Potty Language: A Primer

You could learn a lot from a six-year-old when it comes to potty language. Take tonight's bathroom conversation, for example. This occurred when I walked in while Jake was using the potty.

Jake: Mom, guess what? I just farted, and it was like 'pfffft!'

Me: Jake, honey, don't say that word. There's a more polite was to say it.

Jake: What is it?

Me: Umm...well, it's not the technical term, but it's more polite to say 'pass gas.'

Jake: Oh. Okay. Mom, guess what? I just passed gas, and it was like 'pffffft!'


Anyway, it's a start...

Barney article: I wish I'd written this

Anyone else still have kids that love Barney? Or are we alone in this here? We refused to let Jake ever watch, only to find that Annie's first word, as soon as she popped out, was "Barney!"

Anyway, Ike pointed me to this article this morning. It's in the same vein as the conversation I had with a friend yesterday. An argument, actually, over which Wiggle is cuter and who is better: Steve or Joe.

It's a weird nostalgia, born of too much children's television programming. From here on out, Annie and I will watch soap operas and Dr. Phil every day. In the hopes that she'll have childhood memories like mine: of boring old men like Judge Wapner and Phil Donahue*.




*For my mom's sake, I should add that these television memories don't come from her, but from various babysitters and an aunt. I think Mom really did bake cookies and do crafts with me all day...

For Caitlin, Who Is As Cool As Me

Here, Caitlin. Try this one: Name the Presidents

4 minutes 53 seconds.

Worth It...

Tonight, after another grueling day of almost-two-years-old-hood, Annie reminded me of why we do this.

"Goodnight, Annie. I love you. God bless you."

"Tank you, Mama. Bleth you, Mama. Night night, mama."

And then she blew me a kiss.

Yes, it's all worth it. Excuse me while I go change out of this cookie-stained shirt and rummage through the house for all the sour-milk sippy cups...

**By the way, lest I forget, Annie got her first haircut today!! Yes, we saved the hair. :)

Geographical fun...

4m 2s

Click here to try the quiz.

That was with help from Ike. I guess I'd better stick with grammar...

Our Tiger Cub

Jake has his uniform, complete with patches. He's very proud.

We might as well be Methodist

The Quigleys have suddenly found themselves at a local Methodist Church almost daily. Between Tiger Scout meetings, pumpkin shopping, and...okay, that's all, but it seemed like a lot until I typed it.

Have I mentioned that Jake is now a Tiger Cub? Don't worry, there will be pictures once his shirt comes back with his patches sewn on. And if I haven't mentioned the popcorn he's selling...let me know if you're interested... Last night marked his third meeting (although the pool party hardly counted as a meeting). Annie and I tagged along to see what it was all about. Here's what it's about: First grade boys, some with little to no self-control, learning to pay attention and listen. It's pretty amazing to watch the Scout Leader keep these boys in line. Jake, of course, had no problem listening and doing what he was supposed to (it'd be bragging only if it weren't true). I was happy to see that the Scout Leader noticed Jake's manners and complimented him on them (also letting him go first in the woodwork painting activity). There's nothing more aggravating than seeing all the attention go to the kids who aren't listening....

Anyway, here's the disappointing thing about Cub Scouts: they don't get to hunt and kill their own food. Now, you might think that'd be a relief, and I suppose that for me as a mom, it is a bit of a relief. However, a few of the boys seemed a bit let down. I don't know what they'd been told, but as the Scout Leader told them a few things they'd be doing as Tiger Cubs, one boy yelled out, "Will we get to hunt and kill our own food??"

Uhh...no. The answer was no, but "we'll hunt canned goods from people's front porches for Urban Ministries."

When the Scout Leader told the boys that they'd be having a "bear hunt" during a future meeting, another boy shouted, "Will we get to kill it???"

Umm...no. Again, the answer was no. Oh well.

So, today we went back to the same Methodist church to pick out pumpkins. And yes, of course there are pictures.

Laughing at Daddy's futile efforts to get them to pose.


Annie pausing from her hard work...rearranging all of the small pumpkins.


Jake's real smile.


Light reading on the way home from the Pumpkin Patch.

Ike's New Theme Song

Ike asked that I post the daddy song, since I posted the mommy song last night. Enjoy. :)

My New Theme Song

Thanks to Snoa for the email. I couldn't resist sharing it. :)

She doesn't post in forever, and when she does, it's the cutest picture ever.

It's a miracle. I got Annie's hair fixed. For five minutes, before she pulled the bands out...