Can't Blame a Kid for Trying

Wednesday, at the dinner table....

Jack: Excuse me, Daddy, I'd like some oot bear.
Daddy: You can have some root beer as soon as you finish your dinner.

Jack: Excuse me, Daddy, I like oot bear. It's my favorite oot bear.
Daddy: That's good, buddy, you can have some as soon as you finish your dinner.

Jack: Excuse me, Daddy, I finished my dinner.
Daddy: Then what's all that food on your plate?
Jack: That's Ellie's.
Daddy: I don't think that's Ellie's, I think that's yours.

Jack: Excuse me, Daddy, would you like some of my dinner?

Come and listen to a story 'bout a man named Jared...

That's right, kinfolk, we loaded up the truck and we moved to Beverly. Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars. OK, well, not really Beverly Hills, but it's awful hard to find something that rhymes with Ashburn.

And many thanks to all those who helped with our move - John and Remi, Doug and Lindsey, Mom and Dad, etc.!

I So Want to Be His Travel Partner!

OK, I just thought this video was really cool!

(It's the Dancing 2008 video)

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=jd3By

And on the Seventh Day, We Painted

So, one of the many ways we set a good example for our children, this Sunday we spent packing, painting, and doing yardwork. We really meant to go to church, we really did, but then we both had an anxiety attack about how much we still need to do before our new house settlement in just two days (with both of us working full days leading up to that), and decided we had A LOT left to do. So Jared stained the deck (with Jack's help of course), we packed up the kids' rooms and most of ours, and we cleaned up the lawn.....and we still have like a bazillion things to do. Oh well....

P.S. - oh, and if you want another example of our excellent parenting - when I'm getting Jack and Ellie dressed after bathtime, sometimes they'll do the whole "naked kid running around" thing. And I'll say "get your naked butts back here!" Well, not a good idea, because now Jack calls everyone "Naked Butt." And as we were walking through the mall Saturday night, he continuously yelled out (as if it were a charming little tune) "Naked butt, naked butt, naked butt!!!!"

Jared and Jack staining the deck
Yes, that's our 2-year-old son precariously perched on a high ladder in his pajamas. Just call that our Good Parenting Example #3.
Ellie wasn't very pleased when I told her she couldn't climb up the ladder. I mean, call us strict, but we demand that our children be at least 2 years old before they climb barefooted in their pajamas up a 20-foot ladder.
By day's end, our manly man was filthy and rather damp, thanks to "helping" Dad water the lawn.

Mild-Mannered Child By Day....? By Night?

We've never been quite sure what Jack does between the hours of 8:30pm and 6:30am - we're relatively sure it doesn't involve sleep, but beyond that it's a mystery. So I've been trying to track the evidence.

Wednesday, 10pm: Rustling noises in the kitchen.
Parent: "Jack, what are you doing?"
Jack: "Getting my keys."
Parental Analysis: Well, his legs aren't long enough to reach the gas pedal, so we should be ok.

Thursday, 2am: Poking finger to the forehead.
Jack: "Excuse me, Mommy, I need my toolbox."
Parent: "Jack, it's bedtime, you don't need your toolbox."
Jack: "I need my toolbox."
Parent: "Go to bed, Jack."
Noises in child's bedroom indicate that perhaps toolbox has been found.
Parental Analysis: Keys and a toolbox - plumbing emergency at the neighbors?

Thursday, 4am: Poking finger to the forehead.
Jack: "Excuse me, Mommy, I need my cape."
Parent: "It's in your bedroom, Jack, go to bed."
Child leaves, and returns with aforementioned cape.
Jack: "The Batman side."
Parent puts cape onto child, Batman side up. Child leaves.
Parental Analysis: I don't recall seeing the Bat Signal shining in the night sky, but who knows...perhaps not a plumbing emergency after all - toddler superhero crimefighter? His name is Jack Jack after all, it's not that big of a stretch...hmmmm.....

Thursday, 10pm: Child appears at top of stairs.
Jack: "Excuse me, Mommy, I need my Fireman Sam coat and hat."
Parent: "Jack, it's bedtime, go to bed."
Jack: "I need my Fireman Sam coat and hat."
Parent puts fireman coat and hat on child. Child leaves.
Parental Analysis: Superhero and firefighter? Or perhaps firefighting costume is part of secret identity?

