'Peat and repeat were at a bar...

Fafa has been and always will be my TV junkie. When I don't think he's picking up something, he usually surprises me... Today, he heard a 'knock, knock' joke on Disney and all day he's been attempting to repeat it, but it usually goes like this:

Fafa: 'knock, knock'
Nubbin, Husband or me: 'who's there?'
Fafa: 'ME!'
the rest of us: 'ME who?'
Fafa: 'FAFA!'
the confused rest of the wolfe clan: 'No. me WHO?'
Fafa: 'ZACHIE!'
Husband or me (Nubbin has lost interest): 'umm.. okay, my turn... knock, knock?'
Fafa: 'ME!'
parents: 'no, you say, who's there?'
Fafa: 'ME!
the exasperated parents: 'No, not me, WHO?'
Fafa: 'ZACHIE!'
the exhausted parents: 'nevermind...'
Fafa: 'knock, knock'

Blame it on the other guy

Nubbin and I spent an afternoon putting together Lego construction stuff. One of the things we put together was a steam roller.

Well, it came apart and Husband asked Nubbin if he broke it. Nubbin said he didn't break it. Husband asked Nubbin again, hoping to get a truthful answer, and Nubbin replied, 'No, I didn't break it, but my fingers did..'

Transportation of the future

if you're on a futuristic ride-on, medieval style helmets are a must

getting on the plasmacar wasn't the problem for Nana, it was trying to get up

No, it's not a hovercraft or a flying car... just a Plasmacar. It's powered by moving the steering wheel back and forth and it can turn pretty quickly. Nubbin got it almost immediately, but Fafa needed me to get on with him and make it move to get the idea. Yes, I'm having as much fun on it too since it can hold my weight... finally, a toy for parents :)

In the morning, there arose such a clatter...

We expected the kids to wake up at the crack of dawn on Christmas, but to our surprise, they got up at 8. We snuggled in bed and then when we couldn't contain them any longer, they headed downstairs. Santa was very good to them this year... they got several board games and puzzles, a plasmacar (a great toy, if you ever need an outside ride on), legos, matchbox cars, a monster truck and Santa brought the family an Xbox (Husband won it in a raffle at his company christmas party... shhh). We did really well on not buying too many toys that require batteries... Yay, our sanity will last one more year! Merry Christmas everyone :)

And what did Santa bring you?

Santa brought me a life size version of the man I love and the best daddy ever! I hope you all got what you wanted for Christmas. I sure did... heehee!

Twas the night before Christmas

The new Wolfe tradition involves a family meal by candlelight and then a walk through the neighborhood in our PJ's to look at Christmas lights (and get ideas for next year). This year, we went walking with our good friends and their two girls... all in all, a wonderful and more importantly, relaxed Christmas eve :)

It's not the sugar.

So, maybe it's not sugar that makes my kids hyper, but the COFFEE husband gave them last week... In his defense, he says it was only a little bit of coffee plus milk.

Believe. or not.

I heard this on Good Morning America and I've been sharing it with all the parents I know. The reaction is always the same... 'You heard what?'

Sugar apparently does not cause hyperactivity in children... I know. Sounds crazy because we've all given our kids a cookie or two and watched the mayhem, but read the first page of this report and decide for yourself.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdandFluNews/story?id=6483504&page=1

A reindeer caught in a pageant

Today was Nubbin's first Christmas pageant at preschool. Husband and Nana were there. Once Nubbin locked eyes with Husband, a smile crept across his face and he was motionless for the rest of the program while the kids around him did sign language, shook sleigh bells and sang cute Xmas songs. One of the mom's close to me commented, 'at least he didn't have a melt down..' wise words.

BTW... As I was searching for the one Christmas appropriate shirt this morning that fits him, he told me that he didn't need a Christmas shirt since his shoes were already red... He still had to wear the shirt.

Extinguishing the flame

Human fire. This is what Nubbin calls the humidifier. He's been sick, so we had one in his room. Tonight, we took it out and had a major meltdown that bounced from 'I want my human fire' to 'I want Superman' to 'I want Batman.' Husband held firm and after 45 minutes or so, he was able to tuck Nubbin in his bed. As Nubbin laid down, he said, 'I don't like it when grown ups take my human fire.'

Loser. With a big L

Today, I struggled.

1. Puddles. Nubbin jumps in every one from here to the front door of preschool. wet kid delivery.

2. Work out. no way. Fafa freaks out at the babysitting room.

3. Shopping. I thought I had something to wear to husband's Xmas party. so wrong.

4. Lunch. hungry 2 year old. the hungrier they are, the higher the pitch of their scream.

4. Batman. Fafa freaks out because he can't find Batman.

5. Umbrella. Again, Fafa freaks out because he wants to carry the umbrella.

By the time I pick up Nubbin, I've had it and find myself shoveling Fafa under one arm like a sack of potatoes and he's screaming like he's being kidnapped (safety part of my brain is elated, the rest just deflated). I let him down with a 'I had enough' sigh and he loses his balance, falls and hits his head on the door. Too terrified to look up at the hall full of parents, I grab Nubbin's stuff from the cubby and stare at the door.

When the teacher hands over Nubbin, she politely asks, 'Was that Ethan hitting the door?' I mutter 'yes' and she says delicately, 'We all have days like this.' Silently, she knows that I'm at the end of my rope. Silently, I know that I should try harder. Tomorrow will be better... that's my mantra today. Tomorrow will be better.

