Bad hair night?

Or Billy Idol wanna be, you make the call...

Ethan has to be the only child that has more bad hair nights... after his bath, before bed, all on its own... then when he gets up in the morning. We think the hair fairies visit him and fix it over night. Hmmm... they never seem to visit me...

The nose dectective

Yesterday I had some tortilla chips when the boys were all in the family room... thinking I was being really sneaky. When I walked into the family room afterwards, Ethan came over to ask me something. He then said:

E: "What's that I smell?" *sniff, sniff* "I like that smell. Is it tortilla chips?"

M: "What are you talking about?" (very innocently)

E: "I smell something... and it's not a bad stinky smell, it smells good... like chips. Mom, is that chips?"

Besides him busting me, I think what cracked me up the most was his reference to the bad stinky part... as in our house of toddler boy butts... there are bad sticky smells... really bad stinky smells. But that he went as far as to qualify this smell just made me laugh out loud!

King of the cheesy faces (the eyes were on purpose... getting a serious smile is next to impossible).

Actually, Ethan has long been our nose detective... informing us when when there are diapers to change and whose it is, telling me whether what I am cooking smells good or bad and so on. When he was about 23 months old, he was introduced to chocolate - as in a piece of chocolate (Halloween). He liked it... he liked it a lot. One night after I read him books (about a week later), I called Steve up as always to tuck Ethan in with me. When Steve walked in, I immediately smelled a Reeses peanut butter on his breath and gave him "the look." The look because Ethan would know and want some. Steve bushed my look off mouthing that Ethan would never know. When Steve gave Ethan his hug and kiss... sure enough... Ethan said "I 'mell a specel teat daddy." Uh huh... busted! By a 23 month old!

His nose always knows...

Ticka, ticka, ticka

Tickling is a favorite past time in this house... for and to the kids at least. At the beginning of May both of the twins started saying "ticka, ticka, ticka" and wiggling their fingers on and at us and each other so as to tickle. Fortunately for us, it doesn't really tickle (I hate being tickled... for many reasons... Aunt Becky and mom I am sure you remember why), but we laugh hysterically for them which of course they just love.

Here is a photo where I captured Collin tickling Ethan. He is very, VERY ticklish, so his uncontrollable giggles were real.

A very proud Collin after a successful tickle of his older brother and a very out of breath Ethan... but still asking "tickle me some more!":

Ethan tickling Oliver:

It is so cute when they tickle each other... you just have to see it (in person) to appreciate it.

Snugglefest

These are actually photos from a month ago that I just came across while looking for something else. They are too cute not to share. This snugglefest was in the name of their evening TV show. When I came into the family room after getting dinner in the oven on this particular evening, I found them all together under the blanket watching their show. They rarely all sit together, so it is especially sweet to me.
Awwwwww look at my boys...*sniff, sniff*... (sorry, having a mommy moment here).

Our little technophile

As we have mentioned before, Collin has quite the love of technology. He loves the TV remote, again, so much so that we have to go through great lengths to hide it. When the phone rings he runs to it (it's on the wall) and screams... he wants to answer it. He loves the computer - he will run up, sit down in the chair and handle the mouse as if he knows exactly what to do ... and more or less he does know what to do (his speech therapist saw it and was amazed). He also loves cell phones. As I said, he has called people before on my cell phone. Erin told me that she has been having real issues keeping her cell phone out of his hands lately. Observe below... Collin getting it out of her purse.

We're calling technophiles anonymous tomorrow.

Just chillin'

Chillin'... in a bucket...

Chillin'... in a bucket... with company...

The Proclamation

The other night after dinner I asked Ethan if he wanted a special treat popsicle (yes, the spinach ones - shhhh) and he told me he really wanted to play so he wanted a small treat that he could eat fast and that the popsicles are too big for a fast eat. So, I offered up a "frozen" (what we call the Stoneyfield yogurt tubes that we freeze) and he told me that I was silly, those were big too and that again he had some playing to do. Then he said loudly: "I proclaim all special treats need to be short ones tonight!" Hello? "I proclaim..." Really? We don't know where he gets this stuff, but we sure do enjoy it!

Bubbles!

What a wondrous invention the bubble blower is... so simple, yet so fun...

By the way, yes, Ethan pretended the bubble blowers were super hero tools. And yes, I had a new name (given by Ethan) today... Bubble Momma. Go ahead and laugh.

