Cole loves to use tools.
It's only natural that he would find unconventional ways to use them.
If ice cream is good when eaten with a spoon, why not when eaten with tongs, which are really just two spoons connected together.
Of course, getting that last little bit out of the bowl is a little harder.
Not to mention the drips on the table, shirt, pants, chair and floor.
Bryn always wants to do what she sees her brothers doing.
Unfortunately, she thinks it's a percussion (concussion?) instrument.
Some of you know my sister Laura and might have even read about our Thanksgiving head bonking incident involving her youngest child. Cole decided to take it to the next level on Groundhog Day. He tripped while running towards the car and hit his forehead on the trailer hitch receptacle.
We tried to take him to our primary care physician and they told us that he was better off with a trip to the ER. After all, it's been over two years since his last serious head injury. Here he looks like a pirate cyclops.
After the wound was numbed, they laid him down, wrapped him up and squirted saline into his skull. At least, I'm pretty sure the hole was that deep. He looks like he's screaming but he was actually smiling with his mouth open.
All clean!
Now a few hypodermic jabs to make sure certain he's completely numb, and it's time to start sewing.
Two internal and six external stitches.
Grant got a front row view of the whole procedure.
Meanwhile, our hero has fallen asleep on the table.
I felt bad about waking him up. But he came home, had a good dinner and went to bed without any complaints. Now he's all set to be Harry Potter for Halloween.
Ahh winter in the Pacific northwest. How did we ever do this before waders?
Cole demonstrates some serious hang time.
Meet a couple of the newest Sunbeams!
I specifically remember the moment I got news of Sarah Palin being chosen to run with John McCain. I looked up everything I could about her. It's so incredibly rare that any politician would stand up to the status quo and endure the beatings and ridicule that come, as she has. Other politicians hated her, but the people of Alaska loved her (85% of them), so she was obviously doing something right...namely getting rid of wasteful, self-serving, pointless government positions and programs, something that seems impossible for most other elected officials to accomplish. She cleaned house, and saved Alaska millions of dollars. And yet, so many people are still stuck on the waste of time interview with Katie Couric (who's about as sharp as a marble) where all of her accomplishments were conveniently edited out.
Evan ordered Sarah's book for my B-day so I could get it as soon as it was released. My only complaint was that it ended too quickly, and I didn't have it to look forward to anymore. Sad day.
I could go on and on, but let me get to the point: reading about the Palin family's true passion for the outdoors and fishing prompted me to send a couple pair of waders to their youngest kids - 8 yr. old Piper, and almost 2 yr. old Trig, right after Christmas. After all, I'd seen many pictures of Sarah in her waders, and we (OakiWear) are literally the only ones in the world with real waders for kids under 12 yrs old. It's true. Our customers tell us that on a daily basis. And I knew she didn't have any for them because I checked our sales sheets, and she never ordered any. I never expected to hear back from the Palins or benefit in any way - I just admire her and wanted the kids to be warm and dry - seriously.
Well, yesterday - Evan was particularly beaming when he brought the mail in, because he was armed with this little miracle:
Inside was this home made card from her kids,
... and a note from THE WOMAN herself!
We've sold lots of waders to Alaska, even a few pair to Wasilla. I asked one customer if he knew Sarah (she was the Mayor, after all, and it's a small town.) He said he worked for the Army Strategic Reserve, and was involved with her administration. "Unofficially, she's as real as they get, and we're big fans, too!" is what he wrote.
I'd have to agree with that.
Thanks, Sarah!!!!
*****There will be showings of the card to anyone who wants to stop by and ooh & ahhh over it. Then, it will be framed and appropriately admired for the rest of my life.*****
The boys have both started bargaining (threatening?) when they don't get what they want.
Grant: I'm not gonna eat those (blueberries) or healthy things. I just wanna eat treats! If I don't eat any treats, I'm not gonna eat no things.
Cole: I'm gonna lock up all the treats where Mama can't find them.
As Cole was eating dessert, which Grant missed out on because he didn't want to eat any dinner:
Grant: If you eat the ice cream, Cole, you can't grow big.
This is a recent conversation I had with Grant. He was looking at our napkin holder which my parents made for us.
| Grant: | Is this a mama cow or a daddy cow? |
| Dad: | It's a mama cow. |
| Grant: | Why? |
| Dad: | Because it has an udder and only mama cows have udders. |
| Grant: | My daddy cow has an udder. |
| Dad: | Umm, that's not an udder... |
'Twas the morning of Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... 
... but that didn't last long. 
They have both slept in their new Lightning McQueen hide-a-beds every night since Christmas. 
Grant has been asking for "animals" for Christmas for several weeks.
The boys enjoyed their new train set. Notice the lamentable condition of the sliding glass door behind them, because... 
... Sue could hardly wait to unleash her present, a window washing squeegee. 
But I heard someone exclaim as Bryn sat on his couch... 
... "Dad! Brynnie won't get off of my Lightning McQueen bed."
Click on the banner to see our cool outdoor wear for kids and get 30% off total by using coupon code "crunchers".
Reach for the sky!
