SPANK

This is what we do a lot of lately. That's all. We spank. We prepare, we explain, we ask questions of understanding, we forgive, we instruct. But it feels like WE SPANK. 

Jumping Bug

For the cutest jumping Bug ever, go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcstQHr-H4Q

Sorry for the turn of the camera.

Click on 'watch in high quality' - it's much clearer. 

Bug romp

This is a picture of Bug doing her favorite thing - rolling around on the bed. She particularly loves to be thrown onto the bed and then roll as near the edge as possible. She likes Elliot to throw pillows at her and she loves to beat on the window. Goofy kid.

Elliot woke up this morning without a fever. He seems to be feeling better. He was obviously glad to be at school, as he told me 'you go bye bye, mama' as I tried to kiss him goodbye this morning. 

It was in the 60's when we got up this morning! Yippee! 

Back to the fort

So we went back to Fort Pulaski a couple of weekends ago. Michael and Elliot actually watched a Civil War cannon being fired. Buggie and I heard it from the parking lot. 

Bug has been climbing and cruising more and more. Elliot continues to pee in the potty and get rewards for it. Sadly, he got hotter and hotter last night until he fell asleep on Michael on the couch. This does not happen unless Elliot is sick. He had a fever, woke up and 10pm and 4am to vomit all over himself and us (poor kid) and still has a fever now. We watched a lot of TV today and took naps together. Tonight is, of course, our first large group for RUF where Michael is preaching and I'm leading worship. Call me charismatic, but I think Satan loves messing with us. First the break in the night before Michael's installation, then this along with Buggie waking up and crying from 10pm to 11:30pm last night? That never happens.

Anyway, we're still excited for tonight. Just a little uneasy about what else might be coming...

Gwama

Grandma was here for 5 days. It was lovely. Here you see Elliot and grandma racing the cows on the Wii. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more.  Neither of them are very fast, but they both really like hitting the scarecrows. We all want grandma to come back.

In other VERY GOOD news, Elliot has been peeing on the potty! It's amazing. I never thought I'd see it, but we're making progress.  This is exciting. Now that he knows he gets candy when he does it, all is improving.  

Update on the bug

Bug has sad ears. She's on her 2nd or 3rd double ear infection. The girl has had a lot of amoxycillan in her one year.

I took her to the doctor the other day and she still doesn't weigh 20 pounds. 19lb 3oz. She's 13 months old.

Here are some fun Bug pictures.  I cut her hair; she had a mullet. Can you tell?

The bunny rabbit

I thought maybe it was time to tell the bunny rabbit story for those of you who have not heard it yet. 

Part I

So the other day I'm changing Elsie's diaper in her room on the changing table. Elliot was in the room with me and suddenly said, 'mama, bunny rabbit.' 'Bunny rabbit?' I said. 'What about a bunny rabbit?' 'There's a bunny rabbit - up there,' said young, unafraid Elliot.

I looked up to see a HUGE rat on the picture rail about 8 inches below the ceiling in Elsie's room. The thing was so big Elliot thought it was a rabbit. At this point I tried to remain calm and not drop Elsie. I slowly exited the room and told Elliot to keep talking to the bunny, as I'm sure he was scared. Elliot calmly talked to the bunny, which I had convinced him was actually a mouse. As I exited the room to start breathing again and get my phone, I heard Elliot saying, 'Mr. Mouse, you scared? It ok Mr. Mouse.'

I called our friend who lives about 5 blocks away. This man is afraid of roaches, according to his wife who usually kills them. But he was our only hope, as Michael was already gone for meetings. Jimbo was on his way. In the meantime, Elliot kept talking to the bunny, 'Mr. Mouse, you wanna go outside with the other mouses?'

Jimbo arrived and after some shouting, loud noises and hilarious commotion in Elsie's closed up room, he somehow was triumphant and actually captured the mouse with an oar and a plastic recycling bin. I was ecstatic. I had heard this mouse shuffling around in my house for many days and had seen him once. I finally felt free of the lingering fear of something running across my feet some early morning.

Part II

Michael heard the mouse story. He, too was amazed at Jimbo's bravery and skill. He came home and put the hose in the covered bin to drown the mouse. The picture you see is the cage, held down with a couple of rocks. 

Here's the very, very sad part. 5 HOURS later, Michael came home to dump the 'dead' rat. He opened the lid and OUT JUMPED THE RAT. He ran under our house.

%##$**!!!

Yard sale

I love Craigslist. We had a yard sale Saturday morning which we advertised on Craigslist. We sold 75% of the stuff out there by 10am. We put the money toward a VERY large bed. Now hopefully Michael and I won't be waking each other in the night anymore. Everybody needs some personal space when they're sleeping.

Elsie helped with the yard sale. She waved at people and scooted around the front porch, gathering dirt as she went. Here she is giving me the eye as I take her picture.