Conversations from the back seat

"Our house is as big as a squid. But a squid is a little longer. Remember snakes are the biggest worms. Snakes are giant worms. Snakes are really bad. And they have bones.  Like us. Some of our food has bones.  Like chickens. When you put a chicken over steam you cook it and it turns into a turkey and when it hits the ground it says Gobble-Gobble and turns back into a chicken. "

Close enough.

Making Muffins

Flonapon

Alex invented a new instrument. And here he demonstrates how to hold it.

First trip to the Dentist

Alex did such an awesome job at his first dental cleaning! The staff couldn't stop complimenting what a good patient he was. I am so proud of Alex!

Romp in the Leaves

We spent some time with Grammy and Grandpa yesterday afternoon. Alex helped Grandpa fix the legs on the kitchen table, then we went for a walk-ride (I walk, he rides his bike). I want to wax some of these lovely fall leaves, to make a garland, so a Leaf Hunt ensued and Alex was quickly enamored with the crunching sound the leaves made under his feet.
One thing led to another, and in about as much time as it took to find some rakes, he was neck-deep in a pile of leaves, with Stan happily snapping away.  Note the running start he had to get on the pile, so cute since he practically comes to a stop before hopping into the pile.  At Grandpa's mention, we suggested to Alex he run diagonally in the yard to get a really good, long head start (and a really good, long sleep that night). 




I have a soft spot for the pumpkin picture though, he's getting so big:

 















Reminds me of this one:

Little Astronaut

3 years in a row, still excited to be an astronaut.

Breadstick Snakes

Tomorrow is Alex's class party. Not being sold on all the usual sugar and creepy, I have made it my mission to find cool alternatives. Check these little guys out!  Alex helped by rolling and wrapping the dough and by drawing the eyes on (food coloring markers). I manned the green color mist and the carrot tongues.  They each have their own little personality and Alex is so excited to share them with his friends!

Our very own career fair...

Alex helped Stan put together his sound system... he handed Stan little screws and even got to help solder the connectors in the rack.

Rainbow

While I was getting ready for church, Alex found a rainbow in our bathroom.  There were several, actually, and he had lots of fun hopping around, playing with them. 

Goldfish

When I picked Alex up from school yesterday, he told me all about his imaginary pet.  A cat named Goldfish. His last name is Little.  He has a leash, like a dog, goes everywhere Alex goes, drinks Goldfish milk and has a little blanket that he pretends with - it is blue.

Goldfish likes to be carried on Alex's arm.  He also likes to be pet by everyone, and is very loud.  Loud enough that he could scare an imaginary lobster. 

Alex took him into Best Buy with us yesterday, carefully lifting him out of the car and putting him on the ground with a little pretend pat on his fuzzy head.  He then dutifully "held" his leash the whole time.  Even when we had to run to the back of the store to use the bathroom, he handed me the leash - then pretended to tie the leash to a door handle while we washed our hands. 

When we got home, Alex took his leash off.  And before bed, took his collar off and tucked him into a little blanket bed.

This morning, Goldfish is still a member of our family.  Stan said Alex is calling him "little fella". 

Time for a puppy?  Probably.

Swinging good time

Playing Jenga with Grandpa

We are having so much fun playing games with Alex. He got a particularly tricky block out and did a little gloaty happy dance. Grandpa asked if that reminded Stan of anyone... Stan likes to win too.

I feel so blessed that these generations have one another so close.

I'm not tired

We are nearing 2 hours...

Family Photo

Alex had to have a family picture for a school project... so we quickly took one last night. I rather like the outtake. Stan said "bananas" instead of cheese and Alex thought he was really funny. Our happy, silly, family.

Inside out shirt

Alex decided this is how he wanted to wear his shirt today. Our little trendsetter!

Why'd the Turkey cross the road?

To get to his family. - Alex

Sock jam?

Stan was putting Alex in the tub and I was in the bedroom adjacent. Alex made a noise and asked "what is this!?" Stan replied, it's fuzz from your toes. To which our genius child replied "no, you mean it's fuzz from my socks!".


Stan and I both busted into fits of laughter and had to admit that he was correct, the fuzz had indeed come from his socks, not his toes. *sigh*

Little surprises...

So, I've officially moved from thinking these things are accidental, to full awareness of the subtle humor my child posesses. 

It all started with Alex helping me make cookies Sunday afternoon.  He stood on a chair so he could help me measure and stir (he learned how to level a measuring scoop/spoon with a butter knife/finger).  As we were working, he was nosing around the dish drainer and found his little volcano (you know, add baking soda & vinegar...).  There were also some yellow cherry tomatoes from Grammy's garden next to us.  And my big ladle.  I guess I should pay closer attention to what he's doing next time.

