20 June 2013
I cannot believe more than a year has passed since I wrote my thoughts down somewhere other than Facebook. It has become so easy to just jot a quick note and put up a picture. Am hoping I can figure out how to once again get pictures onto here, because it is so much more fun that way!
There have been many Calvinisms this year! Maisie is done with second grade. Greg finally got rid of a 9th grade class and picked up a Physics class, which he is really looking forward to teaching. The school year just flew by, and now as we start summer the days are already blowing by us.
This week has been pretty busy. Maisie left with Papa and Gogo and Gramma 'Raine for California on Monday morning-we had dinner with them at their house Sunday night and then left her there. And then Greg went to Costa Rica with a group of kids from school on Monday night for a 10 day trip.
So Calvy and I are left here alone. With the bookstore. And Lola. And Delphi (in Lakeview). And ripe strawberries by the thousands (in Quincy). "Busy" would be an understatement. My poor bear has had dinner after 9pm twice already and the outlook is pretty bleak for any earlier. He hasn't napped at the store while we've been alone, so while I am prepping dinner, I have him shower and afterward he falls right into bed, always with a four book demand. I whittled it down to three both nights, but he's a hard sell. He likes his books. That's my boy.
I was reminded of my blog by a customer, actually. I had admitted that we ate dinner at 9 o'clock the other night, and when she was a little astonished, I had to tell her why. There were a few reasons, and one of them makes me really glad we live in the country where no one can see into parts of our yard.
We closed the door at DEB at 6pm. Then we went to CrossFit, which lasted until 7:30. Calvin was VERY good there, he went upstairs and played with my friend's kids, he only made Maddy cry once. When we were almost done he called down that he wanted to come down, and I said ok, so he came down and sat on the couch quietly, looked out the window, watched me. Very good.
Then we went to Gramma's house to terrorize Delphi. She does NOT like me. Refuses to come out from her hiding place. So Calvy hasn't been there very many times when I go to take care of the cat, and he didn't realize she hid. So when we got in the door, I refilled her food and water and he stood in her room and yelled, "MOM! There's something moving under there!" pointing at the bed. It's the cat, I said. Oh. He said. I told him to go pet her, and he went over and tried to touch her but she moved away. I went in and pulled back the covers and she slid out and under the bed. We finished our business there and went home.
When we got home at around 8:15, before we could make dinner, we needed to go down and check the chickens. So naturally I glanced down there, and what do I see, but ducks. Waddling free. Oh boy. So I tell Calvin to put on his boots, and I ditch my tennies for my irrigation boots. Just so the picture is clear: I am wearing workout capris, tshirt, and irrigation boots. NICE. In a moment of clarity, I yank Lola's butt into the house and grab my work gloves. Lola chases chickens, Lily does not, so it doesn't occur to me to put Lily in, too. I might add that I had pulled a muscle in my calf at the gym, so I also had a limp. Grab Calvin, and down to the pasture we run. With Lily. Who chases our poor ducks the instant she sees them. I scream and scream and scream and finally she returns to me. I beat her butt and she looks chagrined. For a second. Until she charges after them again. I yell at her, and when she comes to me, I grab her collar, as I am going to throw her butt in the barn to get her out of the way of this operation. I drag her up to the door and who is sitting there looking like a gargoyle, but OSTEOPATH. Lily sits and will NOT budge. She hates that cat. So I give her collar to Calvin and tell him to not let her go for anything, and I stomp inside the barn to give Osty a toss. He (rightly) runs from me. It's dark in the barn, but luckily he's a light color, so I can see that he runs right into the shop. SLAM. Took care of him. Then I go back outside and grab Lily from Calvy and pull her into the barn and slam THAT door. Calvin and I make it down to the pen, can't see where they've gotten out, so I pull the fence down and smash it down with the fencepost (it's a post in a cement block, so mobile with a little effort) and prepare to catch ducks. Last time (YES there was a last time, only Ringo was out that time, and he got out on my watch, too) I chased Ringo around the pen three times and in this way, so I thought it would work. Turns out it's different when they are both out. Ringless trips him up and they waddle into each other. But they want to be TOGETHER. So Calvy and I chased them around the chicken coop a couple times, then over to the pen. I had Calvin come to the downed portion of the fence, and told him to be big. He put his hands up. No. Be WIDE! Put your hands OUT. He did. Then I started walking behind the ducks, herding them around the perimeter, hopefully to the "opening" at the top end where Calvin was waiting, looking wide. We got to the bottom, and Ringless stopped. Then went the wrong way! Ringo followed. Back and forth, back and forth, separated, Oooooh! Don't like that! Back together. One way. The other way. Now, my calf is killing me, so I'm hunched down with my arms out to herd the ducks, AND I'm limping. I am very glad I have worn the gloves, as I tentatively reach down to grab a duck. I pull my hands back, because I REALLY DON'T want to touch a duck! She hasn't moved, really, so I reach down again and grab her. Throw her over the fence into the pen. I think now I can chase Ringo up to the opening, he knows how, we've done this once before! So I chase for about 6 feet, limping along, and he does a 180! He doesn't want to leave Ringless there, he wants to be with her! So we get back to where she went over and he pokes his head through the fence here and there, back and forth....so I reach down and grab him and throw him over, too. Done. We win the duck chase. Until next time. Which I hope isn't tonight...
