What happened next?

There's not a picture of it, but APPARENTLY that mud was VERY slippery, and on the next shovel, our four-year-old went into the water head-first. I was reassured by his Uncle that our son had put his swimming lessons to good use. (Don't worry, Grandma, Uncle and Auntie were all there with them, and he was quickly rescued from the cold water). Why the large clothes? I was still up at the house getting a little extra sleep after a rough night and none of Grandma, Daddy, Uncle or Auntie knew where the kids' jackets were, so they improvised with some of Grandma's clothes.

By the way,that is the waterdog Taz himself taking a dip, no suprise there.

Remembering Grampa

In Loving Memory of Grampa

We all received very sad news two weeks ago Sunday; my dad passed away unexpectedly. This photo was the last photo taken of my dad. I was packing our van the week after Christmas and our two-year-old brought a book to him and said, "you read this book to me?" Then he climbed on his lap without waiting for an answer. Shortly thereafter the other boys climbed up too. I am so grateful my mom took this photo. That he will be missed doesn't even begin to describe it.

4-year-old sense of humor

4YO: "Mom, do you remember when we got a flat tire and you called triple-A?"

Me: (hmm let me think - full load of stuff from Target plus four kids ages five and under -all hungry for dinner) "yes, I remember."

4YO: "You thought triple-A was going to come to change your tire, but double-A came instead." (snickers heard in the background)

Can I get that in writing?

On the way home from swim last week our 5 1/2-year-old said from the backseat, "Mom, I'm not going to drive until I'm 30."

My response after laughing for several minutes, "Can I get that in writing?"

(I may actually ask him to write it out for me and date it, just so I can kid him about it when he's getting close to 16).

Mr. Sleep-Deprived

Can you see the family resemblance?

Anyone for a pony ride?

And I thought three was a crowd.

Who wants to be a shoe?

A playful conversation between our almost 4-year-old and our 2-year-old:

4YO: "Who wants to be a shoe?!"
2YO: "Not me!"
4YO: "But you can step on people and make them flat!"

Ms. Dimples' First Christmas

Here's Ms. Dimples, now 7 months old on her very first Christmas morning. With her is Dolly, made by Grandma - wearing Ms. Dimples' own "coming home outfit."

Can a girl get some sleep around here?

News Flash: Junk Food Is Yummy!

Today while making lunch I had this conversation with our two-year-old:

2YO: "Is pear good for you?"
Me: "Yes, pear is good for you."
2YO: "Is chocolate good for you?"
Me: "No, chocolate is junk food."
2YO: "Junk food is yummy."

Favorite Attraction at the San Diego Zoo

I might have expected his answer from the adults in the group, but I was very surprised when our 5 1/2-year-old recalled the foot massager as his favorite thing at the World Famous San Diego Zoo.

Have Pillow Will Sleep - Part II

 

This kid can apparently sleep anywhere!!!!

For further evidence, see here.

Tool Time Flashback

Do you remember the 90s TV show Home Improvement? I had a big flashback to the well-intentioned, yet accident-prone Tim the Toolman Taylor as our 3-year-old recently made his way around the house "fixing things". Look closely at his toolbelt and tell me that OSHA isn't already on it's way to shut down this worksite.

Strange looking camels

After a couple hours walking around the San Diego Zoo, I let the boys know we were getting close to the camels. As we approached, our five-year-old said, "well those are sure strange looking camels..."

I was looking at the camels, and didn't quite understand what he was talking about until I realized he was looking at these in the adjacent enclosure.

Where does your strength come from?

We were at a restaurant having dinner when our oldest complained he was getting tired. I rather facetiously suggested that he should forego playing his Gameboy the following day (during his brothers' naps) and instead take a nap. His response: "My Gameboy gives me strength."

"You're a BOOK!"

The boys were watching Milo and Otis. During a scene with Milo, Otis and a snake our two-year-old announced, "I'm a cat!"

Asked about his 5-year-old brother, he said,"you're a DOG!"
About his almost 4-year-old brother, "you're a NAKE (snake)!"
Then his dad said, "what am I?" He thought for a moment and proudly announced, "you're a BOOK!"
Finally, "what about mom?" Again he thought, and with a grin announced, "you're a VAN!"

Pretty descriptive, considering how often he sees his dad reading, and me driving everyone around!

"Bad Guy Finder"

We just got home from a last-minute family vacation to San Diego. One of the first things we did was tour the USS Midway (conveniently located across from our hotel). While on the flight deck we passed a telescope (clearly placed for tourist purposes to view the surroundings), and our five-year-old asked his dad, "Did the good guys used to use that to find the bad guys?"

"I'm going to the hospital"

Our two-year-old just walked by me this morning and said, "I'm going to the hospital." When I asked why, he said, "I'm going to the hospital for a baby." I asked if he was going for a boy or girl, and he said girl. He then resolutely walked to our bedroom, picked up an imaginary baby and proudly carried it back to his own room saying, "I got a baby girl!"

Oh, if only it were that easy!

"I'm not a DUDE!"

Conversation overheard between our 2-year-old and 3 1/2-year old sons:

2YO (driving chubby cars across the couch) "Hey Dude"
3YO "I'm not a DUDE!"
2YO "Move Dude"
3YO "I'm not a DUDE...I'm your friend!"