Bathtime Banter

It's nice to know that even when engaged in fierce squirt gun battles with your brother while bathing that you can still kiss and make up when all is said and done ;) Love these two little rascals.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

This is where David and I "found" Michael this morning...

Zoo Boo

The world-renowned Great Plains Zoo here in Sioux Falls, SD sponsors an annual Halloween event called Zoo Boo. Basically, they line the zoo sidewalks with jack o'lanterns, decorate the rest of the zoo, and let all the predatory beasts out of their cages while the kids walk around in the dark. OK, so not all of what I have written here is entirely true...

The kids loved the event and were thrilled to begin their candy-getting adventures for the year. Most kids just ran from station to station to get their candy as quickly as possible. But, I am proud to say that despite his sugar-crazed excitement about the treats, my Michael still found time for the animals, occasionally shouting out a particular greeting: "Hello, Guanacos!" "Where are you, Wallaby?"

Let the Freaky Festivities Begin!

Ah, yes. Halloween week. Looking for every excuse possible for the kids to wear their costumes so that I feel that I have not completely wasted the $40 I spent on them.

The boys "designed" and Brian carved our Jack O'Lantern this year.

We also had a great time rocking out to Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen with some of Daddy's costume accessories (he plans to be an 80's Rocker).

The Trade-Off

For those of you who are sensitive to the potty stories that so many parents like to tell, please spare yourself and stop reading right now...

David calls me into the bathroom today to show me his gigantic poop. I'm talking alarming. After he shows off his prize poop, he asks to me leave and give him privacy while he cleans himself up. He comes out many minutes later to show off his clean butt. "Wow, David, you really did a good job wiping!" "Ya, Mom. Wanna know how I did it?" "Yes, I do." "I used the whole roll of toilet paper!" When I go in there, the stack of toilet paper in the potty is literally as tall as the seat.

I'll save all of you the gory details, but let's suffice it to say that our toilet is clean and empty and all is well ;)

That's the trade-off for you: Clean kiddie butt. But reams of toilet paper in the potty ;)

And you are not allowed to tell me how gross and inappropriate this post is because I warned you.

The Red Balloon

The other day at the library, I came across a movie that I remembered from my childhood, The Red Balloon, a mostly silent film made in the 1950s in France. Borrowed it for David and Michael, and let me say: they were entranced! Now, they go around saying "Balon, balon" in their little French accents. Here they are, surrounded by their cushions (or pushions as Michael calls them) and riveted to the screen...(Sorry, I haven't yet figured out how to correct the red-eye on my Mac!)

Maniacs on The Floor

I took the boys to an open gym at a gymastics facility. When they entered that huge open room, they thought they died and gone to heaven. The facility plays hilarious music like 'Walk Like An Egyptian" and "Time Warp" so that added to the fun...