Levi paints

Levi got a chance to do some painting this evening with a new activity book from Doug and Cindy. I showed him how to stay inside the lines but after practicing a bit on the brown horse, he decided it was much more exciting to paint without restrictions!

Hoofbeats

Ellie loves playing with horses. I am delighted of course!

Visit to the jungle

Today the kids and I had gotten up and eaten in time to make it to Sabbath School. Since we don't have a running truck at the moment I decided to walk them to the Village church. It was starting to rain so we put the hoods up on the stroller and I dashed the two blocks over to the church.

Along the way we encountered a neighborhood man who enjoys waving. Levi wanted me to catch up to him. We talked to him a little bit and then continued on up the hill.

We were a bit late but recognized some faces and as we sat down I was in awe of the theme for the quarter: the rain-forest. Someone had done a really awesome job setting up a whole jungle canopy complete with monkeys and spiders and snakes and a panther and pond with waterfall.

During one point the teacher talked about anteaters. "And what does an anteater eat?" Levi pipes up "Ants. And there are ants at my house and they eat our food."

I was so proud of my kids today. They sat in their seats and took things up front and came back and sat down when they were supposed to. I couldn't believe it. I think that was the first time ever. They really enjoyed it and I was glad I made the effort to take them.

Since it was just me with them, I took them both in Cradle Roll II, which was meant for 2-3 year olds. But I thought they would both probably get something out of it and I was right.

Meatball Subs

This afternoon I was watching Judge Judy. Levi was hanging out in the living room, upset that I was watching 'my' show and not 'his' choice of programming. A commercial came on for meatball subs and Levi said "What is that? I want that for dinner!"

I had never made that before but I figured he was onto something, it sounded good to me! We had to get the sub rolls but we had everything else on hand. I made the 'meat'balls from a recipe from my grandmother Katie, which do not include meat. They were GOOD! We'll have to make that again soon!

Little copycat

I was wandering around the house, picking things up, and I stubbed my toe on something and went hobbling past Ellie saying "Ow, ow, ow" then continued on my way. A few seconds later, I hear Ellie say "ow, ow, ow." I turn around, and she's all bent over, pretending to limp across the floor, only she's looking at me and smiling. What a doll. I wish I could have gotten a video!

--Matt

Padres Pajamas

Tonight Levi wanted to wear his Padres pajamas. Grandma Susan made these for him.

Bookcase Children

Herbed Cheese Ring

HERBED CHEESE RING

1 package (1/4 oz) active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115)

1 cup warm milk (110 to 115)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 TBSP honey

1 egg

1 tsp salt

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp crushed rosemary

Filling:

1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp paprika

Topping:

1 egg, beaten

2 tsp sesame seeds

4 tsp grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, oil, honey, egg, salt, whole wheat flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour and herbs, beat until blended. Stir in remaining all-purpose flour to form a soft dough. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

2. Punch dough down and turn onto a floured surface; divide in half. Roll one portion into a 15-in x 10-in rectangle. Combine filling ingredients; sprinkle half over dough. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Pinch seams to seal.

3. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. With a sharp knife, cut 1/2-in slashes at 2-in intervals. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.

4. Brush each ring with egg; sprinkle with sesame seeds and Parmesan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire cooling racks.

Yield: 2 loaves

Spring weather

I have a couple of crazy kids. We have two lumbar supports for office chairs and Levi thought it would be fun to put them on his head.

Ellie's not really sure what to think, but with her purse and hat she is ready to go shopping!

We had breakfast, and then it was such a GORGEOUS day we decided to take a walk. We hiked the kids down to the local park and let them play for awhile and then we hiked back home. It was great exercise for all of us, but especially fun for the kids to get out of the house!

Ellie enjoyed the swings...

While Levi tried to figure out the tire swing.

Then he balanced on the supporting beams.

And what did I do? I did pull-ups. I think I managed to do three.

