P-A-R-K

We love the park! I've been so thankful for the beautiful weather we've had so the kids have been able to play outside. I know the fresh air and exercise are so good for them. I sure wish I had all that energy! I did go down the slide - it is a cool park!

No Likey Time Out

Boo DOES NOT LIKEY TIME OUT!!!. She can throw an absolute temper tantrum and is very strong. She stiffens so you can't sit her down or will go limp so you can't stand her up. If you hold her, she will struggle and work up a sweat trying to get down. All the while screaming at top volume - it's an eardrum buster. I do have to say that this is getting better the more we work with her and she learns her boundaries and how far she can push the envelope. The other night Schmoo earned some corner time. Boo decided she'd have time out with him and went to sit with him. She was very curious about Schmoo's time out. Thinking this would be a good example for Boo, I made a special point of telling her that this is a good time out and to look at how Schmoo was sitting quietly in the corner. Schmoo, wanting to get involved, asked, "Mommy, do you know what a bad time out is?" I said no and his face broke into a big smile and pointed at Boo! That was so funny he immediately got his get-out-of-time-out card and got to pass GO!

New Arrival

We have a new arrival! My cousin, Becky, had a little boy on Monday (9/22). He was actually due on 9/13 (our Grandpa's birthday) but she had to be induced. He missed being born on his mommy's birthday (9/18), but came on our cousin Bethany's birthday instead! We seem to be doubling up on dates in our family - Bethany's son, was born on my birthday! My brother's wedding anniversary is 9/18 and Becky & Josh share Aunt Kathi & Uncle Bob's wedding anniversary (Becky's parents). My cousin Brandi is due in February - that's another hot spot...it really won't matter if she's early, on time or late - she's got a good chance of hitting a special date too! It's really amazing how our families overlap on the calendar - Matt & my family have a lot of the same dates as well or in very close proximity. That's fun!
Schmoo and Boo loved going to see Tommy on Tuesday evening and getting to hold him. He certainly is a cutie patootie! I can't wait to hold him again myself - just love those babies!

6 Weird Things About Me

Okay, I've read the 6 weird things about Patty and decided to take a stab at it myself. So here goes...

1. I don't like drinking after someone - especially with straws, bottles, etc., without wiping it really good. I've gotten better about this since I've gotten older and had kids. For some reason it grosses me out - thinking about someone else's saliva around my mouth. But - I still like kissing! Go figure.
2. I set the alarm about a half hour before I really have to get up so I can hit snooze several times and trick myself into thinking I'm getting more sleep!
3. Since my school days I am obsessed with writing as neatly as I can. I've been known to recopy papers and notes (sometimes several times) until they look very neat and organized. Of course, this is much better since the computer!
4. while I really wouldn't go so far as road rage...I think that anyone who drives slower than me is a moron and anyone who drives faster is a maniac.
5. Scary toilets. Trust me - there are some and I would rather wet my pants than use them. No way. No how. That's all I'll say on that subject.
6. I talk in my sleep (I've been told)and have been known to carry on full conversations and change my voice when I'm talking as someone else.

I'll tag anyone else who would like to take a stab at it.

Go State!

Okay - so Iowa won finally last weekend, but State still played great! Here's a family pic in our red & gold. i'm also attaching a peek at Schmoo & Boo.

The Schmoo & Boo Show

Daddy's nicknamed our little girl Boo. She did need her own nickname and Daddy thinks she looks like Boo from the movie Monsters Inc. I admit, she kinda does. Wouldn't you know though - it rhymes with Schmoo. She likes it a lot. Eventually, I'll probably have to rename this blog the Schmoo & Boo show. This prime time blockbuster airs each weeknight and usually starts with a fight over the giggling Elmo chair. You see, it is imperative to sit in the Elmo chair if you really want to have the best Sprout-watching experience. It's just not the same if you have to watch Sprout (PBS channel)from any other chair or floor for that matter. I guess we're going to have to start buying two of some things in the future. Overall they share pretty well, but it helps now that Boo has some of her own toys. I will say the one thing they share the best is their disdain over bedtime! Looks like we have to work on the finale as it really does need a happy ending. :)

