hilarious kids

This first picture isn't very funny, but Kate was having a meltdown and I took her picture. She was looking at Colin because he was dancing around like a goof. She looked really cute and really sad.

Last night while I was making dinner Kate was playing down by my feet. I knew she had emptied out the washrag drawer, but I didn't pay attention to what she was doing with it. She was busy putting every single bib over her head, and it was super hilarious. She was so serious about it, and she started to get mad when she couldn't get the last few over her head without help. I have some of it on video too, but I stink at uploading videos. I also liked that she was wearing only a onesie and crocs.

At bedtime we were playing with the kids trying to get them in their pajamas. Colin wouldn't stop running around in his underpants. Kate was in just her diaper hiding behind the stuffed animal bin. I have hilarious video of that too, but again, you won't get to see it at this point in time.

Yesterday we went to the Sunflower Market and the kids got a balloon. Kate was scared of hers, but Colin loved his. Today when the balloons had deflated a bit Kate decided hers was okay.

I got some nice static cling going with Kate's hair, and she was like a cat chasing her tail trying to get that balloon off.

Colin felt left out, so I stuck a balloon to his head too.

I guess balloons are fun to hug and kiss.

new post

So, we went to Iowa on vacation. I don't have any pictures to prove it, but we were there and we had a good time. I blame the lack of pictures on sheer exhaustion on my part. Pregnancy plus a nasty cold plus a distraught daughter kind of wore me out. Nate stayed busy helping his brother-in-law with house projects. Colin had fun playing with his cousins (as long as he knew his dad was close by). Kate did not adjust well, and pretty much stayed latched on to me with a pacifier in her mouth. I got to shop and spend time with my sisters-in-law, all of whom I love dearly. I didn't get to snuggle my new niece and nephew as much as I would have liked, but I didn't want to share my germs. I-80 was shut down forcing us to stay over in Rawlins, WY on our way out. The car trip was long and arduous, but we survived. Colin asked to go to his Granny's house and not to his house when we got back. Kate hugged everything in sight once she got home, smiling at and talking to her toys and books. Colin still talks about his cousins and wants to go back to play with them. I'm glad we got to go visit, but I'll be happier to see everyone out here when they come on vacation!

Oh, and I had my 20 week ultrasound appointment today. Since we weren't planning on finding out the gender, and since the appointment was right in the middle of the day, I went by myself and Nate went to work and the kids stayed with Nana. I stayed strong and didn't peek, so I still don't know whether we're having a boy or a girl. I do know that the baby is healthy and growing and human, and that's enough for me right now. I'm really looking forward to that special moment when this kid is born and we get to meet him or her for the first time. I expect it will be different than it was with Colin and Kate, going in knowing beforehand that we were having a girl or boy and having a name picked out and everything.

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks. Sorry, I really have been sick and haven't taken many pictures. The weather was nice for a few days, and the kids got used to playing outside everyday, until 5 inches of snow were dumped on us yesterday. Sorry kids!

Colin loves those socks. And apparently he likes looking super classy.

Nate and Colin pretending to sleep. Colin isn't doing a very good job. I couldn't convince Kate to get down there with the boys.

She did let me get one picture of her in her princess jammies though. Super cute.

Kate wouldn't cooperate for a picture on Friday. She looked so adorable, but she only wanted to hold the camera, not smile in front of it. She even had a bow on her ponytail at one point. I'm really looking forward to her hair growing out more so she can look more grown up and less homeless.

And here is Colin trying to put on his necklace. Still keeping in super classy.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that something so beautiful was made by me and Nate. He is so much better looking than his parents.

outdoors n stuff

The weather has been nice enough lately for us to play outside. Huzzah! Unfortunately, we have also been too sick to enjoy the nice weather far too often. We're on the mend now, and hopefully the weather will continue to cooperate because the kids have loved going outside.

I think Colin was getting ready to go outside here. He was very proud of how handsome he looked and wanted his picture taken.

The tools have emerged! I think they were buried under the snow all winter.

I took about 50 pictures of Kate just trying to get her to look at me. This is like the only one where she did. Her eyes looked so pretty out in the sunshine.

Kate really liked the mud. It was not so fun to get off of her.

