Sunday Funnies: Great Performances

Culture Class

We have this caterpillar that names famous composers like Mozart and Vivaldi.  M and T aren't well versed in their names or works just yet.

Laughing, M said, "Listen to this, T.  It says, 'You hung the bathroom book.'"

Better known as "Johann Sebastian Bach."  :)

 

Parking Lot Production

On Friday I went to the grocery store with the whole gang.  T sits in the top of the cart, Beza gets the bottom while in her infant seat, and M does a terrific job of walking along with me.  

Cart space is at a premium.  I work the bottom rack for all it's worth.

After checking out, it is impossible to recreate the food tetris so I always have to carry a few bags.

Back to Friday.  I left with 3 bags on my arm and a very full cart bottom.  Just as we walked out onto the sidewalk, the watermelon plopped off and started to roll away.  I caught it, put it back and started again.  It fell off, again.  Seeing my obvious look of confusion about what to do next, a kind person offered to escort the watermelon to the van.  

Two steps later we got caught on the hose being used to water the flowers.  I lifted the front over the hose, then the back.  The rotisserie chicken landed upside down on the pavement.
 

With the chicken secured and the watermelon safely in the van, T's balloon (you know, the kind that comes on a stick and says "Happy Assistant's Day" because it's free) became unattached from the stick and started skidding across the parking lot.  I skidded after it.

Then I picked up T to put him in the van.  His bagel headed in the opposite direction and rolled so that it's entirety touched the ground.  

At last everything and everyone was inside the van.  My troupe and I then exited the parking lot stage left. :)

Rolling double-stroller style with T and Beza on a farm market excursion earlier in the week.

More "Funnies": So Much for Vanity

My hair recently entered the "it-must-be-chopped-NOW" zone--very similar to the sensation you get when the piece of gum you've been chewing for a while is well past its prime and has to go.

On Saturday I had the luxury of going to the salon kid-free for my favorite cut--the inverted bob.  It's just a little edgier than the standard bob--you know, to totally reflect my slightly "edgier" self. ;)  I also splurged on my first ever professional (subtle) highlights.  Ahh...it felt so good!  And I thought it looked pretty good, too.

And then I got home.

When we watched Tangled, M cried at the end. (*SPOILER ALERT*)  She cried not because Rapunzel's true love was "dead," but because of the loss of Rapunzel's long, beautiful blond locks.  In her eyes the poor princess was just not the same with her short, brown crop.  (Yes, we had the beauty comes from the inside talk.:)

When M and T saw the new "end-of-the-movie-Rapunzel" me there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Okay, that's a little dramatic, but they made it quite clear that they were mourning the loss of my old hair.  Tough crowd for sure. :) 

I however, am enjoying the break from my daily ponytail routine very much. :)

As I am rarely (thankfully) captured on film, here's a glance of my lovely hair style from our neighborhood Easter-Egg Hunt. 

Sunday Funnies: I Want to Wear Sandals Like...

Really, I do NOT know where he comes up with this stuff...

Today M and I went shopping to get her some more seasonally appropriate footwear--no small feat I tell you (no pun intended.)  We came home with a pair of sandals.

T was feeling a bit left out and was insisting on his own pair (despite his most awesome boots).  Anyway, while trying to immortalize his very dapper apparel today, J captured the "real" reason why he wanted sandals.

 Seriously, can not make this up...

Sunday Funnies: Real Life at the Library

On Friday we went to the library for the first time in months.  Something about the overdue fines I always seem to accrue (imagine that) and trying to avoid any more of those in the confusion of traveling. 

Before we go in we always have the "be quiet, no running, listen to mommy" talk.  And in the library they were superb.  Even when I stopped to quietly introduce Beza to a few moms there.

Then as we were checking out I was having a lovely chat with the librarian about Ethiopia and how it changes you.  Great conversation.  Then she said something nice about how adoption will be great for all of our kids and how good they are.

I was just about to nod my head to say, "Why, yes, they are being great!" when out of the corner of my eye I watched T grab the handles of the stroller and give it a push.  A push towards a bookshelf.  In slow motion I tried to reach it before the impending crash.  Too late.  Thankfully, it was a very gentle push that didn't hurt or phase Beza in the least and only caused one book on display to fall.

