Stormy day spent under the table

Since our DUO Tornado WARNINGS (complete with sirens and quality time spent in the basement) last Wednesday, Silas is fearful of "TOMATOES" and suddenly dislikes THUNDER and motorcycles. He spent a lot of time under our dining room table this morning, with his hands over his ears.

Our morning was as dark as night with storms rolling through the area this morning. This photo was a short while BEFORE they got here. Expecting more of the same weather for the next few days. (Computer will likely remained unplugged for MUCH of the day.)

Backyard Campout 2013

Making homemade ice cream. (Sydney requested CHOCOLATE.)

Backyard campout 2013.

(Thanks for taking our picture, Grandpa Lowell Guard

AND for providing the "campground" for us.)

Happy Father's Day MIKE!

2013 Galena Hot Air Balloon Races

2013: Mommy with Silas

Deja Vu
2011: Mommy with Baby Silas

Camping NOT scary. Sleep at Sam's Club.

We watched "Sid the Science Kid Backyard Camp-out" on PBS from the comfort of a blanket tent in the living room.

Later, I asked the boys "Are you excited to sleep outside in a tent?"

Silas informed us "Camping not scary. Sleep at Sam's Club."

We've admired a large tent that they have on display at Sam's Club and have commented on "Someday, we'll go camping and sleep in a tent." I guess he thought we'd use THAT ONE.

basement picnic from the tomato

We had a "picnic in the basement because of the tomato outside". Armed with flashlight, extra batteries, library books, drinks, food and 2 cats, we hung out in the basement at dinnertime. The weathermen suggested for small children to wear their bicycle helmets and our boys ran to get them. They did a great job consoling each other, too.

ROUND 2 - We were post-bath, getting Silas dressed in jammies and were ready to read bedtime stories. This time, we only found Otto to take with us. (Turns out, after-the-fact, that Eddy was hiding under the bedskirt on Silas's bed.) Sydney realized that we forgot the bike helmets so, I grabbed them.

"It was just (a/another) test one, mom." Sydney proclaimed when we got the all-clear. (Both times.)

Don't think I can handle that much excitement again tonight. Will keep our bag near the kitchen door - just in case. HOPING we're done for the night!

Our boys did AWESOME! Hoping they won't have nightmares from it tonight.

2013: What I know about my Dad

Thought it would be interesting to see what kind of answers the boys would give to this (yearly) questionnaire that I recently found online, thanks to Pinterest. 

While Silas napped, I quizzed Sydney. After Silas woke, I asked him.

"I don't know." was the most common answer for Silas. (I have to cut him a break... he JUST turned TWO and is QUITE the talker!) However, if I asked him again, he would come up with an answer.

Drinking coffee and beer were common themes; 

I guess that IS what you do when you get bigger.

Hopefully, Daddy won't be too offended by the AGE guessed. (Actual: 42.)

I'm also wondering if Sydney meant "Save BIG Money" instead of "spend a lot of money".

 I was a little offended that Sydney responded that Daddy cooks supper so much. (Mommy cooks, too!) We recently adopted a MENU CALENDAR to plan weeks worth of meals and menus at once, which is working out nicely. Plus, we can still take turns cooking meals. Win-Win!

I wondered what both of the boys would say about Daddy's hair. 

Silas said BLACK, but he doesn't REALLY grasp colors AT ALL. 

He used to count "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - PURPLE!" 

Sydney said Daddy's hair is BROWN. 

The truth is, Daddy shaves his head every week, leaving him to look like Mr. Clean.

Here are the What I know About my Dad survey results:

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

P.S. Hope you LOVE your Mr. Potato Head card that Sydney picked out and Silas licked the envelope closed while we were shopping at Target one day. They picked it out JUST FOR YOU!

A recall = WIN for us!

Got a letter over the weekend that our latest vehicle repair ARE now (likely) a recall item! YAY! That means $500 back into our pocket! Have to fill out some paperwork and clear it with the dealership. Fingers are crossed that OUR REPAIR really DOES qualify.

NOW... if only the leaking moonroof and sunroof repair was a recall item... THAT would be FANTASTIC!

Toddler Logic on Christmas Gift

Earlier today, we were using a melon baller on a juicy watermelon. The boys took turns "helping" with that chore and took MANY samples along the way.

For some reason, I had left Silas in the kitchen and came back to find that he had a whole arsenal of kitchen gadgets in the works... a churchkey, a rubber spatula AND the fork-half of the salad tongs. He had put the (dirty) melon baller back into the kitchen drawer. (Awesome.)

After putting Silas down for his afternoon nap, Sydney continued to make balls and drink watermelon juice. Somehow, he dropped the fork-half of the salad tongs and it broke.

"Maybe Dad can fix it. He's good at fixing stuff." Sydney immediately proclaimed.

"I don't know, buddy. It's probably garbage now."

"But the spoon part of it will still work." he explained.

"Well...." thinking of it as a serving spoon "maybe as a spoon, but NOT as a tongs."

"Yeah, it will still be a good spoon. Just THIS fork-part is garbage."

"That's kind of a bummer. I can't remember for sure, but I got that for a Christmas present a couple of years ago because I really wanted a salad tongs. I don't remember if I got it from Santa Claus or from Daddy."

"I'm pretty sure you got it from Daddy. Santa just brings toys or coal."

Laughing, I exclaim "Just toys and coal?"

"Yep, toys and coal. You had to get it from Dad."

Nothing taller than a 2 year old AND The Missing Broom

Today, I laughed (a few times, actually). Let me tell you WHY...