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
27 mar 2012
This morning Calvin is eating his breakfast while yelling/singing at the top of his lungs: "Peanut jutter jelly with a baseball bat!". This is some crazy nonsense song Greg either made up when Maisie was little, or heard somewhere and repeated when she was little. It's been around the Beckers for a while. He's having trouble making it peanut Butter jelly. I laugh with him and he yells it again!! Finally I told him he's a silly goose and he said, "no I not. Gooses are at Papa's house!". Meaning BonneyFarm, of course!! :)
This morning Calvin is eating his breakfast while yelling/singing at the top of his lungs: "Peanut jutter jelly with a baseball bat!". This is some crazy nonsense song Greg either made up when Maisie was little, or heard somewhere and repeated when she was little. It's been around the Beckers for a while. He's having trouble making it peanut Butter jelly. I laugh with him and he yells it again!! Finally I told him he's a silly goose and he said, "no I not. Gooses are at Papa's house!". Meaning BonneyFarm, of course!! :)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
22 March 2012
Greg is in Semiahmoo at a WACA conference this week. Single parenting is not that fun. :( Calvy keeps asking where Daddy is. Maisie keeps asking what day it is and what day Daddy is coming home!
Of course this week I had an evening meeting, so Gogo took Maisie to piano yesterday and then took both kids home to feed, bathe and put to bed! When I got home Maisie bolted out of her room looking for the "catcorn". This is a magical fabric bag of corn kernels that we nuke for 5 minutes and then put on our toes in bed to warm us up! She put it in the microwave herself, and when I noticed her just standing there, she was READING A CHAPTER BOOK! Yay! Making good use of down time! I'm so thrilled with that! She has been reading a LOT, she is in a high reading group at school, her writing is fantastic, but I have been wanting her to step up her reading challenges lately...seems like she prefers the shorter easier books when I know she could read a chapter book and be interested. We have tried to kill TV during the week. We have acquiesced to "shark shows"-really it was discovery shows but she seems to like programs on sharks, so that is what she can sneak in during the week if she's done with homework. Last night I'd forgotten the ipad at the store, and she happened to get her hands on a Nate the Great book at the library, which she seems to love. She read at the microwave, she hopped into her bed and was reading! I told her I'd come back and read with her when I got out of the shower, but she'd fallen asleep with the book on her face. Woo-hoo! So proud of my Maise-a-Roo!
Calvin EATS.
Calvin SLEEPS.
Calvin PLAYS IN THE SNOW.
This morning it snowed! Calvin drank his milk, then he ate some cheerios. Then he went outside and played with Lily in the snow for an hour. When he came back in he ate a banana and begged for graham crackers I was using to make snacks. Then he came to my room where I was getting ready and begged for a "moovie" (smoothie). When we got to the store an hour later, he ate his lunch. Then he tried to eat mine. Then he tried for Maisie's afterschool snack. Finally the little stinker fell asleep!
We need to measure him. He must be growing like a weed.
Greg is in Semiahmoo at a WACA conference this week. Single parenting is not that fun. :( Calvy keeps asking where Daddy is. Maisie keeps asking what day it is and what day Daddy is coming home!
Of course this week I had an evening meeting, so Gogo took Maisie to piano yesterday and then took both kids home to feed, bathe and put to bed! When I got home Maisie bolted out of her room looking for the "catcorn". This is a magical fabric bag of corn kernels that we nuke for 5 minutes and then put on our toes in bed to warm us up! She put it in the microwave herself, and when I noticed her just standing there, she was READING A CHAPTER BOOK! Yay! Making good use of down time! I'm so thrilled with that! She has been reading a LOT, she is in a high reading group at school, her writing is fantastic, but I have been wanting her to step up her reading challenges lately...seems like she prefers the shorter easier books when I know she could read a chapter book and be interested. We have tried to kill TV during the week. We have acquiesced to "shark shows"-really it was discovery shows but she seems to like programs on sharks, so that is what she can sneak in during the week if she's done with homework. Last night I'd forgotten the ipad at the store, and she happened to get her hands on a Nate the Great book at the library, which she seems to love. She read at the microwave, she hopped into her bed and was reading! I told her I'd come back and read with her when I got out of the shower, but she'd fallen asleep with the book on her face. Woo-hoo! So proud of my Maise-a-Roo!
Calvin EATS.
Calvin SLEEPS.
Calvin PLAYS IN THE SNOW.
This morning it snowed! Calvin drank his milk, then he ate some cheerios. Then he went outside and played with Lily in the snow for an hour. When he came back in he ate a banana and begged for graham crackers I was using to make snacks. Then he came to my room where I was getting ready and begged for a "moovie" (smoothie). When we got to the store an hour later, he ate his lunch. Then he tried to eat mine. Then he tried for Maisie's afterschool snack. Finally the little stinker fell asleep!
We need to measure him. He must be growing like a weed.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
17 Mar 2012
It has been way too long since I wrote anything down!
Calvin in changing so much! He is getting so big and so wordy!
Last night I made a new recipe with some salsa I've never bought before. We ate and ate and ate! Calvin asked for more water twice. Then he asked, "Why my mouth on fire?" I tried to get him to eat one more bite of chicken and he pointed out that it was too "sicy" so he was done. :)
This was actually taken last week at Mom and Martin's Birthday dinner-Calvin is eating dessert here. Mom always wants Angel Food cake because she loves it! (I made it. It was ugly. But they were happy.:)
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Speaking of our Birthday Peeps! Happy Birthday Mom and Martin!!
Miss Maisie had a little production at school this week-she and her friend Kate were twin Lady Libertys. They read in tandem, telling us all about the fine details of the Statue of Liberty!
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Calvin in changing so much! He is getting so big and so wordy!
Last night I made a new recipe with some salsa I've never bought before. We ate and ate and ate! Calvin asked for more water twice. Then he asked, "Why my mouth on fire?" I tried to get him to eat one more bite of chicken and he pointed out that it was too "sicy" so he was done. :)
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Miss Maisie had a little production at school this week-she and her friend Kate were twin Lady Libertys. They read in tandem, telling us all about the fine details of the Statue of Liberty!
