AJ's comments

Upon going down a slide he was previously cautious about:
"Slice of cake mom, slice of cake!"

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After I put AJ to bed and answering extensive questions, we heard "crying"
Mark: "Are you fake crying to get me to come up here?"
AJ: "oh, I forgot how to do the other cry."

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We were having a late night snack while I was reading their books. We normally read in one of their rooms, but because we were eating a snack we sat on the floor and closed the door to keep the dogs out. (Those wiener dogs are great for snatching snacks!) So in the middle of the story came the evidence that my son is watching far too many cartoons:

AJ: "What if Louie is standing on Ellie's back and Ellie is biting the door knob while Louie is pushing, then they could still get in, right mom?"

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I told AJ I would read just him a story the other night. Once I got TK tucked in I grabbed a book to read and got ready to read.
AJ: "Not that book, we need to read the God Book. I'm trying to decide if God is real or not."
Me: "Why do you think God is not real?"
AJ: "Well, if God is invisible then I can't see him, so how do I see him to know if he is real? So, I want to read one of the stories with the pictures of God."
Me: "Do you mean Jesus, that's God's son?"
AJ: "I know that, but they are like the same, so the picture is the same."
Me: "Just show me what story you want."

the fly's family

AJ loves the fly swatter and hates bugs. He has taken on the task of eliminating any bug that enters the house. (Which can be a few since the doors seem to get left open a fair amount.) The other day we had a couple of flies in the house so I got them both and he wanted to pick up the second one. While he was throwing it outside he said,
"Well I hope the fly's family is happy about this."

PS ~ If you ever want a fly swatter get it from Pampered Chef.... it comes with a pair of tweezers in the end and its own dust pan so you never touch a bug. (That's my goal!)

4th of July

We went on a great trip for the 4th.... sadly, I forgot my camera ): We went to the UP to visit Mark's brother and had so much fun visiting family and going to visit many different waterfalls. Best of all, we went to the fireworks in Munsing. This was the first time for the kids to see fireworks. It stays light up there until about 10:30, so it was VERY late for the kids. We got our spot about 9:45 hoping they would start early, but by 10:15 AJ was yelling "When are we going to take a nap!?!" TK was happy as a lark.... of course she had her yellow blanket, so she did not have a care in the world. About every 20 minutes they would shot off a test one. AJ did not find these impressive or worth waiting for at all! Finally by 10:40 I convinced Mark to go get the car and we would just let the kids go to sleep in the car and we would wait for the show to get over and then follow everyone back to his brother's house. (We were about 30 min from their house and it is a wilderness out there!!!) By time we got them in the car the show started..... and so did the panic attacks for AJ. TK still did not care, but AJ, "They are coming at us, we are going to get hit. Mom, why are they doing that? Let's GO!" "Nana, give us the directions to Uncle Brent's house." "Dad, drive away!!!" After much hand holding and his cousin talking about how cool they were, AJ came around and decided they were fun.... as long as he was in the car. He has talked non-stop about them since and apparently it was a big hit with him. We will see about next year, at this point I don't know about any more nights that late.

The deal

I tried to bribe AJ tonight and he flipped it back to me.... so we have a deal.

I've been sick again.... I blame it on the stress of this last week of work, more than I care to go into. I am going to work Fridays though for now, so I am sad to lose my day, but thankful for the opportunity. So on top of everything going on, AJ has decided to make over his personality and not be the thoughtful compassionate kid I have always thought him to be. Twice in the last week he has closed the car door on his sister. He has developed an attitude that he doesn't care and only wants to argue. I fear I am getting a dose of my own medicine from when I was child. I remember my dad constantly telling me maybe I should be a lawyer since I liked to argue so much. My parents always said I would have a kid like myself one day.... Well I sent AJ to bed early tonight, before TK. This he understood, to be the older child and have to go to bed first (they normally go at the same time) was the end of the world. I told him that if he could be good for the next 2 day we would either go buy Toystory movie (he has been asking for) or he could pick out a prize. Here is his response:

"Well mom, if you can be good at work for 2 times then I will take you to the mom mall to look at magazines and then we get pick something out for me, ok?"

All I could do was smile. Hopefully this is just an ornery phase for him.

not my water baby

We had a fabulous day.... except for one incident! We started the day going to the local Farmer's Market and it was amazing!! So much more than what I excepted.... can't wait to go back next week. AJ can't wait to choose more veggies and donuts and TK, well she just loved it all. (Then I got a little time out for a much needed hair cut & color.... looking fab now!) Then we headed to a beach/campground place we joined last fall. We went with Mark's parents and his sister's kids. The kids were playing in the water and his mom and I were sitting in chairs enjoying the day. TK started getting a little far out and I told her to come back closer and she started walking towards me, so I turned to Mark's mom and asked if we were about ready to start heading to the mini-golf before dinner. I turn back around and TK is thrashing in the water and going under ~ I RUN out in the water as fast as I could and realize that her cousin is going under too!!! (Her cousin about 8 months older, but they pretty much the same size) I grab TK and throw her under my arm trying to thrust my wrist into her abdomen to force water out.... I have no idea what I'm doing.... and then I yank R out my her arm. Thankfully some guy saw me run out there and came part way out and grabbed R and gave her to Mark's mom.... by this point both girls are crying pretty hard, which made me think they were at least getting air in their lungs. Both girls are fine.... eating and drinking and playing putt-putt and talking about what happened. I feel like I should take lifeguard training or something to be more prepared for this instances. I was scarred to death!! Of course it dawned on me afterwards that I was in my only clothes, since I never changed into my swimsuit and my car keys were in my pocket, but thankfully the car remote still works!

Yeah for company!

AJ couldn't quite understand why he couldn't pet the goose at the local wild animal park.... this was a momma goose with babies on the other side. (I severely dislike birds so I get a little anxious when my kids want to get close to birds... birds of any kind.)




All the kids were impressed with the tortoise

She was so proud of herself for petting the calf.

Grandpa came to visit the week before our friends came.

We have been busy with friends and family over the last couple of weeks.....

for joanna

Let me know what you think girl.... I have 2 valances, the quilt, a blanket, bedskirt, bumper, 2 shams & 1 insert.... i think that is all!