Where do I begin...

I'll just start with this... the other day Rick and I gave each other one of those 'knowing' looks with regard to Aidan and I actually said out loud, "Does he come with a manual?"
I tell you, this kid requires to be watched at ALL times. Boys are foreign... even though we date them and marry them but raising them??? A few days ago he climbs on the couch and I find him sitting on the window sill. The incessant climbing, jumping, throwing. It's in their blood- these aren't learned traits. Abby didn't show him. We certainly don't spend our free time doing those things for him to copy. If I am even remotely on the floor picking up toys or wiping up crumbs, this 2 year old is capable of shoving me down and hopping on saying "Go that way Mama" because I am apparently his personal pony ride. Aside from the biggest loves of his life, 1) His nigh-night 2) his daddy and 3) me-me, he has a new fondness for car washes. If you mention the word car wash he will bolt to the door like a dog thinking it's going on a walk and he won't let up. Car wash has to either be spelled out or whispered around him. Yes, there was a time when he loved his sister's dress up shoes but he's moved on to trains, tractors, garbage trucks, and now electrical cords. Yes, electrical cords. Ceiling fans- I can tell sometimes he is trying to figure out how to A) swing from the one in Abby's room or B) calculate the distance and arm force required to throw something at the spinning fan. Abby's teachers are always telling us how well behaved she is, great listening, so patient, etc. Aidan's go home notes consist of he wouldn't leave Chloe alone, discussed with him and he decided not to participate. This makes me laugh. One because it's typical toddler behavior and two because it's so...boy. He's stubborn. He says no about 127 times a day. He pushes us. He taunts his sister. He gives the best hugs and kisses. He's completely attached to his blanket. He has an intense attachment to his daddy. I get to be his mom and for that I am blessed. Mom's of boys... I have a great appreciation.

Girly Girl Time

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Ash and I took Abby for her first pedicure.

Gotta sneak in one of the boys

Practice reading with Ashley

More Happy Kids

Is it just me

Or do his ears they look bigger??? Aren't you glad to see me-me again?

Week-ending in Pictures

After 4 days of after work/school pool time, come Saturday Abby decided that she would rather color than play in the pool. This allowed for some much needed house cleaning, laundry, ironing, groceries, berry cobbler making, library visiting, Costco list making, bagel and TJ Maxx errands. Did I say TJ Maxx? I rarely go there and I need to more often. We dropped in awhile back and they had My Little Pony stuff... which Abby is into right now so we picked up a few things for Christmas (yes, it's never too early to start). Anyway I took the kids back today because I was looking for a gift and let me tell you I will NEVER pay full price for a bra again. They have name brand bras for $9.99. Ok so maybe not never, but you get my drift.

What else happened this week? Aidan took a big fall down the stairs. The most awful thumping, thuds you can imagine, combined with his screams. I felt sick to my stomach even days later. Miraculously he is fine. He was walking around with a tote over his head and then it happened. BOYS. Not sure why the gate wasn't closed- can't remember if I left it open or if Abby did when she went down to see her dad. Sunday brought Church, naps (for everyone except Abby) and The Wiggles!!

Latest quote from Abby, "Daddy is a drama queen and Mom is the boss of the house." Ha!

Pre-Wiggles

She LOVED the binoculars

Anthony, Jeff, Murray, Sam

This one includes Captain Feathersword, Henry, Dorothy, & Wags

My sweet boy

Berry Cobbler!!! Yeah for CSA!!!

This picture deserves it's own story. Do you know what this is? It's a fly swatter. A TEN DOLLAR fly electrocute-r. It basically fries them. I sent my husband to the store one night for a tomato? maybe more. He comes home with this. Yep, my husband, the penny pincher. I rolled my eyes at him and told him it wasn't on the list. Impulse buy. Apparently, even he has weak moments. But let me tell you- this thing ROCKS. You don't have to try to swat the fly you simply put it near the fly, press the button, and watch it smoke, sizzle and even spark.

I am amazed at how much older she looks lately

This is the funniest picture ever. Dress up. One shoe. Running.

I see this look in my future. Say... age 14?

In all seriousness...

Aidan has contracted a very rare, and serious case of invisible umbilical cord (to his dad). I think we need to stage an intervention. If daddy is out of Aidan's line of vision, it's not pretty. If mommy even attempts to pull said child from daddy's arms just to get one goodbye kiss before leaving for work, trauma ensues. If daddy is at work, child goes into denial stating daddy is merely at Fred Meyer and will be home soon. If child wakes in the middle of the night, daddy is called. If, in the morning child wakes up for the day with daddy at work and Mommy goes in to get child, child reacts with much disappointment. Please turn off my music at bottom of page before playing video.

New Pool

This was the answer to a very long, unpleasant day at work!!! Coming home to play time with my babies...

Crank it Up

Turn up the sound cause this is a really good song...

The week (end)...We survived had a successful garage sale. Thank you again to Mom and Alan for the last mintue use of the extra tables. Rick really set this whole thing up... cause... well... I've been in a funk lately and have pretty much checked out. On to random brighter topics, I'm still enjoying getting a bag of farm fresh produce from our CSA. I had onions the size of small bowling balls. I chopped them up to freeze and I had 5 zip lock bags worth- out of 2 onions!! Got some purple carrots- chopped and froze those for future spaghetti sauce. Last week was more zucchini and blueberries- I made 4 loaves of blueberry zucchini bread today. We get lettuce every week- made a really good chicken sausage salad with walnuts and blue cheese and granny smith apples. Cabbage too for chinese chicken salad. It's been FUN.

please pray for this little girl and her parents http://www.prayforkate.com/

Girly girl working on her new puzzle


From last week- Rick's firework show

God Bless America

Friday Heat Wave

Rick had to work Friday and today, the 4th. I was so excited to have the day off to.... clean house!! I did take the kids outside for some pool time- but the slide on the pool is leaking and the girly girl doesn't like the bugs in the pool. So all of 10 minutes was spent outside. Aidan took a 3 hour nap!! I got the house clean, laundry and ironing done and even some closet and dresser space cleaned out for our upcoming garage sale. PRODUCTIVE!