12.31.2007
Daddy Blog: Sweet Lunch Maker
Pretty soon I'll be able to hand her my lunch bag and she'll make it for me. The extra benefit of that arrangement would be lunches heavy on chocolate chips.
12.27.2007
12.22.2007
Christmas Morning, 1 of 2
After homemade chocolate chip waffles and an interactive telling of the Christmas story, the kids tore into their three presents. Chloe got a chalkboard book, a hooded Dora towel, and a new set of lamps for her dollhouse (Eli wrecked all of the original ones.) I almost wish we hadn't bought more stuff to open on the real Christmas morning at Mimi's house. They were more than happy with what they got today.
In their stockings they got candy canes, M&Ms, Pez, and a set of window markers. They had a blast decorating our sliding glass doors from top to bottom. I thought this was a pretty cool shot of the whole thing. Would have been cooler, but Eli wouldn't dare let his M&Ms loose, lest someone hijack them. We had a fabulous morning, went out for a lunch of eastern BBQ, and now not a creature is stirring, except me anyways. Peace at last.
12.20.2007
When I Get Bigger..
"...I will be as tall as the house." "How will you get in the door?" "I'll just bend my head down."
"...I'll wear bigger panties."
"...I'll help you cook. I'll cook the french fries and nuggees, ok?"
"...I'll get very up tall on top of the house. That will be funny!" (daddy recently cleaned the gutters)
(and ironically, as I was typing this and wearing my green shirt, Chloe comes in and says,) "...I'll get a green shirt. When I'm very up tall. Remember? That's when I'll get a green shirt."
A Week is Like Unto a Thousand Days
"remember last week when Eli left his elephant at Wal-Mart? Remember, Mommy? He didn't mean to." and
"remember last week when we went to Aunt Jillian's house and I threw up in the car? Remember that Mommy? It was when we lived in old house. Remember?" and
"Remember last week when I was borned and you were in the hospital, Mommy? And I was borned from your belly?" and
"Remember last week we went on a real train, with Ella? And when I was a baby I was scared of real trains, but now I'm a grown-up girl so I'm not scared anymore! Remember?"
What a week!
Daddy Blog: Not Ready for TYDTW Day
Chlo: "No. I might be boring."
12.17.2007
Christmas Time!
I can't believe Christmas is only a week away! We are having our little family Christmas morning on Saturday, and we are very excited!
12.07.2007
Christmas Remix, Part II
M: Chloe, Jesus was asleep on the hay.
C: What's that?
M: Well, hay is kinda like grass.
C: Sleep on grass! That's silly.
M: No, his mommy and daddy didn't have a lot of money so when Jesus was born, he had to sleep on the hay with the animals.
C: No. Jesus not sleep in the grass, Jesus sleep in a bed. (gets excited) Mommy, Jesus can buy a bed! Jesus not need to sleep on the grass!
12.05.2007
Christmas Remix
And, I do realize how incredibly un-Christmas her carol of choice is. I mean can you get any more pagan than actually proclaiming your love and adoration for a dead tree? It reminds me of our pastor once defending our putting up of trees (a tradition with well-known pagan roots) by saying something like "We're not worshipping it or dancing around it or anything like that." Hmm... maybe not at your house, but, well, anyone care to Rock Around the Christmas Tree with us?
DONE!
I'm D-O-N-E with all of my Christmas shopping! Well, almost done. There's a one certain Mimi who doesn't exactly have a present yet... but, more or less, I'm doing the happy happy done with the shopping and crowds dance!
11.28.2007
Chloe's First Haircut
There are pictures on flickr of both the haircuts and our new halls decked. I'm trying to write more, but it is still so hard. I have gone to the gym even less than I have blogged. 'Nuff said.
11.07.2007
Happy Birthday House!
Here is the girl of honor playing with her favorite gift (which was followed closely by a dora coloring book and 94 box of crayons). There are a few more party pictures on flickr :)
11.01.2007
10.31.2007
Happy Birthday, Chloe!
I will write more and put up pictures as soon as I can. We are on our way to Trick-or-Treat at Daddy's work! Chloe insists on being a doctor, and Eli is going to be a cowboy. Giddyup.
10.25.2007
Miss Manners
Chloe: Say "may" Daddy.
