Sadiecakes

Tiny Yi

2012-02-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know that tipping the scales at 40 pounds at two years old isn't exactly tiny.

But he's still my Tiny Yiyi.

Plus, he's just really,

REALLY,

really cute in a tiny sort of way.
Plus, now he likes to make funny faces.

He thinks he's a regular laugh riot.

A comedian.

I'm not sure what he thinks this face below looks like, but he must think it's a doozy, because he says, Mama, Mommy, wook! Wook, Mommy!
And then he does it and cracks up:

You think you're funny, eh, kid?

Well, you're absolutely right.

P.S. Any idea where he could have gotten the idea of making weird faces at me?

Not sure.

Wait, something's coming to mind.

Oh, that's right.

Gingerbread Guys

2012-02-02T18:58:00.000-08:00

Did you know that it's impossible to read about gingerbread cookies and not make them?

Okay, well it's not impossible, but it's certainly difficult.

We had gingerbread on the brain.

So we got to work rolling the dough.

Here you are being treated to Silas's "stank face." Isn't it lovely?

Now, that's better, Yiyi.

We cut out all kinds of shapes, including moose and squirrels. I have no idea why we have moose cookie cutters. I guess in case we wanted to celebrate Maine's statehood anniversary?

And don't ask me why that picture above is on the side. Blogger's new interface likes to do things like that.

Waiting is the hardest part, as they say. They watched the first batch bake.

Plus, we had to make sure these stinkers didn't run off before they were done.

And, contrary to the face Sadie is making below they were delicious. I saw after the fact that I managed to catch five truly terrible pictures of them "enjoying" their cookies. This happens often.

But, they were enjoyed. Much faster than they should have been.
Just between you and me, I was afraid the little fellas might escape if given too much time to plan, you know?

Snow Hour

2012-01-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

Because it wasn't really a snow day. But we made the best of it.

Even Laddie got his roll on. He has fond memories of snow, having been a Vermont dog once, and when we get some he snuffs and rolls and catches snow balls that we throw at him with his mouth.

But everyone got a chance to run around in it like crazy people (and dogs) for 10 minutes.

And then we got to work building a snow fairy. Because, seriously, people, there was about .25 inches of snow, and fairies are little.

Plus, we just like fairies around these parts. But we were pretty proud of our snow fairy.

Isn't she cute?

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

2012-01-20T17:56:00.000-08:00

Can you tell which of these is the made-by-a-two year-old snowman and which is the made-by-a-five-year-old snowman?

Me neither.

The World According to Silas

2012-01-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

We're getting four and even five words in a row out of Sy these days. It's pretty exciting.
But you've got to get the pronunciation down before you can decipher what he's saying.
Here's little help:

Wan, Two, Tee!: The total number of items he sees, no matter if it's 3 or 723.

Beegoo: Bagel

Mickey: Cream cheese, also can refer to kiwis. So when Yiyi wants a Beegoo with mickey he's asking for breakfast. It's like working at one of those 1950's diners: Hey Billy Joe, give me an Adam and Eve on a raft with some moo juice!

Nuwana: banana

Apple Milk: apple juice

Wow Wood: A big piece of wood

No Wow: little

E: A car, truck or anything with wheels or wings. Including the floor cleaning machine at Home Depot that we had to follow for a few aisles so Sy didn't have a 2 year-old breakdown when it went out of sight.

Wac Dis, Mama! Wan, two, Tee!: Watch this, mama. 1, 2, 3! Followed by a feat which may include blowing bubbles in the water in such a fervor that he sucks it in instead of out.

YiYi! YiYi! YiYi!: I would like a turn as well.

Pee: Please

Wuby: ruby the cat

Dee-aadie: Laddie the dog

Bee: Mr. Bird the cat

Mommy-ay, Daddy-ay, Deedee-ay: Pet names for me, Will and Sadie

Happy Day, Daddy-ay (or whoever-ay): Happy Birthday, Daddy! Which he likes to sing while he strums a ukulele.

Wadoo: Water.

Ode Wadoo/New Wadoo: Old water, New water. He has been getting very offended by "old water," which is any water he hasn't seen me put into the cup within the previous five minutes.

Key-ucky: Yucky. As in Old wadoo key-yucky!

Me-yummy: Yummy. As in New wadoo me-yummy!

Hay-o, E-o, Bay-o: Hair, Ear and Bear.

Coggy: Sorry. Often with a gentle rub on your cheek.

No way, monkey-ay!: No way.

This last one is new, and like any two year old he is enjoying giving us limits. You've got to keep the old folks aware of who's boss, you know.

Unanticipated Risk

2012-01-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

Little did I know that having children would involve a completely ridiculous amount of fat lips. And 97% of them are the product of Silas.
The weirdest part is that almost all of them happen when we are sleeping. Somehow, in the night, he has some sort of dream that causes him to yell, No, no, no!

And, on a side note, what the heck are little kids always dreaming about that they are yelling No! at everyone? I mean, sheesh, you'd think all their dreams are all someone trying to steal their favorite toys or rip their cookie out of their hand or something.

Then, while he's yelling at whoever is stealing his truck or fruit roll-up he pushes his legs out straight and flings himself upward. Into my lip, which hits my teeth and bleeds and swells.
The best part is that as he gets bigger the flopping around has gotten bigger too, leading to this morning's fat lip(s). He managed to get both top and bottom. It's a doozy.

There are many things no one ever tells you about being a mother that you find out later. But I'd have to say fat lips might just be the strangest.

Po Up!

2012-01-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

Well, the stomach flu has felled three out of five of us so far (PawPaw included). After three days of throwing up Silas finally, finally has stopped and is on the mend. Now we just have to get some food into him.
But one thing he did learn is that when you're going to throw up people will walk around holding you for hours while you whimper, punctuating your whimpers with puking and brief costume changes since two year olds can't quite get the hang of throwing up in something instead of on everything and everybody.
So he's learned to say Po up!

Now, when you've been thrown up on consistently for 48 hours you learn to hustle when the sick one mentions more is on the way. So I would grab Sy and walk around with him, until it passed or he puked.

One thing you must know is that he loves to be carried. I know he is just over two, but he is also just over forty pounds, and carrying forty pounds around, especially forty pounds that doesn't particularly hold on tight to you is painful, to say the least. Imagine me strapping 8 bags of flour to your chest and telling you to wander around like that for an hour or so. But, actually, I wouldn't strap it, because that would make it easier.

Anyway, I think there's a formula.
Weight of baby -directly proportional to - amount baby demands to be carried.
Yes, I know that's not a formula. Seeing as how I didn't even finish my third year of high school math I'm sure y'all aren't surprised.

So, Silas figured out yesterday that if he looked at me with his big, blue eyes and said Po up I would pick him up and carry him around for a long time. Finally, by the late afternoon he hadn't thrown up and I looked at him and asked him if he really just wanted to be held.
Yeeeeeeaaaaaaaah he said, grinning. Up! Peek up!

Just tell me that when he's twelve he won't need me to carry him anymore. My back can't take it.

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

2011-12-29T21:31:00.000-08:00

I did intend for this post to be up a little sooner. Like, before the New Year. As I sit here typing on the evening of the 30th I'm thinking it may actually get there. But it may not.

We are on hour forty-three of Holding Silas. Who has been throwing up for as long. So, we'll see.

But, on to Christmas!

First, of course, we needed a tree. So we cut one down at a nice farm nearby. Much to our delight the trip to the trees included a hay ride. A hay ride in December!

Our tree had to fit certain criteria: small, narrow and cute. We found one that did, and cut it down.

Here's the trophy picture. It almost escaped, but the kids caught it before it got away.

And then there was a little bonfire, around which we enjoyed some hot cocoa.

And here she is, all dolled up. Christmas Tree 2011.

Then we waited impatiently for Christmas. Even the chocolate advent countdown calendar couldn't quell the incessant Mama, how many more days until Christmas? Okay, how many more days if we don't count today? How about if we don't count Christmas? And so on and so forth.

Finally, Christmas Eve arrived. And we pulled out our Santa plate and some of the chocolate -covered pretzels we made. And, of course, oats and carrots for the reindeer.
And do you know what Sadie told me?
Mama, Rudolph isn't REAL! Not like the other reindeer, and Santa.
Oh, of course.

Christmas morning before sunrise. So excuse the terrible pictures. Plus, it's not like the sun ever rises around here between the months of December and May.
The garbage truck!

Legos!
Walkie-Talkies!
Books!

Trampoline! Roller skates!

And more and more.
All this loot will keep them busy for weeks.
And we had the inaugural fire in our wood stove. Which makes the house about 6,000 degrees, but I'm not complaining.

Does anyone else's house look like this late Christmas morning?

For dinner, roast beast, mashed potatoes and string beans. These kids love my string beans.
The requested dessert was Make Your Own Sundaes. Yes, we're very into make-your-own stuff around here. Being the master of one's own destiny (or dessert) is very exciting.

Especially when you dump half the bottle of star sprinkles on your own sundae.
And here's Sadie as she's looked almost every day since Christmas.

It was a peaceful, quiet, present-filled, treat-filled, exciting Christmas Day. The best kind.

A Long Post is Coming

2011-12-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

After a trip to Ikea, among other things. I haven't forgotten to get Christmas pictures on here.

I should be grateful that it is even possible to be putting pictures on the blog and that I didn't wipe my old computer clean after getting a new one 4 weeks ago (right, like I'm that on top of things. I should say that Will didn't wipe the laptop). Why?
Oh, because Silas pulled it to the floor and it's now at the repair place with a broken hard drive. The Laptop Accident Program, a friend to mothers of toddlers everywhere.

