Out of the mouthes of babes

"Mommy, out of mouf! Yucky! Dat not food!" , said Norah to mommy when I had a chip clip in my mouth b/c my hands were full with busying myself getting her snack.

"Mommy, I just can't believe that the twins are going to be three! Can you?", said Aidan to mommy as he was going pee last night, 9/29.

They sure can crack me up sometimes.

Artist in Residence

Aidan has really blossomed when it comes to his drawing abilities. It just amazes me with the things he's been drawing lately. They're so cool!
Take for instance these two recent doodles. The first is Cinderella's carriage with a horse pulling it, and sun and clouds in the sky. The second is him riding his bike.
WOW.

Reality Bites

This morning, the kids were watching 'Little Einsteins' before school when it was interrupted by an Amber Alert. Immediately, all 3 freaked out, screaming and whining that something was wrong and that mommy needed to fix it and that they wanted their show back. I explained to Aidan that this was an emergency message alert because a little kid was stolen from their parents and needed to be found. This message was very important, because it let grown-ups know that they needed to watch out for this bad person who took the kid and if we see the kid, we need to call the police. He thought about it for awhile, and then came the barrage of questions: why would someone steal a kid? what makes people bad? what do we say when we call the police? do you call 9-1-1? what was this little kid doing? was he being naughty - is that why? ....and so on.

Later on, after school, Aidan was playing in the playroom with his pirate ship and Little People pirates. I was cleaning up lunch in the kitchen and overheard him acting out his own scene where a child (a parrot) was taken by a pirate and the other pirate was calling 9-1-1 to get the police to come and take away the 'bad guy' pirate. Wow. It gave me an icky feeling that he had to learn that so young :(

Swiper, No Swiping!

Dearest Norah,
One would assume that given that Dora the Explorer is one of your favorite shows, and that you love to say, "fiper, no fipin'" and that, on occasion, you've even accused your brother Elliott of swiping and yelled at him for it, that you would not partake in any swiping of your own. But alas, I guess that is certainly not the case.
This past Friday night, while at the Fun Fair with your daddy and brothers, you apparently wanted this little purple ball that was a door prize. When you were denied said ball, you got angry and tried again and he denied you again and a tantrum ensued. Later on, your daddy found you with the hot goods in your hand.
One could go so far as saying that you are a very persistant little girl.
But gee....maybe you should think about taking a lesson from Dora and Swiper?

Blah Blah Blah...(a big fat update)

This past Friday, Aidan started a 5 week stint of library time that goes for 30 minutes without mommy in the room. Because it goes from 1:30-2:00 (aka, naptime), two of the moms from his classroom are alternating picking him up and taking him with their daughters. When we first talked about it, he wanted to sign up for the library time. But then, as the day approached, he got quite nervous about it. He did NOT want to go without mommy.
Friday came, and I was actually gone that afternoon, but Chris said that once he came home, he was so happy and excited about it! The mom that took him had gotten him a video from the library, as well. He said, "I want to go again!" Hooray!! He's growing up!

Tonight is Parent's Night in his classroom and he chose to take his daddy (only one parent can attend, due to the classroom size). This afternoon, he's clearly excited about it, talking about how he's going to get to play with daddy in all the centers, as well as eat a snack with daddy. They're actually doing a mock-day (cramming their 2.5 hr day into 45 mins). So this will be really neat.

School is still going super well. Aidan's taken great interest in writing. Every day, he likes to get out a pencil and paper and practice his writing. We need to branch out from writing his name, though, as that is all he's writing as of now. I also notice that his drawings are maturing. He's adding 'blue sky' to his outdoor drawings and paintings and his people are becoming more round and more complex. He's also starting to copy things he sees. Like yesterday I drew an apple and a pumpkin for him to cut out, and then he drew and apple and apumpkin and did a pretty damn good job at it. Very cool.

In Norah and Elliott news, I am still amazed at how well they've done with the room split. We thought for sure that Norah would have a hard time, but nope. Not at all. When they wake up, they do ask for each other, but that's about it. Last night, Norah took some time going to sleep and it sounded like she was having a private party in her room. She was singing the A-B-C's, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Twinkle Twinkle, and having a conversation with herself. But not once did she get out of bed.

As much as they love each other, they love love love to fight with each other. Ugh. Today we got home after walking Aidan to school and I told them to go up to the front porch while I put the stroller in the backyard. Norah turned around and for no apparent reason, clocked Elliott in the bean with Skarloey. Elliott started bawling and I went to soothe him and turned to tell Norah to sit her little butt down when Elliott turned and charged Norah, pushing her down to the ground. I actually had to turn and giggle, because its rare that Ellie defends himself. :) Granted, he's taken to doing it more often, but he still whines and cries and runs to me more often than not.

My Littlest Shitbird

Elliott. You are such a little stinker. You have that smile that you flash that anyone can take a look at and just immediately know that you're up to something. Its also a smile that makes anyone forgive you for the trouble that you get into and the shit that you've done.

