Just Another Week

It seemed to be another week of battling wills.

Example 1:
Jacob: "I'm going to bite you."
Carri: "Excuse me!?!" ... rapidly walking toward him which signals either a time out or a spanking...
Jacob: "I just need to defend myself."

O.k., so we watch a lot of nature programs and talk often about predators and prey.

Example 2:
Jacob: "Mom, you are bossy."
Carri: "That is part of my job description, mom = boss."
Jacob: "I think James is the boss some times."
Carri: "Jacob, you are correct!"

FLASH BULLETIN, Making Progress!
Wasn't I just asking, "When do kiddos start wiping on their own?" Jacob pulled out his "Potty Time" book this week and said he wanted to be just like the little boy in the book. He proceeded to insist on wiping his own bottom two days in a row. I must say, he is doing a decent job of it too :)

Ending on a oh so cute (although maybe Chris didn't think so...) note:

Last weekend we did tons of yard work and Chris began his preparation for opening fishing day (tomorrow). Jacob is Chris' constant helper. He was "helping" with daddy's tool box. He also helped get the fishing gear ready. One flaw. Jacob thought Chris' reel looked like a yo-yo. It took Chris an hour to get the line straightened out! May my boys snag a big trout this weekend. :)


VIDEOS of my GUYS:

Cousin Power!

Jacob had a BLAST with his grammie, pap pap, and cousins. (By the way... Jacob is going through a no-smile at the camera phase :) He really did have lots of FUN!

Easter 2009- Full of Fun

Jacob came into our room around 6:30 am all excited... "the Easter Bunny came, the Easter Bunny came!" Here is what followed:

Oh Poop!

I am sure all mothers can relate to the following: poop, poop and more poop! A few "poopy" moments to relay from the week:

I. Poopy Moment #1:
Jacob: "Old McStinky had a farm... "
Jacob: "Mom, you are a poopy-head"
Carri: "I assure you Jacob mommy has very clean hair, just washed this morning."
Jacob: "Mom you are a poopy-head"

My new motto (after weeks of similar "dialog"): If you can't fight 'em, join 'em.

Carri: "You are a... Poopy Whisker Pants"
Jacob: Fits of laughter. I laugh too.

II. Poopy Moment #2:
Turning poop into a teaching moment, as only a mother of young boys can, my observation: Poopy banter actually provides an opportunity for practicing verb tenses.

III. Poopy Moment #3:
I am surrounded by three of the most regular boys, a blessing and a well... a lot of poop. Chris and I joke that Jacob can poop anywhere (rest stops, restaurants, you name it!), it is truly amazing. We are thankful that he is toilet trained. He still needs us to wipe (when does that end?), but we will take it! James is now eating big-boy food and is a pooping machine. His latest favorite place to poop is in the bath- yep, 3 nights in a row. Joy of joys.

Imagine this: Jacob: "Mom, James just pooped!" Carri: "Boys out of the tub, I've got to bleach things out." James still pushing poop out . Jacob screaming/laughing: "Gross, mom look, James has a brown log coming out of his fanny." At this point I've managed to get James out of the tub and lay him on a towel next to the tub. James is grunting. Jacob declares: "mom, I've gotta go poop." I manage to get him situated on the toilet. The bathroom is smelling just lovely by this point. The grunting has stopped. The tub is bleached out. "Mom I'm done, I need a wipe." Two fannies cleaned and back into the tub they go.

Oh, the poopy adventures of motherhood.


AS to end on a SWEET note, here is a video of Jacob "reading" Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear.

Easter Countdown

It seems as though we have been talking about Easter since Christmas (we measure time using the Holidays- 3 year old style) and it is nearly here. Honestly I don't think Jacob really gets Easter. First, Jesus dying and coming alive again- how confusing is that to a 3 year old or in his words, "how silly." Second, the Easter bunny-basket thing he apparently forgets from last year. Believe you me, come Sunday there will be no confusion, at least on the basket-bunny part. Easter might become his favorite holiday... although Halloween is hard to pass-up for a candy lover like Jacob.

Favorite quote of the week:
Mom (Carri): "Do you know who is coming to our house on Sunday?"
Jacob: "My cousins!" (note the Easter bunny confusion)


Grammy Diane and Pap Pap are coming for a visit next week and bringing cousins Cassy and Cody. Jacob is sooooo excited. Cousins are more exciting than the Easter Bunny! It is the BIG countdown... "How many more naps until my cousins come?"

