Life with Kids

Tate was singing "I'm getting a mitten for Christmas" this morning even after I tried correcting him-It's "I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas"!

Lane watched Aristocats with us this evening and then proceeded to excitedly play the piano on all fours like the cats.

Avery has been a pig for much of the day-on all fours snorting with a silly face.

We found a book at the library called "The Obstinate Pen" by Frank W. Dormer.  I may have to buy it just to watch Tate crack up at all the things this pen rebeliously writes, such as "go kiss a monkey".  Comedy gold for a 5 year old!

Rambling post just for my own memory's sake

Last year Tate drank some raspberry crystal light and threw-up, thus deciding that it was the red juice that induced the incident, which it wasn't.  Ever since he won't touch "red juice".

Tonight he decided that he's not "allergic" to red juice anymore.  He was drinking it fine and even trying dinner, as Eric was enforcing that he had to have one bite of carrot, steak, and mashed potato before he could eat an orange roll.  We asked him how he liked the steak and he said, "It tastes like chocolate. And chicken."  He was chugging along quite impressively for his usual picky self when he tried a potato skin.  He made a yucky face as he chewed it, but said it tasted good when I asked.  Then he proceeded to upchuck all that hard work, including the red juice.  Perhaps he really is allergic to red juice!

I asked him if he felt okay and he said that his tooth was loose.  That's tooth number three in a matter of a couple of weeks.  Maybe he's allergic to loose teeth.  He may be on a jello diet soon since he won't have any teeth to chew with.  He would be ecstatic if that were all he had to eat =)

After Avery saw Tate throw-up, she took a bite of carrot, probably for the first time ever, and then spit it all out on her plate as she had just seen Tate do.  Nice.

I know my kids are not good influences on their cousin.  For example, note Lane's heels in the first picture.

We enjoyed a playdate today and as they left Avery repeatedly yelled "Bye!" to Mikele with a final "I love you!" as she left.  It made me laugh.  I've been saying bye and I love you to Tate as he goes to preschool.  Avery has begun copying me and gets quite angry if Tate neglects to single her out with an "I love you, too, Avery."

Tate's prayer at dinner went something like this (he mumbles in prayers, so this is what I caught of it):

Dear Heavenly Father,
bless this food,
...be excited,
have faith,
choose the right-that means be good,
and you get what you get and you don't throw a fit,
Amen.

Also, have I mentioned he recently lost his 2 bottom front teeth?  I haven't taken a picture with both missing, but here's a blurry shot from when the first came out.  It happened so fast and took me by surprise, making me feel old.  He was excited about the tooth fairy with tooth #1, but it's been 4 days since #2 came out and he still hasn't put the tooth under his pillow.  He wants to wait until he spends all his money before he earns more or gets some from the tooth fairy.  I believe he had about $4.75 leftover from b-day, tooth fairy, and one day of housework with me so we went to the mall to spend it.  He went on a 75 cent ride, bought some candy and a bouncy ball from the 25 cent machines, and bought his own frozen yogurt.  He still has a couple bucks left.  It's interesting to me to see his attitude towards money.  We have a lot more teaching to do =)  Such as:  it's okay to earn more even if you already have some and to save it!

Sweet Dreams

Here's another gem that I love.  

These kids fight like nobody's business.

Then crack each other up to jokes that I don't get.

Tonight I attempted to put Avery to bed first in her little toddler bed before Tate to minimize the wrestling and staying up so late and general bedtime drama.  The plan was to put Tate down once she was asleep.  But after putting him to bed and waiting a bit, this is what Eric and I went in to see.  Both tuckered out on Tate's big bed-forehead to forehead =)  In the end, they're little buddies.

November at the Coast

You don't have to teach a girl attitude.  We're born with it.

Here's my favorite beach picture from last week.

It was a fast and fabulously relaxing week-thanks mom for having a birthday and for footing the bill.  Thanks to everyone for coming!

And thank you sweet cousins Lydia and Taegen for letting Avery tag-along from time to time.