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Monday, November 21, 2011
21 Nov 2011
Yesterday "bla" became "banaynay".
Calvin has become quite focused on our wood stove. He would really really love to make a fire at any time during the day! I am not really certain what Greg has let him help with, since I am never downstairs during the fire making, but Calvin was very involved with picking out which wood papa should put on HIS fire next, yesterday. He picked all the "good woods" out of the tub and piled them up directly in front of the stove. No, we couldn't open the door to put them in. Ha! He even carried a log or two around the family room with him a couple times. I felt neglectful, like I'd never offered the child a stuffed animal! He played with his two big woods and his one little wood for a while at the store today, and when I was closing, I couldn't find my little wooden doorstop...sure enough, it was in his shopping cart!
Yesterday "bla" became "banaynay".
Calvin has become quite focused on our wood stove. He would really really love to make a fire at any time during the day! I am not really certain what Greg has let him help with, since I am never downstairs during the fire making, but Calvin was very involved with picking out which wood papa should put on HIS fire next, yesterday. He picked all the "good woods" out of the tub and piled them up directly in front of the stove. No, we couldn't open the door to put them in. Ha! He even carried a log or two around the family room with him a couple times. I felt neglectful, like I'd never offered the child a stuffed animal! He played with his two big woods and his one little wood for a while at the store today, and when I was closing, I couldn't find my little wooden doorstop...sure enough, it was in his shopping cart!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
5 Nov 2011
For as long as Calvin has been telling me that he wants to eat, getting an exact pronunciation of what he wants to eat is still a struggle!
Tonight he asked for a banana. It still comes out "bla".
When he wants orange juice, "oonge oonge" is what he says.
And of course, "choc" is chocolate milk. Although when we are at the bookstore, and he's in begging mode, he says "chloclate".
The kids were at Papa and Gogo's house last night, so no night night books here. Tonight Calvin was able to recite all of his "Puppies at Play" book to me!!!
Maisie's evening wasn't so charming. She fell asleep on the couch and turned into the Tasmanian devil when we brought her up to get jammies on. I am certain she was asleep with her eyes open the first 10 minutes or so. Pointing and screaming at the floor. Yikes. Then it got worse!! Whoa! Finally she passed out. Am positive that tomorrow she will have no recollection of what happened.
For as long as Calvin has been telling me that he wants to eat, getting an exact pronunciation of what he wants to eat is still a struggle!
Tonight he asked for a banana. It still comes out "bla".
When he wants orange juice, "oonge oonge" is what he says.
And of course, "choc" is chocolate milk. Although when we are at the bookstore, and he's in begging mode, he says "chloclate".
The kids were at Papa and Gogo's house last night, so no night night books here. Tonight Calvin was able to recite all of his "Puppies at Play" book to me!!!
Maisie's evening wasn't so charming. She fell asleep on the couch and turned into the Tasmanian devil when we brought her up to get jammies on. I am certain she was asleep with her eyes open the first 10 minutes or so. Pointing and screaming at the floor. Yikes. Then it got worse!! Whoa! Finally she passed out. Am positive that tomorrow she will have no recollection of what happened.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
2 Nov 11
All of a sudden it's November! Eeeeek! Maisie has conferences next week-half days. The children may pull each other limb from limb locked in the bookstore together that long each day. I may go insane.
One of Calvin's favorite books right now is a Sandra Boynton book. And he has parts of it memorized. On the way to town this morning he was reciting: "No, no, you say! That isn't right! The pigs say OINK OINK all day and night!". Tonight when i picked up the 4th book ( we have to have a limit) I held it up for him to see, and he yelled, "Old Hat, New Hat!". He's got a lot of titles figured out!!
Just about every day at the bookstore, Calvin drags around four pieces of wood. 2x2s i think, two are 2 feet long and two are 1 foot long. Well, on Halloween Papa sawed one into a door stop, so now Calvin has "two big woods and one little wood". Usually he stands them on end then tries to plow his shopping cart between them without knocking them over. Sometimes he builds bridges, other times he adds to his train tracks. Recently he has taken up bowling. He sets them on end, over near the door (GREAT) and then hurls one or more of the balls we have lying around the store. Soccer ball. Soft ball. (eeeek) a big plastic orange ball. And this little red one that is actually really light and generally harmless. Today they had been around, and they had been most recently "the load" for his Tonka truck. Calvin's favorite customer was in this morning, and he told her he was bowling with them. When my favorite customer came in this evening, he was dragging around "the woods" yelling (yes yelling. LONG DAY) at me to _______ his woods!! Unintelligible. I could not figure out what he was wanting me to do, which was making him mad and me crazy! Plus, I was trying to chat with my customer, and my computer was not working! Then he yelled again for me to ______ his woods! My customer looked at me and said, "is he 3?". In January, I said. She said, "my grandkid is three. I understand his language. What are you saying Calvin?". He repeated, and she said, "I think he's saying. 'Kiss my woods.' Jeez. Men are trying that younger and younger, aren't they!?". Bwahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!
All of a sudden it's November! Eeeeek! Maisie has conferences next week-half days. The children may pull each other limb from limb locked in the bookstore together that long each day. I may go insane.
One of Calvin's favorite books right now is a Sandra Boynton book. And he has parts of it memorized. On the way to town this morning he was reciting: "No, no, you say! That isn't right! The pigs say OINK OINK all day and night!". Tonight when i picked up the 4th book ( we have to have a limit) I held it up for him to see, and he yelled, "Old Hat, New Hat!". He's got a lot of titles figured out!!
