By the way...

... for anyone reading this who's into paper crafting or rubber stamping, I'm having a contest at my business website (StampMonkeys.com) that ends on Monday. I'm giving away a BUNCH of great stuff!

Check it out! :)

All by myself....

So don't tell Ric...but I'm going to "rat" him out!

After he got home from work today, he mentioned taking Ryan to the pet store to see the puppies, birds, fish, ferrets, etc. He said that it would probably help me to get everything ready for my Spring Quarter classes that start on Monday. I told him that it really wouldn't help me unless he took Megan too.

So then he says, "I can't do that"

Ummmm...take both kids to the pet store with you? You can't do that?

Guess who's at home right now, ALL BY HERSELF? hehe

Edited - Ric and BOTH kids survived. Whew! Ryan wouldn't stop talking about all the animals he saw.

Organ Izing

Ryan asked me this morning what I was doing, I told him that I was organizing our food closet. The rest of the morning, he's been telling Megan that "Mommy's organ izing, Megan."

You know, it's HARD in such a little house to store 3-months of food we eat every day as we've been counseled to do! But...if I keep on "organ-izing" we'll find a way!

On the topic of preparedness...

I called the local Pepsi Bottling plant today to see if they sold their used 55 gallon barrels that held their syrup - I told him I just wanted to store water. They said they didn't, but they recycled them. They guy was kind of shifty in his answer...almost like I was going to have the barrel residue analyzed and steal the secret formula for their Diet Mountain Dew! Geeez!

So...I went one step further and called around, I found a company in Cumberland that picks up these used barrels from companies and recycles them (Hmmm... wonder who?) They've never sold to the public, but I asked if I could have 4 of them. (The guy probably thought I was crazy!) He called me back and said I could have them for $15 a piece - SCORE! Take that Pepsi! HAH! Looks like we'll be taking a road trip today or tomorrow! :)

Guess it's time to put up the gate?

Easter Finery!

Well, Ryan wasn't as cooperative with pictures, so you'll have to "endure" all these cute pictures of Megan! (I, of course, can't get enough!)

We hope you had a wonderful Easter! Enjoy!

It's Comin' Mommy...

...poopies that is. I guess it's not a good idea to put the word "poop" in the title of your post, I'd scare all of you away!

Ryan has been playing with us lately. Whenever we go to change his diaper, once we have the new one on, he says "Poopies comin' Mommy." Well, yesterday, I decided to take advantage of his "fooling around" and plop him down on his potty seat.

Nothing happened, of course.

After a few minutes, he said that he wanted to hold his diaper. So, not thinking, I gave it to him. In a split second, I hear the toilet flush and the diaper is nowhere to be found! In a panic, I take Ryan off the potty, and see his diaper swirling around, helpless!

Well, thank goodness he DIDN'T do anything, because I had to reach in, grab the poor diaper and save it from it's doom! I really wasn't thinking of the diaper, but our PIPES and CESSPOOL! There's no way that diaper would have made it through the pipes, we would have had to call a plumber for sure!

*sigh* It's funny now.... hehe :)

Peek-a-Boo!

We took this video about a month ago, of course it took a WHILE to get it up here! Enjoy!

Banana cream pie - and Truth Restored!

So I was looking for a recipe to make banana cream pie this morning, I happened to find an EASY one on www.cooks.com. When the recipe came up - so did these advertisements!

The first one was scrolling through some different things like..."I wanted to know my purpose" When you click on the link, it takes you here, where you can chat with a missionary! HOW COOL IS THAT?

The other ad offers a free Book of Mormon. I don't remember which General Authority talked about using the Internet and our blogs to share the Gospel - but using website advertising is FANTASTIC!!

Fam-lee Pay-er

So Family Prayer at our house has become quite interesting. First of all, Ryan is hit or miss as far as cooperating. Usually, we do get him to fold his arms...with Ric or I folding ours around him! Keeping him quiet during the prayer is another story!

