deep thoughts from a potty-training toddler

Jack has been busy figuring out that whole new use-the-potty concept lately. And he's been doing really well-- as long as he's stark naked. Put some undies or pants on that kid, and we're guaranteed an accident. {i usually try to have him at least start the day with a tee shirt on, but that never lasts long}

So, he's been spending a lot of time in his birthday suit. I'm not too bothered by this, as Daniel potty-trained the same way and eventually figured things out and now even wears clothes most of the time. Really, I should give the Dan Man some credit. He wears clothes all of the time. I can hardly get him to take them off to bathe.{What is it with 5 and 6 year-olds and a crazy aversion to bathing? Seriously!}

Anyways, back to Jack. All of his naked time has given him lots of time to ponder his {ahem} anatomy. And notice who else in the family shares the same plumbing and who doesn't, to put it delicately.

The other day, he told me that I should go to the store and buy a {read between the lines and use your euphemism of choice here}. The kid must be worried that I feel left out or something. He's so thoughtful.

It's a Stella-bration

I know it's cliche to go on about how I don't know where the time has gone.  But really, I have no idea where the time has gone.

A whole entire year of Stella has flashed by in the blink of an eye.




She went from this snuggly little bundle of love...

2 weeks

... to a lovely little lady...

9 months

 ... to a birthday cake eating machine.

 
Stella was a bit baffled by the birthday festivities. She enjoyed the streamers and balloons and endless singing of Happy Birthday (from her brothers), but she enjoyed it all with a look of amused bewilderment. She did, however, show zero signs of confusion when it came to the cake. She LOVES herself some chocolate cake with caramel icing.

Especially the icing. A girl after my own heart.

Happy Birthday ShtellyWelly! May the next year of your life be as delightful as the first.

for the quote board

I'm about to post something pretty funny from Lincoln, but he's reached the age of self-consciousness and embarrassment so you can only continue reading if you promise not to mention this to him. Deal? Okay.

Tonight Lincoln told me this:

"I'm not going to have very much time to play anymore, because I really need to start studying a lot. Like all day long. I'm going to research what makes old people shrink so that I can build a miniaturizing machine to shrink my hotwheels even tinier."

He's got Big Plans. Big Plans, I say.

telling answers

Joe loves to tell the kids that they're cool, and he's realized that they each always give their very own unique reply-- the very same replies they've given since they first started to talk well. We think you can read a lot about each of their personalities in their answers.

Joe: Lincoln, you're cool.
Lincoln: You're cool Dad.
(daddy-worshiper)

Joe: Daniel, you're cool.
Daniel: Thank you Daddy. (said with much emotion)
(grateful and sensitive)

Joe: Jack, you're cool.
Jack: Yeth (yes), I know.
(extremely self-confident)

I wonder how Stella will respond?

for the quote board

Jack dictated the following letter to Kaley (his missionary Aunt):

Dear Dadee (Kaley),

I pee in da potty. I have bwoo (blue) Thomas unwheah (underwear). I get diddows (skittles) when I pee in da potty. I get wed (red) and geen (green). I go in da baffwoom (bathroom).  I'm 2. I'm Dack (Jack). I wuff (love) you.

a very hadfield halloween

We're just a teensy bit obsessed with Star Wars this year. Our cast of characters:

Stella: Princess Leia
Jack: Yoda (or Massa Woda, as he likes to say)
Daniel: Luke Skywalker
Lincoln: a Stormtrooper (would you belive me if I told you that helmet was made from two plastic milk jugs?)
Steph: Jengo Fett (sp?) {I actually have no idea who this is-- borrowed costume}
Joe: Darth Vader

Halloween was a blast and now we can't wait for The Big Holidays that are just around the corner (including Stella's 1st birthday-- WHAT?!!)

burden of proof

Tonight Daniel chose to share the following trivia with Mom:

Mom, did you know that porcupines consider sticks to be a tasty treat?


Really?


Yeah, and did you know that I'm a porcupine? And just to prove it, I'm eating this pencil.




Upon which Daniel showed her this: