After My Own Heart

I think it would be an understatement to say I love bubble baths. I could stay in the tub for hours, especially with a good magazine. It seems I've passed this love on to Miss Kate. She'll ask to "take a bathtub" at the oddest times of the day. And I'm more than happy to oblige. I've learned that when children take baths, the rest of the house stays clean! It's worth a little water on the floor in my opinion.

Kate will lay back with her ears under the water and sing
her little heart out. Anna says that when she lays like this,
her hair looks like Syndrome (from The Incredibles).

When Kate saw this picture on the computer she said,
"That doesn't look like Syndrome." So I asked her who it
looked like and without hesitation she said,
"That looks like Cindewella's Stepmudda."
I think I agree.

The only downside to baths.....pruney fingers and toes.

Evolution.

I think we should have named Luke something else. It's pretty rare that we actually call him by his name. He's two months old and already his list of names is longer than he is. It's so funny to think back on exactly where nick-names found their beginnings.

So far we refer to Luke as:

"Luke the Duke": Of course rhyming is an obvious one.

"Mr. Buster": This one has more of a history. If you've ever seen the old classic "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" you'll know about the villain named "Bergermeister-Meisterberger" (if that's really how you spell it). Our kids were watching it a lot over Christmas right after he was born. It's a pretty catchy name and soon it became his moniker. It was shortened to "Meisterberger" and from there it became "Mr. Buster".

"Benny Boy": I think this one is used most often. I told Barrett yesterday we may as well have named him Ben so it would've made sense. I think this one evolved because of Kate. She was watching a Winnie the Pooh movie in which Tigger calls Rabbit "Bunny Boy." Kate's interpretation was "Benny Boy." She gave the name to Barrett in jest one day, but he passed it on to Junior.

"Boy": This one is my favorite. Lovingly dubbed as such, once again, by Kate. As in, "Mom, can we get this shirt for Boy?" Or, "Is Boy awake?" Just....Boy.

"Your Child": I don't know where this one originated, but I'm guessing Barrett. But now the girls use it. When he cries they'll say, "Mom! Your Child wants you!" Lovely.

I guess as the saying goes, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Actually, sometimes I think he smells like feta, but he's still pretty sweet.

We love you Benny Boy....er....Luke.

Under Control

A question I'm asked almost daily is, "How's it been adjusting to three?" My response usually varies, but really....I've got it under control. I'd be more than happy to share with you my Secrets of Success.

1. Wake up really early in the morning to wash and style your hair. On Sunday. And then wear it like that the rest of the week.

2. No time for breakfast? Leftover birthday cake will hold you over till lunch. If you add ice cream, maybe even till 1:00.

3. Laundry? Leave it in the dryer. Ours has become the "family closet". After a few days, voila, it's empty! (tip: if the clothes get wrinkly, just open the door, spritz some water in there and run it for a minute or two. Works like a charm!)

4. If your children are still in their pajamas at 3:30 in the afternoon, consider them ready for bed.

5. Better yet, if you are still in your pajamas at 3:30 in the afternoon, consider yourself ready for bed.

6. Cereal. It's what's for dinner.

Seriously, I've got it under control.

Look Who's Smiling

"What the...!?"

Sorry Luke. Your mom lost it and left you stranded on the dresser in nothing but a beanie. Next time I'll try to save you from her photographic zeal! Luke had the last laugh though. Unbeknownst to his mother, he was relieving himself on her favorite blanket during this whole "photo shoot."

"Mom...don't you think if I need this hat on,
I may need a little something else on too!"

Church Mouse

A few days ago we were visiting an elderly woman who lives near us. She still had her Christmas decorations out and was enjoying showing some of them to the girls. They were very amused by a particular "Maestro Mouse." He sits at his piano and plays whatever music you put in front of him. As our neighbor was putting away her decorations the next day she called me and said she would like me to come and get the musically-gifted mouse so our kids could have it.

Last night Barrett went to tell Anna and Kate to start cleaning up their toys because it was time for bed. I heard him walk in there and say "OK, fifteen more minutes." Then he came into our room laughing and said, "Go see what the girls are doing."

They had set Mr. Maestro Mouse and his piano in the middle of their bedroom floor and then used all their figurines to build a congregation. They were playing church. According to Anna they were singing "Hock, the Herald Angels Sing."

Have a look.

The Maestro

His captive congregation.

Mulan? Snow White? Nodding off in church, eh?

Yes Erika? You have a question?

Oh! Hello Anakin. Hello Obi-Wan. Nice to have you here.....but you
can leave your light sabers home next time.

Poor Mrs. Claus

Kate is still thinking about Christmas. Yesterday she asked me if Mrs. Santa had come to our house with Santa. I told her no, she had stayed home at the North Pole. She then looked at me and asked, "Why did she stay home.....to do the laundry?"

Oh, I feel your pain Mrs. Claus.

#6: Museum

Anna made a list of things to do over the break, which included favorites such as "hot chocolate" and "wrastle." Number five on that list was "museum." We love the local museum. We are season pass holders and have been there at least twenty times. Here are some pics from visit twenty-one.

The girls' favorite is the shark tank and the resident turtle

with his missing fin (eaten by the shark according to the girls).

The "two-headed turtle." Upon seeing this pic, Kate suggested
it would have been better that Anna stay home so the
turtle would've only had one head.

Where's "Birginia?"

Dad's favorite: the bee hive.

Kate watching the bees.

Anna inspecting the baby cottonmouths.

Kate's brave. Anna...not so much. That's the
underside of a horseshoe crab.

Can you find the flounder?

Anna.....

....and her list.

She's a Super

Kate cracks me up.

This morning I had bathed the girls and sent them in their room to get dressed. While standing at her dresser, searching for clothes, Kate hollered out, "Where...is....my....super-suit?!" Needless to say, we all had a good laugh.

On Sunday she "graduated" from nursery and became a Sunbeam. She now refers to herself as "The Sunbeam." They gave her a crown, which she's been wearing constantly, and a framed certificate, which she's been carrying everywhere.

Way to go Kate! You have successfully learned how to eat Goldfish crackers and drink water out of very small paper cups. We're so proud.

The Super Sunbeam