddenly remember about said too quiet child and go to find him....you find him in the bathroom eating I don't want to know what off the floor (this IS the boys bathroom)!!
Luckily, I do know it is a napkin that was carried from the kitchen earlier, but that does not make me feel that much better!! It looks like he is wiping his nose in the first picture and then eating the napkin proudly though!!
I told the boys they have to start keeping doors shut. They have done great remembering to close THEIR doors so he doesn't eat and throw up on their toys. Not doing to great remembering the bathroom door though!!!
He Really IS Turning Into a Spider!!
Maybe we shouldn't have dressed him up as a spider for Halloween. If I knew that he would turn into what he dressed up as, I would have turned him into a millionare baby!!
I am not sure how he did this. He had been sleeping for quite a while, I had just checked on him and he was dressed correctly. Went in a few minutes later to put some clothes away and he was in the exact same position as when I had gone in before, but his arm was out of his shirt!
EMBARRASSING!!!
We just got back from the MOST EMBARRASSING drs appt EVER!! I took the boys to get their flu shots (Caleb and Isaac). The nurse made the mistake of asking who wanted to go first so the boys fought over who was going LAST! So the nurse asked who was oldest, I said Caleb was - but he was also the biggest baby (he has been crying about this shot since last night). We pulled Isaac to the seat, he hugged Andrew and got the shot (screamed, but got the shot).
When he was done I turned around to get Caleb. He was GONE!! They were doing flu shots in the lobby - right outside the elevator. I REALLY thought he had gotten on the elevator and taken off. I found him, though. He was behind the nurses table and UNDER THE WATER FOUNTAINS. Everytime I went to one side of the table - he crawled to the other side. I was just about to crawl under the table after him (picture me doing this WHILE HOLDING ANDREW!), but the nurse went to the other side of the table from me and we trapped him. We LITERALLY drug him behind the curtain. I had handed off Andrew at this point to Bryce who was sitting on the floor (trying not to let Andrew crawl off in the crowded room). The kids normally sit for a flu shot - but Caleb was fighting so hard and pulling away, I told him to just lay down. Then I laid across his chest and she laid across him. She got the needle to his arm and he tried to kick her in the face - (the nurse calmly explained that she was the one giving the shot so it would not be wise to kick her in the face BEFORE she gives it)so then I got to use the flexibility I no longer have to hold his legs WHILE also laying across his chest and dealing with two kids screaming "ANDREW JUST THREW UP ALL OVER THE PLACE" from the other side of the curtain! Somehow I was able to throw them AJ's towel while NOT letting go of Caleb.
I AM SUPERMOM!! I will let you know when I find my kryptonite!
When it is all said and done - Caleb will be the one to pay for it. He will have ONE SORE ARM tomorrow!! And thanks to MarMar, he will also get to sit down and write a letter of apology to the nurse that gave him the shot! She gave me the idea and said she was the "master of making kids miserable" NO COMMENT!! :)
When he was done I turned around to get Caleb. He was GONE!! They were doing flu shots in the lobby - right outside the elevator. I REALLY thought he had gotten on the elevator and taken off. I found him, though. He was behind the nurses table and UNDER THE WATER FOUNTAINS. Everytime I went to one side of the table - he crawled to the other side. I was just about to crawl under the table after him (picture me doing this WHILE HOLDING ANDREW!), but the nurse went to the other side of the table from me and we trapped him. We LITERALLY drug him behind the curtain. I had handed off Andrew at this point to Bryce who was sitting on the floor (trying not to let Andrew crawl off in the crowded room). The kids normally sit for a flu shot - but Caleb was fighting so hard and pulling away, I told him to just lay down. Then I laid across his chest and she laid across him. She got the needle to his arm and he tried to kick her in the face - (the nurse calmly explained that she was the one giving the shot so it would not be wise to kick her in the face BEFORE she gives it)so then I got to use the flexibility I no longer have to hold his legs WHILE also laying across his chest and dealing with two kids screaming "ANDREW JUST THREW UP ALL OVER THE PLACE" from the other side of the curtain! Somehow I was able to throw them AJ's towel while NOT letting go of Caleb.
I AM SUPERMOM!! I will let you know when I find my kryptonite!
When it is all said and done - Caleb will be the one to pay for it. He will have ONE SORE ARM tomorrow!! And thanks to MarMar, he will also get to sit down and write a letter of apology to the nurse that gave him the shot! She gave me the idea and said she was the "master of making kids miserable" NO COMMENT!! :)
Guilt
The boys often try to guilt me into things - usually it doesn't work. Last night, Isaac did - and it worked!
He has a Thanksgiving program at school tonight. He was reminding me about it for the zillionith time at dinner. I told him we were probably not going to be able to go. He asked why and I told him I just didn't want to try to wrestle with everyone by myself. Evenings/Nights are hectic anyway without going anywhere!
"If you don't take me and watch me I will be REALLY mad!"
We are going!
This is the first "school program" he has been in. It is not fair that he would have to miss it. I know I can manage - I always do! Besides, life is short! I am trying to stick with my motto, and can't do that if I cheat the kids out of their memories!
I will take the video camera - I am sure he would be mad if I didn't do that too - but that way Daddy can watch the program with Isaac when he gets home!
He has a Thanksgiving program at school tonight. He was reminding me about it for the zillionith time at dinner. I told him we were probably not going to be able to go. He asked why and I told him I just didn't want to try to wrestle with everyone by myself. Evenings/Nights are hectic anyway without going anywhere!
"If you don't take me and watch me I will be REALLY mad!"
We are going!
