Spidee moves

All three boys have been scaling the back of the sofa for the kitchen ledge, a trend that started with the super hero himself - Ethan. It might be for a tv remote, a toy (that was purposely put up there away from them), books, or maybe even just to say hello (in Ethan's case). I am expecting one of them to climb onto the ledge itself sometime soon. Expecting and dreading...

I actually caught Oliver on film during his climb for the bedtime stories tonight (which we keep up unless supervised since they are still into bending them backwards and what not)... Oliver getting down with his prized book and Ethan getting up for no other reason than just because he can...

Other than this, the other fun has been Ethan flipping over the back of the love seat. Something the twins are wanting to do as well (yes, that's a heart stopper!). It has not now, nor ever, been okay for him to do this... and we never say yes to it no matter how beaten down we are. But for some reason climbing the back of the sofa to the ledge and flipping over the sofa are something that no one is able to control: we can't control them from not doing it and they can't control themselves from doing it. Three boys... help us... seriously, really... help us!

Cookie backfire

As you know, I love the Westerville Farmer's Market (I'm a geek... what can I say). One of the many awesome vendors is a goody baker that makes all kinds of fabulous things of the savory and sweet nature - both bad for you (in a yummy way) and good for you (in a healthy way). In her 'health nut' line, I found carrot oatmeal cookies. Ahhh... can you say special treat with benefit? It has all kinds of good stuff; the ingredients start with carrots, oatmeal, unbleached flour, walnuts, wheat bran, wheat germ, sesame seeds, poppy seeds... get the picture? The boys love them.

So, you say, why did I say cookie backfire? It seems to be another victory for mommy... right? Yes, it is... only if mommy is at work the morning after she gives them said cookies. Did you see all the fiber products listed? Do you understand the meaning of the word backfire now? ALL DAY backfire to be more specific.

Note to self: only give these to the boys the nights that I work the next day.

Mauled for the bear

Okay, so all that talk of bad cereal a few weeks back apparently backfired for the parents of this household as Sugar Bear somehow made his way into the shopping cart... those darn center aisle super sale displays will get you in a weak moment every time! At any rate, Daddy decided he was going to have an afternoon snack of the smacks. Why he actually thought he could eat anything around the kids during one of their non-eating times without them begging for some is beyond me... but he did. It didn't go so well. He was instantly mauled. And it only got worse once they took a bite of the sugar laden substance. I heard Steve screaming as the crew swarmed him... and came just in time to see the mauling... they were relentless.

Daddy making them say please...
Collin helping himself (screw the please, I'll just get it myself)...

Daddy futilely trying to keep it away, while chewing the one spoon full of cereal he got...

Little me too coming in for a piece of the action...

In the end, Daddy maybe had one spoon full.

We also told the kids that it was candy. I know, I know. But a little white lie isn't going to hurt them, it may as well be candy if you read the ingredients. And after all, I don't want them to know this is cereal. How would I ever get them to eat the healthy fiber loaded cardboard that they love so well now?

The Critter

The critter has been identified... it's a chipmunk. Here he is hanging out on the side of our house (literally) stalking the bird feeder.
We have seen him there often and also on our deck, on our front porch and in the flower beds. Though he has not yet left me his requests, he has helped himself to all the strawberries from one of our three strawberry pots (which happens to be the ONLY one that is producing strawberries). And continues to bury (plant) seeds EVERYWHERE.

Ethan calls him Chippy. He wants us to ask him to be our indoor pet.

Scoot bike challenged

We have a little scoot around bike for the twins that we got around Christmas because the physical therapist had one that they loved. They don't make it anymore, so we found one similar. Of course the boys didn't like it as much, it's a little harder, so we put it away for a while. Since we have been having the Spiderman ride-on smack downs around here, I decided to get the bike out and try it again. They now like it, but it's still a bit of a challenge. The front wheels stick out to the sides really far and the seat isn't as long and narrow as the one the therapist had (it went almost to the handle bars). All that seems to be a confusing challenge to Collin at least (Oliver prefers Spiderman). Here are some photos of Collin trying to figure it out...

Sitting on the bar (instead of the seat) all the way forward with feet in front of wheels - wondering why he can't get it to move...
Sitting on the back wheels...

Almost there, going backwards but sitting correctly (who cares that we just painted that trim that he keeps ramming into?????)...

Success! And one handed even, while he holds onto a car...

Here are some twin acrobats. Oliver got onto the bike when Collin was trying to ride it while sitting on the back wheels. Oliver then decided to dismount (of his own mind) off the front. Collin offered to help...

Girl fight

In our house for whatever reason there are always fights over toys... even if we have multiple of the same exact toy in the same exact color bought at the same exact time. The twins have been doing this for a long time. Oliver, who was always the first to roll, crawl, scoot, walk, etc., would swipe a toy from Collin who was just laying there playing and run off in whatever movement mode he had mastered at that point. We used to tell Oliver that Collin was bigger and that some day he would be sorry for always talking Collin's toys. That day has come. Collin has been swiping toys from Oliver for a couple months now and Collin is bigger... much bigger... and though not as fast, he is fully mobile.

This might be the best...er worst... example. We have a Spiderman ride-on or walk behind scoot toy. Only one. It was Ethan's. Oliver was riding it when Collin decided he wanted on it. Collin, in his polite way (read: yell at Oliver and try to take over the steering wheel), tried to ask Oliver for a turn. Oliver didn't take the hint and wanted to continue to ride. Collin then, in his not so polite way but instead in a classic Jerry Springer moment, grabbed Oliver by the hair and yanked him backward. The ride-on was tipped backward on the walk behind piece that Oliver was now sprawled out on... and Collin still had a hold of Oliver's hair and was yelling at him in his Collin-speak, what I can only imagine was something like "I SAID I want a turn now!"

Ethan said, of course: "Collin that is NOT a good choice!"

Okay, admittedly for a moment I laughed at the Jerry Springer aspect of it, how can you not? But Oliver was comforted, Collin was told that was not a good choice and the ride along was put in time out (the twins do not understand time out for themselves yet).

Like we told you Oliver... pay backs are hell.

I am a little worried to see what is to come as they get older...

It's over!

Our appraisal for refinancing was yesterday and we so glad it is finally over. I have no idea how it went, but considering we bought during the peak in 2003 and are trying to refinance in the worst housing market ever... it's likely we haven't appreciated much, if any... which sucks. At least we knocked out some house projects and for that I am happy.

However, the massive push to finish things in our few spare hours of the day as well as our normal sleeping hours has left us for the moment thinking (Kathy, stop reading at this point... just turn away) - we do not want to see a paint brush, much less deep clean or do yard work for a long time. We just want to sleep... and play with the kids... and sleep! I have man hands for crying out loud... rough dry man hands. I rub the Burt's Bee hand salve on them at night... it says a "farmer's friend" and well... it isn't working. My hands are worse than a farmer's at this point??? And I (as is Steve) am sick of running around Steve like Chester the terrier in the Spike and Chester Loony Tune cartoon... remember those? "What can I do to help you, huh, huh? What can I do, huh Steve, huh, huh?" As Steve was constructing things (bedroom/bathroom project, trim, etc), I was constantly trying to help... and it honestly reminded me of this cartoon. Comical... but not... you know?

So, we will continue to clean the kids...and ourselves... but all else... nadda. If you want to come and visit, come now while the house still looks and smells nice.

Okay, I'm kidding about the not cleaning... a little.... maybe...

Our budding computer addicts

The twins have been eyeing the computer for quite some time… well mulling the computer is probably a better way to say it. Collin loves to get the mouse any way he can and he holds it just as he should, clicking away. Oliver’s favorite thing is to sit on the floor in front of the computer box and push button to open and shut the CD/DVD door. Oh, and pull out the wireless internet stick. Both of them like to pound on the keyboard and also pound with the keyboard, as well as finger up the flat screen.

