Welcome Friends!

OMG - we love these guys.  Meet Syphilis and Listeria . . . and yes, the kiddos know them by name. 

Dr. A really gets this household.  She sent these giant microbes to the kids as a present from Boston recently.  Of course Disco and I, big old science nerds, loved these great big bugs just as much as the kiddos.  Ok, lets face it, we probably loved them MORE than the kiddos.  Disco even set up "studio time" to take pics of these awesome bacteria as you might see them under the microscope.  We dig science around here!   

For those of you who are wondering, Syphilis is the spirochete (it is the pink spiral one) and Listeria is the bacillus (rod-shaped blue guy with purple flagella or hair-like tails if you will).

Juxtaposition

I think I have mentioned before that blogging is about my only hobby these days.  I really enjoy documenting all the little moments from the kiddos that make me laugh (and sometimes cry).  And it is a great outlet that allows me to unwind and spill my thoughts after a busy day.

I also really enjoy following other people's blogs.  Most of them are other mommy bloggers with kiddos about the age of our own.  Two of the most fascinating to me right now are dooce and the boxcarkids' blog - two blogs about families that are very different from our own . . .

Many of you know and follow dooce - a very liberal work from home blogger who pretty much supports her family with her on-line adventures.  Dooce's writing is very spunky, although, lately their family has encountered quite a bit of sadness.  But usually Disco and I laugh our behinds off after viewing some of her stories and the links she posts!  The interactions with her kiddos are what get me, though.  She lives a life so different from my own yet her mommy experiences are very similar. 

The boxcar kids was a blog I stumbled upon through a CNN article.  She is a single mother who lost her job about a year ago and she blogs about her experiences and raising children.  The family currently lives in a trailer at different campsites.  She comments on their life, politics and unemployment, the adjustments they have had to make in lifestyle since moving into a trailer, and her maneuvers through "the system" as she tries to support herself and her children.  Definitely an eye opening blog for me!  But through it all, her worries about raising her children and how they are affected by their daily life, again, are what move me most.

Two very different voices, two very different blogs, but their stories are what I look forward to every week.  And their experiences remind me that as mommies we really aren't all that different from one another . . .

Food Adventures

This fall I will work, take two classes, and teach my first set of classes (this will be my first independent teaching experience).  Top that off with big sis starting her new pre-K and you get a slightly anxious mommy. . .

Luckily, this summer I have had a much more flexible schedule. Which has been WONDERFUL since I know the fall is fast approaching.  I have been the one, for the most part, dropping the kiddos off to school and picking them up earlier than usual.  We have kept pretty busy all summer with fun activities! 

Last week I had a technology symposium to attend on campus and I was disappointed that I couldn't take big sis to gymnastics as usual.  But the cool part of it was that Disco got to leave work early and spend some extra time with little man while watching big sis perform for the first time.  And then I got home before everyone else - that never happens! 

This is what mommy does with food when given a few extra moments of quiet creativity:

It was fun getting to do something simple but different for dinner.  And they ate every bite!

Pirate Potty

Little man got a new book this week - "Pirate Potty."  We didn't have books about the potty for big sis.  She began serious potty training right after little man was born.  At that time there was so much going on that we didn't even think about purchasing books to aid the process.  But I am now a book believer after little man's reaction - he immediately took his pirate hat and sat on the potty and pee-peed! I don't expect this to be his reaction each time.  But it was a nice start!

No, No, Nose!

Today we were heading to our favorite burger joint to meet friends for dinner when little man yells from the back seat "stuck, stuck!"  I turn around in my seat and see that a wad of paper he had been chewing on was smaller than I expected. And he was pointing to his nose!  I now know that I should have taken away said wad of paper earlier in the drive.  I can only blame what I call "mommy distraction" - juggling too many things at once.

So little man is getting more and more frantic and we attempt to have him "blow" the paper out of his nose.  I could only see a very small bit and assumed it was just a little piece.  Big sis was really getting into the drama and was trying to help show little man how to blow the paper out of his nose.  At some point little man yells "stop the car, stop the car, hurt, hurt, stop the car."

Little man was becoming more concerned by the second.  Disco was driving and asking me to search for tweezers among my beauty products.  Seriously?  It was like he had just met me . . . why would I, the woman who doesn't even wear makeup and has her eyebrows waxed twice a year carry tweezers in her purse??

Luckily I am married to MacGyver.  Disco stops the car, pulls out a pair of needle nosed pliers (properly cooled by the air conditioning), and pulls THIS out of little man's nose:

How little man got THAT MUCH paper stuck SO FAR UP his nose is beyond us!!!!  We had many discussions about "no, no, nose" and how that paper hurt little man.  I am sure he will soon forget his little adventure with the chewed up wad of paper.  But I am putting a reminder on my phone to talk to him about "no, no, nose" every week until he is 18 . . .

College Bound

OMG - school supplies are here again!  I love the arrival of school supplies and sales!  It is the clearest sign that fall is on the horizon.  Fall is definitely something I look forward to since we are stuck with all this summer HEAT right now.

Last year was the first year that we needed to buy school supplies.  Unfortunately we got our list from daycare late and everything was extremely picked over. 