This is the first "school program" he has been in. It is not fair that he would have to miss it. I know I can manage - I always do! Besides, life is short! I am trying to stick with my motto, and can't do that if I cheat the kids out of their memories!
I will take the video camera - I am sure he would be mad if I didn't do that too - but that way Daddy can watch the program with Isaac when he gets home!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Birthday/Christmas List
Here is the BOYS list! I will try to post one tomorrow that is at least slightly more realistic! Make sure and thank Daddy for coming home Friday night and giving the boys a SkyMall magazine and telling them to go Christmas shopping!!
Here we go...get the pens ready and prepare to be amazed!
Caleb:
he says his budget is $50 for his birthday and $1000 for Christmas, but Santa's budget for Caleb is $1M - not sure if that is supposed to be per gift, per person or what!
books
several venus fly traps (plant)
Mr. Squawkers
Shocker pen (a pen that shocks)
R/C plane
R/C helicopter
R/C shark submarine
R/C dragonfly
bumper cars
spy truck with gear
video camera
clothes
K'nex carnival set
bike with shocks
laptop
cell phone
fly fishing pole
camping/hiking/fishing gear
Isaac:
camera
burp gun
bumper cars
cell phone
laser beam
marshmellow shooter
R/C helicopter
R/C airplane
R/C police car
Dr. Pepper
Flytrap plant
R/C shark
robosapien
camping/hiking/fishing gear : tent, backpack, lantern, flashlights, sleeping bag, fishing pole, etc....
xbox game
donut stand
monster truck
bicycle
Bryce:
burp gun
gameboy
R/C racecar
R/C shark
R/C robot (humongous one!!!)
fly trap plant
teapot
r/c firetruck
party stuff: cake, hat, presents, adult boxes(?)...
camping/hiking/fishing gear
r/c bears
popcorn maker
donut maker
hotdog stand
pickle bicycle (yes - you read right - a PICKLE BICYCLE! Again with the overactive imagination!!!!)
I am assuming by all of the carts and stands the boys have some entreprenual aspirations!! Maybe THEY can pay for the carts/stands. I will also assume that they ALL want the fly trap plants so they don't have a fly problem with all of the food stands.
I am trying here!
Here we go...get the pens ready and prepare to be amazed!
Caleb:
he says his budget is $50 for his birthday and $1000 for Christmas, but Santa's budget for Caleb is $1M - not sure if that is supposed to be per gift, per person or what!
books
several venus fly traps (plant)
Mr. Squawkers
Shocker pen (a pen that shocks)
R/C plane
R/C helicopter
R/C shark submarine
R/C dragonfly
bumper cars
spy truck with gear
video camera
clothes
K'nex carnival set
bike with shocks
laptop
cell phone
fly fishing pole
camping/hiking/fishing gear
Isaac:
camera
burp gun
bumper cars
cell phone
laser beam
marshmellow shooter
R/C helicopter
R/C airplane
R/C police car
Dr. Pepper
Flytrap plant
R/C shark
robosapien
camping/hiking/fishing gear : tent, backpack, lantern, flashlights, sleeping bag, fishing pole, etc....
xbox game
donut stand
monster truck
bicycle
Bryce:
burp gun
gameboy
R/C racecar
R/C shark
R/C robot (humongous one!!!)
fly trap plant
teapot
r/c firetruck
party stuff: cake, hat, presents, adult boxes(?)...
camping/hiking/fishing gear
r/c bears
popcorn maker
donut maker
hotdog stand
pickle bicycle (yes - you read right - a PICKLE BICYCLE! Again with the overactive imagination!!!!)
I am assuming by all of the carts and stands the boys have some entreprenual aspirations!! Maybe THEY can pay for the carts/stands. I will also assume that they ALL want the fly trap plants so they don't have a fly problem with all of the food stands.
I am trying here!
This Just In
Bryce is allergic to milk.
He just informed me of this while he was sucking down a cup of milk at dinner.
He is not!
He DOES have an over-active imagination though!!
He just informed me of this while he was sucking down a cup of milk at dinner.
He is not!
He DOES have an over-active imagination though!!
Then...and...Now
3 days old:
Today:
Seven months (yesterday) have past since Andrew was born!! I can't believe it has been seven months (or four years or almost 6 years or 9 years Saturday!!). I feel sometimes like time is just crawling (especially when Paul is out of town), but then I think back and see that time has FLOWN!
He has FINALLY hit 15 pounds! I was so excited when I weighed him and saw that! He gained about 4 ounces in less than a week! Guess it is time to scale back on the calories! He has a LOVE for ice cream and, we found out this weekend, pudding! I went through all of the puddings and found the ones with the most calories. I was trying to stay away from the chocolate, but found that butterscotch and banana cream pie actually have more calories per serving than the chocolate! DO NOT THINK ABOUT SHARING! He wants it ALL!! I am not much concerned with him gaining weight - I am fine with him being small if that is what he is to be - I want this reflux outgrown!
He moved into a big carseat a couple of weeks ago. He had gotten to where he would cry everytime we would put him in his carseat. Since we were not really taking the carrier out much anymore, we decided it was time for a convertible carseat. He is MUCH happier in the new one.
He is pulling up on EVERYTHING! Yesterday he kept pulling up on the coffee table. We would just move him over and over. I don't know why I thought he would just forget about it. First thing this morning - straight to the coffee table. About the 50th time I removed him from it, I called a friend and asked her to come over when she had a chance and help me move the table out of the living room. I now have a coffee table in my bedroom - glad it is a big room!! Andrew was upset to see it go - he has been obsessed with it since he started being mobile - he has always liked playing under it and contiuously hitting his head on it!