Just about every day at the bookstore, Calvin drags around four pieces of wood. 2x2s i think, two are 2 feet long and two are 1 foot long. Well, on Halloween Papa sawed one into a door stop, so now Calvin has "two big woods and one little wood". Usually he stands them on end then tries to plow his shopping cart between them without knocking them over. Sometimes he builds bridges, other times he adds to his train tracks. Recently he has taken up bowling. He sets them on end, over near the door (GREAT) and then hurls one or more of the balls we have lying around the store. Soccer ball. Soft ball. (eeeek) a big plastic orange ball. And this little red one that is actually really light and generally harmless. Today they had been around, and they had been most recently "the load" for his Tonka truck. Calvin's favorite customer was in this morning, and he told her he was bowling with them. When my favorite customer came in this evening, he was dragging around "the woods" yelling (yes yelling. LONG DAY) at me to _______ his woods!! Unintelligible. I could not figure out what he was wanting me to do, which was making him mad and me crazy! Plus, I was trying to chat with my customer, and my computer was not working! Then he yelled again for me to ______ his woods! My customer looked at me and said, "is he 3?". In January, I said. She said, "my grandkid is three. I understand his language. What are you saying Calvin?". He repeated, and she said, "I think he's saying. 'Kiss my woods.' Jeez. Men are trying that younger and younger, aren't they!?". Bwahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
29 October 2011
Maisie and I only made it through about three pages of Farmer Boy tonight. She's a little snorfelly still. And after bath time battles and overtired, she's a little sensitive. She was bothered to tears that Calvin was having shrieking fits of laughter with HIS books. At first she said she didn't know why she was crying, then she admitted that maybe Farmer Boy was a little boring, since Calvin had the giggles with his books tonight. So we put that book away and went with "Pigsty" and "Tillie the Hen". Hmm...barnyard theme tonight!
Calvy is having trouble with pronouns still. This morning it was while asking for chocolate milk. "MomMom, me want choc." Me: "Calvin, say 'I want choc'". Calvin, "Me already said that.". Bwahahahhaha!
Maisie and I only made it through about three pages of Farmer Boy tonight. She's a little snorfelly still. And after bath time battles and overtired, she's a little sensitive. She was bothered to tears that Calvin was having shrieking fits of laughter with HIS books. At first she said she didn't know why she was crying, then she admitted that maybe Farmer Boy was a little boring, since Calvin had the giggles with his books tonight. So we put that book away and went with "Pigsty" and "Tillie the Hen". Hmm...barnyard theme tonight!
Calvy is having trouble with pronouns still. This morning it was while asking for chocolate milk. "MomMom, me want choc." Me: "Calvin, say 'I want choc'". Calvin, "Me already said that.". Bwahahahhaha!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
27Oct2011
Today while I changed his pants at the store, Calvin noted that his pee pee "has a crack in it." Then he suggested he might need to buy a new one! I try not to laugh, but it is so difficult!
While we are at the store, we have any number of books to read. He has found in the last month, a couple of Dora the Explorer books. What I love is that he brings them to me and then asks, "Mom! Read this book at me!". So I guess it's more like a demand than a request!
He has another favorite called puppies at play, or something similar. There is one picture that cracks him up. Every. Time. Hahaha! Last night we brought it home and he "read" it to us. Adorable.
I will ask Calvin if he is a boy or a bear. He says "boy" and then I ask what a boy says. "hi", and he waves. Then I ask what a bear says, and he roars and claws with his hand!
Maisie has the best Halloween costume ever! Ari made it from one of my old prom dresses, into Little Bo Peep. Soooooo cute! She has a classmate's party tomorrow, then t or t in Ephrata businesses on mon afternoon, and then t or t at Greg's school. Calvin is a cute little cowboy, complete with orange pop guns. Eek. But I could not deny the little doll any longer.
Today while I changed his pants at the store, Calvin noted that his pee pee "has a crack in it." Then he suggested he might need to buy a new one! I try not to laugh, but it is so difficult!
While we are at the store, we have any number of books to read. He has found in the last month, a couple of Dora the Explorer books. What I love is that he brings them to me and then asks, "Mom! Read this book at me!". So I guess it's more like a demand than a request!
He has another favorite called puppies at play, or something similar. There is one picture that cracks him up. Every. Time. Hahaha! Last night we brought it home and he "read" it to us. Adorable.
I will ask Calvin if he is a boy or a bear. He says "boy" and then I ask what a boy says. "hi", and he waves. Then I ask what a bear says, and he roars and claws with his hand!
Maisie has the best Halloween costume ever! Ari made it from one of my old prom dresses, into Little Bo Peep. Soooooo cute! She has a classmate's party tomorrow, then t or t in Ephrata businesses on mon afternoon, and then t or t at Greg's school. Calvin is a cute little cowboy, complete with orange pop guns. Eek. But I could not deny the little doll any longer.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
27 Sept 11
At PHD we have a compost bucket and a garbage can under the kitchen sink. Calvin likes to unwrap the dishwasher tablet and throw the wrapper away, then load the tablet into the d/w and start it for me. We have been working on what goes in the compost bucket (to make "food dirt", thanks Maise!) and what goes in the garbage can. I love when Calv asks me if something goes in the "bargage"! I still hate to correct when they are so funny!
At PHD we have a compost bucket and a garbage can under the kitchen sink. Calvin likes to unwrap the dishwasher tablet and throw the wrapper away, then load the tablet into the d/w and start it for me. We have been working on what goes in the compost bucket (to make "food dirt", thanks Maise!) and what goes in the garbage can. I love when Calv asks me if something goes in the "bargage"! I still hate to correct when they are so funny!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
18sept2011
Last night for one of Calvin's night night books, we read a favorite (of both kids) which was "Ten Little Ladybugs". On about the third page, I decided to test him on the colors of the remaining bugs, and the number we had left. He got all six right! Yellow, red, and orange, and 1, 3, and 4. Nice! Will have to test him on the race car book, too. Another favorite. The others he always asks for are "Cat" and "Dog" both by the same author. He is really loving having his entire book collection back at his disposal, instead of the small assortment we had left at the farmhouse while we packed up our belongings to come to PHD.