She got really upset when her shoes got stuck in the mud and she couldn't move. Ha.

Kate won't leave bows in her hair. I tried to tell her how pretty she looked, but she still wanted to take the flower out and look at it for herself.

What a good little mother she is! I think she's inherited my natural mothering instincts. Headbutt that baby back to sleep, Kate! Do it!

I love her, even though she is kind of crazy.

Easiest fort ever. We throw the kids in the crib and cover it with blankets. They get so excited! They peek through the bars and giggle nonstop.

Another hairdo attempt. She must not like it, because she ran away from the camera.

Papa Sam came by the other day and played with the kids for a few minutes.

Colin didn't get the concept of soccer. He got upset that the big boys kept taking the ball from him.

As a reward for Colin filling up his potty chart we took the kids to the white-trash bouncy house place in town. It was filled with super creepy, overweight older kids (like including 13 to 14-year-olds) that made it slightly less fun. But we still managed to have a good time. Just before we left we found an abandoned slide where our family played all alone. Kate was hilarious. I'd heft her up to Nate, and he'd drop her down the slide. She went down all by herself, giggling like mad. Colin just jumped by himself at the bottom. It was fun.

This is Colin doing a summersault. I think.

Aww, she's so cute.

And she lovers her accessories.

This face cracks me up.

Surveying her handiwork after dumping the puzzles on the floor.

New car seats arrived! Huzzah! Kate wouldn't get out of them while they were in the living room.

I put the boxes in the kids' room and let them have at it. Colin decided his was a house, and then a cave, and then a bad tiger cave. I'm so glad a simple box can bring such joy to a 2-year-old.

Kate loves to climb up the back of Colin's bed. It used to bother me, because I thought she'd fall and get hurt. Then I wished she'd fall and get hurt so she'd stop. But it hasn't happened yet so I just let her do as she pleases.

Both kids think they are hilarious when they steal my spot. Nice pose, Colin.

You too, Kate. The white patch on the wall is from where Nate repaired the hole I made with Colin's head.

Another nice day outside. Colin was pretending to be Johnny Appleseed. He would sprinkle the dirt seeds into the hole, then pat pat pat the soft black bed so the new baby trees could grow.

He also liked to throw dirt clods.

I had the camera out and Colin wanted to take a picture. I let him take a picture of Nate. He did a pretty good job. It helps when you have handsome subject matter.

Sam brought this headlamp home from Iowa for Colin. Colin doesn't quite grasp the concept of leaving it on his head, but he loves to play with it in the dark. Say! In the dark? Here in the dark? Would you, could you, in the dark? (We've been reading a lot of Green Eggs and Ham.)

Nate doesn't like her outfit. I do. It works for her. And she's so pretty.

Sunday we all stayed in our pjs. I brought out my fuzzy socks to warm my feet, and Kate thought they were for her. So I let her put them on, and it was a good decision. Look how ridiculous and awesome she is!

The kids both have double ear infections right now. They started antibiotics today. I'm finally getting over my cold (after a few days flat in bed, thanks pregnancy), and Nate is all better. Yay! Things are looking up. Hopefully we'll get to visit our family in Iowa this week without too many complications or crying babies. :)

potty champion!

Colin is potty training/potty trained. This week I decided that since I'm finally feeling better it was time to bite the bullet and just let the kid use the toilet. The first day was hard—he was super constipated and so we had a few meltdowns and accidents. But since then he's been almost perfect. He's stayed dry at night and during nap time. He's still learning to tell me that he needs to poop (usually I just catch him when he looks like he's concentrating too hard on something). He cheerfully tells me when he needs to pee. He's enjoyed putting stickers on his chart and earning a few fun prizes (trip to the milkshake store with dad, running amok at the white trash bouncy house place). He loves his Toy Story underpants. I'm really proud of him, and I'm so so so thankful that he was ready for this and is doing so well. I don't regret trying out potty training four or five months ago, because that got all of the fear and basic teaching and stuff out of the way. This time he wasn't worried about sitting on the big potty or any of that. Wonderful. Kate sits on the little potty chair when Colin has to go, and she claps when he's done. She also likes to wash her hands and get an M&M for a prize. Now if I could just convince her to keep her hands out of the toilet....

tom hanks baby