I am not sure how much longer he can use the playpen. He is already trying to figure out how to climb out of it. I would not be too concerned, but if you saw the picture of what he did Friday night - you would understand WHY I am concerned - he is a STRONG little monkey!
He has quit with the old man face - it was SO cute, but probably best short-lived. Daddy was quite worried about a 20 year old making that face out of habit, so he felt better when Andrew looked at us like we were stupid when we made the face at him! He does still suck him thumb and the pacifier every now and then (mostly his thumb). He has also gotten obsessed with playing with my necklaces - trying to rip them off - or buttons, etc!
The most surprising/amazing thing is that he gave up breastfeeding. I did not think he would EVER be the one to give that up! The last couple of weeks he has just been playing when I tried to nurse. He would nibble, look around, pinch, etc.. but not really nurse. He has always taken it very seriously (and never bit me) So, we stopped. Yesterday was his first full day to not nurse. He did not try to rip my shirt off or nurse through my shirt as I rocked him to sleep like he has always done in the past. I think he was just ready!
Today:
Seven months (yesterday) have past since Andrew was born!! I can't believe it has been seven months (or four years or almost 6 years or 9 years Saturday!!). I feel sometimes like time is just crawling (especially when Paul is out of town), but then I think back and see that time has FLOWN!
He has FINALLY hit 15 pounds! I was so excited when I weighed him and saw that! He gained about 4 ounces in less than a week! Guess it is time to scale back on the calories! He has a LOVE for ice cream and, we found out this weekend, pudding! I went through all of the puddings and found the ones with the most calories. I was trying to stay away from the chocolate, but found that butterscotch and banana cream pie actually have more calories per serving than the chocolate! DO NOT THINK ABOUT SHARING! He wants it ALL!! I am not much concerned with him gaining weight - I am fine with him being small if that is what he is to be - I want this reflux outgrown!
He moved into a big carseat a couple of weeks ago. He had gotten to where he would cry everytime we would put him in his carseat. Since we were not really taking the carrier out much anymore, we decided it was time for a convertible carseat. He is MUCH happier in the new one.
He is pulling up on EVERYTHING! Yesterday he kept pulling up on the coffee table. We would just move him over and over. I don't know why I thought he would just forget about it. First thing this morning - straight to the coffee table. About the 50th time I removed him from it, I called a friend and asked her to come over when she had a chance and help me move the table out of the living room. I now have a coffee table in my bedroom - glad it is a big room!! Andrew was upset to see it go - he has been obsessed with it since he started being mobile - he has always liked playing under it and contiuously hitting his head on it!
I am not sure how much longer he can use the playpen. He is already trying to figure out how to climb out of it. I would not be too concerned, but if you saw the picture of what he did Friday night - you would understand WHY I am concerned - he is a STRONG little monkey!
He has quit with the old man face - it was SO cute, but probably best short-lived. Daddy was quite worried about a 20 year old making that face out of habit, so he felt better when Andrew looked at us like we were stupid when we made the face at him! He does still suck him thumb and the pacifier every now and then (mostly his thumb). He has also gotten obsessed with playing with my necklaces - trying to rip them off - or buttons, etc!
The most surprising/amazing thing is that he gave up breastfeeding. I did not think he would EVER be the one to give that up! The last couple of weeks he has just been playing when I tried to nurse. He would nibble, look around, pinch, etc.. but not really nurse. He has always taken it very seriously (and never bit me) So, we stopped. Yesterday was his first full day to not nurse. He did not try to rip my shirt off or nurse through my shirt as I rocked him to sleep like he has always done in the past. I think he was just ready!
Caleb
Caleb will be SO excited when he gets home! I found this in the backyard this morning:
It is a HUGE mushroom that is growing under our swing. He likes to take things like this and look at them under his microscope. I will let him wear some latex gloves, cut some off and look at it and then throw it out - so no lectures on the danger of playing with wild mushrooms! He LOVES science!
We went this weekend and let him pick out his birthday present. It seems to work better letting them pick out their present. We tell them how much they can have and they can get what they want. We do the same with some of the Christmas presents, but they still get some surprises too. They seem to like doing it this way better!
He picked out some Heelys. Those are the shoes that have a wheel on the heel of the shoe. I am not personally a big fan of them, but he knows he is not allowed to wear them to school, etc. We have had the time and place speech about them already. He has not gotten to try them out - and won't until next weekend when Daddy is here! I know we are mean!
I will make sure I have a camera when he goes to try them out. I have talked to some parents of kids his age that have them and they apparantly have a hard time learning how to use them! At least we got them on sale and they weren't anymore than the shoes he buys!
I have gotten some request for Christmas/birthday list. I will try to get those from the kids and post them on here for those that need it.
It is a HUGE mushroom that is growing under our swing. He likes to take things like this and look at them under his microscope. I will let him wear some latex gloves, cut some off and look at it and then throw it out - so no lectures on the danger of playing with wild mushrooms! He LOVES science!
We went this weekend and let him pick out his birthday present. It seems to work better letting them pick out their present. We tell them how much they can have and they can get what they want. We do the same with some of the Christmas presents, but they still get some surprises too. They seem to like doing it this way better!
He picked out some Heelys. Those are the shoes that have a wheel on the heel of the shoe. I am not personally a big fan of them, but he knows he is not allowed to wear them to school, etc. We have had the time and place speech about them already. He has not gotten to try them out - and won't until next weekend when Daddy is here! I know we are mean!
I will make sure I have a camera when he goes to try them out. I have talked to some parents of kids his age that have them and they apparantly have a hard time learning how to use them! At least we got them on sale and they weren't anymore than the shoes he buys!
I have gotten some request for Christmas/birthday list. I will try to get those from the kids and post them on here for those that need it.