And speaking of toddler boys, we have had the wood stove on for the last few days and it is absolutely wonderful. And hot as heck. We even have a big, ugly gate that goes around said stove so that no kids can fall into it. But that didn't stop Silas from reaching through the gate while I putting a log in and pushing the open door. That didn't end well. But cold water, motrin, burn cream and an episode of Sesame Street later, all is well.
Although he did feel the need to tell me 'Tove hot! about six times before he finally fell asleep last night. Let's hope the lesson has been learned.

And, Sadie, who has become permanently attached to her new set of roller skates, watched that Folger's coffee commercial from the 80's this morning on Youtube. You know, the one where the kid comes home from college and wakes everyone up with coffee? Don't ask, there was random link somewhere.
And she couldn't watch it because made her too sad. Such a sensitive little kid. I guess I shouldn't show her the Cat Chow one where the girl comes home from college and sees her cat again. I remember crying for fifteen minutes at that one.

But we are all well. Holiday Market is over, hurrah! And now the season of blog posts begins. Promise.

Five!

2011-12-18T21:00:00.007-08:00

She's five, folks. I'm not quite sure how it happened. Next year she'll be thirty and move out.

But for this year, she's five, and was up at the crack of dawn. And she was remarkably patient about opening her presents.
.

Her birthday cereal was Lucky Charms, same as last year. You just can't beat florescent marshmallows.

Silas enjoyed his first taste of sugary cereal too.

Finally, she got to work playing with some presents.

And then, for the fourth year in a row we headed to "Dancing Mouse." I think that none of you will be surprised by this.
She actually wanted to go somewhere else and we were all set to go and then she changed her mind.

And for the fourth year in a row she still hates this ride and insists on being taken off midway.

Sadie, when asked what kind of cake she wanted, said she wanted to decorate her cake by herself. I want to squeeze those tubes of icing, mama!
Then, she wanted a fairy cake. While looking at fairy cakes online, she spotted one of those barbie cakes with the giant skirts, and she said she wanted a fairy skirt cake.
So I asked her if she'd like a fairy skirt cake that she got to decorate.

And, yeah, she did. Here it is after she went to town on it.

And here it is after the fifteenth time Sadie and Silas ran in to "eat a star sprinkle."
Silas, not known for his delicacy in such manners, grabbed a handful of cake.

Then the requested dinner of the day, Make Your Own Pizzas, commenced.

They were really good, and made us wonder why we ever buy other pizzas around here. They were tons better than was passes for pizza out of New York City.
Then I remembered why: sheer laziness.

Sadie made her wish.

And then pulled out the doll.

And she said, I love my birthday! I'm having such a good day!
What more could we ask for?
Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Things

2011-11-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

Things have been pretty hectic around here. Holiday Market has been taking up a lot of time.

I take out my camera to take some pictures of the kids and then 5 hours later I'm putting it away, unused.

But the nerds are great. A few funny things they have said recently:

Sadie touched my nose the other day and I guess it was a little oily. So she yells, Yuck! I have your nose butter on my finger!

I told her it served her right, that's what happens when you grab a person's nose.

Silas calls birds peep peeps and the word big is Wow.

So what does he call Big Bird of Sesame Street fame?

Yep, Wow Peep Peep!

Sadie asked if Santa knows what people are thinking. This conjured up images of some futuristic, creepy, thought-crime fighting Santa. I assured her that, no, he could not.

We went to IHOP. Silas calls it HiHop. He was even dreaming about it, saying HiHop, HiHop in his sleep. So I made him pancakes for breakfast.

Sadie keeps calling it iPod. Which shows you how much she likes the iPod.

In fact, I have taken to hiding the iPods because my children are completely obsessed with them.

Silas gives Sadie a hug and says, My Deedee.

She loves it.

Sadie picks up Silas and carries him around. They both love that.

And seeing how Thanksgiving was the other day, I want to say that I am thankful for:

My two gorgeous, smart children.

My lovely, supportive hubby.

My mangy, old flea-bitten animals.

Enough to eat and a roof over our heads that we love, even though it ain't fancy.

And all of you!

Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

No October would be complete without a visit to the pumpkin patch.

Even if we did grow three gigantic ones of our own.

Who doesn't like sitting in a field of pumpkins?

Or having your mama tell you to look at her every 3 minutes so she can take a picture?

Or sitting on a real Eee? All machines with wheels are called E. I don't really know how to spell it. You'd have to ask him.

Plus, it's a built-in excuse to drink apple cider and eat apple cider donuts.

Not that you really need one.

Cat and Mouse

2011-11-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

Here they are on Halloween.

Sadie said, upon seeing her fancy eyelashes, Mama, I'm the queen of the mousies!

They've just spotted some cheese.

Being the loudest kids in the neighborhood. As usual.

And check out the skirt. You didn't think that Sadie could be an un-fancy mouse, did you?

Here's what happens a couple of days before Halloween when you buy candy corn and decide to give your two year-old, who thinks fruit leather is dessert, a piece. And say,

Only one, YiYi. No more.

Yeah, he follows you around crying, Mo! Mo, Mama!

So you take a picture, because he's cute.

Trick or treating was lots of fun.

Silas learned to say trick or treat, which actually came out as, Keekeekeet!

And then after he got the goodies he'd say, Ankooo! (Thank you!)

It was very cute.

And, yeah, I think we got enough goodies. Don't you?

Au Naturale

2011-10-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

I am aware that I am tend to err on the side of not putting clothes on my children in the house. Unless it's outside in the winter, in which case I force them to dress like we're going to the arctic.

But, for painting, I'd just as soon they not wear anything. And they would too. So it works out.

Halfway between taking off the clothes I didn't want to get stained and putting on old t-shirts I thought Why am I making more laundry?

Sadie loves mixing colors.

Silas was really diligent about cleaning his brush. See all his colorful marks? He cleaned the brush between colors.

And here's Sadie's lady:

They love painting, and it's great rainy day thing to do. We have been known to have a couple of rainy days in the winter here in the Pacific Northwest.

I guess I'm going to have to crank up the heat.

Countdown

2011-10-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

As we were finishing up dinner tonight Sadie asked to be excused. So she brought her plate to the counter and then came back to the table and hung out next to me while we all talked.

Suddenly she holds up a hand and says:

Wait! Ready?

Then she begins counting, raising her fingers one by one:

1...2...3...

Of course, now she has our attention. Dada, Silas and I are all eagerly awaiting her announcement. What interesting thing could she be counting towards? Is this something new she learned in preschool?

And then, with a huge grin, she farts.

Yep, you read right. Passes some gas. And I have to ask:

When did my child turn into a nine year-old boy?

Suhcrocka

2011-10-18T18:48:00.001-07:00

Forgive me, but I had to spell that word phonetically. And it's not actually a word, but what Sadie informed me she is going to name her child when she has one.

And it's a girl's name, obviously.

No Two

2011-10-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Silas has discovered the world of numbers. Or maybe I should say number.

He has one, which is Two.

The other is No Two.

So none or 1 is No Two.

Followed by Two.

Keeps it simple.

I Believe

2011-10-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

Sadie and I have been talking a lot about what people believe.

She wants to know why some people believe in God and others don't, why some people believe in fairies but not others, why do some people only believe in what they can see.

I told her that sometimes we hold a belief in our hearts and bodies that we can't prove, that we will never be able to prove is true. It's called faith, that feeling.

Faith is often co-opted by religions. But they don't have a monopoly on faith.

We can believe that there is more to life than just our time on earth, that there is something bigger than us. And we can believe it with every cell of our bodies. We can have absolute faith in it.

And it's not a weaker faith just because we can't name the deity or state with absolute authority what happens when we leave the world.

She loves to think about this stuff. I remember thinking about it all too.

And she has theories.

One is that our spirits go on and love each other forever. I believe that too.

Another is that fairies are 100% real, which I would like to be true, but I'm not so sure.

And here's the latest. She came in from the yard very excited and said:

Mama, want to know what I believe? Let me tell you.

I believe that there are girl giants up in the sky. Only girls, no boys. And they have gardens and when it rains down here is when they are watering their flowers.

But they're nice giants. But they have no idea that we're here because we're just a tiny little ball on their flower. That's how big they are!

So they don't know they're making it rain here, because they can't see us.

And there are no boy giants, just girls.

That's what I believe, mama. And no one else has to believe in it. That's okay.

God (or Goddess, or maybe even Girl Giants), I love this kid.

Wow

2011-10-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

Silas is a man of few words. But he does has a way of getting his point across.

Sometimes it's like living in a game of charades, a non-stop party in the '70s.

I will ask him a question, say: Do you want grapes or strawberries?

He will say, Ummm. Huh. Like he's thinking really hard.

So I'll pantomime and do something silly like make a little ball with my hands for grapes and pretend to pick a strawberry for strawberries.

And then he'll pretend to pick a strawberry and say yeah!

And now he says things like Mo! (more) and Ank Ooo (thank you). And he can say Wawa (I'm sure you can guess that one) but still uses the hand sign for water anyway.

But my favorite is the way he differentiates sizes.

He likes big things. Big things are Wow!

Things that aren't so big in comparison are No wow.

No wow is said in a little voice, which makes it seem like he feels bad for the thing, like he's sorry it's not Wow!

And, judging by Sy's growth chart at the doctor last week (follow the line to see the growth):

Um, yeah, I think he's pretty Wow!

Pumpkin Picking

2011-10-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

Did I say pumpkin picking?