Usually, Megan starts to babble, so Ryan babbles back, then Meg, then Ryan and on it goes. Megan of course thinks its funny that Ryan is playing with her, so she'll laugh and start her "Night at the Roxy" imitation.

You know...the two guys bouncing their heads to "What is Love?" by Haddaway? She does that lately when she's playing. It's actually hysterical to do it with her...but NOT during Family Prayer!

It could be worse, I guess!

It must be a "girl" thing...

...we officially have a SCREAMER! Her big brother was nothing like this. I think I'm losing what's left of my hearing! (What's left after playing the drums from Jr. High through College!)

Megan now tells us how she feels when things aren't going her way. If she wants to be picked up, if Ryan is bothering her, if she's hungry, etc. It's all communicated with a shrieking scream. It's a new thing, so luckily, those who sit around us in Church haven't had to experience it yet, but maybe she'll share it with us for Easter Sunday! :)

By the way - Happy 9 Months Megan! She was 19 pounds 7 ounces and 27 3/4" at her 9-month appointment. She's also crawling! Though she's not going very far yet. Meg will take a few "steps" then sit back to see how far she's gone. Then does it again. She can pretty much get to where she wants to go!

(I know this last picture is blurry, but you can still see the funny look on her face!)

Ooooo Taub

This is Ryan's new obsession. He's finally figured out that the videos that Dad shows him on the "e-may-el" is actually You Tube! BUT...the funniest thing is that he calls it "Ooo Taub."

I just crack up every time he says it! TOO FUNNY!

Rhode Island for Dummies

I ran across this article in the Providence Journal today - just to give you a little bit of RI insight! :) (By the way, I've added my own links if you are unsure as to what he's talking about!)


Dummies the Rhode Island Way

by Mark Patinkin

They now have thousands of Dummies books, covering everything from wine to Catholicism. They have Jane Austin, Blogging and Sex for Dummies, the last one obviously having gone unread by Eliot Spitzer. They even have a book called Living Gluten-Free for Dummies.

I was shocked at the one they don?t have.

Rhode Island.

If they can have a Dating, Dachshunds and Anger Management for Dummies, why not one on a whole state?

If the publisher is interested, I plan to fill the gap.

Today, here is my compressed version of my proposed new book, Rhode Island for Dummies, offered up in Q and A form:

What were the first words spoken to Roger Williams when he arrived in Providence?

?Whatcheer, Netop?? It now lives on as an immortal native Indian phrase.

Which translates to?

?Where?s the nearest Dunkin? Donuts??

Very funny. But I did hear there are more doughnut shops per capita in Rhode Island than anywhere in the U.S. Why?

It?s about the coffee more than the doughnuts. But unlike Seattle, people here prefer just a black with sugar instead of a vente, non-fat, vanilla, half-caf, latte with a double-shot.

How did Roger Williams become Rhode Island?s first leader?

He briefly changed his name to aWilliams to be listed at the head of the ballot.

So the whole state?s an island?

Psychologically and linguistically, yes.

How come Rhode Island doesn?t get more credit for being the first Colony to declare independence, as well as burning down a whole British tax ship, which involved the first bloodshed of the American Revolution?

The Boston Tea Party people had better publicists.

What does Rhode Island have to do then to make news?

It often makes news as a unit of measurement. Whenever someone mentions an Arctic ice shelf or Texas ranch, they?re described as the size of Rhode Island.

Is it true that the state?s name evolved from being called ?Rogue?s Island??

That?s one unlikely theory, but it?s true we were founded by people who couldn?t get along anywhere else and the same spirit is here still.

Give some examples of people who couldn?t get along?

Roger Williams was banished from Massachusetts, so he founded Providence; Anne Hutchinson was banished, so she founded Portsmouth.

That?s a lot of banishing. What?s this I hear about us being the only state with both an official shellfish and a state drink?