Calgon... take us away!

(Am I aging myself?? Do they still even sell Calgon?)

Steve and I have been working hard on the house for a few weeks. This weekend was no break from that. We cleaned, which is normal but always a fun challenge to do with three little ones about and vying for your time. One of the many inside challenges was the ledge over the front door which has big vases (and gets really dusty). As you can see we had wanna be helpers for this job... it went well (yes, sarcasm).

Outside we did various things including power washing, sanding, painting and staining. It was a long weekend of balancing kids and projects, but we have made a dent in our to do list.

All we have to say is... do you think the baby monitors will still pick up the kid's noises at the pub up the street? We need a beer! Just kidding... on the pub and monitors... not the beer. And the Calgon...

Who needs a tiger, toucan or captain anyhow?

While I was getting ready this morning, the boys - big and small - at breakfast (Lauren was at a friend's). Afterwards, I went down to play with the boys while Steve got ready. I decided to get my bowl of dry cereal and eat it in the family room, knowing that the boys normally would want some. However, this was a new cereal and I wasn't really sure they would like it (which would have been good for me). No such luck. They not only liked it, but they devoured it... to the likes of which I have never seen.
As they normally do, when they see a bowl enter the family room (we don't do it often), they come a beggin'. Normally they get a bite and go on their merry way... maybe coming back for a second. This time, they took a bite and then immediately all three were crawling over themselves to get closest to the bowl (which meant crawling on top of me)... all six (yes SIX) hands were in the bowl... almonds, flax seeds and clusters were flying everywhere (I am NOT kidding people)... seriously it was like they hadn't eaten in a week, yet they had just finished breakfast... and within minutes the bowl was empty and they were all chanting "more! more! more!" Okay, Ethan was chanting "more," Oliver was crying and saying more and Collin was screaming "ahhhhhh grrraaaa!" and getting upset. I was a little afraid for my safety actually...

To that I say: who says you need to market to kids to get them to eat? Who says you need 'kid friendly' cereals loaded with sugars, artificial colorings and flavorings, containing little to no nutritional value? Who needs Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam or Captain Crunch* to get their kids to eat? I'm serving up 500mg Omega-3, 9 g Protein and 8 g of fiber in my Honey Almond Flax Crunch cereal and my kids are eating it like it's candy.

Okay, okay... admittedly I am documenting this for the future because I am sure at some point they will go to the dark side and I just need it noted for all that they at least started out right. Preemptive strike on future mommy guilt...

*No offense Tony, Sam and Captain, the older folks in this house still have their weak moments about twice a year... please don't turn your backs on us... sometimes there's a need for sugar to be the first ingredient listed... just don't tell the kids.

Well, I've seen it all now...

I don't know if this is the best for the "well, I've seen it all now" category, but it is definitely the thought that keeps coming to my head right now.

As you know, I am on my slow mission to go green. So, I was looking for what to use for some sort of fertilizer for our fruit and veggie container garden we started that would be organic, chemical-free and not leave any ill effects to pass onto us. That's when I came accross this...
Oh yea, you're reading that right... pure organic cricket poop fertilizer: CricketPoo!. Maybe it's just me... did anyone else know that crickets are farmed for their poo? Can you imagine the job fair booth for this profession?

Who needs toys?

Like most parents, Steve and I have realized that kids can be happy playing for hours with most anything - especially unconventional non-toy items, but also some everyday household items. These items include, but are not limited to:

• Empty plastic Easter eggs
• Empty boxes of any shape or size
• Paper - especially that of which we do not want them to rip
• Lacing strings (Ethan thinks they are lassos - yes, a super hero thing)
• Any string, loose or attached to something
• Leaves
• Laundry hampers - especially empty ones that they can knock over and get into
• Anything in a cupboard or drawer - doesn't matter what
• The bathroom sink
• Light and ceiling fan switches (hours of fun!)
• TV Remotes
• Our cell phones (Collin called some lady last week on my phone then hung up... she called back to find out who it was... that was a fun conversation)
• Our regular phone
• Mommy and daddy's fragile mental state

And this $5 bookshelf... You would have thought it was the latest and greatest thing out right now, and that it would make them the envy of the neighborhood. Hmmm, Santa's making a new list this year...

This looks like fun.

