Michael and Michael Part III

How cute are they? They were trying to get away from their baby sisters, so they shut themselves in the laundry room and then emerged about ten minutes later looking like this. Funny.

A Tower for Grammie

This morning, I cleaned out the garage and Michael built this tower out of scrap wood for Grammie. He said it was "awesome and beautiful."

Megan Turns One!

The progression of events: First, Michael making Megan's cake with Grammie. Then, Megan thinking it is pretty cool. Next, Megan touching it. Then playing with it with a fork. Hmm. Finally, Megan deciding she hates the way it feels all gooey on her fingers.

She did finally decide it was tolerable when I put some bites on her plate. But then the ice cream got her all fired up again. YUCK! Who knew vanilla ice cream was so awful?

Meg Has a New Habit

of falling asleep wherever. We've been skipping the morning nap and she just can't quite make it all the way til afternoon nap time.

His Favorite Things

This is one of our favorite games...the listing of favorites. Here is Michael's latest interview:

Favorite Tool: saw
Favorite Color: purple
Favorite Crayon Color: green
Favorite Place To Be: California Pizza Kitchen
Favorite Friend: Michael Silvestri...oh, and Caitlin!
Favorite Thing About Being Big: eating good food
Favorite Snack: chocolate shredded wheat
Favorite Drink: lemonade
Favorite Dinner: carrots
Favorite Fruit: watermelon
Favorite Thing to do on Red (parking area in front of our house): run
Favorite Toy: Mack
Favorite Toy Outside: sandbox
Favorite Train: passenger train
Favorite Car: limousine
Favorite Breakfast: pancakes
Favorite Thing to do at the Pool: go underwater
Favorite Thing about Self: jumping

Going on Five Days...

of this face. Meg has been sick, and she expresses her discomfort by crying as if someone is pulling out her hair. Her eyes get all crazy and she screams silently for up to a full minute, after which the sound comes barreling out at ridiculous decibels.

TAKE THIS, mom!

Megan REALLY wanted me to take this magnet from her. Actually, she wanted me to start to take it so that she could pull it away. Please excuse her spit bib...we're going through a bit of very wet teething right now. But check the camo. Sweet.

Fashion Police

Leslie, look away. This is the best outfit Megan has worn to date. I do not know how this happened, but when I noticed it, I had to record it. I will do everything in my power to keep this from occuring again...at least until she has an opinion.

Today's Funnies

Good Michael quotes:

Sitting down to eat breakfast with a crying sister, "Oh, for Pete's sake, Megan."

"Mommy, Megan is a Scottish girl."

"Mommy, I am not feeling well. I need some fiber medicine."
Immediately after eating said fiber medicine, "I already feel sick again. I need some more fiber medicine."

Genius in Training

Michael built this train today...he was so proud and insisted that I come see it. Lo and behold, he had made a palindrome train...check it out. And let me tell you, there is nothing cuter than hearing a three year old say "palindrome."

So Proud of Her Standing Skills

This lady is SO funny. Can you tell how proud she is to be standing (not holding on) in front of the dishwasher? Why did both of my children LOVE the directions sticker that goes on the inside of your dishwasher? I am going to have to superglue it in there. This is two days ago, just before her nose started running and our misery began. Sick, sick baby girl.

Another Nothing Day

So Michael loves tunnels. In two of these pics, he is really trying to show Megan how to go through it. She never figured it out. She just wanted to knock down the pillow roof.

A Lovely Bride (and her sister)

A swipe from the photogs site....sshhhhhh.

A Boy? Or a Dog?

Dan is out of town this weekend and I am struggling to keep eyes on both kids and accomplish anything else. I am making dinner (as I write), setting the table and watching Megan who is trying to scale the bookshelf. Michael just said, "Mmmm. Butter tastes good. I licked it." A stick of butter. Gross.

Friends...and then not so much

At the park, we had a nice little photo shoot and they seemed to almost like each other. And then, only a few short hours later, the abuse starts again. That's Michaels' little hand squeezing Megan's nose off. Nice.

Just a Day of Nothing Special

Aaawwwww...

Michael just asked me, "Mommy, are you my honey bread?"