Problem Fixed (HOPEFULLY)
Hopefully this has fixed the problem with Bryce sneaking out. I really think the police station did the trick, but this at least puts MY mind at ease!
This is a window alarm. If he opens his window a very loud alarm goes off and you have to have a key to turn it off! To help scare him a little more, we also told him that it would shock him like the fence in the backyard if he trys to open the window.
We have an electric fence around the fence and house in the backyard to keep the dogs from digging. Since Bryce is one of those that has to learn for himself - hands on - he did not believe us that the fence shocks. That is until he touched it. It does not have a continuos flow of electricity - thank goodness for him! It shocked him, he jumped said it hurt and won't do it anymore - not even when his brothers tell him to!
Now, he seems to be basically scared of the window. Hopefully he won't feel daring anytime soon and try for himself to see if it shocks!
A Blonde Moment
Paul wanted me to blog this about myself, and since I still don't think it was a blonde moment, I will! I don't want to hear about how I tell funny stories about everyone but myself, so here we go...
We were at Gander Mountain this weekend (which is an outdoor store - not a mountain). They were having a clearance tent sale outside. We walked through the tent before we went inside the store. Caleb wanted a new tent for his birthday, so we had looked at tents - but did not find anything. I had found the small clip-on fans I had been looking for all summer for Andrew's stroller and carseat, so as we were paying for those I noticed that there was a sign for a 50-75% off tent sale. I asked Paul if he had seen any tents for sale outside (since that is what we were looking for). The sign was for the tent that all of the clearance stuff was in. I read it as tents being on clearance, not a tent of clearance!
Is it really that off-the-wall thing for an outdoor sale to have their tents clearanced - especially going into the winter???
We were at Gander Mountain this weekend (which is an outdoor store - not a mountain). They were having a clearance tent sale outside. We walked through the tent before we went inside the store. Caleb wanted a new tent for his birthday, so we had looked at tents - but did not find anything. I had found the small clip-on fans I had been looking for all summer for Andrew's stroller and carseat, so as we were paying for those I noticed that there was a sign for a 50-75% off tent sale. I asked Paul if he had seen any tents for sale outside (since that is what we were looking for). The sign was for the tent that all of the clearance stuff was in. I read it as tents being on clearance, not a tent of clearance!
Is it really that off-the-wall thing for an outdoor sale to have their tents clearanced - especially going into the winter???
No Elephants and Giggles This Morning
That's right - I should not have said anything. I did not wake up to elephants or giggles, I instead woke up to coughing coming over the monitor.
Andrew has a HORRIBLE cough. He is not too bad when he is up, but when he is laying down it is pretty bad. He threw up - like he has never thrown up before - last night. He did not get any of his Prevacid this weekend, and started having foam come out of his mouth. Really, it looked like he had eaten a bar of soap or something. I can only assume it was from the acid in his tummy. He also started getting pretty fussy, like he was in pain!! So, he got some Prevacid (better late than never?)!
At 3:15 (remember our alarm goes off at 3:30 - couldn't hang on that extra 15 minutes) this morning, I finally got up and went and got him. I had listened to him for quite a while coughing, but I was hoping he could wait until the alarm went off so Paul did not have to wake up any earlier than he already had too! I brought him to my bed and propped him up on a pillow. By the time he got the cough gone, and calmed down I could not sleep. I was scared to go to sleep with him on a pillow because he likes to sleep with his face pressed straight into his mattress - a pillow is quite a bit softer than a mattress, thus MUCH easier to suffocate in!!
I called this morning to see if we could get something for the draining mucous and the cough. I am waiting to hear back from the drs office!
I missed waking up to the elephants and giggles (how ironic - the kids are watching Winnie the Pooh and they are singing the Heffalump song as I type this!!).
Andrew has a HORRIBLE cough. He is not too bad when he is up, but when he is laying down it is pretty bad. He threw up - like he has never thrown up before - last night. He did not get any of his Prevacid this weekend, and started having foam come out of his mouth. Really, it looked like he had eaten a bar of soap or something. I can only assume it was from the acid in his tummy. He also started getting pretty fussy, like he was in pain!! So, he got some Prevacid (better late than never?)!
At 3:15 (remember our alarm goes off at 3:30 - couldn't hang on that extra 15 minutes) this morning, I finally got up and went and got him. I had listened to him for quite a while coughing, but I was hoping he could wait until the alarm went off so Paul did not have to wake up any earlier than he already had too! I brought him to my bed and propped him up on a pillow. By the time he got the cough gone, and calmed down I could not sleep. I was scared to go to sleep with him on a pillow because he likes to sleep with his face pressed straight into his mattress - a pillow is quite a bit softer than a mattress, thus MUCH easier to suffocate in!!
I called this morning to see if we could get something for the draining mucous and the cough. I am waiting to hear back from the drs office!
I missed waking up to the elephants and giggles (how ironic - the kids are watching Winnie the Pooh and they are singing the Heffalump song as I type this!!).
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Wake-Up Call
Some people wake up to a rooster and some to an alarm clock, but not me! For the past week I have woken up every morning to an elephant and a giggly little boy! Andrew has this mirror in his crib. When he wakes up in the morning, he does not scream or cry - he plays.
When you push the little tabs hanging off, they make the sound of the animal that is above it. For some reason Andrew really loves to push the purple tab which makes elephant noises. So, every morning over the baby monitor I have been waking up to elephant noises and then Andrew giggling at the elephant noises. Every now and then he throws in another animal sound, but he only seems to giggle at the elephant.
I just let him play away until he either starts getting upset or I am ready for him to start getting into everything!