The quahog is our bivalve. And after a bitter legislative debate with Del?s lemonade coming in second, coffee milk was voted our official drink.

You mean coffee with milk?

No, coffee-flavored milk. It?s as locally unique as jonnycake, stuffies and gaggers.

Gaggers?

That?s a wiener. Order them ?all the way? sometime. You?ll never go back.

Give me another instance of Rhode Island being roguish.

Well, it was the first to renounce the crown, but the last to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

The last? I thought it wanted independence.

Yes, but from everyone. It only signed after the other Colonies threatened to tax its exports as foreign goods.

The state sounds very defiant.

It always has been. Rhode Island never ratified Prohibition. People here didn?t like being told what they could or couldn?t drink.

Is it true Rhode Island is the birthplace of industrial manufacturing in America?

Absolutely. The state is filled with more mills per square mile than almost anywhere.

What?s produced in those mills?

Condos.

Given its historic legacy of manufacturing, what is the most distinguished product now made by Rhode Island?

Mr. Potato Head. Though it?s actually made in China.

Give me a notable moment in Rhode Island?s development.

Well, in the 1950s, Routes 95 and 195 were built through Providence to connect it to the world.

How did that work out?

Not so good. They?re building them over again because they put them in the wrong place.

What about politics? I heard that in the last three presidential elections, Rhode Island has been the Democrats? best or second best state. Why?

The only known Republican in Rhode Island is the governor. Though there have been sightings of others in Barrington.

Let?s talk about the state?s tax burden.

Let?s not.

Can you name me a famous Rhode Islander?

Peter Griffin.

Who?s that?

Ask your kids. He?s the lead character in the animated sitcom, Family Guy on Fox. He lives in a place called Quahog.

How about a notable movie filmed here.

Dumb and Dumber.

Finally, I hear Rhode Island has a majestic State House, unparalleled Colonial architecture and Gatsbyesque ocean-front mansions. In closing, can you give me the state?s most stand-out landmark.

The Big Blue Bug.

The what?

That ends Chapter One of Rhode Island for Dummies. As soon as I get a black with sugar, I?ll start on Chapter Two.

Easter Dress for Miss Muffin

I'm SO excited that I have a little girl to dress up for Easter this year! So much so that I decided to make her dress! (Yep - I sew. The proof is in the picture - see the machine on the table in the background?)

I had about 1 1/2 hours to myself last week to go to the fabric store and find everything I needed. And this is the result It's a little sun dress, but she'll be wearing the jacket too. It also has "panties" and a little sun hat that's too big f0r her head. We might have to the hair bow route instead.

Can't wait to post pictures of her in it! :)

Big Boy Bed!

We're making progress - finally! Ryan slept in his bed last night, and will for his nap today too.

I rearranged his room yesterday, and asked him where he wanted things to go. We made his bed together with "Lightning" and "Mater", then played with the night light a little. (It can change colors!)

Then we put "Bob" and "Wendy" up at the top with the wall stickers he had on the door. He's so proud of his bed now!

Yipppeeee! A little "ownership" does the trick!

(Now for our next trick...moving Megan from the Pack and Play that's set up in our room to the crib. Problem is...she's still nursing at night, which means she sleeps with us most of the time! Hmmm...)

Peanut butter in the carpet???

So....I wasn't able to take a shower until this afternoon. I know that ALL mom's can relate, am I right ladies? :)

Finally, just as Oprah was coming on, I plopped Megan down in front of the TV, gave Ryan some bread with peanut butter, and I jumped into the shower for a quick one. Usually Ryan comes in a couple of times and pulls the curtain open just to make sure I'm still there. He turns on and off the bathroom fan, just because he can, etc.

As I'm drying off....I ask Ryan what Megan was doing...

Ryan: Eatin' P-nut Butter Bread.

WHAT????

I dash to the living room, (buck naked and dripping, I might add...) to see Megan with peanut butter all over her clothes, peanut butter and bread pieces mashed into the carpet, slobbery bread pieces on her chin, and the smiley-est blue eyes you've ever seen! She was so thrilled that she was eating "big kid" food!

