If you can't stand the heat....

"Go out tha kitchen Mom...please"

Words heard from my 23 month old after serving him lunch today. Still not sure where he picked it up, why he wanted me out, or how to respond for that matter. Oh well, I'll give it more thought next year.

Happy New Year!

"Me no here"

At dinner tonight our almost 2-year-old stuck his fingers in his ears and with a smile on his face said, "me no here". My husband and I heard the same thing, "me no here". We thought it was pretty hilarious that he would think he wasn't there just because he couldn't hear anything.

As we laughed about our son's humor and talked about how it reminded us of our nephew who used to cover his eyes and say, "I'm not real" - we both realized at the same time that he was actually making a rather matter-of-fact observation that when his fingers were in his ears, he couldn't "hear".

Oh well, the joke's on us. We no hear either!

Things that warm a mother's heart (NOT!)

Seeing my 3 year old on a motorcycle...












...with THIS look on his face!

"Penguins aren't FOOD!"

We were watching the March of the Penguins last night - My mom recommended the movie as totally unobjectionable. So, I wasn't quite prepared for the number of questions (of a serious nature) I was hit with while watching the movie. I had to answer "why did he die, Mommy? (referring to a few different penguins). But the stumper happened in a scene where a seal grabs a penguin in his mouth. My son asked "why did the seal bite the penguin?" I answered that penguins are one of the things that seals eat. To which my 3 1/2 year old adamantly stated "penguins aren't FOOD!"

Boy do I have a lot of explaining to do about "food"!

"See Jesus!"

My husband is a Nativity scene addict, which he readily admits. One of the five (and counting) nativity scenes we have is a small, kind of hokey, and very loud "talking" nativity. He likes to sit down with the boys at night to let them "push the button" and hear the nativity tell the story of Jesus' birth. This has elicited "I want to see JESUS" from the boys, pointing up at the mantle (to the untrained eye it might look like they're pointing into the sky). After they've listened to the message, he goes through "what's that" pointing to each of the different people/animals/objects. Our 3 1/2 year old and almost 2 year old alternate giving him answers.

The other night, they were going through the usual routine - the boys asked to see Jesus, they then listened to the story and started naming the objects. (Okay you know this little idyllic scene has to break down somewhere right?!!) My husband says to the almost two year old, "what's that?" (pointing to a cow) and he says "SHEEP!". And without missing a beat his older brother says, "that's not a sheep ya goof, that's a COW!"

Now I have to admit that the "ya goof" comment comes straight from me (good natured as it is). But I'd never heard my son say it before (and I have to say I am impressed with his timing and somewhat appropriate use of the term). Laughing, my husband ribbed me a little about the different impartation the two of us are making to our boys. "See Jesus" vs. "Ya goof". Well, I guess he's right :)

Hide and Seek Toddler-Style

Reading about the game of hide and seek at Busy Mom's house reminded me of my nephew's (13) recent attempt to teach our boys how to play hide and seek.

Once we convince our 3 1/2 year old to stop running out of his hiding place as soon as the counting is done, the game goes something like this:

Nephew: "Okay, go hide (1...2...3...4...etc.)"
Son #1: (giggles and runs to the same hiding place almost everytime)
Son #2: (giggles and follows closely on the heels of Son #1)
Nephew: "...9...10...Ready or not, here I come!"

At this point it is totally obvious where the boys are hiding, but to keep things interesting, my nephew walks around saying in a loud voice "hmmm, I wonder where he is."

Son #1: (giggles from under the bed)
Son #2: (standing right next to the bed in plain sight)
Nephew: "Gee, I wonder where he's hiding?"
Son #1: (gleefully laughing) "I'm under HEEEERE!!!!!" (still waiting to be found)

The best part, we actually caught the whole thing on video :)

Toddler Send-offs: "He can wave for himself"

Waving at people as they leave our house is a big deal around here. For a while, the boys always wanted to "wave for Daddy" when he left for work in the morning. (Don't get me started on the disappointed faces if Daddy doesn't see them and wave back).

I got quite the chuckle one morning when my husband was leaving and I asked if my son wanted to wave to him. His response was, "he can wave for himself today."

"Can you get my ball out of the horny bushes?"

A few weeks ago while playing outside our 3 1/2 year old got his soccer ball STUCK (and I mean literally) in the rose bushes. I told him to stay back while I got the ball. I then proceeded to get caught by thorns facing two different directions, yelling out "Ouch ouch ouch ouch OUCH!" until both the ball and I were finally liberated.