To anyone who has a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, I recommend you get your own elephant and giggly baby! It sure beats the rooster or beeping alarm and definently helps get you up with a smile on your face!
When you push the little tabs hanging off, they make the sound of the animal that is above it. For some reason Andrew really loves to push the purple tab which makes elephant noises. So, every morning over the baby monitor I have been waking up to elephant noises and then Andrew giggling at the elephant noises. Every now and then he throws in another animal sound, but he only seems to giggle at the elephant.
I just let him play away until he either starts getting upset or I am ready for him to start getting into everything!
To anyone who has a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, I recommend you get your own elephant and giggly baby! It sure beats the rooster or beeping alarm and definently helps get you up with a smile on your face!
Friday, November 09, 2007
This is why we call him Monkey:
Maybe that is why he likes bananas so much! Paul was telling Isaac good night. When he went to walk away - Andrew would not let go. So - we let him hang!
Still a ONE!
I was changing Andrew's diaper just now and had to open a new box. He is going to be seven months old Sunday (can you believe that?) and he is STILL in a size one diaper. Not only is he still in a size one diaper, but the tabs of the diaper still overlap!
I am not going to complain because when I bought the diapers I was looking at the size/price. The box of size one had 152 diapers, size two had 132 diapers - but they were the same price!! 20 more diapers for the same price. Come on, there is not that much more diaper on a two than a one!!!
I am not going to complain because when I bought the diapers I was looking at the size/price. The box of size one had 152 diapers, size two had 132 diapers - but they were the same price!! 20 more diapers for the same price. Come on, there is not that much more diaper on a two than a one!!!
You know you are in Arkansas when...
The first big news story on most stations is that hunting season starts Saturday.
And...
you drive down any street and see lots of smiling men either pulling a trailer with a four-wheeler or loading up their trailer with their four-wheelers!
Saturday, the state will pause so men and women can go spend deer season in the woods!! Make sure you wear your bright orange if you enter the state and watching for flying ammo!!
And...
you drive down any street and see lots of smiling men either pulling a trailer with a four-wheeler or loading up their trailer with their four-wheelers!
Saturday, the state will pause so men and women can go spend deer season in the woods!! Make sure you wear your bright orange if you enter the state and watching for flying ammo!!
A Visit to the Police Station
We left this morning to run an errand. Bryce kept asking me where we were going, so I finally told him we were going to the police station. "NOOOOO" he kept saying. I told him we were going to go talk to the policeman about talking to strangers and sneaking out of the house. "I PROMISE I will NEVER sneak out of my window again!"
When the policeman came out and I explained what was going on, he tried talking to Bryce, but Bryce clammed up and started crying. I told him he wasn't in trouble, but he needed to learn this stuff. The policeman asked if Bryce wanted to see the police car and play with the lights and sirens. Bryce immediately lit up and said yes. He told Bryce if he would talk to him he would get to see them. So as we walked through the building he talked to Bryce about why he can't sneak out of the house and talk to strangers.
I am still not sure that Bryce gets the stranger part. The policeman asked if he was a stranger and Bryce said no. I asked Bryce if he knew him (which we DID NOT know his name) he said yes he was a policeman. Unfortunately, these days they have to be taught to be weary of people dressed like police/firemen! I gave it to him that time and did not lecture on that. The policeman said "I have an idea, lets go inside." He took him to the office and asked if Bryce knew anyone in there (they were all in plain clothes). Bryce said they were not strangers. The officer asked if Bryce knew there names, he said he forgot them (we have NEVER met any of them before). One of the ladies asked Bryce if he would leave with her if she gave him candy. HE SAID YES!!
I think the window thing is taken care of. The policeman took him to the "interview room", which is literally big enough for a small desk, two chairs and for you to walk on one side of the desk to get to the chair. The walls were padded. He opened the door, DID NOT turn on the lights and asked "Does this look like a fun room? Do you see any toys?" Bryce looks around, goes and looks under the desk and behind the pads on the wall. "No, there is nothing in here." he finally said. "This is where you get to go if you sneak out of your house again. It is dark, there are no toys, no food - but bread, no spagetti o's!!! You just get to sit." The police officer explained. "You don't even get to see anyone, like your Mommy or Daddy or brothers!" Bryce's eyes got big and he quietly backed out of the room. I wish I had a camera - his expression - PRICELESS!
I feel better about him sneaking out (or NOT sneaking out). I am still really leary and scared about the strangers though. I wish the police officer had spent more time talking about that. Maybe we need to have a Police party and see if we can get a policeman to come over and talk about Stranger Danger - because what I am trying to tell them is NOT getting through! I will have to see about getting some of the kids friends to come over for it!
The policeman got quite a kick out of the fact that I am having to worry about a four year old sneaking out of the house. He asked if there were locks on the window. I told him there were regular window locks, but I was scared to put extra locks that he could not undo because of fire. He could not believe that Bryce could undo the locks (not sure why - but I guess Bryce is not a normal four year old!!). As we were walking down the hall the officer was telling everyone that he snuck out of the house at FOUR!! I explained that I had four boys and did not think the four year old would be the one I had to worry about that with - YET! I explained to him that Bryce is just a very curious little boy and his curiousity often gets him in trouble - because it is ALWAYS hands on curiousity!
When the policeman came out and I explained what was going on, he tried talking to Bryce, but Bryce clammed up and started crying. I told him he wasn't in trouble, but he needed to learn this stuff. The policeman asked if Bryce wanted to see the police car and play with the lights and sirens. Bryce immediately lit up and said yes. He told Bryce if he would talk to him he would get to see them. So as we walked through the building he talked to Bryce about why he can't sneak out of the house and talk to strangers.
