A Shocking Update*

– Something a little different here, everyone.

– Although I not sure what it could be.

– So maybe I just sit here a spell...

– ... until I figures out what it is.

*It turns out the slide on our new Nickel Fortress came with hidden feature in the form of a Van de Graff generator – at least if you happen to have inherited Mommy's fine hair.

Nate's hair is not affected, but he sure does love giving me a "shock-kiss!" when we're playing outside. In fact, he seemed a bit miffed this morning when he gave me a kiss and it turned out to be just the regular kind.

- L.

Pretend You Are Two

Because there isn't anything quite like the imaginative properties of a toddler.

Despite my role as a parent to teach my children about the world around them, I find myself getting schooled more often than not.

On the surface, this looks like my boys have managed to climb into an ordinary laundry basket:

Except it's actually a boat!

Of course, that was kind of an easy one.

Want to guess what we're doing here? 

We're making hats ("AAATS!") out of ordinary cloth wipes*, of course.

Is because we still doesn't have enough hats, everyone.

And having a blast doing it:

AAATS!

Of course, nothing trumped the after-dinner special where ordinary raisins became airplanes:

Truth be told, I am loving this new phase of make-believe as much as my sons are.

- L.

*The ordinary cloth wipes are less ordinary than they would appear, since they are well known around these parts as "tse-tse cloths" and are liberally referred to as such in the video I just posted on our YouTube™ channel featuring our cloth AAATS! and raisins that are up high in the sky.

PS. The Great Tse-Tse Capers posts are coming. The caper involving the cloths was but one of them and early on at that. Still, the cloths have been known henceforce (and likely forevermore) as "tse-tse cloths". I thought I'd mention that in case you are wondering what all the "tse-tse" business in the video is about.

Our Town

We stayed in our jammies long past breakfast this morning because we were on an important mission.

It required concentration:

Sometimes a lot of concentration: 

But we did it! We used up almost every piece of our "legos" (and some non-Lego bits* too) building a very busy little town:

And that grin that's full of mischief here?

It was just a hint of things to come regarding the rest of our day. It was actually kind of nice to download these pics from my camera tonight and remember that we had some sane times at some point today. 

*About those dice: don't let those (sometimes) innocent faces fool you. My boys will totally shark you at craps. They are rather good with their num-bahs after all.

- L.

PS. Speaking of craps (and other high-stakes gambles when it comes to toddlers), we're now 3 for 3 on the after bedtime poops. I have no idea what's going on there, but it's not helping the late-night party situation any since getting everyone out of bed to change a diaper seems to give my guys a second wind. The lights finally went out a little before 11 tonight if that's any indication.

Mischief indeed!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

... or at least it was. Looks like I'll be re-decorating the tree tomorrow, but it was worth it.

When the tree still had ornaments on it:

Of course, that didn't last long:

Never underestimate "the long arm of the Seth".

 The floor ended up nicely decorated at least:

Dude, I is *so* going to tell Mommy you did it. 

Tallying up the wares:

Lots and lots of wares:

Final check in case we missed anything: 

Taking a well-earned break:

Out-of-focus and everyone is a blur on top of that. Still, I kind of like this photo. It sums up the general level of chaos rather nicely:

– L.

Summer of Love: The Combat Baby Edition

"[It was...] kind of like a carnival. There was always something going on."

– Gamma Rita, when asked upon returning home about her visit here last summer.* 

• • • • • • •

A small preface: my boys broke their dresser tonight beyond a simple repair. As much as this will probably be a story in it's own right at some point, tonight I'm pretty unhappy about the whole thing and not in a mood to blog about it.

Instead I bring you pics and a video from destructive times past (AKA "The Summer of Love"), which I'll admit I found funny even then.

Pretty much my exact reaction when I saw the busted dresser tonight.

* Gamma Rita speaks the truth, although I must say unexpected trips down memory lane (carnival notwithstanding) are sometimes unexpectedly nice, especially on a lousy night.

- L.

PS. If destruction is your thing, our latest video is here. Our theme song (and by that I mean the one I hear in my head at times like this) is found separately here (apologies if there's an annoying ad first since I got one randomly – but if so, you can elect to skip it rather quickly).

Nicely Done, Grasshopper.

Legos*. They are popular at the OP, which is awesome because I never really got over my own childhood love affair with them and I will happily play with Legos anytime the boys are up for it.

Like today.

