new school shoes... part 1

I got Carl a new pair of sneakers for school already. School doesn't start until mid August, I know, but you can't just walk into a store and find Big Kid sizes in character shoes. Well, you can find Transformers and Ben 10 and a bunch of wildly inappropriate choices for my 5 year old.

He wears a size 2 now and Disney sneakers aren't easy to find in size 1 or 2. Unless, you are an Ebay Goddess, as I am. Even that took me months to find a pair he approved of. He isn't as into Toy Story - so he wouldn't wear the Buzz Lightyear ones I had in my Watch bin for a long time. But, now that Cars 2 is out, people are clearing out their Cars (1) stuff and I found a brand new with tags (BNWT for those of you who are not Ebay Goddesses, as I am) pair of sneakers in Youth size 2, white with Lightning McQueen on them! And.... bonus..... they light up!!!!He loves them!!! These are size 2 and they don't even look that big on him! Now, I did have to pull out the "never say never" parenting thing yet again because these sneakers have velcro closures. I hate velcro on toddler shoes. You have daycare classes filled with tiny children who have been given the ability to remove their own shoes. It is not fun for the teachers who have to spend too big a percentage of their day putting shoes back on. Or - and I have back-up from the twins' pre-school teacher of 2 years on this one... you are trying to have circle time and you've got kids ripping open velcro just to make obnoxious noise during what should be a quieter listening time. Velcro and the under 5 set isn't productive for education.

But, we are heading to kindergarten and we are now 5.5. They want badly to tie their shoes, but I just haven't sat down and taught them yet. Add in Carl's small motor issues and I know they won't be ready to start school and tie their own shoes in August. So, I took the advice of therapists and friends who are teachers.... and went for the independence of velcro. I am also following this same advice and most of Carl's pants for the year are elastic waist pairs. He can do some snaps, not all snaps. Buttons are right out. I have been amazed at how many size 5 and smaller clothes have actual button closures for pants. Really? I seriously doubt my kid is the only child in the world struggling with these buttons at ages who wear those sizes.

So, for those of you looking closely - that is not really Cool Whip. It is filled with walnuts. The Triskits must be stale by now because someone brought them over for Thanksgiving, I think. You can see, we don't like Triskits. Why haven't I thrown them out? Dunno. Yes, that is a Costco bag of Nestles chocolate chips. And there are about 4 boxes of pumpkin muffin mix on that lower shelf next to the can of almonds and the industrial sized bag of craisins. Cat food on the floor in the big air tight containers - we have cats who require prescription food. The white topped containers have Molly's OM (Obesity Management) and the green topped ones have Angus' ID (intestinal distress). We buy it at the vet's and the cats love it. And, it keeps the kitty diarrhea away and so far has helped Molly drop about 5 pounds in one year! Well worth it. Big ol' Costco pretzels and a case of microwave popcorn on the floor, too. Popcorn from Walmart. Surprisingly, it is better priced there than Costco. Trust us. We do research.He had the underwear on before I went out to get the mail. Just happened to be Car movie underwear. Yes, that's all he had on. We had been out swimming in the yard. You've seen the pictures of water play.

Now, my next trouble is I have discovered that New Balance makes Sesame Street sneakers. They do have laces, but he really really likes them. I am bidding on a pair of Bert and Ernie now, but he keeps asking to see the Grover pair. He loves Grover and Super Grover. He is my kid. But, how many pairs of sneakers does one child need?

P.S. Part 2 will be when I get Gretchen a pair of Princess light up sneakers. She is already asking. Sauce for the Goose... sauce for the Gander, you know. I did tell her it will probably be a lot closer to the beginning of school because I can buy hers in a store. And Carl is not allowed to wear his outside until school starts. He has a pair of sneakers that fits him fine now. These Lightning McQueen ones are new school shoes.

flashback

It started with this photo. June 19, 2007. 18 months old.
Then, I came across this shot that I had to share, too. Look at the curls!!! May 28, 2008. 2.5 years. Then Carl and Gretchen spotted this one and Carl thought it was a riot. "That one is so funny!" Gretchen was confused about how they knew to sit "criss-cross-applesauce" when they were babies. June 7, 2007. 18 months old.And finally, 3 shots of Carl in bathing suits. 2007, 2009, 2011.

triple digit heat indices

We are not fans of them. But, we make the best of it......

photos taken 6/24-27/11

I tried to poison them

My kids are fussy eaters. Well, they are, but then when I talk to some parents, at least my kids eat a variety of fruits, vegetable, proteins and carbs. Just not a large list of each.

Soup is not on their list of Likes.

But, in Harris Teeter, they each decided that they would like to try soup. Chicken Noodle soup. They each chose a can with designer noodles. It was on sale... 2 cans for $4.00. Soup got expensive.
AH... still anxiously awaiting the yummy soup!! ♫ "Campbell's soup is good food". ♫ They carried these cans around for a whole day - playing with them and getting psyched for soup!!!

