Aftermath

This is what happens if you spend too much time listening to your kids, and not enough time watching. You can't really see but there is apple butter smeared all over the table.

Good Conversation

One of my favorite things about being a mom is listening to my children talk to each other when they think I can't hear. The topics vary widely, depending on who it is. If the boys are there, invariable the language turns to "bathroom humor." The stories are all about adventures and pirates, good guys and bad guys, and every other word is "poop." They can manage to work that word into any story. Wynnie is all about princesses and Barbies, and retells the stories she knows, and still the boys manage to sneak a "poop" or two into those stories. I especially enjoy when Esme is with them. Tuck doesn't really involve her, after all, she takes the focus away from him. Danner is very cute with her. He is always trying to involve her in everything. He gets too close, tries to manipulate her body, blows rasberries all over her and basically doesn't pay attention to what she wants and needs, all the time asking her "Do you like this Es?" Wynnie is the only person in her life that talks to her like a person. When Esme gets in her way she says "Go away Es" and when she has something she wants to share she says "Do you want some Es?" If all you could do was hear her you would think she was speaking with someone her own age. I especially like it when they are seemingly alone together and Wynnie thinks it's her job to make Esme laugh. Wynnie tells joke after joke, and relates funny story after funny story and Esme just ignores the heck out of her. While Esme's grasp of language is pretty early, badly constructed knock-knock jokes are a bit out of her reach. After a little while Wyn gives in and just starts making funny faces and playing peek-a-boo. Now this Esme understands and will laugh and clap appreciatively.

Goals

So, I was writing down some of my goals for the next few months and the kids got really into it. Since they seemed sooo interested in giving me ideas for my goals (and no, I don't think having ice cream for dinner every night is a good goal to have) I decided to let them write their own. Tuckerby, not being stupid, realized this was a ploy to do more work and left the room at the first opportunity. So here they are:

Danner

1. Learn to read.

2. Go bear hunting in winter.

3. Go camping.

4. Practice riding a bike.

5. Make my bed every day (and yes I made him put this one).

Eowyn

1. Make my bed every day (she just copied Danner).

2. Read with Mommy every day.

3. Find Easter Eggs.

I've decided that it is a very good thing to have goal-oriented children. Now, if only I were willing to help them accomplish all things, but hunting a bear (especially in winter) is a little out of my realm of abilities.

We Have Ghosts!

Last night we had the most amazing moon. It was big, round, and very bright. The whispy clouds floating in front made the most beautiful tapastry on the ground. My dogs were out voicing their appreciation, probably scaring the bejeezers out of any animal withing five square miles. I'm pretty certain of this because at about 11pm I had two very scared little boys running into the living room. "There's ghosts outside Mom!" "I keep hearing oooooooo." I'm still not sure if they believed me when I told them it was just the dogs and sent them back to bed. I'm also fairly certain they think I'm rather callous since I think they were just trying to stay up and watch the Olympics. Yeah Michael Phelps!

Funny Title Here

Bill took us up the mountain to practice shooting a few days ago. Here's a few pics from the trip:Isn't she lovely?
Isn't she won-der-ful?
Tuck aims very carefully.
Danner has his own unique style.
Even I hit my target! (No, it wasn't Billy)

Bikes

Tuckerby has finally learned how to ride a bike. Of course, it's his brother's bike. Maybe the lower center of gravity helps him balance better.

Of Butterflies and Boats

Wynnie finally got her Barbie Mariposa dress. She's worked very hard to earn it by being dry in the morning for fourteen days. Now we just have to work on her being dry in her underwear. Maybe next time she can get the actual Barbie. Mariposa is her favorite, she would watch the movie six times a day if she could. Unfortunately her Mom can't.

Here's Wynnie flying.

Trying out the new boat. Everyone can fit into this one. We can't wait to take it out. It will be really cool to go out on the Sound, or fishing up at the lake. And Heaven knows it will be a lot easier for Bill, not having to row and all. Yeah motors!