P-P-P-Meese!

Emmett is talking nonstop these days...and...he is starting to use actual English words.  After two years of repetition, he has very good manners.  He will thank you for water, a snack, finding his favorite blanket, refilling his milk, changing his diaper...everything.  He has a lot to be thankful for.  :)

Please is also very well used but is pretty funny.  He easily says, "me, me, me, meeeeese."  In other words, politely begging.  So we started to work on the "p" part by saying p, p, p, -lease.  He now mimics our lesson very literally with a pah, pah, pah, meeeeese...every time.  I can't help but eat it up.  So cute. 

Big E’s 2 Year Check

Yes.  He is two years old.  I was in such denial that I totally forgot to schedule his two year appointment on time so I just went in this morning to see Dr. Morris.  His regular pediatrician is out on maternity leave and I have to say, Dr. Morris was great!  She, like everyone who meets Emmett for the first time, was astonished by his size.  After quick measurements she determined that he is gigantic, duh, but perfectly proportionate.  He is right on track for language and all other developmental stages (he can jump off the ground with both feet at the same time – important stuff you know.  J).  He is talking non-stop and is saying a lot more actual words.  He has very good manners and will thank you for everything from giving him is milk to changing his diaper.  As for his stats: height - 36.7 (93%), weight - 37 lbs. (99%), and head circumference - 20.4 (98%).  Yes, you read that correctly.  Jameson and Emmett are one pound, eight ounces different in weight.  Awesome.

He is still so goofy and incredibly stubborn.  He can throw a very, very impressive tantrum.  But at the flip of a coin he is snugged up on my lap with his cheek resting on mine and his hand on my other cheek.  Boy is he a good cuddler.  He is sooo happy to finally be out of the closet (so hilarious) and in his own room.  The first time you visit our new house I can pretty much guarantee that Emmett will grab your hand and lead you to his new pad that is decorated from floor to ceiling in Nee-noo (Tow Mater) and Ka-cow (Lightning McQueen).  He is obsessed with both of the Cars movies and somehow changed the two main characters names in to those listed above.  Nee-noo is a mystery but we are pretty sure Ka-cow is Ka-cow because Lightning McQueen says Ka-chow?!?  Your guess is as good as ours. 

So, it looks like the babies have left the building in the Krache house now that we have an actual toddler.  I am still in denial and try to force Emmett to let me cradle him like a tiny baby.  Ha.  A portion of me wants to break in to hysterics and the other portion is very peaceful and happy.  The hysterics break out when I see a cute, tiny baby (not that I have ever had a tiny baby) or hold a baby that has that new baby smell.  The peace takes over when my kids are all tucked in at 7:00 p.m. and I know that I have until 7:00 a.m. the next day all to myself.  Zen.  It is weird to only have to schedule yearly physicals now.  A strange, strange feeling.  Sigh.  Hysterics, zen, hysterics, zen.  It’s a vicious cycle.

Pretty Party Dress

Before Brett's grandparent's left for Arizona to escape the impending rain, they were able to come for a visit and brought Brooklyn the most adorable dress.  She quickly named it her "Party Dress."  Because, and I quote, "When I wear this purple dress, I just want to party!"  The things she comes up with.  Geesh.  I wanted to take a few pics of her in the infamous party dress but the boys just didn't want to stay out of the picture so it became an impromptu sibling photoshoot.  I thought, heck, if they all want to be in the picture maybe I can get a good Christmas picture.  Yeah, right.  

Bink and J and their almost smiles.

Nice smile J.

Super Cheese E!

It's getting worse...

Hilarious!

Hey, over here, Emmett!

I really should just give up.

But they are so funny!

The super happy boys.

E was clearly tired.

Tired enough to rest his head.

Finally just kicked the boys out.

And her inner model took over.

Eat your heart out Tyra Banks.

And, J is sad/mad that I kicked him out of the photoshoot.

