A Hoarding Pack Rat

My darling daughter is a pack rat...seriously a pat rat.  That or she's a budding hoarder and we're going to have to have an intervention with her when she gets older.  She hold holds onto anything and everything she can get her hands on...no matter what it is.  Just today I was cleaning out the junk drawer and threw away some old football confetti from Kallen's birthday 2 years ago.  She snuck up behind me and started picking the confetti out of the garbage and stuffing it in her pockets.  I later found it stashed in 5 different places in her room.  It's a problem I tell you!!!

She also likes to stuff random things into random bags and carry them all around the house.  Sometimes it's wooden food from her kitchen, mixed with doll blankets, maybe a baby bottle, a couple of different pairs of socks, and sometimes a dog toy...but you never know.  The contents of these bags change daily...and always makes me laugh...no matter what.  I found one of her baby dolls shoved in a bag with a skirt, one of her cowboy boots and an empty toilet paper roll this afternoon, and couldn't contain my laughter!!!

Here is one of the many bags (she calls them all "purses"), I found under the dining room table yesterday while the kids were taking a nap!!!

Nothing too unordinary

Then we dump it out and the randomness begins...a belt, baby blankets, neclaces, sunglasses, a few different wallets and coin purses (filled with their own goodies mind you!), some "lips", dirty socks, Barbie clothes, a single dress up shoe, some cellphones, and even an empty party favor bag...which wait...I believe is actually Kallen's

Yep...Kallen's

The coin purse and wallets usually have their own goods inside as well...This particular coin purse is filled with a dirty sock, a ring, and polly pocket shorts...I mean really, what else would you find in a coin purse???

This wallet has neclaces, rings, a Barbie hanger, and a lonely Ken Doll Shoe!

Yep...so there you have it.  My daughter, the pack rat!  This happens to be the least random bag I've found in a long time, but it cracks me up none the less. 

A hat...of sorts

So, Kynlee won't wear hats of any kind, and getting her to leave a clip or band in her hair for more than 2 seconds is like pulling teeth...But she'll go to the laundry basket of clean clothes, pull out her brothers underwear, put it on her head and proceed to wear it around all afternoon. Nice!!!

Blessings,

It Happens...

...our kids get older. People tell you that they don't stay little for long, and to cherish the time when they are young, and we all respond with "uh huh", and go on our merry way of hopping and praying for the day that the whining stops and they become self sufficient.

Well...Kallen turned 3 on Saturday, and the reality of the words I've heard so many times, is finally starting to sink in. 3...are you kidding me! How is he 3 already?

Anyways...it happens, and I'm reminded of it every day!

We celebrated Kal's birthday on Saturday with family and friends, and for the first time, he got it. It was HIS day, and he walked around on cloud 9 all day to be sure! So while the party was a blast, and all day clean-up yesterday was proof, I didn't get many good pictures so...

I'll leave you with this...but first let me set the stage: Kevin is outside chattin' with some guys in the neighborhood talking hunting and other "manly" things, when he asks Kallen to go back inside and get him a beer...you know...men, "bs-ing", beer...it all goes together right! Anyways, Kallen came inside, and Kynlee was playing with some of her dress up things, and he decided he wanted to play too. He was so "tickled" by being a ladybug, that he had to wear it outside for daddy to see. So...Kallen in the ladybug outfit, beer in hand, walking over to a bunch of rough and tough "manly" men in deep conversation! Kevin was so proud of his "manly" son, as you can only imagine!!!

Blessings,

Maybe in Africa

As I was searching in the fridge for some veggies last night, I put the wonderful farmers market corn on the cob we have, on the counter in order to access what was underneath. Well...Little to my knowledge, one of those ears was home to a little green caterpillar and the moving and jostling in and out of the fridge made it fall from it's home, and land on my counter top.

I normally would have tossed the little inhabitant outside, washed my hands, and went on with my cooking...but Kallen was having a rather whiney, complainy, "man it's hard being 2" kind of an afternoon, so I decided to give him the little caterpillar, to take outside and do with as he may!

I called him over, picked the little guy off the counter and told him to take it outside. Without missing a beat, in a very confused and concerned state of mind, he put the pillar on his arm, and looked at me and said..."mommy...why you cooking caterpillar for dinner?"

