So here we are - November already! We stopped by the local Bass Pro Shop last night, and just happened to arrive 10 minutes before Santa's premier - and I thought, what?! Santa already?! Then it occurred to me that we're already half-way through November. And then looking back at these photos from less than a month or two ago, yet having snow on the ground now - I'm missing summer! But the boys are not! Snow, Christmas, family events - lots of fun to be had! And if you've never been to the Bass Pro Shop for Christmas, they have, quite possibly, the most amazingly bizarre Christmas tree I've ever seen - decorated with.....taxidermied animals!! I think the picture will be in the next blog...
Ok, so what has happened lately. In October we went to Arizona so I could attend a conference, and we could enjoy a week of semi-warmth before the winter. I must have been having some kind of a delusional episode in August when I planned to go away for a week, only to return the day before Adlai's 1st b-day, and then work the rest of the week, and have a kids' Halloween/1st b-day party 4 days later. That was a little insane. As was the cake I made (see below). I think the cake was a direct manifestation of my inner turmoil at the time....But the party was fun! We don't seem to have a lot of photos from the event though...
Adlai has more teeth now, and he's growing right along his normal trajectory, but was anemic as per his 1 yr well child visit. I'm trying to give him more meat, but he's not a fan. Hopefully it's not due to all of those painted Chinese meditation balls he's been chewing on....
Ok, hold on, so I'm looking back through my notes and I have several developmental milestones to document here:
Adlai's 2nd tooth (bottom left) came through on 9/10. He took his first independent steps 9/11. He also started climbing the bunk bed ladder by himself that day too. Which is now one of his favorite things to do when he's not being watched closely enough...His top right tooth came in 10/14 and the left on 10/29. He is signing or saying a lot of the same words, more, hungry, done, bye, gross, yum, mama, dada. He's started dancing to music too, which is pretty hilarious. He seems particularly fond of dancing to classical music (yes!)
My favorite new skill of Adlai's though is when he becomes a human version of one of those water balloon things you can buy at toy stores. You know, those things that you try to pick up and they just slip out of your hands no matter how you try to grab them? Yes, that's what Adlai does, he somehow contorts his body so that you literally cannot pick him up - he just slinks to the floor.
Edison is also still living here, although he thinks he's a Ninja Turtle....hmmm, I wonder where he watched Ninja Turtles? I have discovered that boys seem to have an innate fascination with swords, guns, attacking, shooting, etc. For the last 3 years I have thought I would shelter my boys from violence and OF COURSE they would NEVER be interested in violent things! HA! Ok, so I'm letting go of that fantasy. I don't think I could stop this train if I tried.
Edison is doing great with reading words though. We have a little bribery system down - one mallowcreme pumpkin for every 5 words he reads. It's highly effective.
Just in time for Halloween, Edison also developed a fascination with death, and trying to understand death. Last weekend I was alone with the boys for 4 WHOLE DAYS, and Edison asked me more about why all of his favorite musicians died than anything else. Why they died, how they died, if they're in a cemetery (see quote below), and then my favorite - if the duplicate version of the person is still alive. Edison has seen different John Denver (his favorite musician by far - we HAVE to listen to Country Roads EVERY SINGLE TIME we are in the car with him) concerts on YouTube, and apparently he thinks each concert was sung by a different version or clone of John Denver. Sometimes I feel like I'm having these odd conceptual discussions with Edison, that I really don't know how to discuss...keeps me sharp!
Ok, so I think that's about all I had to say. I've told Damon that we can switch - I'll be the SAHM and he can work - my four days alone was very enlightening. Actually, I'm taking Wednesdays off starting in January, so I think I'll feel a little more balanced with that adjustment. And hopefully the boys will like it too.
AND, here are some quotes:
E: Mom, witches are nocturnal.
Me: Yes, you are right. Who told you that?
E: Well, actually they can be diurnal.
Me: I guess. Do you know what that means?.
E: Yes. A witch is diurnal if you wake it up in the daytime.
Me: Yes, you are right about that.
Me: (attempting to sing the song about West Virginia)
E: (trying to sing along with me, and getting frustrated)
Me: Dark and dusty, stranger to my eye!
E: No! Mom! Stop! Wait, stop singing, let me sing.
Me: Ok, am I singing it wrong?
E: Yes. Ok, let me sing by myself. (composing himself)
Miner’s ladies, stranger to blue water...Dark and dusty, painted on the sky..... Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye. Country rooaaaadddsss, take me hooommmmeee!
Me: Hey Edison. What kind of dinosaur is that? A brontosauraus?
E: It’s a brachiosaurus.
Me: Oh, that’s right, they changed the name.
E: Well, actually now it’s a dreadnotus That’s new. It’s huge.
Me: Ah. Thanks.
E: Mom, where’s the secretary?
Me: What?
E: Where’s the secretary?
Me: What secretary?
E: For the poop and the pee.
Me: What?
E: Where’s the secretary? For the poop and the pee??
Me: (thinking) You mean the septic tank?
E: Yes! Where’s the septic tank?
