Things I've learned recently...Part Three

I've learned that Connor hardly ever fusses about naptime or bedtime if we give him a sippy cup of water (about a half inch full). He lays down, drinks the water and goes to sleep!


I've learned that Jared smells like a boy because he's wearing his pajamas and has short hair.

I've learned that Emily knows how to use "air quotes", but she doesn't know how to use them appropriately. And I've learned it's completely hilarious when she says things like, "Mommy, you're so...(air quotes)...funny!"

I've learned that Emily's pregnant dance teacher will not be telling anyone the sex of the baby, which is going to make it really hard for me to decide what color(s) to use when knitting a blanket and hat!

I've learned that I'm far too addicted to my computer and this blog...That said, we're almost going to be late for the bus now!!

Things That Make You Go, "Hmmmm?"

Here's a nice picture of my cousin Mirinda and Emily, and look who snuck into the picture? LOL!


Bug Spray sold in the same aisle as cat food and dog food. I guess that's to keep us from being mosquito food? (Equally as disturbing is the fact that the BBQ supplies, such as lighter fluid, etc, are sold in the same aisle as well!)


This is from one of the workbooks for the kids we have at our house. "Color what is blue." If you're five years old and see something on the page rivaling the size of a slice of pineapple, are you really going to know it's a blueberry? My child assumed it was a peach...


Hail and flowers!


Show off your Smile Turn right here (notice the left pointing arrow!)


This struck me as funny


These things are kind of creepy! These items are at their full-grown size:




and then you take them back out of the water and let them sit out for about two weeks and they shrink again!


"Does my nose look big from the side?"


Shopping list gone bad! (notice the last item...I made the list out in a huge hurry and it was supposed to say GUM! WOW, did I laugh at my outself OUT LOUD at the store when I got to the bottom of the list...)

Speechless

We had our usual Sunday-night dinner with my IL's last night, and after dinner, we were sitting around talking and my MIL mentioned that my FIL was thinking about paying for tickets for her, Emily, and myself to go see the Nutcracker this year. The FANCY Nutcracker in our area. The FANCY Nutcracker I've been wanting to take Emily to for the last few years, but then CHOKE over how much it costs and say, "Maybe next year!". My MIL mentioned it to Emily, who completely lit up, because she's seen the Nutcracker twice now (but not the FANCY Nutcracker) and has loved it. Emily ran to grandpa and asked him about it, and he took her right over to the computer and purchased three tickets for us to go. To go see the FANCY Nutcracker. I'm speechless. And I have tears in my eyes, because I know how special this day will be for Emily, and without my FIL's generosity, it's not something she would have gotten to experience for a very long time. Emily doesn't even have a clue how much she's being spoiled, but I do, and I'm very grateful and appreciative that she'll get to experience this while she's young enough for it to be that much more magical.

Life's Little tidbits Part 4

THE DATE

Emily and Grandpa Dan went out on a date yesterday. Grandpa picked her up and took her to the Borders Books store that recently opened in our area and they read some books together. Emily got to pick something out and she chose a new Barbie coloring book that came with a pen that looks like a tube of lipstick (the "lipstick" is the cap). Does it surprise anyone that this is the item she chose? No? Yeah, I didn't think so... Grandpa also took her out to lunch to McDonald's where she saw her good friend Rachel!

Emily wanted to be dressed up for the date, so she chose a new pair of tights, her jean skirt, a purple shirt, and a pink hat.


THE FAMOUS KID

Myself, and THOUSANDS of other people are obsessed with the blog Confessions of a Pioneer Woman , and my friend Kaci submitted a picture of herself with her daughter Elly for the "Pioneer Woman Readers" section of the blog. The pictures rotate through with every page change (I believe), and yesterday, I opened up the blog and there was Elly (and her headless mama...not sure why the picture got cropped that way, but at least El's famous!)




THE GAMES

I hosted a Simply Fun party yesterday at my house, and we had such a good time! Hardly anyone was able to come, but those of us that showed up got to play several different games and eat some good snackies! We were all laughing and having a really good time. These are two of the games we played:




I would highly recommend either one! If anyone is interested in purchasing either of these games, or viewing the entire selection of Simply Fun games, please leave a comment with your email address (if you don't know me), or email me (if you do know me!) and I will get you the consultant's webpage for viewing. They have a selection for all age ranges and interests, so there's truly something for everyone.

Fridge of Fame

I have a rather large assortment of pictures on my fridge, which several years ago got coined, the "Fridge of Fame." Any pictures we get from people (which tend to be wallet-sized), go up on the Fridge of Fame. There are numerous larger sized pictures of my kids ranging from babyhood to present time.

I thought I'd share with you (besides my children) who's famous on my fridge right now!



