is it done yet?

It's just the type of company in the kitchen I was waiting for....another one banging on the oven door and whining from sheer starvation.

"There has gotta' be a way to crank this baby up."

And then, he has the nerve to look at the food I have served him like this:

A courtesy bite:

 And then, the picture just before the throw.

Bowl and food everywhere.

"Here Koby, come and get it. "

Can you imagine the attitude that will come with this guy when he's seventeen, tired, and grumpy because he didn't get the girl and he has to weed the garden. 

Can't wait.

 

six blackberry pie

The kids picked blackberries the other night.  This is what they brought me.  "Mommy, we picked these for a blackberry pie! Will you make one for us?"

I wish I was as great as they think I am.

buns of steel

Need I say more?

William is well on his way to being potty trained.  He's really been wanting to do this for a few months now but, well, we were just too darn lazy to start down that road.  "Oh, go in your your diaper. It's just quicker."   Besides, I dread the newly potty trained toddler out in public.  The dreaded, "I have to go potty" statement that leaves you dropping all of your purchases and running frantically for the nearest dirty public restroom.  No thank you.

So, after a summer of going "free" while playing in the yard, I took the boy to Target to choose his first set of undies.  Thomas, it is.

 He looks everywhere for them when they're missing. He'll usually find his new skivvies in the dryer because he insists on wearing at least three pair a day.  Sometimes at the same time. I have enough laundry to do but I can' t rain on this parade.

He won't be finding one pair of them.  Percy is in the garbage.  I just couldn't clean him up.  (A big apology to all of you without children.)  There was a bit of guilt associated with the toss so, I had to call my friend Sarah with the question, "To throw away or not to throw away?" as if I haven't been through this before. Believe it or not, this never happened with Grace.

Grace helps him get into costume.

 The final pull.

 And he's off.

I have to say, I thought a diaper was cute but this boy underwear thing is new to me and I think it's pretty darn cute. 

Side note: Notice the "boot" on handy husband.  He has a stress fracture.  They have a fix for that?  I'm calling tomorrow to see if they have a full body one for me.

picnic in the woods

After I picked Grace up at preschool on Monday, we decided to take a little "hike" (the kids' term) on one of our many trails. We packed a picnic lunch and ventured into the woods. There's a common theme with kids this age.  Get them outside.  Works every single time.

 "Oh, Koby.  you know I'll share some with you."

 We kept our eye out for a bear.  There's been one prowling around our neighborhood the past couple of weeks.  Apparently, he's really partial to leftovers on barbeques.  He leaves 6" wide paw prints to prove it! Yikes!!!  Wonder if the bear likes pig?  

While we were there, Fall arrived.  In Graham's lap.

Williams first day

The command center screams the importance of the day.

He's not quite three but he is quite excited that he attends his own "school" now.  William has been asking for a year, "When can I go to preschool?".  It's usually only about 300 times during the car ride to drop Grace off at her preschool.  Well, my son.  You're day has come.  William and I are attending toddler group once a week.  It's a co-op and I love it.  I have such fond memories (from way back...yeah right) of this toddler group with Grace.  It was always a great opportunity to meet moms, kids, and really see what my child was drawn to.  Two enormous rooms filled with activities, sensory tables, snack time, circle time, and a changing theme from week to week bring out the best of any little munchkin.  I'm so excited to learn more about this sweet boy of ours and to just have Mom and son time.

 Heading out the door.  He's so proud!

 A little overzealous.

 After a few minutes of wrestling and hair pulling (kids only) I managed a picture with the two of them.

 Projects of the day- Grace made a puppet and William and I made hand prints.

(Grace in the background still trying to figure out how it works.)

bye bye summer

Our first summer with three kids.  It was a doozy.  Although it got off to a late start, we made the best of the few weeks that were just glorious.  Playdates with friends ,trips to parks, beaches, and splash parks, and a few hikes all filled up our days.   We enjoyed the zoo, took Koby swimming, went on bike rides, BBQ'd, and spent plenty of time in the yard with the pool and sprinkler. 

 Three young kids definitely slows us down and limits our activites but I think we've gotten pretty darn good at getting around.

 We said goodbye to said summer with two weekends packed with summer activities.  The last hurrah, if you will.  The weather cooperated as well, giving us 80 plus degree days. 

Splash parks

Houghton and Edmonds beaches

 Grace bringing us dinner-a bucket of King crab.  It's all in the parenting, folks

 The boys hanging out and eating snacks.  Boys (minus one). 

 Graham was beached out.

We ended our days with storytime on the patio, ice cream, and even a play date with a new puppy, Juno.

 Ice cream works magic on the personality of a toddler.

Night Night.  I'm off to get a new puppy.

(settle. not really.)