We do have 3 giant pumpkins in our garden, just waiting for Halloween. But we're not picking them yet.

I really meant nose picking. Is there any child who doesn't find it amusing?

Just try to get some nice pictures of your kids in the pumpkin patch and they do this:

And then the little one thinks: How have I not been doing this for every picture?!

So he joins in the fun.

Then, after taking 15 shots in various stages of nose picking and hysterics, you beg them for a nice pose for the love of all that's holy.

And every once in a while they throw you a bone.

Laddie Turns Twelve

2011-09-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

Laddie turned twelve this month and when Sadie found out she was insistent we have a party for him.

Well, I've promised Laddie that I would never make him wear a party hat. Although there is a picture floating around out there of him wearing an afro wig- maybe Aunt Schleck can find it as I lost it when the old computer crashed. Well, I never promised him he wouldn't have to wear an afro.

Turns out, the big draw of a party was to give him treats- they love giving him treats- and to blow out candles and sing. Of course.

So we did.

Doesn't this bowl of chicken scraps and dog treats look delicious?

It was great fun to make.

Then they practiced for the big blow.

Which is on video somewhere on Will's iPod. Which I have no access to at this moment. And rather than putting off a blog post (again!) I just decided you could see it later.

Or never.

And Laddie loved this treat. And the bone from the butcher we gave him as a present.

He deserves them, since he is the world's sweetest doggy.

And then Sadie asked me if we ever had another dog if he would be as good as Laddie.

And I thought, maybe, but probably not.

Happy 12th birthday, Rusty-Old-Lad-Dog.

Paper Bags

2011-09-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Once again our Sesame Street books from the 70s have given us a completely low-tech craft. We all made these growing up and it appears that it is just as thrilling in 2011 as it was in 1977.

Paper bag masks.

Paper bags, yarn, markers, glue, why do these kinds of things make me so happy? Add in a pompom or pipe cleaner and I'm in heaven.

I guess I can still remember how things like pompoms and pipe cleaners only made an appearance every so often, so it always made things more fun.

And you should have seen these two when the pipe cleaners hit the table.

Silas was a robot.

Sadie was a fancy lady with a hat and antennae. All fancy ladies have antennae, don't they?

I got this pose.

Silas's robot eye hole was bothering him, so we cut it bigger.

So then he looked like a television from the 70s, which I found extremely amusing.

All this reminds me to pull out the pipe cleaners more often.

We only have so long that they will the highlight of their day. And mine.

First Day

2011-09-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

Sadie had her first day of preschool last Thursday, and her second today.

I tried to take pictures but this is what I got when I tried to get her to pose:

So that went well.

Maybe for her first day of kindergarten I can get a picture of her behind a door or something.

It took her about a half an hour when we first arrived to be comfortable with me leaving. She was so excited to be there but she has been having a bit of separation anxiety in the last few months.

I told her that I was pretty sure that when I returned in a few hours she wouldn't be happy to see me as she would be having so much fun and wouldn't want to leave.

I was right. Although I happened to arrive at the precise moment that she managed to lock herself in the bathroom. Of course the door isn't supposed to be closed all the way but being my child she managed to not only close it but lock it.

We talked her through the unlocking of the lock and she ran into my arms. All I could think was that the fun she had probably had for the past 3 hours was now going to be negated by the bathroom fiasco and she would never want to return.

But no, she hugged me for a minute, stopped crying, blamed ME for the door locking (!), and ran back into the classroom to read a book.

And this is how I found her, happy as a clam on Miss Lindsey.

And while I'm glad that the experience didn't ruin preschool forever, it would be nice not to be the scapegoat on this one. I'm sure I'll get blamed for enough things in the next 18 years or so.

I guess that's what we mothers do, huh?

Take one for the team, smooth over the rough spots, carry the load and all that fun stuff.

But look at her and Miss Lindsey. She's in heaven:

I guess I'll have to take the fall this time, since she now says I wish I could go to preschool EVERY day!

And that's what we mothers want, as many experiences as possible to be filled with joy and fun and laughter. And not traumatizing bathroom lockage and fears.

Glad I could help, Sadiecakes.

Cabin 9

2011-09-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

We went camping at Silver Falls the last couple of days. Or maybe I should say "cabinning," although spell-check has informed me that it is not a word. Too bad.

And let me tell you, cabinning is awesome.

Just a little two room cabin. But real-ish beds, heat for the cold mornings and electric lights and outlets really jazz up the camping experience.

Some of you might argue that this is not really a camping experience, and I would probably agree. But then I would ask you why you are groaning in pain and you will tell me about that freaking inescapable ROCK that was under your back all night in your tent.

And I will remember all of my "real" camping nights in my life and go and give my cabin a great, big hug.

See, no frills:

But awesome.

And those waterfalls are pretty cool too.

You even go behind some of them.

And here are our shoes.

Do you hear that? That is the sound of my 16 year-old self screaming in agony that I am wearing Birkenstock sandals with socks.

And to her I say, Woman, but they are just so darn comfortable. You'll forgive me in 21 years.

And Sadie's favorite part. Toasting marshmallows for s'mores.

And, of course, eating them.

Then she would say, Mama, I have a headache and a tummy ache and might throw up. Which is usually the sign of enough s'more. N'more, if you will.

But then 2 minutes later she was back in action. And she was very proud of her toasting technique with this one below.

I have no pictures of when Silas decided to terrify us all by hiding in the bushes and not answering when we were screaming his name.

Turns out, he was pooping. He hides and doesn't like to answer when he's pooping.

Thank god the kid has blond hair and I spotted him standing there watching us all go cracker-cakes. Stinker.

I don't think I can ever go camping again unless he's on a leash. Oh, that's not legal?

OK, maybe we can go when he's 37 years old and won't wander off. My heart can't take that again.

Barring runaway toddlers, it was great to be out-of-doors. Cooking over the fire, washing dishes under cold spigots, going for moonlit walks, sleeping in a real-ish bed, remembering how dirty it is possible to get.

I can't wait to do it again with the kids in 35 years.

4 O'Clock Wake up

2011-08-31T21:59:00.000-07:00

Due to a cascading series of events my two children and I were awake at 3:30 in the morning a few nights ago.

These events included crying, having to pee, being hungry and wanting to play on the iPod.

Finally at 4:30 I figured, What the hell, this isn't working, and we got up.

My no TV in the morning ban was lifted for some PBS Kids at 7am.

I deserved it.

They may not have, but sometimes TV is more for you than them.

This led to lunch at 10:30.

And led to this child being so tired at quiet time that she purposely lay down to take a nap by herself.

This has never happened. Ever.

And this one slept for 3 hours. Another record.

I suppose this was like a fun mini-party to my kids: Up in the dark, illegal TV, maybe even a cookie.

Because last night it was 4am and Sadie woke up to pee. Then she said, Well, Mama, we might as well get up!

Nice try, I said. But no thanks.

So...

2011-08-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

I have baby feet on my lap. Cranky baby feet. So getting up to get pictures posted is out of the question.

But I did take some today and will get them posted tomorrow. Promise.

I will tell you that Silas turned two. Well, you know that. But he also turned TWO.

Today we had two year-old meltdowns because (and these are only the ones I can remember):

He wanted to get in the car seat by himself.

He pulled the petals off his flower.

I had an apple.

The (mysteriously) wrong cup of water was handed to him when he asked for water.

Sadie tried to give him the toy he wanted.

He wanted pudding. (which he was getting)

The pudding had to be put in a bowl.

10 minutes later, when he was calm enough to want pudding again I set him up with his bowl:

Suction of bowl failed, spoonful of pudding fell on foot. Insanity ensued.

So bedtime was at 6:40 today. He needed it.

Hoo Hoo

2011-08-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

Silas is cautious of anything that may be hot, which he calls hoo hoo.

When you give him something warm he says, "Hoo hoo?"

Then he'll feel it and answer himself, "No, no hoo hoo!"

And if it is hot he says, "Uh-huh, hoo hoo! Hoo-ooo hoo-ooo!"

YiYi Turns Dee!

2011-08-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

Well, he's grown another year older on me. Stinker.

And while we have spent the past week telling him he will be "Two years old, SySy!" he looks solemnly back at us and says, No, Dee! YiYi Dee!

Which, it would appear, is what he thinks two is.

After all, he counts like this: Da, Dee, Da, Dee, DA! or Dee, Da, Dee, Da, DEE!

But every year is better than the last, so I'm not really complaining about another birthday.

You just want to absorb it all and not forget a thing. Which is impossible, you know?

When he woke up this morning he opened some presents.

Yes, for those of you who were offended by his green toenails, that is a doll. He was adamant that there be a doll whose eyes close to go NighNigh. Get over it, he has trucks coming out his ears.

Sadie's showing him the ropes with the baby bathtub.

Then we headed out for the first day of the County Fair. Wasn't it nice of them to hold it on his birthday?

He is just 36 inches and 2 years old today, of course, which is the minimum for riding the rides at the fair.

At first we thought he would be scared of the rides. But he had DeeDee there to be his partner, and all was well.

Then we saw Sadie's friend Laila and they all had a blast. What's with the alligators-wearing-hats -and-collars ride? I have no idea. But it was fun.

They took a trip in a rocket ship.

There, DeeDee, I've spotted the planet Qualasar. We shall land at once!

Playing in a bunch of corn. Do not underestimate the power of a box of dried corn. This kept them busy for half an hour.

Then it was home for cake later.

This is Silas wondering why the heck we are thrusting candles at him and singing.

