holding onto my babies

thar be good

Have you tried this stuff? Thar be good is right! We had a sample of it a few weeks ago at Costco and it was delicious. I wanted more. I finally gave in to my cravings and bought some this morning. I told Danny it was pirate food. He said we could eat it when we're on the pirate boat (aka The Cruise).

I opened the bag in the car on the way home. Danny freaked out. After I got him calmed down enough to understand what he was saying, I realized that he thought we needed to save the pirate food for when we are actually on the pirate boat. We're not allowed to eat it before.

Luckily, there were two bags. I told him we'd eat one now and save the other one for later. That's probably not going to happen. I don't know why he even cares. He tried it and said it was yucky. All the more for me.

Shiver me timbers! It's yummy! (And ours is the Aged White Cheddar flavor in a 10 ounce bag, not Sea Salt and Vinegar in a puny little 1 ounce bag.)

first snow

October 12, 2008...first snow of the season

I love

those tractor jammies that no longer fit
the bed head hair do
the way he's kissing his reflection in the window
those long, dark eyelashes
that the snow covered up all the weeds in the ugly beauty strip
the way he said, "Gook, Mama! No!" over and over
(Look, Mama! Snow!)

I do not love

that if history repeats itself, this could happen again
two weeks from today.

(I'm referring to the snow, of course.
The bed head happens every day.)

I'm just not ready for it.

they fit

Note To Self:

The next time a certain four-year-old nephew
has tears in his eyes
and says his nose really really hurts
because he stuck candy up there
(one piece in each nostril),
instead of freaking out a tiny bit because little streams of
greenish and pinkish nasal discharge
are coming out of those nostrils,
just have him keep on blowing
and blowing
and blowing
and blowing
until that candy finally comes flying out.
Just wait a little bit and let that candy dissolve.
Because it will.
Or at least it will get really slippery.
Don't call this four-year-old nephew's dad at work
because there's no way you can take him to the doctor yourself
(kind of hard to do with a two-year-old and a one-year-old in tow)
and you're worried because he says it really hurts
and he's crying
and he can't seem to get it out.
Just let that four-year-old nephew
keep on trying to blow his nose
or maybe figure out some way to get him to sneeze.
That should do it.
And no more candy...ever.

Note To a Certain Four-Year-Old Nephew:

The next time you stick candy up your nose
(one piece in each nostril)
and it really really hurts
and little streams of greenish and pinkish
nasal discharge are coming out of those nostrils,
don't tell your Ever-So-Patient Aunt that
her two-year-old son told you to do it.
Just stick with the real reason.
You wanted to see if they would fit.
Here's a note to your own little self:
They fit.
Don't ever try that again.

Note To That Two-Year-Old Son:

The next time a certain four-year-old cousin of yours
puts candy up his nose
(one piece in each nostril),
you don't need to do it too.
And even if you go ahead and do it anyway,
please, oh, please do not take that candy out
of your nose and then eat it.
Next time just eat it first and skip the whole
sticking-it-in-your-nose thing.

Note To The One-Year-Old:

Do not do anything you see those little boys do.
Especially when it involves
noses
and
candy.

Note To The InstaCare Doctor:

Thanks for helping a certain four-year-old boy
blow his nose hard enough
to get the candy out.
I tried.
I think I loosened it for you though.
You do have that nifty little scope thingee to help you.
Thanks for not hurting that four-year-old nephew of mine.
He was really worried about it.
Thanks for sending enough suckers
so that four-year-old could share with his cousins.
Thanks for not sending him home with those silly
candy bracelets.
That kind of candy could get stuck somewhere
it doesn't belong.

go cougars

pirate talk

Danny has been interested in all things pirate related since I told him about the cruise. When he spotted an assortment of pirate themed goo-gahs at the dollar store yesterday, I couldn't say no. I bought the same thing for Jarrett and Kris. Danny promptly broke the sword and the patch is supposedly hiding under Cate's carseat.

Later in the day, the boys were playing pirate games on the playhouse out back. I was pulling weeds. I found a praying mantis in the grass and called to Kris to come get it. He loves bugs. He scooped it up into his hand and said, "I need something to put this in." I asked what he thought he needed.