They especially seem to love to do these things when Ethan is playing a game, which makes him oh so happy. Usually I hear “(name of twin) I do NOT like your choice!” Then he typically yells: “Moooommmmm, (name of twin) is making bad choices!” And then just screams and fake cries (which makes me just a tiny bit crazy...er crazier) and also sometimes cries for real if he was really into what he was doing, because inevitably they have either messed up his game or crashed it.

I do have software for little ones, that is simple enough. I haven’t really had them use it too much since they were so hard on the computer components and have a almost vicious “me too” mode of fighting over things, namely Collin ripping everything out of Oliver’s hands. But as they are getting older we decided to try it. They both sat happily on the chair and played with it together (there is no way to play separately unless one is sleeping). Collin manned the mouse for the most part with the occasional tap on the keyboard. Oliver manned the keyboard mainly. This program has a few different “games” but in the one we did it was showing the letter and saying the name. It is activated or changed by the keyboard (whatever letter or number you hit shows on screen and says the letter, the mouse and keys other than letters and numbers change the background color). As it said the letters, Oliver would repeat them.


Maybe we are ready for them to use the computer… if we can get Collin to not push him off the chair!

Best Parents of the Year Award

Steve and I are up for the best parents of the year award. Did you just choke on your drink? Yes I am joking. As a matter of fact I think we are up for quite the opposite award. We have been working hard on several (thousand) house projects. The push is an appraisal for refinancing, which has made these projects more than a ‘do as you have time’ kind of thing. On top of that, our shower head pipe burst sometime this weekend (we think… maybe before). I made the gruesome discovery yesterday morning when I went to dust the walls and ceiling in the dining room… a 2 foot wet (almost transparent and dripping) circle in the ceiling [insert string of words here]. Fortunately, Steve and Mike (his brother-in-law) were able to find it and fix it quickly. And luckily it ended up only being the shower head pipe. Steve spent the rest of the day pulling up the carpeting in our closet and bathroom (which flooded), cutting out padding to dry, drying the floorboards and putting it back together. Crazy, crazy day. Sigh... and add call someone to stretch the carpet and painting the dining room ceiling to the long list.

But, how does that make us the worst parents? This last weekend, in total desperation to get these projects done for our deadline this week, we employed many tactics we normally do not use. The worst being: TV. I know. I know. I am not proud of this at all… but if not we have three little bodies under our feet, in the paint or insisting on helping me dust walls and ceilings and the like. Really, they are hanging off me. And really they would grab items and rub them on the walls, stick their fingers in the paint can and freshly painted trim (I know because they did) and other things. At 22 months of age the twins are not easy to reason with yet... not that this will change anytime soon. And mind you Steve had a lot going on upstairs at the same time AND because of that I was one body down on the project load.

Steve and I actually uttered the words “will you please just go watch TV”… more than once. Yes, as the words left my mouth I was mortified… but apparently not enough not to say it again later. Never say never…

Oliver has actually been talking a lot, saying words intermixed with his Oliver jargon. Sometimes stringing real words together, but most of those strings require some interpretation and guessing on our part. However, this was not the case Sunday morning when I got him out of bed. Nope. Plain as day: “I want to watch TB (TV)” Are you kidding me?? Just great… his first understandable sentence is I want to watch TV. Same exact sentence when I walked in after nap. Great… again, parents of the year here people. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am happy that he spoke a sentence and that I could understand the words… but why those words? I am trying to think of something to come up with for the baby book that is different… “Mommy, I love you.” “Mommy, you are the best mommy ever.” You know, stuff like that. What? I shouldn’t alter his history like that?

It gets better. Ethan and I made brownies because I was feeling so bad that he didn’t get out but twice this weekend and not at all on Sunday. I know… it’s kind of warped that brownies somehow equaled a good mommy and made up for a weekend cooped up inside in my head, huh?

