not my proudest moment

I snagged an hour pass to run a few errands last night.

J rolled in from work as I finished making the girls' dinner. The RGs were situated at the table and working on picking apart their food and J decided to fry up some mystery meat as I prepared to leave.

Just as I was closing the door, the smoking skillet set off the fire alarms.

The girls were screaming "CALL 9-1-1!" as the kitchen filled with smoke.

I thought, briefly, about going back to help.

And then...

I ran.

(it was all fine when I got home)

word of the day

February 7: Hangry

When you are so hungry that your lack of food causes you to become angry, frustrated or both.

An amalgum of hungry and angry; invented to describe the mood of a person who hasn't eaten for many hours; an outwardly hostile and angry hungry person; a contraction of hungry and angry.

*"I.WANT.PEANUT.BUTTER.CRACKERS!", snarled Roo, in a hangry haze of low blood sugar and frustration that had well exceeded the ability to speak without growling.

the mother grape says What?!

Roo has always been difficult to feed. Always. Things are simpler now, as long as she likes what is in front of her. Much like any finicky preschooler, I imagine.

Convincing her to try things set before her is somewhat challenging.

Over the last while, we've adopted and abandoned many strategies. Some work for a bit and then grow trite. Right now, the two things that get a strange bite in Roo's mouth are the promise of a 'Bravo!' or the lure of a 'getting down bite'.

Roo gets a standing ovation complete with screams of 'BRAVO!' when she takes the bite on the fork, puts it in her mouth, leaves it in her mouth, removes the fork and then begins chewing. This has been an insanely successful strategy for both Em and Roo in the quest for getting different foods down to their bellies.

Once a sufficient amount of the meal has been consumed, Roo can be lured to try an offending bite of food with the promise that she may be excused afterwards. This is known as the 'getting down bite' (GDB). Sometimes they discover that the food is actually delicious! And they stick around and eat more.

Some foods are hit or miss with Roo. Like grapes. Lately, they've been a consistent miss.

But, the other day, I noticed she was eating them without encouragement.

She modified the 5 Little Ducks song and belted out a version she called 10 little Grapes. Apparently, when the grapes went 'over the hill and out to play', they were headed for the party in her tummy.

(I caught some of the song with my phone's video camera, so the film is a little choppy.)

I could not believe that she ate 10 grapes while she sang that song!

There are some things that Roo eats very well, though. Pizza is numero uno. That kid can put a pizza A.Way. Witness it for yourself on the second part of the video.

I'll say this, it's never dull around here. Ever.

it went remarkably well

What happens when 16 of your closest playgroup friends come over to make pizza and play on a cold winter day?

A little mess.

A lot of fun.

Full tummies and smiles that don't stop.

spinning a tale

Once upon a time, two little girls went on an adventure.

And found a magic castle buried in an enchanted forest.
Roo bravely secured the throne.

And Em took her role as the town crier to heart.

There was much emotion to be felt with such an important discovery. Much loud emotion.
After a time, peace reigned in the land and all was thought to be well.


But for the existence of a gruesome troll who lived on the outskirts of the enchanted forest.
This cantankerous old curmudgeon found great disgust in the sounds of glee and merriment and emotion.

But the two little girls and the other brave and intrepid explorers of the magical forest prevailed. They were already off to other adventures, safely fastening themselves into their chariots when the troll's call to arms was answered.

Without a care or a clue, the explorers swung out into the great wide open. Ready to wield the torch of discovery as they hailed the next great adventure.
And that is the.end.

Weebegon Update

Potty Boot Camp wasn't quite as exciting today. I think the girls thought that was a fun Friday activity, but now on to our normal Saturday routine. They were both less than excited when the requested diapers did not appear.

They made it to lunch time without peeing once. Despite lots of liquids and much encouragement. Once M&Ms were mentioned as a bribe, Em was on board and got her business done a few times. Roo held out until right before naptime. The afternoon brought much of the same. Em had an accident on purpose, just testing what might happen and if rewards were offered for pee even if it wasn't in the potty. Roo forgot to pull off her panties while she sat on the potty.
So, a bit more clean up today, even though there was less pee. We'll see if they're more resigned to the new routine tomorrow.

Also, I may have to offer up more tempting beverages. The juice boxes are old hat and lemonade and orange juice have lost their appeal. Maybe just more salty snacks so they're thirsty. Ideas?

Monday to Monday

After a busy week of travel and followed by a week of recovery, I'm finally putting together the highlight reel.

Monday (6-29-09)
Uncle Mike was in town for work. But, he had to eat sometime. So glad we got to see him!

Tuesday
Rainy day. We met up with new friends at an indoor playscape.
The highlight, for the RGs, were the 'rainbow cookies'.

Wednesday
Appointments for Roo. Working from home for Daddy. Laundry. Laundry. Packing. Exciting.

Thursday
Library storytime in the morning with new friends.
Road trip to Lubbock in the afternoon/evening/night. Really long.

Friday
Got a new dog.
And took a bath. That's right. No baths on Thursday.
I've got lots of fond memories of the bathtub at Nana's house.
Wonder where those Pillsbury dough boy toys are. Becky, Joy, Kak, Tracie? Do y'all remember those?

Saturday
Low key Independence Day with family. Good times.
Mostly.

Sunday
Apple picking attempt in the morning. Thwarted by a late freeze and a hail storm.

Still fun thanks to good friends.

Then, calzones from One Guy.
More sweet friends that evening. We had such a great time!

Monday
A few final hours with Nana.
And the awesome toys she saved from Grandpa's and Aunt Tracie's childhood.
And then the slightly less long drive home.

there once was a little girl...

Once upon a time there was a little girl who liked popsicles.


Alot.



She also liked banana muffins.

The kind with tiny chocolate chips baked into them.
And that have chocolate sprinkles on the tops.

They made her really...

...really happy.


She also loved her Auntie.
She loved her so much, she wanted to climb up in her lap and give her a big popsicley banana-chocolatey hug and kiss.

Auntie and Sissy had enough popsicley-chocolatey love
and turned the hose on the little girl.

The End.

Sweet Berry Farmers

Our playgroup went blackberry picking this week. This was a first for the RGs. Daddy was able to come with us, too.

Em ate at least a pound of blackberries (and strawberries) straight off the vine. She also insisted on carrying the basket the entire time. Very important work. Roo asked me several times if we were camping again.
J was a berry picking machine and moved down the row quickly. Em and I lagged behind and Roo traveled back and forth between us. I noticed that it was taking Roo an extraordinarily long time to complete her trip. She would make it about half way, then turn around and go back to J, then start over. He said she was snitching blackberries from his basket and would finish eating them before she made the trip to my end of the row. So, she'd return for another snack, finish it midway, and start over again. I think it took her half an hour to make the entire trip.



Once our baskets were full of strawberries, blackberries, summer squash and yellow onions, we took a break. Homemade strawberry puree popsicles. The ultimate happysicles.


Em and Roo were enchanted by the tiny tractor. In pink. Adorable.

And we finished out our trip putting our face in the ladybug's spots and taking pictures.

A berry delicious day.