Josh the Artist

Josh drew this giraffe for me today during church.  It's so darling I could just cry.  I am especially fond of its satisfied smile and vestigial fifth leg.  It's on the fridge right now, but I think it will be moved to a place of honor on the front of my Relief Society binder.

Lance thinks we should get him in art classes instead of piano.  I don't know about that, but there's no rule that says we can't do art in addition to music.

Darlingness.

Regression

For whatever reason, Cole has decided to stay pooping in his pants again.  It's happened three times this week, so I know there's no way it's just an accident.  One of us is not gonna survive if this lasts very long.

The internet is acting stupid so I can't blog on my computer and am stuck with the stupid autocorrect of my phone.  Maybe the internet is regressing, too?

The first words out of Josh's mouth were complaints about the lunch I packed him.  I about threw the lunchbox at him because the child will not eat ANYTHING I prepare for him.  I am seriously tempted to send him to school with only bread and water tomorrow.

I've told all of the children that they are banished to the basement until I make dinner, which I'm starting now because I have a hankerin' for hot rolls, which are not only delicious but also very therapeutic to make.

The end.

p.s. This is my angry "no more pooping in pants" and "make your own dang lunch" face. Just in case you couldn't tell.

A Naptime Story

Tess has been having major issues lately with going to bed.  As in kicking and screaming and generally freaking out.  That girl does NOT want to sleep!  Oh, she most definitely needs the sleep, but she doesn't want to miss out on a single thing.  If anyone else is awake, Tess thinks she needs to be as well.

Too bad, Tess.

I'm still bigger, stronger, and smarter than you, so a nap and a reasonable bedtime you shall have!

Today, after wrestling her out a dirty diaper and into a clean one, I thought naptime might be a bit smoother if we read a few books first.  This has worked about 50% of the time in the past.

Tess would not sit on my lap, so I just sat on the floor and started reading.  With a loud "NOOOOOOOO!" she would swoop down, steal the book, and throw it across the room.

The theatrics entertained me to no end.

But after the third time I decided it was time for a different tactic.  Because I'm a mean, mean mom who likes to push the buttons of her toddlers.

Me: Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Tess.

Tess: NOOOOOOO!

Me: Tess didn't like to take naps.  She didn't want to take a nap even though she was really, really sleepy.  Whenever her mommy said "It's time for a nap!" Tess would yell... (*pause*)

Tess: NOOOOOOO!

(At this point she was on the floor, wrapping herself in the curtains.)

Me: Tessie didn't like to go to bed at night, either.  Every time her daddy said "It's time for night-night!" Tess would yell... (*pause*)

Tess (Totally on cue.  The girl knew what she was doing.): NOOOOOOO!

Me: One day Tess's mom said "Maybe we should go to the park.  But Tessie is too tired to go to the park, so we can't go.  Too bad she didn't take a nap."  Tessie asked Mommy if they could go to the park.  Mommy said... (*pause*)

Tess (whispering): Yessssss...

Me: NOOOOOOO!

Tess (sitting up indignantly): NOOO!  No like story.  No Mommy.  No bed!  NO STORY!!

At which point it was time for bed.  

Spongebob Puzzle

Rainy days are for puzzles, especially those of the Spongebob variety.

Play Doh Pies

Rainy days like this are for Play Doh Pies and hot chocolate with your lunch.

Halloween Festivities

Halloween was chock full of activities.

Not that I photographically documented all of them.

But I did get a few.

First thing in the morning Cole's preschool had a costume parade.  Cole, in true Coley form, refused to wear his costume.  He put his hat on at the last minute.

I thought it was interesting they had the parade in their chapel.  (They call it a "sanctuary", but potato-potahto.) Cole is easily the tallest child in the class, and that's without the giant minion hat.

Classic Cole.  Sheesh.

After the parade Tess and I went over to our church where a little preschool party was held.  It was mostly for a group of women in the ward that have their own preschool group, but they let Tess and I crash.  (I thought about doing the group for Tess, but it just wasn't in the cards this year.  Too much else going on, and I'm pretty sure Tess doesn't care.)  We danced and played games and ran around and then had a light lunch.  All those little people at that little table was just too cute!

That night we had dinner with our good friends the Reams.  This is the solitary picture I have of the event.

*sigh* Well, the dip was mighty tasty, if I do say so myself.

We tried to get some pictures of all the kiddos, but they were far too excited to get started trick-or-treating.

For whatever reason Tess really wanted her flag with her.  She's a very patriotic crazy purple minion.

As you can tell, Bergen was SUPER excited!  (haha)

Cole and Tess were both really into trick-or-treating this year.  It really is a lot more fun when they get what's going on.

In true Coley fashion, he blatantly refused the granola bars that this house was passing out. (*embarrassed parent facepalm*)

Fortunately, Tess and Cole are still young enough that we only had to take them around the circle and they were done.  Lance stayed home with them to pass out candy while Craig, Gigi, and I braved the rain and took the older kids up and down Canyon Creek Dr.  They were pretty worn out once we were done, which is surprising because I remember going much further when we trick-or-treated!  (Or maybe it just seemed that way since I was a kid...)

I later learned that when Lance couldn't answer the door in time Cole would open it up and yell "Hey!!  What are you doing at my house??!" And then slam the door in their faces.

That boy...

Guess the trick was on them.

Happy Halloween!

How to Turn A Boy Sweater Into A Girl Sweater

Ta-da!

(Side note: Josh used to wear this sweater to church all the time when he was a rotten Sunbeam.  It seemed appropriate.  Tess will be able to fit it soon, and it will also seem appropriate.  Oy.)