It's Day-light Savings, Fool

We've been hibernating, just like everyone else, waiting for the winter to let up. Only when my kids are stuck inside they don't like when I'm at the computer to put pictures up for the grandmas...or on the phone, or sleeping, or eating, or showering, or reading, or standing in a quiet place. But that's not the point. I've got pictures of the cute little demanding folk. And we finally got outside! We went to Snake Saturday (of course you knew about this when I've never heard of it...) and went on rides and watched the parade. But Josie refused to listen to it. I don't blame her, paraders are not known for being without air horns.

But Davis loved it. He'd wave to anyone, especially the firetruck engineers, motorcyclists, marching bands, and people on stilts. But not the high-stepping troops, of which there had to be at least a dozen. I didn't know it was so popular. But then again I haven't been/paid attention to a parade since I was a girl scout and actually marched. The best part was the families who would look like they just wondered into the street and decided to walk with the parade route, proud with their kilts and double stroller...You thought I was going to say the Renaissance Festival people didn't you? Well, you'd be right! In the beginning there was the royalty all fancied up, even had a stout man pulling two brimming costumed higher-ups in a hand cart. He must have lost a bet. But then there were the court jesters and the entertainment crowd. Very artsy with tightly worn tights and super over-dyed hair. I wish I took pictures. But there was no time. Next came the belly dancers, male and female. For some, the belly danced whether under their control or not. And all very in character. I wonder what they think of us in this alternate universe they are stuck in, this Modern Day. 'Cause I sure think they are hilarious.
Josie's favorite indoor and outdoor apparel, her princess coat. I hope we don't have to keep winter clothes out much longer, they take up too much space. And strapping her into a car seat twice a day is like fighting a pillow with a mongoose stuck inside - a rabies hazard.
The outfits this girl wants to wear... it's princess colors or tears. I don't like either one, so it depends on if I want to look like the mom who lets her free spirits get dressed at the Renaissance Festival. Sure, what else would give the good people a laugh at the grocery store!?!

When the boy wears clothes, there's less of a chance of yellow snow. And he's cha-a-arm-ing! Did I mention this big 4.5 year old no longer has to buy his own diapers? It was cutting into his cookie budget and he decided to just use the toilet from now on. And occasionally his pants, but only if he wanted to take them off anyway, so that's okay...

One for the Grands

Who stole my baby?

He really wanted to wear this to school on a non-Halloween day. He negotiated the arm warmers and the monkey backpack (under his regular backpack), I got the horns, boots, and air pump. Can't ride the viking ship to class, either... gotta draw the line somewhere!

Davis said the family prayer tonight. He definitely has the intonation and the spirit of prayer, but all we understand is "Josie," "Jesus," "church,""school," and "amen."His speech has improved tons and we thought we would all say a prayer to encourage him. When it was Daddy's turn, Davis came over to Eric's ear and repeated everything Eric said in a very close, loud whisper. When it was my turn, Davis came over, lifted my hair from the side of my face, and commenced whispering a very sweet but unintelligible prayer into my ear. It tickled like crazy. And Eric's silent, torso-bouncing laugh didn't help either.

The people living in your catalog

Hi Nancy, it’s Elaine. I’m going to be a little late for lunch. I can’t find my hat or my back-up hat.

Go here catalogliving.tumblr.com

Lizzing and shake giggling. 'Nough said.

I can't believe we got him in his costume...

There was some question if Davis, Josie, and I could get Eric to take the "bull by the horns" and wear his cow head. But apparently I underestimated him. He did wear a storm trooper costume and a sweatshirt with "Big Enchilada" on it (not at the same time, stay with me). What a sport. Josie was the one who wasn't that excited (she's the limp cow on the end).

(what happens when cowboys name their cows)

Life's Short at 6 Months

We're not keeping her under the stairs or anything, but we are neglecting the rest of the family that hasn't seen a recent picture of Josephine-jellybean.

First girly dressFavorite brother And sworn enemy But mostly favorite brother

Reason I call her Bluey-Louy
First picture of the 4 of us (finally)
Just before 1st haircut (action shot not provided for safety reasons)
Proud daughter of a dentist-man (congrats sweets!)
She pretty much rocks our world.

Introducing...

