New Puzzle Smell

Me: What are you doing Seth? 

Seth: Smelling my puzzle. I like it. 

Me: Does the puzzle... smell like something? 

Seth: YES! It smells like puzzles! 

– Mmmm...

- L.

"Mommy Fix 'Dat!"

For at least the past month, whatever you call the strip of metal that sometimes separates two rooms where the floor surfaces are different had started to become increasingly loose in the boys' room. One by one as the screws kept falling out (always accompanied by one of my boys saying "Uh-oh, Mommy! Loose screw!" and then handing me said screw), we ended up with only 3 screws out of 6 still holding that piece of metal down.

In other screw-related mysteries (and around the same time), the screws that held one of the drawer inserts in place on the bookshelves in the boys' room had also found their way out. Upon closer inspection one of the screws was never connected to anything to begin with which might have accelerated things a little, but with both missing it had become a hazard since the boys could easily slip the whole insert out and use it to stand on to get at other things. Also, it's not exactly the safest thing to be standing on in the first place.

And since my boys DO like to challenge a secure room they also managed to loosen the joints on one side of their wardrobe drawer, so with just a bit of a tug it was pulling the whole thing apart.

Last week I decided it was time to take a page from the toddler handbook in the form of "I do it self!".

I fixed the loose metal strip, the drawer insert and the falling-apart drawer. It took me less than 30 minutes using a screwdriver, some wood glue (for the drawer joints) and a whole lot of elbow grease. I felt so good once it was done and even better to realize that I really did "do it self".

And my boys were at least a little impressed too as it turned out, even though I thought they'd lost interest 10 minutes into the venture. Of course, I didn't realize that until halfway through making their lunch and heard them saying "Screwdriver! Screwdriver!" from the next room. I went to investigate and found they had built this:

It's a Duplo screwdriver, and I think a Flathead judging from the well placed breadstick on top.

And since it's not obvious from just one pic, here's another: 

Because yes, it swivels.

As I'm sure you can imagine, it became THE coveted item of the day as my boys took turns using it on all the new screws while saying "Mommy fix 'dat!".

Which of course made me feel like a bit of a super-hero... at least for one day.

- L. 

PS. Nate said the "M" on the screwdriver was for "Nate's motorcycle", Seth said it was for "Mommy". Cue a thoughtful pause followed by "... and is for Mommy too!" from Nate. Toddlers are beyond awesome with their thinking and logic and even though this stage can be infuriating at times, it's also hands-down the most hilarious.

PS. My boys also put together a reasonable facsimile of a toothbrush the same day, which I'm taking as a positive sign that the toothbrushing wars are nearing an end:

... although most likely it's Raffi related – but that's a post for another day.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star...

Ever wondered what you are?

If so, my boys will tell you. It started over breakfast Wednesday morning when Seth declared "Mommy is a raisin toast!" and Nate said "Daddy is a raspberry!" and things kind of snowballed after that. Eventually I grabbed a pen and started writing things down when it was clear they were just going to keep going. At the time I was pretty impressed with the things they came up with to ascribe to the people we know. I was planning to blog about it that night – especially since my computer was ailing and a text post was about (maybe) all she could have handled – and because I wanted to make sure I'd have that list handy when evening fell I made sure to put it in a very safe place.

And then I forgot where I put it (which is the nature of putting things in safe places after all). Fortunately I happened to stumble across it while looking for something completely unrelated today.

All's well that ends well.

For my own personal amusement today I asked them if they remembered what everyone was and to my great surprise they actually did. They even embellished on a few of them and only wavered on one.

Without further ado, here is what you all are according to Nate and Seth:

• Mommy is a raisin toast.
• Daddy is a raspberry.
• Grandma Leslie is a cantaloupe.
• Gamma Rita is a banana.
• Uncle Brent is a vaseline.
• Auntie Karen is a diaper.
• Maxine is an orange.
• Simone was a cucumber salad but is now an "itchy nose" (this is the one they wavered on).
• Grandpa David is a cheese-ball.

• Nanny Devon is a delightful football.
• Nanny Kaytee is a story.