I was doing my usual thing with Legos this afternoon – building a perfectly sensible (albeit dull in retrospect) dwelling for Lego cat to hang out in. It was going pretty well I thought. I was already hard at work on the second story when I was politely interrupted.

And then schooled in a serious way.

Everything (and I mean everything) that is awesome about this structure is courtesy of Seth:  

Behold!

I don't know about you, but if I was moving in I'd definitely be eyeballing those spaces on the upper levels (in-home cash register, anyone?). Admittedly, my favorite part is the roof-top green space. Eco-buildings and sustainability are not merely architectural buzzwords, they are good design everyone!

The architect at work putting on the finishing touches: 

I already composing white paper 'bout my process, everyone!

And enjoying a well-earned snack break: 

Is important to refuel from time to time.
Snacks also very important sustainability item too!

• • • • • • •

*While I recognize the plural of Lego is still Lego, we frequently throw caution to the wind over trivial linguistic conventionalities at the OP. Plus it's more fun to say "Legos".

- L.

PS. Er... about those flashcards lurking not so inconspicuously in the background... 

I wrote a post awhile back where I laid claim to the following:

"I'm not the mom with the flash-cards".

And I'm really not, except that I am. We have flash-cards. The flash-cards were a gift, but I don't mean that as an excuse.

I mean they really were a gift. As in a good one.

And when I made my bold claim what I really meant was: I'm not the mom drilling my kids with flash-cards.

My boys have tons of fun with their flash-cards – often in the form of scattering them about because we also pride ourselves on "messy" around these parts – but mostly looking at the pictures and "reading" their abba-bets (which are officially "abbets" now, but that is another post). I always know when someone has found the "E" card, because it is always and without exception followed with elephant noises. 

PPS. I do wish my guys had been a little less reserved in their big "elephant noises" debut last week. I'm guessing they were camera shy. Trust me when I say they can make elephant noises with the best of them.

Meet Gord.

Gord of course, is a gourd. 

Now meet Gord's friends:

Pun'kin, Pun'kin and, er... Pun'kin. Also sometimes known as "White!", "Orange!" and, er... "Orange!". If nothing else, we pride ourselves on our originality at the OP, everyone!

The Pun'kin trio* and Gord made their first appearance at our Hallowe'en photo shoot and while Gord was not an immediate favorite, he quickly grew into one in the days that followed.

Gord and his friends were nursery staples and regular tagalongs for the past couple of weeks while I silently prayed the novelty would wear off long before things started to get overly ripe.

Prayers were answered and Gord and the Pun'kin trio were composted without incident this morning while no one was looking.

Oh Gord, we will miss thee. Thank you for the many fond memories but mostly for not overstaying your welcome.

Know that you are forever in our hearts and will be remembered for generations to come thanks to our new YouTube™ video, complete with an introduction by Seth at the 2:40 mark.

*If you're the sort with a keen eye, you will have noticed that the Pun'kin Trio was originally a Quartet. Pun'kin #4 left the group during that fateful outing due to creative differences (which is another way of saying we somehow lost a pumpkin at the playground).

- L.

PS. I left our latest video unedited. It's basically 6 minutes of the boys putting together their new upper and lower case alphabet puzzle, complete with requisite chatter. I left it unedited mostly for me because I can, but I really do recommend checking out Gord's big intro. Both the pumpkins and Gord were added by Nate and Seth before they got down to business. They were pretty dedicated to their new friends at the time.

Where The Ability To Share Responsibly Is Directly Proportional To The Covet Factor*

I was trying to take a few pictures of the boys a couple of nights ago. Or whenever the last time we had good enough weather for them to be wearing their new summer-time one-piece outfits. I find I sometimes lose track of entire days around here by the way. Chasing toddlers all day tends to have that effect I suppose.

But I digress...

Aside from the cute summer togs, somehow the rinsing cup for the bath ended up in the nursery and Nate and the cup were soon inseparable:

Which made taking a picture of him a little difficult since he clearly preferred the cup-over-the-face look:

Of course, when you have something so new and easily coveted, it's only a matter of time before your brother notices and absconds with said item:

Shown: Seth reaching into Seth's Library™** with his right hand.
Not shown: The coveted cup in his left hand.

Also shown: The offended party being most offended indeed.

You know, I don't normally take the time to snap pics of my babies crying since I have a tendency to put the camera down when someone is unhappy so I can offer comfort and restore order. But I've had a few people ask if my babies ever cry because no one ever sees them crying. So to all those who were in doubt, this pic is for you.