If you look closely, you will see the steam. And, if you look even more closely, you will notice that we have one of the flat top stoves that is slid into the spot. I cut off the knobs in this photo - those are on the front of the stove - on that white strip in the lower right hand corner of this picture. I had to remove the knobs because the kids had full access to them. Apparently designed by someone without kids. But, the annoying part is that the stove is the slide in kind and therefore will be very expensive to replace. Now, the really annoying part is that the stove had started to settle or drop or fall or something. It has tilted itself forward probably less than 1/4". Just enough to make the stove shut itself into it's front lower drawer. We cannot get into the drawer at all. We used to be able to. We have stuff in there I would like to use. But, until we figure out how to raise up the stove, it stays closed to me. So... if you ever build - do NOT install one of these slide in stoves.

Princess noodles... see the glass slipper on the right hand side - about 4 o'clock?

Carl gets his bowl of Spongebob soup.

Gretchen eating hers out of guilt.

She managed to choke down all the noodles. I think that is a smile.

Carl ended up eating pretzels for lunch.

Gretchen's noodle free bowl.

Carl's untouched bowl. I did try to get one Spongebob noodle into his mouth. It touched his lips only and he gagged! Oh, the drama! Remember - THEY chose this meal!

I ended up throwing out both cans of it. But, luckily, I didn't have to have anyone's stomach pumped from the incident.

Don't feel too bad. They won't eat a cheese sandwich either. So much for Soup & Sandwich.

neat blog to share

I just found this blog (if you read 'whatever' in my side list there, you have already seen it. Thanks to Meg for sharing it.) It seems like it only started about a month ago. I hope they are receiving enough submissions to be able to continue.

Check out DearPhotograph.

Now that you are back from looking at it, go dig out a box of old photographs and plan to recreate one. I know I am surely going to try this summer when we visit NY. Wouldn't it be neat to find the pictures of Nanny's swing set by the side porch and go over to that house and ask if we could snap a photo there?

I'm at least going to find Lizzy & Kenny by the shed out back. OO - or Roddy eating cereal at the kitchen table when he was 1. Or him with the hose out front. Hey - why am I not picturing any shots of me?

Father's Day 2011

grandfathers

Just flipping through folders on the computer and found 2 photos I thought I'd share.

This first one of Lew's father, Ted paired with Lew is pretty self explanatory.


This one of Kenny and Joey in December 2002 is funny because if you follow the arrows, you will see classic Big Ken. He's peeking in the window - posing when I didn't even realize it at the time.

Father's Day tradition

This collage is the history. 2006 to 2010.

and here are the 2011 Daddy's favorite work shirt photos.... this year, they decided to add his shoes. Carl loves that pair of shoes. Lew has 2 pairs of shoes he alternates when he doesn't have to have steel toed shoes on. Or, he used to alternate. Now, each morning, you will find Carl clomping around in "the circle work shoes" so Lew has to wear "the Dockers work shoes" and Carl can keep the "circle" pair home all day. They look just like Carl's "work shoes". That is not a coincidence.

So, they ran to get the shoes when we started taking the photos and then forgot to put them back. Imagine that - my kids not putting away something when they finish with it. Mind boggling. Anyway, when Lew got home he wanted to know why his work shoes were in the kitchen. Gretchen said, "Mommy, I don't want to spoil the Father's Day surprise, so I am not going to tell him, OK?"

I even got all four of them to pose for a photo! Cats love a good birds eye view shot!

the week in review... oh yeah, I'm doin' it

Said I wouldn't, but here you go....


Sunday, June 12th: stayed home. Swam in our pool. Carl sustained bee sting #3 of the season so far.

Monday, June 13th: stayed home. Swam in our pool.

Tuesday, June 14th: $1 movies at 10:00am with pre-school friends. $8 for popcorn. Kept Carl in his seat for the whole flick except for the 2 bathroom trips I had to take him on. Gretchen stayed with the friends and watched the whole movie. Saw Kung Fu Panda (one).

Wednesday, June 15th: play place has a Wednesday Deal. Play there from 9-11 and then you can swim in the city pool right there from 11-12 for free. We were the only 3 people to take advantage of this! We had 2 lifeguards and the entire pool to ourselves! Gretchen's new trick: jumping (with swim vest on) into 9 1/2 feet of water! Going under, of course, but loving it! Major move forward from last year!!! Carl's trick (was doing this last year, though, nothing new): sliding down huge slide or jumping into 9 1/2 feet of water with NO swim vest and swimming back to the ladder.

Thursday, June 16th: Dropped off Gretchen's form to be enrolled in the same school as Carl!!!! Woo Hoo!! We will not go down in history as the first family anyone has ever heard of who was denied sibling access!!!! Then went to Costco to get gas (pd $3.55 per gal - how does that compare to where you are?) and pick up my 20x30 canvas. Looks stunning!!! I'll put the picture on here. It will be shown in an exhibit of ribbon winning photos from my camera club. This exhibit is in a local artsy restaurant. We may, I said *may*, hire a sitter to go see it hanging in person! I can go to the Opening Reception to see in case the sitter thing won't pan out. (I currently have a photo on exhibit at the local university, too. That was chosen by our exhibit committee.) Both exhibits run through the summer.

