The Guys & The Bath

Here's the back story:

About a year ago, John found some party favors in the hall closet. Each bag included about 3-4 army men. He gathered them up -- a total of about twelve little blue army men, and started calling them his 'guys.' He took them everywhere. These poor measly dollar store 'guys' have been with us for months. I mean everywhere -- the grocery store, the Y, school, restaurants. You name it, if John has gone there, so have THE GUYS. In fact, if we took attendance at church for THE GUYS, they would be some of the most active members of our congregation. I don't think they've missed a Sunday since the summer!

But, the poor blue army men started to loose limbs, guns and just looked so very sad all around. In an attempt to win our son's heart, we got him some new green GUYS for his birthday. Fifty of them. Now, you would think with 50 guys, John would pick a few favorites. Nope -- he has inventoried every GUY and knows if one is missing. Then the whole family has to go on the hunt for that lost sheep of a GUY. We now take ALL of THE GUYS in a plastic baggie with us to most places. Once in a while I can convince John to choose one of every kind and just take those few.

Monday was too cold to go anywhere, so John had a bath with THE GUYS. It was a great chance for me to practice some indoor photography without the flash. I'm working on it --it's a learning process though. Some pictures are better than others, but they really let John's personality shine through.

Especially the ones where he's trying to shoot his mother like this! No mercy for family here!

The dishwasher

Being three-years-old makes even the simple tasks so much fun. Dishes in our house are now pronounced, "Too yucky!" and then must be washed immediately.

A note on the pants -- that's really my fault. I made his poor pants without a pattern(ours got washed away in the flood and I forgot to replace it). These penguin pants just aren't big enough. I guess next year I'll need to invest in a pattern. You should see how bad Maddie's are! Hers look like three people could fit in there along with her. Oh well. They are wearing them anyway! (Or at least trying to wear them I guess)

Bring down that wall!

John didn't know he was getting the shaft -- he truly didn't. He loves his crib! He had a Thomas the train tent, matchbox cars, army 'guys', pillows, blankets and other sundry items in there. He was happy to play for hours and would often ask to go to bed. We were afraid to tempt fate and move him to a big boy bed.

But, since he's three-years-old, we decided it was time to take the wall off of his crib and let him grow up a little. I'm glad we waited this long -- he's been so cute about his new freedom, and we haven't really had any trouble at all. OK, maybe a little trouble, he likes to throw his empty chocolate milk cups down the stairs and cry out, "Another chocolate milk please!" and then run back to bed. It can really scare you to death when it's been silent up there for at least a half an hour and you thought your children were sleeping, quietly tucked in their beds.

Oh, and then there was this morning, when I was frantically trying to get the kids in the car to run Maddie to school. I shouted from the bottom of the stairs, to ask John if he wanted a 'cookie pancake' (waffle) to eat in the car. He shouted, "NOT YET! I SLEEP!" and then locked his bedroom door and climbed back into bed.

Oh well. I guess it's good he still likes the bed!

My Superheros!

Maddie and John got aprons this Christmas from my Aunt Estelle. They each have a cute little decal in the center. John's has a bumble bee and Maddie's is a lady bug. Estelle probably didn't know what fun they would bring over Christmas break! The two kids flew all over the house, helping stranded ZuZu pets, nativity set figurines, stuffed animals and others in distress. It was so cute to see them charge through the house with their hands in the air, calling, "Superheroes, to the rescue!"

Thanks Estelle! I don't know if either apron will ever assist in cooking a meal, but the they will always be remembered as a favorite Chrismas gift this year.

Dancing under the tree

The kids have been getting really worked up waiting for Christmas. The energy is almost pouring out of them!

My men

My two adorable men!

Bilzzard 2010

For the last 24 hours, we've been stuck in a blizzard. This is the strongest wind I remember here in Connecticut. It just whips around the house and stirs the snow up into little dervishes.

We ventured out to clean off the driveway and to send Maddie sledding with her friend. I took my new camera lens out for a test drive....

My sous chef

John's been helping me bake lately. We're deep in the "me do it" phase. It's been so much fun watching him grow up the last couple of months. It's shocking how much he has changed recently.

Maddie's Christmas Day

Maddie had what may be the best Christmas of her life! It was truly a magical Christmas. She's old enough to anticipate opening the presents -- Christmas Eve she was so excited I was afraid she was going to give herself a seizure! She couldn't hold still.

Christmas morning she was the first out of bed. She handed out presents all morning. It was fun to see how excited she was for everyone else. Then she opened her big present this year -- and hardly let go again --

I think she stayed on the couch all day playing games. The present was definitely a success!