Notice that I made a Pineapple Upside-Down cake, my first ever. Sy isn't a huge cake guy but this is gooey and fruity and I thought it might pass muster.

And I will pass along some hard-won advice. Do not decide to bake the cake in your springform cake pan. Even if the directions say to use a deep pan and you don't have one.

Just use the regular cake pan.

Promise me.

Well, unless you want the brown sugar and butter topping to drip out into the oven, causing a black mess and filling your house with smoke.

Then you should definitely go with the springform pan.

He blew out all his candles by himself!

And the cake was a hit.
With everyone.

Now it's onto his third year. Wow.

And, hey, Silas, I have something to say to you:

Thank you for being my baby YiYi, little guy.

You are so sweet and soft and squishy and have the cutest grin known to man.

Well, you're sweet when you're not yelling MeowMeow and attacking the cats with anything you have in hand.

And when you're not beating Sadie like a tiny blond-haired windmill.

But you are always soft and squishy and you do truly have the cutest grin known to man.

And the other stuff is par for the course for a two year-old, I've found.

Happy birthday, Sweet Boy.

Love, Mama

The Last Few Weeks

2011-08-13T18:59:00.001-07:00

We have been gallivanting around the northeast for a couple of weeks.

The kids got to play where I played as a kid, swim where I swam, catch frogs and salamanders like I used to, see their cousins, play in New York City park sprinklers, see the best collection of dinosaur fossils ever, get lots and lots of attention and just have fun.

Here are a bunch of pictures from our trip. I only brought my iPod, so the pictures that look like they were taken in 1972? Yeah, those are mine. I depended on the kindness of the camera-toting grandparents and they didn't let me down.

Sadie at my rock. OK, so it's not really my rock. But it has always felt like it is.

Walking to the pond on our road.

Hanging at the beach.

Playing in Otter Pond.

Frogs, salamanders, we even caught minnows. Which reminds me, try not to stress a minnow out too much, it appears to make them catatonic.

Sitting with my "Baby Mermaid."

Cranberry Pond.

Pony rides. Silas objected to his, so Sadie got two.

Petting a Meow Meow.

Wearing the popular new dresses for Sadie and her cat, Frisky.

Silas destroying Grammy's dollhouse furniture. Everything he touched turned to something that resembled a jumble of matchsticks.

At the swings by the clubhouse.

Going to the children's museum.

Your local news team. Don't believe a word they say.

Climbing the curvy tower. Or whatever it's called.

The carousel! Sadie loves her a carousel.

Silas loved the carousel, too. For a minute. Then he got a puke face and clung to Grammy until the ride ended.

Picking wild blueberries.

We ignored the fact that there was a bear sighting right around there that morning. It wasn't right there. And we needed them for the next day's pancakes.

But we picked fast and brought a whistle, too.

My Mama didn't raise no fool.

Sitting in the clubhouse. Where I spent many an hour in these same chairs from the 1970s hanging around with friends and reading random books.

At the Museum of Natural History.

Sitting on a scapula, or something like that, of an Apatosaurus.

The playground in Brooklyn.

First real Italian ices. Scooped into those paper cups that get soggy so fast but are perfect for squeezing so you don't miss a drop.

And, as long as we're sharing all this I should tell you that I may never be invited back to Uncle E's house. When I heard the ice cream truck I got so excited for Sadie to go see it and get ice cream that I decided to ignore the fact that she was naked in the sprinkler in the backyard.

There was no time! I mean, seriously, remember that we have a lame ice cream minivan. And we've only ever seen that thing twice.

It was worth it.

Uncle E and Sophia. Look at that cuteness.

Cousins Nicholas, Sadie, Sophia and Auntie M.

Me and my bro. Tell me he couldn't pretend my kids are his.

It's good to be home but we miss you all.

I promise to try to refrain from front yard nudity if you invite us back.

Notice I said try.

Beep Beep

2011-07-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

Silas says beep beep when he needs to get by someone who is in his path. I know we occasionally honk to get by all the little critters who live in this house, and since Sy is a man of few words he always goes for the condensed version of whatever he wants to say.

He even says it to Laddie all the time. Not that Laddie has any idea what he's saying, of course.

But when you ask Sy if he is saying excuse me, Laddie (aka Beep beep, Doo-addie) he nods and says Uh-huh!

So the other night at bedtime we were reading a book and he belched. Since we are (sometimes futilely, it seems) attempting to teach our children some semblance of decent manners we always tell him and Sadie to say "excuse me" after they burp or release some other foul air.

So I said, Oh, you burped!

And Sy looked back at me, nodded, and said, Beep beep!

This kid cracks me up.

It Doesn't Just Amuse Cats

2011-07-17T21:17:00.001-07:00

Kids like to try to catch the light too.

Ladybugs

2011-07-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

We have been waiting a over a year to buy some ladybugs. Which has been a dream of Sadie's since last year they had sold out. And finally, finally we got them.

1500 of them. That's a lot of ladybugs.

You keep them in the fridge until you are ready to let them out as they kind of go dormant when they are cold. So on the way home in the car Sadie got a real kick out of watching them wake up.

Hi ladybugs! Mama, they're waking up. They are saying, "Hey, it's summer! Wake up!"

But, you know how one or two ladybugs are cute and magical and exciting?

Well, it turns out that 1500 of them marching towards you is a bit freaky. That's 9000 bug legs coming your way. It can make you a bit squirmy. Especially when they're crawling up your legs.

Shoes had to be checked.

Ladybugs had to be brushed away.

But after the initial freak out 1500 ladybugs were way cool.

And exciting.

And magical.
And the next morning when we found a bunch of them curled together in a leaf it was definitely the cutest insect-related thing I've ever seen.

Not that it was hard to win that title.

The Fourth

2011-07-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

We went to an art and wine festival on the 4th of July, knowing that we would have prime seats for fireworks. And good food. And drinks. And ice cream.

And may I say that Sadie may be the messiest human being I have ever met? It doesn't matter what she's eating, she manages to smear it all over her face, have it running down her arms, drop it on the floor, coat her clothes with it. It deserves its own blog post.

It's quite amazing.

Look at the way she's attacking that ice cream bar.

And that was only having eaten a third of it. You can imagine how it ended.

And here's Sy, enjoying his crack, I mean, Flavor-Blasted Goldfish. I don't know what those things are coated in, but I think there may be something illegal in the mix.

And here is Sadie before her tussle with the ice cream bar.

Those face paints we got are coming in handy these days. I just paint her face before we go anywhere like this. She's excited and then we don't have to be sad if there's no face painting or stand in what is usually the longest line at the place.

We just stand in the balloon line.

Which is the second longest line.

And here is Sy's reaction to his first fireworks, which he calls boom-boom. Or boom. Or boo-boo. Seeing as how he pretty much yelled at every firework I think you'll get the gist of it.

The YiYi Song

2011-07-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

Silas has his own theme song he likes to sing. Sometimes the lyrics change from Da-Daa, Da-Daa to Ba-Baa Ba-Baa, but the tune remains the same.

If you ask him to sing The YiYi Song he will.

And of course I ask him over and over.

Why Is This What Happens When You Say, Hey Kids, Let's Dip Our Feet in the Water?

2011-07-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

It begins like this:

Which leads to this:

And this:

And then ends up somewhere around here:

I wouldn't have it any other way.

DeeDee and YiYi

2011-06-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

Silas has begun saying his name, and since one of the names we call him is Sy-Sy, he has taken to calling himself Yi-Yi.

When he wants a turn doing something he says, YiYi!

And he calls Sadie DeeDee. Which Sadie likes, so she calls herself DeeDee when she talks to YiYi, who she calls YiYi.

Confused yet? All you need to know is that it's really cute.

And they've been playing together more and more.

And she's been helping him, too. Today I watched her put his sandal back on when it came off while they were playing in the yard. And she even nibbled on his toes to be silly before she stuck it back on.

It warmed the cockles of my heart.

These pictures are from the other day when YiYi decided he should come in and lie down on the kitchen floor. DeeDee joined him.

Hey, I don't ask why.

Actually, I do. But I understand that I am not going to get any kind of an answer.

But I am going to get a good photo op.

Berries

2011-06-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

My friends, it is finally summer here. And the only thing that makes it okay that we are tortured with cold weather every spring is the absolute gloriosity* that is an Oregon summer.

It totally kicks your summer's arse.

So we were out enjoying some summery air and noticed that in the previous two days the raspberries had started ripening.

Our raspberries aren't big enough yet to supply us with jam makings, but there are enough to pick off the bush and eat whilst standing there.

There might even be enough to go and sit down and eat. But no one makes it that far. They suck those berries up like little vacuums.

In the last two days Sy has even figured out which ones he should pick. He pretends to pick the unripe berries and then says uh-uh and shakes his head. Funny guy.

Oh, and excuse the cotton-candy looking hair on that kid. It looks like that after sleep until I run a wet brush through it. And, as you can see, that doesn't always make the list of things that get done.

From the looks of things it appears to rank somewhere below picking the ripe raspberries.

Those grubby paws just grab those raspberries before I can get any. But that's not so bad since I don't really like raspberries.

Yes, you heard right. They're okay, but they just don't do it for me.

These two don't mind.

More for them, right?

*Totally made up the word gloriosity.

Recital Redux, The Video

2011-06-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so these had to make it from Granny's camera, through 3 computers and onto YouTube to get here.

But here they are.

The dance, Sadie is second from the left:

Sadie's tumbling across the stage:

Recital Redux

2011-06-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

Sadie was a star at her recital. For those of you who remember last year you'll know that she didn't like the lights, the noise, and pretty much anything else.