Friday, 2am: Poking finger to the forehead.
Jack: "Excuse me, Mommy, I need my sunglasses."
Parent: "It's bedtime, Jack."
Jack: "I need my sunglasses."
Parent: "They're in your room."
Jack: "Thank you, Mommy."
Parental Analysis: That's one complicated secret identity - Clark Kent just wore some black glasses. Really, does Jack Jack really need the firefighting costume, hat, AND sunglasses? Seems a bit of overkill to me. Remind me to talk to Jack about moderation in all things.

Friday, 4am: Poking finger to the forehead.
Jack: "Excuse me, Daddy, where is my cowboy hat?"
Parent: "It's bedtime, Jack."
Jack: "Oh, here it is - I found it! Thank you, Daddy."
Parental Analysis: Now we're just stumped. Superhero with multiple personalities? Emergency at the ranch? Perhaps Timmy fell in the well and needs to be rescued?

Friday, 6:30am: Child appears at top of stairs.
Parent: "Hi, Jack, did you sleep well?"
Jack: "Superman saves everybody. Batman doesn't fly."
Parent: "That's nice."
Jack: "Excuse me, Mommy, I need chocolate milk."
Parent: Well, of course. Superhero crimefighting must make a man hungry.

D.I.Y.? NWIH!

I believe that there are two types of people in this world - (1) those who can do things, and (2) those who can pay people to do things. Well, ok, maybe there are three types of people, because I suppose there are (3) those who just don't get things done and wallow in their own filth. We call them barbarians. But in polite society, there are two. And I definitely fall into Group #2. I am not handy, I am not creative or artistic, I am not strong, and I am not talented in pretty much any useful way unless you count "good at Trivial Pursuit" as a talent. But...I can find the people who CAN do things and do it well. So when I wanted a photo memory book for our babysitter, I turned to my talented sister-inlaw, who created a BEAUTIFUL book for us. And when Jared suggested that we move ourselves instead of getting a professional mover, I said "why in H-E-double hockey sticks would we do that? Isn't that why moving companies exist? Aren't we doing our fledgling economy a disservice by not injecting much-needed capital into industry? What kinds of Americans are we anyway?" So....bottom line, we're getting movers. And the circle of life continues.

(P.S. - D.I.Y. = Do It Yourself; NWIH = No Way in Hell, Heck, or H-E-Double Hockey Sticks)

Almost There!

Well, we have officially sold our current Maryland home, and are "renters" for the next month until we move into our new Virginia home....which, as you can see in the photo, is coming right along! Virginia, here we come!

Chips Off the Old Block

I'm not sure if it's nature or nurture, but Ellie has suddenly developed an obsession with shoes that is reminiscent of her dad's. The other day I was cleaning out her closet, and came across a bunch of hand-me-down shoes we got from my friend Crystal, and instantly Ellie fell in love with the bright pink and purple shoes. First, she insisted on wearing some sparkly purple flip-flops, even though she clearly had trouble walking around in them. But every time I tried to take them off, she'd throw a fit. Yesterday, she decided that she must must wear the bright pink Crocs. At all costs. And anytime I open her closet now, she wants to grab her church shoes to try on. Now, all who know me know that I have horrible taste in shoes, and frankly have no interest in them. But Jared is, well, pardon my language, a Shoe Slut. He must have countless pairs of sport shoes for various obscure athletic situations, and drools every time he walks by Johnston and Murphy. If the constant need to wear the sparkly pink and purple shoes is any indication, apparently Ellie is a chip off the old block.

Meanwhile, Jack seems to have inherited some of his mom's nerdy love of themes. I love getting into a theme - you know, like wearing green and making corned beef and cabbage and watching "Quiet Man" on St. Patrick's Day, but not just for holidays. I might get in the mood to watch "Godfather" and make a big ol' pot of spaghetti and meatballs. And I like to do weekly themes with the kids, like talking about fish, going to the Aquarium for a field trip, making blue jello with Swedish fish in it, and make fish-related art projects. Apparently the Nerdy Theme-Lovin' Gene has passed on to Jack. If he is watching Scooby Doo, he MUST have all of his stuffed dogs with him. Or if Superman comes on, he must find his Superman cape and will insist that we call him Super Jack. Late last night, I heard noise in his bedroom, and went in to see his TV on. There was some superhero show on, and the character had a hat, sunglasses, and cape. And sure enough, Jack was sitting on his bed, middle of the night, wearing his superhero cape, sunglasses, and hat.