Mommy's Hero

Somehow a big, green frog found it's way into our house (this is Florida after all). Good thing my big, tough son was here to protect his Mommy. (You know I'm really not looking forward to the day when he thinks it's funny to TORMENT his Mommy with frogs.)

"Don't worry Mommy, I've got the situation under control!"


"Take that Frog. Who's the tough guy now?"


"There Mommy! I showed Frog who's boss and he won't be bothering you anytime soon!"

Shopping online is going to be tough...

...considering the fact that I'm pretty sure we have now been blacklisted by UPS. I LOVE to shop online. I find super deals and nothing tickles me more than to save money. It's rare that I buy anything in a bricks and mortar store anymore and if I do it's because I've done the research and know that it can't be bought cheaper any other way. But thanks to my two year old, I'm incredibly worried that one of my favorite pasttimes may have a new layer of complexity.

Friday afternoon I was cleaning up the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Of course Hayley was at the door in a split second and started yelling, "Mommy, a boy." It was definitely loud enough for the "boy" to hear. By the time I got to the door, the UPS man was almost back to his truck and I opened the door to pick up my package. One of our neighbors was also out for a stroll on the sidewalk in front of our house. Before I could get back inside, Chatty Cathy followed me out onto the porch and started frantically waving and yelling, "Goo bye dump truck." Only as you know, dump truck sounds like dumb #%@*. Mortified, I tried to get her back into the house as quickly as possible which only made her even more determined to make sure the "dump truck" heard her yelling "good bye." I'm absolutely certain that our neighbor heard her. I'll have some coffee and cold beverages ready for when child services shows up this week. Most importantly though, is how do I make amends with UPS? I've thought about writing an apology letter and trying to explain to our nice delivery man that "we" do not think he is a "dump truck." But I'd absolutely hate for him to have actually not have heard the flurry of Hayley obscenities and then be offended when I inform him of what he missed. This parenting business IS stressful!

Daddy had to emcee a retirement ceremony on Friday (unfortunately it wasn't his), so he had his dress uniform on and we were able to get a picture with Hayley. Too bad Little Todd had already gone to bed for the evening or I would have had all my favorites in one picture... my favorite man in uniform, my favorite cussing daughter, and my favorite little baby boy!

Twinkle, Twinkle

Here's one guy I WOULD NOT kick out of my bed for eating crackers! Todd, Hayley and I had breakfast with a good (and patient) friend this morning. On the car ride home, Hayley began singing. She's been singing for several weeks now, but I've never been able to figure out exactly WHAT she was singing. However, it was very clear today... a familiar tune at last! (Don't mind the vacuum, ladders, and utter MESS in our house. Brian and I started a home improvement project last weekend that is carring over into this coming weekend. After all, a home improvement project wouldn't be a true Roberts' home project if it didn't take longer and cost more than originally planned!)

Saggy Pants

There has been a lot of talk in the news about cities cracking down and banning saggy pants. I'm all for these bans, because after all, I've never been real excited about the prospect of explaining to my young children why a grown man has his pants around his ankles. As we sat in the Denver airport, waiting for our plane last week, we watched one of these "fashion forward" gentlemen (I use that term loosely) walk by. Hayley turned to Brian and in a loud voice said, "Wook Dad-dy... awww, poo poo pants (as she pointed at the fashion offender)." Guess I won't need to explain that to her after all...

Back to the Grind

It's been the usual eventful week and Hayley excitedly went back to preschool on Tuesday. She's definitely enjoying her two days a week there and seems so much more grown up each time I pick her up. She's earned stamps for being good and seems to understand the order and structure of school now.

I've mentioned before that Hayley is a quick study. She pretty well takes in whatever I tell her on the first go round. Now whether she does what I ask is a whole other issue, but I am sure she "gets it." We have bedtime rules that Hayley will recite before each nap (more like non-nap) and bedtime.
1.) Don't kick the wall
2.) Don't pick your border (those lovely animals that Brian and I spent HOURS pasting to her wall... gone! Little stinker!)
3.) Stay in bed, close your eyes and go to sleep.
4.) Love your Mommy and Daddy
I usually have to go in and tell her at least once a naptime to stop kicking the walls. And when I go into tell her that I usually see a flash of light as she yells, "Oh, no" and bolts across the room to her bed with a handful of picked off border. Yep, she gets it. She's just a rebel.

So apparently in her mind Hayley has created school time rules that she has begun reciting on the way to school each day. In the car I will ask her what she thinks she will do at school for the day. I usually offer up:
1.) Going outside and playing on the playground
2.) Singing songs
3.) Saying the Pledge of Allegiance
It's at this point that Hayley takes over with:
4.) "Obey" (Yes, Hayley, easier said than done I know. At least her heart is in the right place!)
5.) "No kwyin' boys." (Those darn little boys... they just can't follow the "No Kwyin' in Preschool" rule.)

Speaking of boys... Todd is one step closer to becoming a man. Upon our return from Denver, Todd took it upon himself to drop his dreamfeed. I think all the "what a little chunk" comments must have gotten to him. So, we now say goodnight to our big boy at 6pm and don't see him again until 7am the next morning. It's freeing to be able to go to bed whenever we feel like it. Because Brian and I? We like to be spontaneous, to live on the edge... you know, bed at 8:30pm one night and (gasp) 11pm the next! (Gosh, times sure have changed!) But, it's kind of sad to say goodbye to another baby stage, especially this time around when we know how fast our little boy will change.

Todd is 5 MONTHS old today! Here is his comparison picture to Hayley at 5 months. Don't mind his hair. The wind and humidity that we're receiving as a result of Hurricane Ike has wreaked havoc on Todd's hair. What's a guy to do?

Denver Trip

We just returned from an all too short trip to Denver. We had a wonderful visit and two very successful plane rides. In fact, I was complimented in the airport and on the plane by several people on how well behaved my children were. Moi???? Hurricane??? Don't worry, I won't get overconfident. I'm pretty sure a completely mortifying, public tantrum is right around the corner. My little girl likes to be sure to keep me well grounded.

The Guys (and Hayley... fitting)


G-Grams and Todd (G-Grams is 90 years old! Have I got great genes to look forward to or what???)


Apparently Todd crossed Hayley's imaginary line on the couch!


A trip to the Denver Zoo


Hayley had the best view in the house of all the animals!


Hayley and Grandpa on the zoo train


Todd was worn out after the zoo


Obviously, Todd had hair issues in CO. Get this kid some product!


Mimi and company


Getting ready to return home


Apparently the Mile High City agreed with Little Todd as he FINALLY cut those two bottom teeth that have been giving him fits for weeks now. He's now moved on to seeming incredibly bothered by his two bottom side incisors where his gums are swollen. Poor little guy. Hayley never seemed bothered by any teething and one day a tooth just magically appeared. Apparently Todd is bearing the brunt of pain for them both.

The kids are resting up today. They were happy to be back home in their own beds and were worn out from traveling, but definitely miss the activity and people at Mimi and Grandpa's house.