Stuck in the Third Grade?

Last night Jack reaped the reward of finishing in the top three sellers (with Alex's help) for the 2010 Cub Scouts Popcorn Sales for his pack. The reward: throwing a whipped cream sundae pie in the face of the leader of your choice. Jack chose the Rosehill Elementary school principal, Mr. Lawrence. He'd been looking forward to this for several weeks, however, when the time came, he actually looked quite nervous - almost like he was considering for a moment if this would jeopardize his chance of progressing to fourth grade....

Can you tell Mr. Lawrence has done this a time or two?

Mr. Lawrence made a deal with him that if he threw the pie in his face "gently" then Jack could have lunch with him at a later date...

Thank you Mr. Lawrence for being such a good sport!

And....You're On!

This morning while I was working on the computer, Kate was keeping herself entertained with imaginative play. After repeatedly being declined on her requests for me to join her, she approached me one more time with a face of enthusiastic anticipation.

Kate: "Mommy! Hurry, the show is about to start!"

Me: "What show?"

Kate: "In the dining room. Hurry!"

Immediately, I assumed she was going to perform for me. I couldn't miss this, so I left my position at the computer and followed her into the dining room. Once in the dining room, the conversation resumed:

Kate: "Mommy over there! Stand in the window!"

(I step in front of the window.)

Kate: "Close the curtains!"

(I close the window curtains in front of me so that I'm between them and the window)

Kate: "Now...open them!"

(I open the curtains.)

Kate: "Now sing!"

Apparently, I was the show. I did the first thing that came to my mind and broke out into a song and dance of "All I Want for Christmas."

Trick-Or-Treat!

A Wedding!

In September, we traveled to Breckenridge, Colorado for Laura and Thibaut's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and all had a great time!

School Days Are Back!

School has started at our house with surprisingly little fanfare. Almost like summer never happened. (Except I have the messy house to show that it did.) Kate and I are enjoying the quieter days, but the start of the school year always make me realize how time flies. First and third grade. Really?!?!

The Haircut

I've been meaning to post a "before" and "after" photo of Kate's most recent haircut. Here's the "before" - see the previous post for her "after" shot.

I got one!

Finally, Kate smiled willingly at the camera for a picture!

Can you find what's different?

Little Mommy

This morning I struggled to get myself out of bed to wake the boys for school.

Luckily, little mommy stepped in to the rescue. I heard Kate's doorknob rattling, then open, and I prepared myself for Kate to wake me.

Instead, she went directly into Jack and Alex's room. A bright, cheery voice follows:

"AAAACK!........Uppp!"

"Allllll-eckkkk!......Uppppp!"

Amazingly, the boys responded and got out of bed.

Now, if I can just teach her how to make breakfast and drive the van...

Bye Bye Bl-bl-l-l-l

Kate has been binky-free for four days.

And she tinkled in her potty TWICE yesterday.

There were plans to get her a big-girl bed this weekend, but I'm reconsidering. Too much growing up already this week.

Sunday Shopping

I decided to take the kids to Dick's Sporting Goods today, because Jack needed a new pair of soccer cleats. I made the trip sans David. I told the kids if they were good I would take them to Target so they could look at toys. We arrive at Dick's, and the shoe section of the store was packed - apparently everyone shops for athletic shoes on Sunday afternoon. I should have left then.

Right off the bat, Alex started pouting when he found out we were only there for Jack and launches into a campaign to get a pair of soccer cleats, too. No, Alex. More pouting. Kate kicks off her shoes and starts tearing into boxes to try shoes on right in the middle of a walkway. Jack's only interest is running around the mini track. I wait patiently for someone to help me. Come here, Jack. Sit Jack. Take off your shoes Jack. Sit down Jack. Size six is too big. I wait patiently for someone else to help me. They are out of size 5 1/2s. Where's Kate? Kate and Alex are throwing a shoe insert back and forth to each other. I can't find Jack. There he is. Size 5s are too small. Time to leave. C'mon Kate. Kate gets upset because I won't buy her a $90 pair of size 11 men's basketball shoes. Kate falls to the floor in a dramatic tantrum. I turn to walk away. Kate wails. I go back and pick her up. Where's Alex and Jack? Running around the track again. Let's go!

As we're finally making our way back out of the store, I tell the kids "We're not going to Target. We're going home."

Their response: "Why????"

Kate Turns 2!

Double Binked

I thought we'd start weaning Kate off of her binky around age 2. Apparently, she thinks you add a binky for each year.

Anything Else, Ma'am?

Kate has changed in many ways since my last posting in October. Probably most noticeable is the recent explosion in her vocabulary. She's saying new words every day. Some of my favorites:

"Mo!" (no) - she says this frequently:
"Mo!" (I don't want to put my coat on.)
"Mo!" (I don't want to sit down at the table and eat dinner.)
"Mo!" (I don't want Daddy to get me out of the car. I want Mom.)

"Aps" (lap) - as in I want to sit on your "aps"

"Boop" (book) - Every night when I say it's time to go to bed, she'll ask quietly "Boop?"

"At" (cat) - I draw about 15 cats a day on her MagnaDoodle. Right after I finish sketching a cat, she'll immediately erase it, laugh and say "Bye at!"

And still my all-time favorite: "bl-bl-bl-bl-bl" - the name she's given her binky.

Kate is also starting to get pretty set in some of her routines. Most mornings for breakfast, she eats oatmeal. Sounds simple enough right? Uh uh.
She must have the right bowl.
We must sit on the couch.
With her on my lap.
With her two blankets.
With her "bl-bl-bl-bl-bl" nearby
With Dora or Max and Ruby on the TV.
With a pile of spoons.

At some point during breakfast, there seems to be a moment when the current spoon will no longer do, and we must get a new spoon. I haven't yet figured out when a spoon is "done" and Kate seems personally offended when I try to keep using the "bad" spoon.

This morning's spoon count: 8
Anything else, ma'am?