Maisie is reading "Little House on the Prairie", (well, this is what *I* am reading to her at night) and any number of other books she can find at school that we don't have or have never read. She is doing great in reading at school, is already reading and testing in AR books.
Last night for one of Calvin's night night books, we read a favorite (of both kids) which was "Ten Little Ladybugs". On about the third page, I decided to test him on the colors of the remaining bugs, and the number we had left. He got all six right! Yellow, red, and orange, and 1, 3, and 4. Nice! Will have to test him on the race car book, too. Another favorite. The others he always asks for are "Cat" and "Dog" both by the same author. He is really loving having his entire book collection back at his disposal, instead of the small assortment we had left at the farmhouse while we packed up our belongings to come to PHD.
Maisie is reading "Little House on the Prairie", (well, this is what *I* am reading to her at night) and any number of other books she can find at school that we don't have or have never read. She is doing great in reading at school, is already reading and testing in AR books.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
27 Aug 2011
I have been too busy to write some of the good ones down lately! But this morning as we are packing up the house and Calvin is apparently bored out of his head, he asked to watch a DVD. Like this: "MomMom, put this in the tv slop!". That must mean the place where you put the disk. :)I always tell him he has to ask someone besides Mommy to help him watch tv because I haven't learned how to get it to the right program, so he was helping me out.
I have been too busy to write some of the good ones down lately! But this morning as we are packing up the house and Calvin is apparently bored out of his head, he asked to watch a DVD. Like this: "MomMom, put this in the tv slop!". That must mean the place where you put the disk. :)I always tell him he has to ask someone besides Mommy to help him watch tv because I haven't learned how to get it to the right program, so he was helping me out.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
11 August 2011
Tonight on the drive from phd, Maisie and Calvin were oohing and aahhhing over the moon. Maisie said it would follow us home, but not really move. So as we passed some tall trees, I asked if they could both see it. And then I answered my own question, "I do!" Of course Calvin the semi-parrot yells "Me do! Me do!!" I say again, "I do!". And Calvin the semi-parrot repeats, "Me do!". So I attempt a correction, louder this time, so he can understand, "I do! I do!!" and Calvin the semi-parrot yells "Me do!" I can't take it another time, so I say, "Calvin, say 'I do'" half a beat of silence during which I can FEEL the gears, and the exasperation until he yells: "YOU DO!" Ok kid. You win.
Tonight on the drive from phd, Maisie and Calvin were oohing and aahhhing over the moon. Maisie said it would follow us home, but not really move. So as we passed some tall trees, I asked if they could both see it. And then I answered my own question, "I do!" Of course Calvin the semi-parrot yells "Me do! Me do!!" I say again, "I do!". And Calvin the semi-parrot repeats, "Me do!". So I attempt a correction, louder this time, so he can understand, "I do! I do!!" and Calvin the semi-parrot yells "Me do!" I can't take it another time, so I say, "Calvin, say 'I do'" half a beat of silence during which I can FEEL the gears, and the exasperation until he yells: "YOU DO!" Ok kid. You win.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
2Aug2011
Well, this one is a little late, Calvin actually said it before the apricot incident, but I forgot to get it written down!
We were going on nightly walks for a while, and when we walk by Hille's, their dogs bark furiously at us-for a long time! Since we come up to their house from the back and then loop all the way around it. So one night we were just about past, and after Greg and I had been shushing the dogs, Calvin says,"Dogs! Stop! Coughing!"
Apparently, bark in "dog" sounds like cough in "human" when you are two!
Well, this one is a little late, Calvin actually said it before the apricot incident, but I forgot to get it written down!
We were going on nightly walks for a while, and when we walk by Hille's, their dogs bark furiously at us-for a long time! Since we come up to their house from the back and then loop all the way around it. So one night we were just about past, and after Greg and I had been shushing the dogs, Calvin says,"Dogs! Stop! Coughing!"
Apparently, bark in "dog" sounds like cough in "human" when you are two!
Friday, July 29, 2011
29July2011
Maisie lost another tooth this week! Love her cute little smile and the lisp that she gets when she isn't paying attention! This one is also blamed on her brother. It was getting a bit loose, but then he bashed her in the teeth with a sippy cup and hastened the process considerably. Sheesh, kid! Maisie was delighted that the tooth fairy brought her a whole dollar!
Also this week, she has become an expert at riding her bike! So much so that Papa and Gogo got her a new BIG GIRL bike! It is fabulous, purple and pink with streamers and a basket! Brand new helmet, too. She's been doing a great job, just cruises around like she's been doing it forever! Calvin has also figured out his trike. He used to like to just scoot around on it, using his feet on the ground for forward motion. But he has gotten the pedaling down now! Papa and Gogo also bought him a new helmet-he had been using his sister's old one, but his noggin is a little too big, and it is a little too pink. His new one has little monsters on it. How appropriate.
Just a couple of days ago, Calixto left some apricots on our front walk. We exclaimed over them, brought them in, put them in paper bags. The next morning, I put a few in a bag for Mom. Calvin was watching, and asked, "Orange, MomMom?" I explained that it was an apricot. He repeated the word for me, did pretty good, too. Then he wanted to hold it. Upon complete examination of the new to him fruit, he proclaimed, "MomMom. Apricot. Have. Behind." You must pronounce it "BEEE hind." So true, and so observant.
Maisie and I are reading "Little House in the Big Woods" at night before bed. She is just listening right now, am hoping to get her to do some of the reading herself at some point. The other day we read about Laura and Mary watching Ma churn butter out of milk. The very next day Maisie happened to go on a dairy tour thru Quincy Rec and on the way home they made butter! Such great coincidental timing!!!