My Little Man

As many of you know, we had a foster placement of a 2Y girl a week or so ago. She is a beautiful child and transitioned so well into our home and lives. N8 is so excited to have a sibling that lives with us. They get along so well together and are only about 10 months apart in age. She adores N8 and gets upset when she's separated from him. However, she is fine at daycare. She took right to it and loves her teacher. She turns 3 at the end of next month and will move into the same room as N8. They'll be together for about 3 months or so. we learned last week that we will be able to adopt her in about 6 months. We are all very happy about this. Since she joined our family, I can see such maturing in N8. He's very protective of her, but also good about helping her follow house rules and learn her boundaries. I was so moved when he reached out to her when I put her into the van for our first ride home and he held her hand the whole way. He really made her feel welcome and she just loves him. Of course, there is the general sibling rivalry regarding toys, etc. I'm not sure if some of this is because I can compare him to another child or not, but there certainly is no mistaking my little man is growing up. I love him so, but I also really like him. He's one of my very best friends and seeing how much heart he has makes me love him all the more.

Just a little off the top

My husband was a gem and picked up the kids from school (daycare) this evening so I could go straight home after the Chiropractor. We have a schedule where he normally drops off in the morning and I pick up in the evening. I think I have the better end of the deal since they are so excited to see whomever is picking them up. Not to say that they don't love daycare (they do!) they would just prefer to stay home with Mommy & Daddy if they had a choice. I also love being able to check their cubbies for their crafts and learn about their day. Then, there is the awesome ride home where we get to talk about their day - what did they learn, did they have any time outs, if so, what for, etc. Nate's become quite the conversationalist. At any rate, I missed out hearing first hand today from Miss Julie about Nate and his buddy E. Evidently, Nate had his friend sit down on a chair, had E wrap a blanket around himself, picked up a toy spatula and asked E if he wanted a little off the top. Miss Julie ran to get the camera, but N8 saw her coming and ran off - so no picture...ah well!

Olympics

Nate really enjoyed watching the Olympics - we all did. We'd really get into rooting for the American athletes - especially Shawn Johnson since she's a hometown girl and goes to the same high school I did. Of course...Michael Phelps too. Nate learned to recognize the American flag and now points it out everywhere we go. I discovered he also recognized something else. I don't think he'd ever noticed race or color before - people were just people - which is beautiful. But he must have noticed the differences of all the people on TV and because it was in China, he heard and saw a lot about the Chinese. Well, the other day we ordered Chinese food and when the doorbell rang, Nate ran to the door with Daddy. As the door opened and Nate caught a glimpse of the delivery man, he said, "He's from Chinese! Go USA!" The delivery man smiled and said, "Yes! Go USA!"

Good Thinking

We had been talking about adopting another child. It is different now because of Nate. We have to really take his feelings into consideration. He has really been wanting a sibling that lives with us. So I was talking with him about it the other night and was asking him some open-ended questions. I asked him what he thought would be good about having a brother or sister. He thought for quite awhile then said they could play with me. I agreed that would be good. Then he said, "Hey, I know - they could pick up my toys!" Now that's pretty good thinking!

Second Language

We were watching TV the other day and a commercial for Muzzy's Kids came on. It's the one about teaching kids foreign languages by watching videos of a cartoon character. I commented that I would like N8 to learn a second or third language. Of course, he knows how to count to ten in Spanish and he knows a few sign language gestures, but nothing fluent. Matt said he thought it would be a good idea too. N8 didn't say anything, but got up and as he was walking out of the room retorted over his shoulder, "ixnay". I thought I was going to wet my pants I was laughing so hard. He has such comedic timing! I told him in no uncertain terms that Pig Latin was not going to be an option!