Blessings,

"Boys have 'Wienies', Girls don't..."

...and as entirely inappropriate as that may be, a true fact it is!

You see...I've been laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants (okay, not that hard...but a laugh I couldn't control none the less), and of course I was crouched down on the floor behind the kitchen cabinets so as to not be noticed by two adorable 3 and nearly 3 year olds! Why was I laughing so hard you might ask...well...I was witnessing something for the movies, a forwarded email, or maybe even youtube somewhere, but something I definitely never thought I'd witness myself.

You know the whole..."I'll show you mine if you show me yours?" Yeah, well, in not so many words, that is the conversation I witnessed not 10 minutes ago between our dear sweet Kallen and his lovely Ellie!

Kallen had said "he" in reference to something Ellie did, and she ever so politely informed Kallen that she was a girl, not a boy. Kallen responded by saying, "no, you're a boy". Well...Ellie then proceeded to tell him that she was girl because "boy's have wienies, and girls don't", and since she didn't have a "wieny", then she was in fact a girl. Oh my dear friends...it didn't stop there. She then proceeded to pull down her pants and show Kallen that indeed she did not have the necessary male parts, to which he responded by pulling down his pants and showing that he was equip with said male parts!

They laughed a little, giggled a little and proceeded to sit down and talk about the subject a little more and about how boys work, and girls stay home and have babies (something we have not even talked about with our children, nor are we "pushing" on them in any way shape or form, however it just so happens to be the situation in both of our homes, and it what they both "know"). Anyways, I chose to remain in my hiding spot as to not make a big deal of this curiosity between friends and the conversation eventually dissipated and drifted into other things.

Kids sure make me laugh!!!

Blessings,

Lickin' the Plate Clean!

My family has a tradition that on babies first birthday...baby gets their very own cake to eat/devour/play with...whatever you'd like to call it!


Kevin and I took to that tradition with Kallen, though his performance left much to be desired! A little frosting on the fingers, a little cake in the mouth...nothing too crazy!



We also followed tradition with Kynlee this last weekend, and boy did she put her brother to shame! I tell you...that girl can eat! And what's a little frosting on the face...arms...tummy...forehead.......................ah heck...what's a little frosting all over?

"What's this?"

"Hmmm...Sure tastes good"

So good she licked the plate clean! (Just like her mommy at her first birthday...fyi)

"Victory"

Blessings,

Momma on a Mission

Kallen has a fishing pole that lately has become one of his favorite things. The bright yellow and red pole is kid friendly and oh so fun. One of the wonderful features that came with said fishing pole, is the bright red rubber fish that attaches to the line. You see...we never have to put a hook on the pole and Kal still has a great time...I mean...he catches a fish every time, who wouldn't have fun with that???

Anyways...we were at the lake this weekend and Kallen was fishing away. First he was standing on the catwalk fishing, then he moved to the end of the dock. I was holding Kynlee and watching Kal's every move...that is until I turned around to see what the men were doing. Of course, right at that moment, I heard a loud "thud", then a "splash", followed by an "oh no...my fishin' cole"...as I turned just in time to see the end of his beloved pole sink out of sight. Had I not had Kynlee in my arms, I might have dove in after it (Okay...be real...the water was only 68 degrees, and there was no way I was jumping in after a fishing pole, but it sounded good.)

So...the hours that followed were filled with lots of tears about the fish borrowing his fishing pole and not understanding why grandpa was going to help him pick out a new one, when he had a perfectly good and much loved pole simply sitting at the bottom of the lake. The water is about 20 or so feet deep right in front of the dock, so sometimes we have luck diving down and getting things, and let me tell you...many a thing has been dropped off the end of that dock...but weather/water conditions were not permitting such a dive...so the tears fell, and fell, and fell!

Well, what's a mother to do? I spent the next little bit, trying to search the property for something that might miraculously bring the pole to the surface. We thought of sticks with fishing line and sinkers, buckets tied to ropes, another pole with lots of hooks tied into it, and finally, our old family friend Pat, brought an old paint roller out of the back closet. I was quite the laughing stock as I tied the ski rope to the end of that roller, but I carried on. Kallen sat silent and still as he watched in anticipation...everyone else just with their hands over their faces to cover their snickers. I dropped the roller in, drug it one direction, then the next...nothing. My dad then suggests throwing it out, and dragging back to the dock. Okay...I tried that and announced to everyone that I felt a little tug. As I pulled up the line...something red was wrapped around the paint roller. My first reaction was that I pulled up some kind of plant or something, and that I was really going to get laughed at...but as I pulled it closer and closer...what do you know...THE FISH! All I heard behind me was "no way", and I pulled the remained line up along with THE FISHING POLE!!!!!!! I jumped and screamed in excitement as did Kallen. "You found it, you found my fishin' cole, yeah, yeah, yeah" was his exuberant response!

Everyone else just thought I should go buy a lottery ticket!!!

Blessings,

"Uh Oh"

Kynlee has decided she HATES food that comes out of a jar or is so pureed it's like mush...and would rather make a mess feeding herself than be fed by someone else, any day! Since "baby food" is no longer on her list, she's moved to wanting any, and everything we're eating. Macaroni and Cheese is her favorite.

She tends to get really possessive over her food, for fear that we might take it away...and scarfs down anything that's in front of her face. She piles food into her mouth, hand over fist and sometimes finds it necessary to eat the plate, as well as giving us a wink as if it say "I've got this eatin' stuff down"

Until it lands on the floor that is...and the "uh oh" game begins!

Blessings,

Fill 'er Up With Regular Please!!!

Okay...so if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at...right???


So...while down in the wonderful state of Nevada, I pull up to the local Chevron, roll down my window, and prodeed to wait for the nice gas attendant to ask me what I need. What gas attendant you say??? Yeah...that's what everyone else in the car said. "Uh Kati...in Nevada you have to pump your own gas". Oh...Right...I knew that (you see...in Oregon, it's actually a paying job to sit at the gas station and pump gas for other people). Us Oregonians are fortunate enough to simply pull up...say "Fill 'er up with regular", hand over our method of payment, and sit and wait patiently while the gas begins to fill our tank.


Anyways...My sister-in-law asked if I even know how to pump gas, and after thinking for a moment, of course I said "yes". Everyone then began piling out of the car and heading to the grocery store that sat across the parking lot...leaving me and my credit card, staring at the gas pump. Card in...check, lift nosle...check, start pump...check...okay...so far, so good! Pump, pump, pump...the pump stopped and we were full. Remove nosle...check, print receipt...check, and we're good...right???


So I get in the car to go pick up the rest of the crew, all the while going through my mini check list. I sit smiling at my wonderful accomplishment, as the rest of the gang stands on the curb waiting for me to park. I WHIP into a parking spot and look over to find everyone enjoying some gut wrenching laughs. "What's so funny" I think to myself...and then I spot it. I look in my side mirror to find the gas door still open, and the gas cap floppin' in the wind. Huh...so where was that on my check list? I guess I'll never be hired to pump gas!!!



Blessings,

You Know You're Tired...

...when you curl up in a ball at your mommies feet, wrap up in your blanket, bury your face into the carpet and begin snoring, snoring, snoring!!!

I was feeding Kynlee some lunch, when Kallen walked up to me and said..."I cold mommy". I told him to get his blanket, and I'd cuddle with him on the couch in just a minute. Next thing I know, I look down, and this is how I found him. I thought he was just laying there, until I heard the snoring. He was sound asleep.

I think I laughed for a good 20 minutes while taking 8 million pictures. The phone was ringing, Kynlee screaming, dog stepping over the top of him, and music blaring, yet the little man slept on...nothing would shake him!

Blessings,

A Style All His Own

As of yet, Kallen hasn't really been into the whole dressing himself thing. I find an outfit (yes, my son wears "outfits"), and that's what he wears that day! He is definitely capable of dressing himself, but it simply gets done quicker if I do it, and we don't have any heads stuck in arm holes or anything like that!!! He really hasn't even had a preference on what he wears. He just goes with the flow...

...until today! I told him he needed to get dressed for church, and this is what he came out of his bedroom looking like...all the while saying "I go bye-bye...c'mon mommy...let's go"! Not only is he wearing pajamas, but 2 different pairs at that, his daddies stocking hat, a non matching jacket, and the bright red socks with his crocs were a nice way to finish off the ensemble!

