A Big Day for Michael

These pics were taken at a birthday party for one of Michaels' friends, Bobby. It was at a place with these huge moonwalk-like toys. Very physical and demanding bravery: aka Michaels' worst nightmare. He was very brave and tried each of the pieces of equipment, but refused to go on most of them again. He had to slide down very steep slides (trust me, I went on them...got the rubber burns to prove it) and scale literal verticals. He did great, but did not like it. The only thing that was acceptable in his book was the giant jumping arena, which he liked if I got in with him. Actually, he also really enjoyed the air hockey, and here he is practicing with his friend, Michael. The cupcakes were a hit with both of them, of course.

Yeah

This is just cute.

An Easter Egg Hunt

Nothing cuter than a kid who realizes that there are eggs with CANDY in them strewn about the yard...unless it's one who doesn't really get it.

INSTRUMENTS!!!

For those of you that are not involved in the day to day of our lives, you might not know of Michael's absolute obsession with orchestral instruments, especially "top brass". He is destined to become a famous saxophonist (his instrument of choice) or maybe stalk someone who plays the saxophone. We don't know when or how he discovered this passion, but it has nearly taken over all discussion and play at our house. This was from a field trip to the local music/instrument store here in town...SO exciting. The guy who worked there almost fell over when Michael immediately (and correctly) identified a soprano sax. We went home with a recorder, which is not at all annoying.

Chocolate and Bananas

What a great snack! Nothing like Hershey's syrup to get a kid in a good mood. And yes, he is about to drink it.

What? Is this Wierd?

We knew that sooner or later someone would catch Megan with Michaels' underpants on her head and would question our parenting. So we are just going to deflect the shock of rumour and come clean with our daughter's issue. She is not willing to submit to therapy yet, but in time, we think she'll come around.

Yarn

As I have been working on a few baby blankets lately, both kids have a new affinity for yarn. Michael pulls strings of it along the ground pretending it's a "snakesie" or "centipede" and Megan simply tangles herself up in it or drapes it casually around her neck as a tiny scarf. Love the garbage bag in the background. I obviously don't have time to set the stage.

The Train Show

Sadly, my camera was in some wierd flash mode that made the photos from this outing blurry. It was a model train show...Michael was highly disappointed that he couldn't touch the trains. And those 60+ year old men who had the displays were watching like hawks, man. But all in all, it was very cool and we saw all the different gauges of trains...even the elusive Z-gauge, which is tiny tiny tiny.

My Kids

spend a lot of time in front of the bookshelf in the kitchen. Megan can sit there for a half an hour, pulling every single book off and "reading" them all upside down. Michael mostly shows up if he thinks Megan is touching a book he happens to like.

The First Tantrum

This was the first ever of Megans knock-down drag-out tantrums. It was really only half-hearted, compared to the one she had the following day in her high chair. It lasted about twenty minutes, twenty minutes rife with screaming, hair pulling, leg kicking and head banging. Needless to say, we left her strapped into the chair until her pupils went back to normal. When she started to slow down, Michael said, "Mommy, is nice Megan coming back now?"

Prepping for St. Pats

Megan was devastated to learn that she was too young for green beer. These sunglasses were purchased to try to make her feel better.

Gangsta Megan

Megan has a penchant for hats. Hats of any kind really...baseball hats, stocking hats, cowboy hats. Any one will do, but it MUST be worn backwards or jauntily off to the side. What up.

Chicago Auto Show

Michael's first trip down for the "car show." He was mostly very excited and slightly overwhelmed...and only one meltdown that qualified as notable. In order: a] with a Mustang engine b] in a Toyota Tundra c] in a Jeep something and d] in a MINI Cooper!!!

Happy Valentine's (Eve, technically)

Ahh, two cute ones again. Megan, who while picking out the M&Ms and leaving all Cheerios, elevated her sugar level to such a high that apparantly she doesn't feel that enormous Cheerio on her lip. Notice rainbow of drool. Beautiful. And Michael. Loves his tattoo so much that he insists on going shirtless. No, not really, this is just after nap, but it does look hot, doesn't it?! And what an angel face. You'd never know that his favorite activity is "biffing" or "bashing" his sister.

A Good Giggle

Megan is not a big laugher, as a general rule. However, once in a while, a tickle can really set her off and the longer you tickle, the harder she laughs. This day, miraculously, I had my camera when the tickle fest began and DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO STOP TICKLING! Check out that grill. Dan and I are already saving for the inevitable braces.

A Wild Man in my Living Room

Again, a study in Michael's current interest in emotions. These are "surprised."

A Day of No Pants

Nothing cuter than babes in underpants (or diapers).

A Fix

Aaaahhh...

Dan and Michael

I am not really sure what's happening here.

This Little Piggie is the Cutest

Meg's first pigtails. SO cute. Although they were a little lopsided and messy, since she didn't really like me pulling on her hair. Go figure.

A Few for the Books

Megan, the half-dressed handy-woman. She LOVES this tool belt...you can push a button and hear the Bob the Builder Theme Song, which she adores. I actually think she says "Bob", no kidding. Then Michael, practicing happy and sad faces. He is very into different emotions right now.

Okay...

I just thought everyone should know that Megan is the cutest little girl ever to land on Earth. She is just so naughty and hilarious. Whenever she gets mad you can just see her look around for things to fling across the room, for bowls of snack to dump, for hair to pull. She just gets livid and may nothing in her path survive the wrath.

And the poor poor girl has a rash that mommy can't seem to rid her of...so we sometimes allow her to run around with a naked bottom which she furiously scratches at the moment it reaches fresh air. It doesn't sound like it (I'm sure), but it is really cute. And a little sad. I swear we'll call the pediatrician in the morning.

Special Bears Cupcakes

So today, the boys (Dan and his dad) got to go to the Bears game (BIG WIN) and the girls (Barb and I) got to stay home with the kids. For the record, our seats were WAY better than the guys'. Anyway, we decided to make cupcakes (well, Michael and Grandma did), and frosted and ate them for a post-nap snack. Very exciting.

Dairy Queen!

Dan and Michael went out for ice cream...they returned with an ENORMOUS strawberry sundae for Michael and something for Dan and I to share. Only one unfortunate spill ensued, losing only a few bites of ice cream. Megan, who thus far has been anti-anything that cold, discovered that cookie dough blizzards are where it AT.