Ellie saw her brother on the wall and wanted to have a turn balancing as well, with a little help from mom.

Inspecting the footing...

Working on her angelic super-model pose... she almost has it...

Yes, there it is. Look at that pose, those toes!

Climbing down all by herself... gulp... where did my baby go?

Levi has discovered a worm! He is very interested in it. Why is it there?

On the walk home Levi decides that the best place for his coat is on his head, to shade his eyes. And because he is too warm to wear it the other way.

It was a most productive Sunday. After our walk we spent more time out in the front yard clearing out the flowerbeds. I also made four loaves of rye swirl bread and started the dough for an herbed cheese ring. It made the house smell oh so good!

Drawings and animals

Ellie is my little artist. She just loves to draw. She takes it very seriously. If a pen is found, she will snatch it up and look around for something to doodle on. If she can't find anything she will come to me and say "draw" until I find her something.

Her vocabulary is expanding and it surprised me the other night when I told Levi he needed to "go back to bed now" and she ran over and said to him "now!" She calls ice cream "Brrr!" She knows the dogs by name and loves to help me let them out to potty and call them back in. Her favorite books currently are Grover's "I have to go" book on potty training, and the Bright Baby series on Colors, Animals, and First Words.

Levi has adopted many stuffed animals lately. He likes a little yellow lab puppy the best. I don't know where it came from, it was not a part of my Beanie Buddy collection. We were in WalMart the other day and Levi saw a brand of toilet paper with a cartoon sketch on it of a yellow lab. He pointed it out and told me "That puppy looks just like my favorite puppy at home!" For a long time his favorite stuffed animal was a boston terrier dog, just like our real ones. It is interesting to see how their preferences develop. I assumed they would like what their parents like, but they are quickly dissolving that dream. :) In this photo above it is almost bed time and he is snuggling in our bed with his night-night blanket and pink flamingo.

Hole Blocks

Levi got a gift from his great-grandfather (say with eastern accent) Don for Christmas that has been a really big hit around here. Levi calls them "hole blocks" because they are building blocks with holes. They snap together and are sturdy and easy to play with. They came with a little booklet of ideas and the entire week following Christmas Levi made every one of the suggestions. A bull, a crab, a helicopter, etc. Lately he has been coming up with new ideas and generating other inventions. This past week Ellie has started snapping them together and taking them apart as well, much to Levi's dismay. They are his.

Here is something he built today that he was especially proud of. I think it had something to do with space and laser shooters like on Star Wars.

Levi, Oma, Carson and the park

Today's blog has a guest writer: my mom Karen Patton, otherwise known as "Oma" to the kids.

* * *

Carson has been asking to go to Levi's house to play, and when I see Levi he asks, "where's Carson"? These two little fellas are becoming fast friends. I told Carson we would have playtime with Levi today. He was very excited and suggested we pack a picnic lunch and take Levi to the park. I thought that was a great idea, uh...even though it was very windy and a bit of a nip in the air.

We put a lot of various foodstuff in the picnic basket which included: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, granola bars, applesauce cups, chocolate pudding cups, juice boxes, water, bananas and chips. Carson wanted to make Levi a special sandwich, so he spread a lot of jelly (apricot fruit spread no sugar actually) between two slices of white bread. He was quite sure Levi would like that the best.

We went to Levi's house and Levi was very excited to see us and invited us in.

Levi was walking around the house in one shoe, and showing Carson his new toys. He didn't seemed concerned that he would need another shoe before we could go. Matt asked where his other shoe was. Carson and I hunted to no avail. Matt asked Ellie if she knew where the missing shoe was, and she ran off down the hall to hunt for it. Levi seemed oblivious to the shoe problem and continued with his toys demonstrations.

Eventually Matt found his shoe and after buckling the boys in their car seats away we went.