Hoping for a "teachable moment," I took the opportunity to show the wounds to my son, and asked him to please not throw the ball into the thorny bushes again.

Today, my husband was playing in the front yard with the boys, and thought it was very funny that our son asked "can you please get my ball out of the horny bushes?" It appears he at least got the gist of our little talk.

Toddler Send-offs: "Have fun!"

It doesn't sound like an odd send-off. I catch myself often saying it. But it struck me as hilarious the first time I heard our oldest son earnestly tell his daddy to "Have fun!" as he left for work. Now our almost 2 year-old has caught on, and both send their daddy to work with a boisterous "have fun!"

Backseat driver #2

Well it was bound to happen eventually. Yesterday our second-born (almost two-year old) turned into backseat driver #2. I wonder if it just rubbed off backseat driver #1, or if he can claim it all as his own.

I was pulling out of our neighborhood when all of a sudden I heard, "Watch OUT Mommy!" (there was no immediate danger)... followed shortly thereafter by "watch OUT the bus Mommy"...and "watch OUT the trash truck" etc.

I wonder if I'll soon hear another version of backseat driver #1s - "please don't crash the van, Mommy". I'll keep you posted.

For someone who knows a lot about animals....

I'm starting to realize that for someone who knows a lot about animals (I grew up on a small farm/ranch), I'm not doing a great job passing that information along to my children. My first hint was the "DONK" incident I mentioned in my last post. Then yesterday we had this conversation:

son: "I wouldn't want to have animals in my house"
mom: "Why not?"
son: "I just wouldn't like to have them in my house"
mom: "What about Taz ?"
son: "Taz isn't an animal, he's just a dog."

What does a donkey say?

We've been to the zoo a lot recently. The zebras have been a focus of my oldest son's attention as they went from being "scary" to being his favorite thing to see. I recently explained to him that zebras make the same sound as a donkey.

Yesterday before we left for the zoo, he informed me that "zebras sound like donkeys, they go 'DONK'". I guess I should have explained what a donkey sounds like.

"Today is Three's Day"

Let me start this by admitting that I talk to myself out loud. I often don't realize I'm doing it until someone responds to me unexpectedly.

A few weeks ago, after a moment trying to figure out what day of the week it was, I said aloud "Today is Tuesday." Our 3 1/2 year old followed without missing a beat, "nooooo, today is THREE's day."

Blankets-they're not just for sleeping anymore...

This is our son's favorite blanket ("nigh-nigh"). There's no telling what all it will be used for in the hours before bedtime. I've seen it used as:
1. a rocking horse blindfold
2. a speed bump
3. a tunnel (crimped in a closet door and draped across the couch
4. a basketball
5. a bus wash
6. cargo
7. a street (both boys drive their Hot Wheels on the rows as though they are lanes)
8. a booster seat
9. something to drag while running around the house laughing hysterically















...and of course sleeping

Is Daddy a BIG boy?

On a recent morning I was putting sunscreen on my 3 1/2 year old (we live in California and yes,they still need sunscreen in winter) and he asked to put it on himself. Not wanting him to get it in his eyes, I dissuaded him with "you need to wait until you're a bigger boy to put it on yourself." Which he followed up with, "Is Daddy a big boy - and puts on his own sunscreen?"

Who's spa is it anyway?

It's like he was saying, "have you got my spa ready yet?!"

For anyone just tuning in - I don't consider Taz one of my children - he's our boys' dog. This post is part of the "week of Taz". Funny thing about revisiting his antics...it has reminded me how he acts so much more like a cat than a dog (with the exception of his love for water). He even lays on his back and bats at things with his paws. And though it seems he likes to be inside all the time to be around people...it is rumored that he just likes the air conditioning.

Batteries

Anyone who has children knows the astounding quantity of batteries a family can go through. There are weeks where it seems I change different batteries daily - much to our children's fascination. Even our 22 month old is familiar with batteries, and knows that they are the "key" to making some of his favorite toys work. "Flashlight needs babberies, Mommy....Hopcopper (helicopter) needs babberies..."

Last night, my husband's car died. Turned out it needed a new battery. As the kids and I went to pick up my husband - our 3 1/2 year old asked where we were going. I explained we had to go the shop to pick up Daddy because his car needed a new battery. After which he asked rather incredulously, "just ONE battery?!!"

A Dog and his Boy

"Taz wants to talk to Grandma too"

Christmas card oh Christmas card....