Daddy: May I sit beside you, Chloe?
Chloe: No you may not. You may sit over there (points to the other side of the room).
Daddy: Sighs, hangs head, and starts walking.
Tastes Like Chicken
Backseat Driver
10.11.2007
Dr. Chloe
Doesn't she look like the pretty doctor that everyone loves? When I asked her if she wanted a princess skirt or doctor scrubs, she said "DOCTOR, DOCTOR!" That's my girl!
10.09.2007
35 Months (Belated)
Chloe is also really into running and jumping and tumbling this month. She climbs to the top of every playground tower and does forward rolls from one end of the hallway to the other. She plays hard and gets really dirty and worn out. Then she panics about being dirty. Some things haven't completely changed. She and Eli love each other and play well together for longer spurts of time.
Favorites:
Books- Her AWANA handbook, Thomas books, Bibles, books about Autumn (she loves pointing out leaf colors and saying "No leaves!" when a tree is bare)
Things: Trains, Swing and Slide, Balloons
Activities: Helping me pack boxes, Making Daddy hop like a (insert animal here), Climbing on the climber, Teaching Eli, Talks of turning 3 and birthday parties and "My Happy Birthday House" (aka the big gift), Imitating Mommy, Bonus! kisses
Only one more month until the Big Three and the big move! Suddenly, Happy Birthday House has gathered a whole new meaning.
Wormy's Words: Househunting Edition
"Ooh, I like that. Good closets. Pretty floor. Good potty."
Upon seeing a disgusting 1970 something oven that hadn't been cleaned in 20 years
"Cute Oven, Mommy! Great cabinets! Now, let's check the yard."
After seeing a Buddha in the master of our new house
"Funny monkey. Look Mommy, I pet the monkey... ooh ah ah ooh ah ah"
In our new house
Me: "This will be Eli's room. (walk down hall to next door).... this will be Chloe's room."
Chloe: "I don't have a bed, I'll just sleep on the floor."
Me: walking to master "And who will sleep here, Chloe?"
Chloe: "This Mimi and Grandpa's room!"
Me: "Where will Mommy and Daddy sleep?"
Chloe: "Mommy Daddy sleep at old house."
Running around in the woods behind the new house
"I like new yard! It's fun! (falls down, cries, runs to me) I not like new yard anymore! I want old yard again!"
Ever since we looked at the house we bought and Chloe saw there was no bed there, she has insisted on sleeping on the floor of her room with no pillow for nap everyday. Her little brain is just a mystery to me.
It's Been Awhile
9.15.2007
Daddy's Blog: Color Commentary
"I watch football! I watch football with Daddy!"
"Football he has football....he throwed it!"
"He runnin! He runnin!"
"Uh-oh! He didn't mean to."
"He caught football. Good catch!"
"He fall down."
"He fall down again."
QB scrambles and throws the ball away:
"He did it!"
Noticing the Carolina logo:
"Go Heels, go!"
Noticing the State logo during the advertisement for next week's coverage:
"Go Wolfpack!"
9.13.2007
9.12.2007
Awana Update
Last week's verses:
"God loved us and sent His son." 1 John 4:10
"All have sinned." Romans 3:23
"While we were sinners, Jesus died for us." Romans 5:8
And the Cubbie motto: Jesus loves me!
This week's verse is "God is love." 1 John 4:8. We've made a little song out of it, and she sings it over and over throughout the day.
Sing Them Over Again to Me, Wonderful Words of Life
Whose Radio?
Hold Fast, Help Is On the Way
"It's police car! He's going to help someone. Go help someone, police car! Go help Mimi, police car. He gotta go help Mimi cause her back hurts."
9.10.2007
Two Year Old Theology
"Uh Oh! The tree broke! ...... God didn't mean to."
9.04.2007
And Her Bed
We finally got a mattress made out of 6-inch foam, so no more pallet for the princess. We also got pretty bedding, and the giant pillow sham from Pottery Barn Kids for $10 (originally $40). It’s so fun to have my little girl sleeping on the same bed I slept on at her age. As pretty as it is, it’s a huge pain to make everyday, but all in all, it’s just right!