Sugar Shark

Yesterday afternoon, Michael and I made Kool-Aid. This was Michael's first experience with Kool-Aid, as we tend to avoid TOO much sugar. With Michael standing on his stool, armed with a wooden spoon, ready for stir duty, I put the sugar in the pitcher. He gazed into the top of the pitcher and said, " Oooh! Look at all that sugar! For ME?!"

The Super Staller

So Michael has become quite adept at bedtime stalling. Nothing like some kids I've heard of, but it is still funny to watch him think he's clever. He often uses the "I have to potty" excuse, which leads to him sitting on the potty indefinitly if permitted. "One more minute," he says. Of what, Michael? Pretend peeing? Or driving me crazy? He really pours it on for poor Grandma, who is a sucker for his pleas. Tonight he sweetly asked her for a drink of water. Grandma said that she would come ask mommy. So I took up a cup of water and he said "Hi, mommy! I just need a LITTLE drink." He then proceeded to touch his lips to the straw and perhaps let one drop of water into his mouth. Or perhaps not. He then instructed me to "just put it right there on my table." Okay, King Michael. GoodNIGHT!

A few teeth to show off

That other front tooth finally came down...unfortunately it is really far away from the other one!

Finally, a wedding photo!

This is currently the only photo I have of Michael as the ring bearer at Gretchen and Jakes wedding (thank you, Grandma Barb!) More to come, I hope! Isn't he just ridiculously cute? And he didn't even freak out about all the BUTTONS!

A Day at the Front Yard Pool

How cute are these two faces?

The Ploehn Reunion Effect

A long hot day with no nap. And not much sleep the night before (hotel with his sister). This is a child that NEVER sleeps in the car.

First day of school!

Michael is officially a student. Of Harper College, no less. That is where his new preschool is and today was his first day! It was all very exciting, especially since he thought Mommy was going with him. There is no doubt he was a little disappointed to find that I was gone when they came in from outside play time. There were no tears shed (I spied on him from the secret "observation room") from either of us. Miss Fran reported that he did very well the whole time. Luckily his friends Michael and Bobby were also there. He did nearly cry when I came to get him...he flew into my arms and did not let go for at least three full minutes. I loved all three.

Yuckin' it up with Papa Mike

Megan is reading Papa the FUNNIEST book!

Hideout

Megan discovered Michaels’ color table...though she prefers to be under it. And of course throwing in the tupperware lids makes the place totally irresistable.

New capital for Minnesota

Michael got a new placemat with a map of the US on it. He's been having fun pointing to and receiving names for all of the states. We've been teaching him the capitals of states that he knows someone in and tonight we were asking him the ones he knows (or that we thought he knows). We asked for the capital of Minnesota and he came back with "St. Prior Lake."

Can you lay off the camera?

For one meal, at least, daddy?!

Michael and Michael Part II

Here they are again...this time "coupled up like boxcars" reading a book about trains.

You whistlin' at ME?

Because you should be.

She's in for it...

A lifetime of disappointment, that is. Dan is already drilling the Cub fanaticism into Megan. I have tried and tried to explain to her that she cannot attach her happiness to a team that can't get the job done, but he insists that it will build her character. I take no responsibility for any result of this brainwashing.

MACK!!!

So I've been telling Michael that they "don't make" Mack the truck (a "Cars" character) in a toy, out of the sheer desire to not have another thing in my house. However, for his birthday, his friend Michael S. gave him, you guessed it, MACK! You can see the glee on his face as he plays with it for the first time. He still freaks out if Megan touches it and it has become one of toys that we have to put away for "safe keeping" before play dates.

Michael: A Three Year Old!

So Michael decided that he wanted an "Art Party" for his birthday. I spent approximately 100 dollars on art supplies and made T-shirt smocks and art bucket take-homes for each kid. We decided to set up the swimming pool for the mommies to cool their feet in and all painting was forgotten. It turned into a pool party in a hurry. They did have fun, though and that's all that matters, right? Even after they insisted on cracking open each and every bottle that I bought, ensuring the unreturnability of each item, I still feel like it was a successful party. But if any of you feel like painting, come on over. We have enough posterboard to shingle a house. And then we can paint it. With glitter, even.

Ol' Blue Eyes

Mmmm. She is cute enough to just EAT.