Merry Christmas 2011

The Conspiracy to Kill My Phone

Peanut - took a bath. got out of bath without removing plug. when asked if he removed plug responded, 'yes'.

L - sat on edge of tub to remove bath plug without removing phone from back pocket. when phone fell in tub stared uncomprehendingly for a moment then screamed.

Ox - when handed phone by L immediately removed battery. checked for moisture. assumed lack of visible moisture meant phone was fine, replaced battery.

Result: one dead phone, lost photos, and mostly the reason I have been ignoring all of you (also I couldn't even remember the password so I could check voicemail). Ox gave me his phone and got himself a cheap go-phone (because he is great and loves me). now we can resume conversing.

Messes Peanut Made Today

1. Dumped drawer of diapers out. Required 30 minutes of time outs and then fits to pick them back up.
2. Pooped in bath tub.
3. Dumped out an entire box of gluten flour and rubbed it all over himself and the kitchen floor.
4. Played in cat litter.

Skip the notes if you have no interest in potty subjects.

Note A:

• When L was in 1st grade she stayed overnight at a friends house and wet the bed. The friend's mom was NOT understanding. 
• When L was in 8th grade she laughed in science class and we her pants
• When L came home form her church mission (age 22) her sisters tickled her and she wet her pants
• When L and Ox were dating she was sitting on his knee and peed her pants

The above incidents are why L considers 'Nut potty trained. Also, he doesn't ever poop in his pants (see note B), he wears underwear both day and night, remembering to go to the bathroom has become his responsibility not L's, accidents are the exception not the rule, he almost never wets the bed. However accidents do still happen: often at Grammie and Granpa's, always at Aunt Rachel's, when he is watching a movie and doesn't want to get up BUT if L expected perfection before bestowing the 'Potty Trained' title...she wouldn't have it herself.

Note B:

'Nut knows feces go in the toilet...with the following notable exceptions:

• The flu/food poisoning a few weeks ago- the first time he had stayed alone at Grammie's in several weeks. 
• A specific incident two or so weeks ago...L is at the computer and 'Nut is watching a movie. Suddenly Ox yells from the other room. L rushes to him...he is screaming that Peanut just pooped in the hallway. What??????? That's when L realizes Ox is using the bathroom and as 'Nut ran in to do so himself (always waiting until the last moment) and saw that it was occupied he just had no idea what to do. So he pooped in the hallway. 
• In the bathtub. ***I honestly don't know what to do about this one. It is the grossest thing ever to clean up and gets me significantly riled up***

October Part 3

Aren't you tired of reading yet??? Who are you that you're this interested in seeing 5000 pictures of my kid? Well don't worry we're on the home stretch.

A nearby town had a 'Pumpkinpalooza'. L and Ox weren't quite sure how it would be but they went anyway and it was definitely worth it. They had only been at the park 3 minutes when a kid (11ish?) came up and gave Peanut a baby pumpkin. Peanut loved it and carried it around the rest of the evening. They had a trebuchet, a baby pumpkin slingshot, games and activities for kids (including mask making), face painting, mad scientists doing experiments, a bounce house and both costume and pumpkin carving contests.

Right before Halloween pumpkins were decorated. Don't feel bad if your family's pumpkins are not up to this standard...

On Halloween our little bitty town had trick-or-treating around the town square. We went with Ox's parents, his sister Rachel and her kids (Cal, Madi and Katie) and then around town with L's sisters Wendy and Hillary.

The End

October Part 2

On a culinary note L:

 canned pears and blackberry jam...

 and finally found the perfect pavlova recipe...

Peanut enjoyed the last warm days of the year.

Ox and several friends formed a softball team. L watched kids while everyone played. 

Peanut and L spent a lot of time reading.

and doing flashcards

Peanut especially likes this 'scary shark book'. He hides his face every time they get to this page...and then L makes him kiss it. 

 

 When L finally got up the nerve to go back to the library, they had an Emergency Services activity. 

Peanut climbed into the fire truck, got up into this seat and refused to leave. L had to carry him out.

to be continued...

October, Part 1

Wow October has been insanely busy.We have done a lot of fun things but I feel the story that best exemplifies October for the snaiLs and Ox's is the following.

You see L and Peanut have been attending the local library's toddler reading time. One day L had a particularly difficult time getting the 'Nut out of the house. Everything went wrong. Finally they she got him all strapped into the bike trailer to find that something unidentifiable was wrong with her bike. Ox had taken the little car that day (and L really can't/won't drive his truck) so L and 'Nut decided she would walk and Peanut would ride his tricycle.

This method of transportation took longer of course, so by the time they got to the library L was already a little frustrated and stressed. They rushed downstairs...to find that toddler reading was canceled (L just hadn't remembered) and the library book sale was going on.

L took Peanut over to the children's area and since he seemed to be playing quite nicely, decided to look at the book sale. At the book sale two old ladies were talking REALLY loudly about weight and weight loss. One said, "...I use to weigh 180 lbs but only looked as big as that girl there", and pointed to L.    ???

Out of the corner of her eye L saw the children's library creeping toward her. L met Miss Linda halfway. "Ummmmm", said Miss Linda, "I think [Peanut] might have to go to the bathroom. His pants look wet and he's starting to take them off".

Sure enough L rushed to the children's area to find 'Nut with his pants (and underwear) around his ankles. A mother nearby was trying to explain to her children why this strange little boy was naked in the library. This was enough. L thanked Miss Linda, grabbed her child and his trike, and walked upstairs and outside. The thought of dragging her fussing, urine-covered toddler all the way home was too much. She called Ox to come pick them up.

Ox came immediately and drove them home. While shoving the trike in their car they opened the small compartment to discover two socks, one empty yogurt cup and a spoon. It seemed the perfect ending to a eventful day.

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Now you have read the highlight of October. The following will contain pictures and details of the rest of October.

Peanut has decided he enjoys being massaged and requests this service multiple times a day.

 Peanut and his cousin, Cal (and another cousin, George) turned two toward the beginning of October. Since Peanut and Cal live so close L and Cal's mom, Rachel, decided to have a combined birthday party.

 We held the party at a super fun park. It was a magnificent idea and a beautiful, if windy, day.

We had games:

 

And made Bug Number Board Books:

There was cake:

And a pinata:

And of course the boys got tons of cool presents. Ox got Peanut a Jeep Power Wheels and L got him a word puzzle. For some strange reason he usually prefers to push the Jeep around...

Right after 'Nut's birthday L, 'Nut and L's sisters (Wendy and Hillary) went to the aquarium.

to be continued...