When I emptied the dishes, I found the volcano:

Wiping down the counter, I found the cherry tomatoes in their new home:

And last, but not least, the ladle - I almost didn't notice it there.  And it has one of those water & glitter filled bouncy balls in it too:

bowling

Alex set up a game today... Bowling. He pinned a bouncy ball between some bubbles then lets another ball down a cardboard tube to knock it free. When you knock it free, you get 29 points. I am not very good at it, and when I lamented such Alex assured me "you just have to try".

My sweet boy is growing up so fast! I had such an awesome day spending time with him.

All my friends

Alex wanted me to take a picture of him with all his friends. Mickey, monkey, and black puppy.

Black Puppy is a Baby

My sweet little boy cuddling his black puppy.  Look at those blue eyes!!

Bath and Bible Time

I joined a study group at church. Together with a bunch of cool ladies I am reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  One of the gals decided to also read thru the Gospels, and invited anyone who wanted, to join her.  So I did. 

I have been using Alex's bath time for my reading. I can sit in the bathroom with him to make sure he doesn't manage to drown himself or flood the house- and I get my reading done fairly uninterrupted. Anyway.

I finished reading the chapters in the book, and am on to the Gospels, about the middle of Matthew. As I sat down, Alex was curious about what I was reading (this is new). So, I told him I was reading the Bible.

Alex: Like God!? (eyes w-i-d-e)

Well, yes, it's the book God wrote so that we can learn about him.

Alex: Oh

Do you want me to read it to you?

Alex: Uh-huh. (nodding)

I read a chapter and he played quietly the whole time. The whole time. At the end, I asked him if I should keep reading.

Alex: Uh-huh.

I read another chapter and again asked him if I should keep reading.

Alex: Uh-huh.

I read a total of 3 chapters - he didn't interrupt me except for repeating the occasional word. Like Beelzebub. I warned Stan there may be a stuffed animal named Beelzebub that crops up in the near future... Stan laughed and said that was fine so long as it also went to show-and-tell. (haha- he has a sick sense of humor)

And I loved it. I loved every moment of it. Toward the end, he wanted to see the pages - I'd guess he was looking for pictures, but I got to explain to him that the red letters are what Jesus said.

I told Alex that if he wanted me to read more, that next time we would read about Jesus feeding 5,000 people with just 1 little boy's lunch, and about Jesus walking on water - to which he immediately grinned ear to ear and replied "Mommy, Jesus can't walk on water... that's silly! (as he floated his foot on the surface of the water in his tub for effect)" And I got to explain to him that he DID... and that he invited his friend to walk with him.

Talk about experiencing the Bible in a new way. And here I thought we were still in the picture book stage, the Old Testament bible story stage. 
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Lollipop, lollipop...

Alex stayed dry all day (all week now, actually, with no accidents) His reward has been a lollipop. He loves lollipops!

Buzz Lightyear

We just retired Tigger... Happy boy, if you couldn't tell by the ear-to-ear grin (and thanks Daddy for the tip of where to get it).

$3.01 with tax, Kwik Shop, woodland & K-10 - woody, rex and martian too.

I want a flamingo

At random, driving thru the neighborhood, Alex would tell me "Mommy, I want a flamingo".  I hadn't seen a lawn flamingo to prompt this, but his eyes are much more keen than mine.   I dismissed it with positive comments, like "oh, they are neat aren't they"... and we would both drop the conversation there.

As a reward for getting ready on his own one morning, I offered Alex a lollipop.  He immediately jumped up and down and exclaimed "I want a flamingo one"...

Mango. 

He wanted a mango lollipop the whole time.

He's so patient with me sometimes.
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"poop bubbles"

In the bath the other night Alex told me that it was fun making "poop bubbles" (farts) in the water.

It was all I could do not to bust up right then and there, instead reminding him that we don't want the poop bubbles to turn into poop and if he pushes them out, that's what will happen.

He replied "oh... yeah..." (cause we've had that fire drill before, ick). 

What am I going to do with my little boy?

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Love is... muffins.

Alex asked me what I was doing in the kitchen.  I told him I was making muffins... his reply... 

"Because you love me very much!"  (with a grin and a little hop)

I make about a batch a week.  Good healthy breakfast for my boys.  

Modified from my M-I-L's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins, usually made in mass around Thanksgiving time. For Stan, Thanksgiving is not complete without them. I liked the base recipe because it didn't require butter, like a traditional banana bread.

Don't be afraid to experiment with these. I've tossed in yellow squash, butternut squash, wheat germ, almond flour, chopped dried cherries, almond extract... Pretty much, you can't go wrong with these muffins!

Banana Split Muffins

Preheat oven to 350, line or lightly grease muffin tins.