Cold people on parade

We went to the Apex Xmas Parade this past weekend. Some of the highlights included: me, silently pinching my gut every time the jump rope performers passed due to the guilt induced by watching fit, coordinated people jumping rope, the awesome food that the Getz gang almost left behind (grape kabobs rock!), not being able to park in the best spot ever, the lady next to us saying that they were 'attacked' by candy at an earlier parade, watching Fafa wave at every person that passed us and watching 1/2 charliegraham shake his booty when he heard music... great family + lots of laughing/yelling + frozen butts = memories. Good enough for me :)

Which holiday were you thinking of?

Sissy let Nubbin borrow one of their Halloween costumes because 1/2 charliegraham had one on too... Of course, Fafa wanted to be a dinosaur too, so I searched through my Halloween costumes to find this. The back drop of the Xmas tree is enough to confuse even the most rational person.

Thanks for the memories

Grandma Dudziak - Nubbin and Fafa's great grandmother

Grandpa Dudziak - the Great Grandpa

Grandma with her grandkids

We celebrated Turkey day in Columbia with husband's family... btw, little known fact about husband is that this is his favorite holiday... has been and will always be. Grandma outdid herself with the most awesome meal and our stomachs would like to thank her for her generosity :) Nubbin followed his cousin around all weekend and is still asking about him. The kids got to see their aunts and great grandparents, so it was definitely a weekend to remember. We love you! Can we come next year?

You bust a move and I'll bust a gut

Fafa is trying to break dance... too funny!

Turn at the table

There are very few things that I don't like to eat. However, there are two food items that I don't much care for.... bananas and raisins. I once heard raisins described as humiliated grapes and I think it's a fitting description.

Having said that, Nubbin loves raisins (and bananas for that matter). Today he was eating raisins and shoved one 2 centimeters from my face and said, 'Here mom, eat it.' I gently explained that I don't like raisins and he looked at me and in his best 'mommy' voice said, 'No. You have to at least try it once. You might like it.' I frowned at him and he squashed the raisin between his fingers and said, 'I made it flat, so you might like it. Try it now.' Needless to say, I ate it... so, this is how he feels when I'm trying to get him to eat green beans. You have to walk the walk, right? oh, and I still don't like raisins.

2 for 2 - Part 2

who wants it more... Nubbin, Fafa or 1/2 CharlieGraham?

what's monkey talk for 'cute cake'?

Fafa ate 1/2 of the birthday candle... he thought it was part of the cake

crazy Nana banana - she's going to feel that in the morning :)

I think she's more excited about the gift than he is

2 for 2 - Part 1

no longer a baby!

'My Aunt ROCKS' - from Sissy, of course !

We had a family party on Saturday for Fafa (we missed you, Grandma!) and he was so cute. He was the perfect host and sat with different people to open each gift. Sissy made the cake... It was awesome!! I do sincerely apologize for the 4 + hours it took to create, but we'll always have the memory of Fafa's 2nd birthday cake and as Sissy always tells me... 'it's all about the memories!' Thanks to all of our family and the McLaurin family for celebrating with us... We love you!

Let's get this party started...

Fafa had his 2nd birthday on Saturday and to start things off, we invited all of his playgroup friends over on Friday for cake and ice cream. I made the cake and yes, it's supposed to be a monkey :) Here's the poem I put on the invite:

One of my monkeys is turning two.
Yes, it's Fafa and he'd like to see you!

Join us for a playdate and we'll have some cake.
With all of his friends, some memories we'll make!

No need for a gift, just bring yourself.
Please don't say no or I'll have a whole cake to myself!

Who needs GPS...

Fafa has been talking a lot lately and we can actually understand some of what he's saying. I couldn't see him while I was sitting at the kitchen table, so I called out, 'Fafa, where are you?'. He answered, 'I home!'

Needles in a haystack

The only good thing about having a bunch of trees in your backyard during Fall is raking them into a pile as tall as Fafa and watching the kids get lost in them... completely lost. The kids, along with the next door neighbors, had a blast in the pile we ended up raking to the front curb. Yes, one of the kids actually lost a shoe... it took 20 minutes, 2 kids and 3 adults just to find one shoe.

I'll hide, you seek

Nubbin learned how to play Hide n Seek at preschool and decided to teach Fafa... Here is Fafa trying to count. The only number he can remember is 6... so, he was repeating 'six, uh, uh, six, six...'

Yes, chicken comes on a bone

In the world of convenience that we live in, our children rarely see the real thing... all they know is that chicken comes in nuggets, tenders, fingers and even the occasional dinosaur shape. So, to broaden their culinary landscape, we gave them a real chicken drumstick for dinner tonight.

After seeing Nubbin's confused look, Husband told him, 'It's a chicken drumstick.' Nubbin's comment had us rolling when he said, 'Why did they make a drumstick out of chicken?'

Happy Halloween - ie Part 2

The kids finally get the hullabaloo that is Halloween... you dress up, say 'trick or treat please!' (or nothing at all) and get free candy... heck, you don't even have to ask mom or dad if you can have it... all you have to say is 'Thank you!' and Dad says, 'let's go to the next house and get more candy!' and then mom gives it to you after each meal for the next week. Yay for Halloween!

Fafa tired out pretty quickly, so he and I went back to the house to hand out candy. Nubbin went the distance with Husband and made many more stops... he was so excited that he was running between houses and begging husband to keep up... several of our neighbors were handing out full size candy bars, so my stomach and I would like to thank their generosity :)

Happy Halloween - ie Part 1

Gangsta's paradise

This picture of Fafa was taken at our neighbor's Halloween party before everyone got into their costumes to go trick or treating. I have no idea where he found the visor, golf ball or bubble blower. It's so funny that one of his pants legs is pulled up too. I can only imagine what's going on in his head... 'I am the coolest kid on the block!'

'Fro' runner

The picture says it all... now, if we can just teach the kid to throw the football, Husband can retire early....