I am still not sure that Bryce gets the stranger part. The policeman asked if he was a stranger and Bryce said no. I asked Bryce if he knew him (which we DID NOT know his name) he said yes he was a policeman. Unfortunately, these days they have to be taught to be weary of people dressed like police/firemen! I gave it to him that time and did not lecture on that. The policeman said "I have an idea, lets go inside." He took him to the office and asked if Bryce knew anyone in there (they were all in plain clothes). Bryce said they were not strangers. The officer asked if Bryce knew there names, he said he forgot them (we have NEVER met any of them before). One of the ladies asked Bryce if he would leave with her if she gave him candy. HE SAID YES!!
I think the window thing is taken care of. The policeman took him to the "interview room", which is literally big enough for a small desk, two chairs and for you to walk on one side of the desk to get to the chair. The walls were padded. He opened the door, DID NOT turn on the lights and asked "Does this look like a fun room? Do you see any toys?" Bryce looks around, goes and looks under the desk and behind the pads on the wall. "No, there is nothing in here." he finally said. "This is where you get to go if you sneak out of your house again. It is dark, there are no toys, no food - but bread, no spagetti o's!!! You just get to sit." The police officer explained. "You don't even get to see anyone, like your Mommy or Daddy or brothers!" Bryce's eyes got big and he quietly backed out of the room. I wish I had a camera - his expression - PRICELESS!
I feel better about him sneaking out (or NOT sneaking out). I am still really leary and scared about the strangers though. I wish the police officer had spent more time talking about that. Maybe we need to have a Police party and see if we can get a policeman to come over and talk about Stranger Danger - because what I am trying to tell them is NOT getting through! I will have to see about getting some of the kids friends to come over for it!
The policeman got quite a kick out of the fact that I am having to worry about a four year old sneaking out of the house. He asked if there were locks on the window. I told him there were regular window locks, but I was scared to put extra locks that he could not undo because of fire. He could not believe that Bryce could undo the locks (not sure why - but I guess Bryce is not a normal four year old!!). As we were walking down the hall the officer was telling everyone that he snuck out of the house at FOUR!! I explained that I had four boys and did not think the four year old would be the one I had to worry about that with - YET! I explained to him that Bryce is just a very curious little boy and his curiousity often gets him in trouble - because it is ALWAYS hands on curiousity!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Funny (but not)!
I guess in all of Bryce's badness today, he threw this gun in the playpen. I put Andrew in it after he played in the toy in the last post for a long time. I didn't notice the gun at the time. I went to check on him because he had gotten quiet and this is what I found. I OBVIOUSLY had to take a picture of it - especially since this is how I feel today!!
Walking Circles
Andrew has been playing in this thing for over an hour. This is the first time he has really played with it, even though it has been out for months!
King Kong is BACK - AGAIN!
I have figured out how to let him kill himself though! AND I got photos this time. It does not do justice with the size, but I added a pic of King Kong next to a regular fly.
An Explanation
I guess I need to do a little explaining about the last post. I can't believe I had not put this on here!!
When we went to Texas to see Walking with Dinosaurs show, we went to Paul's great aunts house first to visit. We have always let the boys play in her BIG backyard. There are pecans to pick up and trees to climb. It is fenced and we have never had any problems.
Well, we sit in the kitchen and talk and keep an eye on them. Paul looked out the window and the boys were in the alley behind her house. They have NEVER left the yard before. Not only were they in the alley, they were talking to an old man with a dog.
Paul went running out to them. He got onto the boys and sent them in the house. He talked to the man for a couple of minutes and then came in. We talked to ALL of the boys about not talking to strangers. We thought they had got it and allowed them to go back outside.
A few minutes later, Paul went out to check on them again and two of the boys were in the mans backyard, the third was in the alley.
Bryce just kept saying "he wasn't a stranger I knew HIS name AND his DOGS name.
This has defienently been an eye opener. We talk about "stranger danger" ALL the time. We talked about different circumstances where they may be asked into a car or to go with someone they don't know. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT JUST BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMEONES NAME DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE NOT A STRANGER!
I am going to try to get a police man to talk to them, but I am not sure if anything, short of having him kidnapped, is going to work! I don't want to scar him for life, but I would rather have a controlled kidnap then a stranger take him.
So, this is why the sneaking out the window is so scarey - other than the OBVIOUS reasons!
When we went to Texas to see Walking with Dinosaurs show, we went to Paul's great aunts house first to visit. We have always let the boys play in her BIG backyard. There are pecans to pick up and trees to climb. It is fenced and we have never had any problems.
Well, we sit in the kitchen and talk and keep an eye on them. Paul looked out the window and the boys were in the alley behind her house. They have NEVER left the yard before. Not only were they in the alley, they were talking to an old man with a dog.
Paul went running out to them. He got onto the boys and sent them in the house. He talked to the man for a couple of minutes and then came in. We talked to ALL of the boys about not talking to strangers. We thought they had got it and allowed them to go back outside.
A few minutes later, Paul went out to check on them again and two of the boys were in the mans backyard, the third was in the alley.
Bryce just kept saying "he wasn't a stranger I knew HIS name AND his DOGS name.
This has defienently been an eye opener. We talk about "stranger danger" ALL the time. We talked about different circumstances where they may be asked into a car or to go with someone they don't know. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT JUST BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMEONES NAME DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE NOT A STRANGER!
I am going to try to get a police man to talk to them, but I am not sure if anything, short of having him kidnapped, is going to work! I don't want to scar him for life, but I would rather have a controlled kidnap then a stranger take him.
So, this is why the sneaking out the window is so scarey - other than the OBVIOUS reasons!
Sneaking Out - ALREADY!!
