I've been tagged!

So it's taken me a while, but here (finally) is my response to being tagged by Tammie. I love this purse! I got it for my birthday from my mother-in-law, but have only recently started using it. It's great because it can double as a diaper bag, but I don't feel like I'm carrying a diaper bag when the kids aren't with me. Here's what hides out in there:
-sunglasses
-wallet
-checkbook
-notepad
-crayons
-diaper, wipes, diaper cream and plastic bags
-hand sanitizer
-disposable bibs
-flexi-straws cut to the right size for kids cups at restaurants (I have to say, one of my better parenting ideas!)
-package of dried fruit

As for who to tag, I have no idea who's been tagged and who hasn't. So if you have, great! If not, you have some work to do: Carrie, Ruth, Serena, Sarah, Amber.

Just like Timothy

Kassie will be 18 months old next week. Timothy is almost 3 1/2. Obviously no one has explained to Kassie that that is a 2 year age difference and that she is NOT as big as her brother. Not that it would slow her down any. This picture was taken as I was trying to get Timothy ready for preschool. He had his backpack on and we were ready to go, when Kassie grabbed another backpack and made it quite clear that she would not be leaving without it (see the post on her attitude towards fashion).
Now, I think being the second child has a lot of advantages for her. She is learning a lot of things sooner than Timothy did because she has his example. But really, enough is enough. As you can see from the second picture, she managed to cut her head in almost exactly the same spot as he d id 2 weeks ago! Thankfully, this one didn't require stitches, just a spiderman band-aid. That's my girl!

The After Shot

Here is the picture of Timothy after his stitches came out last Thursday. Luckily a good friend is in school to become a PA and offered to take the stitches out, saving us a trip to the doctor's office (thanks, Chris!). Timothy was great and just sat there while they came out. He was fascinated that they were blue!

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

While playing at a friends house on Saturday night, Timothy got a little wild. He was bouncing around on a chair, despite being told MANY times to get down. He tempted fate one too many times and ended up flipping over the arm of the chair and hitting his head on the ledge on the bottom of the chair. 2 hours and 5 stitches later, we were able to get our little jumping bean out of the KidsCare clinic and home. All things considered, he was very brave during the whole thing, but he is 3! (I'm sure you can imagine the scene). In true Timmy fashion, he caught on very quickly that this was a way to get some sympathy coming his way. All week, when asked what happened, he would hang his head, put his lower lip out and say "I fell." Maybe he'll follow Dad's footsteps into drama? Luckily, the stitches came out today and he is well on his way to having a small scar, although it shouldn't be too bad. Hopefully this will be a lesson that only has to be learned once!

P.S. We have a family website with LOTS of pictures on it. If you don't have the website address, leave me a post or email me and I'll email it to you. We just like to know who has access to it!

Pay Attention to Me!

So Timmy and I had sat down to play Mario. Timmy had his Wiimote without batteries; Kassie sat next to me with her XBox DVD controller (hey it's white and somewhat like a wiimote). As we started the game, Kassie would scoot closer and closer, until she was in my lap. Ok, fine, I can play with her in my lap.

She then stood up grabbed both my cheeks and nose-to-nose says "Hi."

Of course, in this time frame Timmy's saying, "No, Mario! Don't do that!" while Mario turns into a lemming and heads for the closest cliff.

I smile, sit her down in my lap again and start the level again. After a few rounds of lemming-ville Mario, Kassie wanders off and does her own thing. I actually thing she's addicted on the preliminary excitement with *Boing*s and finds the actual game a let-down.

Luckliy, Mario starts with 5 lives. 4 usually go to Kassie.

It's hard to argue with a cute kid that wants your attention.

Update:
After reading the above, I didn't want you to think that I ignore Kassie. After Mario, she jumped into my arms and directed me around the house. She actually requested we play 1-2-3-Go, which is one of Mom's least favorite games. More on that later.

I've been waiting for this!

Earlier today, I had something happen that I had always wanted.

I was in the process of getting ready, when Timmy came in.

Timmy: *Boing* *Boing* *Boing* Daddy, *Boing* Play *Boing* Mario! *Boing* *Boing *Boing*

Now, how do I react? While my first instinct was to scream: "YEAH ... YOU ROCK!" I instead went for the subtle route.

Dad: We should play one game, don't you you think? Hey Mom, Dad and Timothy are going to play one game of Mario, OK?
In my mind: YESSSS!

Timmy: *Boing* *Boing* *Boing* Yay! *Boing* Play *Boing* Mario! *Boing* *Boing *Boing*

Not only did I feel like a cool dad, but I started to want whatever mom had just fed him.

*Boing*

You can't have a fashion opinion?!?

My sweetheart was off to jury duty the other day and I became responsible for the kids until Grandma picked them up in the afternoon. We had a grand time at playing and I really thought that I had picked up some Dadad brownie points.

As the time was fast approaching, I told the kids that they had to get ready to go with Grandma. Everybody put on their socks and shoes and Kassie grabbed her jacket. I told Kassie that the jacket was too light and we'd be putting on her winter coat.

I'd never seen an 18-month old give a "Hell No!" until that specific moment in time.

While she never specifically uttered the words, her angry screams and refusal to cooperate were very clear. Add that to the fact that she would hold out the other coat to me as a peace offering and an intense look, and the message was clear. "My behavior is tied to the choice in coats. Choose wisely."

Obviously, I discovered that coat choice was an effective behavioral tool. I plan on letting her choose her coat in the future, in exchange for my happiness.