It started out innocently enough. The boys were snuggled together in Mike's chair watching Iowa Public Television. I had run upstairs to strip a bed from an overnight diaper blow-out and I had heard the announcement "Mommy, we want cereal."

I guess I hadn't been quick enough because I came downstairs to find THIS

and THIS

Sydney proclaimed that he got the cereal down for Silas: 

Cinnamon LIFE for Sydney and 

Cinnamon Quaker Oat Squares for Silas. 

AND THEN, I discovered THIS

as well as crumbs ALL OVER the dining room floor.

I grabbed the Hoover and cleaned up the chair (and the seat of the couch). Next, I went to look for my broom to tackle the dining room floor, but I couldn't find it ANYWHERE. I had checked everywhere that I could think, but STILL couldn't find it.

On a whim, I decided to call Mike at work.

I glanced out the kitchen window. "I don't see it out there."

"I'm pretty sure SOMEONE left it out there. Most likely, you will find it behind the chimney column."

"OK, Thanks! I'll go look out there."

YEP, there it is! Right where he said it MIGHT BE.

I don't know WHY I didn't think to look there?!?!

Suddenly, I'm cracking jokes in my head about a witch with Alzheimer's that can't remember where she parked her broom so, climbed down a ladder instead. OH, speaking of ladders... Silas can climb those, too. (We now keep those parallel to the ground... AND for good reason!) 

A little while later, I laughed when I saw Silas sitting (proudly) in the toy shopping cart. 

I missed the shot BEFORE this one, 

but caught the DURING

AND the after...

as well as the change of direction AND 

the announcement of "There, that's better!"

Yesterday afternoon, I freaked out when I saw Silas STANDING on the tiny ledge of the sunporch, playing with the garage door opener. I shouted "Don't move! Stay still! Don't move!" and rescued him. Of course, he had NO IDEA that he was in any danger. I explained to him that he can't go up there and that we didn't want him to get hurt. I apologized to Mike for missing THAT picture yesterday, but I was really concerned for his safety and immediate danger.

After I scolded him, he replied sweetly "OK, mom." as if it is no big deal.

This morning, I heard a (calm) quiet, plea coming from the sunporch 

"Um, mom? Need a little help here. Can't get down now. 

Need that garage door opener. Want that. Can't get down. Help please."

AH, YES... and THAT is why they say "Nothing is taller than a 2-year old."

FOUR!

Oh, my... hard to believe that Sydney is FOUR years old! (Where IS this time going?)

He just finished 3 & 4 year old preschool and looks forward to going back next fall for 4 & 5 year old preschool. He knew all of his capital letters before age 2... already count count to at least 10... knows all of his colors and shapes... so, we wondered WHAT he would learn, other than social skills.

He is a FANTASTIC big brother! He enjoys the (bossy) role of protecting Silas in parking lots and near the street.

He LOVES to escape from our yard and run around the back side of our house. (Little stinker; Daddy is trying to figure out a more secure way to keep him in the yard.)

He drinks "skinny boy milk" (whole) because he's still so thin.

He LOVES PB & Nutella or a (few) bowl(s) of cereal. Cinnamon LIFE or Cinnamon Quaker Oatmeal Squares are his favorites. He likes a blueberry bagel with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on it, specifying "No butter. Just sugar. Please."

He gave up naps a few months ago (again) and has lapses in judgement, as well as melt-downs in the afternoon hours.

He LOVES to watch PBS television and really WOULD watch it all day long if I would let him!

He still acts like a crazy person when I vacuum. (I'm not really going to suck him up; nor have I ever tried.) He acts like a contestant of the Gauntlet, trying to get close to it, yet still remain out of its path. OR he will sit in the recliner, shouting at me to turn the vacuum OFF because he can't hear the tv.

His 3T pants are too short. He LOVES to wear "fuzzy pants" and still protests blue jeans, unless he wants to look like Daddy that day. His 3T shirts are also looking on the short side. Obviously, he's grown!

He never complained about his shoes being too small, but recently I checked them and felt terrible when the shoe clerk indicated that they need new shoes every 3 months or so. (I think Sydney had the same shoes for most of the schoolyear!) He is in a bigger size now!

He has attempted to sleep without a diaper at night. He's had success a few times. Most nights, we are still diapering in the night diaper.

His "girlfriend" is Kimberly. "She's a cute witt-o (little) girl." he says.

His hair is starting to get natural curl in it. If he wakes up sweaty, it is wavy in the back. (I love it like that!)

He enjoys playing in the (new & improved) sandbox that Daddy built. He could play outside for HOURS!

He really likes storytime at the library. He likes to "look out his special window" at the library whenever we go. We check out LOTS of books. "The cow loves cookies" is his favorite! He's got most of "Minnie's Diner" memorized now, too.

He's getting really good at cutting with scissors. (Proof sent home in his backpack from school.) We haven't done much coloring or painting at home lately, but he LOVES to play with PlayDoh.

Favorite toy(s): Vtech Switch 'N Go Dinosaurs. (We have 3 of them: Sliver T-Rex, Horns Triceratops and a Pteranedon.)

Favorite shirt: (tie) Mr. Potatohead OR Thomas-the-Train

Eats frosting only, leaving the cake intact. Next year, considering a candle in a tub of frosting.

LOVES to sing. Proclaims that he is a good singer.

Drinks from a blue sippy cup. (Silas gets green.) Can't mismatch colors of lids and cups!

IS a very lovable, compassionate and affectionate child. Shows great empathy. LOVES to snuggle!!!

is becoming sassier with age. Having more timeouts lately. (NO FUN for anyone!)