• *landlord's name* is a machine (Nate and Seth have been under the impression that our landlord is a machine for a long time now so this one didn't surprise me really, but it does make me laugh).
• Peter (his son) is a cloud. 

• Padrin is peas. 

• Robyn is a bird. "A bird with a red breast! A very red breast!"
• Troy is a beard.
• Janice is a ham and a strawberry jam.
• Neil is "all done!".

And last, but by no means least since it's one of my favorites:

• Malcolm is "a you're welcome"... "and a thank you too!"

- L.

PS. I personally felt better about being a "raisin toast" after Seth self-identified as a "raisin toast" also. Good company and all. Nate is a Magna-Tile™, which is also a fine thing to be.

• • • • • • •

It's my sincerest hope that no one is offended by their assigned titles. For the record, Grandpa David is not a cheese ball (at least not to the best of my knowledge) but he did make the boys some cheese balls once and they were a hit. Similarly, I'm sure there are perfectly reasonable explanations behind most of these. Nanny Devon is "delightful" because she taught them that word (the football part is a bit of a mystery though). I have no idea why Maxine is an orange or Gamma Rita is a banana or why poor Neil is "all done!".

If you didn't happen to be on this super-fantastic list, but would like to know what you are (according to two toddlers with a fine sense of humor) leave your name in the comments – I'll be happy to ask them and get back to you.

Good Times!

There's likely a much longer post coming regarding my boys and their skills at spelling and "big numbers!" at some point. In the meantime, all you really need to know to appreciate this dialog is that Seth is keen on spelling words right now far more than his brother is. 

• • • • • • •

Me: How do you spell "Seth"?

S: S!... E!... T!... H!

Me: Wow – that's great! You know how to spell your name! Nate, do you know how to spell your name? How do you spell "Nate"?

N: *thoughtful pause*... Good times!

• • • • • • • 

I laugh every time he says that, at least partly because it actually makes sense – "Good times!" would be a perfectly acceptable way to spell Nate if you know him even a little bit. 

- L. 

PS. Nate pretty much thinks every word spells "Nate" which will also make sense to you if you know him even a little bit.

Uh-Oh Mommy!

The day after this post, I once again felt the buttery soft hand of Seth tentatively pawing at my scaly elbow – and since I was in the middle of changing Nate's diaper at the time he more or less had free reign to do so.

I was fully expecting another "chewnits" comment, but instead got the following stated in a very concerned voice:

"Uh-oh Mommy.... is very dry!"

So thanks to my son, the budding dermatologist/concerned citizen we stopped in at the pharmacy to pick this up today: 

It promises "intense relief" and suggests it will "repair/restore" things in smaller print. Also it was on sale and came in a huge tub format which means it must be good, right? Let's hope it works. I'm not sure I can manage an entire summer feeling this self-conscious about my elbows and/or wearing long sleeved shirts to hide them from Seth's inquisitive/judging hands if it doesn't.

- L.

Make-Up

Although I'm mostly pointing the finger at everyone who voted in the infamous "Stalemate" poll and declared it a good thing, you all aren't entirely to blame.

95% to blame, yes – because as we all know the boys not only read this blog, but post polls in their spare time (polls that are easily swayed by readers who appreciate hijinks, I might add).

*ahem*

The other 5% I'll take credit for, as follows:

• My boys are aware that Mommy wears "make-up". 
• They are also aware that Mommy sometimes makes "hair-do". 
• They aren't especially aware of the difference between the two, but I'll admit I do encourage moments like these by taking pictures because it's too funny not to share. 

And now my boys putting on their "make-up" over dinner the other night...

While it's evident they were actually making "hair-do", they kept saying "Make-up! Make-up!" while giggling up a storm and any attempts to correct them were summarily ignored. Seth is looking rather proud of himself here, but he always was one for a bit of flair when it comes to "foodstuffs in the hair":

No, that's not a barrette by the way – it's a carrot.

