Jack Of All Trades

I was cleaning out my car while the Monkeys were outside driving around in Super Car when suddenly, they both jumped out of the car, ran into the house and came out with a bunch of paper towels and a couple of squirt bottles- I guess they decided that they should clean up their car too.

In the middle of washing the car, Jack announces that he "needs his skateboard" and bolts back into the house. I was thinking that he must be bored with the car, and wondering if I should go find a helmet and knee pads, when I see him put the skateboard down in front of the car and try to slide himself under it! I asked him what he was doing and he told me, "I'm tending (pretending) to fix the car!"

...Sadly for Jack, he and his makeshift dolly were too big to fit under the car.

Queen Crazy

So yesterday we were in Target, just before heading off to the local pond for some swimming, when both Annabelle and Jack decided that they just had to have goggles. Not quite sure what prompted the goggle desire, but whatever, a goggle hunting we went.

Once said goggles were located, Annabelle immediately pulled hers out of the package (before even paying for them) and put them on. She continued to walk around Target like this while we finished our shopping. She wore them in the car and kept them on for the rest of the morning, taking them off only when we got to the pond.

This morning I was woken up AT 5:30 AM by two giggling, goggle-clad children.

Strawberry Picking

Strange things I have noticed about us going strawberry picking:

1) We went on almost the same exact weekend last June, but it was Sunday the 24Th.

2) When we went strawberry picking last year, Jack coincidentally wore that same shirt... Weird that it still fits.

3) Both times, I took almost identical pictures of Jack eating vanilla ice cream. Both times, the pictures were blurry. Odd.

But we did go to a different farm from last year, which was a good thing because the strawberries at this farm were much better, and bigger, than last years... Just ask Annabelle; she tasted each and every one before placing it in her container... I actually had to dump her first container and have her start over because there was NOT ONE strawberry in there without a bite taken out of it!!

We took a hay ride out to the picking fields and while we were on the ride back from the field, the skies opened up and it started to downpour. It was fun though, the Monkeys enjoyed eating ice cream in the rain!

Sibling rivalry at it's best- Annabelle kicked over Jack's container because she thought that his strawberries were bigger than hers!

Everyone's A Winner

Why, who knew, other than Supernanny, that sticker charts were so effective?


We started this chart this morning when, after a loooong hiatus from potty usage, Jack decided to give it a try. A successful try it was, not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES today! So what if he peed on himself twice, it's the thought that counts, right?

We explained to Jack that every time he successfully uses the potty, he will receive a sticker. Once all of the spaces are filled in, he will be taken to the giraffe store (aka Toys R Us) to pick a prize. He seemed to really like the idea... And who said bribery wasn't an effective motivational tool?

So effective in fact, that when Annabelle saw Jack's reward chart, she tried to convince me that she needed one for potty training too! It took a while to make her understand that she has a bit of an unfair advantage- already being potty trained and all, but once she did, she was willing to accept a SUPER HELPER CHART- in which she receives a sticker for doing good deeds; like cleaning up, and LISTENING. She is so keen to earn stickers that she has been putting toys away while Jack is still playing with them!

So, not only do I get two kids who are willing to do unspeakable things in order to earn stickers, I have also, finally, figured out a way to use up the 1,000's of stickers we have lying around from the recent onslaught of birthday parties!

Another Blonde Moment

...Or is she just constantly messing with me?

Me: Annabelle, would you rather have carrots or corn with dinner?

Annabelle: I think I want to have both.

Me: I'm not going to make both, choose one or the other.

Annabelle: I'll have the other.

Me: Which other; carrots or corn?

Annabelle: Which one is the other?

Whatchoutalkin'bout

In this picture, little chubby chops was all bent out of shape because he wanted to go to the playground instead of watching Annabelle's soccer game- I just love the facial expression!

In other cuteness... About an hour after we put him to bed he started calling for me. When I went into his room we had a little conversation:
"Mommy, can you change my diaper? I'm wet."
"Sure."
"Thanks Mommy, you're a peach."
"I'm a peach?"
"Yes, you are a peach."
"Well then, you are an apple."
"I'm an apple??!!" "That is sooooooo silly, Mommy!!" "I'm an apple." (laughter ensues)