I JUST CAUGHT MY SON IN THE FRONT YARD!!!! HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN BED - TAKING A NAP!!! He messed his screen up yesterday so I took it off his window. I walked outside just now - just to get some fresh air, and caught him outside. He climbed through his window! I think his new bedroom is going to be THE BACK YARD WITH THE DOGS!!! HE IS FOUR!!! AM I REALLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIM SNEAKING OUT OF THE HOUSE ALREADY?
Cute Pictures
Andrew's playhouse with a tunnel entrance. I put this in his bedroom - and he really seems to be enjoying it! I put a bunch of his toys in the house and he trys to drag them back through the tunnel and out with him.
Useful Regurgitation
Okay - I guess the boys are rubbing off on me too much.
I was going through the blog and ran across the picture of Andrew's artwork. I have decided that I need to start bottling the stuff. There has got to be a use for it! I mean if they say to use hemmorhoid cream for under-eye puffiness, surely a little regurgitated baby formula HAS to be good for something! I have a few ideas! For example, Paul's shirt with the artwork - after I washed it, it still has a butterfly, but it seemed to have brought the color BACK into the shirt!
The butterfly is the shirts color before it faded!! Pretty impressive, but sad that I am going to go Shout the shirt to get it back to its FADED color!
As much as comes out of that child - I could bottle it with him alone and probably supply a nation with whatever product we could make out of it!
I was going through the blog and ran across the picture of Andrew's artwork. I have decided that I need to start bottling the stuff. There has got to be a use for it! I mean if they say to use hemmorhoid cream for under-eye puffiness, surely a little regurgitated baby formula HAS to be good for something! I have a few ideas! For example, Paul's shirt with the artwork - after I washed it, it still has a butterfly, but it seemed to have brought the color BACK into the shirt!
The butterfly is the shirts color before it faded!! Pretty impressive, but sad that I am going to go Shout the shirt to get it back to its FADED color!As much as comes out of that child - I could bottle it with him alone and probably supply a nation with whatever product we could make out of it!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Andrew's First Cold
Andrew has his first cold (actually - first illness of anykind)! I took him to the dr today to make sure there was no ear infection accompanying the cold because he kept rubbing the same ear. Turns out that when Andrew is not feeling great - he rubs his ears (he rubbed his ears a lot when he was teething!).
He did not sleep last night. Turns out that when you have a cold and you are really congested and having a hard time breating, sucking your thumb becomes a difficult task! Sucking his thumb is how he sleeps. Apparantly - no thumb=no sleep - for Mommy or Andrew!!!
Sadly, he keeps trying to choose the thumb over the breathing. Unfortunately for him (but thank goodness) the not-breathing thing isn't working out so well for him, so he HAS to do the breathing thing over the thumb-sucking thing. It is a continual battle with himself as to which is more important!
He has had fever off and on and just generally congested, clingy, whiney, snotty, etc. MISERABLE! Tonight we will sleep in the chair again, with the humidifier and breathing in LOTS of baby Vaporub (that stuff is GREAT!). Hopefully, we will both breath a little easier tonight and sleep A LOT BETTER TOO!
He did not sleep last night. Turns out that when you have a cold and you are really congested and having a hard time breating, sucking your thumb becomes a difficult task! Sucking his thumb is how he sleeps. Apparantly - no thumb=no sleep - for Mommy or Andrew!!!
Sadly, he keeps trying to choose the thumb over the breathing. Unfortunately for him (but thank goodness) the not-breathing thing isn't working out so well for him, so he HAS to do the breathing thing over the thumb-sucking thing. It is a continual battle with himself as to which is more important!
He has had fever off and on and just generally congested, clingy, whiney, snotty, etc. MISERABLE! Tonight we will sleep in the chair again, with the humidifier and breathing in LOTS of baby Vaporub (that stuff is GREAT!). Hopefully, we will both breath a little easier tonight and sleep A LOT BETTER TOO!
Bryce's Imagination
I don't know what is worse, how vivid Bryce's imagination is at four or how he is already using his vivid imagination (or trying too) to his advantage. He is still using his imaginary friends as excuses when he does something he knows he is not supposed to be doing. If he is caught with something he is not supposed to have someone else (either one of his brothers or one of his imaginary friends MADE him take it.
It really scares me. This is a hilarious/disgusting story/example of what I am talking about!
I came in a little while ago from standing outside talking to a friend. Bryce came in to the room I was in. He had been in bed for quite a while, but kept making excuses to come out. I knew while I was outside he was probably up with Caleb. I noticed that something was in his hair and felt it and asked what it was. BOY AM I SORRY I ASKED!!
Bryce what is in your hair?
Nothing, nevermind, good night (he is embarressed and running to bed)!
Bryce, come here.
What
What is in your hair?
Um, well someone may have stuck my head in the toilet.
Who?
Caleb.
(Frightened, but asking anyway) What was IN the toilet?
POOP, and now I have POOP CRUMBS in my hair.
GO GET IN BED!!
I go and ask Caleb (through tears of laughter) if he put Bryce's head in the toilet. "No, he always makes things up and blames me!" Which he does!
I go back in Bryce's room. Bryce who REALLY put your head in the poopy toilet?
OKAY! Really it was Robby!
_________
Please tell me that child is NOT really blaming an imaginary friend for something that gross!!
And yes I sent him to bed - without a shower.
It WAS NOT POOP!! I already got lectured from my sister about the diseases that poop can cause and how horrible I was for sending my son to bed with "poop crumbs" (nice four year old terminology there!) in his hair. It was SOAP in his hair, but Bryce thinks that I think it is poop and that I am mean for making him sleep in it. This is his gazillionth excuse TONIGHT as to why he can't go to bed. The best one, before this one, was him coming out 50 times to tell me he had a horrible, ugh, ugh, ugh cough that was keeping him up! He came out about every two minutes to tell me though, and he was not fake coughing in bed - just as he walked into where I was!