Take for instance the past two evenings and today at naptime. You're now in your big boy bed, in the new bedroom with Aidan, preferring the top bunk over the bottom (hey...whatever works!). You're so stealth. We thought that you were sleeping, but an hour later, a small noise will give it away and we'll go upstairs to discover you wide awake, playing. In the case of nighttime, both times it was with the light on and Aidan was sound alseep just inches away. And Norah was sound asleep down the hall in her big girl bed, as well.
You know you're not supposed to do it. Every day, you get into bed and say, "I stay in bed. I don't get up...dat vewy naw-nee." Yet, you still do it. Aye.

Today you tried bringing a dead worm into the house. Now that is just gross. You and your sister are just loving all the worms, dead and alive, around here lately from all the recent rains. I guess I wasn't paying attention when you picked this dead crusty up and tried bringing it in. I saw something foreign in your hand and asked you to leave the stick outside. You threw the worm out the door and dropped it in front of my feet. EW! Gross! Boys. Yuck.

Kids are so cruel!

This morning we were at school, playing on the playground as usual, as we waited for the bell to ring. Aidan, Norah, and Elliott decided they wanted to go down the 'firepole' thing and there were some older kids there.... I am not certain how old they were....maybe senior kindergarten, maybe 1st grade? Anyway, Aidan went down the pole by himself and was so proud of himself and then the twins needed my assistance and these two boys had the nerve to make fun of my kids! They said, "look at him! he can't do it right" and snickered. And when the twins did it, they said, "they can't even do it alone!" ha ha ha ha. The mama lion in me wanted to lash out and punch them in the face for making fun of my kids. But I took a deep breath and said, "hey - they're little. Don't make fun of them - that isn't nice!" and then I took my kids and walked over to another play area, mumbling under my breath, "you little f*ckers."

The Toy Store

Earlier this week, Aidan called me into the playroom, saying, "mommy, come see what I made!", with utter pride in his voice. I went in to find this.

My initial reaction was to gasp, but then I giggled. He said, "Its a toy store, mommy! What do you want to buy?" He was just so proud of himself. Never mind he emptied off 2 shelves worth of toys. Aye. Creativity, right?

Proud Moments

Sometimes my babies can make me proud and make me laugh. Like last week, when we had to run into Old Navy to get their older brother a jacket and I realized that I forgot the stroller. I explained to them that I forgot the stroller and that they needed to stay by mommy and not run away and listen to me. If they were good, they'd get a popscicle when we got home. Low and behold, they actually listened. At one point, I looked back and there was Elliott, dancing like a little white boy, to the music Old Navy was playing. He cracked me up.
Of course, they got the popscicle when we got home.



And then there are times like this....when they go from smile to tantrum in under 2.3 seconds. I haven't figured out how to curb that one yet.

My babies are growing up!!!!

My twinadoes had their first day away from mommy yesterday. Like Aidan's first day of Kindergarten, it was bittersweet.

In our town, we've got a sort of drop-in preschool type deal that we've got a membership to. Yesterday I decided to utilize it for the first time. After dropping off Aidan at school, I made sure they had room for the dynamic duo, and then hauled them on over. Once we were in the door, they immediately took off to play. I signed them in, handed over their stuff, and left to go enjoy some quality 'me' time.

2.5 hours later, I went to pick them up. I was assured that Norah cried a little when she realized I left and she went to hide in a tunnel. They sent Elliott over to hug her, and not 30 seconds later, the two of them were giggling and happy as larks!! When they saw me, I asked if they had fun, and Norah emphatically said, "YES, Mommy!" :)

That was their first time away from me, out of the house. They've been in kid care at the gym, but I am there. They've had babysitters, but they're at our house. So this was a big step for my little babies. One step closer to preschool. Its just so surreal, because it honestly seems like just yesterday they were these teeny tiny little things that were so fragile. And now, well, they are not. They're healthy, vivacious, typical little toddlers who are about to turn 3 next month!!!!!!

I need some cheese to go with all this whine, please

My boy Elliott sure loves to whine. This boy whines about anything and everything. And he doesn't need to be tired to whine. He whines if he needs a napkin. He whines if he wants a toy. He whines if he wants a snack or beverage. He whines if there is a fuzz or hair on his hand. One would speculate that it would be so much easier to instead say, "milk please!" or "napkin please!" or even, "mommy, get the hair off me!" I mean, sometimes it takes me a good 5 minutes to figure out what he's whining for. I am wondering if he secretly enjoys whining. Hrm.

Mindless Musings of a Tired Mama

As I was laying in bed with my sick Ellie this morning, Aidan was in the playroom, playing. Or so I thought. When I got up, I found that most of what had been on the shelves was now in a pile in the middle of the playroom floor. I commented on the mess and Aidan looked up at me and said, "Its not a mess, mommy. I made an accident scene."
Oh...so that is what they're calling it these days.

