Lessons Learned

So I haven't developed a marketing campaign in a few years but I can now multi-task with the best of them. I am also learning new things every week. Such as Mr. Clean Magic Erasers really do get crayon and non-washable marker off the walls and the best way to get ink out of clothing is with a combination of one-part rubbing alcohol and two-parts water. It even gets out Sharpie marks with a little extra effort (that one was my fault). And if you ever send a red crayon through the dryer with your load of whites....use baking soda to get the marks out. It really works. We couldn't believe it. Life sure changes with kids.

Mirra is now experimenting with 'real' food. It is fun to watch what she is interested in eating. So far she likes mac & cheese, grilled chicken, nuggets, baked beans, and of course spaghetti. What is not fun are the 'real' diaper changes that go with it.

Drew is mastering his bike riding. He is ready for the training wheels to come off but so far he doesn't want us to. We have to find a way to convince him that having training wheels off is a good thing. Kind of like how the new big boy booster seat was a good thing. We welcome any ideas.

Summer is here...

...and so are the snakes. I have vowed to myself to try not to pass this fear of mine on to my kids. However, when I saw the slithering little sucker in the grass near my barefooted son I squealed like a child, scooped him up and ran away with a kid on each hip. So Drew learned today that "Mama is scared of snakes." At least I told him pointedly that I am very glad he is not scared of snakes.

Sketti Head

Now that Mirra has 4 teeth, with 2 more waiting in the wings, I decided to give her spaghetti. I figured that if I could get the whole family to eat the same meal it would make dinner much easier and more enjoyable. Mirra could not get enough! She was shoveling the pasta and tiny dices of meatballs into her mouth one fistfull after another. I had to slow her down to make sure she wouldn't choke. When she was done she just sat back and gave me this huge grin. Pretty funny. Too bad Drew didn't eat it.





Yesterday we were playing outside and our neighbor lady was walking to the pond to feed the koi. As we started walking in her direction Mirra waved to her, which was a first. Then Drew came running up to her and presented her with a small bouquet of violets. That's my boy!

Sidenote: my cell phone has died. I should be up an running again in a few weeks.

Ohh......

I was playing with Mirra the other day and flipped her upside down. I saw FOUR teeth in her top gum that she is cutting. Yikes! No wonder my normally happy, smiley baby girl has morphed into a clingy, sleepless, shrieking, demon child.

Deep Thoughts

I thought spending $70 on a blender was absurd unitil I bought a $20 one and learned that my expectation for it to blend something evenly or crush ice was apparently unrealistic. Hmmm...

Snooze

Drew's class went on a field trip to the firehouse last week. Drew was in the ambulance and asked "do you want to take a nap?" He then crawled up on the bed and tried to cover up for a snooze.

Fairies It Is

You have to love the Dollar Tree. I found four of these little fairies there for a buck each. I think they will be perfect for Mirra's birthday. They can stand around the cake, which I am planning to make into a mushroom fairy house with flowers and butterflies. I'm a dork, I get giddy planning birthday parties.

Mirra has been up at night AGAIN. Last week she was sick. I'm guessing it is her teeth now. Her third tooth has popped through and I can see a fourth. Other than that she is fine. She is still asserting her personality. Her favorite hobbies are playing with Drew and crawling up the stairs.

Drew's new interest is worms. While outside last week Andy gave him an earthworm. Now Drew wants to find "wiggly worms" every time he goes outside. He has also added The Chicken Dance to his repertoire. The last picture posted below is him doing the Hokey Pokey. Now we just need a wedding so he show off his moves.

We are planning on painting and carpeting our living room in the next few weeks. Who knew it would be so difficult to choose a shade of tan???

Happy Retirement Dad!

My dad is officially retired. We are hoping to see a lot more of him now. Congratulations Dad!

Stinkerbell Strikes Again

Mirra was boycotting her lunch today.







Drew is becoming quite the negotiator. If I tell him 5 more jumps in the creek he will counter with 10. If he asks "how about 3 crackers?", I respond "how about some carrots?". He then replies "how about 2 crackers?" This is only the beginning, I know:)

Photos

Drew in our creek
















Drew found this mud puddle in our yard irresistable
















Mirra the tiger


















Mirra is reaching up to grab Drew's Easter basket

More Drewisms

Drew's newest interest is the Hokey Pokey. He really has it down and it is pretty cute to watch. The kid has the moves.

He is still learning to share with his sister. He often asks her "what's wrong, Baby Mirra?" Translation: Mirra has something I want and I don't like it one bit. Then he pats her on the head in a very controlled manner and gives her a hug to distract her while he takes back the object of interest.

We went to the zoo Friday with my parents. We saw the penguins which Drew was very excited about. He has a thing for Macaroni penguins. He kept calling the Rockhopper penguins Macaroni penguins because they look similar. These ladies were watching his excitement and were talking to him. Drew starts talking about Macaroni penguins again and one lady says "I don't know, let's ask them." She then looks at the penguins and says "Do you like spaghetti?" Cracked me up. We then saw a walrus that was a giant ham. He was pressed up to the glass with his flippers crossed and was spitting up in the air, soaking up all the attention. Drew kept saying "he's not scared." I asked him who was not scared. "Walrus." Then we asked him if he was scared of the walrus and he said "yeah." That night after I read his bedtime story he was still talking about the scary walrus.

His favorite thing to do right now is to play in the creek. Anytime we go outside he heads straight for it. He goes through 3+ changes of clothes a day because he gets soaked running and jumping in the water.

Mirra is fine. She still hasn't popped that third tooth through, but I can see it right beneath her gum so it won't be long. She loves to hug her brother and pats him on the back. I will try to get a picture of it for you. The last time we tried to capture it on film she turned and started picking Drew's nose right as the flash went off. Lovely:)

Playdate

Here are pictures from our playdate with my cousin, Nicole's kids. Colin is 3 days older than Mirra and Hannah and Drew are both 4.