Park Action

We have a su-weet park just behind our apartment. The other day the weather tricked us, and we thought it was warm enough to play outside. Kind of, it was. But mostly, we were cold. We still got in about 30 minutes of playing, which is not too shabby if you ask me.

Here we have Calvin striking the "Power Ranger" pose. He certainly looks tough, although I'm not sure if it's because he looks like he is doing a half-pirate, half-body builder pose or if he just exudes that frightening look that only a Power Ranger can give. Either way, it had me shaking in my booties.

This is one of all-time best "funny Mom" techniques. I feel inspired to let you in on it. When your kid is swinging and you are pushing them from the front, turn around and stick your rump way out. THEN (and this is the important part) when they are swinging back towards you, just before they hit you on the tushy with their cute little feet, jump up in the air, barely missing the hit, and fake yell, "Oooooowwwwwww!!!!!" It kills. It never fails to get yo mama a laugh. And I live for a laugh. Noah was kind enough to catch Wyatt and I mid fake-rump hit.

Have you ever seen anything sweeter? Noah was "getting Calvin warm" by wrapping him up in his coat. The boys don't like it when I try to get them warm because my arms aren't as long and snuggly as Noah's. Oh well, I'll always have the swing trick, I guess.

Wyatt thought he was big stuff climbing the ladder. It was all fun until just one more step up, and then he cried. I just left him there. In fact, he's still there. He'll figure out how to get down. KIDDING!! Come on! Of course I got him down. After 20 minutes. KIDDING AGAIN!!! I rescued him and weaseled a grateful, little kiss out him.

Cool silhouette shot of Calvin on the twisty slide. I know. I know. This will probably be in a National Geographic someday because it's such a good shot. I know.

The is a sure sign that you must go home -- - Blue Lips and A Lotta Snotta.

A Mess Worth Saluting

Wyatt bequeathed a strange and wonderful gift on us last night.

As I walked to the top of the stairs to watch Lost with Noah, I said to him, "What is that wonderful, fruity smell???"

To which Noah replied, "I don't know, but it does smell good."

Fast forward to 40 minutes later during a commercial break.

After realizing what the smell could be, I rushed upstairs in a frenzy but found myself pleasantly surprised.

I would like to take a moment to point out Wyatt's proficiency in mess making.

Not only was the smell of the shampoo so blissful to the sniffer (which made cleanup enjoyable), it was a very well-crafted mess (if you could even call it that).

To compound the greatness, was the ease and stealth in which he committed his act. We never heard a sound. So, we were able to relax and not have to holler, "Hey, get back in bed." No, he let us dawdle along in our contentedness. That's professionalism.

A large portion of the goo was directly in the toilet, with only a smidge of it actually on the seat. How thoughtful!! Let's be honest, if anywhere on your body needs a refreshing smell, the hiney-fanny just might be it. We did wipe this up though because you don't want any slide-age on the throne. Not good. (look closely for the thin pink layering)

The best part was that most of the stuff was IN THE BATHTUB!!!! What a gentleman! All I had to do was turn on the shower head to rinse away the mess.

There wasn't even a drop of it on the floor.

He was stealthy, thorough, and thoughtful.

And that is why I commend you and salute you as Most Respectable Mess Maker of January 19th.

Thank you, Wyatt. Thank you.

Like A Pro

Wyatt's number is up. It is time for him to start using the potty. I, personally, am looking forward to a double amount of misdirected urinary stream. I can't wait to walk in the bathroom every 2-3 days, and say to myself, "Yes, now it is time to hose down the toilet in bleach."

Ahhhh, the small joys of parenthood.

Anyway, check out that form!!!!!

Dude has his own technique - - - backwards with hands resolutely placed on his hips.

I was impressed. Aren't you?

I mean, really, how many of us can claim a signature potty pose???

Reporting On My To Do List

Things To Do Today:

1. Take the boys to a Valentine's Day party. Check.

2. Unintentionally do all of the work at the Valentine's Day Party (i.e. decorate their "mailboxes", fill out their valentines to the other kids, and deliver their valentine's in the other kids' "mailboxes"). Check. (that one was a toughie. I got a hand cramp and misspelled at least two names!)

3. Be selfish and make Wyatt take a nap instead of take him to the park so that I could have some "Mommy Time." Check.

4. Feed my kids oatmeal for two out of three meals. Check.

5. Daydream about a vacation in Europe. Check.

6. Stub my big toe falling up the stairs. Yes, I wrote up the stairs. Check.

7. Giggle when I find that Calvin and Wyatt have taken every blanket they can find in the house and put them all in a corner in their bedroom and invited me to take a nap on it with them. Check.