I am in no way fabricating what happened next. It's all true. In his best pirate voice, he said,

"I need a jarrrrrrrr!"

As I was looking for a jar with a lid, Jarrett came over and said, "We need some food." I was thinking he meant for the praying mantis so I told him to just go find some grass and leaves and stick them in jar. He replied,

"No, not for the praying mantis. For arrrrrrrrr dinner!"

a birthday and some firsts

Judy and brand new baby Kris

December 2004

A few days ago, I told Kris that it was going to be his mom's birthday soon. I asked him if he knew how old she was going to be. His first guess was 40. I laughed and told him that was too much. His next guess was 19. I laughed again. He sounded a little frustrated with me when he finally said, "But I don't know how old she is today!" I just wonder if that really would have made a difference in his answer.

In case you're wondering, she's 29 today.

Before she was born, my mom and dad asked us for suggestions of what to name her. (That's how I remember it. It's possible that they didn't ask at all. It's possible that my two sisters and I just wanted to put our two cents in. I like to think they asked us though.) My suggestion was Kelly Leigh. And the middle name had to be spelled Leigh, not Lee.

I remember being picked up from school by Larry LaPray on the day she was born. He was the husband of one of my mom's good friends, Judy. He took my sisters and me to his house to play with his kids. We ate dinner at his house. It was macaroni and cheese with little pieces of hot dogs mixed in. I'm pretty sure we ate that because his wife, Judy (a nurse), was at the hospital helping to deliver my baby sister. Isn't that the meal dads know how to cook?

My mom and dad didn't end up choosing Kelly Leigh for the name of their fourth daughter. They named her Judy Lee. While she was still in the hospital, my dad sat us kids down and told us that since Judy was born early (6 weeks...I think), she hadn't grown all the way yet. I remember being totally worried that she didn't have all her fingers and toes, or worse, that she didn't have a face yet. I was 7. I didn't quite understand obviously. I was so relieved to find out that she just hadn't grown eyebrows and eyelashes yet.

My dad walked me to school the day after Judy was born, just like he always did. He walked beside me, his hand on the seat of his bike. I was always amazed that he could control where it went just by holding onto the seat. I was excited to go to school that day to tell my teacher and classmates that I had a new baby sister.

After we crossed College Street and headed onto Cary Drive, I started skipping. I couldn't contain the excitement I was feeling. My dad told me to be careful because my shoe had come untied. He probably even told me to stop skipping and tie it. Shortly after that warning, I biffed it. Big time. I tripped on the shoelace. My outer right thigh took the brunt of it. I'm talking road rash extraordinaire. And sadly, that was back in 1980 when terry cloth short shorts were fashionably acceptable (at least on a 7 year old), as long as your tube socks were pulled up all the way to your knees. Because of those short shorts, my thigh was totally exposed and it was bad.

I limped and cried the rest of the way to school. I'm sure some of the crying was because it hurt. The rest of it was because I would now have to deliver my good news in front of the class with a big huge case of road rash on my leg. There was no way to hide it. Even worse, upon entering the school, my dad took me to see the nurse. She put a ginormous piece of white gauze over my wound. I remember feeling so embarrassed.

I still got up and delivered my news, with a tear-stained face and a massive square of gauze stuck to my leg. I wasn't excited. I was sad. I wonder how I would have told Miss Lipscomb and all my little friends if I hadn't had that accident. I probably would have skipped right on into the room and blurted it out. If I could have a do-over, I'd choose that day. I'd listen to my dad and tie my shoe. Father knows best.

Happy birthday, Judy. I knew you'd like the Snuggie.

Now for the firsts.

I saw Cate take her first unassisted step today. It was truly only one step but it counts! She stood up all by herself and took one step towards the swing that was just out of her reach. I won't be calling her a toddler just yet. Soon though. Very soon.

And today was the first time she has given me a kiss with her mouth closed! Usually it's the open-mouthed slobbery kind. Not today. She didn't actually pucker up, but her lips were closed and she was definitely giving me a kiss. It was terribly cute and I almost cried.

fifteen months

I took Cate to the doctor for her fifteen month check-up yesterday.