We arrived at the park on 9th street, and the boys couldn't get out of the car fast enough. They ran and ran and ran and played and played on all the playground equipment. Then they raced each other to the bridge and back. I had to keep up with them of course. Levi had all sorts of ideas and went to the swimming pool to check that out, then to the various bridges, then from one side of the creek to the other. He found it great fun to lean over the bridge to see if he could find fish in the water below, as OMA grabbed his beltloops to make sure he wouldn't tumble overboard.

Levi's next idea is that since Carson was bigger and older, he should pick up all the litter blowing around the park. It was very cute and they made a game out of it to clean up their local environment. Levi didn't have to pick up any garbage of course, because he would find trash that he "couldn't reach" because he was "too short" or "too young" or "too afraid to get close to the water"...and he would tell Carson to go get it. "there Carson, look over there a paper is caught in the thornbush, get that!" he would shout with glee, and Carson felt proud to be the older and bigger boy to show Levi what he could do. He put it in the trash can, then off they ran with another idea.

Carson found a rope and outsmarted and outran Levi by running with it trailing behind him. Levi ran and ran and giggled and giggled (and I was right next to him)...as he kept bending over to pick up the other end of the rope when Carson would stop for an extra breath. As soon as Levi would bend over, Carson would jerk on the rope to pull it just out of Levi's reach. Levi thought that was hilarious.

I showed Levi how to catch the rope by stepping on it, aha...he caught on fast so he would step on it, and then Carson would come to a surprised halt when the rope was not following him as freely as it did before.

They ended that game by working together (at my suggestion) to add the rope to the spider man web and make more web out it. They learned it could be fun to work as a team together instead of trying to outsmart each other in competition.

After an hour of all this running about--with Levi usually in the lead, because his "new ideas" were continuous...LOL I suggested we eat lunch. They wanted to sit on a bench, but it was so windy I could just imagine all our lunch wrappings blowing hither and yon.

So I suggested a pick-up truck type of picnic. I put the back up on my Explorer and we crawled in there. It was about 12:45 by then, they actually didn't want to take time to stop to eat--I had to coax them. But once in the back of the Explorer they dove into the picnic basket as if starved.

It was wonderful to watch Levi eat. First he ate an egg salad sandwich. When he saw that Carson was eating a jelly sandwich and Carson told him he made a special one for him, Levi said he would eat that as well--and he did. Next he had the applesauce and ate all that, then a granola bar, then a juice box, then a chocolate pudding cup as well as a bag of chips. He ate everything in the basket except a banana. I have never seen him eat a full meal like that before. It must have been all that vigorous running and climbing for an hour working up an appetite.

While we were sitting there eating, we noticed a police car had pulled someone over at the corner of 9th and the side street. Then that cop drove into our parking lot and talked with another cop out their car windows. The boys noticed everything and had all sorts of conversations during lunch. It was very fun to just be there with them and listen to and watch them interact. I wish I could remember all that they talked about--but they are like two little grownups sometimes and make me laugh!

Then one cop pulled up behind us and stopped. He put down his window and looked at the boys, he was not smiling. He said in a pretend deep gruff voice "HEY BOYS...I AM WONDERING IF YOU LIKE STICKERS". Levi said 'What??" The cop repeated himself. Levi said "well yes, I surely do like stickers". Carson agreed he did also. The cop pulled out two stickers that said WW City Police Dept, Junior officer (or something like that) and gave to the boys. They had climbed out of the car and went up to the cop.

They got back in the car, and the cop said "by golly, it sure looks like you boys are having fun!" Levi said "we sure are having fun, we are HAVING A PICNIC" Cop responded "by golly, I see you are having a picnic--are you going to play at the park after you eat? Levi said "we already did that before we ate". I said "but they will play again after they eat." Cop said "by golly, you boys have fun now" and he drove off.

The boys both looked at each other and chuckled saying both about the same time "he sure was a funny cop!"

Then Carson peeled the back off his sticker and out it on his jacket. Levi peeled off the back of his sticker and stuck it to his forehead. Carson said "Levi, that is not the right place for a sticker."