Combine in microwavable bowl and warm, but don't cook (1 minute on power 8):

1 c oats

1T multi-grain hot cereal mix

1 c milk

Add to oat mixture:

2 mashed bananas ( or 3/4-1 c squash, applesauce, pack pumpkin)

2 eggs

1/4 c oil (I use olive)

1 t vanilla

Stir with a whisk, then combine with wet mix above:

2 c flour (half all-purpose and half whole wheat or other)

1/2 c sugar 

1 T baking powder

1/4 t salt

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t ground nutmeg (especially good with the banana)

Stir until just combined then add:

1/2 c chocolate chips

1 c chopped walnuts

Stir less if you like cakier muffins. Stir extra for a chewier, bread-like texture. 

Fill muffins 3/4 full and bake 20 minutes at 350F. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks. Once cooled, store in airtight container. Makes 23... yes, 23... I'm always 1 shy of 2 dozen. I'm not about to screw with the recipe to make it 24.

I've been enjoying the "If You Care" unbleached muffin liners in the health market at HyVee. They act like parchment paper - have excellent release and stand-up. And they're a lovely brown-wrapper sort of color. I won't buy anything else now. I'm spoiled!

friends

Monkey, Mickey Mouse, and black puppy. All bundled up in their bed and being admired by Alex (he asked me to take a picture of them).

Hot Air Ballons

We went to the Kansas City Hot Air Balloon Invitational Saturday night... it was amazing. We were able to walk on the field up close to the balloons as they were filling and launching. We cheered and waved as they took off, and watched them disappear into the distance. Here are some pictures of our great evening with the family.  (click on the picture or text to see the online album)

Green eggs & ham

Stan's often joked with Alex, as we discuss plans for a meal, "do you want green eggs & ham?". Well, today, Alex took him up on it!

Alex ate 2 eggs and 2 slices of turkey bologna, and a bowl of green grapes (fitting, right).

Silly boy. Silly Daddy.
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Playing with Cousin Eli

Aunt Lindsay gave Alex a haircut and Alex played peek-a-boo with Cousin Eli... sweet boys!

Trip to Bass Pro Shop

Alex loves the big fish tank.

Big Boy!

My big boy is wearing underwear!! 

He even gets up from his nap to use the bathroom and goes back to nap!!

Last night, he didn't want to put on a pull-up for bed, but we made another deal with him. (Stan very wisely reminds me that Alex does well with goals, smart Daddy.)  So, we have 1 more week that he has to wear pull-ups to bed, but if he can keep dry for that time, he will be 100% potty trained! 

We are entering a new and wonderful phase of parenting - no more diapers!
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Last night, when we got home, Alex informed us that he had to poop and went into the bathroom.  As I'm preparing dinner, Stan & I are talking and Stan starts to try to negotiate which one of us will have to clean out the little froggy training potty. 
That's when I had the pleasure of informing him, just as Alex has told me, very authoritatively with a finger in the air and eyebrows raised for emphasis "we don't poop in froggy potty".  That's when Stan just about blew soda out his nose.  It was hilarious.
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Rock Pile

I love to play in the rock pile at Grammy and Grandpa's. (Mommy had forgotten how much fun rocks were for little boys, but I reminded her.)

Alex picked out his own clothes!

It only took 30 minutes and 4 different pairs of pants... but he picked out and dressed himself!

Stan

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Alex told Stan that he wanted to wear real underwear - "no more diapers".  Stan told him that if he keeps his pull-ups dry and clean today, tomorrow and Friday, we'll let him wear underwear Saturday.  Alex does really well with goals, and school's going to help remind him.  Hooray!!! 

 

He also selected, all by himself, a coin for show and tell (his favorite day).  They're talking about the letter "c". He was even able to tell Stan what kind of coin, a penny!

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Playing Legos with Daddy

Happy Easter!

Alex didn't want to leave church... he wanted to stay and help Daddy. Stan showed him which buttons to press and told him when. Alex did a great job. It's just so adorable seeing them "work" together.

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Alex and the chocolate ice cream cone...

No commentary required. :)

Portugal

I love text messaging... Most mornings I get a text from Stan with a little bit of info about his morning with Alex. Last week had two rather funny ones I thought I'd share:

Stan: Alex went Portugal on his own. So he is playing computer games. 
Tracy: ... portugal?
Stan: Potty
(Computer games, nickjr, has been a better reward for success than chocolate or anything else!!)

On making sure he was pinch-proof Wednesday:
Stan: He has on a shirt with a green trex now.
Me: huh... Green trex?
Stan: Long sleeve, olive green shirt. Bright green trex. 
Me: What is trex? Curse auto-text. 
Stan: T-Rex: prehistoric giant lizard.

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Chocolate Mustache

Tried out Wei's Chinese Super Buffet - Alex is a fan (so are we). They have chichen nuggets and ketchup dips... And chocolate cake! Mmm... Chocolate mustache.

Muffin boy

Alex got up this morning wanting a muffin and we are out at home.  So we went to hyvee and bought juice and muffins for breakfast.  

Definately not as good as the muffins mommy makes.  But it was a fun adventure.

Stan & Alex