Monday, May 31, 2010

Little Stinker, Exceptionally Cute and Super Sweet



When you wake up each morning with three toddlers, you never know what you are going to get.  Today was the day we got Little Stinker (AKA Emma), Exceptionally Cute (AKA Clark) and Super Sweet (AKA Kendall). 
Emma has definitely hit the "terrible twos" and seems to be testing everyone.  All of those not-so-cute things that her brother and sister have gone through (biting, hitting, stealing toys, throwing a temper tantrum on the floor) have seemed to crop up in her repertoire.  She has the dramatic fall to the floor when things don't go her way.  It's just pitiful because we've been through it twice (and it still appears from time-to-time with K and C), so we are less than sympathetic and just want to help her work past whatever it is that is causing her distress.  She can be so incredibly cute and then just plain ornery.  She does something naughty, gets reprimanded and then sort of gives you the "evil eye".  She watches you and goes off to be sneaky on her own and have alone-time while seemingly plotting your destruction or something.  OK, that's a little extreme, but this girl is smart and I just wonder what is going on in her little head when she appears to be a little ticked-off at Mommy.  And that is also why she isn't in any pics.  She was annoyed with me and hid from the camera all evening.  Little stinker!
Clark was in a cute-mode today.  Mommy and Daddy spent some time this morning cleaning while The Wiggles, Sesame Street and Auntie Karen kept them entertained.  He wandered around picking things up, sweeping (because that was what Daddy was doing) and just being curious without being destructive.  He and Kendall had a number of moments where they enjoyed time playing together (at the sand table, peek-a-boo in their cool playhouse) and he just looks at her and starts identifying "eyes", "nose", "hair".  It was precious.  He also seems to really want to sing along with us during quite a few songs, including almost the entire alphabet song without any help.  : ) My boy is growing up!
And Kendall was just super-sweet.  Well, except for her bath time meltdown.  But beyond that, she was pretty cute.  At nap time, I got the Hello Kitty bandaids to tend to her foot injury from the zoo yesterday (since her foot would be inaccessible once she was in a sleep sack for nap).  She was saying "bye-bye boo-boo" and "kitty - meow" while I was putting on the Neosporin and bandaids.  She was also super huggy with Mommy after baths and sat still for an entire story (that had more than four words on a page).  She seemed to be happy sitting in my lap and pointing to things in the pictures with me. 
Ahhhhhhh.  Memorial Day was a good day.  Good food at our house for dinner with Poo-pa too.  A visit from Auntie Karen this morning.  Good naps.  And now an early post so that I can sit and read for a little while before bed.  I've decided to reward myself for working hard this weekend and enjoy some downtime.   I will turn OFF the computer but the TV is calling my name.  And I will avoid the temptation. 
God Bless America!  And good night all!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Sunny Sunday


We had a busy day today in an effort to just wear them out. : ) Uncle Stevie met us at the zoo and we took in a few sights before finding the water area where the kids could splash around.  Somehow we have missed this during prior visits, so we didn't have swimsuits and water shoes, but they got wet anyway.  Next time we will be sure to bring along the "right equipment".  I should also point out that Daddy was in charge of the photographs at the zoo (in the water area), so give him a big "high five" for some great pictures! 
This afternoon, we had a good time playing in the backyard while Daddy did some grilling out for us for dinner.  The kids had hamburgers, veggies and dip, corn on the cob, grilled corn salad (yummy!), watermelon (still on the rind) and ice cream sandwiches.  They ate quite a bit and had fun making a really big mess, so we headed straight upstairs for a bubble bath.
It was a long day for everyone but it was fun to spend the whole day as a family and we had a lot of firsts for the kids.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Greetings From Louis Land


It's official.  We are opening our own toddler theme park - Louis Land.  We've set them up in the backyard so that we should be able to get through the summer with PLENTY for them to do!  They've also got an area to play in the garage and their actual playroom, of course.  But the backyard is turning out to be quite the place "to be".  I'm thinking that we will be charging admission soon.  OK, not really.  But Daddy and I did have a pretty good time this afternoon working to add the new playhouse (thanks to the equipment loan from Nanny Barb) and cleaned up the patio chairs, etc.  We tried to set the house up in a shadier space so that they can get a break from the sun in the morning when it is blazing hot. 
So, "Greetings from Louis Land!".  Please feel free to stop by and hang out anytime.