8.31.2007
34 Months (and 2 days)
We have had lots of fun playing together. We read and play with her "peoples" everyday. She is getting old enough to really help me around the house. She is a learner, and is currently enthralled by maps and American flags. She loves to look at maps and know that they "show us where we are" and on tv they "show us where it's rainin".
Last night she started Awana Cubbies, and was an angel. I look forward to memorizing verses with her. It will be good for both of us! When we got home from church, she talked endlessly about Cubbies and all of her friends who were Cubbies, ending the night by sleeping in panties because "Cubbies don't wear diapers." As soon as I get her vest I will be sure to post a picture of her in the official attire.
Favorites:
Books- any Thomas book, Dora books, It's Fall!, and There's a Billy Goat in the Garden
TV- this month has been a revival of the old faves: Blue's Clues, Barney, Cedarmont Kids, Winnie the Pooh
Foods- Bagels, chicken, strawberries, chips, waffles, watermelon
Things to Do- Puzzles, color, go to church, go to the library, jump on beds, jump in general, climb, stroll her babies along the sidewalk, read, tickle, laugh
A Case of the Gimmes
8.27.2007
Do As I Say
Eli: (repeating over and over, getting succesively louder and more annoying) Mah-Moe, Mah-Moe, Mah-MOE, MAH MOE, MAH MOE......
Chloe: (sweetly) Don't say Mah-Moe, Eli.
Eli: Mah-Moe
Chloe: (a little annoyed) I said don't say mah moe, E!
Eli: MAH. MOE.
Chloe: (very frustrated) Eli, look at me, look at my eyes. Don't say Mah-moe. Do you understand?
Eli: Mah-moe, mah-moe, mah-moe!
Chloe: (exasperated sigh, wags finger in his face) Eli, no more. DON'T SAY MAH-MOE! Ok?
Eli: Mah-moe
Chloe: (grunts and looks out window)
Silence, lasts about a minute or so
Chloe: OhBaDoeBah, OhBaDoeBah, OhBaDoeBah.......
8.21.2007
Dollhouse Dreams Dashed
Dollhouse Dreams II
My grandma is a Dollhouse girl. There were two things she always wanted to have, a bicycle and a dollhouse, both of which she never got. When she was a young girl, her Aunt Lenoir had lost two children and wanted to take my grandma as her own. She was a kind woman, who never said a cross word. She was gentle and sweet, and promised grandma a bike and a dollhouse and new dresses if only she would come be her daughter. Coming from a family of five children, this request didn't seem at all unreasonable to grandma, plus her mom quarrelled all the time. Her house was loud and chaotic, they wouldn't miss the youngest of the five. Grandma begged and pleaded, but her mom never relented. So after many tears were shed, grandma made due, fashioning dolls and furniture out of scraps of this and that she found along the way. She used her imagination and had very lively dollhouse adventures without the aid of an actual dollhouse. Eventually, my grandma would have a daughter, and she vowed her daughter would have a better life than she had. Her daughter would have a dollhouse! Of course, my grandma didn't bargain for my mom, whose idea of a fun time was painting all of her baby dolls and jumping on her shiny, new dollhouse crushing it to bits.
Some people have been worried that a nice dollhouse is too much of an investment for a three year old little girl. What if she doesn't like it? And while the question is certainly a fair one, (I have seen more than enough postings on craigslist advertising a $200 dollhouse that was "never played with" or "only collecting dust") I don't think we need to worry. You see, there are two types. I'm a dollhouse girl, my mom was not. My sister wasn't and neither is her daughter. My grandma was, as was Mimi. Wormy has gone the past year with only a doll family, and like grandma, has spent countless hours imagining a home and furniture for her little people. Her face lights up when she sees pictures of houses online, and asks for a "Happy Birthday House" nearly everyday. I think it's safe to say she's a Dollhouse Girl.
8.18.2007
Dollhouse Dreams
We have been giving her birthday lots of thought for awhile now, primarily concerning ourselves with the perfect present. We decided this year, if at all possible, would be the year of the Dollhouse. We want something special, nothing plastic and fleeting, but rather a rich, wooden, heirloom that will be enjoyed not only by Chloe, but by the next generation as well. I've been combing the internet looking for the perfect match, and have attempted to snag a few pretty good looking ones on Craigslist, always to be beat out by a swifter, more desperate mommy. Afraid we would never be able to buy anything nice, I asked my mom and my grandma if they would be willing to go in with us instead of buying Worm a seperate gift, and they were completely excited to do so!
