Sophia did a nasty thing to me today. Our yard looks horrible and needed mowing in the worst way possible. BJ wasn’t going to have time in the near future, so I took the task upon myself while Phoebe napped and Sophia played. I had been cleaning up this area of our backyard earlier and she and I found a worm. She enjoyed playing with him, a bit too much because she ended up breaking off about 1/4 of his body. I kept battling with her to take him back outside since her hands were dirty and so was the worm. I proceeded to mow the lawn and about halfway through I came in for a drink of water. I took a big gulp of my water, that had been sitting on the kitchen table, when I saw Sophia coming out of the living room—holding that nasty (now dead) worm. I snapped at her (only a little) to quickly take him outside because he is dead, but also really dirty. She tells me—-
S: “No, no he’s not. I washed him off.”
H: “Huh?”
S: “I washed him off in your water.”

After taking a very long pause to really establish in my brain that what I thought was happening was actually happening—sure enough, I looked at the bottom of my cup and there was sand and dirt. So I spit a few times, laughed (because what else could I really do at this point?!) and managed to get her to willingly throw him away and get her hands washed. Parenting = fun and entertainment!

Categories: Heather, Sophia, Weekly Family Update
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Both the girls got over their sickness, barely, just in time for family to visit us for Easter weekend! Both of my older sisters came in town, and one with three cousins in tow. We colored eggs on Saturday and did the hunt that afternoon with a big dinner afterward.

We seriously had almost 100 eggs for these 5 kiddos to look for. Confetti eggs were hidden out front. They are really fun for kids because you can throw them at the ground as hard as you want and then a burst of bright confetti splashes out everywhere. It was really fun to watch…..and HORRIBLE to pick up. I still have confetti and broken colored egg in my yard and flower beds. Then the hard boiled ones were out front, and candy filled plastic ones in the house.

On Sunday we all joined Granny and Grandad at their church. It was great to go back because I was able to see so many people I knew when I first moved to Texas. Some I had not seen in years. We took pictures at Granny’s house after. Can it really be so hard to get the kids to smile at the same time? They pretty much just looked at the camera as if to say “I’m here, now what?”

Monday we went to the Heard Museum for the first time. We had no idea what we were in for! They have a beautiful nature trail, but a lengthy one! Both Sophia and Phoebe were tired from walking, and hungry—and so were BJ and I! We had brought the stroller, but ditched it after the animal exhibits when we realized having the stroller with us would not really work. I don’t think we will go back until the girls are a little older and they both can handle the walk better. Or at least the trail part of it…..inside they have dinosaur stuff and other fun animal things. Hmmm, that isn’t very descriptive–oh well!

A bench!!! Thank heavens!!! They had a few of these randomly placed along the trail, and a good thing too! Clearly, it was a welcomed break from walking!

Categories: Phoebe, Sophia, Weekly Family Update
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It is no joke when I compare Phoebe to Linus from the comic strip “Peanuts”. She drags that blanket everywhere, it can be exhausting! She is also pretty attached to her thumb. Together, her blanket and thumb are her ultimate comfort and bliss. So these pictures are my typical Phoebe–sucking her thumb while holding the corner (has to be a corner) and doing her thing……

Categories: Phoebe, Weekly Family Update
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Phoebe was recently sick and therefore was spending a lot of chill time on the couch watching her favorite show “The Backyardigans”. I had her pillow and blanket already next to her on the couch, but she got up and grabbed the entire bag of pretzels off the counter, went and laid back down on her pillow, and then laid there totally relaxed stuffing her face with food. She just looked so darn cute! She might as well be holding bon bons in this picture instead of pretzels!

We have started having beautiful weather and spending more time outside because of it. Phoebe, one day, was very adamant with me that she wanted her shirt off, and then eventually her pants……and then eventually the diaper! She was ecstatic to be naked outside, and of course Sophia joined in the streak-fest! Phoebe climbed onto the trampoline and was jumping to her hearts content. However, having 2 toddlers naked outside has it’s consequences—Sophia peed, and Phoebe pooped, on the patio. Oh joy.

Phoebe is catching on–fast–with words and phrases. I can’t even think of all the words she knows now, and all the things she repeats back to us of things we just said. I really love being able to communicate with my children! I can ask her just about anything (that directly involves her world) and she will answer me “yes” or “no” appropriately to what she wants and needs.

She can be a pistol when it comes to her sister. I think it is revenge from all the abuse Sophia inflicted on her. Plus, she knows she gets a huge reaction from Sophia when she terrorizes her, because that is really what she is doing—terrorizing Sophia. She loves to come at her with the vacuum hose extenders, the plastic croquet hammer, and her balls. She has actually hit her big sis in the past so I know this is where some of Sophia’s fear and apprehension come from. But it really is kinda funny seeing Phoebe go running, RUNNING, at Sophia with the vacuum attachment and Sophia whining and screaming her head off running away. Karma baby! Phoebe has a sly grin on her face when she is doing it too, little stinker!

Phoebe has also completely shocked her parents with a strong interest in becoming potty trained! This started at the beginning of April and has been hit and miss. She is only 22 months, and yet ASKS us to sit on the potty, can’t stand her poopy diapers anymore, and has even started telling us when she has just peed–so she can go sit on the potty. So obviously, no luck in getting her to actually DO ANYTHING on it other than sit and be proud of herself. I even caught her the other day, when I walked back into the bathroom, trying to wipe herself with some TP that she grabbed! What a smart, observant girl she is! I am amazed by her and think I will have an almost potty trained kid by her second birthday. My plan had been to start this coming Fall, a few months after she turned 2, but we are absolutely not discouraging her new behavior and interest in the potty. We hope it only gets better from here!

Categories: Phoebe, Weekly Family Update
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I’ve finally gone through the photos from the last 3 weeks. They’re in the process of being uploaded right now.

We have a few posts that we need to make. We’ve been falling behind. I blame facebook and Heather’s famous 5 page e-mails. Heather will blame Warhammer and laziness. We will meet in the middle and blame the government and large corporations. Hugs and kisses all around.

Tags: family,laziness,photos
Categories: BJ
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Yes I know it’s late. I’m pushing a build to production overnight so it can start working in the morning.

While waiting I came across this awesome article about Darth Vader’s Ariel Atom.

http://www.urbanracer.com/articles/anmviewer.asp?a=3741&z=45

Tags: awesome,cars,dark side,darth vader,top gear
Categories: BJ, Entertainment
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