Needless to say...he changed! I'm just not ready to give up the control of his matching outfits...yet another aspect of my OCD!!!

Blessings,

Do You See a Problem?

We all know what this is, right...

yes...it's good ol' Silly Putty.

And we all know what this is...

yup...an empty egg of Silly Putty. So far so good, right?

Now do you see a problem???

I'm not sure where he got it, in fact I didn't even know we had any in the house...yet sure enough, Kallen woke up with Silly Putty EVERYWHERE. On the wall, his sheets, pajamas, pillow and even his dear, dear blanket! I've tried peeling it off, but to no avail. Any suggestions? I'd really like to not throw everything away...especially the blanket, and I'm pretty sure my washing machine would appreciate if I don't put them in there...so help!!! I am laughing about it by the way. I think it's hillarious how he truly got it EVERYWHERE! I don't think he could have done that if he tried!

Blessings,

A Routine of Sorts!

We needed to make a quick trip down to the post office this afternoon, so I could put some invitations to a baby shower I'm hosting in January, in the mail. Well, even though the plan is for a "quick" trip, it always seems like such a production. I run around and make sure the diaper bag is loaded with diapers and a change of clothes for Kynz (for the ever so random "blow out"), a change of clothes for Kallen (in case of an unexpected accident), a few trucks and cars (to keep Kallen busy if need be), some juice for the little man, a snack of sorts, and most importantly my wallet, cell phone and keys. I always change Kynlee right before we leave, and have Kallen use the bathroom too. The various Christmas lights spread throughout the house have to be turned off, the dog bowl filled with water, and all the doors locked. I tend to use the bathroom myself, and pull a jacket and pair of shoes out of the closet for Kallen and I. Then Kynz gets put in her carrier and moved to the front door while Kallen takes a moment to put on his shoes and coat. Then we're "clear" and we can head out the door.

Well during my little "routine" this afternoon, I was constantly talking to Kallen and giving him instructions while I moved throughout the house. Every once in a while he acknowledged me saying "okay mommy" while staying out of my line of travel. Final lights were shut off, Kynlee in my arms ready for her carrier, and this is what I found:

"I ready go bye bye mommy" says Kal.

I was laughing too hard to get mad at the fact, that not only were his socks and shoes not on, but his mouth was full of chocolate chips.

Too bad the kid basically still fits in the thing!

Just as I Predicted

As I've mentioned before, Kevin and I started Potty Training Kallen a little over a month ago. We have a little potty chair, and because of that he's become quite independent with the whole bathroom "business". We've taught him to sit, so if he needs to go, he runs on into the bathroom and goes. He doesn't have to come get me to help him on the pot, and I'm not afraid of "over spray". His little chair has a little shield...for the boys! Anyways...there is little assistance needed on my part.

Well, that's how it works when we're home, but small little toilets out in public...I think not. Therefor he needs a little help to go when we're out and about. Also, when he's got to go, he can only hold it for so long...hence the little Travel pot I got him. It, once again, has a little shield, and easily folds up and stores in the back of my car. If we're somewhere we can't get to a potty...I pull over, set up the pot (in like 2 seconds mind you) and there he goes.

Kevin wasn't sure why we needed to have a "port-a-potty", when Kallen could simply "water a tree" when we can't get to a bathroom. I informed my darling husband, that the little man wasn't quite ready to be "watering trees" outside, simply because I wasn't sure that my entertainment center, or the walls (not to mention the current tree that we actually have standing in our living room), wouldn't become a "tree" also. He informed me that Kallen would definitely understand the difference between outside and inside, and that it would be no problem.

Well...this weekend Kallen "watered" his first tree outside, and thought it was the funniest thing ever. He kept giggling and saying "like daddy". Oh great...He's seen daddy going at home, and now he's doing the same thing...what happens next you ask.

Sure enough...I found Kallen this morning, standing in front of his potty chair saying "ook mommy, I wa'er tees". You can imagine what the walls, floor, and cabinet looked like when he was done. At least it was in the bathroom and not the Christmas tree, right!!!