Both TJ and Sam are obsessed with the furnace. Every morning, Sam has to go around and check various registers to make sure heat is coming out of all of them. And TJ has to 'preheat' his clothes before he gets dressed. He gets up right around 7 a.m., which is when the furnace kicks on. So, he moves his clothes on top of his register vent, warms them up, then gets dressed.
Yesterday morning, Bill got up around 7:00 and noticed the light was on in TJ and Sam's room. He looked in there and laughed. Sam was still sound asleep. TJ was carefully lining up his Sunday clothes on the register. And he was stark naked. He turned to Bill and informed him that he couldn't get dressed yet because the furnace wasn't on yet and he didn't want to wear cold clothes (I have the furnace programmed not to warm up the house until we get home from church).
Umm, yeah.
Bill took pity on him and turned the heat on. After all, we can't have a child who is running around naked put on cold clothes now, can we?!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Big night out
On Friday, TJ turned six years old. I'm not sure how he can be six already, since it seems like only yesterday that he was born. But...the calendar doesn't lie. He was very anxious to have his birthday, and would probably disagree with me that time is flying by.
For his big day, Bill and I took him (along with Sam) out to Village Inn Pizza for dinner. We left Nolan with Grandma, as we didn't think he would fully appreciate the evening. TJ and Sam rarely come out to eat with us. So rarely, that they don't seem to know what to expect in a restaurant. The second the waitress seated us, Sam said, "Hey! Where's the food?" I have to give our waitress credit. She was very quick, and did a great job humoring the boys. When we heard something break back in the kitchen, TJ was dying to know what had happened. I told him he could ask the waitress the next time she came to our table. The second she walked up, he started asking questions. Not only did she explain that a plate broke, she even got one to show him exactly what kind of plate broke. When TJ expressed concern over the girl who broke the plate, the waitress assured him that no one was in trouble for dropping the plate.
When Sam started grilling her on the speaker system (his latest obsession is speakers and wiring...heaven help me!), she patiently pointed out all the speakers she could find in the room. When I mentioned it was TJ's birthday and that we were headed to Playworld after dinner, she whispered to me that he was entitled to a free piece of cake...did we have time? I said of course we did. So, a few minutes later she appears with a large piece of cake, complete with a lit candle and whipped cream on the side. Only, TJ and Daddy were in the bathroom. So, she slipped into a side room until TJ came back. Then she lit the candle and did the whole presentation all over again. She even made sure Sam got a spoon so he could share in the treat. The boys were well-behaved, just very curious about everything.
Admission to Playworld is $5.95 per kid (adults are free, thankfully). Turns out, I paid $6 for Sam to refuse to play on any of the big equipment. He wouldn't climb, bounce, or slide. Eventually, he got in a Cozy Coupe car and drove it around for 90 minutes. He also wandered around, checking the Moon Walk for air leaks (which Bill found highly amusing) and examining the sprinkler system. The birthday boy was in heaven. He went on absolutely everything, and was quite hot and tired by the time we left. Playworld wasn't busy, and there weren't any really big kids to push TJ around, so it was the perfect evening for him.
I will get pictures up soon! I promise!
For his big day, Bill and I took him (along with Sam) out to Village Inn Pizza for dinner. We left Nolan with Grandma, as we didn't think he would fully appreciate the evening. TJ and Sam rarely come out to eat with us. So rarely, that they don't seem to know what to expect in a restaurant. The second the waitress seated us, Sam said, "Hey! Where's the food?" I have to give our waitress credit. She was very quick, and did a great job humoring the boys. When we heard something break back in the kitchen, TJ was dying to know what had happened. I told him he could ask the waitress the next time she came to our table. The second she walked up, he started asking questions. Not only did she explain that a plate broke, she even got one to show him exactly what kind of plate broke. When TJ expressed concern over the girl who broke the plate, the waitress assured him that no one was in trouble for dropping the plate.
When Sam started grilling her on the speaker system (his latest obsession is speakers and wiring...heaven help me!), she patiently pointed out all the speakers she could find in the room. When I mentioned it was TJ's birthday and that we were headed to Playworld after dinner, she whispered to me that he was entitled to a free piece of cake...did we have time? I said of course we did. So, a few minutes later she appears with a large piece of cake, complete with a lit candle and whipped cream on the side. Only, TJ and Daddy were in the bathroom. So, she slipped into a side room until TJ came back. Then she lit the candle and did the whole presentation all over again. She even made sure Sam got a spoon so he could share in the treat. The boys were well-behaved, just very curious about everything.