Last night, we took the kids to Learning Express so I could see some houses in person while the kids played with the Thomas set. I decided a few that I kinda liked online were merely okay in person. I was a little discouraged, thinking nothing was quite good enough when I finally saw it. The one. The perfect heirloom. It was beautiful, but not frilly. Big, but not monstrous. Modern, but not so to become dated. And it had a couple of really cool features (ie. a working doorbell and drapes that go up and down), but not so many that the gadgets strip away the need for imagination. I was in love, and so was Patrick. I looked for a price, and finding none, went over to the clerk to inquire. I thought it would be a little high, but I didn't think I would see my dreams dashed so quickly and violently! (That much?!? For a dollhouse!!) We left a little dejected, but knew we would find something nice, just not that nice elsewhere. I decided to look for the one from the store online last night, and hit dead ends at every turn. Vendor after vendor was sold out with no idea when more would be in. And then it happened. I found one! At a place called Future Memories, no less. Not only did I find one, but it was fifty dollars cheaper! We ordered it immediately, knowing it was still too pricey for a birthday gift, but not being able to help ourselves, and it will be here in a week or so.
Anyone else willing to chip in instead of getting a seperate gift would be greatly, greatly appreciated. If you do like to buy seperate presents, furniture (Melissa and Doug or Ryan's Room type) for our little people will be much loved, otherwise, they will have only curtains and a doorbell till Christmas! Those of us who buy the house will all sign the bottomside, adding a special note or Bible verse to make this gift truly special and meaningful for years to come. We are so excited about it, and really have no idea how we are going to keep ourselves from ripping open the box and ringing the little tiny doorbell before the big day.
I have another story or two to tell regarding this whole thing, but since this has become tiresome already, I will end now, and quench your desire to see what this great thing looks like.... so without further ado...!
Ta-DA!
8.15.2007
(In Raeford) Everyone's a Cummings or a Goins
Chloe: Mommy, what's coming on in here?
Mommy: Huh?
Chloe: What's coming on?
Mommy: Oh, you mean what's going on!
Chloe: (pauses, pensive, replies) No, what's coming on.
Mommy: Oh, ok. Well, I'm moving the couch.
Chloe: Ok, Mommy. You move the couch. (returns to her room)
8.13.2007
Wormy's Words
Yesterday she jerked open the refrigerator door, saw a full pitcher of her favorite summer liquid, and passionately exclaimed, "Mommy! God made more lemonade! Thank you, God! Chloe would like some lemonade, please!"
In the van, going to evening church, watching "Red video" yet again. The Cedarmont Kids logo comes up and Eli immediately starts pointing at each letter saying "O-O-O". Chloe sweetly replies, "That's not an O, Silly Boy. (Logo goes away) Look, they'll show you. (Logo comes back) There it is! Look, Eli. K-I-D-S spells KIDS!"
8.05.2007
Daddy Blog: Home Sweet Home
I'm thankful to have a wife that so sweetly cares for our family. I'm vividly reminded of this when playing Chloe's favorite new game, House. Friday night we set up Chlo's Little Pink House and a little blue tent that was "Eli's house" in Chloe's room. We all had a great time entering and leaving and ringing door bells and sheltering from the storms. Chloe had a little more fun when E was napping and she didn't have someone trying to knock down her walls. This afternoon while playing House, Wormy wiggled out of her house announcing that I needed lunch and then returned carrying a bowl of plastic french fries. I asked if Chloe wanted lunch and she said that she didn't...it was just for Daddy. As I was enjoying my fries, Chlo left to "make Daddy's coffee" and returned with a nice, hot, invisible cup ("Be careful, Daddy. Don't spill. It's hot."). After I had finished slurping down my coffee, Chlo told me, "I need to go to gym." She then sternly assured me, "I be right back. Don't cry, Daddy." And with a kiss to my cheek, she left the house to go "runnin' and jumpin'". After returning and taking her shower, which was apparently very cold, she ran many other errands, mostly buying milk at the store. Each time I was instructed to stay inside. I was finally rewarded with a trip to the park where we had fun sliding down the living room chair and swinging on pillows.