Actually, anything the kids asked for this weekend they pretty much got, even stuff I normally never approve. “Can I watch Scooby doo meets batman and robin?” Sure. “Mom can I have popcorn and lay here watching my movies?” Sure. “Mom, can we take all the cushions and pillows off all the sofas and make a giant fort (rendering the family room inaccessible)?” Sure. “Mom, can we spread every toy we own over the floor of the family room (and then cry repeatedly when we can’t find what we are looking for in the mess and plead you to help us)?” Sure. “Mom, can we have a pajama day?” Sure. “Mom, can we watch TV non-stop?” Sure. “Mom can I put the twins on the ceiling fan and turn it on?” Sure, but on the lowest setting, okay sweetie. “Mom, can I have a beer and watch CSI Miami?” Sure… uh, wait… hmmmm… okay, sure. Just kidding.

I even gave them brownies for their afternoon snack as requested by Ethan. Sure. He was so excited he was jumping up and down in place while saying “Boys, you have never had a brownie before. You are going to LOVE it!” Turns out, Oliver wouldn’t eat it and Collin was so so about it. Ethan, however, licked the plate clean. And Steve asked me again, after his third brownie in five minutes (in his defense also the first thing he had to eat that day), if I was sure the twins were our kids – seriously – who doesn’t like brownies?! But on the upside, that does say that I feed them well, since they don't love sweet treats right? Right?

Oliver has been really into Dora and Diego, pointing them out on books constantly. So, I DVR’ed some episodes. Unfortunately they are on Nickelodeon which has commercials (I hate commercials for kids!). Normally, I fast forward through them or turn it off before them, but this weekend I did not have time… after all they were in a TV marathon where normally they just get one (maybe one in the morning too - depending on the day) show a day while I make dinner and normally I am listening instead of in the other rooms painting and cleaning. Last night I gave Ethan a bubble bath, which he loves and of course another tactic in the 'I’m not the worst mommy' ploy. As he rubbed the bubbles into the sides of the tub pretending to clean it, he sang “cleaning, cleaning, cleaning… that’s the power of OxiClean.” Uh oh. Seriously? Freaking commercials!

Ethan actually asked me yesterday afternoon if he could be done with TV. How sad is that? He wanted to help me paint… we compromised on him painting with his paints and his paper… not my paint and my trim and baseboards. So, see, some art time. The day was not lost, was it?

In the end, the twins bounced off their cribs for an hour before they fell asleep – over stimulated maybe? Ethan woke up after an hour and got sick, twice – overstimulated and too much popcorn and brownies perhaps (in my defense, he only had two brownies - but that's two more than he normally has)?

Sigh… I wonder how long the detox will take? Okay, in case you were wondering… here’s where you interject that we are not the worst parents and that occasional abandonment of all your parenting ideals is okay… right? There won’t be scars… we will be able to pull them back from the brownies, TV and constant yeses to everything… they will be productive and happy members of society someday… we won't have to take out a giant loan for therapy... right??!!!

Ethan's artwork that he wanted me to take a photo of... I told him to smile and this is what I got as he kept insisting "this is my smile."

Seriously Collin

That might have been a phrase I uttered once or twice today. Truth be told... "Seriously [insert each child's name]" is a common occurrence around here. Today, it was mostly Collin.

I discovered today that if we don't latch the dishwasher closed, Collin now knows how to open it and use it as a step stool.
But whatever could he be after... ohhhhhhh...

And though we put all the blinds up far enough that they cannot reach them, they will still find a way.

Sigh...

BTW, he was in his diaper because I ran upstairs to get their clothes this morning and when I came back he was on the dishwasher. Then as I was dressing the other two (because Collin took off in a sprint) in the family room, I heard a noise and turned to see him at the window. So, all of that within five minutes... first thing this morning... precursor for the day...

Victory for mommy

Many of you know that I do not like juice. Okay, strike that. I personally LOVE juice. I do not however like to give juice to children. Why? Because most kids will eat fruit in its natural form, so why give them juice? It's loaded with extra sugar (not just the natural sugar in fruit), artificial flavorings (yuck), preservatives (yuck) and sometimes artificial coloring in the form of dyes (double yuck). Whole fruit is much better. And, I would rather them drink water and milk - which they currently love.