Nate also had a fine time applying his "make-up!":

And since he has a lot more hair than his brother at this point, I nearly missed one of the tomatoes he had stuck in there:

Seth's hair was also pretty much a disaster zone by the time all was said and done:

I picked out what I could and did my best to wipe off the rest (the rest mainly being salad dressing) since it had been a long and weary day and I just didn't have the energy to throw them in the bath like I should have.*

I told them they both smelled like salad bar as I tucked them in to bed that night, which strangely enough pleased them to no end.**

And just in case you were wondering if a meal at the OP is ever complete without some of whatever this is:

... the answer is still a resounding "no".

We still love this game very, very much as it turns out. And yes, that would be Nate once again attempting the under-the-shirt feeding manoeuvre.

Equally popular? A good old-fashioned "Fore-stains!" of course:

"FORE-STAINS!"

I really wish those sippies hadn't been in the way while my boys were busy hamming it up, but I think you get the idea.

- L.

*No worries – a very thorough scrubbing ensued the next morning. 

**I figure if Seth can comment on my scabby elbows with such candor, the least I can do is return the favor occasionally.

Gamma Rita Bring Them!

Last summer when Gamma Rita came to visit she introduced my boys to all manner of seasonal fruit. At the time Nate was less than impressed with most of what was on offer, but the one thing both my boys agreed on were the cherries.

It seemed like every major grocery store had cherries in stock last weekend, and since they were also on sale I picked up a bag. When I pulled them out of the fridge the next morning for breakfast my boys were so excited – but it wasn't just about the cherries as it turned out.

"Gamma Rita bring them!" they said over and over again, and since they weren't yet seated at the table they proceeded to look around for Gamma Rita. They really thought she must be here since who else would buy them cherries I suppose. Before they got too carried away I let them know that while Gamma Rita isn't here yet she told Mommy to get them some cherries, and fortunately they both seemed content with that for the time being.

I have to say I was fairly amazed at the instant association they had over something they haven't seen in at least 10 months. I have no idea how they remembered cherries when the last time my boys ate some they were barely a year and a half old.

Those must have been some cherries alright!*

- L.

*More like some Gamma alright, who worried for naught that my boys would have long forgotten her when she visited last December. I think it's safe to say if they remember the fruit they ate last summer, they aren't likely to forget their Gamma any time soon.

PS. I've asked Nate and Seth a few times here and there if they remember the long-distance hugs we made for Gamma Rita and they never fail to correct me:

"We send high-fives!"

Hope you're still enjoying your high-fives, Gamma Rita!

Tastes Like Chicken

Last Hallowe'en Grandma Leslie bought the boys a themed picture book in a attempt to thwart the previous year's mishaps. Unfortunately it didn't make much difference at the time, but my boys have since grown to have a fine appreciation for all things Hallowe'en and are now well acquainted with jack-o-lanterns and bats and a proper spider's web.

There is however one page they still struggle with – namely, this one:

I've called it a toad. I've even tried calling it a frog. My boys on the other hand (and without fail) call it chicken, and so far there's been no talking them out of it. 

And just in case you're not two years old and aren't quite getting the connection looking at what we ate for supper tonight, here's what they are probably seeing every time I get rotisserie take-out from up the street:

It's delicious, but I have to admit... it's getting harder and harder to eat it.

– L.

PS. I think I preferred things overall when we ate dog meat.

Is Like Chewnits!

"Is like chewnits!" were the actual words spoken by Seth earlier today after reaching out his hand to feel my elbow.

And even though I should probably be horrified, I promise I haven't laughed as hard as I did after hearing that in at least 6 months*.

- L.

*It's funny because it's completely true. "Personal care" is not a phrase I have much time to live by since I became a mom, and my elbows are a little scabby feeling as it turns out.

Toddlers: speaking the truth since they first roamed the earth.

PS. In case you are unfamiliar with "chewnits", I think my sweet son meant this.

Like A Diaper In The Sky

Despite a fairly strict "No singing!" policy at the OP, there are a few songs I can occasionally get away with. Specifically, the traditional ABC/Alphabet song, "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I'm sure it's no coincidence that they're all sung to the same tune – and maybe I even do an especially OK job with it. Who knows?