Calvin gets about 4 books a night, and depending on how much of a nap he got during the day, he will either act like he's going to sleep, and let us leave his room, close the door, and then rattle the door, turn on the light, and come out 20 times. OR. He will follow the command to roll over and cuddle in, and then say, "Get. Out. Mine. Room. MomMom.". Such sweet love. :)
Right now he is telling me stories while waiting for his milk. "Mom, bee poop on mine leg. Mom, bee poop on mine head. Mom, bee poop on mine head 'gain."
This past month Calvin has peed in his potty chair a handful of times. Would be nice to get that accomplished by summer's end...but I think it may be wishful dreaming.
Maisie lost another tooth this week! Love her cute little smile and the lisp that she gets when she isn't paying attention! This one is also blamed on her brother. It was getting a bit loose, but then he bashed her in the teeth with a sippy cup and hastened the process considerably. Sheesh, kid! Maisie was delighted that the tooth fairy brought her a whole dollar!
Also this week, she has become an expert at riding her bike! So much so that Papa and Gogo got her a new BIG GIRL bike! It is fabulous, purple and pink with streamers and a basket! Brand new helmet, too. She's been doing a great job, just cruises around like she's been doing it forever! Calvin has also figured out his trike. He used to like to just scoot around on it, using his feet on the ground for forward motion. But he has gotten the pedaling down now! Papa and Gogo also bought him a new helmet-he had been using his sister's old one, but his noggin is a little too big, and it is a little too pink. His new one has little monsters on it. How appropriate.
Just a couple of days ago, Calixto left some apricots on our front walk. We exclaimed over them, brought them in, put them in paper bags. The next morning, I put a few in a bag for Mom. Calvin was watching, and asked, "Orange, MomMom?" I explained that it was an apricot. He repeated the word for me, did pretty good, too. Then he wanted to hold it. Upon complete examination of the new to him fruit, he proclaimed, "MomMom. Apricot. Have. Behind." You must pronounce it "BEEE hind." So true, and so observant.
Maisie and I are reading "Little House in the Big Woods" at night before bed. She is just listening right now, am hoping to get her to do some of the reading herself at some point. The other day we read about Laura and Mary watching Ma churn butter out of milk. The very next day Maisie happened to go on a dairy tour thru Quincy Rec and on the way home they made butter! Such great coincidental timing!!!
Calvin gets about 4 books a night, and depending on how much of a nap he got during the day, he will either act like he's going to sleep, and let us leave his room, close the door, and then rattle the door, turn on the light, and come out 20 times. OR. He will follow the command to roll over and cuddle in, and then say, "Get. Out. Mine. Room. MomMom.". Such sweet love. :)
Right now he is telling me stories while waiting for his milk. "Mom, bee poop on mine leg. Mom, bee poop on mine head. Mom, bee poop on mine head 'gain."
This past month Calvin has peed in his potty chair a handful of times. Would be nice to get that accomplished by summer's end...but I think it may be wishful dreaming.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
26 May 2011
Stopped by BonneyFarm the other morning to say hi to Papa. Their renters just got their 3rd puppy- Maisie was already enchanted with the last one, now a full grown but not so big chee-hooa-hooa. The third puppy is especially tiny. So tiny, in fact, in relation to other animals, that it was apparently confusing to Calvin. The big dog, Roky, is a "dog dog.". The new little dog, though, is a "catch.". Which, in Calvin-ese is: CAT! Hahahahah! Dad and I made him repeat it several times thru several fits of laughter.
Guess we are "big dog" people!!!
Stopped by BonneyFarm the other morning to say hi to Papa. Their renters just got their 3rd puppy- Maisie was already enchanted with the last one, now a full grown but not so big chee-hooa-hooa. The third puppy is especially tiny. So tiny, in fact, in relation to other animals, that it was apparently confusing to Calvin. The big dog, Roky, is a "dog dog.". The new little dog, though, is a "catch.". Which, in Calvin-ese is: CAT! Hahahahah! Dad and I made him repeat it several times thru several fits of laughter.
Guess we are "big dog" people!!!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
14 May 2011
Maisie lost another tooth! This one was a little unexpected. She's been saying she has loose teeth, but they havent been too wiggly. Tonight Greg is chaperoning prom in ML, so the kids and I went to papa and go go's for dinner after I closed the store. Nice relaxing evening-have dinner, give kids a bath, put them in jammies, drive home and hopefully toss sleeping children into their respective beds. After the bath, just as we were prepping dessert, Maisie started wailing. Really. New York heard her. Calvin was holding his head, so dad and I tried to figure out who was hurt worse- turns out Maisie was bleeding. From her mouth. (above my foreign rug!). So I picked her up, hauled her into the bathroom, and she is still shrieking about her mouth. I open it up, and she is missing one of her front teeth!!! Ack! Kind of shocking when I hadnt even seen it wiggle yet, not to mention in the craziness of the moment, I couldn't remember if she'd already lost her uppers or lowers! Turns out, that tooth WAS loose, and not a permanent tooth. Mom found it out on the rug, brought it in, and we tried to calm Maisie down. Whoa. So traumatic!
On the drive home, had to wait for a train, and Calvin says as the end passes by: "bye bye chugga choo choo train!"