After order was at last restored in the nursery, Seth put on his best innocent face for this pic: 

I is innocent everyone! 'Dis face look innocent, right?
Or does I need to practice more?

And you know, if I hadn't been on the scene to see what went down, I'd find this look pretty convincing. I have a feeling I'm going to be quite sunk if/when any real trouble goes on around here.

- L.

* Nate and Seth are surprisingly good at sharing given that they are not even 16 months old. But at any given time, there is always one item that is coveted above all others and squabbles ensue. I'm not clear on how items become THE item, since it's seldom something brand new that piques their interest (although in this case it was). Often the coveted item du jour is a toy or book that has been around for awhile. I'm starting to suspect that all the Dibba-Day speak of late is when their strategies for the week get mapped out, including this one.

** I will post about this one of these days. It's totally a nursery landmark and deserves much more than a passing mention here and there.

It's An OP Miracle!

Sunday I was able to borrow a memory card reader and faster than you can say, "All that trouble over one corrupted file?", I had downloaded the previously inaccessible Twinpalooza Playdate pics – minus the one corrupted file of course that was holding up the works.

It couldn't have happened at a better time either since we've come down with the plague and the photo ops around here have been a bit skint of late.

Looking at the pics I took, four things struck me:

1.) This is one cute bunch of babies.
2.) Despite everyone having a great time that day, everyone under the age of 1 is looking so serious. All that playing is hard work everyone!
3.) My guys really did spend an inordinate amount of time hovering over those activity tables. Probably trying to figure out the fastest way to this maneuver.

4.) The Touching Finger is everywhere. Really. It makes an appearance in more of these shots than Nate himself. See if you can spot them all!

And now – the playdate revisited...

– I has a plan everyone. I is going to stands here and look very serious and touch stuff until 'dis table is mine.

– I be with you in a minute bro'. I is a little tied up right now. Seriously. 'Dis toy has different flavors than at-home toys and I think I likes it. Nom, nom, nom. 

– Oh hi. I is making guest appearance and batting my big brown eyes about while having no idea how gorgeous I is AT ALL and I still manage to give off effortless, yet serious vibe even though there is some kid's hand in background touching stuff. 

– Oh hi also. I is passing though just to let everyone know 'dis actually my table. But I does it casual like and manage to strike serious handsome pose at the same time. I also sneak hugs from lady with camera. She not mommy, but she cuddle pretty good as it turns out. In 'dis kind of pandemonium sometimes you got to take what you can get.

– OK. I is here now everyone, checking out the action at last. Also checking out the hand creeping in from corner over there.

– How you figure we talk mommy into 'dis sweet set-up, Nate?
– Oh, I is not figuring anymore. I lose the plot awhile ago and is just busy touching stuff now. New things be my undoing everytime. Is personal kryptonite but in a good way. *touch* *touch* *touch*

– Listen, you seem like nice man and all but you is gonna have to find your own activity table mister. Maybe try next one over cause 'dis is one is occupied. I is serious! (Unless you can smuggle 'dis out in your sweater and deliver it to my home address. Then we is good).

– Oh hi. I learn new trick from some kid earlier, but I make some adjustments and now it even better. Goodbye, touching finger. Hello, touching hand – BAM! Serious move everyone!

– You is not activity table, but I make do and touch you anyway. *touch* *touch* *touch*
– Er... mommy? We needs to talk later 'bout some of these guests. 'Dis one putting his finger on why right now.

– Well, that was fun but I is distracted now by new distraction.
– Dude, who invited that kid?
– Dunno, but his mommy gives pretty good hugs. Not good good like our mommy, but they is alright in a pinch. Maybe next time we just invite the mommies. *wink*
– I is staying out of 'dis one everyone. I just sit here and enjoy the not-at-home flavors. They is different, but strangely yummy. Nom, nom, nom.

– Well, hello there new distraction. What is you with four legs and fur anyway? Is you a funny looking kitty cat? Hmmm... maybe we has funny looking kitty cat and you is regular looking kitty cat. Does not matter right now. What matter is 'dis invisible force field getting in my way. My defenses is weak strange kitty. Must. Touch. Everything. 'Dis include you.

– Wait! Where you going? Come back strange kitty! Come baaaaaack!!!
– Don't worry kid. I is also vexed by 'dis invisible force field. Like, ALL the time. My mommy activate it quicker than quick and I is pretty fast. Is MY kryptonite, but not in a good way.
– *sigh*
– *sigh*

- L.