1. Emily with her friends Catherine, Emma, and Lilly at Trunk or Treat last year
2. Martha's kids, Emma and Elzie (OLD pic, but I love it!)
3. Martha and Josh
4. David (our friends Kevin and Beth's son)
5. Em's friends, Emma and Lilly
6. My cousin's son, Tanner
7. Emily's friend, Rachel (the daughter of my good friend, Carole)
8. My friend Toni's daughters, Maggie, Amber, and Noelle
9. Emily's friend, Julia
10. My cousin Amy's daughter, Sydney
11. My friend Kaci and her husband Jon on their wedding day
12. My friend Molly's kids, Zoe and Sophia
13. My friend Betsy's daughter, Natalie (I knit the hat she's wearing!)
14. My parents, Marlee and Jeff
15. My BIL's girlfriend's son, Riley
16. Dan's cousins, Katie and Jill
17. Monica (I used to nanny her. My kids called her Auntie (on-tee)) and her friends
18. Emma and Lilly again



1. Emily and her friend Rachel
2. My friend Betsy's daughter, McKayla
3. Emily with Uncle Marc
4. Dan with his dad and brother on a fishing outing.

A Short Life

I think Connor's goal in life is that he live a short life. And if he's not the death of HIMSELF, he's going to be the death of ME! I swear, I keep a close eye on this kid, but he KNOWS when my attention is turned towards one of his siblings, or that minute or two that I'm in the bathroom, or I've gone to answer the phone, ETC...

He now knows how to climb onto the spring horse we have. The part you sit on is pretty much level with his head if he's standing on the ground. The way he gets up is rather terrifying (once we actually SAW him doing it; previously we've just walked into the room and he's already up there!). I was torn between yanking him back off and directing him towards the BABY spring horse we have which involves no further effort than lifting his leg up and over the "saddle", and letting him continue with his climb (knowing he's accomplished getting up there several times before uninjured). I let him continue with his climb. He doesn't WANT to ride the baby one.



He's also taken to climbing on the piano bench. It doesn't matter if it was nicely pushed in under the piano. Some helpful sibling inevitably pulls it out (for themselves, then forget to push it back under) and Connor takes only a very split second to climb right on up. I wasn't very concerned before, because he'd just climb up and SIT on the bench, and play a little tune for me. But NOW, he STANDS on the bench.



And when he STANDS on the piano bench, he can reach up and get professional pictures propped up against the porcelain doll display cases sitting on top of the piano. I took this picture later on in the day, because I didn't realize what he had and I thought it was just assembly instructions for one of the many toys we have around the house, and he was so sweet sitting there, babbling away like he was reading. Until I went to take it away and realized it was my one and only copy of a professional picture of Emily and Jared, and there is no hope of ever getting another one because it's been far more than the "one year" they tell you the picture is available for. I now have a very crumpled up copy of a professional picture of Emily and Jared.


I also discovered he knows how to climb up onto the dining table. I was 10ft away, helping Jared put all this matchbox cars away, and between the clanking of the cars into the bin, and Jared talking, I failed to hear the warning sounds of a baby climbing onto the table. Until I heard his voice yelling "HI, HI, HI" and it sounded UP HIGH.


He HAD been standing there. I yelled at him to sit down and grabbed up the camera on my way to get him (camera was 5ft away, so really truly on my way!).

I'm afraid of what he'll come up with next!

(oh, he got ahold of his daddy's VERY LARGE, VERY FULL "jug" of water and poured it out all over the floor last night...)

WHAT DID YOU SAY???

I CAN'T HEAR YOU! MY HUSBAND GOT SOME NEW DRUMS LAST NIGHT AND MY EARS ARE STILL RINGING!!!!!!

Dan fell into a pretty "sweet" deal on some drums last night, and fell into some unexpected money to pay for them, so he's now the proud owner of a set of Tama Swingstar drums. The kids think they're pretty awesome! I tried to take a picture of Dan playing them, but I was told very sternly I'd "better NOT!"

So, here's a picture of just the drums...


My ears are ALSO ringing from Connor's screams at the new Costco we went to today while Jared was at preschool. I got two steps into the building and he started trying to fling himself around in the cart, then tried to stand up, then pulled out the tears and screams. Which left me carrying him for awhile, but that only works for so long because I need one arm/hand to push the cart and the other arm/hand to hold Connor and he's HEAVY!!

Then, to top off all the baby screaming fun, I had one lady in particular who would suddenly APPEAR in the aisles I was in, just long enough to let me know I should have brought a toy for him to play with (I did, but he threw it down on the ground and tried to hit me when I attempted to give it back), or how I should have brought him a snack (I did, but it was in the car for later, because he'd just finished breakfast an hour ago!), or how I should probably stick to regular nap times because the "poor dear" was just tired. WOW, she knows my baby's schedule, eh? I sure wish I did. I mean, I'm just the incompetent mom who knows NOTHING! And THEN, some old lady reached out and was trying to pet his face, speaking to him in a "baby" voice saying, "I know, it's no fun that your mean mommy is making you come shopping with her, is it?"

WHAT DID YOU SAY??? That's what I wanted to say. What I really said was, "Thank you so much for your opinion, now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to finish my shopping before anymore strangers try to pet my baby like a dog."

Maybe I'll go out and play some drums for awhile...