Admission to Playworld is $5.95 per kid (adults are free, thankfully). Turns out, I paid $6 for Sam to refuse to play on any of the big equipment. He wouldn't climb, bounce, or slide. Eventually, he got in a Cozy Coupe car and drove it around for 90 minutes. He also wandered around, checking the Moon Walk for air leaks (which Bill found highly amusing) and examining the sprinkler system. The birthday boy was in heaven. He went on absolutely everything, and was quite hot and tired by the time we left. Playworld wasn't busy, and there weren't any really big kids to push TJ around, so it was the perfect evening for him.
I will get pictures up soon! I promise!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
How Rumors Get Started
I was in Nolan's room this afternoon, boxing up his 12-month clothing and putting 18-month clothing in his drawers (yes, he is growing!). Sam and Nolan wandered in and surveyed the mess. "Whatcha doin', Mom?" Sam asked. "I am getting out bigger clothes for your brother", I told him.
Sam turned to Nolan and said, "Did you hear that?! You are going to be a big brother!"
Heaven help me if he repeats that in public!
And just a bit of nostalgia...the clothes I put in the drawers are the size clothing Sam was wearing when Nolan was born. Time sure has flown. Sam stopped being my baby overnight, out of necessity. Sometimes, that still makes me sad. Most days, I'm just glad he is as flexible and easygoing as he is. Now, if he would just stop spreading rumors...
Sam turned to Nolan and said, "Did you hear that?! You are going to be a big brother!"
Heaven help me if he repeats that in public!
And just a bit of nostalgia...the clothes I put in the drawers are the size clothing Sam was wearing when Nolan was born. Time sure has flown. Sam stopped being my baby overnight, out of necessity. Sometimes, that still makes me sad. Most days, I'm just glad he is as flexible and easygoing as he is. Now, if he would just stop spreading rumors...
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Ugh and Ohhhh....
I love my boys. I really do, but man, they can drive me nuts! I can't stand the way:
1. TJ screams like a girl when he doesn't get his way. I've been sending him straight to time-out for this one lately. Honestly! Take it like a man!
2. Sam says, "Mom, I need you." "What do you need?" I ask him. "I need you." This conversation can go on for five minutes, until I find something to distract him. I usually have no clue of what he wanted in the first place.
3. Nolan decides that he should be picked up while I am in the middle of preparing a meal. He sees I can't pick him up, so he wraps himself around my legs, preventing me from moving around the kitchen.
But since Thanksgiving is almost upon us, I feel a need to write down 3 things I adore:
1. The big smile TJ has on his face when he gets off the bus each day, and the enthusiasm he has when he greets his little brothers.
2. Sam in the morning. He is so cheerful. "Mom, I waked up! Do we have any cereal around here?"
3. Asking Nolan to give me a hug and having him gently lay his head on my shoulder. Awwww....
I guess they're still keepers.
1. TJ screams like a girl when he doesn't get his way. I've been sending him straight to time-out for this one lately. Honestly! Take it like a man!
2. Sam says, "Mom, I need you." "What do you need?" I ask him. "I need you." This conversation can go on for five minutes, until I find something to distract him. I usually have no clue of what he wanted in the first place.
3. Nolan decides that he should be picked up while I am in the middle of preparing a meal. He sees I can't pick him up, so he wraps himself around my legs, preventing me from moving around the kitchen.
But since Thanksgiving is almost upon us, I feel a need to write down 3 things I adore:
1. The big smile TJ has on his face when he gets off the bus each day, and the enthusiasm he has when he greets his little brothers.
2. Sam in the morning. He is so cheerful. "Mom, I waked up! Do we have any cereal around here?"
3. Asking Nolan to give me a hug and having him gently lay his head on my shoulder. Awwww....
I guess they're still keepers.
The Portrait Process
I realized recently that we were way overdue for getting the boys' pictures taken. We have a portrait club membership at JC Penney, so that's where I've been taking them for the past few sittings. It's kind of a complicated process...at least in our family. Here were the steps involved:
1. Go to jcpenneyportraits.com and set up an appointment for Wednesday, November 11 at 9:40 a.m. This is as late in the year as I will go. All the crazy parents come out in late November wanting their kids' pictures taken for Christmas, and it is just insanity at Penney's. We took TJ there on his first birthday and the entire process took 3 hours. I learned my lesson.
