Kids bring humility

Church today was crowded. Some very dear friends (he was the former pastor) had returned for a visit. Jon had sound booth duty. I had forgotten some things at home and by the time I returned and collected the kids from Jon the pews were very full.

We found a small spot between two ladies about half way up the aisle. Everything was going fine and the kids were behaving very well. But I started to smell something. It was obvious that the lady on one side of us was having some serious stomach issues. And pretty soon we could smell it. It was bad, but I kept hoping that Dominic wouldn't notice. Not such luck!

In a very loud whisper that was heard for several pews around "Mommy, something stinks really bad." A pause and then in a slightly softer voice "Who farted?"

Kiweed

"Mom, please don't put kiweed (kiwi) in my salad for supper."

Dirty girls, clean boys

I am not a prissy girl. I love my jeans and t-shirts. But for some reason I have so much fun dressing Caitlin up in the cutest girly outfits. Caitlin was wearing an adorable outfit yesterday when we went outside to play. As you can see she ended up eating dirt and playing in the mud. So it's looking like she'll be like her mom regardless of how I dress her. =)

Dominic loves brushing his teeth. Last night after brushing he asked if he could floss. So I helped him and then he finished. Dr. Mike would be so proud.

Super Powers

We were at my friend Janet's house the other day and the kids decided to be super people. They were running around with their capes on making a ton of noise. Not sure what "problems" they ever solved, but they had fun. I didn't have my camera, so am posting today when I got the pictures. Aren't they precious?!

Engineers

"Mommy, did you know there are TWO kinds of engineers?

The kind that drives trains and the kind that makes money?"

T-Ball

I'm seriously late getting the pictures of Dominic's t-ball on here. He had his last game this week and I still haven't posted the 1st picture.

He really enjoyed playing. This t-ball was a bit different from regular t-ball. Each kid took a turn at bat and then ran a home run regardless of what happened to the ball. Then when in outfield each child got a chance to throw the ball. So there were no scores. As a parent I really liked it and as a child Dominic never noticed. =)

Caitlin even had a cheerleader outfit that she wore one week.

Team spirit - great job, man!

 

It turned a bit cold one evening and all I had in the car was a jacket of mine. So Caitlin was wrapped up in it.

Dominic had so much fun. We'll be doing this again next year.

Enjoying life

My kids have the coolest imaginations. Caitlin found my scarves and was playing with them. So while I was taking pictures of her, Dominic didn't want to be left out. So he begged me to take a picture of him in his tunnel.

Caitlin wearing the scarf.

 

 The kids love going grocery shopping with me because the store has these carts. Now that Caitlin is old enough to sit beside Dominic it's even more fun - for all of us. =)

 

Sabbath afternoon

The weather was supposed to be beautiful on Sabbath so we packed a picnic lunch for after church. We went down to Union Point and ate our lunch. There was an old car show and we wandered down to look at some of the cars and the New Bern bears before heading home.

Dominic hugged this bear and then wouldn't touch any more of them because he (the bear) was so hot.

I had neglected to get shoes for Dominic and his church shoes were hurting his feet because he'd lost his socks. So he spent most of the afternoon wandering around bare foot. Jon and I just kept hoping he didn't find any glass. It was pretty hot so we kept stopping for rest breaks.

After quiet time the kids wanted to go outside. It was still very warm so we turned the sprinkler on for them to run around in. Dominic, of course, had to strip. We stopped him before he was completely naked.

Caitlin's weight and nail polish

Dominic came up to me with a sewing tape measure and said "I sized Caitlin and she weighs 15 to 16 pounds a dollar."

Jon met us at T-Ball last week on the motorcycle and we went out to eat afterwards. Dominic wanted Jon to drive the silver car and me ride the motorcycle home so he could spend some time with Daddy.

"But Dominic I can't drive the motorcycle home. I don't have my license."

"But why not Mommy? Is it because you are a girl?"

I was rather disturbed and set out to correct his myths about women. =)

After a bit of a debate I think I convinced him that girls can do anything that boys can do, even race cars and ride motorcycles. But I had to ask -

"Dominic, is there anything boys can't do that girls can?"

"Yeah, wear nail polish." It was a good thing I was laughing because I'm wasn't sure how to answer that one.

Monster Cool Day

We had a really fun day today. We met a friend of mine so the kids could play at the park before going to lunch for her birthday. Sam wasn't very happy, but they still look so cute sitting here together.

The weather was super hot so the kids were playing under the slides in the shade. 

Anna and Caitlin were covered in mulch.

Dominic showing off his climbing skills.

 Happy Birthday, Janet!

After lunch and quiet time we headed back into town to go watch a monster truck crush cars. We got to take pictures before the truck started. The truck had made a run earlier that morning and the guy showed us the glass in the tires from the cars.

It was super loud and while the truck was running Dominic kept his hands over his ears.

I got some amazing pictures and video.

The kids showing off their monster trucks at the restaurant later.

Play date

We went over to a friend's house to play in their back yard. Dominic was excited to see his friend Brice.