8. Wish that I were eating chips and salsa all day long. Check.

9. Challenge myself to run a little harder on the treadmill today. Check.

10. Check in on the boys, pull the covers up to their chins, brush their hair aside, and give them a kiss on the cheek while they are sleeping. To do, but to be done........right. . . . . about. . . .now.

Candid Kitchen Moments With Wyatt

Here he is with his favorite kitchen toy - - the tongs. Or as he would call them "cutters." His favorite thing to do with the cutters is run through the house and say, "I cut you." It's very ominous. Trust me. I live this life everyday, never knowing when I might get tonged, er, I mean cut.Here is dear Wyatt with the life-size Elmo. No, he isn't in the midst of the 'sweep the mouth' step of CPR. He is lovingly feeding Elmo a cracker, or as Wyatt says, a "crack-ay."

The Answers to Your Burning Questions Revealed.

Who Ate What at Edison Diner on Friday?

Nachos - Yo' mama (yes, for the second time that week). I love nachos. I credit nachos (super nachos, that is) for single-handily bequeathing me with my "Freshman Fifteen." Thank you nachos, thank you. I will forever be indebted to you for teaching me about portion control. Or a lack thereof. If you need some inspiration, here is a recipe for super nachos from the old blog.

Flounder Sandwich - Noah. and No, it wasn't that good. And yes, it tasted much like a fish-filet from Mickey D's.

Meatloaf Sandwich - Nathan. He also went with the brown, mushroom gravy for his sandwich, which earned him a great deal of respect from me. Gravy. Yum. Double Yummmmmm.

French Toast - Joelle. A delightful meal, but too light for Yo' Mama.

So, Susie, you won. You get an extra hour of free babysitting next time I have co-op. For real. It's yours.

F.U.N. With N.O.A.H

One of the best parts about Noah being a student still is the chance meetings we share at odd hours of the day. I have often thought how sad it will be when he is gone everyday from 8-5, and I don't have the luxury of catching the occasional "Boy Meets Grill" episode with him.

Yesterday we had the luxury of a rendezvous in the city sans kiddos. I met him up there during a big break in between classes.

IT. WAS. SO. C-C-C-C-O-L-D. So cold.

I even had to do that thing where I wrapped my scarf (thank you, Dad, for the scarf and hat without which I would have been frozen) around my face so that only my eyes were showing. You know that is cold.

We met at the Wicked theatre and tried our chances in the lottery for cheapie front row tickets.

No luck.

So we ran as fast as we could to the closest pizza place and ate calzones and drank soda.

I loved every single second. I felt like I was in a movie or something, sharing giggles with Noah and seeing all of those people bustling around us.

A lovely day.

A Nightmare

You know that you play and watch Thomas the Tank Engine too much . . . . .

when your husband hears you saying this in your sleep, "I can't leave Sodor." (for all of you lucky ones who don't know the mania of Thomas, you might want to note that he lives on Sodor, the imaginary train island.)

Or when you search for Thomas parodies on youtube.

Or when you have a competition with your husband to see who can write down the most trains in 5 minutes.

Or when you actually feel a little bit of sadness when you see that the paint on Spencer's tender has chipped.

Or when you start to call you kids by the wrong names. And not each others. You call them train names. By accident.

Or when you look forward to playing trains after they do their chores

Just in case you are suffering . . . .

don't suffer anymore. If you were like me and opened and closed every cabinet door in the kitchen about 10 times and still couldn't find anything to hit the spot, I think I might have something for you. I called my Mom and got the recipe for No Bake Cookies. This just so happens to be a recipe from one of the greatest bakers I know, Faye Gold. She taught my Mom all of her cookie secrets, and she in turn taught me. Sooooooooooooooooo...........

You may have this recipe. Don't rub it in if you do.

But if you don't, you do now.

I also have two of them in my tummy at this very moment.

enjoy!

No Bake Cookies (When Nothing Else Will Do)

1/4 C. butter
2 C. sugar
1/2 C. milk
3 TBS. cocoa
1/3 C. peanut butter

Bring these ingredients to a boil, and then cut the heat. Add 3 cups of quick oats and 1 tsp. of vanilla. Spoon out a dallop of these onto some tin foil. Then try not to burn your tongue as you impatiently attempt to eat them before they are set.