This year we had a real dress rehearsal and she knew what to expect on the big day. And she was thrilled to learn that her dress looked like a wedding cake.

Pink? Check.

Poufy? Check.

Extra bow for hair? Check.

They had her at pink.

And getting to wear makeup? That is a thrill like no other. This kid loves makeup.

Right here would be where I insert the video, but you'll have to wait until later as my card reader appears to be broken. So I need to get Dada on his computer to get it.

Coming soon, promise!

And after a (surprisingly long) while where Silas was content to watch the dancing and like clap like a madman, he began to get bored of being in one spot. Not to mention that it was directly in his nap time window. Why do they schedule things for little kids at nap time?

Anyway.

So between Sadie events we went out into the lobby. Where Sy learned it's big fun to run in an echoing lobby. And yell. And drink out of a water fountain.

Then he went back to the auditorium doors and said "Deedie! Dadie!" Which is Sadie, of course.

Then she got her flowers.

She said, I thought I would be scared but it's not as scary as I thought. Recitals are fun, Mama! It's like dance class but not exactly like dance class. It's special.

It's true. It was a special day.

Thankfully I got the My-baby-is-so-big-and-growing-up-and-I-can't-believe-it-look-at-her-onstage-and-doing-so-well-by-herself-and-it's-amazing-and-wonderful-and-bittersweet crying out of the way at the dress rehearsal.

But I still teared up a tiny little bit. It just can't be helped.

When Life Hands You Lemons

2011-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

Eat Them.

Coastal Showers

2011-06-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

We went out to the coast a week or so ago. As is the case out here often in the spring, the promised lovely day was actually overcast and grey and cold and rainy.

But we made the best of it.

Sadie wrote her name in the sand. Sort of. She knows the letters go in a special order but she also believes it's fine to just put 'em all out there and let you figure it out.

She won't be controlled by all your rules and regulations, man.

Silas thought walking in the sand was pretty silly. He kept pointing at his feet and laughing.

And we even took a tour of the lighthouse. Here we are, up high. It was the best of the bunch with wind, glare, runny nose (mine) and hungry kids.

A delicious seafood lunch (no, not for me- blech!) took care of most of those problems, though.

And some hot cocoa. Is there anything hot cocoa doesn't make better?

Let's Go Fly A Kite

2011-06-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

It was a sunny, windy day, so we did.

We rode our bikes.

We hugged.

We ran.
We ate goldfish and threw a gigantic tantrum about needing a bike helmet on. Right now. Doesn't matter if we're not getting back on the bike anytime soon.

Then we relaxed and enjoyed spring finally, finally, making an appearance.

Pony

2011-06-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

Today.

Sadie: Do you know what I want to ask Santa for, Mama?

Me: What's that?

Sadie: I want him to bring me a pony.

Me: Hm, I don't think Santa can bring you a pony.

S: Why?

Me: Well, it won't fit on his sled.

S: Oh, okay. How about just a small toy pony, then?

Me: Oh yeah, he can do that. A smooth pony or one with fur?

S: A small pony with fur. That's what I'll ask for!

S-A-D-I-E

2011-05-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

This is what Sadie was doing during quiet time the other day. She just got the idea on her own. Can you see it?

Here's a little help:

I thought it was really cool.

Twenty-One Questions

2011-05-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

How do they make cords for electricity to run on?

How do people build special bath pipes for water?

Why are clouds white?

How does the radio work? What do the waves in the air look like?

Why do some cars have big antennas?

What makes the wind blow?

Why does brother get boo-boos and I don't? Why don't big girls get boo-boos? I wish Dada had delicious boo-boos so I could nurse off them at night!

Why is our car white?

Why do they stuff animals? Are the animals at Build-A-Bear dead animals that you stuff? Why aren't they real, dead animals?

I guess people don't want to snuggle with real ones, they'd be all dirty and yucky and stuff!

Why do moths fly at night and butterflies fly during the day?

Why do people keep crashing into us? (We were rear-ended again the other day but this time the guy cracked our light, I keep forgetting to mention it to people)

Where did the big asteroid hit the earth and kill the dinosaurs? Can I see the hole? (When you ask where she would like to go on vacation she wants to go to the crater)

Why, when it rains, do the worms say, "Oh no, oh no, I don't want to get wet! I'd better come up out of the ground!" Mama?

Why are bubbles rainbow when you look at them close?

Do all fruits start as flowers? Why do flowers need roots to grow?

A sampling of questions from Sadie. She loves questions about science. I love answers about science. So it works out pretty well.

Although sometimes I just want to say, I don't know. Go watch TV. Especially after the fortieth why? question that has no answer.

Then I remember that we don't watch TV during the day and I curse our no-TV-during-the-day rule.

Then I answer with enthusiasm because I know that she has plenty of time to consider and ponder all of these things while she is not watching television during the day. Because we are outside, because we are reading books. And it's wonderful. And she's so smart. And I love it.

So I answer and maybe we look at pictures and she gets so excited to have learned something new and interesting.

And asks me another question.

And then I lay my head down on the table and curse the fact that we don't watch TV during the day.

And then I thank my lucky stars that this inquisitive little girl belongs to me.

Where have you been?

2011-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Yeah, yeah, I know. It's my fault.

Every time I am going to post something happens. And then Silas dumped a thermos full of tea on my computer.

Yeah, you.

After it dried out the only damage seems to be the mouse, which no longer works properly. Stinker.

Which makes Photoshop hard to do.

That's why these are black and white. Easy Peasy.

And to make up for my absence I am going to attempt to post every day for the rest of the month.

Kiss My Face

2011-05-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is the face Silas makes when he wants to give you a kiss.

With or without baked ziti all over it. He's not picky, he doesn't care about the mess.

He just wants a kiss.

But I've got standards, kid. No food on face. You may be cute, but you're not that...

Okay, yes. Yes, you are that cute.

I just hope you figure out the proper kiss face by your first date or so, because that particular expression might be a face only a mother could love. And kiss.

Just In Time For Mother's Day

2011-05-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Sy says granny and grammy. They are exactly the same word, of course. Even I mix them up.

Lazy Baby

2011-05-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

If Only Swaddling Had Made Them Sleep Well

2011-04-29T21:34:00.000-07:00

I would still be doing it.

Peter Cotton(Candy)Tail

2011-04-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

I didn't take a lot of pictures at Easter. Let's just say that pictures taken in the dark at 7am are not usually the best. And by 7:02 the baskets were dismantled and the faces covered in chocolate.

But I did get some later in the day, as you can see from Sadie's face paint being almost completely worn away due to excessive chocolate eating and face-rubbing.

Yes, the Easter Bunny brought the usual candy, and some much-wanted face paints.

But not only that, she left a cotton candy machine.

Yes, she. The E.B. is a lady around these parts.

It was a big hit. Getting candy is one thing. Making it yourself is like magic.

And what's that Jesus once said?:

Give a kid some candy and she's wired for a day. Teach her how to make candy and she's wired for a lifetime.

Okay, maybe it was Confucius or someone.

The point is, making candy is fun and gets kids so excited they give each other big kisses.

And I'm all about the big kisses.

Man of Few Words

2011-04-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

Silas has a few words now:

Mama

Daddy

Kitty

Doggy

Baby

Sadie

Laddie

Peep-peep

Meow

Dye (bye)

Uh-oh

Unh-uh (no)

Uh-huh (yes)

There aren't many and they are used sparingly, because, hey, why use different words when you can use one, universal, all-purpose word?

That would be his most favorite word: ah-ba or ah-bah, sometimes also known as hah-ba.

Ah-ba can mean look or give me.

Paired with the sign for more it means more.

It can mean, Change my poop diaper, lady. Although Eh! is also used in that instance as well.

It can be happy, like so: Aaah-ba!

It can be angry and staccato-fast: Ah-ba!Ah-ba!Ah-ba!

It can morph into crying: Aah-ba, Ahahaha-ha-ha-baa...

And he loves to whine it: Ah-ba-a-a, ah-ba-a-a

A question: Ah-ba?

It is a call and response, too. Say Aah-baah to him and he says it back with glee.

It can also be hollered at the top of your lungs while sitting in a shopping cart in a store because you like the echo sound that your voice makes: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Yeah, that one draws a bit of attention our way.

Even though more words would help at the whole verbal communication thing, we are getting good at sussing out the meaning of the Ah-bas. And he does communicate, even if it is in his own words. Or word.

Except that shopping cart one. That one is just bananas.

A Mother's Prayer For Her Daughter

2011-04-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

I loved this when I saw it earlier today. It was written by Tina Fey.

Funny, but absolutely true.

A Mother's Prayer For Her Daughter

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long,

For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

The Age of Self-Portraits

2011-04-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

Sadie is really into drawing pictures of people. And fairies, although those are people too, I suppose. With wings.
And often she draws herself. Here she is, wearing her striped tights.

Sadie and Mama. I really like my dress in this picture.

And, finally, she gave me red hair. Because my hair is currently auburn-ish. Up until this picture she has been completely convinced that I have black hair, no matter what I said or even when I held my hair in my hands and said For the love of all that's holy, just look at it!

Weirdo.

Sadie and Dada. Dada is also wearing a dress, I think.

Note the "I love you" on our pictures. It made my heart melt.

And here is Silas's picture.

I think I'm in this one too.

Fairy Face

2011-04-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Sadie got her face painted this weekend with a fancy fairy face. I don't think I have ever seen a person look in the mirror as much as she did in the hours before we had to wash it off for bed.