Brice didn't have a change of clothes so we took the clothes off of all of the kids and they ran in the water with just their underwear or diapers on.The little blond girl (hiding behind the boys in the picture) was the star attraction. Apparently Brice considers her a girl friend. But Dominic must have thought she was fair game. Every time I looked over at him he was trying to hold her hand. Then they would stand there holding hands until something distracted them. Once I looked over and Dominic was holding her hand and Brice had his arm around her. =) To my regret I was never able to catch it on film.Caitlin was more content at the water table. She was soaked, but having so much fun.

Rice

Dominic has a little friend named Brice. He called him rice for the longest time. He's now pronouncing it correctly, but still gets a bit confused.

Yesterday he asked for noodles with the stir-fry we were having for lunch. I looked and didn't have any. "Dominic, we'll have to have rice, I don't have any noodles."

"BRICE IS COMING OVER?!"

He was a very disappointed little boy eating his rice and vegies for lunch.

Little boy logic

Dominic is not klutzy. But he's always getting hurt because he isn't paying attention to what is going on around him. He's usually talking or looking everywhere but where he's headed. Jon and I are always telling him "Dominic, pay attention!" The poor kid hears this every day.

Just yesterday he was busy talking and clothes lined himself on a board at a neighbor's. He'd walked by it several times, but just wasn't paying attention that time.

Today he was slinging his little shovel around and almost hit me.

"Dominic, pay attention, you almost hit me."

"I WAS paying attention mom."

"No, Dominic you almost hit me with your shovel."

"If I had not been paying attention I would have hit you."

I couldn't argue with that one.

Duck Wood

"Mom, come and look at what I've made with my duck wood."

I couldn't figure out what duck wood was until I came into the bedroom and saw him playing with the duct board.

Jon had a bunch of it laying in the living room so he can finish up the air conditioning stuff when he gets a spare moment. Apparently Dominic knows all about duck wood and air conditioners now.

Helping Mom

I was rushing around getting ready to go and Dominic decided to "help" me get Caitlin ready. I just can't believe that she let him.You can't see in this picture, but there were also clips in the very back of her head.

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful mother's day. My kids are the sweetest kids. All last week when Dominic would hear someone mention mother's day he'd get all excited. "Mom, today is Mother's Day!" Then he'd run to the toy box and find a toy. A few minutes later he'd bring me the toy "wrapped" up in some of his scrap paper. It was so sweet. So Jon planned to take the kids shopping to get me a gift. I knew that Dominic would have so much fun finding me a gift. While the kids went shopping with Jon I went shopping by myself. That in itself was a present. =)

According to Jon, Dominic took the shopping trip very seriously. He would find something and say "I like this, but I don't think Mom would like it." then head on to something else.

I ended up with 2 sprinkler heads (Dominic thought they were helicopters), wooden spoons and a wind chime. Not bad for an almost 4 yr old. I thought he did amazing. =) He had fun giving me my presents.

Jon and I have picked unusual gifts for our special occasions over the years. This year I picked a home project that Jon has had on the list for quite sometime. He's just had so many other things to do that were more important.

Jon had to go up into the attic and it distressed Caitlin that Daddy kept disappearing into that hole. So she climbed the ladder to get to him. I might add that she climbed to the top all by herself with no help from me. But I was right there just in case.She's fearless.Dominic certainly isn't afraid of heights either.This looked so weird to see Jon's hand poking through the ceiling that I had to take a picture. Notice the battle wounds. Poor guy really paid for this gift.My mother's day was wonderful. It showed me again how blessed I am to have the most wonderful family in the world. My husband is amazing and he gave me the most precious children.

Hats and Noses

Usually when Caitlin does something and I go to take a picture Dominic will start doing the same thing so he can get in on the pictures. But Caitlin doesn't care about pictures so rarely copies her brother if I pull out the camera.

Yesterday Dominic came out of my bedroom with one of Jon's hats on. Caitlin ran as fast as she could into the bedroom to get a hat too.Dominic likes to wear his hats backwards. So little copy cat is wearing her hat that way too.Dominic found this ball in the toy box and was pretending it was a clown nose.Caitlin thought a water ball would work just as well.

Professional Pictures

A couple of weeks ago I took the kids to Olan Mills to get their pictures done. We'd had a coupon for free pictures when Caitlin was born and they turned out well. So I thought I'd try again. NOT impressed. It was a different studio than the one before but that still shouldn't have made a difference. The photographer was impatient with the kids, most of the pictures were horrible and the prices were super expensive for the small amount I got. I've had to edit most of them once I got them home. Thank goodness for getting the cd. I will be going back to Sears next time. But there were a couple of cute ones (it is my kids after all) so I'll post them.I love this picture with Caitlin giggling.Caitlin had taken a nap on the way to the studio and insisted on taking bear in with her. Caitlin kept tickling Dominic every time she moved. She wasn't sure about sitting on his back with him wiggling so much.Dominic loved this rocking horse. He ignores the one at home.