Kidlets

So, Tuesday was the first day of spring, but somebody forgot to tell Mother Nature because we had a snowfall this week. At least it quickly melted and I love some puddle jumping pictures.

Avery is usually pretending to be a puppy. She crawls out of bed and nuzzles me when she wakes up. She barks much more than attempting English. She also prefers her meals under the table. So, she was pleased to realize that her hoodie today has puppy ears.

I was pleased to find her wanting to play with my make-up sponge because it was such a human behavior =)

I was also quick to grab the camera when the kids took a rare interest in dress-up today. As Tate donned his Dr. Seuss hat, he declared "I'm ready to go on vocation now!". We will be travelling to the coast for our annual family getaway soon. He also said today, "I have a great idea! Let's take a beach ball to the beach!" That's really only funny when you hear him say it =) I enjoy his "I have a great idea..." statements.

A day in the life...

Here's one Sunday when I took a risk and put Avery in a white dress. What?! Oh yes, and a miracle occured...it stayed white!

This has just been a weird day...so far.

It began with Avery, who missed her nap yesterday (usual for a Sunday), yet still woke up earlier than usual (and earlier than anyone else).

Then, as I exited the shower, I heard the doorbell. A situation can sometimes be remedies by pointing out "this is awkward". But it all depends on how the statement is received. This morning, it didn't help. The old electrician-man in my house didn't say, "Hey, no worries, if I had a penny for every time I've answered the door in nothing but a bathrobe and let the unexpected electrician in..."

I wasn't told they were coming to replace our electrical panel today, hence the surprise. And, hence the reason I postponed preschool (which was to be held in our home). I didn't want extra 4 year-olds running around our backyard with a live wire sitting in the grass.

So, we tried to busy ourselves with books and games, and then I realized no electricity means no heat! The temperature was dropping as my friend called to invite us over for a play-date this afternoon to which I replied, "How about we barge over now =)". She kindly obliged and we enjoyed the morning in their home. But not until I ran to the bank and then returned home for my phone and then realized it was sitting in the car console staring me in the face the entire ride.

After the playdate, there was still no heat, so we headed to McD's for lunch. My fingers shocked the worker as I handed her the money and she screamed =) As soon as we got home Tate was begging for food. When I asked him "What was the purpose of us going to McDonalds?" he said, of course, "To play."

By the way, Tate's new fighting power is to pretend to throw something out you and say "Splat!" I liked mom's comment "That's the worst. A wet mess on you" Oh mom, you're so funny.

Thankfully, Avery slept for a good while when we got home. Even though there was lots of drill noise and no heat and her door being opened with lights being flicked on and off to check for power.

The moral of this rambling is: heat is awesome!!

Goings-on

Tate was at preschool yesterday and dismantled the child-lock door handle. When asked about it, he gave his "It was somebody." shrug. So, Katie had a talk with the boys about lying and he leaned over to his cousin and said, "I did it."

Avery pulled a typical shower-adventure Friday morning: I come out of the shower to find that she hoisted herself up to the spice rack and dumped yellow butter-flavored popcorn seasoning all over. That seasoning was gross anyway. And my house is filthy anyway. I've been saving money on cleaning supplies by not cleaning.

Never a dull moment =) These are some photos that Tate requested. After each picture, he came to see how it turned out on camera, quite pleased with himself each time.

p.s. We used some tax return money for fun today: Costco kleenex and toilet paper! I'm giddy with the excitement that I won't have to buy more for months!! And if the giant black garbage bag in the white trash near Avery in her picture offends you as it does me, sleep well knowing that I finally broke down and also bought appropriately sized white bags =)

Sleeping Beauties

So, I have really been enjoying Avery's 2 year old stage. When Tate was 2, I was a little bit concerned that my child may be a maniac. Now with Avery I am a bit more relaxed as I recognize that all 2 year olds are maniacs, and it has no bearing on their long-term state-of-mind.

However, this has been a rough couple of days. If Avery isn't picking on her brother (note the scratches on Tate's forehead inflicted by said maniac today), she's climbing on me and trying to give me a pounding. I decided that this girl just needs someone to wrestle with her for several hours a day! Then, I remembered that I said the same thing when Tate was younger, and Eric did return many a night from work to wrestle Tate for a good while. So, I have been reminded again that she's normal (at least for our children =) and once again I shall request that Eric come home ready to rumble!

Also, Avery refuses to sleep in a bed lately. She's been sleeping on the floor for weeks.

p.s. I'm aware that I could wrestle with her, and I do, but I have never enjoyed wrestling and dad's better at it anyway=)

p.p.s. Apparently Tate was listening in Primary Sunday when they talked about choices. This morning Avery and Tate came in my bed and she was kicking him. He yelled, "That's fighting Avery! It's called a bad choice!!"

A Girl After My Own Heart

We went on a sweets run last Friday night. I always want donuts and Eric always wants ice-cream. This little chica-lica opted for both. I love her joy =) She loves her some sweets and I totally understand!

Yesterday when Tate hopped out of the bath tub, I wasn't ready to assist him with his towel yet. In distress, he plead, "But I am going to turn into a germ!" Huh?

Then, after I helped him with the towel and as he was getting dressed he said, "Oh, thank you! Now I'm not going to be a germ."

Later I told Eric about his odd statements, and I think Eric may have figured it out: Tate has a cold, and we've discussed germs. (You know, how he should stop using his entire palm to wipe the snot all over his face!) When he got out of the tub and was cold, he was relating it to the previously mentioned germs. Funny kid.

Also recently, we were watching the TLC show, "Income Property". At one point, they were using hammers to demolish some walls. Tate says, "I got an idea! We use hammers and knock our house down." Then, in the same breath, "No! I like our house" with a smile. Either he's making more jokes, or just really had a swell idea, until he thought it through =)

And finally, Tate is reaching a point where he's letting me know that "he's not silly!". I often laugh at him and the sometimes quirky things that come out of his mouth, but yesterday he got mad when I laughed. I understand, but c'mon, he's funny!

**Explicit Warning**

Last week Avery was napping and when I checked on her, I had to search the room. Here she was, just waking up, having slept under the crib.

Tate says funny things. Last night he was reading books with me on my bed. He jumped up to leave the room and stopped in the doorway to whisper back to me, "In two months, we go to the beach. In three months....it's Saturday!"

This morning he was discussing the position of the white underwear he was about to put on. "Straight lines here mean the front. This is where my butt goes. And this is where my wiener goes. And here is where my feet go." He proceeds to put them on and says, "This looks like a bump, but it's my wiener."

Pinterest and Pudding

Ma bought Aves some dresses for next winter, but I've been rolling up the sleeves and testing them out because they're so fun. She looks a little hillbilly in this first picture =)

Believe it or not, I've heard people complain about Pinterest being a waste of time. Oh, party poopers, look here I say!! This took 5 seconds to figure out from the Pinterest picture and look how cute Avery's little Pinterest hair turned out!
Avery joins our preschool co-op when it's in our home. Writing in pudding today was her favorite. Mom pointed out that in the majority of the pictures of my children, they have some sort of food smothered on their angel faces. No reason to stop now that that has come to my attention!


When asked who hit this kid at the gym nursery this afternoon, Avery covered her face with her hands. Classic guilty move, dear.