I was working on our Christmas letter tonight and started having flashbacks to last year's drama of taking the Christmas card photo. Not only was I trying to coordinate two boys, but the dog kept interfering. I briefly considered including him, until he started running around the yard like a maniac (followed by my feeling like a maniac for trying to coordinate two toddlers and a dog using a digital camera).

Two days, four photo sessions, and something like 200 images later, I finally got the shot. Some of the reject photos were so silly I actually put together a two page spread in our family album entitled "The Anatomy of a Christmas Card" in which I commemorated the "best of the worst" photos.

"Stay outta tha MUD Taz!!!"

I've been posting about our dog Taz in preparation for his homecoming. He obviously loves water - and it doesn't have to be CLEAN. In fact, Taz could be considered a "waterhound" - he cannot pass by the smallest amount of water without at least putting in his feet. This makes me a bit crazy as we have LIGHT carpet in our house. I don't think I realized how often I was getting after him until I heard my son at the door gruffly saying,
"Stay outta tha MUD Taz!!"

I didn't get a picture of Taz, but suffice it to say, he didn't listen.

Playing is hard work

Did I mention Taz likes water?

Dog Boy? Water Boy? Water Dog!!!!

Just after we got Taz and all his doggy "supplies," our son had to check everything out. I THINK this was before Taz visited the water bowl...but that may just be wishful thinking.

I quickly removed the inside "courtesy bowl" as soon as I realized just how much Taz LOVES water.

A boy and his dog

We adopted Taz in August of 2003, when he was the same age as our oldest son (then 16 months old). The two were fast friends from the get-go. The top photo quickly became a typical scene around the house. We still get lots of laughs when friends see Taz lay down- almost ALWAYS "froggy style".

Taz earning his keep

Taz is NOT one of my children -he's our dog- and he's pretty silly. He's been at Grandma and Grandpa's house on "vacation" since just before Brawny Baby arrived in September. He's coming home soon, so I thought I'd spend the week revisiting some of his antics (along with the boys) to gear us up for his return.

Look, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's....

My son called me to his room this afternoon with an urgent appeal to see that the light had burned-0ut. Granted it is a fan light, and I did have to use a step ladder to remove the light cover and replace two light bulbs, but come on, it's no big deal, right? Not to my 3 1/2 year old who upon completing the job proudly told me "you're a GREAT fixer Mom!" as though I'd performed some Apollo 13-type rocket science.

Maybe I need to start thinking of a superhero name. How about...Mommerwomaaan (to the tune of the Wonder Woman theme song), or SuperMom...able to change lightbulbs in a single bound...

Then again, maybe I'll just enjoy the fun of seeing myself through the eyes of a three year old.

Face of an angel?

...I didn't think so!!!

Old MacDonald had a taxi....E.I.E.I.O.

This morning our 3 1/2 year old was overheard singing his own version of Old MacDonald to brawny baby - the new verses sound like this:

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO.

And on that farm he had a taxi, EIEIO. With a beep beep here, and a beep beep there, here a beep there a beep, everywhere a beep beep.

Old Mac Donald had a farm, EIEIO.

And on that farm he had a fire truck, EIEIO. With a weeooo weeooo here and a weeoo weeooo there....

... you get the picture.

Ooooooh! whipped-cream

No picture today, it wouldn't quite capture the humor anyway. Yesterday (Thanksgiving) our 3 1/2 year old discovered the wonders of whipped-cream. We all got quite a laugh out of the gasp, followed by "ooooh!" and a boisterous belly-laugh. Who would think a squirt of whipped-cream could be so much fun.

And that was just the application of it. His reaction was so funny that he encountered no resistance from the adults when he asked for more. Hmmm...want some pumpkin pie with that whipped-cream?!

Thanksgiving Smiles

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving - and FINALLY caught 2 month old brawny baby smiling on camera!!!!

Conversations

Have you had the opportunity to listen to emerging talkers on a baby monitor? The following are a few different conversations I heard that cracked me up.

Around age two and before we put black-out shades in his room, our older son often woke up in the morning excitedly calling "The sun is here! The sun is here!" Which was our cue that he was awake and ready for us to come get him out of bed. That later became a whiney "I'm awaaaaaaake, I'm awaaaaake."

More recently I heard the following conversation between my now 3 1/2 year old and 22 month old:

Little brother: "awake, Ve-Ve?" (Ve-Ve is what he calls his big brother)
Big brother: "you're not sleeping very well..."
Little brother "Ve-Ve awake?"
Big brother: (after getting up and turning on the light) "OH NO! Daddy broke the rest of the train track! (pause) That wasn't very nice."
Big brother: "I think the sun is here. Do you want me to open the door so we can go out in the living room?" (sounding like a challenge) "I WILL!"
Little brother: Yeah!

