Proud New Home Owner

No stimulus plan needed here - T-Man now owns his own home! Thanks to a wonderful Aunt J, T-Man is the proud new owner of THE COOLEST Bob the Builder home. It comes complete with three windows, a personalized door, and "lots and lots of trucks" on the top!

Watch your mailbox for an invite to his housewarming party. We will note where he is registered on the invitation. First item on the registry: Air freshner since the home has no indoor plumbing. Even if it did, someone doesn't know how to use it yet!

THANK YOU AUNT J!

Our Little Cowboy's Sick :(

Chillin' in the Elmo Chair

Covering a Cough - he would make Miss Manners so proud!

Our home has been overtaken by illness! T-Man has been "lassoed" with a fever last Monday and then vomiting this Monday night. T-Man's small cold from last week turned into a major head cold for me all weekend and last night the hub threw up. What a lovely time at our home! I hope we're done for now. T-Man slept a ton yesterday, as did the hub, and I can actually almost get air through my nose.

**Update: an almost clean bill of health at home of hope
just in time for Valentine's Day!

Calm Up

When T-Man is tired, he's "loopy-tired" meaning he moves at lightning speed, is giggly and overall a goof to watch. Last night he was "loopy tired". Eric picked him up and put him on his lap. He said, "You need to calm down. Take a deep breath and calm down." T-Man's reply - "No, Calm Up!"

Bob's a Hit

(Don't teach a two year old to say "Cheese" - Ever!)

In front of The Chicago Theater marquee

Bob on stage

Leaving the restaurant - Like father, like son

Overall, the play was enjoyable. We decided that we could do without the 20 minute intermission and the length of over 1.5 hours. But it was an enjoyable evening out together. As we were walking from the theater to the restaurant, there were unexpected fireworks going off over the river. T-man liked those but thought they were loud. It was bizarre to see the reflection of the fireworks on Trump Tower and to hear the sound bounce off and echo around the buildings.

Big Day Tomorrow!

We have tickets to take T-man to see Bob the Builder at The Chicago Theater. In preparation for the blessed event, he has been wearing his Bob the Builder tool belt all week and singing, "Bob the Builder, Yes we can!" for the last four days straight and when I say straight, I mean, as in non-stop, one continuous stream :) I cannot imagine life any other way than with the singing of a two-year old little boy coming from the toy room.

As a side note, he has now memorized the second and third Articles of Faith. He mastered #1 a couple of weeks ago. Right now he on the floor, watching a musical video of the Articles of Faith and eating "jungling balls" with the dog sitting next to him just waiting for gravity to be her best friend.

"jungling balls" = Kix cereal

Non-Stop Snow Day

I may look cute, but don't ask me to move or I may tip over

Resting up for the big hike up the back yard hill

Conquering "Snow Mountain"

Hiking to the top of "Snow Mountain"

An angel making snow angels

The finished product

"Snow all-gone"

If you are in your big boy bed, but your pajama pants are not, were you out of your bed?

The hub and I have agreed that we will use the phrases, "Make a good choice, T-Man" and "Was that a good choice or a bad choice?" over phrases like, "be a good boy", etc. We are all inherently good, we just have moments of weaknesses when we make bad choices. This has been applied to T-Man's bedtime.

Tonight I went into his room to find him in his bed.
Mommy: "Good choice, T-Man! I am so proud of you for staying in your big boy bed!"
T-Man: (in a whisper) "Mommy happy; good choices"
Mommy: (While straightening the sheet and blanket) "I love you! Thanks for making good choi..... Hey, wait a minute! Where are your pajama pants?"
T-Man: (in a whisper) "Good choices"

Imagine my surprise when I found the pajama pants wedged into the chair cushion and T-Man without pants. Hmm.....If you are in your big boy bed, but your pajama pants are not, were you out of your bed?

"Nope, Try Again"

May I redirect you here to remind you of one of my favorite quotes. I was reminded of it again this weekend.

The family went out to dinner and we took the MIL with us. Before our food arrived, T-Man folded his arms, directed us to do the same and then said, "Prayer?". So I followed his instructions and began a short, abbreviated, restaurant version of a prayer only to be scolded following the "Amen".

As I so reverently concluded the prayer, T-Man says loudly to the entire table, "NOPE, Try again." Apparently the abbreviated version did not meet his approval.

"While we try to teach our children all about life . . . our children teach us what life is all about." Amen to that!!

Why is it that my computer will crash, but my son will not?

Christmas came early at our home of hope...

After 5 restarts, 3 shut downs, and one HUGE stomp on it (mixed in with a MAJOR crash/meltdown of my own and a partridge in a pear tree) ...


My computer has been put to rest...

It served me well...

It was a hand-me down from the hub so it served us both well..

I'm in love...

This is the new machine from whence I type...

I'm in love...

Velcro Sheets

I think I have just discovered a child product that will make my family millions of dollars and will support us for the rest of our lives:


Velcro sheets for children's beds.


T-Man WILL NOT stay in bed. It appears that his old matress has been substituted with a spring loaded matress. Once that handsome, perfectly shaped, little blonde head hits the pillow, his eyes fly open and he literally shoots out of bed. This is how he was found two nights ago at 10:15 p.m. :


p.s. that's not his chic new modern bed, it's a simple chair that sits in the corner of his bedroom.