She is thrilled by the idea that we can do it at home, too. And keeps bugging me about it. I told her I have it on good authority that the Easter Bunny often brings face paints to the deserving.

Let Them Bake Cake

2011-04-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

I won't say I'm lazy. After all, I have been making my own yogurt recently. Although it is possibly the laziest way you can make yogurt. In a crockpot.

Okay, okay, I am pretty lazy. But my theory is that it's not a character deficiency if you want to sit around and read books. That's called book learnin'. So there.

But I try not to be lazy when it comes to cooking. I try to make things from scratch because they taste better, are cheaper and, well, because it makes me happy.

But I have always been lazy when it comes to cake mix. After all, the box is cheap, easy and tastes yummy. I have baked many a yellow cake from scratch that wasn't as good as boxed cake mix. So imagine my chagrin when I promised Sadie we would bake a cake and pulled a box out of the pantry only to find that every brand I have has artificial coloring in it.

Isn't yellow cake just supposed to be yellow naturally? I've never had to add yellow 5 & 6 to a recipe. And devil's food- of course it requires red 40 and yellow 6 to be brown? What?

So the boxes will be going to the food pantry.

And I found a recipe that's a keeper. While it does require measuring and such it does not make you separate eggs or give up your firstborn child.*

And both Sadie and Silas love to measure ingredients and stir. So it's not all bad, even for a lazy gal like me.

But one thing I love about boxed cake mix is the fact that my kitchen doesn't look like this when I'm done. Does yours look like this when you cook?

Oh. Well, me neither. Just ignore that picture.

And look at what the stinkers did while I cleaned up the mess. They sat around eating strawberries. Can you believe it?

I wish I could blame the mess on them. But, sadly, it looks like that whether I have help or not.

Our delicious, beautiful cake was even better than a box mix. Denser and buttery.

And the icing was PINK. Colored naturally. And delicious.

So there, Duncan Hines.

*From Smitten Kitchen

My notes in bold.

Best Yellow Layer Cake

Yield: Two 9-inch round, 2-inch tall cake layers, and, in theory, 22 to 24 cupcakes, two 8-inch squares or a 9×13 single-layer cake (I have yet to audition the cupcakes, shame on me) I made a bundt cake.

4 cups plus 2 tablespoons cake flour (not self-rising) I used a substitution of 2 TBS cornstarch with AP flour added to make a cup. I imagine with actual cake flour it would be really fluffy. Plus, I didn't sift. I'm lazy, remember?

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups buttermilk, well-shaken- I subbed milk with 1 TB lemon juice per cup- can use vinegar too.

Preheat oven to 350°F.I used butter and flour spray, but I also recommend making a crazy concoction of 1/3 flour, 1/3 oil and 1/3 shortening and storing this in your fridge. Whip out whenever baking and brush/rub into pan. Lasts forever and works like a charm.

Sift (haha- this is assuming you aren't lazy) together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy, then add vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well and scraping down the bowl after each addition. At low speed, beat in buttermilk until just combined (mixture will look curdled). Add flour mixture in three batches, mixing until each addition is just incorporated.

Spread batter evenly in cake pan, bake until golden and a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then run a knife around edge of pan.Turn onto rack, cool and do whatever you want to it.

Bundt cake took about 50 minutes. Popped right out of the pan. I am eating a slice right now. It is gooood.

Back Steps

2011-04-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

Nothing much happens on the back steps.

Sometimes you get sent there to sit when you need a break from being crazy.

And sometimes you just sit there because it's nice and shady.

And sometimes you get company while you're just hanging out.

And sometimes you get a little bit of love, too.

That's about as exciting as it gets.

But, hey, what more do you need?

Sitting

2011-04-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the couch.

Sitting on the back step wiggling our feet.

Why Will they Never Look at the Camera at the Same Time?

2011-04-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

It's a mystery for the ages.

But I do love this one:

Waste Not

2011-03-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

I really hate to waste food, it's such a...a...waste. And Sadie knows that we try to use things up and not waste water and all of that good stuff.

So the other day we were reading one of our Sesame Street letter and number books from the 1970's (which are awesome, by the way, and the whole set was four dollars at a garage sale), and the Count says:

I am making pancakes! But I am not going to eat them! I am going to count...

Sadie interrupts:

Hey, Mama, that's a waste of food! You can't make pancakes and not eat them!

So we decided that Cookie Monster would come by shortly and fix that situation up right quick.

I love this kid.

Dia de San Patricio

2011-03-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

Once again we attempted to capture that leprechaun.

Sadie built a trap with the help of Grammy that was sure to entice the leprechaun to go on a ride down a slide. Unfortunately for him, once inside he would be unable to leave. It seemed perfect.

We even saw a rainbow the day before St. Patrick's Day, which we assumed was the leprechaun heading down. And when I said that, Sadie got just a tad freaked out.

I think Mama forgot that the idea of sneaky red-headed, green-clad men sneaking into your house can be a little weird when you really believe in it.

And, Silas, well, Silas had no idea what was going on.

But what we didn't count on is that leprechauns seem to have sticky feet and he left green footprints up the side of our trap and disappeared.

He did leave a some treats for the kids with a note that said Nice try!

But that stinker took our coins.

Next year, leprechaun. Next year.

Snow Day, Sort Of

2011-03-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Well, it was a snow day. They cancelled school and everything.

For what turned out to be about half an inch. But we bought a sled.

And dag-burn it, we were going to use that sled.

And Dada even threw in a snowball lesson.

Here's Sadie, right before she said, Let's go in and have hot cocoa!

Silas agreed. Even though he didn't know what hot cocoa was.

But he soon found out.

Isn't that the cutest little mug?

And I mean that in both senses of the word.

And this one, she's in heaven.

Extra marshmallows, need I say more?

Call My Baby Lollipop

2011-03-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

We made some chocolate lollipops with friends using our new, natural colors.

The kids had lots of fun painting their lollies.

And showing them off.
But, I'm fairly certain, the best part was eating them.

Say-Dee

2011-03-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

The Man of Few Words has added a few in the past couple of weeks, bringing the grand total to about 8 words. It seems as if he is deciding that Hey, I can make noises that mean something!

Yesterday he said "Sadie." Everyone was so excited but none more so than Sadie, who had a huge grin and said I love you, Brother!

Then we caught it on video later.

Excuse the unmade bed. Martha Stewart I am not.

Just So You Know

2011-03-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

Sadie today says:

That's weird, Mama. (She said this about something random, can't remember what.)

Oh, Mama? Just so you know, my new word is 'That's weird.'

So if you hear me say 'That's weird' you'll know it's my new word, OK? Just so you know.

Sadie loves to give you Just So You Know alerts.

To My Microwave,

2011-03-02T22:49:00.001-08:00

I know that you must beep when the time is up, but must you beep five times?

Two would work, three would be enough, four is overkill.

And five? Five makes me think that you are actually trying to wake the baby. Who, for the record, only sleeps well on the couch.

So tone it down, bucko.

Thanks.

The Joy Of Having An Older Sister

2011-02-26T20:37:00.001-08:00

If you let her, she can fancy you up in a flash.

Now, that's better, isn't it?

Climber

2011-02-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

Silas has learned how to climb our kitchen chairs, sit backwards on them, and rock.

I have a feeling that we are going to be getting to know the fine doctors and nurses at the local ER in the coming years.

Quiet Time

2011-02-16T15:20:00.001-08:00

Sadie is in her room listening to Miss Hannigan growl out Little Girls. It's on repeat.

She was introduced to the Annie soundtrack earlier today.

I couldn't be happier.

Sad Sack

2011-02-15T16:43:00.000-08:00

Poor Sy has hives. Lots of them. They started on his tummy.

And then, well, they went everywhere. Poor guy. He is not a happy camper today.

Two trips to the doc in as many days. His face was so swollen this morning he didn't even look like himself.

Aw, there you are, Sy. Still cute, even through a whole lot of red bumps.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

Well, we are on our way to see why Silas has a mutant case of what may be hives or something. Will keep you posted!

In the meantime, here is Sadie wishing you a happy day!

Those Babies, They Really Can Make You Crazy

2011-02-11T08:51:00.001-08:00

Sadie to me, yesterday:

Mama, I think I'd be a lot nicer if there wasn't a little baby buggin' me.

The State of Our Union

2011-02-09T14:19:00.001-08:00

We were heading out for a fun day of playing today when I noticed Sy's eye was really goopy. So instead of playing we heading to the doctor where he was diagnosed with pink eye and a virus. Now his eye is little and pink and his nose is running like crazy and he started coughing on the way to the doctors. Sheesh!

This house feels like it has been transformed into a sick bay. Finally we're all well and boom- sick again! Blargh!

Sadie was disappointed to be changing plans at the last minute but I must say she is so good about things like that. Really, beyond her years good.

Well, OK, mama, but can we see them next week?

And I wouldn't blame her if she had squeezed a tear or two out. If you had seen her jumping and dancing around the living room earlier because we were going to Laila's house!!! you would be surprised at how she took it in stride.

Our natural food colors arrived today- stay tuned for treats that have been colored naturally. And, yes, I have cut out all FD&C food colors for the most part. I am now that mom.

I read a bunch about them and really, who the heck needs petrochemicals that have been found to truly cause behavior issues?

We're looking forward to Pancake Sunday this week!

We have been invaded by mice. Armed with my caulk gun I have attempted to seal the house. And I think we may almost have 'em.

The cats have been wandering around sniffing and loitering in a couple spots today so I think there may still be one in the house.

We caught FIVE after I sealed up all the entry holes.

Did you know it was possible to have that many extra creatures in your house and not know it?

