Anderson's latest (plus a bonus interpretation guide)

Anderson:  Mommy, there's a spider on the wall.
Carla:  No, that's just a fly.
Anderson:  Oh, is it gonna put it's lights on?
Carla:  No, flies don't have lights.
Anderson: Well, what about that one that's shaped like a cucumber?
Carla:  I'm not sure what that is, Anderson.
Anderson:  It's a night bee.
It was a fire fly.

Walker, playing Wii baseball:  Dad, I just got a grand slam!
Anderson:  And he got a home run, too!  I heard about that!

Anderson, riding in the car with Carla, put a green beaded necklace across his lap.
Anderson:  I put my safety on.  It's green?
Carla, not looking:  What?
Anderson:  I interviewed it on my list.
Carla:  What?
Anderson:  I X'd it up.
We still don't know exactly what he meant, especially about the interview.

Bonus Section:  Interpretation guide

If Anderson tells you that you look skinny he really means that you have too much skin showing somewhere on your body.

For example, If you were walking around the house in your underwear, he might say, "Mom you look skinny" because you have too much leg skin showing. 
                                                      OR
If you just shaved, he might come up to you, grab your face, rub it, and say, "Dad you look really skinny today."

So 2011, welcome to the new "skinny."

Adenoids, tonsils, and tubes. Oh my! Part 1

Well, these were the pre-op pictures.  All smiles, of course.  Post-op we were too busy to take pictures.  Walker got shipped off just as Caroline was returning, and boy was she agitated.  They warned us that most kiddos are fussy for 30-60 minutes after the surgery, but they did not warn us that she would be violently screaming in a way we have never heard our sweet Gracie cry in her life.  They also didn't tell us that we wouldn't be able to console her for 50 minutes until she wore herself out and collapsed on my shoulder.  Aside from feeling sorry for our pitifully confused, aggressive, screaming child, we were humored by her on more than one ocassion.  At one point, she actually kicked Kurt out of the room by screaming in a shrill voice, "No, no Dada.  No, no Dada" over and over again until he left.  Then she cried for him to come back.  She also wagged her little finger in my face, repeating the same thing to me.  We tried everything we could think of from milk, pretzels, cookies, Dora books, and suckers to the bubbles and stuffed animal that the nurse gave us.  Needless to say, it was a long 50 minutes.

After she woke up from her 30 minute nap, she was the same pleasant Gracie that we know and love!  It was like nothing had even happened.  I guess she just needed to get all that yucky anesthesia out of her system.  The doctors and nurses were great, and I can't say enough about Alliance Community Hospital.  We felt very involved, informed, and well-cared for.  There was even a time when her oxygen levels dropped significantly, and they had to page the anesthesiologist while he was getting Walker ready, but he took great care of her and they came right back up without a problem.  We also know that we had lots of people praying for us, and the power of prayer is a mighty thing!

Today, a day and a half later, I am truly amazed at what a rapid and significant difference the tubes have made.  She has been blabbering all day, repeating almost everything I've said and putting together a few short sentences as well.  Here's what I've written down as her brand-new, post-tube words for the day:
How are you?
I'm good.
Come here.
Ribbit
Move back.
Let's go.
Nice ears.

A big, big thank-you to Dr. Kanagy :)

More about Walker tomorrow . . .

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bill!

We had a blast celebrating Uncle Bill's bday, 60's style!  The boys wore "Old School" tees with records on them.  Kurt (because he's such a cute nerd), opted to go as Gene Kranz, Flight Director of Apollo 13.  (Steph also said he looked like a TV character from "Mad Men.)  Ellie had a long, hippie-ish dress with braids and wavy hair.  Gracie and I had go-go type dresses.  I think I looked more like a flight attendant, but Caroline sure was cute.  The highlights of the night were Aunt Steph's yummy cakes and Uncle Bill playing the piano for us.  It was a lot of fun!  The last picture is of my sisters, Ellie, and me at the annual princess tea party at The Amish Door.  My mom was there, too.  She was the photographer!

Caution!

Kurt has been working some crazy hours lately, and today he had to work his regular hours and then come home and sleep so he could go in for third shift.  He was in bed at 7:30, so I told the kids we all had to be super quiet.  I put Caroline to bed and took the boys outside for haircuts.  Ellie stayed in to color.  When I came in an hour later she had put Anderson's orange caution cones up in front of the bedroom door, along with a magnadoodle sign with the word "NO" and pictures of people yelling & noisy toys and a picture of Kurt sleeping.  She was so proud of herself!  Ellie has always had a heart of gold and would do anything to help someone.  I think she'll be a nurse someday :)

In other news of caution, Anderson had an interesting conversation with Kurt last night about a "flang shinger."  "A what?" Kurt said.  "You know, a thing that you brush your mouth off with," replied Anderson.  A.K.A a razor!

Nothing much new.  Walker is in basketball camp this week, baseball camp next week, and tomorrow we find out when he will be getting his tonsils out!

Moisturize!

Ellie was telling Anderson why he should eat his carrots at lunch today-- (b/c they have vitamins and they're good for your eyes).  That must've got her thinking about vitamins because here's what followed:

Mom, did you know they have a body wash that has lots of vitamins that go deep down into your skin.  You know, so it can moisturize your skin!

She might be watching too much TV!

Quick Update

Caroline is now speaking in small sentences:

"DeeDoo, Mama." = Thank, you, Mama.  I'm the cutest toddler ever!
"Wee, sliiiii, bye-bye." = She want to put her shoes on (bye-bye) and go out to play on the slide.
"No, no, Day." = Stop it, Anderson (Day).  You're annoying me.
"Oh, hi, Rah-Rah, J.J." = Hi Walker J.J.  You're my favorite brother!

She also answers questions.
Me:  "Do you want to go see grandma?"
Gracie: "No, pay Dat-Dat, Mo-Mo, Baby Ni-Ni."  =  Forget about grandma.  I just wanna play with my cousins, Jack-Jack, Molly, and Baby Natalie!

She's sweet as ever and just melts my heart - except for when she's covered in snot and slobber from throwing a fit.  Oh, yes, she throws fits and hits now.  It's actually kinda funny, and we all have to try hard not to laugh when she puts on a performance. 

More to come soon on Walker and baseball.  He's playing Hot Stove for the Opening Day Destroyers and loving it!

You can also look forward to funny sayings and stories from Anderson's latest adventure riding on Thomas the Train with Grandma and Aunt Lisa. 

Lastly, Ellie is happy to have passed her second ice-skating class.  She is also eager to go to the next gymnastics class and start taking piano lessons in the fall.  Baseball ranks low on her list right now, but she is still happy to be playing.   She asked me, with tears in her eyes,  if she could keep going to school this summer b/c she will miss it too much.  I love that girl :)

Ellie and Anderson at their best!

 Ellie loves getting her picture taken.  She's a poser, and she eats it up!  This picture was, of course, by request!

 Here she is doing what she does best . . . singing/performing.  This was her end of the year preschool program.

 This is just Anderson doing what he does best - being imaginative and fun.  He also asked for tape to tape the box shut.  Not really sure how he was planning to do that from the inside, though!

Check out our amazing hats designed by none other than Elizabeth Jane Kandel.  Production was supported by Grandma Kandel.  And yes, we did rise and shine early to watch the big event :)