"Child" proofing

Just thought I would point out some of the extreme measures we have had to take to keep RoscoeDog from destroying things while we are away at work.  I find it comical that we expend more effort child-proofing our house against Roscoe's shinanigans than we do on child-proofing for the actual children!  The list includes:

1. Close ours and M's bedroom doors to keep him off of the beds.
2. Close C's door to keep him off of the loveseat
3. Place three xmat spikes on the couch - to keep him from getting on it and making huge lick puddles.
4. Make sure all bread and food are out of jaw's reach. - this includes anything on kitchen counters or stove, and any snack foods that may have wound up in the living room the previous evening.
5. Ensure that the treat and food containers are tightly sealed.

There are certain foods he is destined to conspicuously chow down (even while we are home!).  These include, but are not limited to:

• Curtis Orchard apple donuts
• Cookies (i.e. the girl scout trefoils from last night...)
• Corn cobs?!  No idea why...
• Whole loaves of bread
• He has also been known to steal food right out of the kids hands (its like stealing candy from a baby!)

I guess when apple donuts and cookies are involved, who could resist? 

Lounging - Winter 2005

Roscoe performs his famous "4-stair sit"; tail, rump, hind legs, front legs (April 2006)

Regal RoscoeDog

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Headbandiphilia

C can be a strange little boy sometimes.  This morning, M decided she wanted to wear her baseball cap to daycare this morning.  C followed suit, and strutted around the house in his baseball cap too, as we finished getting ready to leave.  However, as we were walking out the door, I realized C was no longer sporting his hat, and had replaced it instead with a headband!  We rushed him out the door anyway, since this isn't the first time, and there was no use trying to swap it out.

Later, at dinnertime, he was throwing a huge fit.  As it turned out, he wanted a headband again!

I tried to snap this quick shot before the camera died, but M was grabbing him and he got cranky.  Also, please note, M's messy face got wiped off just moments later.  Still funny though:

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Potty Mouth

Tonight, while using the bathroom, M announced:

"I ate a lot of ham for dinner, so I had to poop"

I could not stop laughing.  It is true, she did it a lot of ham!  In one end - out the other, right?

"All living things eat, so... Everyone Poops!"

Scrapbooking 2!

The Blog Book arrived today!  Super exciting, and very pleased with the results!


























When I imported it into the Blurb.com program, I realized how few photos I had in my beginning posts.  I added as many more as I could.  I'm looking forward to the next book (January-March, or maybe even January-June, depending on how long the book becomes.)

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Senses Awry

Similar to how M said that something smelled green, today was another interesting conversation.

I had just finished taking an afternoon run, and M asked "Can I touch your knees?"

I made a crooked smile and said "sure, I guess." and when she had finished I asked "well, how do they feel?"

I expected her to say rough or something, but no - not my M:

"They feel tired!"

Oh, honey, if you only knew how tired they feel...

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Goat Farm!

We went to the "baby shower" at Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery on Sunday afternoon.  I was great! So many cute baby goats to pet and feed.  And the mama's and papa's were great too.  And lots of free range chickens running around.  The farm serves brunches in the spring before the farmers markets start up, and they are phenomenal.  if you're in the area, you must check it out!

baby goats!

M with Elaine the goat.

C enjoyed pointing and watching the animals, but was not all that interested in getting close or touching.

What fun!

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Scrapbooking

I enjoy scrapbooking and crafty stuff, but I just never seem to find the time, and it is often a hassel for me to find a space to spread out (and then have to clean up later...).  I have briefly toyed with digiscrapping, but thus far have only done three layouts, shown below.

As my Christmas present to myself, I purchased My Digital Studio from Meg Loven, Stampin' Up demonstrator and friend.  She does a monthly tutorial to acquaint folks with the software, so I'm hoping to make it to one soon, so I can continue to hone my scrapbooking skills.


Luckily, this blog has been an outlet to express myself, and thanks to a suggestion from The Charming Tyrants, I turned some of my blog into a *real life* physical book and ordered a Blog Book through Blurb.com!  It will arrive on Wednesday - I'm so excited.

Here's to creativity!

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BFF's

M came sneaking into our room last night, restless from us trying to tuck her in "early" (because of the time change).  She was pouty and drowsy and having trouble falling asleep.  In great efforts to gain our favor (and perhaps make it back into our bed for a snuggle?), she sweetly and softly said:

"Mommy, Daddy, I just want to be friends forever."

We both said "awww..."  We want to be your friends forever too, sweetness. 
We'll see if this is still the case come teenage years...