8.03.2007
33 months (and some days)
Favorites:
Books- Old Bible, New Bible, Eli's bedtime book, Freight Train by Donald Crews, Truck by Donald Crews, 10 Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle
TV- Red video, Barney, PBS Kids
Things to say- "Like Chloe's doing, Eli!" "No, that's mine!" "Daddy hold you." "No Mommy, not help you, Coey do it all by self."
Foods- strawberries, oranges, corn, organic fruit roll-up type things, chocolate chips
Things to Do- Puzzles, making Mommy draw everyone in the family, stamps, coloring, jumping, taking walks
7.27.2007
7.23.2007
7.21.2007
7.19.2007
Mary Mary Quite Contrary
Daddy Blog: Wormy's Words
"Bye rainin'! Bye thunder! Bye lightnin'! Thanks for coming!"
More Words from Wormy
Chloe: You look so pretty, Mommy.
Mommy smiles at Chloe, says nothing.
Chloe: Say thank you, Mommy.
Mommy: Thank you, Chloe!
Chloe: You're very welcome.
Not a Trace of Doubt in My Mind
The Land of Make Believe
7.14.2007
Daddy Blog: The Secret of the Favorite Colors
makes sense now
7.08.2007
Little Pink Houses
Our Independence Day was lots of fun this year. We spent the holiday plus a couple of more days in Shallotte, doing the whole tourist thing with t-shirts to prove it. On the Fourth we had a massive cook-out topped off with the neighbors' really cool, illegal fireworks. We did the tour of beaches (Ocean Isle, Holden, Mimi's yard), and the kids had different kinds of fun at all of them. Our nights were stinkrotten, which made our days a little less wonderful, but there was still plenty of fun to go around.
7.07.2007
A New Home
6.29.2007
32 months
Favorites:
Books- Hands are Not For Hitting, Thomas: Percy and the Dragon, Where is the Green Sheep?,
TV- PBS Kids
Songs- Shoo Fly, It's Raining/It's Pouring, This Old Man, Tap Your Sticks
Foods- Wraps with Turkey, lettuce, cheese, and ranch, Ketchup (she finally discovered dipping), lettuce, cookies, grilled chicken, oranges
(More) Wormy's Words
Every morning when I come in from the gym, Chloe has just woken up "Hi Mommy! Mommy's home from the gym! Mommy was running and jumping! Mommy's STRONG (with appropriate arm motions)! Mommy's fetty (sweaty).... Mommy's wet. Mommy was a brave girl to get wet."
Upon leaving with Daddy and Eli to give me some time to clean the house in peace "Don't cry Mommy, we'll be right back!"
(serious voice) "Bug bite you! Mean ole bug!"
(also in very serious voice) "That mean ole skerl, he stole our squash!"
"Brave girl.....nooooo.. Brave boy, elephant! Dolly is a gurl, elephant is a buoy!"
Seeing me water the plants, runs up excitedly "It's Coey's turn, Mommy! Mommy not do more, just Co-ey do it."
6.28.2007
6.27.2007
Wormy's Words
Praying before bed "Thank you for our food. Thank you for Eli eat dinner. Chloe not eat dinner. Chloe not like it, Eli like it!"
First words to Daddy every evening when he gets home "Good-bye Daddy's work, Hello Daddy's home!"
After nap which was a pre-req for playing in the sprinkler. Chloe is sitting on couch waiting, and Eli starts crying from his crib "Chloe not sleep, but Eli sleep ALLLLL DAAAAY. Eli was sleepy."
"Hi Momp! Hi Dat! giggles"
"Daddy's car is dirty, Daddy's car needs bath."
6.22.2007
Maybe She Really Does Know
me: "Argh.. where did mommy put her phone???"
chloe:"mommy's phone's in the bathroom."
and it was.
Wormy Knows All
me: "Hey, Chlo, what's your favorite color?"
chlo: matter-of-factly "pink."
me: "what's eli's?"
chlo: "eli's is blue. what's mommy's?"
me: "my favorite color is pink, too!"
chlo: "no. it's not pink, it's white."
me: "oh really? I didn't know that. well, what's daddy's?"
chlo: "daddy's is red."
6.21.2007
Happy Birthday, Ryan!
