Believe it or not ...

Schools are closed AGAIN tomorrow.













This is John and Troy enjoying the weather. Tomorrow will be DAY 3 of sledding if the weather holds. UNbelievable.

Big Snow!

According to Betty & Bob across the street, we got 6-8 inches and the whole state is shut down. They watch the news a lot. We don't.

But we do get outside no matter what.  Brian borrowed an old sled from our backyard neighbor, Ed, and John and all his neighborhood buddies (read: the grown men) spent the day sliding down the driveway, across the street (there wasn't that much traffic), precariously past Bob & Betty's van, through their gate, and into their backyard. I tried this once, but since two people ended up with minor bleeding injuries, it just didn't seem worth it.

Left to right this is Brian holding Sam, Bradley, Molly holding Millie, John and Troy, and then John and Annie out front.

Sam doesn't care much for snow. 

SNOW DAY!

Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow

At some point recently, John-John figured out how to differentiate between all past time and "yesterday." It may have something to do with him having a calendar in his room, which he meticulously goes to every morning (with a red pen) and marks off each day with a shaky-hand X.

At any rate, it seems like a big deal in my mind because (a) it's a big boy thing and (b) I can't trick him as much.

He is just so big these days -- perhaps because Sam is so little these days?

Yesterday, he was quiet in his room before school. So I hollered, from my nursing position on the couch, "What are you doing?"

"Just playing with Black Goldy," he replied.

"Oh. What game are you playing?" I ask.

"Tag."

"Hmmm. So, are you touching him?"

"No ma'am."

"OK good."

"He just keeps getting away."

Nice.

So, this morning I snuck in to watch the tag game (apparently it's a morning post-feeding tradition between them). I thought maybe he'd have his entire hand in the tiny bowl sloshing water around on his rug and furniture. No no. Nothing that simple. He had a magnetic dart stuck down in there sloshing water around on his rug and furniture.

He then sensed me, looked up, said, "Don't tell Dad," and promptly stuck the dart in his mouth, awaiting my response.

What could I say? On so many levels, this anecdote illustrates John-John so, so well. 

Next, he skipped out of his room into the TV room and said, "HEY MOM TODAY'S A BACKYARDIGANS DAY I KNOW BECAUSE IT'S A PATTERN ON NICK ONE DAY FRESH BEAT BAND THE NEXT BACKYARDIGANS FRESH BACK FRESH BACK FRESH BACK!!!"

And he was right. So now as I'm typing, he's belting out the theme song, and -- could it be? -- harmonizing part of it? -- while simultaneously racing his monster truck around on my yoga mat.

I just love him.

No School Tomorrow!

There's a possibility of snow, so all my boys will be home! Not sure if that's good or not. I'll keep you posted.

Guess Who!

BMB!

This game is called "Pin The Cat Tail."

It lasted 45 minutes.

Nobody even cried.

We got a pet.

We were worried because John-John was starting to say things like, "We need a new dad. One who's not allergic to pets."

So we got a fish. Black Goldy.

Tonight, he read him a story, Are You My Mother (which he knows by heart).

But while he read, I could not help but notice his eyelashes and that spot of toothpaste on his left mouth corner.

And then we discussed about how fish often have short lives, which quickly turned to what will we do with him when he dies?  Can we compost him?  Flush him?  Ooh!  Maybe we'd dig him up one day right beside a tomato plant!  Or, flushing him would be like sending him for a ride down a really cool big boy waterslide!!!

Good luck, BG.

This was superfun until the matter of unreachable puke occurred.

Herein Lies the Sleeping Problem

Note the EMPTY co-sleeper on the right.

The brilliance of free speech

Wish I had thought of this after NorthWORST Airlines broke my breastpump:

Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines. United damaged his treasured Taylor guitar during a flight.. Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused by baggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar.




During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for Youtube exposing their lack of cooperation.



The Manager responded : "Good luck with that one, pal".



So he posted a retaliatory video on Youtube. The video has since received over 6.5 million hits. United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video.



Naturally his response was: "Good luck with that one, pal".



The Taylor Guitar Company sent the musician 2 new custom guitars in appreciation for the product recognition from the video that has lead to a sharp increase in orders.



Taylor Guitars, CNN and other news media organizations got involved (see other YouTube clips).



Here's the video - it's worth watching especially if you like Country & Western music. .....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&nr=1

Two Months of the Sambino

There are things in his dreams that are funnier and scarier than anything in his real life.  Laugh out loud funny and scream in terror.  What I would give to know them.

Here are some other things I know about him:

• Nurses like a piglet (rooting, grunting, snorting -- as if he were one of many vying for a spot)
• Witching hours (7 to 10 p.m.)
• Dimple on left side
• Forehead like his daddy
• Loves the bouncy seat
• Able to say "hey" and "hi"
• Easy to love

Today at his 2 month checkup he was 10 pounds 13 ounces and 24 inches long. That's 25th percentile in weight and 50th in height. Doc said he's gonna have big feet and be a genius.

And then they stuck two needles in his legs which contained way more "safe" vaccines than I'm comfortable with. But then again I do not want to end up in the ICU with pneumococcal meningitis.

Currently, he's sleeping it off and I'm doing laundry in an effort to avoid more cracked hampers. If you put enough stuff in them, they crack. Who knew?

Ah, my life.

There are 19 or so of them ...

... and he knows where each of them came from and who's fastest.

Quote of the Day

John: "Mom! Did you know that Lightning McQueen is faster than Speed Racer?"

Me: "No! How do you know -- did they have a race?"

John: "Yeah. Back in the 1980s."

Late Christmas in Mississippi

Towelhead

All My Children

This is for you, Jane.

I may have to eat him; he's so delicious.

My Boys

Guess who!

Is it John or Sam?

It's Winter ONEderland (as in one inch)

The Alphabet