She weighs a whopping 21 pounds 11.2 ounces. Maybe a little less.
She was wearing a diaper on her bum and a little bow in her hair.

It's a good thing I was looking at the scale while she was sitting on it.
The nurse wrote down 21" as her weight.

I figured I better take a few pictures after her nice long nap.
It's not every day that she wakes up happy and cooperative.

While I was clicking away, Danny was busy "helping" me.
He "cleaned" the window with baby lotion.
How thoughtful.

Then he learned the right way to clean a window.
No lotion involved this time.

Cate got four shots yesterday. It wasn't a pretty sight.
She cried as soon as the doctor came in.
I almost cried when the syringe for shot number three exploded upon entry into her little thigh.
I got a nice little squirt of something all over the left side of my face.
Hepatitis A?
the Flu?
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis?

I didn't ask.
The nurse said they don't re-dose because there's no way to know how much actually went in.
She said, "She should be ok though. That's why they have boosters."
Lovely.

Cate worked on peeling off those little Snoopy band aids the rest of the day.

When I was looking for her immunization card before the appointment,
I came across her little pink hospital band that was around her ankle when she was born.
It's tiny.
I tried it on just for kicks.
It fit around my thumb.
It's nice to see the chubby little thighs she's got now.

As I was busy taking way too many pictures of Cate (and obviously oblivious to what was going on in the room), Kris came in, climbed on the changing table and helped Danny "clean" the window again. This time they used Cate's bum cream.

Someone should really keep an eye on those two.

Speaking of eyes...

hers are definitely green now.
Hooray!

bam I am

Danny's little friend came over to play this week.
His name is Sam.
Danny calls him Bam.

Danny ate lunch with his second cousin yesterday at Co-co-wee-toes.
Her name is Summer.
Danny calls her Bummer.

Danny's cousins came to visit yesterday.
Their names are Ricky, Billy and Rusty.
Danny calls them Wicky, Dilly and Wusty.

Danny's little sister's name is Cate.
Sometimes I call her Catie-bug.
Sometimes Danny calls her Datie-gug.

I've recently started reading Green Eggs and Ham to Danny at bedtime.
The little yellow guy's name is Sam I Am.
Danny calls him Bam I Am.

At the end of the book, after the big guy has finished eating all the green eggs and ham,
he's standing there holding an empty plate with the fork on top.
Danny let me know that he should go put it in the gink.
You know, the sink.

Man, I love that kid.
Cute and a neat freak to boot!

It doesn't get much better.

a corny picture

almost

I think this little girl is almost ready to walk.

Look what she can do.


She can stand up all on her own.

She's not walking anywhere yet.

Just standing and smiling.


And sitting and smiling too.

for an entomologist

I must make this for my dad's next birthday.

It's perfectly gross.

He'd love it for sure.

I think red velvet cake would be a nice touch.

Gives me the willies just thinking about it.

a resemblance

I found this old picture a few days ago while I was looking for something else. My dad's mom, Helen, is the girl with the bow in her hair. Her big brother, Elwood, is in the back. The other girl is their little sister, Maurine.

Grandma was born in 1913. It looks like she's about 5 years old in this picture. I'm surprised there was no date on the back. Grandma usually labeled every picture. I don't remember how old she was when Maurine was born. I'm guessing they're about 2 years apart in age.

I can't stop looking at Maurine in this picture. I think Cate has her eyes. Is it just me? Am I crazy? Does anyone else see the resemblance? And why are these little kids not smiling? I know it wasn't common to smile in pictures back in the day, but these are kids. When did the whole "say cheese" thing come around?

And don't you just love that bow?

overheard

Danny and Kris...November 2006

I've been keeping track of some funny stuff these kiddos have been saying lately. I translated all of Danny's quotes for your reading enjoyment. I'm still the only one who understands everything he says. I'd have some of Cate but she mostly just says Mamamamama and bababababa.


Kris, after discovering I had brought him a granola bar to snack on.

"Hey! Look! A glenora bar!" (that's Grama Bama's real name in case any of you didn't already know)

Danny, while looking up at the sky after exiting Candis' house at 9:00 one Sunday evening.