Oliver decided during their art project that he would rather paint his hand then the paper. And just look at this concentration... tongue out and all.

Oliver, I love your creatively, but just so we are are clear, no permanent paint/ink like substances are allowed on your body until... well... never. Okay sweetie?

Balancing act

Saturday night, while we were waiting for Steve and Ethan to come home for dinner, the twins were getting fussy. When the twins get fussy, we start pulling out the crazy. One of which was me putting a plastic piece on my head and walking around with it. When it fell off, I put it back on and walked some more acting as if it was the coolest thing ever, then squatting down to let them take it off my head. Surprisingly enough, they loved this. Collin especially. He decided he wanted to do it too. He spent probably twenty minutes putting it on and trying balance it there. It was hilarious!

Frustrated determination face

Continued determination face

Thankfully they are still amused by such simple things... what will I do when they are older?

Determined...

...can be a word to describe all the kids really. Collin especially is always determined to get whatever it is he wants off the counter and into his little hands - whether it be the TV remote, a car, his binky or food to name a few things. In this case, it was food. I cut up a pineapple before dinner, while waiting on Steve and Ethan to return from the store. I had it safely up on the counter, pushed back. I went to change Oliver and while doing this, Collin walked in chewing something. What? Yes, you guessed it. So, I decided to document him in action. What is missing, of course, are the shots of him stretching with all his might to get the cutting board and pull it over to the edge. I have no idea how he managed it, but maybe his superhero name should really be changed to Mr. Fantastic, from Superman.

Last day of preschool

Thursday was Ethan's last day of preschool this year. Ethan actually really loved going to school. He learned the days of the week in part because he loved going to school so much that he knew when Tuesday and Thursday were (his class days). He made a lot of friends through the course of the year, which he told me he was very sad not to be able to see every week. Say it with me "Awwwwww." Hopefully at least a few will be in his class next year.

Ethan with his teachers: Mrs. Anderson (Mrs. A - on right) and Mrs. Zaborski (Mrs. Z - and the reason for the initial calling instead of last name - on left)

Since I knew he was sad about preschool ending, I took the afternoon off and we to COSI to celebrate. We had a blast! Since it was almost 2 pm on a weekday, we had almost the entire place to ourselves for all intents and purposes (an added bonus I didn't know about). We played in the zid's zone, looked at the funky frogs in the frog exhibit, walked around the space exhibit, played with all the cool stuff in the gadgets area, went through the life exhibit and then walked through the progress town.

Playing in the water area.

Getting super hero "powers" (of course)

Building in the gadget exhibit

Our final creation

It's great that we have such a fun children's museum in town. I remember as a child taking the long field trips down to Columbus to visit the old COSI (in the old building). I also remember some trips with Amy and Katie when she was just a little one! Remember those Amy? Can you believe your baby is at Senior prom today?

We became members in March, hoping that we could take each child (young and old) to the museum at different times for some one on one fun... and maybe some group fun too. I am sure there are many more good memories to come over the years, adding to my older ones. I can't wait to add to them!

Mmmmmmmmmm

I smell something good...

Sharon Woods

Today was the Mother's Day lunch at Ethan's preschool. We did artwork with the kids and had circle time as well. Of course, guess who forgot her camera? I have some neat artwork Ethan did that I may scan and load later.

After the lunch, Ethan and I went to Sharon Woods, one of our many local parks. He hasn't been for a while - long enough to have forgotten what it was like. After being there awhile, I remembered that I could use my phone to take photos - though not as good, still something. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and I was after all with one of my favorite little men and I needed some photos (I REALLY wish I had remembered my good camera!).

We went to the farthest area of the park, which to me is the best in that it has the pond, a playground and a walking path in the woods.

He climbed the giant rock.
Looked for fish in the pond.

Ventured into the woods in search of "nature".

Blew (MANY) dandelions.

And reflected.

He was telling this dandelion that he would find him his family.

Oh yea, and we had ice cream - Cold Stone - Ethan insisted. Chocolate with gummie bears (it pained me to agree to gummi bears... artificial colors and flavors... augh!)... see, I am not the meanest mom in the world. You need some pure sugar to balance out the spinach popsicles and whole wheat everything I feed him!

On a side note, thank you to all the Franklin County folks that passed the Metro Park levy this month! We have some great parks and I am glad everyone supports them!