Three Hours

Cleaning supplies?!?  Days, weeks, months with no pictures and I dare to post this one?  Don't worry there is a great explanation.  Today I spent three hours cleaning an angry crayon mural off of Jameson's wall.  We've (I) have been having some trouble getting Jameson to go to bed at night.  When Brett is gone Jameson knows, knows, he is gone and really pulls out all the stops at bedtime.  Screaming?  Check.  Kicking the wall?  Check.  And now, angry crayon mural.  Angry, jumping, crayon mural.  No pretty picture.  Just heavy handed scribbles in all directions, everywhere.  Out of his reach everywhere.  Jumping up and down on his bed with a crayon everywhere.  When I went up Tuesday night to ask him to stop kicking his wall, again, I was greeted with the lovely angry crayon mural.  I was so angry I had to pull my first, "We'll talk about this in the morning."  And we did talk about it and then I gave him a sponge to clean it up with.  Well, news to me, crayon doesn't just come off the wall.  Drywall does, but not crayon.  After several different attempts I had to fire Jameson and Google "how to remove crayon from a matte paint wall."  Well, Google solved my problems again.  Like always.  If you ever need to remove crayon from a matte paint wall grab your hairdryer, some magic erasers, dish soap and a towel.  You have to remove it in sections the circumference of the end of your hairdryer.  Small circles they are.  Turn your hair dryer on high, heat the wall for 10 seconds.  Use water soaked magic eraser in a smooth, one directional motion.  Do not scrub.  Remove any smudging with the towel and dish soap.  Ta-Da!  Clean wall.

Three hours.  THREE hours.  My only regret is not taking a before and after picture for when it becomes a funny story...which it has not...yet.

Boyfriend

It's happened.  One of Brooklyn's classmates has asked Brooklyn to be his girlfriend.  Lucky for us she responded, "My Dad won't let me have a boyfriend for a long, long time."  When he told her that he was in love with her today and pleaded to be her boyfriend she replied, "No thank you.  I am not interested."  While telling me this story she paused to look at me and said, "Don't worry Mom, I used my manners."  We've taught her well.  :)

Owie

Decorating for Halloween is always a bit of double-edged sword around here.  The kids are always SO excited but as soon as I open the box they decide that half of the decorations are too scary.  Way too scary. Talking Skeleton?  Too scary.  Fake spiders?  Too scary.  So, needless to say, we have a whole lot of not scary jack-o-lanterns around our house.  The big kids think it's great.  Emmett, well, he seems to be a bit more sensitive.  You'll have to bear with me here because this is about to get confusing.

Let's go back to summer.  We were able to visit Brett's parents quite a bit over the summer and they live right on the water.  Salt water.  When the tide is out the kids love to look for treasure on the beach.  Treasure as in starfish, clams, eels, and tiny crabs.  These tiny crabs are pretty harmless but if you are Emmett, you pick them up entirely wrong and they pinch you...and don't let go.  It would go a little like this.  Emmett would turn over a rock, dozens of crabs run for their lives, Emmett finds the biggest of the little crabs, picks it up, BOOM the crab latches on to Emmett's hand.  Owie.  Emmett would say owie in a very low, husky voice.  No panic.  Just low, husky, monotone, owie.  And, repeat.  All day.  So.  Many.  Owies.

What on earth do crabs have to do with Halloween?  Well, apparently anything "scary" is now an owie. The same low, husky, monotone, owie.  Spiders = owie.  Witches = owie.  Bats = owie.  Yes, even jack-o-lanterns = owie.  As you can imagine, Emmett is primarily saying owie these days.

Poor sensitive, gigantic Emmett.

Deoder

Ever since Jameson turned four he has made random, bold announcements throughout the day.  A few days ago he burst out of his room and while still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, declared, "I am four.  I have hair in my armpits and I need deoder."  In shock, I simply replied, "Ok."  He went on to say that no one likes stinky pits and it was a deoder (his word for deodorant) emergency.  Let the boy have deodorant.  I figure if we start early there won't be a fit TO wear it when he actually is stinky.

Oh, he also knows karate now that he is four.  He like to yell this randomly as well...I'M FOUR, I KNOW KARATE!  All while his hands are on his hips and his chest is puffed out.

That's our Jameson, keepin' it goofy.