"Huh? Hey! Who turned the lights off?" (When we went to her house, it was still light outside. He doesn't get out much at night obviously.)

Kris, explaining why he needed a bandaid.

"I didn't deserve this. My leg scratched itself on the table."

Danny, after Kris wouldn't give him a toy he wanted.

"Gimme it! One...two...three...four...five! I told you gimme it!"

Danny, looking up at the blue sky at 10:00 in the morning.

"Hey, Moon! Wake up!"

Danny, while giving me a little nudge so he could get me out of his way.

"Mama, back it up!"

Danny, while laying his hand on my arm at the dinner table.

"Mmmmm. Chicken nuggets. Thanks for dinner, Love." (and those were homemade chicken nuggets, thank you very much)

Danny, as we were walking out the door to go run some errands.

"Can I drive, Mama? Please, please, please!"

And finally, a little conversation between Danny and Kris from the backseat of the truck.

K: Danny, who are you gonna marry?
D: You!
K: No, you can't marry a boy! Which girl are you gonna marry?
D: Mama!
K: No, she's already married to Dan. You could marry Cate.
D: No, her just a baby!
K: You could marry her when she's all growed up.
D: Oh.

the pirate boat

much better

As much as I enjoy the picture of my baby girl with fuzzy black caterpillars crawling up her nose, I think it's about time for a change of scenery.

Much better.

Sadly, magnifying glass fun time was over almost as soon as it began.
To quote her big brother,

"Hey! Gimme dat!
I poo-pooed on duh potty for dat!"

It's true.
He did.

yuck

one runny nose

plus

lots of dirt

equals

this

you say tomato

We headed up to Hooper yesterday to revel in the festivities of Tomato Days, arriving just in time to cheer on cousin Billy as he graciously accepted his awards from the baby contest. Hooray for Mr. Personality and Brightest Eyes!

After a not-so-quick stop at the restrooms, we headed out to the park...and then headed straight to the train ride. Ricky took good care of Danny. I was surprised that Danny actually held his big cousin's hand for as long as he did.


The boys each got their hands stamped and were given a little ticket. As we waited for our turn to board, I told them to show me their tickets and say cheese. Billy's trying to show me his stamped hand and nobody said cheese. Cute enough.


I have no idea why Danny was grouchy when it was time to ride. Go figure.

After the train ride, Aunt Cindy and Uncle Kevin went home to fetch their dogs for the dog race. Dan and I had kid duty. Those were some hungry kids too. They pretty much inhaled the crackers I brought to snack on.




Speaking of snacking, don't you want to just nibble on those scrumptious cheeks? I think baby Rusty's hair goes on for another inch or so after the top of this picture. He loves it that way. He told me so. (Put the scissors down and walk away, Cindy.)


We headed over to the rodeo arena and got front row seats for the dog races. Danny thoroughly enjoyed watching the tractor rake the dirt in preparation for the big event.


I didn't take any pictures of the dogs. I did get a good shot of Danny's reaction to the racing though. He loved it. You can check out a little story about it here. (The lovely lady in the picture with the two humongous dogs is Aunt Cindy.)


After the races, we got a bite to eat. Hamburgers, a hot dog and some pink "hair candy." That's what Danny called his cotton candy. Pretty clever if you ask me. It is kind of hairy looking when you pull it apart.

We enjoyed the rest of the day at Aunt Cindy's house. As we were playing, chatting and eating we heard many sirens going past. Later, we learned that there had been an accident at the Tomato Days festivities. You can read about it here. I'm glad we weren't there when it happened.

It was a fun day. Good food. Good company. Good grief! We might just have to come again next year.

the swimsuit

Not very itsy bitsy...

not really teenie weenie...

no yellow polka-dots...

and definitely not a bikini.

But she did wear it for the first time

today.

Ok. Not really today.
Two days ago.
Close enough.

Grama Bama bought this swimsuit for Cate while she was here visiting this summer.
I realized earlier this week that Cate hadn't even worn it yet.

She usually just plays outside in her old onesies or just a diaper
or sometimes


just in her birthday suit.

Summer is unofficially over today, right?

Good thing she wore her suit at least once.

the end