We had Terminix come out today because our Termite contract is up and we don't want to use who the previous owner used. I did not tell the kids anyone was coming because they were playing pretty well in their rooms and I was hoping I could get through this without their interruption.

Caleb came out of his room shortly before she got here. He was sitting on the couch, looking sloppy (messy clothes, messed up hair, etc.). I saw her pull up and opened the door before she rang the bell and the boys all came out. A minute or two after she got here she had to go to her car to get her measuring tape. I barely get the door closed and Caleb says "She is HOT!!"

Next thing I know, he is in the bathroom putting water on his hair and combing it, trying to make himself look less sloppy for the "hot chick" that is here.

When she asked my name Caleb shoots up and says "My name is Caleb". While we were discussing the cost he kept asking things like "Is Terminix the company that has the commercial where the bug comes to your door and asks to borrow you cell phone?"

I don't think she ever really even noticed him :)

Isn't 10 too young for this?

Mady in Her Pool

We found a little pool that inflates on the bottom and all the way around and barely holds any water. We got it for Mady...thought it was a good starter pool :) She loved it!

By the way....girl swimsuits are SO much more fun than boys :)

Beaux

Part of why we wanted a smaller dog was because Paul wanted to be able to kayak with him. To do that, we need a dog that is okay with the water. So, we got a pool for Beaux, Paul made steps so he could get in and out and we have started putting him around it. So far, he likes to get in and drink it!
At least he isn't afraid of it!

Jake

We got Jake back Tuesday. :(

HMMMMM........??

I am not even sure what to name this superhero! He likes to put Mady's bows on (and suck on her pacifiers and sit in her seat and swing in her swing and eat her rice cereal...guess I should be greatful he hasn't tried to drink "her" milk!!). He came out of her room the other day with his cape on and her bow on.

What a silly boy!

Super Monkey Boy

We need some clever, unique superhero name for AJ! Any ideas?

Last week he got his hands on a cape from a DarthVader costume. He has been wearing everyday since. He actually puts his arms out like he is flying or one hand toward the sky in front of him and one hand toward the ground behind him, in true super hero fashion! This cape is too long, he trips on it constantly. So, Superhero Mom went and got material to make him a better sized cape for him.

Dumbest Criminal

Our city has "speed vans". They are vehicles that are parked anywhere in the city and radar everyone that passes and takes pictures of speeders. There was a man in Arizona (I think) that got shot while he was manning a speed van (sometimes there is someone in it, sometimes there isn't, but the windows are VERY dark so it is hard to tell).

Our speed van got vandalized last week. Someone got photographed speeding and used a metal bar to do $10,000 worth of damage to the radar and cameras.

Here is my question....if the van is filming and taking pictures, how smart is it for the person that is going to vandalize it to WALK IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA (not to mention drive). Yes, he was caught because he was ON FILM beating the equipment and his truck was on film coming and going!

Geniuses!!!

We Are Still Alive

I have had some complaints that I did not blog for a week. SORRY!! Sometimes life just gets in the way! Paul was out of town last Sunday through Wednesday. Then he was off Thursday through Monday. I didn't have much downtime when he was gone or when he got back. We have spent the long weekend taking care of some projects around the house and getting ready for kids to start school in less than two weeks!

Daddy started a big project yesterday. He is building a sandbox (again) for the boys. This one is a little more work than the first one he built (we left it in Arkansas). We went back and forth on the first one as to whether or not to put a top on it. We decided not to. This one we feel as though we have to put one on because of hurricanes, etc. So, it will have a roof that lowers as a cover when not being played in and raises for shade when it is being played in. It is very neat and he is almost done with it. The weather is kind of not helping much. All he has left to do is build the roof and put a pulley together to raise and lower it. And then I have to paint it. I will put pictures up as soon as we are done with it.

The Two Year Old...Running Away

Daddy fixed Andrew some chocolate milk this weekend. I guess it was the first time he had had it, and he liked it! He has been asking for "chocate mil" everytime he wants a drink. I don't let him have it too often because I don't want him to get to where that is ALL he drinks.

At lunch time Andrew was wanting a drink. I was running around trying to get some stuff ready for a storm that was coming and needing to nurse Mady. He was following me around asking for chocate mil over and over and over. I finally said NO CHOCATE MIL. He threw his arms against his chest, gave and angry grunt and said "BYE" in a very firm two year old, temper tantrum kinda way. Then he went out the garage door. When I was done laughing at him, I went to tell him to come in. He was standing at the gate like he was just waiting for the gate to open to continue his runaway!!

Beaux

So, we thought Beaux was pretty smart. He has been doing great, already with pottying where he is supposed to (either on his puppy pad or outside). He goes potty everytime we take him out and usually in the same spot everytime. He is learning his name and comes when we click at him. We have been pretty impressed.

That was, until I got in the shower just now. We had to move him to our bathroom because Andrew was giving him EVERYTHING! I have caught him chewing on toy car tires, yesterday he was rolling a hot wheels around with his paws and nose, trash, etc. So, this was the first shower I had taken with him in there. When I got in he stood at the shower crying. Then he ran backwards until he hit the cabinet behind him and yelped. Then he ran forward until he hit the shower and yelped. Then....he kept doing it. Forward, yelp, backward, yelp, over and over. I had to get out quickly because I was afraid he would do damage to his little brain. Can we say acting out?

He is a funny little dog!

More Pics

I had to continue to take advantage of her good mood and continue the dress up and pictures. The hat is a little big still, but she looked so cute!

3 Months Old

Madeleine was happy and hamming it up this morning, so I took advantage. She has her three month checkup tomorrow morning.

Madeleine's First Food

The doctor told us at Mady's 2 month appt that we could begin giving her cereal whenever we wanted. I was not ready to do it and still am leary, but I gave her some today for the first time. I mixed it with a little apple juice. She loved it.


She is still eating right at every 2 hours during the day and sleeping all night. It seems by now (she will be 3 months tomorrow) she should be able to go a little longer than two hours between feedings. At two hours she starts screaming....no warning that it is coming, other than the fact it has been two hours! We will see how she does before we decide if we will continue feeding it to her.

She ate it off a spoon and did a great job. She would laugh after every bite, so about half of each bite would come out when she smiled. She picked up eating off the spoon rather quick and really seemed to enjoy it.

Traditions

I remember growing up my Mom had a charm bracelet that I was in love with. I loved to sit and look at it and hear what all of the charms were from. I was trying to think of something special I could start now and give to Madeleine on a special day (sweet 16, graduation, wedding, etc). For some reason my mind went back to Mom's charm bracelet and I decided that I wanted to do a charm bracelet for her. I want to get a charm to represent all of her "special" days. I got her first one this past week, to represent her birthday.



I also got her this adorable personalized snow globe:

Beaux

We picked up our new puppy, Beaux, last night. We were hoping having him would help Bella. She has not eaten since Wednesday (the day before we put Jake down). We were a little nervous introducing them last night, but did it anyway. They sniffed each other and Beaux immediately started trying to nurse. Bella laid down to let him!

She has really been mothering him and he accepts it! He sleeps on top of her when he is out and climbs all over her when he is playing. When he whines, Bella goes to see what is wrong. She bathes him. He follows her where she goes, and the few occasions he hasn't, she has gone and herded him to where she wants him. It is really cute seeing them together.

While she still has not eaten much (she did eat a hamburger at dinner), she is accepting the distraction. Hopefully over the next few days they will both begin adjusting better.

Johnathon and Andrew

The boys were much easier to take pictures of than Mady made it! They really hammed it up for the camera! Hard to believe that Andrew is two years younger.