(daddy was probably wondering where that secretary was too)
E: How was work today Mom?
Me: Ok.
E: Did you get all of your charts done?
Me: I did!
E: Oh my God...Oh my Godzilla!
E: Adlai’s going to school.
Me: Adlai’s too little to go to school.
E: He’s going to baby school.
Me: Oh? What’s he going to learn there?
E: Not to bite.
E: I’m going to take my truck to Africa.
Me: Ok, be careful. They have the Ebola virus there.
E: What?! They have evil pirates there?!
Me: Well, I think they have those too.
E: Mom, we should watch Ghostbusters. It’s a great movie.
Me: Oh, really? I think it’s a little scary for you.
E: No, it’s not.
Me: Yeah, I think you’ll have to be older to watch that.
E: Is it scarier than Jake Gyllenhall?
(Edison seems to think Jake Gylenhall is a scary movie, I'm not sure why...)
Riding in the car:
E: Is John Denver in the secretary?
Me: What?
E: Did John Denver go in the secretary?
Me: Ummmm....what are you talking about?
Looking around, I notice we’re driving past the cemetery.
Me: Do you mean the cemetery??
E: Yes, the secretary.
Me: Ok, so there’s a BIG difference between a secretary and a cemetery....
(After trying some organic quinoa & black bean dish from a box with the Cookie Monster on it:)
E: I do not like this stuff, apparently the Cookie Monster does.
E: I don't want water, I just want to drink kool-aid all the time.
D: Who dug this hole in mom's garden?!
E: ?
D: Did you dig this hole?
E: No.
D: Did Zeke dig this hole?
E: Yes, and I helped him.
E: I love the toy store, I'm obsessed with toys.
E: Whatever you get me for Christmas, you should get me everything.
(After reading The Big Bad Wolf, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Hansel and Grettle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and 101 Dalmatians:)
E: All of these books should have a police officer in them.
E: Someday, we both will drink wine and beer.
E: Someday, I'll listen to the radio. (He hates NPR).
Dad and Mom: Woah! Edison, be careful!!!
D: You pulled the towel while Adlai was standing on it!
E: Why, yes I did.
Edison finally braves the fountain sprays (Adlai has no choice).
He didn't seem to mind them.
If you don't like the color blue, then this picture isn't for you.
Adlai takes hose control.
This is definitely not a learned fascination.
?
Yes, nap time is over, you can come out now.
Possibly the first time anyone has used a Mirena IUD as a sword.
This is a very rare photo of Edison standing near construction vehicles.
Adlai testing out the new slide.
It passes inspection.
The boys up to something in their sand box.
Size 7 at ten months.
"Now I'm ready to say "buzz off" to those hornets!"
Adlai enjoying a swing, as long as it doesn't go very high.
Grandpa, Adlai and the magical Three Wolves t-shirt
(read the reviews on Amazon if you don't believe me).
Hey! We've been looking for you!
Grandpa Marshall understands the importance of a page-turner.
Fun times at the grocery.
Playing with the new neighbors!
Playing with the beach.
Playing with Lake Michigan.
Playing catch with Adlai.
Edison, stop mocking how your brother walks!
Not the first place I would go to sleep on a bunk bed, but that's just me.
Edison and Tristan waving to the St.Joe Coastguard.
This implies Edison has been in this position for quite some time.
Edison testing out the playground.
October:
Nursing with the feet up (the CEO disposition).
EZ using the hose as a whip.
Adlai using hose to drink lots and lots of water.
Fill'er up.
Adlai loving his new car seat because it faces forward.
Just trying to confuse everyone.
This is a picture of a wooly "bear" worm.
Off to Arizona for a long weekend:
Adlai wondering how old this airplane is.
Adlai's first time eating In and Out. Edison ruining the moment.
Boys passed out after a day of traveling.
Edison realizes he doesn't have to be cute in every picture.
Da fam.
Da fam again.
EZ
Mamma and EZ coming back from Bell Rock.
"Tired of hiking, no more pictures!"
With Sedona seriously lacking any play-activities for kids, Daddy has to get creative.
Adlai laying out.
EZ finds some water to disperse.
The Brothers
Back in Benton Harbor for Adlai's 1st:
Adlai's first time walking on Zoschke Rd
Adlai starting to look older than he really is.
Happpy Birthday Adlai!
"Yay! Can I eat this thing now?"
Going...
Going...
Going...
Gone!
Big Adlai with a big pumpkin.
Edison tries out part of his costume.
Adlai has mommy for a costume (actually he was a dinosaur - you can't see the tail)
This is just one bizarre photo.
Playground, 70% complete, the rest will have to wait until spring. So far, so good though.
Adlai diggin his swing.
Edison diggin his.
Adlai on the day of his b-day party.
"Look Great Hil and Pamma, a tree with many, many leaves in it."
"Mommy, what is that?"
Edison finally wears his complete costume on the coldest Halloween anyone can remember.
All in the name of candy!
"Awoooooooooooooo!"
"Grrrrr."
Edison WOLF.
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