Bedtime with Miss Norah was a total success last night! I couldn't be more happy!!! She actually slept until 8:30 am today, which is completely unheard of! Definately her mama's girl....loves sleeping in!
I hope this is a sign of things to come. How nice would that be?
Of course, I am sure Elliott will be a total pill to go from crib to bed. Isn't that how it works?

Elliott came down with some odd virus last night....fever, shivers, puking. Yuck. This morning, he was eating a popscicle and looked at me and said, "mommy, I shaking." And yup...poor baby was totally shaking. :( So pathetic. When he talked to his grandma on the phone, he made sure he mentioned that he puked in mommy's bed and that he just ate a green popscicle. Whether or not she understood him, is another story.

They all keep me on my toes. I wonder if there will ever be a day of boredom?

one giant step for a little girl!!

Tonight after books were read, I went to put Norah in her crib and she said, "no! I go big girl bed, mommy!" I explained to her that if I put her in her big girl bed, she had to stay in there and if she got up, she'd go in her crib. Well low and behold....Miss Princess went right to sleep!!!!

Holy shit!

We've made it through the week!

Morning #2... yeah....that didn't go quite as smoothly. He was equally excited to go to school, however, I neglected to tell him that I would not be allowed to go into the classroom with him and would be saying my goodbye on the playground. Oh yeah...that went over as well as ketchup on a white shirt. The teacher ended up dragging him and another equally distressed boy by the hands into the school.
Apparently he wasn't scarred by it. When I picked him up, he was all smiles again.

Morning #3 was fabulous. Aidan got in line, gave me hugs and kisses, and waved goodbye with a big smile. Crud - I almost cried. He's officially a big boy now.

Funny thing, though. Every day when I pick him up and ask about his day, the first thing he tells me about is the snack they had. Odd kid.

Tomorrow is the end of the school week. Wow. That flew by. And already we're being bombarded with PTA stuff, fundraising crap, book orders, etc. Its a whole new world....

Off to school...

What a bittersweet day it was. In some ways, I feel like I've been looking forward to this day for 3 years now. And in other ways, it feels like this day has snuck up on me too quickly. Where has my baby gone? It seriously seems like just yesterday that Aidan was this little stubborn bundle in my arms, making his "eh eh" noises and thrashing his head around. This is the little dude who slept with us for years on end because he didn't want to leave our sides. This is the little man who cried when I took him to preschool every morning, and chased me down the hallway, unless his teacher was holding him.

Boy have times changed.


Aidan was so excited for his first day of kindergarten. He practically ran to school. Watching him walk to his classroom in his class line....wow. That is my 4.5 year old. He hung up his backpack and went and sat down on the carpet with the rest of the kids. I hugged and kissed him and he didn't shed a single tear. I left.

I can't believe it. I really can't!!
When we picked him up later, he said he had a fun day. He talked about the popcorn snack, about the book they read (something about animals and underwear), and said that they played. We let him pick where he wanted to go to lunch as a treat, as well (even though daddy tried to sway him to mexican. Aidan had his mind made up! )

Tomorrow: day 2. I still can't believe it.
Oh well....at least he still crawls into our bed in the morning to snuggle. I still have that. :)

Her mommy's daughter; his daddy's son...

We set up Miss Norah's big girl bed this weekend. Once the cool new bedding was on it, I called Norah in to show it to her and her reaction? "No, dat not Norah bed. DAT [pointing to her crib] Norah bed!" Uh oh.
Yep - she's her mama's girl. She's strong willed, stubborn, and feisty. She is *not* a morning person. She wakes up and needs time to acclimate herself to the world before she comes out of her crib. If you go get her prematurely, hell hath no fury like Norah.
Norah loves her fruit and could likely live on fruit and the occasionally piece of chocolate. She shuns all meat.
Her mama's girl? You betcha!

And Aidan....he may look like his mama and her family, but he's his daddy's boy through and through. He's a morning person...up early, in a good mood, and ready to play. He loooooves carbs. If I gave him a warm baguette loaf, I would venture to guess he'd eat the whole thing. And watch out! If this boy naps, there is nothing more ornery than Aidan (or his father) when they wake up. Its best to stay at bay for a good 30 minutes post-nap. They are real grumpalumpaguses.

All About Elliott

At the dinner table yesterday, Elliott was studying the school bus cookie he was eating, prior to taking each bite. He's very serious about about his sweets like this. He does not eff around when it comes to eating things like ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and popscicles. Every bite must be studied and examined before sinking the chompers in.
Anyway, as I was saying, he was eating said cookie daddy brought home for him and he said, "where'd da wheels go?" we both said we didn't know and he looked at and said, "in my tummy!" and laughed.

Today, I was asking the kids about their impending trip to the zoo with their daddy. We were talking about what animals they were going to see. When we got to the penguins, Norah said that they "waddle waddle" and Elliott exclaimed, "they bite me!" I said, "no they don't, you goofball!" and he emphatically declared, "yes, vey do!"

Oh - he is on a kick. Everyone bites him right now. ( *insert a big rolling eye face* )