Never again!

Overhearing Annika in the other room play with some "friends", on of whom she forcefully designated as "monkeyhead", I chuckled. When she came into the living room and passed by me, I asked who "monkeyhead" was, she yelled in a gleefully mischeivious voice, "I'll never tell you!" and dove behind the couch.

Jacob likes to scrunch up his eyes and meow in a long, quiet, convincing "meeeeeeiowwwww."

We went to NY to visit my parents and the kids were able to go swimming frequently. Both of them LOVED it. They weren't afraid at all and would jump joyfully into grandparents' arms. Annika has been begging to go to the pool every hour and after I said, for the 12th time, "I'm sorry but we can't today," she yelled, "I'll never go swimming again!" (And dove behind the couch.)

Last night Annika was a turtle, playing under the laundry basket and singing a funny turtle song, which for the life of me I can't remember, but went something like this: "I'm a turtle but I don't want to be a turtle but I'm a turtle and you can't make me be a turtle" etc. She stayed under the laundry basket for upwards of 1/2 hour. I was hoping she'd play it again today, but it only lasted for a few minutes and I never got a song out of it.

I'll end with a picture of Annika's most recent act of terror and proof that I'm a saint, since she's still alive:

Moisture

5am: Crying 3 year old, soaked pjs, sheets, blankets, etc.
No worries. We're potty training, she wants to wear panties to bed instead of expensive princess pull-ups that we already bought. No worries. Strip the bed, dry off, clean clothes, clean sheets and blankets, kiss and back to bed.

8am: Crying 3 year old. Soaked pjs, sheets, blankets, etc.
No worries. Etc. Except the back to bed part.

9:30am Happy 3 year old at swim lessons having the time of her life. No fear, no hesitations. "I was brave mom, just like we said!"

11:30am Out for lunch with Daddy. Bathroom: Good mommy puts the protective sheet onto the potty for happy 3 year old. It doesn't perforate and when precious child pees, it spills over the paper onto clean, dry and only pair of panties, shorts and floor. Surprisingly patient mommy cleans the floor with 16 (I counted) paper towels, rinses out panties and wraps them discreetly in several more paper towels. Mommy uses more paper towels and "dries" shorts as best as she can and convinces cheerful 3 year old to wear them anyway. "hee hee. I'm not wearing panties!" "That's okay, we won't tell anyone." "How about Daddy. Can I tell him?"

"Annika, what do you think about wearing pull-ups tonight for bedtime?"
"Yeah, sure. That's a good idea."

At least John is potty trained!


(I forgot. Then Jacob pooped in the tub so I had the privilege of washing them both twice. And the tub. And all the tub toys.)

Pics

Fun at the coast.






Thanks for visiting "Aunt" Beth!



Cute boys with a radish from our garden.

Mullet with headlights

If you don't think this is funny we probably should never talk again.




(The footage is the actual video for Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Great original song, bizarre video. Someone has done this "Literal Video" thing with a bunch of songs that have unusually strange videos and write a song to match what is literally happening on screen.)

Mushrooms, baby birds and dog boy

If Annika is angry with something or someone she says, "I say mushroom to that chair." Or, "I say mushroom to Daddy." Mushroom is, apparently, her expletive for anger, especially when it is directed at someone. Or, she'll give an angry "I'm so frustrated at you!"

A few months ago she, or I, started calling each other Baby Bird and Mama Bird. Of course John was included as Papa or Daddy Bird. She'll say in her best baby voice, "Mama Bird, I need ...." "I need to hold you." "I need some milllk." "I need to go to the grocery store for my special cereal." For the most part, its really cute. Occasionally, she'll perch (yes, pun intended) on the arm of the sofa and tweet sweetly, "Mama Bird, come rescue me. Rescue me!" Then I have to go rescue her and throw her onto the couch cushions. Or spinning through the air. Or go to the grocery store for some special cereal.

Jacob likes to crawl up the stairs as fast as he can anytime the gate is left down. He has no concept of gravity, however, so he likes to turn around and .... Maybe I'm there to catch him, maybe I hear several bumps and a thud. So far, no serious injury, just lots of guilt about the open gate.

He loves the toilet. Really loves the toilet. And Annika's little potty. And the toilet. If Annika tells me that she went potty, I have to rush to the bathroom to empty the potty before he gets his hands on it. She actually will now pour it into the toilet, flush, rinse it out and wash her hands on her own now, but I still rush. Because the bathroom door is open. So, Jacob is surely in there as well, if not playing in Annika's potty, then he is playing in the toilet. He picks up the lid, splashes his hands around and .... And... sticking his head in trying to take a drink. Ewww. Ewww. Ewww.

I'll post pictures soon. Not of the potty water, I'm running to fast for preventative measures to involve a camera.

More funny kid

Annika's Geronimo-style war cry as she came down the slide when we were in California with family:

"Mr. TATO HEAAAAD!"

In response to the ruined zucchini mounds:

"NO CAT! Don't eat our garden. I'll put you in a TIME OUT."

While waiting on the potty:

"My poopoo is still hiding in my bum."

Quoting Disney movies:

Toy Story 2: "NEVER! You must choose!" "I choose Buzz Light Year!"

The Incredibles: "Its NOT ABOUT YOU!"

When she's worried: "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear."

"You sing beautiful Mommy. But too loud."

"I'm a mean superhero to my quesadilla." (?????)

"I'm gonna wear this dress when I get married to James and Daddy."

When we aren't finding a cliff to throw her from, we laugh a lot. A lot. We're still looking for the cliff.

Funny kids. Mostly.

Annika: I have one sleep. Only one sleep.
Mommy: Why don't you try two sleeps?
Annika: OK! (And she runs upstairs to try some more sleep. Of course, it didn't really work.)

Annika: (In a very forlorn voice) Its hard to go to sleep. So hard.

Annika: Hooray! You did it Mommy!

Annika: No, Daddy. Its not Mr. Jakey-Wakey. Its Jacob. Not Mr. Jakey-Wakey.

Annika: I'm just a little bit sick. I need to watch a movie. (Or have a bitavin. Can you figure it out?)

Annika: You sing really pretty, Mommy. But, too loud.

Unfortunately, Annika has suddenly developed a phobia of bugs. She won't step on the floor, sometimes, and point to all sort of bugs. Except they aren't bugs. Its just evidence that I don't vacuum my WHITE???? carpet everyday.

Jacob likes to play spaceman with a clear bucket on his head. He smiles and cheers and drums on the bucket to make sure that we all know how much fun he's having. Then he usually bumps into something and falls over.

We bought a minivan, a trampoline and we are going on a road trip this Friday. We're driving to southern California to visit aunts, uncles, my grandma and to meet my dad out there. (Not to meet my dad, as in I've never met him before, but as in he's going too.)

I'll post pictures later when I'm not packing.