Josephine Simone

Our little "turkey" came early. Josephine was born Wednesday, November 26th. Jenny's water broke that afternoon. Jenny tried for a VBAC, but again a C-section was neccessary. 7lbs-3oz and 19 inches long born at 10:12pm. Mama and Baby are doing fine. Admittedly, we were not expecting her for a few more weeks and things around the house are not quite ready. Here are a few pics of our Thanksgiving surprise!!!

Scary

We figured Davis already gains super-human strength and turns green when he's mad, so why not dress him as The Hulk? That and our friends the Harmons had a costume they let us borrow. But that was last weekend's church party - tonight he was actually a frog. Any other year it would have been great for trick or treating except it was in the 70's and he just wanted to run… in his fuzzy costume with a hood. And when Davis is hot, he's a lot like The Hulk. Only he doesn't help people or throw around bad guys. He just gets mad. So, we ended up with an unreasonable frog, no "treats", and a very early night with our unattended bowl of candy ravaged by neighborhood kids. We even got "tricked", but it's not worth typing about.

Hi?

So, I decided to make it a good 4 months since the last post. Just to see how many family members would harass us. I had to be strong. But it was great to look at everyone else's blog in the meanwhile, and wonder when something would happen in our lives... It's been so long, I now hate Oatmeal Squares.

Eric turned 3 in dentalstudent years and 28 in regular people years on April 24th and had the sorriest birthday week ever. I shame the birthday week tradition. He had finals and I had no excuse. I did give him a uber-cool U2 book that he was quite surprised by and quoted Bono in one of his lessons at church. But that was just one of the days and there are supposed to be 7 days of celebration. Oh, yeah we went to dinner on his birthday, too.

I went to church girl's camp as nurse in June and got to be a teenager again - though I don't condone teen pregnancy. The Marjeanator got to come watch Davis while I was gone and got to be a tired mother of a toddler again.

We all went to the Texas coast to be with my parents. Davis went nuts for the beach. As in chasing waves without caution and sticking bananas in the sand. You gotta be nuts to still want to eat a sandy banana. Many beautiful moon lit walks and sandy diapers and we were all spent at the end of each day.

Davis has been kissing again. Actually, he just takes the sides of my head and mashes his face against mine. It kind of hurts and sometimes it gets a little intense (headbutting, grabbing my neck and sticking thumbs into the carotid arteries...). But it's sweet pain. We don't know where he gets his passion - Eric and I must be keeping the romance alive...

Before Breakfast

Jenny - (Greco-Roman diaper changing Davis) I think I found a solution to our mail problem.
Eric - (popping head out of pantry) What? I didn't hear you.
Jenny - (speaking louder since Davis is yelling) I think I found a solution to our mail problem.
Eric - What male problem? (re-entering pantry)
Jenny - (not seeing Eric re-enter pantry, pointing toward piled mail) OUR mail problem.
Eric - (from inside pantry) I wasn't aware we had a male problem. Are we talking about me or Davis?

This was before breakfast so I guess the 8 hours of fasting was keeping us from the almost telepathic communication Eric and I usually have. But if you're wondering what my new favorite cereal is, it's Oatmeal Squares. And, yes, it is sold at Costco. It stays crunchy for a long time and it'll keep your colon rollin'. I could probably eat cold cereal 3 meals a day, and that's no exaggeration. But I don't want to create "male" problems in our house, so I make meals with some of the other foods groups. I usually get the hint from Eric when we go to a friend's house for dinner and he says, "we should have that more often."

Leave the diaper, take the Connoli

We spent last week in St. Louis for Eric's dental school rotation in a clinic. In spite of the rain coming down and the floods coming up, we found a lot to do with Davis - an indoor mall (don't get me started on outdoor malls in intemperate regions) with a play ground, Chuck E. Cheese's, and the awesome Magic House. The Fitz's decided to fly in from Las Vegas and the Detroit Livingston's minivan-ed it at the end of the week. Davis actually loved being around the cousins which is a total 180 from Thanksgiving, but he would still give them a little love push in the head every once in a while. It snowed on Easter, but stopped long enough to have an egg hunt in the front yard. Davis didn't care about the eggs or candy - he just kept running back and forth like a liberated cage monkey. We loved having the whole schlemiel together since we know it won't be easy, but wonderful, with twin-mania on the way!

I had to join the witness protection program after taking a picture of an unruly Miami mob boss, but it was totally worth it. This studly suit made him climbing over/under pews at church completely acceptable (except with his mother).