O.K. I have two favorite quotes this week.
Jacob: "Boys die when they eat breakfast."
Mom (Carri): "Jacob, what do you mean when somebody dies?"
Jacob: "... when someone goes down the chimney or catches on fire."

Favorite story this week:
Jacob has a new favorite cartoon, Agent Oso (cute little bear, kind of like Kung Fu Panda, who helps kids learn new things). Well, needless to say I got the theme song stuck in my head and could not stop singing the chorus.... ready... "...three special steps, three special steps." I know, hard to translate in a blog. Bare with me, here comes the funny part. Jacob asked me why I kept singing "...three special steps." I told him that I just could not get the tune out of my head. He asked me "what side?" After I thought for a minute, (ah! to get into the mind of a three year old) I lowered my head and pointed to the right side of my head. He reached his little hands under my hair and declared "got it!" I said "why thank you Jacob."

Milestones:
Jacob our little chatter-box. Something has happened over the last month or so. Other parents had warned us that it would happen. Jacob has arrived, he talks non-stop. Some of his chatter is pretty neat, like his imaginative stories and songs. That said, I've heard this saying and so appreciate it NOW: "You can't wait for them to talk and then you can't wait for them to shut-up."

James has mastered "up"... my heart just melts as he raises his puggy little arms way up high in the air and smiles. James has two more teeth- total of four sharp teeth now.








In closing for the eve before Easter... Jacob just woke-up from his nap. En route to find me he made a stop by his preschool froggy Easter basket. He approached me with a guilty look on his face and giggled. He confessed: "mom I had stinky breath, so I had to get some chocolate."





Hoppy Easter Eve.

One of Those Weeks

This week has been busy!

Both Chris and I were swamped with work, that time of year for sure. The boys were both sick, which does not help the cause either (less sleep all around). Jacob was a mix of "oh so cute" and "oh so much trouble" this week.

Highlights from the week:

• Jacob completed a puzzle all by himself (A FIRST!)
• Jacob threw a 3...almost 4 year old-sized tantrum at a local restaurant. The cause might you ask... candy of course! He wanted candy before eating lunch. I managed to drag him out of the restaurant and home where he went straight to bed without lunch for the entire afternoon. Another mini-tantrum before dinner- back to bed he went. As Chris would say, "I broke that horse." I added: "...for today."
  
• Jacob created a master piece, his "art project" that let's just say could be entered at the MOMA (for Burney that is...). He was quite serious about the whole thing mind you.

• The Intermountain moms took all of their kiddos to the Cascade Theatre in Redding to see the Spring Dance Project (Carri, Janelle, Michelle, Karen and Stefanie + 2 kids each). Thai food and the park followed the production.

• The Pirosko Family took a family photo. It should be a classic as Jacob kept a constant scowl on his face the entire photo shoot (despite our best bribes!). We tried a repeat family photo at home- finally he smiled!

• In preparation for the BIG Family Photo Shoot... new hair cuts all around:

• We started some signs this week with James... he is starting to do "up" and "all finished".
  
• We have officially entered the: "Poopy-this and poopy-that..." stage with Jacob. Nice huh, especially when he is telling his little friends that he is going to poop on them. Lovely, just lovely.

• We enjoyed dinner with friends (Adams out at the Hatchery last Friday eve and Howes House here in Burney last night) and even attended a Murder Mystery Dinner (benefit for local hospital Foundation) last Saturday. James was the only baby in attendance, and a perfect angel I must say :) Jacob had fun with Kenny and Von at their grammy's house.

• Both boys battled colds while Chris and I loaded up on vitamin C, tea, O.J., and Zicam (like airborne). Tune in next week to see if our remedies kept us cold-free (oh please!).

In closing, a few funny preschool stories that I simply must share. I took Jacob to preschool this week (Chris usually does). I stayed for about an hour both days. Day 1: Incident #1: Jacob was "sharing" his dinosaur vitamin that he'd stuffed in his pocket at breakfast. I don't know how many kids managed to admire his vitamin before I came onto the scene. Incident #2: while brushing teeth with his preschool friends, I observed my dear son scrubbing the sink with HIS toothbrush. I embarrassed Jacob with my horror and reprimand. Day 2: Not even 5 minutes after arriving, a little girl throws-up amongst the runny-nosed preschoolers who just had to be constantly touch Jacob's little brother's hair and face and arms and... Did I mention snot? Oh the immune system challenges! May this week bring you and yours HEALTH.