Thanksgiving a success!

Thanksgiving with the Sledges in Olympia has (so far) been a total success. Amazing food, great company and no serious injuries. Of course we are staying for one more night so this could all change.

Stacee already has some great pix posted on her site www.xander&clare.blogspot.com so check them out until i get my act together.

Best Birthday Present Ever!

Just wanted to say thank you, thank you to my folks for buying me a Flip Video Ultra for my birthday (and to Stacee for introducing me to the whole concept).

I'll be posting lots of videos from here on out - they are more content than art so feel free to skip them if you aren't a relation. Relatives will be quizzed about details of the videos so make sure you take notes.

Love to all!

Little Drummer Boy

Think H will be just like his mama although a bit more distracted - check him out at the KidsQuest Museum.

Finally, the **&&%!- ing Halloween pix you've been asking for (and asking for)

Henry was a zebra for Halloween (thanks to Granny and her costume shopping).

We did alot of cajoling to get him into the costume but finally enough success to get out the door.

I still don't know what noise zebras make (our own attempts sound like a strangling horse), but i do know that they eat granola bars.

Yes, we have more pix which will be posted soon. But first a parable.

Once there was a small zebra whose parents REALLY wanted him to go trick or treating. (Mainly to take pictures to show others thus boosting their own egos).
The small zebra couldn't care less but humored his poor mothers by (finally) getting ready and heading outside.
The mothers thought they had everything planned for a wonderful adventure - the young zebra had been fed and watered before leaving the stable. Many of the other animal friends would be there as well. It was sure to be a grand time!

You may not have learned this at your local zoo but zebras don't like to get overheated in costumes. They don't like crowds or other animals shoving them around.
And upon seeing sugar they will insist on eating copious amounts of it. If thwarted they will arch their backs, kick their heels and scream their zebra cry "NNNOOOOOOOOO!!!".

Carrying a tantruming zebra six blocks over your shoulder is hard work.

The moral of this story is: You can bring a zebra trick or treating but it will lead you to drink.

October Pumpkin Picking Pix

Took H to pick pumpkins out at a farm in Redmond. While there, he learned to ride a bale of hay. So did Mama.

How come the adults always look happier than the kids?


Riding solo.

The wheelbarrow was H's favorite part by far.

Of course the funny thing is that we didn't buy one single pumpkin as the prices were crazy, the pickings slim, the lines long and they only took cash (of which we had little).

Next year....

Midnight Train to Georgia

It's midnight at the Kinney-Young household. All the inhabitants are soundly asleep. Except...

"Mommy! Mommy! Get up Mommy!"

Mommy blind stumbles into Henry's room. Henry is standing in his crib clutching his lovey, big blankie, and little taggie blankie.

"Henry, it's night time. You need to go back to sleep."

"Henry get up, Mommy. Henry play trains; Mommy play trains."

"No, honey, Mommy is sleeping. We'll play trains tomorrow."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Play trains NOW. Mommy no sleeping."

Well, this is true. Mommy is "no sleeping" as the toddler clearly observed.

And why is midnight an inappropriate time for train-play (which sounds like a euphamism for something else that would more appropriately be happening at midnight)?

Henry waited expectantly for Mommy's response.

So Mommy lied.

"Henry, the trains are sleeping. The trains are too tired to play right now. They want to play in the morning".

I'd like to say that he bought ill-placed personification and went back to sleep with a smile and a knowing nod.

Not so much. Kate went in and worked her toddler voodoo and he finally fell back asleep. Until...

4:45 am "Mommy! Mommy! Henry get up! Mommy get up!"

"Henry, Mommy is still sleeping."

"Mommy, trains AWAKE! Thomas AWAKE!"

Next time I'll make sure I buy the "late rising" trains : "hang-over Thomas" or "Teenage Thomas" should do the trick.

Henry had a very good time in Olympia

In the car on the way home from a two-night visit to Olympia to see Mike, Stacee, Xander and Baby Clare:

Henry [from the backseat]: Xander.

Mommy: What's that honey?

Henry: Xander.

Mommy: You miss Xander?

Henry: Yeah.

Mommy: You had a good time visiting with Xander, didn't you Henry?

Henry: Yeah.

Mommy: Well, we can play with your toys when we get home.

Henry: Go play Xander's house?

Mommy: No honey, we're going to your house. You can play with Mommy and Momma.

Silence.

Henry evaluates life after Xander and finds it lacking

My words of wisdom for the day are "Don't even try to compete with a four year old in the fun department". There are many things that, as an adult, you probably do much better than a 48 month old. Some of them matter to a two year old (such as carefully following the food mandates of the day, lugging them around to all of their playdates and providing an endless supply of binkies and sippy cups) and some of them don't (making a fabulous dry martini and mad stain removal skills come to mind). Regardless of how great a parent you think you are, however, you will never ever out play a four year old.

You are thinking, Jessica you know not that of which you speak. I can play. I can get my crazy on with the best of the preschool bunch. Entertain THIS.

Just a brief consideration before diving head first into the fountain of youth:

For you, playing is an action. It has a beginning and an end. It has pauses and bathroom breaks and "let Mommy get another glass of Mommy juice".

To a four year old, playing is breathing. There are no time-outs (other than sleep which simply serves to wind the spring a little tighter). Crazy isn't a mindset or a psych-out, it just IS.

Whatever. Believe me or don't. It's your funeral (or at least dislocated fibula). But just be ready that after many hours of your best efforts as train conductor, baseball player, big hiding bear/monster/tiger thing, captain of sea-worthy boxes, run in circles until you almost puke-erator, your child will look at you and sadly, wistfully ask when he or she can next have a playdate with [name of favored four year old]. And you will sadly, wistfully lug your very old, very sore body to the couch with another glass of mommy juice and realize that your reign as the north star is over.

The Worst Magician in the World

Antics with Henry and Xander and some empty boxes while visiting the Sledge's new place in Olympia.

Goodbye Bellingham, Hello Olympia

Visiting Mike, Stacee, Xander and Baby Clare in their new home in Olympia. Very fun times at the Hands On Children Museum. Henry was in a very bad post-nap space until he walked through the front door of the museum and spotted the train table.

That was the end of that - he was hooked.


The boys are mesmerized by the bigger boy (Mike) doing the pre-bedtime read.



Driving school at the Hands On Children's Museum.

When "Yeah!" really means "NO!"

Broccoli tonight Henry?

Yeah!

How about yummy sweet squash?

Yeah!

How about some chicken enchiladas?

Yeah!

15 minutes later with food on the plate...

Here you go, broccoli, squash and enchiladas!

NOOOOOO!!!!!

Obviously I'm still learning toddler-ese and have yet to be properly trained.

Henry takes to the Polls

Election Day!

Took H to the polls first thing this morning to vote for, of course, Barack Obama. Henry provided the entertainment for the long line of people waiting to exercise their democratic muscle by yelling "Vote Broccoli" (his version of "Barack").

Wish i had video - he got quite a few laughs.

Here's to hoping for a President Broccoli!