This year big sis is going to pre-k or her "new school" as she calls it.  Luckily all her school supplies are provided at her new school for pre-k students.  But that means I don't have an excuse to hit the school supply isles.  That didn't stop me this time.  Nope - I am collecting paper, markers, crayons, etc. for her future school adventures next year.  At least that is what I am telling myself . . . 

Here she is sporting her new Harvard t-shirt from Dr. A.  Big sis LOVES this new shirt - she has asked to wear it EVERY day since it has arrived.  Too cute!

The Empire Strikes Breakfast

We usually take extra time for big breakfast adventures on the weekend.  And this is the latest addition to our whole grain pancake making process.   May the force be with your morning rituals this weekend!

Introducing . . . The Pullup

Little man is showing signs of readiness for potty training.  The biggest sign is that he tells us when he needs a diaper change.  RIGHT AFTER he potties.  And he is adamant about it - the diaper needs changing NOW.  Unfortunately when we ask "do you want to sit on the potty?" he says "NO!"  No matter when you ask him. 

The key to big sis' potty training was reinforcement from her daycare teachers and the herd mentality from her daycare pals.  Until little man moves up to the next class at daycare in August we can't make a whole lot of progress at home. This is our first step - on the weekends little man is going to be sporting some Buzz and Woody pullups to practice.  And he is serious about it . . .

Poo Poo Head

Little man can say big sis' name now.  Which is really cute because of course it isn't quite exact.  She has a difficult name for a two year old to pronounce clearly.  I will miss hearing "guh guh" around the house.  But I figured it wasn't a nickname she would keep forever anyway. 

Lately, little man and big sis actually call each other "poo poo head" - which drives Disco and I CRAZY!!!  We started by explaining that it was not a nice word to say.  And the kids would get "in trouble" for saying it.  But you can guess how that went, it just encouraged both of them to say it MORE.  So now we have moved to "extinction".  We completely ignore the word as long as they just use it for each other or while they are playing.  I am hopeful that they will lose interest in "poo poo head" eventually. 

Oh who am I kidding!  This is just the beginning . . .

Back to the Fourth . . .

Computer issues fixed!!!  Yay!!!  And it only cost us $10!!!  Yay!!!  So now, it is time to post some fabulous Fourth of July pictures . . .

We have this 40 some odd year tradition of meeting with a family my grandparents met when they lived in small trailer park in town.  I wrote about my love of this tradition last year.  Each family has increased in size over the years and there are grandchildren (and one great grandchild) of all ages as well as friends who join us now.  It is a laid back event and we all love it.  This year big sis' best bud and his family were able to attend and they had a blast running through smoke bombs, lighting sparklers, and pulling poppers!

Cools pics from Disco to follow - enjoy!

I got an app for that . . .

So . . . still no home computer!  I am taking a few minutes of my lunch break to blog b/c I miss it.  Journaling the kiddos progress and posting pictures is probably my only hobby at this point.  This week just hasn't been the same without it . . .

Anyway, I thought I would give a quick update on myself until I can catch up with cute kiddo pics.  Over the last 2 years I have carried 30 extra pounds of baby weight.  This past week was the first time I found something that helped me to start losing that extra weight.  A friend/co-worker suggested I get a calorie counter on my phone.  It is awesome!  I can look up what I am eating anywhere I go, I can plan ahead or at the last minute, and I finally have taken the step to really evaluate how many extra calories I eat.  What a difference this has made!

I've been all talk for a while about this weight/exercise issue.  And it amazes me what a simple free feature I downloaded for my phone has made.  It tracks my weight, exercise, and calorie intake.  It has motivated me not only to make better food choices but also to increase my exercise efforts (because then I have extra calories for a glass of summer sangria that Disco made - hey, sangria is also motivating!).  So far I have lost 6 lbs.  I know that is only what they call "water weight" at this point.  But I was able to fit comfortably into one of my favorite capris today.  Progress - finally! 

Computer Glitch

Technology . . . I hate it when it breaks!  Our home computer is down for a few days due to a faulty modem.  So pictures and posts will have to wait.  I am hoping for a quick recovery but this was not a good month for equipment failure.  Fingers crossed!

Same But Different

Both kiddos have quite a few similarities - obviously they are both AWESOME, they are the kind of kids that stand back and observe, both are fairly calm (unless they are hanging with their buddies and then all bets are off!), they love to laugh, they like the same TV shows and music, they love books, and they are night owls.  The list could go on for mile!

Even though they are quite similar in many respects, little man likes to put his own spin on things.  Here are two examples:

Blankets - Big sis attached her self to what she calls "choo choo blankie".  It has trains and dogs all over it - and it is irreplaceable.  She was about 18 months old when choo choo became her security blanket.  Little man picked one of his blankets as a favorite when he turned 2 years old.  It is covered in dinosaurs.  He has another one that is similar in color and size but he knows the difference between the two.  He calls his blanket "bankit" and it accompanies his pal "huhppo" (who is actually Tasha from the Backyardigans).

Bedtime - When big sis was younger we would tell her "Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bugs bite".  Her response then and even now is "night night, don't let the bugs out!"  Disco and I thought it was so cute that we say the same thing now.  Little man picked up on this recently and he shortened it even further.  He says "nigh nigh, bugs ouw!"