The librarian was not so amused (I wasn't either, actually).  She said something about speaking too soon.  I laughed and said, "Ahh, but we're all a work in process! :)"  And then I chased after T who had escaped through one set of the double front doors.  And I smiled again and we left.  And that, my friends, was real life on display at the library. :)

I have no picture of the "incident" but here are sweet T and little Beza.  He loves her.  Every day he comes over to her unsolicited and says, "I love you, Beza."

I Promise, That is NOT What He Meant! :)

M's preschool has a drop-off line.  We pull up to the door and a teacher gets her out of the van.  LOVE that!

Every single day, T has to tell the teacher that he is big.  I think he wants them to know that he's big, or at least getting bigger, because he can't wait to be able to go to school, and "big" kids get to go to school.  If he forgets or doesn't get a chance to say, "I'm big,"  he gets really upset at himself.  Really.  But, we've been working on saying, "Hi," before launching into the whole "big" discussion.

Here's how that all went the other morning.

The van door opens with me quietly reminding T to say "Hi" first.
Teacher: "How are you today?"
T: (As fast as he can possibly say): "I'm big and 'hi!'"
Teacher: (Laughing): "Well, I hope not!"

Oh, T--you are a funny, funny guy...

(A picture of T in his seat, albeit from last year. :)

Sunday Funnies: Fairy Tales

T talking about monsters: "Monsters are real."
M: "No, they're not.  They're just made up--like Fairy Tales."

T: "Oh.  They're Veggie Tales.  They're just pretend.  Daddy, monsters are just Veggie Tales, they're not real."
(Sincerely meaning to say "Fairy Tales" but saying "Veggie Tales"--perhaps because he's watched just a few. ;)

(Reading his favorite nursery rhyme: Humpty Dumpty.  M took this photo--love the look on his face--it's totally saying, "What are you doing?  I'm reading.")

T Turns 3: His Sunday Funnies

Yesterday, T turned the big 3!  All day long we said "Happy Birthday!"  And all day long he answered, "Happy Birthday!" back at us.  Apparently he thinks it's a seasonal greeting like "Merry Christmas!"--you know, something you reciprocate.

Okay, so he has made me crack up this week.  Remember "Fire Eyes?"  You know when he squeezes his eyes shut really tight so that he sees red?  Well, when went to the grocery store earlier this week, it was FREEZING!  Crazy kid uses visualizations to help him stay warm.  Across the entire parking lot he squeezed his eyes shut (to make fire) and he opened his mouth wide to "breathe fire."  The face is nothing short of hilarious.

On this same freezing cold day at the grocery store, they gave him a FunDip as a valentine at the checkout.  He was so excited to get a candy valentine--although he has never had a FunDip.  Anyway, when we got back to the car he asked if it was breakable.  Thinking of the little candy stick I said, "Yes."   So then he asked, "Why can we eat glass?"  Seriously, what a funny train of thought. 

So thankful for our little guy and all the joy he adds to our lives. 
Love you, big guy, T!

Sunday Funnies: Who's the Daddy?

Every day when we drop M off at school, T has to tell the teachers that "I am big."  If he forgets to tell them he gets really upset.  He's pretty much obsessed with being "big."  He wants us to know that he is NOT a baby.

Most recently he has been requesting that we call him, "Daddy."  Not because he wants to take J's place, but because big guys must be called "Daddy."  We usually oblige.  Someday I'm sure he'll come up with a nickname that we might not be so crazy about. :)

(T helping Pop because he's a "Big Guy.")

M went to a Karate birthday party this weekend.  She was SO nervous about it.  For the first half she just sat on my lap--she was not so sure about all of the "hi-yah's" and kicks (which I thought were pretty cool).  The shyness continued until it was time to run in a "run-away-from-the-ball" game.  That girl is a runner (not an ounce of that comes from me)!  She even won!  Then after chopping a board with her bare arm and catching candy from the pinata she is pretty much a karate-loving kid. ;)

 

On a sentimental note, on the way home from the party she asked me what it must feel like to die.  I asked her why she was asking me that?  She said, "Because life just keeps going and going and going and going and I figure that I've already lived some of my life."  Deep thinker, that precious 5-year-old girl.  Love you, M!

Sunday Funnies: A "Beary" Good Breakfast

Sometimes T's brain seems to misfire a bit.  Like if you tell him to open his eyes really wide, he shuts them really tight.  And totally not on purpose.