Yikes.

Sadie has been cracking me up. Whenever she bites a carrot she says: Hello, doc! And even though she's been told Bugs Bunny says What's up, doc? she never remembers. And, frankly, I won't correct her anymore because I think it's cute.

We have been reading A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. She loves his poems. But she calls it There's a Light Bulb in the Attic. Don't even try to tell her different, she won't believe you.

So I'm off to hang with my crusty eyed baby. Poor fella.

There's just a little of what we've been doing around these parts.

Lunch

2011-02-04T21:08:00.000-08:00

Eating lunch the other day.

Hi, Silas. Didn't your mother ever tell you to chew with your mouth closed?

That's better.

Yes, you are very cute.
You know it too, don't you? Stinker.

Hey there, Sadie!
Yep, that does look like a fish. Indeed.

Yes, I am going to show these to the grannies. Yes, they will like them and think they're "shunny."

Um, you missed a spot. Right there...and there...and...

Don't worry about it. You're gorgeous, even with a yogurt beard.

No Time to Write

2011-01-28T15:43:00.000-08:00

We are enjoying this January spring-like weather we are having while laughing at y'all back east. Of course, y'all will be laughing at us in May when we are sobbing because it is still freaking raining and can't the freaking sun just shine already it's spring for the love of all that's holy!

But for now, Na-na-na-na-boo-boo! We're going out to play!

The Nerds

2011-01-25T17:45:00.000-08:00

Nerdkin 1:

Nerdkin 2:

The Nerdkins:

Yeah, my pet name for them is nerdkin. After all, they are the progeny of a nerd, no?

Say it loud, say it proud, I always say.

And, right there, just now, I have said something nerdy, haven't I?

Yep.

One Lump or Two?

2011-01-21T22:02:00.000-08:00

Oh, no, thank you. I just take one plastic cat in my tea in the morning.

Silas knows just how I like it.

I Won't Grow Up

2011-01-18T21:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Sadie said, Mama I don't ever want to grow up and be big.

Why? I asked.

Because when you're big you have to clean and make dinner and do stuff like that...I don't want to do that stuff, I just want to play and be a kid.

Told you this kid was smart.

And, of course, I used this teaching moment in the car to teach her to sing I Won't Grow Up from Peter Pan. (What's a serious 'spression, Mama?)

Because I totally understand, Sadie. Don't all of you?

Singing in the Rain

2011-01-18T19:52:00.001-08:00

Although the weather has been rainy recently it has been so mild out.

No wind, light drizzle and 60 degrees is actually kind of nice. So we have been out in the yard trying to get some fresh air.

Of course, kids love it outside. Rain, snow, what have you. It's us grownups that get all persnickety and whiny and cold. And by grownups, I mean me.

Sadie has been having a fine time playing with her umbrella. Which inspired me to sing Singing in the Rain to her while in the yard.

Sing the rain song again, Mama! Sadie said.

This is the kind of thing you don't have to ask me to do twice.

So, much to the delight of Sadie, but possibly the chagrin of neighbors who may also have been trying to enjoy the weather, I sang it four more times.

Because, well, singing in the rain while dancing around is actually all it's cracked up to be. Try it.

Silas did some much needed shopping.

Trucks were thrown...er, I mean played with.

Puddles were jumped in.

And I didn't whine about the cold once. In January, mind you. I could get used to this.

Open Up and Say Arrrrgh!

2011-01-14T22:03:00.001-08:00

Today was Sadie's first appointment with the dentist.

I am making the understatement of the year when I say it didn't go well.

Yeah, it didn't go well.

She yelled and cried and clung to me like a rabid baby koala bear. She done lost her mind.

One thing to know about this child is that when she decides she doesn't like or is scared of something there is no way on goddess's green earth you are going to get her to do it.

She could teach a mule about stubbornness.

And so, with a quick peek in her mouth by the dentist, which Sadie allowed at the end (and I use "allowed" very loosely), we were out of there.

They want us back in 6 months.

Think they'll answer when we call to schedule the appointment?

Still Plugging Along

2011-01-13T09:57:00.001-08:00

So Sadie is feeling great, but Sy and I are not. He's fairly sick. I am feeling like it is trying to take me down.

But I've got news for this virus: I'm gonna use my Super-Mama powers to kick its arse.

Well, my Super-Mama powers and some Claritin-D. And ibuprofen.

And a bit of Chloraseptic throat spray.

Watch out virus!

On Entertaining Children

2011-01-09T16:26:00.000-08:00

So, today I wanted Silas out of my hair for a while. I suddenly realized that he's never played with beans - a fun pastime for little ones.

He played at the sand and water table all summer and fall until it was too cold and man, he loves that table, as does Sadie.

So I got out some orange lentils thinking that they were the beans least likely to choke a curious toddler who loves to taste everything.

He absolutely loved it. He was quiet and didn't try to eat them at all. After he got the maniacal throwing of the beans out of his system he got into the moving beans around with utensils, pouring into cups, and other busy toddler activities.

Then, after about 15 minutes, as soon as I got comfortable with him playing and seeing he wasn't going to eat them I, still sitting right next to him on a chair, decided to look at my computer. Of course, it was that moment that Silas took a giant bite of dried lentils and started gagging and choking. Awesome, there's nothing I love more than the good adrenalin rush of trying to get things out of a gagging, choking, crying toddler mouth. Sheesh.

Then Sister joined in the fun. Four year-olds may like bean-playing just as much as 17 month-olds.

And Silas may have learned his dry bean-eating lesson. For today, at least.

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-06T21:50:00.000-08:00

OK, ok, I'm here. We're here.

Sort of.

Our week back from our visit across the country has been filled with a visit to the ER for a meningitis scare, strep throat reality, 2 doctor visits and lots of painful whimpering. It's been days and days.

In actuality I'm pretty lucky. It is only strep throat and a chest cold as opposed to meningitis, which was a terrifying thought.

And this is the first real, extended sickness she's ever had. You know, the type where you just get to lounge around all day(s) in your jammies and mama lets you watch movie after movie?

Sickness is this house usually lasts a day or so for the kids and then they are up and at 'em. Not so much this time.

I know some mamas out there deal with this constantly. They have my utmost respect.

I will be back with more soon. I promise! My goal is to post every other day or three times a week. Really. Happy new year!

Sadie, On the Eve of Your Turning Four, You Are...

2010-12-08T22:39:00.000-08:00

You are quick and funny and silly and smart as a whip.

You are enthusiastic and impatient and can argue until your opponent just wants to give up and give in.

You are beautiful, inside and out. Pretty is as pretty does. And, Bubba, you do pretty.

You are snuggly and soft and crass and loud and shy and stubborn as a mule.

You will push your brother to the ground to get past him but also spontaneously declare your love for him.

You ask what the people's signs who are asking for help on the street corners say, and want to give them all something.

You hate admitting you are sad, but will admit to needing a hug. You feel things so deeply.

You love to draw and sing and dance and every day I am amazed at what you can do.

You are honest, except when you're telling silly little-kid fibs, of course. But you're honest when it counts.

You are your own delightful, wonderful, awesome, kooka-banana, crackerdog, shining soul.

You are the best little girl in the world. Seriously, how'd I get so lucky?

Don't ever change.

Pancake Sunday

2010-12-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

Inspired a couple of months ago by Jim's Pancakes I decided it would be fun to institute our own pancake day where we try to make fun pancakes.

After all, I make pancakes a good bit and Sadie is always asking for an S or a gingerbread person or something interesting.

So, armed with my favorite pancake recipe* and a bunch of squirt bottles we have been doing some sort of pancake on Sunday mornings.

*Old-Fashioned Pancakes

1.5 c. all-purpose flour

2.5 tsp. baking powder (original recipe calls for 3, you can go with 2 if you want them not as fluffy)

1 tsp. salt

1 TB. sugar

1.5 c. milk

1 egg

3 TB butter, melted

1tsp. vanilla

In large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in center and pour in remaining ingredients. Mix until mostly smooth. For squeezing out of bottle you must blend or food process or use a mixer to make pancake batter smooth. Otherwise some lumps are OK.

Heat griddle and cook pancakes.

Our first attempts involved fairies and blueberries.

Then the next week we moved on to cats and birds with crowns and hearts. And I found out that trying to color the pancake mix with strawberries makes grey pancakes.

Grey pancakes are not so delicious looking. So, much to my chagrin I used food coloring.

Now I'm no fan of food coloring, but I'm not so stringent about whether they do get some in their foods. But actually adding it to something that I make from scratch using healthy and mostly organic ingredients just seems...wrong, you know?

Halloween. Pumpkins, of course! The brown is cocoa powder, much to Sadie's delight. I have found a source for natural dyes and intend to buy those soon, since this is a tradition that seems to be sticking.

Today Sadie asked me, Mama, what day is today?

Saturday, I replied.

That means tomorrow is pancake day! she says.

We went fancy one Sunday and made strawberry-banana pancakes with fresh whipped cream. Sadie will eat anything if it has whipped cream on it.

See, here she's eaten the cream and strawberries off and is getting into the syrup.

Real maple syrup, friends.

We don't hold with any of that brown corn syrup that passes for pancake syrup these days.

And another Sunday we decided to do a Dutch Baby.**

This is like a pancake, French toast and souffle got together in a pan and made a delicious, crusty, powdered sugar-sprinkled baby.

And can you see the oven mitt on the pan handle above? I have to put that on because my brain absolutely refuses to believe that that handle is hot after cooking the whole pan in a 425 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

Brain says, Pan not hot. Handle what we hold to cook on stove top, not get hot then. Just touch.

