More eating.

It's very messy.


And *very* time-consuming. Freddie and I spent 21 minutes yesterday getting this guy to eat 1 tbspn of rice cereal.


But we love eating.

Huge Fisher Price recall

Sigh. See if you have anything. Link: The Fisher-Price Recall: More than 10 Million Products

Um, hello? American-based toy companies? Could you please start making toys in America again?

Baby eats.

He loves food!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Jack Jack started "solids" yesterday. Organic rice cereal. Very watery but apparently very delicious to Baby Man. He tried to tip the bowl into his mouth. Just one of the Rod boys :)

photo taken by Sweet Big Brother Freddie

Kim!

What is happening at UT? email me!

Here is the article for everyone else: Univesity of Texas Shooting

Jack has Kaia pinned!

Jack has Kaia pinned!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Jack is just shy of 20 lbs at 5-months-old. Kaia is just over 20 lbs at 3-years-old. What never gets old is the very amusing contrast between our childrens' sizes. Every time I am around Lisa I marvel at my gigantic and her miniature children. :)

Jack at five months old.

, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Still happy. Still chirpy. Still quite a sleepyhead! Still such a little love.

"Mommy, I'm gobbling up them."

Freddie, about opening a new package of white chocolate chips: "The reason why I opened them is because they wanted to come out."

Totally reasonable.

3T? Not for Freddie!

Freddie says size 3T is so two summers ago. The boy is wearing a boys' (that's right BOYS, not toddlers)
size 5 in pants.

He is 3.3 years old.

Hooray! I start preschool today!

Hooray! I start preschool today!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Freddie started preschool on Tuesday. It was a very exciting day for him. I's been two years in the making, as Freddie's not so patiently watched me drop Sammy off and drag his ass back home or on errands. Needless to say, he was SO thrilled that it was finally his turn to stay and play at school

Hooray for being three and starting preschool! Good times ahead. (Although Mommy does miss hanging out with you, my #2 guy, I do not miss removing you, kicking and screaming from the building 4x/week!)

Baby Baller

This is what happens when Freddie adds his style to Baby Jack.


Jack becomes a basketball player, according to Freds.


Jack: "I am so humiliated."

And one where he's not ready to play but brings the confused cutes.

Our growing Jack Jack!

He still has multiple chins but look! I can see neck!


Isn't he super duper cute? Thank goodness his sweetness was around this morning to put a damper on the whole Dead Microwave fiasco.

Freddie one. Microwave zero.

This morning Freddie killed our microwave.


I was upstairs putting JD down for a nap. I was gone for about five minutes. When I returned the kitchen smelled toxic. I couldn't figure out what it was. I called Jacob. I said, it smelled like something plastic was burning in the dishwasher.

Actually, something plastic was burning and bubbling in the microwave.

I asked both the boys if they'd messed with the microwave and Freddie immediately hid. Sammy looked confused. Didn't take me long to figure it out.

What I think happened is Freddie put the kitchen scissors in the microwave and pushed the 30 second quick cook button. I don't know if he watched it or not. But I sure am glad that it was only 30 seconds because it torched the microwave and surrounding wooden cabinet, and because who knows what would have happened had those metal scissors cooked longer. Overcooking the scissors would have been much worse, I'm sure.

I talked with Freddie about what happened, and what could have happened, and then gave him a very long time out without his DT (blanket). I hope he understood the severity of the situation and how he'd made a very bad and very dangerous choice that morning. But I mean, really, who is ready to parent this kind of stuff?! Or freakin' three-year-old boys in general? Icarumba.

Home from first day of kindy!

Kindergarten was a success!
Here is Sammy getting off the bus.


He was all smiles after school yesterday, and he had a lot to say about his first day! He and Freddie even played school while I made dinner last night, and I quietly listened off to the side so I could learn even more about his experience. It was so good! He likes all the different subjects, he kept talking about Math, Recess and Quiet Time. He told me his teacher gave him a green pillow for quiet time and he gets to keep it in his cubby. He brought him some impressive coloring he did in Art, his Wednesday "Special." And on and on about Day 1.

Here he is showing me how he was tagged with his bus number.

He said a man wrote this on him when he got off the bus upon arriving at school.

Here is me, watching intently for my boy to return home.

I talked all big for months and months but it was one of the longest. days. ever. I kept wondering what my boy was up to, if he was making friends, if he was happy or if he was sad and missing us. I was so happy to see him climb off the bus with a BIG smile and start talking nonstop about his day!

Last night I told Sammy that I was happy for him because he likes school so much. He told me, "I'm excited for myself!" I shouldn't have worried at all. Sammy is the perfect kiddo for a school setting.

And we're off to Kindergarten!

Holy cow. The first day of school for our #1 guy!

Here is Sammy ready to walk to the bus stop. What do you think of his first day of school outfit?


Sammy was so excited to get on the bus this morning.


Jacob stayed home for a little bit this morning so he could see Sammy off to school. And Jack stayed awake for it.


He made a friend at the bus stop. A second grader. Good. Someone to have his back and show him the ropes.