Levi responded "well yes, it is"

Carson said "no its not, you are supposed to stick it on your clothes or shirt--here see? like I did."

Levi said "No, I am sure I should stick it on my forehead, because that is what my daddy always does when someone gives him a sticker."

Carson said (laughing) "really? then you have a pretty silly dad!" Levi said "I sure do, my dad is silly." Levi giggled and then took the sticker off his forehead and put it on his coat.

Boys finished eating and back to the playground they went. Climbing on rocks and we ended with swinging on the swings. They had a blast.

I let them know it was time to go home about 1:45. We buckled in and headed to Levi's house. Levi picked up the Berenstain Bears "Too much TV" book and asked me to read it to him.

I suggested I would love too, but unable while driving and that perhaps Carson would read it to him since he is learning to read. Carson said "well ok"

Then Carson opened the book and saw how wordy it was and said to Levi--"Well Levi, I would like to read this book to you, but by the looks of it, the words are far too small, I can't see them without wearing reading glasses".

I laughed and laughed. That is something I say alot and besides Carson doesn't wear glasses--but it was a great response considering he knew he could not read that wordy book. He is just learning words like "I, Bird, The" etc.

The boys crack me up. If I had one day a week with the two of them--I think I would be laughing the rest of the week remembering the things they say to each other, and in such childish innocence and yet little mimics of their parents in so many ways...

When we got to Levi's house...Levi said "well, I really don't want to go home right now, I would like to start that picnic at the park all over again."

I assured him this day had to end, but that we would do it again another day. What fun!

Thank you for letting me whisk him away for a couple hours. It was good exercise for me too!

Sunday

Sunday morning I went for a ride with Heather. When I got home Matt had already started lunch. Special K loaf, yum yum. I was expecting Wes and Joanie and Natalie to stop by on their way home to Portland. Matt asked if I wanted to invite them to lunch. Great idea.

Here is Natalie waving at me from her perch at the table. She is just so adorable.

After lunch we sat and visited a bit more while the kids played. Ellie showed Natalie her little rocking chair and then they both sat in it for a photo. We bid the Blumenbergs farewell and safe travels homeward.

Sunday evening Ellie was in the mood to draw so I set her up with a pen and a shoebox lid on the floor next to me. Well she decided the bed was much more comfortable and I looked over and saw her snuggled under a new pillow with her feet in the air, just doodling away.

When she was done drawing she ran and got her helmet and tried to put it on (backwards), she really loves that thing. She wears it all the time around the house.

Blumenbergs visit

Today something unusual happened. My brother Wes, Joanie and Natalie came to town... on a Friday. He had the day off work so they decided to make a weekend of visiting Walla Walla.

Wes and Matt, proud members of the bearded mens club. Speaking of, check out these magnificent specimens.

Natalie and Wes.

Ellie knows her cousin from photos and will try hard to say "Natalie" and point her out to me. The kids all had a great time visiting. Natalie just turned one on December 26.

Ellie couldn't wait to show off her hidden horse that jumps out after a song. Sometimes Ellie likes to cheat and pull the latch before the song is over to make the horse pop out.

The kids also each took a hand and tried to help Natalie walk up and down the hallway. She is not real steady on her own, and the kids got her going a little fast but they all had fun.

Fun way to spend a Friday afternoon!

Just stuff...

I got a jury summons in the mail today. At first I was upset and trying to think of how to get out of it. I have avoided every other notice I have ever received. I think the first time I had finals, the second time I was on my honeymoon, the third time I was close to delivering Levi. So I had reasonable excuses. I was talking to some people at work and I guess my employer will pay me my normal wage while I am serving so I wouldn't be losing out on any income. Ok, so now I am excited about going to court! I suppose I should be proud to do my civic duty, since I am such a fan of Judge Judy...

We have managed to go an entire week now without driving anywhere. When we needed stuff from the store we walked down to Andy's or Wal-Mart. I am thankful they are close enough to do that. I have gotten a ride to work every day with a neighboring co-worker.