(mother sighing in the background) I guess it's time to get up.

Crate Training Part III: The Shop

My final entry (at least for now) in the "crate" series: The Shop.

One day our son emphatically announced "I've got to take my car to the shop!" He then proceeded to drive his ride-on car into the dog crate, pulled the gate shut behind him, and asked for his tools. Is it any surprise that his tool of choice was a hammer?

Crate Training - Part II

Is three a crowd?

Crate Training? Part I

What is it that is so fun about a small enclosed space? I always find it funny that a favorite place to play is the dog crate. The next few days are dedicated to time spent in the crate.

First up is our second-born playing ball with the dog in the crate. Not playing ball with the dog - but playing with the ball in the crate, and the dog just happens to be there.

Baby Boot Camp

The top photo is of our oldest son, who shocked us when he started doing full military-style push-ups at 4 1/2 months old. We thought it was an isolated case until our second-born, in the bottom photo, did the same (albeit with a little different style and a month later).

We're waiting to see if our third-born will do the same in a couple months. We'll keep you posted!

On-the-go potty

I never figured out the attraction our younger son developed to crawling into the potty seat, however, I was thrilled that he got over it well before his older brother actually started USING the seat.

"Take a picture of me falling off the chair!"

My previous post pictured my son ACTUALLY falling off a chair. A week later he fabricated this situation and called me in from the other room pleading, "Mommy, Mommy, take a picture of me falling off the chair!"

Why we don't stand on chairs

I heard a loud thud, followed by a timid, "Mommy can you come help me."

For the record, I did ask if he was okay before I grabbed the camera!

"The Look"

You have to be a fan of Tim Allen's Home Improvement to truly appreciate this photo.

There is an episode called "The Look" that centers around a raised-eyebrow glare (i.e. "the look") that one of the wives (Dolores) often gives her husband (Harry). The guys make fun of Harry because he is cowed by Dolores when she gives him "the look"; that is until they all are on the receiving end at the hardware store. Their reaction to Dolores' look is exactly replicated here in this photo of our son.

I was unaware that my husband had coached our son to make this face, and when he flashed it at me with amazing comedic timing while eating my lunch, I almost choked.

"Mom, can you knock that hair down?"

Disturbed by the look of his brother's hair, our oldest son asked, "Mom, can you knock that hair down?!" Hmmm...maybe it's a job better left for Spiderman.

"H" is for FORCE

One of our son's first words was "horse." He learned it watching his Grandma feed the horses. But his two-year old pronunciation came out, "feed the forces." We all got a kick out of it, but no one more than his Grandma, who insisted that anyone with horses would still consider it an accurate statement.

We had an even bigger laugh when he began learning the alphabet and upon arriving at the letter H proudly proclaimed, "'H' is for FORCE!"

The trash truck is coming!

Is trash day this exciting at your house?

Kiddie Pool?

The consensus is that we either need a bigger pool or a smaller dog.

"You're not gonna FIT there!"

I was pulling into a parking space at the mall when my then 2 1/2 year old son blurted out, "you're not gonna FIT there!" (There was an empty space on either side). The exchange echoed a time I had redirected him from "driving" his big push truck between the chairs in the living room (i.e. - "you need to go around, you're not going to fit there.") As funny as it sounded with just the kids and me in the car- imagine when my husband first heard the exchange. Thought I'd never hear the end of it.

I could dedicate an entire week to my little back-seat driver's running commentary!

"I YIKE isweam!"

Our son's hearty response to his first ice cream cone.

I wonder if his little brother (in the background) is mad because he didn't get to try one too?!?

Why fingerpaint is non-toxic

"Is he gonna use a hammer?"

At first glance it's not a question to make you laugh, or send a quiver down your spine. However, consider it in the context that my son asked it:

1. Dropping off my mini-van for a regular service.
2. On the way to my dentist appointment.

"Mom, do you think those are horse poops?"

A comment I heard from my son (3) while he was eating his lunch. Curious, I went to see what he was talking about and saw him pointing to his plate. My train of thought...

1. "Of course it's not horse poop!" But I had to see what he was pointing at. It was a drawing of a cactus on his western plate.

2. "Does he actually think I would serve him lunch on a picture of horse poop?"

3. "He's three - was he hoping it WAS horse poop??" I didn't ask!