All the Ways It Can Go Wrong

We took professional family photographs on Monday morning. I spent time trying to figure out the clothing situation. I actually did two loads of laundry on Sunday night so that the kids would have appropriate socks to wear. I picked out Chris's clothes and he had a freak out moment that his pants might not fit and I'd cause him bodily harm for Ruining Everything. I had a freak out moment that I don't own that doesn't clash with someone else's outfit. And I can't forget to mention that despite it being December and everyone else in the world is taking holiday photos, Josie is wearing a yellow dress with daises.

I scheduled our appointment at Sears was for 10 am in hopes of the children behaving. I even fed them a snack before we left. I gave them fruit snacks, thinking that they couldn't possibly ruin their clothes with fruit snacks. Josie proved me wrong by dropping a half chewed, red one on her dress. I didn't even realize there was a stain until we were at the studio and, luckily, it doesn't seem to appear in any of the photos.

Thinking we'd need plenty of time, we headed out early and arrived to find that Sears didn't even open until 10. So we drove around for twenty minutes. Oops. While driving, about a half mile from the store, I saw a woman in casual, professional clothes with magenta hair running down the sidewalk. Turns out, she was running to get to Sears and open up the studio to take our pictures.

The studio time went ok. The photographer and another worker tried to keep the kids entertained but it wasn't the greatest job ever. And of course you can't expect perfection with a 3 year old and 1 year old.

Some pictures weren't centered.

There were shadows, squinting and not looking at the camera.

There were awkward poses.

There were interrupted games of Peek-A-Boo.

There was a broken background curtain, more squinting and a confused child.

"If one more person tells me to smile, I'm going to rip off this flower and crack it over their head."

Mount Diablo

We headed to Mount Diablo State Park on Saturday. We should have gotten some fabulous pictures and taken a nice hike. Instead, we forgot the camera and it was cold, windy and raining at the park. I'll spare you the pictures of us sitting in the car while it rained that we took with our phone.

It took us just over an hour to get there, giving the kids and I quality nap time. Then it was up for 3000+ feet. Did I ever mention that I got car sick as a kid? I thought I was over that, but mountains definitely push my tolerance.

When we arrived at the top we found that the observation deck was closed for repairs, so no great views of the mountains on one side or the bay on the other. However, the summit was actually indoors. They'd built the building up around the summit and had a platform built so people could stand on it.


After sitting in the car for an inordinate amount of time, the rain let up. We also traveled most of the may back down the mountain to get out of the wind and cold. Chris and Xander did take a short hike.


Then we let Josie loose in the parking lot to stomp in the puddles.


My favorite view was on the way down the mountain. I love the clouds (fog) in the valleys with the little towns.


I hope we can go back in the spring. There was a postcard on display showing a field of tulips and I would love to get pictures of the kids running around there.

Alphabet Hunt

Both kids have colds again. This is the third time within a three month period and it's entirely frustrating because we can't go to Mom's gym, Xander's gym or try story time with snot running down their faces. We're hoping this round clears up so we can go to the Thanksgiving dinner we were invited to.

In the meantime, we're stuck around the house a lot more. In a moment of inspiration I decided we'd go on an Alphabet Hunt. We put on jackets and shoes and I had Xander tell me the alphabet and I wrote it down.

My original idea was that we'd find things out side, like a tree, and Xander would circle the letter at the beginning of the word. So tree would get a 't' circled on the list. Instead we just looked around for letters. We started with some license plates, Xander would read a letter and then circle it on his list (kind of hard to do with nothing under the paper, but we muddled through). There were street signs and road signs and even letters on the garbage bins.

Xander had a good time, he'd point and get excited when a new sign came up. I didn't let him circle every letter on signs like 'Not a through street' but we'd get a few from every one he pointed to.

Josie was not as excited and became increasingly frustrated that we were stopped. Towards the end of the walk I had to tell Xander that the hunt was over and we'd head home when done. Still, it was fun to do something different than just walk.

Josie Speak

It occurred to me a few weeks ago that Josie doesn't use many words. Her favorite two words are 'no' and 'mine.' It's a little frustrating because Xander didn't use 'no' until he was almost two and 'mine' was a little bit after that. I guess that is what happens when you have an older sibling, you learn the survival words first.

Josie doesn't say 'yes' but she definitely gets her point across when she agrees to what you say or what you are offering her. She makes a noise that is a little like this....but without the 'doughnut'.




"Josie, would you like some yogurt?" "Mmmmmmmm!"
"Josie, would you like to hold Curious George?" "Mmmm-mmmm!"
"Josie, would you like to wear your slippers?" "Mmm-mm!"

There are a few other words that she 'says' but only we understand, because as her parents we have the secret codes to know what she is saying.
"Easssssss" is please
"Day" is thank you
"Maa" is more
"Ba" is bottle - thought she is getting better with "Bott"

I've been attempting to have her repeat new words.
Squirrel is now "S-wirl"
Elmo is "Momo"
Bob the Builder is "Bobbie"

You get the idea. She did put together her first sentence of "More Bottle," which sounded like "Maa bott." You get the idea.

The best is when she tries to sing along with songs that are making nonsense sounds. For instance, out of the blue Xander asked me to sing the Batman song (how does he know these things?) so I started 'ne-ne-ne'ing. Next thing I know, Josie is singing right along.

Headlines from Golden Gate Bridge

Bridge in San Francisco is Huge

People Walk on Big Bridge

Bridge is High Above the Water

Mother Threatens to Throw Child Into Water

Little Sister Worries for Brother's Safety

Bridge Has Cables Thicker than Child's Arm

Bridge Looks Small from Far Away

aaah parenting

This morning after showering I stepped out of the bathroom and noticed that the kids' bedroom door was open. That means Xander was up and about. Usually he goes into our room and bothers Amanda, however this morning I had gone into the kitchen and on the way turned on the dining room light --and left it on while I showered.

I go into our room and Amanda asks me if Xander is up. Ah ha! So that means the little scamp saw the light on and is in the kitchen trying to play with my phone while it's on the charger. I head that way and Xander leaves the kitchen and meets me halfway in the dining room with a huge smile on his face (which means he heard me, stopped what he was doing in the kitchen and left). This is typically what he does when he is nearly caught in the act. But, he's got something white on his chin???

Dad: Xander, what's on your chin?
X: Lotion!
Dad thinks: there's no lotion in the kitchen, what's he talking about?
Dad: What lotion? Show me.
Xander leads me into the kitchen and points to the Elmer's glue.
Xander: That lotion.
Dad: Xander, that's not lotion it's glue!
Xander: Oh!

That Darn Pigeon

When I find a book that the kids (or I) like, I tend to go online to the library and request more books by that author. Right now we have the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy are what we have read so far and more are on the waiting list.

Xander has picked up enough about picture books that after reading a book only once he can go back through on his own and tell the story. It might not be word for word but it's the same story line and hits the important parts. Like on the page with the huge lettering he will yell "Let me drive the bus!"

Now Xander has extended what he reads to real world circumstances. For instance, while I'm driving somewhere he will ask if he can drive the car.

X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: ............No.

You would think it would get annoying but so far it has been a fun game. After all, that's what happens in the book. The pigeon keeps asking to drive the bus (although he tries other methods than just asking) and we tell the pigeon 'no.'

The best was after we read the Hot Dog book. In it a duckling keeps asking the pigeon what a hot dog tastes like, going so far as to ask if it tastes like chicken.

We sat down to dinner the other night and Xander asked what we were eating.

Hugs: This is chicken.
X: Does it taste like a hot dog?

The grin on his face was hilarious.