What I do know is that it's nice to occasionally get away with singing something from start to finish before the "No singing!" ban-hammer comes down. It's not easy feeling like a perpetual contestant on The Gong Show – especially when the results are rarely in my favor if you catch my drift.

For what it's worth, I often sang the complete medley to my boys when they were babies and I thought my singing was something comforting – you know, before they were able to articulate their feelings about singing in general and perhaps Mommy's singing in particular. I'd like to think that maybe the reason I can slip one by them when it comes to singing any variation of these songs now is because they did find some comfort in it. At the very least, it's familiar territory (for them) and also I can get away with it (mostly).

Sometimes you just have to go with whatever works.

My boys do not sing*, but they are excellent at reciting. They've known all the words to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" for a long time now. They are also well acquainted with shapes, including complex ones like hexagon, pentagon and octagon, so trust me when I say that "diamond" is fairly basic stuff at this point and not something they'd confuse with say... a diaper.

Either way the following would still be hilarious:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diaper in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are! 

However, if you're really trying to excel at comedy it's considered good form to chuck a clean diaper up in the air while singing reciting it. Best served on repeat mode in case you were wondering.

I realize I only added a "The Things They Say" label less than 48 hours ago, but I have a feeling it's about to get very popular.

- L.

*Mostly they do not sing due to their strict policies about the aforementioned, but Nate at least has maybe (maybe?) made a foray or two into something beyond reciting words. The jury is still out however.

PS. I may have unintentionally ruined "Baa Baa Black Sheep" forever by making my own attempt to improve the lyrics – and by "improve" I mean I've long since replaced "the little boy who lives down the lane" with "the little boy whose name just might be Seth... or Nate!". Cue either of my boys reciting the same with a whole new slew of add-ons:

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy whose name just might be Seth... or Nate!

Or Mommy! Or Daddy! Or Grandma! Or Uncle Brent! Or Auntie Karen!

Or bananas! Or blue! Or fire engine! Or twenty-six! Or "all creatures great and small"!** Or...

Well, I'm sure you get the idea.

**And yes, they really did say all of those things and at least two dozen more before they ran out of steam.

"Fix The Nate!"

"Fix the Nate!" ended up taking the #1 spot on my list of favorites when it comes to the things my boys currently say. And by "ended up" I mean it was pretty much a landslide victory. There is absolutely no way that expression is going to disappear any time soon and truth be told, probably never. 

"Fix the Nate!" was borne one night not long after the cribs were transitioned into toddler beds and within a night or two after my boys decided sharing a bed was the way to go. It started with a bit of a skirmish over whose side of the bed was what now and ended up with a pile of toddlers in a mashed-up state on the same side of the bed.

At which point, Seth requested with a note of escalating alarm that I "Fix the Nate!".

And so I did. I "fixed the Nate" who at the time was more or less trying to sit on his brother's head – hence the alarm – and in hindsight was on the wrong side of the bed anyway*.

It all could have ended there that night and maybe wound up as a one-off post about something funny that was said once upon a time, except that the requests to "Fix the Nate!" keep rolling in – many of which were (and still are) from Nate himself.

Remember this photo? 

I originally captioned it "Mommy fix it!" which was legit since that was in fact something Nate actually said at the time. Not captioned (but equally legit) was Seth's missive to "Fix the Nate!" and Nate's own plea that followed "Mommy fix it!", which echoed his brother's sentiments:

"Fix the Nate!" 

- L.

• • • • • • • 

PS. "Fix the Seth!" has been known to show up here and there but it never seems to have the same enthusiasm behind it, nor has Seth ever put in a request for his own "fixing", in case you were wondering.

PPS. Also in case you were wondering, "Fix the Nate!" – at least for Nate – does sometimes mean Nate would like things fixed *for* "the Nate". You know, in case you were feeling badly that Nate is in perpetual need of "fixing". To the contrary, his own indications for "fixing" so far appear to be entirely self-serving.

• • • • • • • 

*It would appear that there is a right and wrong side of the bed when it comes to my boys since they started bedsharing. The only positions they will go to sleep in are left: Seth and right: Nate. This threw me for a loop the one night someone got sick in the preferred bed and I had to relocate everyone to the less preferred bed. I tucked Nate in against the back crib rail since I thought that was how things worked, but I was quickly corrected. Nate is only comfortable sleeping on the right side of Seth, while Seth is only comfortable sleeping on the left side of Nate.

And maybe it's all a crazy coincidence but that was also how they slept, navigated and played in the womb – heads together, Nate on the right and Seth on the left – and I'd almost buy the 50% odds of it being completely random if not for the fact that they're so incredibly insistent on it. 

The Things They Say: Top 5 Best & Worst

I recently added a new label called "the things they say", since none of the made-up conversations I've come up with over the past two years can even begin to hold a candle to the things my boys actually say these days. 

A couple of weeks ago I started a top 5 list of some of my favorites, as well as a top 5 list of some of my not-so-favorites. For some reason, the "Top 5 Worst" list came together more quickly than the "Top 5 Best", although I can say without a doubt that the #1 best saying of all time was the impetus for the list in the first place.

"Aloo shoes" and "I-dee-dee" are the relics of days gone by now. Ditto for "Leggy-bugs", "Chup-up", and "Pah-guts"*. The endless clamoring for "Reetins! Reetins! Reetins!" until we all thought we would lose our minds has long since been replaced by a simple request for raisins. Hum is now home.

And so it is now – for every ounce of posterity that's in it – I present my top picks for Best & Worst sayings that are currently in use:

The Worst:

By "worst", I mean the ones that drive me up a wall mainly due to the frequency with which they are used. Repetition might be a toddler's best friend, but I can tell you it's often a crazy-maker for Mommy. 

#5. "No singing!" 

– "No singing!" first appeared on the scene last winter anytime I would, you know, sing. It gave me a bit of a complex to be honest. I mean, while I wouldn't win any contests, I don't think my singing is that bad. I can carry a tune (at least most of the time), but I'll admit I felt heaps better when my boys started declaring "no singing!" around others as well.

Of course, at some point I recalled all the times I would sing them to sleep as babies when they were too young to object. Now I wonder if they only pretended to be asleep so I'd quit it with the singing already.

#4. "Piece of fuzz!" 

– "Piece of fuzz!" applies to actual pieces of fuzz, but also includes random things like clothing tags, loose threads and finely chopped food items/spices. Much like the dirt on the cheese crackers, my boys are semi-convinced I occasionally put fuzz in their food. Oy.

Originally, pieces of fuzz were met with a reaction similar to how one might react at the discovery of a spider on oneself – or at least how I would react to that particular discovery (read: general hysteria). Now they are simply pointed at while the discover-ee says "Piece of fuzz! Piece of fuzz! Piece of fuzz, Mommy!" on a loop until the offending fuzz has been removed.

#3. "Uh-oh! Va-va go!"

– Although my boys are well capable of saying "water" and will refer to bath water as "water" for example, water in their sippy cups has always been known as "va-va". And when said water in sippies is accidentally dropped (or more likely deliberately flung) the logical thing to say of course is, "Uh-oh! Va-va go!".

Unfortunately, things that "go" doesn't end at va-va – it's just the most popular and the original source of the "things that go" trend. Seth especially gets pretty worked up over things that "go". You can (sort of) see him in action here, but the hour was late and instead of doing his usual running litany he kept it simple for once with "Uh-oh! Stuff go!".

#2. "Kiss a bonk!" & "Itchy nose!"

"Kiss a bonk!" predates "Itchy nose!", but they are used to the same end – and although they can (and have been) used separately, these days you are more likely to hear them in succession, a la "Itchy nose and bonk!".

Very rarely do either have anything to do with an actual bonk or an itchy nose ("itchy" is how my boys refer to a runny nose in case you were wondering what that's about). On the contrary, "itchy nose and bonk" comes into play mostly in the following scenarios:

Brother steals your toy? Itchy nose and bonk!
Mommy says no more cookies? Itchy nose and bonk!
Time for bed? Itchy nose and bonk!

I'm sure you get the idea, and really it's sort of cute/funny the first 50 odd times you hear it in a day and grab a real tissue to wipe at an imaginary itchy nose while bestowing a kiss on an equally fake "bonk". After that though? Maybe not so much.

"Kiss a bonk" is pretty established at this point and typically a kiss on the top of the head gets the job done. That said, it's not completely out of the ordinary for those bonks to appear elsewhere. Some of my favorites have included, "Kiss the shirt!", "Kiss the sock!" and most famously, "Kiss the behind!".

#1. "I think so!"

Such an innocent sounding phrase, but it's place at the top of my least favorite sayings list is well-earned.

Every day without fail my boys pick a word du jour that is used to mean "general pandemonium time now!". Today's word was "washing machine" as an example – and it was trotted out liberally for such fun times as toy throwing, food flinging and making a rather spirited mess with sippy cups. Of course, all of the scenarios included the requisite shouting of "washing machine" – or worse, "MORE washing machine!" – followed by fits of giggles at Mommy losing her marbles and being forced to say ridiculous things like, "No more washing machine! I mean it!".

Tomorrow they will move on to a new word, and trust me when I say it won't matter in the least what that word is because by the end of the day I can guarantee it will be the most irksome word I've ever heard.

Except for "I think so!".

"I think so!" gets top billing since it was the first phrase my boys used to let me know it was, in fact, "general pandemonium time now" and they terrorized me with that particular saying for a solid week. In fact, "No more I think so's!" is still something the boys say – pretty much around about the time it's clear Mommy is about to lose it completely.

Want to see me twitch? Drop an "I think so!" into casual conversation. Fun!

• • • • • • • 

The Best: 

#5: "Oh my goodness boodness!" 

This is mostly a Nate-ism, but I've heard Seth use it too. It's used appropriately to express surprise. I have no idea what the boodness is about, but you can't have an "Oh my goodness!" without the "boodness" around here. Super-adorable, whatever it means.

#4. "It's a mystery!"

This one is mostly a Seth-ism, but Nate is certainly no stranger to the magical powers of "it's a mystery!".

"It's a mystery!" more or less translates to "I don't know" and often comes into play following an "Uh-oh! *Something* go!" incident when I'm not able to locate whatever it is that "went". Often my boys will steer me in the right direction when it comes to missing toys for example – and usually they aren't so much missing as hidden in some semi-unreachable place. Other times? Well, "it's a mystery!".

"It's a mystery" is always preceded by a thoughtful pause – the cuteness of which has a lot to do with it's magical properties. Keep in mind it diffuses even the worst of the "Uh-oh! *Something* go!" shenanigans in an instant. It also comes in handy in the following scenario:

Me: "Hey! How did water get all over the floor?"
N/S: *pause*... "It's a mystery!"

Clearly there isn't too much that's mysterious about that situation other than maybe which one of my boys was the perp, but I find myself cleaning up messes without question and having a bit of a giggle when they play the "mystery" card. See? Magical properties!

#3. "That's a machine, alright!" 

I covered this one over here. It's still very much a popular phrase and it still hasn't stopped making me laugh.

#2. "Nate and Seth are best friends!"

I'm sure I don't need to write a single word to tell you why this is on my list of favorites, other than to say my boys really are best friends and I love so much that they are. 

They are each Felix to the other's Oscar. 

• • • • • • • 

You're probably wondering how "Nate and Seth are best friends!" only made the #2 spot. I wrestled with it a little myself, but here's the thing: while Nate and Seth are best friends and I hope they always will be, there's probably a limited shelf life on them actually expressing that in so many words. At some point it will simply become an understood thing.

And much like the "Reetins!" of yore, all of these expressions that either make me laugh or want to tear my hair out will go by the wayside also. "It's a mystery" is probably not going to seem as cute when the boys are teenagers and I'm pretty sure they won't be asking me to wipe their noses or "kiss a bonk" anymore by that point either.

I can however, guarantee that the #1 spot on my favorites list will still be haunting at least one of my boys through his college years and beyond.

It's that good.

And since it's that good, I've decided it deserves a post all it's own.

Until next time then.

- L.

*Aloo shoes = blue shoes. I-dee-dee = ice cream. Leggy-bugs = ladybugs. Chup-up = Ketchup. Pah-guts** = Patty-cakes.

**I originally thought "Pah-guts!" was twin-speak for something to do with bedtime/saying goodnight, to the point I started saying "Goodnight... and pah-guts!" because it seemed suitable. It wasn't until we were reading Mother Goose one day and Nate pointed at the "Patty Cake" page and exclaimed "Pah-guts!" that the "mystery" was solved. That incident certainly gave me pause when it came to being definitive about declaring "Anasahnize!" and "Fore-stains!" as real examples of OP cryptophasia, but rest assured, the fore-stains et al are legit.

• • • • • • •

PS. Last October between the big Hallowe'en photo-shoot (courtesy of my dear friend Padrin) and the bath-time splish-splash pics, "Uncle P" took some random candid shots of me and my sweet boys just hanging out. They certainly weren't intended to be masterpieces, but they are without a doubt some of my favorite photos of my sons and I together. I've been hoarding them, but this seemed like an appropriate post to finally share since they are also very much some of my favorite things.

Working on my drum technique.

Excelling at my tickle technique.

When The Moon Hits Your Eye Like Your First BBQ...

...that's amore!

We brought our new toddler-friendly table and chairs out to the deck for the occasion. On the menu: BBQ chicken, caesar salad and garlic bread, followed by apple crisp and ice cream for dessert. Discerning toddler critic rating: 5 star dining establishment. 

– Oh hi everyone. Is me, Seth. We sitting outside to eat for first time at new chairs and table. 

– Is first BBQ also which not detail to leave out! "Barbeque" is fun word to say until actual BBQ show up. Then I stop talking because I is busy stuffing face with yummy chicken. Seth get busy doing fake-out with garlic bread, but I thinks you can tell I definitely savoring the flavors here. Maybe I grow up to be food critic someday. 

– I realizing for first time that we is unfettered at table while we is also outside. There is world of possibility out there if it weren't for that meddling Mommy who insist we sit at table while I reluctantly pluck at BBQ. 

– Meanwhile, I is thinking 'dis flavors like Mama used to make back in old Napoli*. Mwah! 

– Still, 'dis maybe good time to say, "have you seen my hair lately everyone?" while I show off the back. Is filling in nicely I think. Gamma Rita not know it yet, but Mommy say this going to be the summer of hippy hair love. Is going to get all kinds of out of control over here. 

– Er... what he said. Also lemon water is nice touch everyone.**

- L.

*Despite a very mixed heritage, "old Napoli" is not on our personal map and so I hope my comment is not offensive. Still, I think the only thing missing from our first outdoor dining experience was the music. 

**Lemon water was for the adults, but a good incentive for getting the boys to drink out of something other than a sippy cup. Nate especially loved it. Note to self: buy more lemons ASAP.

PS. Seth isn't joking around. The summer of the-letting-it-all-hang-out-hairstyle? It's on, everyone!

PPS. Filed under "funny things toddler say": a chorus of "more limits!" after a passing comment I made to the other adults present about my boys testing limits lately.

• • • • • • •

Dear Nate and Seth: Careful what you ask for my sons – much like a fine dessert, more limits can certainly be arranged if that's your preference. Don't tempt me.

Semi-seriously yours,

– Mommy

XOXOXOXO

Dirty Crackers & Dog Meat

Nothing – and I mean nothing – could convince my boys today that the nicely browned parts of their baked cheesy crackers wasn't dirt.

Of course they ate them anyway because they love a cheese cracker like nothing else. It was mostly just a litany of "Dirt! Dirt! Dirty Cracker!" after dinner which made me laugh.

Sort of.

Of course, I'd already heard about the "dog meat"* they ate at dinner (over and over and over again).

So even though I laughed, it might have been tinged with a hint of nervousness over the thought that my boys might tell someone I feed them dirty crackers and dog meat.

They also like to randomly declare food items as "mice".

I really hope we never find ourselves in the presence of someone from CPS when my boys decide to start talking about what I feed them.

- L.

*We had chicken for dinner. My boys are crazy about dark meat.