The issue at hand is that the kids are getting more picky. Well, Lauren has been picky for a while. Ethan is becoming increasingly picky, even with fruit now. Oliver has some he doesn't like. Collin will eat just about any fruit still... thankfully. This last winter Ethan decided that he no longer liked oranges and grapefruit (an issue since I was trying to only buy fruit in season). He used to eat orange after orange after orange. We had to limit his daily intake. But now he just sits there picking all the strings off (which I hate too), then eats the segment but ends up spitting it back out and says it's too hard to eat or it's yucky. Oh, and complaining... a lot. So, I gave up. The twins however are still in the I can't peel and cut it fast enough on both oranges and red grapefruit for them. Oranges and grapefruit have merit... and I want Ethan to get those vitamins... so when my friend told me about a juicer she had that she loved but didn't use enough to keep and told me she would sell it to me at a rock bottom price... I scooped it up! Enter: my new toy... a power juicer.

I started with apples just to get the excitement going, even though Ethan would eat apples 24/7 if we let him. He loved it. He actually professed his love for it over and over and wanted me to make it every day. The twins also loved it, as did Lauren. But that was a gimme really. So then I tried grapes... another gimme... but keeping the excitement alive. It was really good as well. They all sucked it down... no breathing... just sucking. I also tried lemonade because Ethan has been obsessed with wanting to try a lemon (not realizing that most people just don't eat lemons). That was a failure due to a blonde moment... of not peeling it... I know.... I scare myself sometimes too.

This morning, I decided to try orange juice which is of course one of the main reasons I wanted to try this toy. Ethan stood there watching, excited and giving the twins a play by play of the juicing process. The end result: 10 ounces sucked down without a word in 45 seconds. The twins did the same thing (I gave them less juice though). The house actually fell silent while they sucked their juice down... it was an amazing thing on a couple counts!

There are recipes for veggies too... yes spinach is one. I am thinking carrots will be the easiest one to add without them knowing, but right now Oliver is the only one of the four that won't eat carrots cooked or raw. But, it still might be worth it.

In the end, I am happy that I found a way to get oranges into Ethan in a natural form. (The thing is a pain in the rear to clean though, but worth it. And I am still drooling over the VitaMix.)

Victory for mommy!

Mommy = 4...oh okay, it's probably more like 2

Kids = 5,000,000

Sigh... I'll get there!

Memories from the first year

Lauren finished her first year of high school yesterday. Overall, she enjoyed it but with anything it had its ups and downs. Her favorite things about high school maybe weren’t high school at all, but the new found freedoms she has been getting slowly with this age. Those are: walking around the mall without us trailing them; going to the movies, again, without us sitting behind them; early release days and getting to walk home with friends, and the like.

To celebrate her last day of school, she wanted to go out to eat – which is a rarity in our house. I, of course, forgot the camera in my rush to pack a bag with snacks and diapers while the twins cried…er… scream cried at the top of their lungs due to the deviation of their normal routine (wee bit stress felt by all). So I have no shots of this event (and it’s truly an event when we go out) and since as you know I am photo crazy, I’m a little disappointed. Lauren got frozen strawberry daiquiri to celebrate the end of ninth grade… of the non alcoholic variety of course.

Just for fun to document the year, I asked Lauren some questions regarding this last school year.

Favorite class: Acting, I enjoyed learning to act and doing skits... but I hated the pantomiming. It was so embarrassing.

Favorite teacher: Mr. Mahony our English teacher - he was funny.

Favorite school event: Homecoming football game and bonfire

Favorite social event: Going to the premiere of Twilight

Favorite lunch from cafeteria: The chicken basket, cappuccino and cookies

Locker number: Something, something 96

Best day: I'm not sure.

Worst day: The third nine week's grade card... oh, and pantomiming.

Best memories: Lots of sleepovers with Brooke!

Onto tenth grade we go... can anyone believe that?

Walking for a cure

Today was the Relay for Life in Sunbury. The kids and I proudly walked for Team Matthew. It was a perfect sunny day for the relay - actually both days of the relay were perfect weather.

Starting our walk, joined by David, Amy and Cameron.

