Daniel Gets Tee'd Off

This summer Daniel has been participating in the Junior Giants Tee-Ball league. He has had a lot of fun and it's been fun for all of us to watch. (Except maybe Caleb who is upset that we don't let him go out on the field to play too.) It's a noncompetative league, so no score is kept, but it's a great introduction to baseball. Way to go Daniel! Keep up the good work.

Draconic Punishments

Liam got in trouble for not listening or obeying when he was supposed to be putting on his PJs tonight. I told him that we would no longer just be sitting on a chair for time out, but that he'd have to stand and put his nose in the corner. He looked at us very hard and asked very seriously, "Does that mean you'll cut it off?" It was impossible to stay mad. I broke out laughing. Nathan had to show him what it meant to stand with your nose in the corner. I love the funny moments that help you see past the frustrating ones. Liam's nose is safe for now.

Jellybeans and Boogers...All in a Days Work!

Do you remember the line from Harry Potter about Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans?...Ron Weasley says, "My brother swears he got a Booger flavor once!"...So yesterday, I gave Caleb three jellybeans after lunch. I thought he'd already eaten them when I picked him up to put him down for a nap. But just a few minutes later I heard him screaming--a scared or hurt scream. I ran in and he immediately said , "Jellybean nose". I looked up his nose and sure enough there was a jellybelly. I thought it wouldn't be too difficult to get out, so my first reaction was to laugh at Caleb. Why would anyone stick a jellybean up their nose???? I may never know. Being just 2-years-old, Caleb was too scared to let me try to grab it out with anything. I tried various other approaches with no luck. Caleb kept freaking out and I think he snorted or pushed it up even higher. If only Caleb was old enough to understand plugging one nostril and blowing out the other one. I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to take Caleb in to the doctor to have it removed, but I thought that it might melt down in his nose a little and make it easier to come out. Caleb was so tired from crying and struggling (and playing in the water earlier) that he finally fell asleep in my arms. Sure enough the jellybean began to melt out of his nose a little. Once he was really really out, I used Nathan's tooth pick--like the kind the dentist uses-a handle with a little, slightly hooked metal piece on the end, to reach up and pull it out. Daniel and Liam cheered for me. Not quite the way I pictured being a hero for my kids--but hey, I'll take it.

P.S. I have to add-on to this post because this was just the beginning of chaos created by Caleb. Over the next few days Caleb managed to spill his strawberry-blackberry smoothie all over the living room carpet (so we spent a day steaming the carpet), emptied about a half cup of lotion out (thankfully in the kitchen and not on the carpet), sprayed the bathroom rugs till nice and stiff with hairspray, and, an oldie but goody, played in the toilet. What is going on???

Monterey Memories

We had so much fun together in Monterey! The kids loved Dennis the Menace Park. It had lots of playgrounds, sand, a huge plank bridge, a roller slide (I have the bruises to prove it!), a hedge maze, a rock climbing wall, lots of slides, tunnels, and a real engine and tender for the kids to play on.

We also spent time at the beach! Daniel can't get enough of the ocean water. (He says he wants to build a surf board.) He also took it upon himself to remove all of the rocks he could find from the water. I think he possibly changed the water level a few inches! Liam especially liked the sand, but also got plenty wet. Caleb liked chasing birds, and the playing in sand and even warmed up to playing in the water. We went to a few beaches. One had soft sand and we could see seals, the other was great for exploring tidepools and climbing on the rocks.

I told Nathan that this picture proves he only has eyes for his Schelle (my nickname).

Our other adventure in Monterey was a day at the aquarium. The boys' favorites were the penguins, baby turtles, sea horses, and otters. It was a full day. At the end we let the boys choose a stuffed animal to bring home. (Which we bought down the street rather that at the aquarium for $5 less per animal!) Daniel chose a penguin which he named Arthur. Liam chose a baby turtle which he named Kashow. Caleb didn't care about the stuffed animals because there was a neon green ball at the store that he wanted more--so that's what he got.

After the aquarium we had frozen yogurt! Delicious.

Daniel will be starting the Spanish program at his school this year, so in the car on the way there and on the way back, we started trying to teach him his colors in Spanish. We played Slug Bug but the rule was we had to call the color in Spanish. Nathan definitely won. He saw 42 VW Bugs! At one point Daniel decided he wasn't playing Slug Bug anymore and instead he instituted a new game he called Big Truck. Basically, you just try to be the one to yell, "Big Truck!" every time you see one. It was funny.

Fun memories. Liam kept wishing that Grandma and Grandpa were with us. Maybe next time.