Maisie lost another tooth! This one was a little unexpected. She's been saying she has loose teeth, but they havent been too wiggly. Tonight Greg is chaperoning prom in ML, so the kids and I went to papa and go go's for dinner after I closed the store. Nice relaxing evening-have dinner, give kids a bath, put them in jammies, drive home and hopefully toss sleeping children into their respective beds. After the bath, just as we were prepping dessert, Maisie started wailing. Really. New York heard her. Calvin was holding his head, so dad and I tried to figure out who was hurt worse- turns out Maisie was bleeding. From her mouth. (above my foreign rug!). So I picked her up, hauled her into the bathroom, and she is still shrieking about her mouth. I open it up, and she is missing one of her front teeth!!! Ack! Kind of shocking when I hadnt even seen it wiggle yet, not to mention in the craziness of the moment, I couldn't remember if she'd already lost her uppers or lowers! Turns out, that tooth WAS loose, and not a permanent tooth. Mom found it out on the rug, brought it in, and we tried to calm Maisie down. Whoa. So traumatic!
On the drive home, had to wait for a train, and Calvin says as the end passes by: "bye bye chugga choo choo train!"
Sunday, May 8, 2011
8 May 2011
Happy Mother's Day!!
Mom and Dad kept the kids last night so we could go to the play at Masquer's, and then again today after church so we could work in the yard before dinner at their house. Got our tomato plants in, still have replanting to do since my first attempt croaked. Gah.
Today at church I was holding Marti and Randall's grand baby, and before I knew it, Calv was standing in front of me saying, "hold baby. Hold baby!". He wanted to hold Wyatt so badly! So Florie held Calvin and then I held Wyatt on Calvin's lap. So cute!! After we got Wyatt away from him, he sat by Kate and winked at her!!! Ack!
Apparently this morning at Mom and Dad's, Calv pointed to Gramma 'Raine's paintings and said "Game paint.". He's right! They were painted by Gramma 'Raine! Ha! He also pushed mom out of the front chair at the store the other day to make room for "Game". I like that name!
Maisie gave me a fantastic card she made for Mother's day and a magnet for the fridge. Also a beautiful pink miniature rose that smells awesome! Thanks my big girl!! I love you!
Happy Mother's Day!!
Mom and Dad kept the kids last night so we could go to the play at Masquer's, and then again today after church so we could work in the yard before dinner at their house. Got our tomato plants in, still have replanting to do since my first attempt croaked. Gah.
Today at church I was holding Marti and Randall's grand baby, and before I knew it, Calv was standing in front of me saying, "hold baby. Hold baby!". He wanted to hold Wyatt so badly! So Florie held Calvin and then I held Wyatt on Calvin's lap. So cute!! After we got Wyatt away from him, he sat by Kate and winked at her!!! Ack!
Apparently this morning at Mom and Dad's, Calv pointed to Gramma 'Raine's paintings and said "Game paint.". He's right! They were painted by Gramma 'Raine! Ha! He also pushed mom out of the front chair at the store the other day to make room for "Game". I like that name!
Maisie gave me a fantastic card she made for Mother's day and a magnet for the fridge. Also a beautiful pink miniature rose that smells awesome! Thanks my big girl!! I love you!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
5 may 2011
Tonight we heard the first truly complete sentence from Calvin. "Is sissy nake, too?". Probably requires a little background info...
Our house has a nice long slate floor hallway-a straight shot from our bedroom to the kitchen. The kids always bathe in our shower. Greg almost always does bath duty, while I finish kitchen duty. Recently Calvin has started busting free from his towel and tearing down the hall completely birthday suited, and then stops short at the edge of the kitchen, plants his feet, throws up his arms, and yells, "I'm NAKE!". Then he turns and hightails it back to the bedroom to get his jammies on, although by the screaming usually going on, not entirely willingly. -side note, when Maisie was smaller, she frequently made Greg carry her in her towel to wherever I was to say hi.
So tonight when Calv asked if sissy was also nake, we had a pretty good giggle. :). Just because YOU'RE naked....ha!
Tonight we heard the first truly complete sentence from Calvin. "Is sissy nake, too?". Probably requires a little background info...
Our house has a nice long slate floor hallway-a straight shot from our bedroom to the kitchen. The kids always bathe in our shower. Greg almost always does bath duty, while I finish kitchen duty. Recently Calvin has started busting free from his towel and tearing down the hall completely birthday suited, and then stops short at the edge of the kitchen, plants his feet, throws up his arms, and yells, "I'm NAKE!". Then he turns and hightails it back to the bedroom to get his jammies on, although by the screaming usually going on, not entirely willingly. -side note, when Maisie was smaller, she frequently made Greg carry her in her towel to wherever I was to say hi.
So tonight when Calv asked if sissy was also nake, we had a pretty good giggle. :). Just because YOU'RE naked....ha!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
5 may 2011
Gosh I scarcely know where to begin! It's been so long since I posted anything. And I am certain I'm not going to enjoy this as much without pictures....but I don't want to leave too big a gap without saying anything!
We just celebrated Maisie's SIXTH birthday! Six! How did it happen? I cannot believe my baby is six. She is doing super awesome in school, and still having a great time there-I cannot believe how wonderfully she is doing in reading! It seems we were just sounding out two and three letter words, and now she reads a whole page of a story three times for practice!! Finished up spring soccer, brrrr! Still taking piano lessons from Mrs Wilfong and doing fabulously!!
Calvin is developing by leaps and bounds. He is putting sentences together, which is so amazing. Today he fell asleep on the way to the bookstore, and slept on my shoulder to
his bed and continued to sleep until 2 pm. Yeah, that's a 4 hour nap. Oh, maybe because he woke up at 5!!! So when he woke up, his dipe had soaked through to his jeans. So I put a pair of shorts over his new diaper-I figured better bare legs than wet jeans touching the skin. But the shorts are too big. So for the next two hours I heard: "pants. fall. down. Mom mom.". Hahahahhaa!!!