Today was Ryan's 5th Birthday and we were lucky ducky enough to be invited to the party! The kids had a lot of fun with squirt guns, bubbles, pizza, cake, and ice cream.
Chloe and Ella learning to squirt their guns. The only way they could get the trigger pressed was to face the gun toward themselves. Quite comical to watch.
The birthday boy takes the first swing.
Birthdays taste yum.
6.20.2007
Religious Studies 101
6.18.2007
6.08.2007
Cleanliness Is Chloe-ness, C'td
6.04.2007
Two Going on Twenty
Eating raw carrots and broccoli and doing the happy food dance. How's that for all grown up!?
6.02.2007
Tempered Tantrum
5.29.2007
31 Months
We started potty training last week with a little guidance from our favorite doctor, and I am happy to say Chloe is doing great. It of course started out rocky, with Chloe returning to her withholding routine, but she has already started going more often, and hasn't had an accident since last Wednesday!
In other news, Chloe continues to be such a sweet girl and a great helper around the house. She is beginning to pretend a little more, and likes to pretend to be Mommy, which is always endearing.
She is really into Thomas the Train and putting together puzzles. She is quite adept at figuring out pretty advanced puzzles alone or with very little help. She does ages 3+ and a couple of 5+. We bought her a new Bible with better pictures and longer stories, and she is really excited about that. Her old one is being shifted to the occupant just one door down. I hope he gets excited about the stories and clings to the Words as Chloe does.
This month's faves:
Books- Rooster's Off to See the World and Little Cloud by Eric Carle, Thomas and the Birthday Party, and Minerva Louise at School
Songs- This Old Man, ABC Song, Angels Watching Over Me, Father Abraham
To Do- Play in Water, Go to Church, Cook, Puzzles, Help Eli, Help Mommy do laundry, Tickle with Daddy, Water the Flowers, Climb and Jump off of stuff
Foods- "Watermelly", DoughNos (bagels), chicken, muffins, and for one beautifully weird day... a southwest grilled chicken and spinach salad
Another month down! School is getting closer every day.
Here's to more posts in June.
We Interrupt This Sabbatical
I know it's been awhile, and I'm sure lots of really cute, blog-worthy things have happened. Probably an equal amount of cute and annoying, but unfortunately for all of us, the annoying is all that really sticks with me. Hence, the reason for the blog in the first place. Ah, well.
We've actually been quite busy being hospitable as of late. First with Sir Lancelot Huff's four day visit while his mommy had a baby....
Then with a week of TootieDoins.....
topped off by a day of Grandmas!
We've had so much fun around here that we just didn't have time to share it with all of you! Hopefully as things come to me I can put up a quote or two, but for now, I mustneeds get back to preparing meals for others and cleaning up little messes.
5.15.2007
Revive Us Again
My Hamms
I pulled out a new toy I've had stashed away for awhile now. A pop-up soccer goal. The kids were both running around like crazy in the backyard, squealing and chasing their balls. I thought, "Perfect! They will love this!" And they did... so much for exercise and getting energy out.
5.02.2007
5.01.2007
Daddy Blog: Getting Warmer
Chlo: "It's cold." Referring to the dishrag.
Me: "Really? I think it's kinda warm."
Chlo: "No, it's kinda cold."
Me: "No, it's warm."
Chlo: "No, it's cold."
Me: "Here, feel it."
Chlo puts her hands on dishrag.
Chlo: "It's kinda cold."
Me: "Alright...but I think it's warm!"
Chlo: "It's werm."
4.30.2007
30 months
Favorites:
Songs- Ring Around the Rosie, I May Never March in the Infantry, This Old Man, Jesus Loves Me
Books- Minerva Louise, Thomas the Tank Engine, Jesse Bear What Will You Wear?
TV- still Cedarmont Kids Sing-a-longs
Places to Go- Park, Church, Backyard, Library, Sam's Club (they have free cookies)
Foods- strawberries, pizza, oatmeal, french fries
Friends- Grace, Ella, Sarah, Ryan
4.28.2007
Strawberry Fields
Most of Chlo's berries skipped the basket and went straight to the tummy.
A glimpse of both kids enjoying our time.
Chloe petting the "turtle" (how sad that our child hasn't seen enough rocks to know it's not a turtle???)
She really enjoyed walking up and down the rows.