Kendell, Sydney, Brenda and Annette joined us (Lauren and Ethan at the bounce house and giant slide).

Getting a ride from sissy during the final lap of the relay.

Matthew and Jeremie walking the final lap. Matthew has the baton that was passed around at the closing ceremony - he was the final recipient and the hope for the future.

Jeremie, Matthew and Jen

Four very tired children at the end of the relay.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the cause. And thank you too to all those who are holding Matthew in their thoughts and prayers. May they find the causes and the cures soon!

p.s. no bones broken this year. Woo hoo! I did, however, have some fun with Steve, who's been out of town since Thursday, when he called to see how it went... muhawaahaw!

Collin's new shoes

Okay, they aren't new shoes, they are MY (yucky) shoes! The twins love shoes, but this is the first time one has put them on... and even walked in them!

He's so proud of himself! And yes, that's a TV remote in his hand... of course.

I do have a photo somewhere of Ethan about this age walking in some of my heels. If you're wondering if I'm worried that two of my three boys like to wear my shoes... no, I'm fine with it. It's cute as heck and I am going to snap plenty of photos to share later in life!

Hamper full of monkeys

As I have said before, sometimes it's the simple household things that bring the hour of fun. Behold laundry hamper sports....

Collin started by knocking it over and crawling in, with his ball.

Oliver came over and decided to roll the hamper with Collin in it.

Then Oliver got in.

Collin decided to roll the hamper with Oliver in it.

Then they both tried to fit in... rumble in the hamper!

Guess who won?

Ethan then got home and wanted in on the action.

Creative excuses

All of you that are parents can appreciate the efforts to prolong going to sleep. In our house, it's been mainly Ethan needing to tell us about his elaborate plans to build the rescue mountain center, build a jet and visit the care bears in the clouds, build the new Justice League Headquarters and invite everyone, and things along that line. When he comes down or calls us up there, we get the details of his plan including materials he needs to accomplish whatever he is currently planning and stores we need to go to for these items. From what I am told, these are quite the deviation from the normal "I need another hug or kiss", "I need a drink of water", "I need another story", etc that most kids give in order to prolong bedtime. So, though it can get frustrating by the 10th trip up, we do appreciate his creatively.

Last night though he gave me maybe one of my all time favorites... not lacking in creativity but certainly less elaborate.

I heard Ethan come out of his room and knew he was standing at the top of the stairs (though I was not in view). I called up to him:

Me: "Ethan, I told you that you need to go to sleep, we have a big day tomorrow."
Ethan: "I have to tell you something."
Me: "Ethan, really, it's time to go to sleep. Please go to bed."
Ethan (sounding REALLY annoyed with me): "BUT my butt tickles!"

Sigh... just another day in the life...

Zoo adventure

I took a vacation day to take the boys to the zoo with the help of Ms. Erin. Though in some respects, the twins are easier at this age... they are also harder. They both want to run... and in different directions... and don't even get me started on trying to get all three and a stroller into those tiny bathrooms!

It was such a nice day out, cool and party cloudy. The perfect zoo day. Here is a photo, just like last year of the boys in front of the pond. (Next time I will take it before we spend 15 minutes looking at the turtles and enormous fish... as you can see they weren't focused on posing.)
As always (Ethan is a creature of habit), we went onto the west zoo in which we saw the flamingos first. Here's Ethan standing on one leg just like them.

We then went to the discovery reef. Ethan always has loved this. The twins also really enjoyed it - more so then in the past. It was fun to see their faces light up. They both were pointing and talking to the fish.

Ethan showing the boys the manatee at Manatee Bay and also the sting ray that had just passed (you can see the tip of its tail in the lower right).

We then saw this cutie... wide awake... which is so rare!