Dad had called this morning to invite Maisie over to BonneyFarm to inspect the new baby goslings. So when it was time for Greg to pick up Calv, mom and I tried to get him to tell Greg what he waited to do. With help, we got: "four baby geese daddy". :)
I still want to leave calvin's hair as it is (pretty curly) and Greg is starting to insist on a haircut. Boohoo! I don't want to lose the curls!! And we've been teasing for so long that Calvin will answer "No!" when Dad or Greg asks if he wants a haircut! Too cute.
Gosh I scarcely know where to begin! It's been so long since I posted anything. And I am certain I'm not going to enjoy this as much without pictures....but I don't want to leave too big a gap without saying anything!
We just celebrated Maisie's SIXTH birthday! Six! How did it happen? I cannot believe my baby is six. She is doing super awesome in school, and still having a great time there-I cannot believe how wonderfully she is doing in reading! It seems we were just sounding out two and three letter words, and now she reads a whole page of a story three times for practice!! Finished up spring soccer, brrrr! Still taking piano lessons from Mrs Wilfong and doing fabulously!!
Calvin is developing by leaps and bounds. He is putting sentences together, which is so amazing. Today he fell asleep on the way to the bookstore, and slept on my shoulder to
his bed and continued to sleep until 2 pm. Yeah, that's a 4 hour nap. Oh, maybe because he woke up at 5!!! So when he woke up, his dipe had soaked through to his jeans. So I put a pair of shorts over his new diaper-I figured better bare legs than wet jeans touching the skin. But the shorts are too big. So for the next two hours I heard: "pants. fall. down. Mom mom.". Hahahahhaa!!!
Dad had called this morning to invite Maisie over to BonneyFarm to inspect the new baby goslings. So when it was time for Greg to pick up Calv, mom and I tried to get him to tell Greg what he waited to do. With help, we got: "four baby geese daddy". :)
I still want to leave calvin's hair as it is (pretty curly) and Greg is starting to insist on a haircut. Boohoo! I don't want to lose the curls!! And we've been teasing for so long that Calvin will answer "No!" when Dad or Greg asks if he wants a haircut! Too cute.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
5 January 2011
So...this game is not really very close to Calvin's appropriate age group.
He did not receive it for Christmas.
He DID find it while rooting around in the hall drawers where he usually finds play-dough.
It's not even HIS, actually, it's Maisie's!
But.
It kept him entertained for an HOUR before dinner. That is just downright amazing for Calvin. He is usually on one toy for about a minute and a half, and then on to the next thing. (generally, one of MY things, ahem.) He played with it some more after his bath, too, at one point grabbing it off the table, turning to bring it to me, and totally yard sale-ing it all over the family room floor. There were fish EVERYWHERE!!!
So at the end of the evening, I put it back into the drawer where he found it, probably a little deeper than where he found it. We'll see what happens tomorrow. ;)
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
31 August 2010
Maisie's first day of kindergarten! She was SO excited to start "big girl school"! Her teacher is Lila Schwint. Chloe and Brody from preschool last year are in her class. Gabriel from preschool the year before last is in her class! She plays with Jace during recess (he was in preschool with her last year, too). She loves the monkey bars and lunch time. She asks to do her math homework the minute we walk in the door after school!
What a big girl we have! We are so proud of you!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
17 August 2010Grant County Fair! Maisie and her new friend Emrie.
They touched a baby pygmy goat, a lamb, the softest bunny at the fair. They ate until they were stuffed. Then they rode 100 rides. Yes. Yes they did. And they had a BLAST. And then they ate caramel apples right before we left. Do you think they fell asleep on the ride home? NO. No, they did not. And when we got home, they wanted to play with toys. Whoa. Good night, ladies!!
After a day in the sand. He ate some, I'm pretty sure. (I didn't SEE it come out...however, later in the week I DID see a UPC sticker come out. Yikes!)
Mmmmm....blueberry waffles! Did he eat ANY of it?
Ready. Set. GO!!! (run run run run run)---and yes, that's Mommy behind the camera...still not sure which setting to use, or why it switches settings on it's own...
Playing with Papa's stereo relic. (that's a "naughty", in case you wondered.)
7-15 August
Just a few things Calvin does. Some naughty. Some cute.
He gets in the shower WITH clothes on. (well, SOME clothes. we were in the process of getting showered and ready to go. Maisie was still in there, and he decided to go BACK in.)
5 August 2010 Maisie has lost her first tooth! (This picture is not some special technique with black and white--it's a new camera, and I still fight with it on every shot. Anyone know where our old card is? Ack!)
Maisie fought with this tooth for a couple of days, finally it popped out on it's own while eating some dry cold cereal. There were a lot of tears and much consternation, but even SHE was glad to be rid of it. Especially when the Tooth Fairy left her 50 whole cents!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
31 July 2010
First thing I did for the new store was sort books at the old store. It was heaven. Apparently I was being too picky, and we need more books than I was going to wind up with by being so anal, so some re-sorting happened. Today I put the signs together for the new store: Second Hand Prose, New Edition. Opens Mid-Sept.
Whoop!!! Greg has been working on our website and procuring books from around the state! Will have to go on a trip in a bookmobile here, soon. Tomorrow we start moving shelves to the new place. I say "we" but I don't think I have to help. Whew.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
9 July 2010Ah Calvin.
This boy is fascinated by fans. Thanks Papa!!
Ceiling fans. Table fans. And these REALLY BIG FANS ON HILLS!!!
We stopped in Madras to have lunch, and while we waited for a table (which we never got, by the way...)Greg had to carry Calvin away from the middle of the dining room, where he was blowing at the ceiling fan. Which was located OVER THE DINERS!
When we got to Dave and Charika's house, they had the ceiling fans on in all the bedrooms. Calvin ran from room to room blowing on the fans from the doorway!
On the way home he worked on the windmills!
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