The Freshmaker!

We've had intermittent internet access here the past few days due to the basement remodeling going on in addition to the holiday, so I haven't been able to update the blog as much as I'd like to. This evening, we did something I have been wanting to do a long time...the Mentos Diet Coke Geyser Trick! It was easy and fun and no one lost a finger!





Miss Saucy and her pigtails!





The formerly fat 30 pound cat is taking a self nap...



And this amazing little guy is now three months old! How did this happen? How is he already a quarter of a year old? NO WAY! He is sitting up in the Bumbo chair, can hold his head up pretty well, likes to sit and watch the people around him, coos and "talks", laughes and smiles. Started drooling which makes me think he will get his first teeth at four months like his brother and sister did. Happy, happy, little fellow. Such a joy to have in our lives!

Stretching her legs...

Getting the hang of the walking thang!

Beggin' Time!

Tonight is Beggar's Night in Des Moines, which means the kids get to trick-or-treat in the evening. The forecast said it would be in the mid-50s and sunny...it was in the low 40s, windy and spitting rain...not the most ideal weather. We made the best of it, and had a great time! Alex dressed up as a tank - and he kept the box on for two whole houses!





Mom had fun putting Jason and his ghostly gal pal on the front porch!





As you can see, Alex just...loved...his...costume...not...


And we're off!


After 35 minutes and one block, Dad got to carry
1. the tank box
2. the treat bucket
3. the helmet
4. the child

We headed off to see Grandma Faye and Grandma and Grandpa for some more treats and pizza. We grudgingly put the tank costume back on for family members and then put on a show!

Trunk-a-lunk-a!

Early this week, Alex had Trunk-or-Treat at his school. People decorate the trunks of their cars and the kids get to trick-or-treat for each one. Every car has a theme, like the Wizard of Oz, Toy Story, and of course, this being Iowa - the Hawkeye Express! Alex wore part of his Halloween costume and went as an army guy.

Goin' to the chapel

Alex was the ring bearer in my cousin's wedding on September 26. And I have to say first of all, that I was probably more nervous at their wedding than my own! Especially when a punchy little kid was running around full speed, laughing hysterically and rolling around on the ground not more than five minutes before the ceremony started. He pulled it together and was a champ and did a great job. Bribing a child with Thomas the Tank Engine toys usually has that effect. Unfortunately, I was in the back and Matt was up front and I forgot to give him our camera before so he could do the video and take pics. These are from the "dress rehearsal" on Thursday night when we picked up his tux.






Rehearsal on Friday - he got to meet the two little flower girls and check out his pillow. He got a toy for doing a great job that day too (see the reinforcement strategy here?) Walk down aisle, get toy!





This is why I did not really get any good pictures of him before the ceremony...we were running around at top speed in the sacristy five minutes before the ceremony started!



(going home so Mom and Dad can enjoy the reception!)

In the end, he didn't want to be left out of getting to throw rose petals like the flower girls, so as we were getting him back to the pew, he grabbed the remaining petals on his boutonniere and threw them on the ground, leaving a lovely stem. The poor bout had already taken quite a beating during photos, so I was glad we were able to salvage it for the ceremony. Whew! Mom could then enjoy the reception...which she did! We had lots of fun and we were really honored that Eric and Katie included us in their special day - all the best to the two of you!

First Day...

Alex on his first day of Montessori school...

Sigh...they grow up so fast!

Mom and Dad were just thinking that 20 years ago they both were starting high school (yikes!). Class of '93 rules!

Farm at the Fair

Last weekend, Alex got to go to the Iowa State Fair with his dad and Grandpa Jay and Grandma Gloria (mom stayed at home because she's not big with crowds, or noise, or hours of heat and sun exposure...)

Turns out, it was quite a rainy day, so they didn't get to see as much of the fair as planned. Alex did get to go to the farm exhibit for kids and he really had a blast.


He got to ride a little John Deere tractor and fill it up with biodiesel...

Collect eggs, and milk the cow!

In exchange for doing his farm chores, he got a "dollar" to use to buy a prize at the general store.


The food...


The Iowa Egg Council gave out boiled eggs on a stick!

Alex Jumps Around

Last week I posted a video of Alex at the Adel festival in an inflatable and I realized that the sound was mostly of the air compressor in the background. So, I decided to spice it up a bit, and had some fun doing it. Just like 1991 all over again - enjoy!

Victory!

Here is the story behind this picture. Alex is holding a Thomas the Tank Engine toy called "Rosie". Alex saw Rosie about a week and a half ago at TJ Maxx when shopping with mom. Mom told him he could get one toy, and he selected Rosie's friend "Sir Handel", another Thomas toy.

With typical toddler greediness, Alex saw Rosie after selecting Sir Handel and began to beg for that one as well. Mom told him that if he went potty on the "big boy" potty, mom would get him Rosie. A few days later, dad took Alex to TJ Maxx and Alex began the Rosie conversation again. This time saying, "we buy Rosie, dad, we buy it!"

Matt mentioned it to me when he got home, and I clued Matt in so we were both on the same page. During the course of the week, I would repeatedly get told, "I want to go to TJ Maxx to get Rosie". I would remind Alex that if he used the big boy potty, we would head over to TJ Maxx and get Rosie. Typically, this was met with "No", or a change of the subject, or just an overall sudden disinterest in talking to me.

(I should add that this is a kid who has willingly gone to the bathroom before, and just decided after a few times it was much easier to stay in diapers because he didn't really see what the fuss was all about being potty trained.)

On Wednesday, after 90 minutes of reading, drinking water and repeated trips to the bathroom, we had success! Alex of course wanted to go claim the Rosie engine. We headed on over, and I had a flash of panic wondering if the darn thing was still there or not. Scanning the toys, I didn't see it at first, until I located it on the top shelf. In true TJ Maxx discounted style, the packaging on Rosie was all beaten and torn up. I think in our case, that helped deter other, more discriminating children. Whew...

On the downside, Alex found another toy, Flora the Tram Engine, for which I will once again use Chicago Machine-style bribing methods. Instead of campaign contributions for a senate seat, I will accept potty time in return for a plastic train made in China. I think even Rahm Emmanuel would be impressed.

In Her (Mom's) Shoes

It was hard to get some pictures of him standing still, because once he got the hang of moving in my size 9s, he was off and running!

Little Gentleman

Alex is going to be the ring bearer in my cousin Eric's wedding this September. It's really an honor that Katie and Eric asked us to have him in their wedding because I was one of the flower girls in my Aunt Brenda's (Eric's mom's) wedding.

I took him this evening to get his tux measurements done. Even in the old, shiny, way-too-big-shoulder-pads sample tux that they used to fit him, it's still pretty cute! I can't wait to see him once he's all spruced up for the wedding!


Alex wanted to try on these shoes so badly, he kept talking about them the whole time we were there. This is what happens when you force your child to wear saddle shoes...








"How to be a playa"


"The Continental"