This story is one for the record books!! I hope he reads this in disgust in 30 years and then his son does the same thing to him!!!
It really scares me. This is a hilarious/disgusting story/example of what I am talking about!
I came in a little while ago from standing outside talking to a friend. Bryce came in to the room I was in. He had been in bed for quite a while, but kept making excuses to come out. I knew while I was outside he was probably up with Caleb. I noticed that something was in his hair and felt it and asked what it was. BOY AM I SORRY I ASKED!!
Bryce what is in your hair?
Nothing, nevermind, good night (he is embarressed and running to bed)!
Bryce, come here.
What
What is in your hair?
Um, well someone may have stuck my head in the toilet.
Who?
Caleb.
(Frightened, but asking anyway) What was IN the toilet?
POOP, and now I have POOP CRUMBS in my hair.
GO GET IN BED!!
I go and ask Caleb (through tears of laughter) if he put Bryce's head in the toilet. "No, he always makes things up and blames me!" Which he does!
I go back in Bryce's room. Bryce who REALLY put your head in the poopy toilet?
OKAY! Really it was Robby!
_________
Please tell me that child is NOT really blaming an imaginary friend for something that gross!!
And yes I sent him to bed - without a shower.
It WAS NOT POOP!! I already got lectured from my sister about the diseases that poop can cause and how horrible I was for sending my son to bed with "poop crumbs" (nice four year old terminology there!) in his hair. It was SOAP in his hair, but Bryce thinks that I think it is poop and that I am mean for making him sleep in it. This is his gazillionth excuse TONIGHT as to why he can't go to bed. The best one, before this one, was him coming out 50 times to tell me he had a horrible, ugh, ugh, ugh cough that was keeping him up! He came out about every two minutes to tell me though, and he was not fake coughing in bed - just as he walked into where I was!
This story is one for the record books!! I hope he reads this in disgust in 30 years and then his son does the same thing to him!!!
How You Live by Point of Grace
This has become one of my favorite songs lately. It kind of goes with my life motto: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
I try to remember this motto when the kids ask me to do something with them when I have a ton of things to do and zero time. It is often hard to stop what I THINK needs to be done and remember that I will not have them for long and I need to take advantage of the time I have with them. Go here to hear the song, and click on How You Live under the player.
Verse 1:
Wake up to the sunlight
With your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want
But want what you have
And don't spend your life lookin' back
Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
Cuz it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
Verse 2:
So go to the ballgames
And go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth
'Cause you can't get away
Just face it and you'll be okay
Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
Bridge:
Oh wherever you are and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin
Verse 3:
So give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
E'en when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
Make peace with God and make peace with yourself
'Cause in the end there's nobody else
Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
I try to remember this motto when the kids ask me to do something with them when I have a ton of things to do and zero time. It is often hard to stop what I THINK needs to be done and remember that I will not have them for long and I need to take advantage of the time I have with them. Go here to hear the song, and click on How You Live under the player.
Verse 1:
Wake up to the sunlight
With your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want
But want what you have
And don't spend your life lookin' back
Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
Cuz it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
Verse 2:
So go to the ballgames
And go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth
'Cause you can't get away
Just face it and you'll be okay
Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
Bridge:
Oh wherever you are and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin
Verse 3:
So give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
E'en when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
Make peace with God and make peace with yourself
'Cause in the end there's nobody else
Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live
He is his Daddy's son!!
I was building a little playhouse for Andrew this afternoon. Caleb came in while I was in the process of putting it together. All that I had together was the floor. He looked at it for a few seconds and says "I wonder what the perimeter of this houses floor is in square inches."
WHAT??
CALL DADDY WITH QUESTIONS LIKE THAT!!
WHAT??
CALL DADDY WITH QUESTIONS LIKE THAT!!
Babysitter
I hired a babysitter for the first time last week. We were going over the rules with the boys and they just could not understand the concept of a babysitter! Bryce kept asking over and over why the boys could not go with us to dinner. I kept nicely saying that it was a grown-up dinner and they would not have any fun. I guess Caleb got tired of Bryce asking so he finally answered Bryce with "They are getting a babysitter because they don't want to listen to little midgets like you all night."
All I could do is laugh and say "something like that, but Caleb is included in the 'little midgets'"
The boys loved the babysitter and she did a great job. We will definently be asking her back - assuming the boys have not scared her away! :)
All I could do is laugh and say "something like that, but Caleb is included in the 'little midgets'"
The boys loved the babysitter and she did a great job. We will definently be asking her back - assuming the boys have not scared her away! :)
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Caleb's Tree
We got a tree for the backyard this weekend. This is Caleb's tree (if you remember, we are planting one tree for each of the kids). It is a Centurion Crabapple Tree. We chose this one because it was so pretty with it's fall colors, but looks like it will be gorgeous this spring/summer! It is a flowering tree, with flowers that look like this and will also have long lasting cherry-red berries on it.
This tree is SO fitting for Caleb. Really, could his tree have a better name than Crabapple? So funny! I believe I will start calling him Crabapple from now on!!
Habitat Box
Caleb had to make a habitat box for school. He chose to do the arctic and wrote his report on the polar bears. Here is the box that he and Daddy did together.
BAD BOY!!!
Luckily, I had JUST changed his diaper! I walked in to find Andrew in his crib EATING his diaper. I guess he got hungry and decided he would just take off his diaper and eat it to fill his tummy!
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