We continued on through the west zoo, but not without melt downs... I'm not going to sugar coat it here folks... it was not the perfect day at the zoo as I had hoped. A half hour in we got the beginning rumblings of pending melt downs and apparently I misjudged my window of opportunity... in that I thought I had one. Soon thereafter all three were melting down in different loud head-turning ways for the next hour (which seemed quite frankly like four hours). Despite our attempts to appease them with crackers, raisins and water (which did partially work) and many 'oooo's and ahhhh's' over the neat animals, we were unsuccessful and decided to just try lunch. Okay, that and the fact that Ethan said dramically a few (thousand) times that he couldn't walk anymore because he was so hungry. Never mind breakfast was 2 1/2 hours prior and he had a bunch of snacks. And the fact that Collin launched his cup at the Colobus Monkeys in protest (not of them, but of us)... that might have been the real reasons. After lunch, which was quite the challenge as well (but I'll spare you those details), they got a little better. The twins were fine as long as we were moving and the animal was big and close enough for them to see... Ethan was fine as long as we did what he wanted.

Side story: right after lunch we went on a bathroom run. In there I spoke to Ethan (once again) about his choice of words and tone earlier and asked him to not talk like that anymore (hoping the rest of the visit would go better). He said "I'm all done with my bad choice words for the day mommy. I only have good ones left." What? So there's a quota? Who knew?

On the car ride home, Ethan and Collin passed out the last ten minutes of the half an hour ride. This was apparently their power nap. Oliver never slept. All ran around the house all night revved with adrenaline the rest of the night. It always amazes me when people tell me their kids just pass out in the car and they can't wake them up. Mine never do. Or if they do, it's maybe 10-15 minutes tops and they are good to go. Why?

All in all it was a good day and we did see almost all of the west zoo and all of Asia, only missing the north zoo. However, I am not so sure that Ms. Erin won't request a vacation day next time I suggest we go to the zoo...

Just for fun, here's the photo of them in front of the pond last May.

Can't we just co-exist?

Dear Critter:

Though we have not formally met, I would like to address some items with you. First, as you must know by the multiple bird feeders and the bird bath, albeit small, I am a friend to animals. I am actually a long time lover of all animals (but the snakes, they creep me out). In addition, I like to read animal books to my kids and take them to the zoo, both to teach them about animals, their habitats and how important it is that we respect them and help them through conservations and education. Grandma Dee even makes sure we have a few different age appropriate animal magazine subscriptions for the same reasons. I was raised in a house where our pets were our siblings... as a matter of fact, I still have a hairy little sister. At any rate, I think I have established my love and respect for whomever you may be.

That said, I am taking issue with some of your actions. For example, I do not appreciate you eating our strawberries. Well, let me qualify, if you are going to eat a nice big ripe strawberry, please eat the entire thing. I have found over a dozen half eaten perfectly good strawberries laying around in my pots and flower beds the last couple weeks (see exhibit A1 - yea, that's right, I have documentation). Don't you know, there are starving critters in third world counties... don't be wasteful.

Second, please stop digging in my pots to bury whatever treasure you have (see exhibit A2). It's killing my peppers and strawberries... and well... my good nature is waning. I might have said a word or three that I was not proud of afterwards. And if you are going to dig... at least fertilize them with some wonderful organic matter, in a respectful manner please (yes, I am saying don't spread/spew your... um... you know... in a malicious way). Remember, if we benefit, you benefit.

Third, I don't know what it is you keep burying throughout our flower beds, but I am sure you have noticed that it grows every time you bury it (see exhibit B). I assume you discover this and bury again, not realizing the process, that this stash method is not exactly working. Or are they the sunflower seeds that you seem to love... and you decided to grow hundreds of sunflowers around the perimeter of our house that you will harvest for your winter stash. ??? Whatever it is... there are enough... they are everywhere... starting out as your little holes... but soon coming to life. Stop burying them already!

If it would work better for you, you can just leave me a wish list and let me know what it is you want to eat, drink, save for later and all that good stuff. I would be happy to accommodate you. Just please... STOP digging, burying and half eating everything!

Thank you for your cooperation.

Exhibit A1

Exhibit A2

Exhibit B

Sometimes Mondays at work can be MONDAYS! ...

until all the sudden my cell phone beeps and I see this...
and well, how can that not make anyone smile and giggle a little.