Friday, June 17th: Yeah, prediction... we're heading to the Children's Museum for their Water Play Day.

Saturday, June 18th: Blueberry festival. Based on previous years of attending this event... I predict the temperature on Saturday will be 134*.

Happy Birthday, Grammie!

We love you!!!

Carl wrote the word "HAPPY" and did the paintings next to it. Gretchen wrote "BIRTHDAY GRAMMIE" and was responsible for coloring in the letters.

a Russian balalaika

Balalaika... read about it here on wikipedia.


Balalaika... see it in use here:

I love the motion of Carl's right hand in the top photo. And Gretchen's serious musician face in the second. Oh, and her toes. Check out how cute her little toes are.

Not everyone has a balalaika just laying (lalalaing?) around, I know. We have one because Lew's mother gave it to us a few years ago. It currently sits in the corner of our formal living room, behind the baby grand piano. It was waiting for a neat way to be displayed, but since Carl has decided that he needs to become "a banjo player", it has been pulled out (by the kids... I didn't even realize they knew it was back there) and played somewhat.

I am in the process of figuring out a banjo, too. I learned a little banjo in college and I'll admit, I'd love to own one and learn more. So, I'm intrigued by Carl's fascination with them. Both kids really enjoy folk music and traditional instruments. I'm asking around for piano teacher recommendations, too. One of Carl's therapist's mother teaches, but lives pretty far from us. She said she'd give me the name of someone closer to home.

And, I haven't told Lew yet, but Carl has been asking about a saxophone lick in a song he likes. One of us needs to pull that out and play it for him. Lew, I'm looking at you.

we have bunk beds, but...

we just aren't ready to give up the car beds yet.

They switch beds every so often, too. The yellow buggy car bed is the fav of both kids. So, they have to take turns. I'll tell you, the sheets are much much easier to change on the blue race car bed.

We bought the bunk beds a while ago. They are beautiful and the kids will love them. But, we haven't done the endless research for perfect mattresses that we must do. You know us. Don't think we can buy something as important as a mattress that keeps your back and body healthy all night long without researching them fully. Please, if you bought your own mattress by walking into one store, sitting on one mattress and paying for it..... do NOT tell me about it.

Besides, we just aren't ready to give up the cute car beds. No one's feet are hanging over the edge yet. Even when they share those beds with 10,000 stuffed animals. This night, Carl happens to have none in his bed. Not always true, though. Look, his (pretty geeky) slippers are right next to his bed. Just like Grampie's.

some things you may hear around our house:

1. Croc shoes are ugly!
2. Never say never.


OK, you will hear #2 a lot more often than #1. But, I still feel #1 is true. Gimme my stunningly gorgeous, fashion conscious Birkenstocks any day! Yes, the twins do have Birks and like to wear them.

But, kids at school don't wear Birkenstocks. They wear Crocs. Especially one little boy. Carl has been begging for "Croc shoes like *A* wears." Carl can be particular about his clothing. He is much fussier and more into choosing outfits than Gretchen is. Ask her what she wants to wear and she'll say, "How about a dress?" but she is open to whatever you show her. Carl, if left to his own devices, would wear a yellow button down oxford, Disney Perry (Phineas & Ferb character... which, by the way... we do not watch) underwear, shorts and his dress shoes. (*note* tune in next Wednesday to see this outfit in action.)

Well, each twin did get some sandals recently and I have been able to get Carl into wearing those. Or his Birks. Well, turns out, Gretchen's sandals are indeed Crocs, just not the classic ugly clog style. See where this is going? Gretchen has Crocs. *A* has Crocs. Carl wants Crocs.

wait, there's more...

Carl's mother is an ebay wizard.... Carl's father noticed the auction for the Crocs was ending soon and Carl's mother had not bid yet... Carl's father (or fadder, as Carl says) bought the Crocs. That was last Sunday afternoon. They arrived in Tuesday's mail! whoosh..... shipped at the speed of light! Take it from an Ebay Wizard - that is very fast shipping for an ebay item.

And now, Carl has Croc shoes! And he LOVES them! They are his favorite color. (Good thing he likes them so much, because *A*'s Crocs are green and I thought he was going to stick to wanting those.

Since we have always lived by "Never say never"..... we can say that we are happy we bought Carl his new shoes. He loves them!!! And I love him!!! And, yes, these are a touch cute ...ON HIM. Not on grown-ups. You will not see me jumping on the ugly Croc bandwagon any time soon.

These pictures were taken on Tuesday after getting his new shoes in the mail. (and after I washed them... ebay wizards know the importance of washing items received in the mail.)

Friday fun!

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