Until Sammy becomes an expert (uh, tomorrow). Then he'll be the bus driver, right James? ;)

Off to school!!

My big guy! (okay, after reliving Mama needs a moment to collect herself.)

End of Summer Happenings

Jacob's birthday at Minnehaha Falls.


We meant to go to the Great Minnesota Get Together (aka State Fair) but it was waaaay too busy by 10:30am when we made it over there. So we saved it. The falls were beautiful.


Boys:
#1

#2

#3


We went to the Minnesota State Fair. Very early on Saturday morning. It was awesome, as usual.

We checked out some new vehicles. The new Mazda2 is VERY cool!


The kids rode a ton of rides, including the sky ride, which Sammy has been looking forward to since last year.





The kids each picked out a souvenir. The both choose toy guns. It was a Yes Day [morning] of sorts for them.



The best part was heading to the Peace Tent after purchasing the guns. We saw the irony and humor, but the Peace workers didn't. Too bad for them.

We didn't eat much. We bought a bucket of cookies (because there was no line) and two huge root beers. We may need to go back to see the animals and eat more fair food. :)

Nana and Ba came for a visit right after the fair and as our basement was coming together. Ba hung ceiling tiles in our basement! He assembled furniture. Fixed assorted household items. And entertained children with YouTube. See below for two of their favorites.

and


Ba took the boys to the park. And made the PowerWheel into a hauling vehicle.


Nana entertained the baby.

Helped us choose a couch for the basement. And went with us to pick up stuff for the basement. And cooked meals. And cleaned up after meals. And held the baby some more.

Thanks, Mom and James! It was a great visit!

Holly and kids stop in to say hi!

Last week Holly, Kennedy and Gage drove through Minneapolis to spend the morning with us. It was great to see them, and I have to say Holly's timing is perfect - she was here and able to watch Freddie for me while I ran Sammy back to the ENT doc for another hearing test (he "failed" again but passed kind of too, so instead of surgery he'll go back and retest in November!). Thanks, Holly! As always, we love having you here. Isn't it time you guys moved back?? :)

Here are some pictures from the morning. That Holly took. And sent. Hooray for good friends, good times and good pictures. :)

Kennedy met Jack (she was in Minneapolis in early April but Jack refused to be born at that time, so only Holly'd met him until now!)

Oh, Kennedy had that hot pink full-arm cast put on while in Iowa. Broken arm. I'm sure it's not the first full-arm cast we'll see in this house! Hope you are healing up a-okay, KP!

Tiny Zsa Zsa picking up where Emma left off. Emma, who is at my parents' house in the country and living it up! SO sorry Kim, that you thought she was dead. She's not. Unless she died and went to country heaven!

Every family with small children really should have a dog to handle clean up under the table after meals. Holly very nearly left Zsa Zsa with us.

Freddie. He is 100 percent male. Even at the age of three. I swear, it's in the chromosome.

He's never seen this at home! He just knew how to do it! And he'd drink like this all the time if left unsupervised.

Four Month Old Happy Fatty

We love this guy...


Just like with Freddie we have to push, shove and squeeze his legs and thighs down to get him into the Bumbo.

That's a snug fit, right there.

I want to eat the BehBeh. nom nom

Enchanted Forest

aka "Fairy Camp"

I registered Sammy for a week camp at a local recreation center for the last week of July without reading the class description. I registered him while in the hospital after birthing JD. I registered him based on the the instructor (his *favorite*) and the timing of the camp.

So it was a little surprising the first day to see that Sammy was the only boy in Enchanted Forest. Then I went home and read the description:

A magical week is in store for those who wish to spread their wings and fly. This camp will include flower crafts, animals and insects that live in the forest, games and enchanted snacks! Expect to find fairy wands and pixie dust as we trael through the enchanted forest of imagination, adventure and fun.

Here is some art work from that week of camp.


I did not take a picture of Sammy in the green fairy wings, flowered headband and wand he made over the week. Jacob about died when he saw his boy enter the house wearing that get-up after the last day of camp.

Laugh if you must. But Sammy really enjoyed it. And I applaud him for already figuring out how to get all the girls to himself.

Sammy followed up Enchanted Forest with Rodeo Roundup, which he enjoyed equally much. Maybe more.

Weird weehuggers.

Watch this. Freddie and I were kind of amused, kind of weirded out. What do you think?



I just want to say that this arrived in my email in box this morning. I love cloth diapers and all, but I don't go searching for videos on youtube.

Grandma and Papa visit... and Happy Birthday to Grandma!

Grandma and Papa (aka Jacob's parents) drove up from Texas to spend the first part of August with us and to meet their newest grandson, Baby Jack. Thanks to the timing we were lucky enough to spend Grandma's birthday with her.

Here is Grandma receiving her hat and birthday serenade at Chevy's Cantina.











Thanks to my in-laws for making the long drive, and for being such great company over coffee, going on early morning donut runs :), rocking the baby to sleep, holding the baby constantly, entertaining the big kids by playing endless games of stinky feet, doing the laundry and dishes, and for helping me put up and hem the new curtains in our front room!