Matt fixed the brakes on the Ugly truck last weekend but we still haven't called to put insurance on it. I guess we will need to do that tomorrow. Matt also got the station-wagon running but it needs a hole drilled in the gas cap and something else... oh yeah a fuel pump and maybe a new battery. (How about a new owner!??!) So for now I guess it can sit there. Matt has some other ideas about what may be wrong with the Suburban so perhaps we can tackle those this weekend. Thanks for the siphon kit mystery friend! :) ha ha

Kids are well, other than being kind of crazy from cabin fever. We are looking forward to a visit from Uncle Wes, Aunt Joanie and cousin Natalie this weekend! That is a great surprise!

Levi's half-birthday

"Since it was Levi's half-birthday and all, we had macaroni and cheese with fried green beans and fri-chick (of which Levi got an extra half-a-piece to commemorate the fact that he was now four and a half). Exciting stuff. He also got his very own half-birthday cookie, while Ellie and I shared another.

After lunch I told Levi he could play for as long as it took me to clean all the dishes, and then it would be nap time. That seemed to work reasonably well. I had him run from the kitchen to his bed a few times, and he beat his personal best time of 14 sec. with a very fast 13 second run. The time before that, he ran too fast, and deduced that when he runs too fast, he falls down."

-Matt

Oma

Oma was in the area today so she stopped by for a short visit with the kids and they all enjoyed looking at her new book.

Cookie dough hat

We bought a tub of freezer cookie dough from neighbor Mariah (school fundraiser) and it made decent cookies. Chocolate with pink m&ms for breast cancer. The kids and I decided that the tub they came in made a pretty cool hat!

2011

It's hard to believe that my Christmas vacation is over, and I made it though the first week back to work already. It has been a rough start to the new year.

Last Sunday our Suburban would not start. We had just filled up the (extraordinarily large) fuel tank. It was super cold, below the teens, so we thought maybe the fuel lines had frozen due to some bad gas. We got the Ugly truck to start but soon discovered the rear brakes were not working, so I got a ride to work from a neighboring co-worker on Monday. The rest of the week I had the honor and delight of driving a friends truck, of which I am now deeply in love with. :)

My paternal grandfather went to the hospital with chest pains and was put in ICU while they tried out a heart medication on him and discovered he also has pneumonia so he has been on oxygen also. It sounds like they are getting a handle on the pneumonia but he is not responding to the meds. At least he is no longer in ICU. 85 years old and never took a pill in his life! Never had an operation or been to the hospital for any reason. Looking on the bright side, this prompted me to call my grandmother and I had a nice chat with her.

My former step-sister is battling cancer, and she has been in my daily thoughts and prayers.

About a week ago I was changing Ellie and looked out the window and saw a face looking at me. Yikes! Some guy was outside our house crossing from the back yard to the street. We are thinking maybe he wanted to get through from the alley and all the other yards are fenced. Matt turned on the front light and that must have scared him because then he ran back the other way and looked in at me again! Scared us all half to death. I sent Matt out after him with a sword. There were footprints in the snow but no trace of him. It made me wish I had a bigger dog again!

AAGH! It has kind of become the running joke at work now. Something goes wrong, blame it on 2011. I'm afraid perhaps I have passed it off to a fellow co-worker who this week spilled his water and then the next day had something else go wrong. "2011!"

Here's hoping it can only get better.

On the bright side, between Matt and myself we bled the brakes on Ugly and got those working again, yay! Easy fix.

I'm not sure what the outcome will be for the Suburban. Anyone know how to siphon gas?

Two little monkeys...

I put both kids in their monkey pajamas tonight. Ellie has had hers for a little while from Grandma Susan, and Levi just got his for Christmas from Uncle Wes. I think they look pretty cute. I tried posing them for the photo but Levi wanted to throw his monkey across the room between every shot.

Candid shots are more fun than posed anyway.