Adventures with two...

Two funnies...

Tonight Em told Tom, "Daddy, can I have a gumball?"

Tom answered, "No, not now."

Em, in all seriousness responded, "No Daddy, you have two choices: Yes or Yep."

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A few days ago I came into the living room and Eli had taken a red marker to the hardwood floor and all over his pajamas. I asked, "Eli what happened here?"

He looked up and said, "Gus, do dat Mama!"

Yeah, I'm sure the cat got the cover off that marker and drew all over.

It's hard looking this guilty...

 

"BeeBah" always a favorite!

Decking the Halls

Last week I got out all of the Christmas decorations and spread them all out on the dining room table. After finishing up our dinner we got busy decking the halls. Before we got going however, the kids decided they wanted to dress up so they got their special fairy decorating outfits on!

I told Tom that Eli would hate me for posting that nude bum photo someday and he told me, "He won't care about that one, but he'll hate you for posting these!"

 

 

PS You might be able to see that both kids had a very mild case of chicken pox. Glad they had their vaccinations!

O Tannenbaum 2009

This is the fourth year that we have gone to a local tree farm with Tom's parents to cut down our tree. After meeting at the farm this year, we hopped out and began the search with everyone in great spirits. We walked a bit, pointing out trees that we liked but never deciding on one. Soon enough Grandma and Grandpa found one that they liked.

After about 15-20 minutes, the kids were getting a bit tired and not wanting to follow as we walked. Tom decided it was time to pick one and start chopping. It was then that I couldn't seem to find one that I loved. So I kept saying, "No, not quite...how about...ummm...." searching...walking.... (Yeah, I'm picky. I know!)

Eli was wanting to be carried at this point and Em was getting frustrated pointing out trees that she wanted. I kept searching, trying to be quick. Moments later, Em starts wailing, "Why doesn't anyone like the trees that I'm picking out?"  Tom and I are trying to explain that we want a tree that's a bit more plump or a bit taller, etc. I'm trying to convince her to like a tree that I like. More wailing.

Tom throws up his hands and says only half joking, "I can't deal with the women in my life right now!" After some convincing, Tom has us all agreeing on a tree and he (quickly!) chops it down.

Everyone's happy and ready for lunch at the local greasy spoon.

 

 

Love that Grandma and Grandpa are walking there behind us.

Warm in the car...

 

Let's go get some grub...

Christmas Photo 2009??

I asked Eli and Em to get dressed quickly this morning while I finished drying my hair.

As I came around the corner, this was the scene I came across...

Ummm...Em seemed to have gotten the message, Eli must have only gotten half of it.

Oh boy, that boy!

Fun at the Museum

On Friday our district didn't have school, so we met our friends at the Children's Musuem. Little Miss Syri lived in China in a town quite close to were Eli was. They are about a year apart in age. Syri's older brother, B is in second grade and whenever we get together, Em has a blast with him.

Eli loved the cooking area. He was so focused and excited to cook. I told Tom that in his world, it's the men that do the cooking, so he's just emulating his Papa!

 

 

 

 

Our Guangxi babes!

 

In the skyway by the museum, there is a McDonald's with a Ronald McDonald statue on a benchfor pictures. (Nothing likea litle brainwashing, eh?) Em was proud of herself for sitting on the bench... though not too close. Eli, as you can see, was completely suspicious of that brainwashing clown! He certainly gobbled up those fries however when we went in to eat.

Almost reading

Em is so anxious to be able to read and actually does quite well sounding out many words. She was so proud of herself for moving up to "the workbook" in her Montessori...though we've never seen this infamous workbook, it seems to be lots of pre-reading activities.

Recently, Nana brought her a set of "Bob Books", which are a set of beginning readers. She LOVES to read them to us and this morning piled the pillows high on the couch and read her books to daddy.

The books are a bit corny, but she loves to be able to read the whole thing by herself so they're perfect.

As I watched them, I realized that the whole world is just starting to open to her with this new skill. It is amazing watching your child learn how to read.

"Books have to be heavy they hold the world inside them." -Cornelia Funke, Inkheart

Halloween 2009!

Two days before Halloween, we carved pumpkins with Daddy. We knew that he was going to Green Bay for the historic Vikings-Packers game this weekend and that we'd miss him on Halloween.

Allow me to introduce my pumpkin...da da ta da! (sound effects were real)

 

Tonight, we had a big party at our house; Grandparents from both sides and Aunties and Uncles from my side. It was so fun!

Two crazy spiders, ready to get some booty!!

Show me your legs!

With baby Brady, our little monster cousin/nephew!

Love this one because everyone's just doing their own thing.

Bug-a-boo!

 

We walked around for about 20 minutes, since it was cold! But he kids have enough candy to last for days.

SCORE!!

 

P.B. Gus

You could have probably guessed that we've already added a new kitty to our house, right? Well, it's true!

A few weeks ago we adopted a flame-point siamese kitty from a local rescue organization. I had looked online and it said that he was calm, easy-going, neutered and declawed. We'll take him!

We talked to the kids about him and asked them what we should name him. Eli had no recommendations, but Emily wanted to call him "Pretty Girl". We laughed and reminded her that this cat was a boy. She said, "Okay, Pretty Boy!"

Tom's vote was Gus. Tom has a list of crazy awful names that he wanted to name our children, so I gave in and told him he could name this cat. Merging the two names, we introduce our newest family member:

Pretty Boy Gus!

He looks petite here, but let me assure you he's not! He's a BIG, BIG boy!!

 

(Eli, mesmerized by the TV)

He really is a sweet cat. He loves to snuggle with everyone and when you pick him up he literally hugs you around the neck and nuzzles his nose into your neck. He can be a bit frisky at times and his playful nips are quite hard. Also, he wants to eat constantly, which leads to the stinkiest gas you've ever smelled. I've never heard of a cat being so toot-y?? Oy!

Either way, we are enjoying having another pretty boy around here!

One week? Did I say that??

So proud of his Tho*mas Tra*in underoonies and yet I still mopped up three puddles today.

Argh! I think I've jinxed this.