So Hand touches, and gets burnt. Every. single. time.

But it's worth a burn. Look at it, covered with pear sauce.

And the latest. Turkeys, and a cornucopia.

I'm getting better at this, I think.

On the menu for tomorrow, as per Sadie's request:

Birthday cake pancakes. With candles.

**Dutch Baby Recipe from Cooks.com

FOR 4 1/2 TO 5 QUART PAN:

1/2 c. butter
6 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. flour

Put the butter in the pan and set it into a 425 degree oven, then mix batter quickly while butter melts. Put eggs in blender container and whirl at high speed for 1 minute. With motor running, gradually pour in milk, then slowly add flour; continue whirling for 30 seconds. I use my Kitchen Aid mixer with the whisk, you could totally use a hand mixer as well.

(With a rotary beater, beat eggs until light and lemon colored; gradually beat in milk, then flour.)

Remove pan from oven with the butter melted and pour batter into the hot melted butter. Return the pan to the oven and bake until puffy and well browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Mine always takes longer to puff up, like 30-40 minutes. But my stove sucks.

Serve at once with any fruit topping, i.e. canned pie filling, hot fruit, fresh fruit. Syrup or powdered sugar is good, too.

Tip: Have everyone waiting at the table when the Dutch Baby comes out of the oven, while it is puffed up.

If I Could Save Time In A Bottle

2010-12-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

I would actually save a scent. The scent of my babies. Sadie had it, and Silas still does.

It's of new skin and baby sweat. It's sweet and spicy and buttery and breastmilky and so absolutely delicious and addictive that I find myself burying my nose in his neck and head countless times a day.
Time is running out, and I know that soon that smell will be gone for good.

There will be a time when my big, stinky teenagers will seem like they never could have been so small and sweet-smelling.

So I just want a bottle, a small one, with a tiny cork, that I can open and sniff 12 years from now.

But there's just no way to bottle it. So I'll have to get my fill while I can.

Done and Done

2010-11-30T22:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I'd planned a long post full of pictures to finish out the month. But, fittingly, I am lying in bed next to my cranky youngest laboriously typing this with one finger on an ereader.
So forgive me for just leaving you with this post, I promise I'll be back soon. With pictures.

Gingerbread Town

2010-11-29T20:42:00.001-08:00

I helped Sadie build a gingerbread town.

Doesn't it look like a fine place to live?

There's even a town pumpkin patch.

Well, we had to do something with the leftover Halloween candy!

IPOP and the Ballet

2010-11-28T21:07:00.000-08:00

Today Sadie and I got to go to see some of the ballet dances from The Nutcracker, put on by some of the older girls in her dance school.

We were planning to go to have tea at a nearby tea shop, but it is closed on Sunday. Sadie, when asked where she would like to have lunch instead, said, I want to eat at the place with the pancake with the face on it!

IHOP? I said.

Yes, IPOP! Sadie said. I believe it's a cross between Ipod and IHOP.

So we went to IPOP and had some decorate a face pancakes and then to see the show.

It was a lovely day with my favorite little girl.

Some Stuff Y'all Should Know

2010-11-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

Silas thinks a horse noise is just about the funniest thing in the world.

And Will swears he said Dada twice yesterday.

Sadie thinks farting is just about the funniest thing in the world. Or should I say sharting. When she cuts one she laughs like a maniac and yells, Mama and Dada, I sharted! Excuuuuse me!

I would advise against eating poorly wrapped butter from the fridge that your turkey is sitting in. Because turkey-flavored butter on cornbread is not delicious.

In fact, it's way beyond "not delicious." It's quite revolting.

I'm Boring

2010-11-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

That what's Sadie says when she's bored.

So I'm sorry to make you all boring tonight, as I have nothing whatsoever to post except a sorry post where I post about nothing to post.

My apologies. I promise I'll make it up to you.

I am Thankful

2010-11-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

For them.
And for y'all.

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.

Artsy

2010-11-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

Making art. The number one activity around here, much to my delight!

The Other Side of Thirty-Five

2010-11-23T20:11:00.000-08:00

So far 36 has been pretty good. For my birthday today Will got the day off work due to icy roads.

And it barely snows here, so the half an inch of snow we got was still fun.

And enough to build an itty bitty snowman.

Thank goodness we had baby carrots for the nose!

We got to wear both layers of our new coats.

And realized it's hard to see out of our new hats.

Sy liked it. Until he slipped and landed face first and realized that snow is cold.

Then he insisted it was nap time.

And the rest of us got hot cocoa.

Sadie and I baked a cake. With the best icing ever.**

And then she decorated it.

Isn't it beautiful? Over on the left is Dada, on his way to work, carrying his bag.

But you knew that, right?

So a lovely day to turn 36, surrounded by my little folks. With a grass-fed steak dinner cooked by Dada, to boot.

**Buttercream-Milk Icing Recipe

1 cup milk

4 tbs flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup butter

2 tsp vanilla

Combine milk and flour in a saucepan over low heat to make a white sauce. Sometimes the flour can be lumpy- so I make a roux first with some extra butter and the flour, then add the milk to make a white sauce.

Set aside to cool. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add vanilla. Add white sauce, when cool, and beat until smooth. So flipping good!

Trouble With A Capital S

2010-11-21T15:39:00.000-08:00

If you've ever been around a toddler for any length of time you may know that they are both the cutest and most bothersome little creatures that exist in this world.

Not only do they get into everything, they enjoy getting into everything.

It is what they do. That is why they exist.

Sometimes Silas stands and waits, with his hand poised over the dog's water bowl, just waiting to splash. Stands and stares at you until you look at him. And then he lowers the hand into the water, keeping his eyes on you all the while.

Just to see what you'll do.

Or, he'll stand on his little ride-on car. Yes, he balances on it. And if you aren't watching he'll say, Uh! Uh! Uh! until you turn around and see him.

These toddlers, man, they are totally messing with your mind.

(Sy spilling water on the table and then slamming his hand in it repeatedly so it splashes everywhere)

I try redirecting him. Which works. Until he finds the next thing 8 seconds later.

And a firm No? Well, that just startles him for a second.

(Sesame noodles and a pear slice on his head. He was putting them up there on purpose.)

And then he laughs uproariously. Then he does it again, just so he can hear you say it again in a firm voice. He thinks it's funny. The stinker!

(Sy standing in the pile of dirt I'm sweeping up. Every night after dinner he races around in the kitchen doing a jig in the pile of dirt, no matter how fast I move.)

Then he gives you a huge grin. So that very serious "No" face you have on?

(Feeding the dog his food. Or rather, letting the dog lick his food and then eating it himself.)

Yeah, that firm face starts to crack into a smile. Which really does nothing to help your cause.

("Washable" crayon on the door. Which is still there. Because, NO, it's not washable.)

But he's just so stinkin' adorable. You really can't help it.

(Sy likes to remove the dish towels from the drawer. He was working on this project while I was attempting to remove crayon from door- see above.)

You just have to give in. After all, you needed a new toothbrush anyway, really. So it's not a big deal that yours is gone. Just...one day...gone.

And last seen in the possession of the toddler.

Oh yeah, did I mention he likes to practice using the garbage can, too?

Uh-Oh

2010-11-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

Besides being Sy's favorite word it is also what I uttered this morning when I realized that I didn't post yesterday. When I'm supposed to be posting every day for NaBloPoMo.

I just plumb forgot.

And this morning I was like, Oh! I broke my streak! And I'd promised!

And then I was like, Dude, it's not like you took a sacred vow. You forgot to post on your blog that 7 people read. You can try to post twice today if you are really going to agonize over it that much, weirdo.

And then I felt better. And, yes, I do refer to myself as dude.

And, apropos of nothing, here's my lovely lady building a prison for a doll. It did start off as a castle, but ended up as a prison.

Pirates

2010-11-19T22:23:00.001-08:00

We have been drawing pirate ships this past week. Sadie has gotten really proficient at drawing pirate ships with the requisite Jolly Roger flying from the mast.

Today as she was drawing we were talking about her ship and where it was going. I asked her what she thought one should do if a pirate ship were coming with its flags snapping in the wind.

She thought for a minute, half-smiled and said:

Run!

Sounds about right to me.

Tired

2010-11-18T20:01:00.000-08:00

Had a whole post planned for today, but you'll have to wait for tomorrow.

Silas was up a lot last night with possible molars 3 & 4 bothering him.

Or possibly it's molars 1 & 2 still bothering him.

I wouldn't put it past them. They are now in their second month of cutting through the gums. And they are toying with us, sending out 2 little sharp pointy things but not the rest of the pointies on the other side of the tooth.

Yes, pointies I call 'em. No, it's not even a real word.

I didn't know teeth could do that. They should be ashamed of themselves!

Hmm, can you tell I probably shouldn't be writing a blog post tonight based on these ramblings?

Yeah, so, good night!

I Love You, You Big Pot of Popcorn!

2010-11-17T20:06:00.000-08:00

Is what was said by Sadie today after we opened one of those giant Christmas popcorn tins.

With a hug.

Two Random and Completely Unrelated Things

2010-11-16T16:21:00.000-08:00

Sadie eats her pizza crust first.

Mama, I just think the cheese part is better than the crunchy. So I eat the crunchy first!

Meanwhile, I take off some cheese, slice open the crust, stick it inside and eat that last. So who am I to argue?

Silas has a new (3rd) word.

Give.

Which is pronounced "Ghee." He wanders around and hands you things, all the while saying Ghee! Ghee!

Just thought you should know.