A Distasteful Post

For a long time, my kids didn't see the humor when someone passed gas. Sometimes Jackson would smell it and yell, "Katewyn, you pooped!" But they could let one fly and not even flinch. I figured I didn't need to let them in on the joke. If that's anyone's job, it's their Dad's right? Or fellow first graders.

But they've caught on - suddenly, bodily functions are hilarious. If the other doesn't hear the offending noise, they'll announce it so that they can share in the laughter. "Olivia, I have to tell you something. I burped!" Or "I just tooted three times!" This week, they started calling it the "burpics" and the "tootics." I know some families do races or obstacle course for their own family olympics. My kids came up with their own version for the spirit of the games. We didn't let it go very far, but if they were keeping score, Katelyn's machine-gun style could probably take the gold.
Jackson was in the bathroom a little longer than normal today, and came out yelling, "I went manure!"
They've even got Katelyn saying "doot" when I squirt ketchup onto her plate.
But Olivia wasn't laughing when it happened at school. She told me, "I was Mr Tootering today - I tooted like every 5 minutes."

We read this sweet, innocent library book, and they thought it was hilarious:

("Toot & Puddle: A Present for Toot." It's Toot's birthday, Puddle goes home pooped out.
We're not encouraging them (trying to do the opposite, actually). But it probably didn't help that I was laughing at the book right along with them.

While I'm on the potty subject - Katelyn's doing great. Well, except for the daily accidents.

Okay, enough of my potty mouth. I don't recommend trying their olympics at your house.

Katelyn is 2!

I never gave my o.k. for this girl to stop being a baby, but she went and turned 2 on me!

Her birthday was on a Saturday, and Grandma and Grandpa Knippers were coming up for it. So we thought maybe we'd forego a birthday party with friends, and just celebrate with a fun day with grandparents instead.

But, I wasn't fully convinced. So I invited some friends over for a simple birthday lunch a few days before her birthday - just pizza and cupcakes, and no games and presents. Well, maybe just a couple games. And a couple people still brought presents. We just love a party, I guess.

Putting spots on paper bug w/ dot stickers, and pin the spot on the ladybug. (Then eat the spots off the ladybug).

We've actually done this same oreo ladybug game before - at Olivia's 2nd-b-day (it was a butterfly/bug party). Just new friends and new poster. And new oreos.

Last year, I saw some cute ladybug Valentine decorations, so I got some of the goody bags to use for her party this year. I didn't even use them, but we had ladybugs anyway.

Then, more cake on her real birthday. I had a few animals to put on top for a "zoo cake," but my cake decorating helpers thought it needed lots more.

One of the presents from Grandpa and Grandpa was a toy vacuum, so she can get to work now!

There was a cute wooden "doll care center" I wanted to get for her (she loves her baby dolls). While I was trying to justify spending $100 on it and knowing I probably shouldn't, a friend said I should check goodwill and see if they had anything like it. Oh yeah, be frugal! I found this little set on craigslist for $10, and Katelyn didn't even know. I may paint it.

If she gets 2 parties for turning 2, I think I'll have to have a daily party for myself in November. Oh wait, I already do eat treats pretty much every day - I'll just have to buy presents.

So I realize about everything I've said on this post is like, "I was going to do this, but then I did this instead."

I was going to change it, but then I didn't.

Mid-winter break

In Seattle, we get "mid-winter break." A week off, and only 6 weeks before a week off for spring break. But we like it. We had a busy long weekend, then John went back to work and we were unproductive and didn't get dressed until lunchtime for a day (or two). But we've had some sunshine and had to get out in it before the rains come down again.



In this picture (above), Olivia's saying "She's taking a picture, let's try not to shiver." Yesterday, we got some Subway and drove to the beach to watch the sunset. (yep, $5 footlong ads worked on me). It was sunny, but we were freezing so we played for a little while and then ran back to the car to eat our food. (John was working late, so this was a nice change from cooking w/ 3 cranky kids waiting and no dad to play with them).

Today, we drove south to try out our zoo pass at the zoo and aquarium in Tacoma.
We saw some huge walruses up close, eating fish, and waving to us. And some sharks, maybe Jackson will have more nightmares of Bruce the Shark coming in through his window.

The northwest - beach, mountains, water, snow.

I am so not cool lately. (Maybe I could have left lately off of that sentence).
Just one example, the crocs and socks I often wear on the walk to school.


Even on Sundays, when I'm actually trying, this is what happens. I pick out a perfectly good skirt or dress (or at least something I'll wear, usually by process of elimination out of everything else in my closet), then I go to put on nylons and shoes and ruin the whole outfit. Besides black with black, I can't ever seem to figure out a color of nylons that doesn't look dorky with the shoes and/or dress. Hmmm, maybe I just need new shoes. Or a fashion lesson in color-coordinating of nylons.

And yesterday, I went to Rite Aid with some awesome half blow dried, kinda big and frizzy hair. I had to run to rescue Kate from her brother halfway through blow drying, and never made it back into the bathroom before I had to do the daily "whatever it takes to get out the door on time" for school. After dropping Olivia off, I had to get a couple last minute things for a birthday lunch we had with a few friends for Katelyn. You'd think I'd know by now to check the mirror before going places. After we got home, I saw how awesome I looked. Yep, I've got it all put together over here.
Further evidence, my new favorite song to sing is "Wha wha wha, what's happenin' dude?" from the W guy on Leapfrog Letter Factory. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out, dude. Then Mr. W could be stuck in your head all day, too.

Maybe I should just go buy myself some of these.

Is anyone else ever not so cool, or am I the only one? Let's hear some examples - maybe you'll make me feel better.

She knows what she wants

This girl is almost 2. (Like in 2 days). And we are in for it! She won't even pretend I'm in charge anymore.
She's been wanting to pick her own outfits, and put them on herself (and has been for months)! Isn't she too small for that?
That's why she often looks something like this: (in February).

And why lots of mornings she puts on a clean pair of pj's, backwards, and thinks she's ready for the day.
While I still want to decide things for her, I am excited (understatement), about her latest decision. Looks like she wants to be done with diapers! And she is doing pretty well on that potty. One problem is that she carries it out of the bathroom, and only wants to use it in other rooms of the house, but I'm willing to let that slide a little for now. This could be the easiest potty training yet. Or she could change her mind again. I'm sure it won't be as easy as it seems right now - we'll see what the next few weeks bring. But for now, we're doing the pooping on the potty dance.

I have a niece that's turning 1 today. She has 2 big brothers, so I thought I'd send her something girly for her birthday. Olivia used to love filling a little purse up with all kinds of stuff, but I couldn't find any good non-Hannah Montana purses to buy, so I made this little felt one.


When I was about half way done, I decided to check the internet for felt purses to see if there were any better ideas/patterns. I got the idea for the cupcake instead of the flower I was going to put on. (I think the internet sometimes inspires but sometimes sucks away my creativity - it's just too easy to copy other people's ideas). It took less than 1/2 hour to make - really simple and easy. (Handles are kind of hard to see, but just brown ribbon).

This heart bouquet is a craft Olivia and I did together last week. One of my goals for the year is to make sure to fit in one-on-one time in regularly. The week before we made cinnamon rolls together. This is also really easy and you can use paper or fabric or whatever.

And here's Olivia's other project. Some heart post-its, and her door is set for Valentine's day.

I've slowed down on the blogging lately, but this is post #150! We've been catching up on some past seasons of The Office, so I guess I can blame it on that. And cleaning up rice. I keep finding more in different places around the house - I think it multiplies. But maybe I'll have to get busy and do some more posts, too.