Month: February 2011

I don’t remember having icicles in previous years, but this year our house is covered in them. The biggest is outside my office window (it is double the length you can see in the picture). I watch it grow a little longer every day (and have to keep fighting Wade not to knock it down).

Playing trains is a family affair

Evidently so is hair drying

I’m not sure where Alex learned this (probably from me), but he has a new signal for all done. Now he sticks his tongue out and moves it back and forth. We both think it’s hilarious so of course it continues.

What a fun playdate we had today! Alex, Abram, and Riley played really well together and Nicki, Amber, and I got to sit and talk.

The funniest play I observed was Alex and Abram learning to wrestle. (I only encouraged it a little.)

Alex loves to spend time with Wade in the woodshop. He would run around downstairs in his sock feet and then come back upstairs tracking sawdust (see a picture here). I got tired of cleaning up behind him and decided Alex needed “shop shoes”. They stay at the bottom of the stairs and Alex knows to put them on when he enters the basement and take them off when he leaves. In fact, his request is not to go downstairs but for “shop shoes”.

Alex and I have been slugs lately so a trip to the library with the Strouds sounded fun. Alex is a true bookworm and eventually ended up on the couch with a book.

Then Abram showed him how to play a game on Amber’s new iPhone. Thank goodness Alex hasn’t figured out mine will do that too! (Note Abram “patiently” waiting for his turn. I love the look on his face.)

I have mentioned before that I’m not sure time-out is effective at our house (see post here). I was cleaning up the kitchen when Alex appeared with his “Chester“. He said “Chester time-out” and when I followed I found Chester sitting in the green chair. I have no idea what Chester did wrong or why time-out was in Alex’s thoughts, but I found the entire thing hilarious.

I was relaxing with my Cooking Light magazine when I got to the article entitled, “30 Common Cooking Mistakes“. Out of the thirty, I found one really interesting. It suggested cooking bacon in the oven for an even, crisp look. I tried it and was astounded at how well it worked. I followed their instructions exactly:
1.) Line a jellyroll pan with aluminum foil.
2.) Set a wire rack on the pan.
3.) Place the bacon in a single layer on the wire rack.
4.) Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes
The result was perfect bacon and almost no mess (I hate the grease splatters when I use a skillet.) My biggest question is why have I never heard of this before?

Last week we had warmer temperatures (high 30s) and most of our snow melted. I was beginning to get the idea of spring into my head when we got a decent snowfall (6 inches or so). Abram and Alex were happy to bundle up and play. (The lawn mower is their “snow blower”.)

Alex’s room hasn’t changed a lot since he was born. Today we added the train table he got for his birthday and updated the pictures on his picture wall. (Original nursery pictures here).

Wade almost always gives Alex his bath and puts him to bed. He has recently taught Alex how much fun the hairdryer can be.

How did you spend your Friday? We started the morning by cleaning the house. Alex’s favorite activity is “brooming”. However, mopping appears to also rank quite high. He pitched a fit when he was only allowed to use mop and not wring it out.

We made a quick run to the gym and then had playtime with Maren, Elise, and Mariel.

The playdate ran late so we fed all the kids lunch in the kitchen.

After nap we ventured outside to enjoy the blue sky (and chilly wind). Alex loved riding his bike up and down the sidewalk.

It’s amazing how many good times (and picture opportunities) we can fit into one day. Before MDO Alex played with one of his birthday toys and learned the phrase “Find the dirt”. (Yes, Alex is hugging his truck in the last picture.)

I was on the phone talking to a co-worker when we pulled into the driveway this afternoon. Alex wasn’t interested in sitting quietly in the car so I let him get out and have his shovel. He quickly found a huge puddle of melted snow. By the time I was really aware of what he was doing he was soaked (and loving every minute of it).

And really? What day is complete without a messy blue sucker?

Alex got to see all his little friends today. Amber and I took Abram and Alex to the Big Backyard. The boys wanted to hold hands on the drive and I thought it was adorable.

The boys had a blast running and playing at the indoor playground (and wearing themselves out for a long afternoon nap).