The other morning for breakfast we were having banana bread.  I happened to be walking past the table when I saw T pick up his bear (normally not on the table), open his mouth wide, and put Beary's nose right in his mouth.  Then I saw his startled expression.  Ahhh, so funny!  He completely meant to be taking a bite of banana bread (not a bite of Beary)!  Love it!

My Pride and Joy and Watch Out for Those Hangnails!

Tonight I was cleaning out my over-stuffed wallet and I found a few expired cards and a crazy photo that cracks me up.  I kid you not, I sometimes show people this exact picture of my "pride and joy."

Yep, that is one pretty corny card! ;)
(J's Grandma gave it to me a long time ago.)

Also, this week, T and I were doing a mad-dash through Targ*t and along the way he picked up a Transformers book to look through while we shopped.  At one point I heard him narrating the scenes.  Talking in a deep, robotic voice, it went something like this, "If you don't be good mean guy, I will get you with my hangnail!"  The hangnail--a hook hand.  Funny kid!

And on a completely different note, I am so thankful for all of the photos and videos we have gotten of our little girl this weekend from friends in Ethiopia right now.  And it is so cool to see them meeting and hanging out with their little ones.

Is it really true what they say about Walgre*n's?

In our house we usually have our favorite radio station on 24-7 (Sound of Life--no commercials), but we've been listening to a few other stations for Christmas music.

So, today in the van, M asks, "Is it true what they say on my radio about Walgre*en's?  Is it really a place full of wonderful things like they say in the song?  Like chocolates and all kinds of good stuff?"

Oh. My. Word.  HILARIOUS! 

When the Coyote Comes

A slice of our real life...

We got our first snow today.  Hmmm...maybe an inch or two.  Because school was delayed (but the roads were fine), I decided that it would be "fun" to take M and T to Target to buy some gifts for a family in our community before school started.

Picking out the gifts was actually fun, but keeping T in the cart (the one with the two seats facing each other) was another story.  We got everything we needed and headed to the checkout.  I pulled out my wallet to pay and, hmmm...there was no wallet.  The very kind cashier said that she would set my bag aside so that I could come back later (Target is 30 minutes from my house).  I was thankful she could do that, but totally bummed that I had to come back.

We RAN out to the car empty-handed and after everyone was buckled in, guess what I found.  Yep--my wallet.  It was in another compartment of my bag...

I had no time to spare because today was M's Christmas Sing-Along at school and we couldn't be late--so off we rushed with plans to come back later. *sigh*

So, if you're curious about the coyotes in the title, here's where they come in.  With Christmas carols filling the car, M starts to tell me (for some reason) that if one of our cats got out on the roof of our house that she would call the fire department to come get it off.  (Sounds like a good plan.)  Then T jumps in with his idea that well if a coyote was at our house then the fire department would come to take care of it.  M firmly disagreed saying no way, they were not the right people for the job.  T replied that he would then call 911 (glad he knows the number just in case!) and the police would help with the coyote problem.  M still thought that wasn't quite right.  That made T quite angry.  He started to scream.

I do NOT like screaming in the car.  Feeling kind-of stressed about trying to be on time and upset about having to go back out later, I was not so happy about the whole discussion in the moment.  But looking back (at the end of the day and after a successful trip back to Target after preschool), that was a down-right hilarious conversation.  I mean really, an argument between a 2- and 5-year-old about policemen and coyotes!  Funny, funny kids! :)

Sunday Funnies: There's a Christmas Song About THAT?

The other day we were just chilling at home listening to some Christmas music.  T was trying to sing along with Little Drummer Boy and he asked me, "Why do they keep saying, 'bum'?"

Feeling like I was stating the obvious, I said, "Because that's the sound a drum makes." 

Then I noticed that both M and T were laughing about it.  That made me start to think a little more.  Oh. My. Word.  Yeah, so at our house we call our bottoms, "bums."  They think it's a song about bottoms... 

And, this is where I found T one morning this past week when I came down to get breakfast ready.  He's getting a closer look at his cereal options.

(Bit of a tough parenting weekend at our house this weekend.  Here's to a fresh new week! :)

Sunday Funnies: Fire Eyes

Funny week about red eyes around here (all besides the pink eye has made several unwelcome appearances--that's really not so funny). :)  

T has decided that he can be a "scary monster" if he squints his eyes shut really tight because then they turn into "fire eyes."  I'm just assuming, but I think that when he squints that maybe he sees red?

Really, how "scary" is this face?  Cracks me up!  He looks like a sweet, little old man. :)  That my T.

Today as we were running across a freezing parking lot, M was convinced that she was going to turn blue ("or whatever color the wind is") because it was blowing so hard.  I said not to worry--her cheeks might turn a little red, but it would quickly go away.  She said that she could tell that she was already turning red, because when she closed her eyes she could see that color.  Funny kids!

Here's looking forward to a new week! 

(Once again, off to find my phone--not quite sure where it ended up in the unpacking process....hmm...)

Sunday Funnies: WHERE do you want to stop for lunch?

"Michael-Donald's"

(His middle name is Michael. :)

Sunday Funnies: Beware of the Volcanoes (and Scotch Tape)

The other day these "warning" signs appeared on M's door.  Apparently volcanoes have begun erupting in her room and as an act of goodwill, she has taken it upon herself to warn the inhabitants of our house to stay clear. 

The one below shows a very largely crossed out smoking volcano.

Shockingly enough, volcanoes have also sprung up in T's room.  The butterfly is a friendly way to tell you to "go home (as in fly home away from the volcano)."

So, how exactly is it okay for one to enter a room with a smoldering volcano?  Well, you have to don protective gear and a mask, of course.

Now, nearly every door (after strongly discouraging the use of tape on the walls) in our house boasts a scotched-taped sign or two--most of which have a crayon heavily taped onto them.  Some day I will miss this...  (For now, I try to sneak just a few of them down--you know, to make room for more!)  :)

Sunday Funnies: Brown Can

These are the characters that have been gracing our house over the past few days...

Tigger (complete with sound effects).

The Mouse Librarian (just a clever way to combine fun face-painting with glasses and a warm sweater;).

The UPS guy.  

(I found this costume on Craig's List and thought that because of his love of trucks, it was perfect.  Seriously CRACKS US UP!)

Happy Halloween!

(Can't wait to see all THREE creatures here next year!)

Sunday Funnies: Old Mother Hubbard

Went to the cupboard...

Sunday Funnies: Rocket Ships and Jumping off a "Cliff"

Yesterday we went to a State Park to shoot off some model rocket ships.  Awesome day for such an outing.  And, might I add, that it is made all the more fun by having little children who think that chasing after (and sneaking through the fence into the golf course) and retrieving the launched ships is fantastic. :)

As we were leaving the kids had a blast singing on a stage.  And then in typical T fashion he just dropped off the edge.  Here's what we love about it--when you look at how they both jump--you can totally see their personalities.  T just nonchalantly walks off the edge like it's no big deal.  No sound.  Just a vision of him disappearing from sight.

M passionately throws her whole self into the jump and screams with glee the whole way down.  There is no mistaking who has just made the leap. :)

Beautiful Fall weekend! :)

Sunday Funnies: What we do for fun. :)

Last week T was playing quietly in his room at bedtime.  He and his best buds, Cheetah, Black Bear and Beary were apparently on a boat in stingray-infested waters.  When I peered in he was sitting in his tool box facing the wall on his little bed and telling Cheetah not to get in the water.  T made a few quick appearances downstairs to ask what seahorses and crabs do (they swim and pinch respectively).    

After a while all was quiet and I remarked to J that T had probably fallen asleep sitting in his tool box boat.  We tiptoed over to his room and spied him sleeping in the middle of the floor.  "Ahh, so cute."  Then we tiptoed away.   

J turned to me and said, "Wouldn't it be funny if we walked in and said, 'The stingrays are going to get you!'?"

I paused for a moment to think through the possible scenarios and decided that the worst that could happen was that he would cry a little.  Best case he would do his funny I-love-to-be-scared scream and laugh and then we would all hug and he would go back to sleep.  :)    

Yep, so we did it.   J walked into his room and said, "T, the stingrays!"  Nothing.  He didn't even flinch.  

Ahh, but we were in it now.  So louder and with a little shake, "T, the stingrays are going to get you!"  Still NOTHING!  Poor boy was out!  

On the third attempt T stood up looked around and walked over to turn on his light to see what all the fuss was about.  Dear child had not a clue what we were talking about and he just walked over to his bed and snuggled down.   Crazy parents, stingrays live in the ocean.  We don't have to worry about them in our house.  Go to sleep.  :)