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Baptism

As I stated in the previous post, we traveled to Chicago for two reasons this weekend.  The second reason was for our newest nephew F's baptism!  F is such a sweet, charming little guy, and it was great to meet him in person.

M was fascinated this time around with the baptism.  She is finally starting to be old enough want to understand more.  She asked lots of questions about what would happen at the baptism, why we baptize, etc.

She watched intently during the entire sacrament.  Immediately afterwards she turned around, gave me a hug and kiss and said:

"I loved the baptism!"

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Pancakes!

We traveled to Chicago this weekend for two reasons.  The first reason was the pancake breakfast, hosted by my husband's Boy Scout Troop 609.  He likes to help out flipping pancakes every year as a fundraiser for the troop.

We had a blast - and filled up on lots of pancakes too!

C does the "eat-and-run" with Dad.

M enjoys a brief sit on Dad's lap before he heads back to the griddle.

M (left), cousin D (middle), and cousin A (right).  M had a such a great time playing with all ten of her cousins this weekend!  We love you all!

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Sisterly Love

Was trying to take the pictures of C's new haircut, and M wanted her picture taken too.  I was able to snap the sweetest pics of the siblings.  M was being overly affectionate, which was aggravating C - I just had to remind M not to choke C.  Hehe.

(thats a noodle in his mouth and in his left hand)

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Yeah!

C's vocab is expanding yet again.  He added "ba-bo" (bottle) and "ears" this week!

But the cutest thing is that he responds "Yeah!" when you ask him a question (i.e. "Do you want a cookie?"  "Yeah!")

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Haircut!

M didn't have her first haircut until she was two years old.  And even then, it was the slightest trim.  She has only had her hair trimmed two more times since then, just to get the split ends cleaned up.  It is finally gaining some length.

C has always had a full head of hair.  He needed his first haircut at 4 months old.  He was born with dark brown/black hair.  After his hair grew out over his eyes, I took him into the bathroom and shaved his head - he came out blonde!  My husband thought I dyed it, so that I could have *my* baby (M has always had his looks).  ;)

Anyway, C has his forth (or fifth??) haircut yesterday.  I stopped shaving his head, becuase I just don't do as good as a real hairdresser.

Before:

Before:

Before:

After!

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The Bird

As we are all now well aware, M has a bad nose picking habit.  This has led to some horrible hangnails on her index fingers (the primary culprits). She often asks for band aids, but it seems to be more related to the Dora character on the bandage than to her need for one. We are trying to enforce a "no blood, no band aid" rule, but I know how those hang nails can be irritating.

However, I truly wish I had my camera to catch a snapshot, as she flicked us off and asked:

"Can I please have a bandaid?"

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As my husband continues the downspout drainpipe project, the kids are still very interested.  Not sure if it was the mud, the shovel, or just Daddy in his element, but the kids couldn't stop watching!

If they had it their way, they would have both been out there diggin' in the mud too. 

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Chips Off the Old Block

M's baseball cap, Daddy's baseball cap, C's baseball cap

Favorite Activities

As M continues to grow, I wonder if she is beginning to develop a sense of identity - what it means to be M.  So, I asked her:

"Hey M, what are you favorite things to do?"

She didn't have to think long at all, and she replied:

"I like drawing, playing at school, reading, and playing on the computer.  Also, I like feeding Roscoe treats"

There you have it!  I was pleased to see that four of the five activities did not involve "screen time" because that is often my concern.  With all of the digital media out there, it is a challenge to ensure she is getting enough "real" time too.  TV, Leapster, Computer...We have so many better things we could be doing, and luckily, she sees that too.

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Tea Party, Anyone?

Ever since M recieved a tea set from Aunt K for her birthday, followed by another from her Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins from Omaha, she has been very into supplying others with drinks.

This is in some ways cute.  She fills one cup for each person, and makes sure each person knows which one is the one for them.

In other ways, it has become a bit of a bother.  She fills the cups in the bathroom, because that is the only faucet she can easily reach.  Then carries them to the kitchen counter or the living room, spilling a wet path all along the way.  She kindly access a towel  or washcloth from the linen closet and wipes up after herself.  If the cups wind up in reach of C, we always have a wet mess on our hands.  Luckily it's just water!

My little tea time hostess.

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Collecting Raccoons

"Mama, can you help me find some raccoons?"

"Did you mean acorns, honey?"

M likes to collect acorns and rocks, and add them to the pouch attached to her bike.

Raccoons...so cute.

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Spring Has Sprung Part 3

We went to the park!

M on her bike, C in the stroller, Roscoe on the leash!  M was so much speedier on the bike than she was last fall!

M swings.

C slides!

Yay for spring, we are so glad warmer weather is on its way!

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