Now...I have no idea if she's allergic to peanuts, because this is the first time she's had anything close! Hopefully she doesn't take after her Auntie Stacey and have to worry about even smelling peanuts! (Hmmm....maybe I should be watching Megan instead of typing THIS! I can still hear her playing...so she's still breathing! Whew!)

Anyway...I guess I should get the carpet cleaner and vacuum out... *sigh*

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By the way...we've started a new thing in the mornings. When Ryan is ready to get up, we take his diaper off and put him on the potty for a few minutes. Whether he goes or not, we don't care, we just want him to start the habit of pee-pee on the potty first thing in the morning! Who knows what will develop from there. (He does get a "chocat kisth" though if he goes!)

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The other thing that was kind of funny today.... We're watching Blue's Clues Shapes and Colors (for the 1000th time!)

Ryan turns around and says: My favorite color is maybe purple.

Okey dokey then - whatever you say son!

Frozen in Grand Central...

So you have to check this out...

Frozen in Grand Central

I can't embed it, but go to the link and watch the video - it's really cool! This group does things like this all over the world and you can see their videos on their website: www.improveverywhere.com

Make sure that you don't miss the Food Court Musical too! - The reactions of the people who don't know what's happening is hysterical!

Enjoy!

ps - I have to add... don't miss Slo-Mo at Home Depot too!

Just out of his mouth....

Ryan: (while trying to get past me to get something) Move it Mommy!

Mom: That's not how you ask for something...

Ryan: Pleeeeeze move it Mommy!

Overheard at our house...

What's dat makin' noizez Mommy?

What's-dat?

Over dey-er! (Translation: Over there!)

Mommmmmeeeeeeeyyyyyy? (Mom: Whateeeeeee?)

Megan makin' noizez Daddy!

Turn light ON. Turn light OPP (Off). Turn light ON. Turn light OPP. (The latest game when we're going to bed.)

What's-dat?

Ryan do it!

No Megan, No! (Or Mommy, Or Daddy, Or whoever...)

What's-dat?

Megan sleep! (Right outside the bedroom door...)

Megan WAKE! (5 seconds later after he woke her up!)

Mommmmmeeeeeeeyyyyyy? (Mom: Whateeeeeee?)

Goin' for a bibe Momeeey? (Translation: going for a ride?)

What's-dat?

Mommmmmeeeeeeeyyyyyy? (Mom: Whateeeeeee?)

Make cookies Mommy!

What's-dat?

And finally, the funniest one of all:

Dad: Don't put your cheese on the TV screen! (Mom: ahahahahahahaha)

(At least we're not to the "why's" yet! Whew!)

PS - Looks like the fever thing for Ryan was just a fever thing, no one else here has the flu! Woo Hoo! Almost back to normal now!

More tales from the flu

Here's another update on me and now on the kids too regarding the flu. I've been following the doctors orders for as much rest as I can get and it seems to be helping. My energy levels are back up, but not close to normal yet. I've been going to bed as early as we normally can and napping during the day when the kids are down too and it seems to be making a difference in getting me back to some sort of normalcy. By my return to work on Wednesday, I should be ready but will take it slow and easy to start off.

Yesterday was the first time in a week that I've been out of the house and went for a ride with Ryan to get the mail. The fresh air was nice for a change and Ryan enjoyed getting out too with Daddy. But now it seems that it might be his turn with some illness as he came down with a abrupt fever last night after dinner. I started giving him the children's Tylenol right away and taking his temperature several times to get the most accurate reading (in his ear) and the average was 101 for the night. He did well and went to bed on time and didn't wake up until about 5am when Mom took him to the couch in the living room and then fell back asleep. We'll be watching him and Megan over the next few days to see what happens and if they end-up sharing whatever it is that Ryan has (for the moment).

Ric