2. Go through the boys' closets to see what they can wear for pictures.
3. Go to Kohl's to buy a new shirt for Nolan. His dressier clothes have already been worn by his brothers in previous pictures. Unacceptable to duplicate outfits.
4. Pay for TJ and Sam to get their hair cut at the salon. I never pay for haircuts, but for some reason, they will hold still for a stranger, and Grandma wanted their hair cut straight. Stephanie did a nice job.
5. Sam falls on the front porch on November 8.
6. Sam has a black eye.
7. Morning of photo shoot: Sam still looks like he got in a fight and lost. Put foundation on Sam's eye. Sam says, "Thanks, Mom! It feels all better!" Oy.
8. Smile as photographer attempts to turn Sam's head to hide the worst of the bruising.
9. Marvel at how cooperative the boys were during the photo shoot. They have NEVER behaved so well.
10. Look through proofs. Roll eyes at how noticeable Sam's injury is in the pictures.
11. Buy pictures anyway. There will never be a perfect sitting. I have 3 boys. This is just a fact.
Here he is. He looked even worse than these pictures show (in my opinion):
1. Go to jcpenneyportraits.com and set up an appointment for Wednesday, November 11 at 9:40 a.m. This is as late in the year as I will go. All the crazy parents come out in late November wanting their kids' pictures taken for Christmas, and it is just insanity at Penney's. We took TJ there on his first birthday and the entire process took 3 hours. I learned my lesson.
2. Go through the boys' closets to see what they can wear for pictures.
3. Go to Kohl's to buy a new shirt for Nolan. His dressier clothes have already been worn by his brothers in previous pictures. Unacceptable to duplicate outfits.
4. Pay for TJ and Sam to get their hair cut at the salon. I never pay for haircuts, but for some reason, they will hold still for a stranger, and Grandma wanted their hair cut straight. Stephanie did a nice job.
5. Sam falls on the front porch on November 8.
6. Sam has a black eye.
7. Morning of photo shoot: Sam still looks like he got in a fight and lost. Put foundation on Sam's eye. Sam says, "Thanks, Mom! It feels all better!" Oy.
8. Smile as photographer attempts to turn Sam's head to hide the worst of the bruising.
9. Marvel at how cooperative the boys were during the photo shoot. They have NEVER behaved so well.
10. Look through proofs. Roll eyes at how noticeable Sam's injury is in the pictures.
11. Buy pictures anyway. There will never be a perfect sitting. I have 3 boys. This is just a fact.
Here he is. He looked even worse than these pictures show (in my opinion):
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Our little helper
Nolan loves to do laundry! He gets very excited when I get the laundry basket out. He helps fill it up, loads the washer, moves wet clothes to the dryer, and most of all, loves to push the buttons to start the machines. He is so funny while he helps. He makes lots of grunting noises, as if to express that he is doing incredibly hard work.
The one downside is if he thinks I am going too slowly, he does it on his own...he puts wet clothes back in the washer, dirty clothes in the dryer...I have to watch him very closely!
He also likes to help empty the dishwasher. I just have to be very careful as he seems to be most interested in locating the knives!! Yikes!
The one downside is if he thinks I am going too slowly, he does it on his own...he puts wet clothes back in the washer, dirty clothes in the dryer...I have to watch him very closely!
He also likes to help empty the dishwasher. I just have to be very careful as he seems to be most interested in locating the knives!! Yikes!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Halloween 2009
Let me sum up Halloween in one word: BRRRRR!!! It was so cold trick-or-treating! I took TJ and Sam trick-or-treating through Eric's neighborhood in Coopersville. I kept them moving quickly, just so we wouldn't get cold. We were out for about 45 minutes. Sam was getting tired, so we called it quits. They had quite a haul of candy, though. Many homes gave them handfuls instead of just one piece.
After looking at the pictures I took, I was horrified to see that I only took a couple of Sam. And he was such a cute little monkey (although at first he insisted that he was the banana, not the monkey). Bad Mommy! I will try to do better next year!!
I helped out at TJ's Halloween party:
Here are the boys on Halloween, and one picture of Suzy and Maggie:
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Playing with the web cam
Bill bought me a teeny tiny laptop. It has a web cam on it. He was messing around with it this afternoon and shot this video. Nolan was all excited because he could see himself on the screen (he is saying "Nolan" and "yeah", for those of you who don't speak toddler):
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