On our way home we stopped by to see Riley and have a cookie and sucker break.

We are reaching the stage where Alex is starting to say and do funny things. Today we had two I found hilarious.
1.) Alex loves to throw things away in the trash. I gave him a package to throw away and he came back with a candy wrapper, which he then threw on the floor. I asked him to pick it up. When he ran the other way I told him he needed to pick it up or go to time-out. He says, “Time out?” in an excited voice. Then he runs to put the wrapper in the trash and runs to sit in his time-out chair. I told him he didn’t have to go, but it’s what he wanted. Obviously something about time-out isn’t working.

2.) Alex loves fruit, but he avoids most vegetables. He will sometimes eat green beans and sweet potatoes. He refuses to touch corn. A few weeks ago he realized he could dip raw carrots in dip (which we had actually tried to show him before). Then I tried to stretch it out to include dipping broccoli. He would have none of it. Tonight I was cutting up broccoli for dinner and Alex asked for broccoli and dip. Then he proceeded to eat a huge serving with dip while I cooked dinner. Will wonders never cease?

Alex got a wonderful surprise in the mail today. His cousin, Tyler, sent his old Thomas trains for Alex. We spent most of the afternoon going through the box and playing.

Today was another day spent at home as a family. Alex and Daddy watched a little TV while the rest of us got ready for church

The weather is warm (for us) so Jerry took Alex outside to play. I was quite amused to see that Alex was mowing the snow

Alex has spent the last few days constantly entertaining his grandparents. When it comes to naptime and bedtime he suddenly remembers me and requests that Mom put him down.

I think Alex’s new favorite word is Pop. He asks about him as soon as he wakes up in the morning or after a nap. He’s definitely a favorite to play with:

We started the morning with a birthday muffin and candles

Then Daddy gave Alex a plate present – tools!

Abram and Riley came over to help Alex celebrate his big day. There were gifts, pizza, cake, and lots of playing. The garbage men also stopped to collect the trash and all three boys watched from the couch and got a wave from the men.

We finished up the day with books, playing, more presents, and the “test” cake:

Gram (my Mom), Granny (Wade’s Mom), and Pop (Wade’s Dad) had all originally planned to come to Milwaukee for Alex’s birthday. Although Gram rode in the car with us instead of the train, they all still made it. While we were waiting for Granny and Pop’s plane to land, Alex showed Gram how to play pinball and how to share a pillow.

Alex kept everyone entertained throughout the day:

After Alex was in bed we started preparing for his party. Gram, Granny, and I worked on the cake.

It worked out that I had enough cake batter for two cakes, which is always a good thing. Then we did a “test” cake before attempting the real thing.
The test:

The real thing:

Alex has started trying to figure out phrases and names. Most of the time he repeats what he hears, but occasionally he comes up with something on his own. These snacks are called “Smileys”, but Alex saw Elmo on the box. He calls them “Elmo’s snacks”.

Alex didn’t attend Granny’s funeral, but he joined us for the church dinner afterwards. He quickly found the church nursery (and all it’s toys) and was happy to entertain the group eating:

Then the family went to the house to see Papa. Papa was having dinner so most of us didn’t want to disturb him. Alex walked in and wanted to sit and talk with Papa.

Aunt Emily had birthday presents for Alex and he was happy to open them early. (Bonnie helped him with the ribbons.)

Wade’s Granny passed away Friday evening. We are heading to Paducah for the funeral and to be with family.

We hosted a superbowl party this year. It was pretty much chaos with a lot of fun.

The Strouds invited us out for pizza at the Organ Piper. We had seats right in front of the organ and the boys spent most of the night dancing!

Batman toys were the perfect entertainment when the organ player had to take a break:

I wasn’t motivated to get out and about today. We were rather lazy in our pajamas. (Note the impressive bed head.)

Then we headed to Amber’s to play with Abram and Riley. Amber even provided donuts and bagels:

Then we let the boys tear apart the toy room:

Alex was worn out and ready for his nap, but insisted on wearing his hard hat to bed: