Tanner has a horrible fear of dogs. We think it may have stemmed from our neighbor's German Shepherd who passed away last year. This dog was wonderful with children, but her wagging tail had a habit of knocking Tanner over a time or two.
So, it shouldn't of surprised us that Tanner was frightened of dogs. But, we didn't realize how terrified of them he was. When we went to Denver in July, Tanner spent the day with Aunt Sherry. Well, more specifically with Aunt Sherry's kitchen counter. He was so scared of the dog that he wouldn't get down off the countertop. Morgan, our animal lover, absolutely adored the dog. She spent the day laying on the floor, petting Huney, and feeding her Scooby snacks.
So, as Randy's trip to Denver approached, Morgan kept asking if he would get to see "Aunt Sherry, Uncle Al, and Huney". And, when we called Daddy in Denver, she always inquired about Huney.
Early Tuesday morning, the kids ran upstairs to say hi to daddy - even though he was in the shower.
Morgan's first question was "Daddy, did you bring Huney home with you?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
"In the closet."
In the next instant, the shower door was open and a terrified Tanner was hopping in the shower with Randy - pajamas and all.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Hmpf....
Friday's conversation...
Morgan: "Mommy, why are you wearing those shoes?" (referring to my dress shoes)
"I have a meeting, honey, and mommy has to dress up and look nice. Do I look pretty today?"
"No."
"Why not!?!?"
"You're not wearing pink."
Morgan: "Mommy, why are you wearing those shoes?" (referring to my dress shoes)
"I have a meeting, honey, and mommy has to dress up and look nice. Do I look pretty today?"
"No."
"Why not!?!?"
"You're not wearing pink."
Friday, August 24, 2007
Come On, Four!
The age of three is by far the WORST age we have encountered (so far). I really didn't think two was all that bad, and at least they weren't waking up through the night. It just hasn't seemed like for the last three months that both kids can be happy at any time. And, the fighting...it's enough to drive me crazy.
This morning was a prime example. Tanner is always the first up - he's awake when I come downstairs to get them up. So, I get him out of bed, we go to the bathroom and then wake up Morgan (who is not a morning person). I get out their clothes, and Morgan asks to wear a dress.
"Morgan, your dresses aren't clean. How about a skirt?"
"No."
I pick out a T-shirt/short option and a T-shirt/skirt option. "Why don't you chose which one you want to wear?"
"No." (Arms now crossed on the floor in front of me and big pouty lip sticking out.)
"Morgan, you can chose what you want to wear from these two outfits."
"No, I want to wear a dress!"
"Please choose, Morgan." (Trying to keep my patience...)
"No."
"Fine, I'm chosing."
She jumps through the air and snatches at the skirt. Of course, since she procrastinated too long, that isn't an option any more. She falls onto the floor, a heaping, sobbing mess.
And, that doesn't touch the conversation regarding going to the bathroom, going upstairs, eating breakfast, or watching Mickey Mouse. I don't cave in to the behaviour, because if I do - that only reinforces that when she does this, she'll get her way, right?
Is it just me who is crazed by the age of three? Or is there a parenting secret out there that I don't know about?
And, other twin parents - did/do your twins fight? How do you handle that? It's so difficult to take something away from one as a punishment (i.e. TV or a toy) when they share so much and are together all the time.
This morning was a prime example. Tanner is always the first up - he's awake when I come downstairs to get them up. So, I get him out of bed, we go to the bathroom and then wake up Morgan (who is not a morning person). I get out their clothes, and Morgan asks to wear a dress.
"Morgan, your dresses aren't clean. How about a skirt?"
"No."
I pick out a T-shirt/short option and a T-shirt/skirt option. "Why don't you chose which one you want to wear?"
"No." (Arms now crossed on the floor in front of me and big pouty lip sticking out.)
"Morgan, you can chose what you want to wear from these two outfits."
"No, I want to wear a dress!"
"Please choose, Morgan." (Trying to keep my patience...)
"No."
"Fine, I'm chosing."
She jumps through the air and snatches at the skirt. Of course, since she procrastinated too long, that isn't an option any more. She falls onto the floor, a heaping, sobbing mess.
And, that doesn't touch the conversation regarding going to the bathroom, going upstairs, eating breakfast, or watching Mickey Mouse. I don't cave in to the behaviour, because if I do - that only reinforces that when she does this, she'll get her way, right?
Is it just me who is crazed by the age of three? Or is there a parenting secret out there that I don't know about?
And, other twin parents - did/do your twins fight? How do you handle that? It's so difficult to take something away from one as a punishment (i.e. TV or a toy) when they share so much and are together all the time.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
On The Farm
At least once a year, Randy & I try to take the kids to his Uncle's House to spend some time on "the farm". We managed to sneak out last year for an anniversary. At that time, the kids got to chase after the cows, and we snapped this picture.
It's amazing how much the farm changes from year to year. They've had a lot of rain this year. It's much greener, the green, short vegetation you see in this picture is as tall as the kids are these year. There is no lack of feed, so the cows are further away from the house. None the less, the kids had a blast doing all the "fun" things on the farm.
Morgan was SO excited to see the cats. Thank goodness for cousin Joey who worked for weeks to tame a couple of kittens so Morgan could play with them.
Tanner helped feed & water the cats.
Then, he was ready to do other fun things. Like ride in the big red truck...
Where's Morgan? Oh, yeah, with the cats...
Checking out the combine:
Walking the farm with Uncle Randy (love this shot) :
It's amazing how much the farm changes from year to year. They've had a lot of rain this year. It's much greener, the green, short vegetation you see in this picture is as tall as the kids are these year. There is no lack of feed, so the cows are further away from the house. None the less, the kids had a blast doing all the "fun" things on the farm.
Morgan was SO excited to see the cats. Thank goodness for cousin Joey who worked for weeks to tame a couple of kittens so Morgan could play with them.
Tanner helped feed & water the cats.
Then, he was ready to do other fun things. Like ride in the big red truck...
"Driving" the yellow tractor:
Where's Morgan? Oh, yeah, with the cats...
Checking out the combine:
Walking the farm with Uncle Randy (love this shot) :
Taking a 4-wheeler ride out to the pasture to see the cows (see all that green behind them, that's the same pasture from last year's picture):
And where was Morgan? Still with the cats...
Ok...so she didn't spend the ENTIRE time with the cats. We did pry her away for a few minutes to check the combine and ride out to the pasture. But 90% of the time...yep, she was with the cats.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Because it's too cute
We spent the weekend in Western Kansas (which is somewhat like "Upstate New York" - anything West of Kansas City is "Western Kansas"). We spent the night at Randy's Uncle & Aunt's home (also Tanner's godparents) after a cousin's wedding. This is the uncle that my husband was named after and his wonderful wife, Elaine.
The kids got to spend time on the farm, sitting in the tractors and trucks, riding four wheelers, petting cats, and going to see the cows. But the cutest thing ever, was the fact that the kids just couldn't quite remember who's house we were visitng.
When asked where we were staying, they always referred to it as....
Uncle Randy and Unc-Elanine's house.
Pictures to follow.
The kids got to spend time on the farm, sitting in the tractors and trucks, riding four wheelers, petting cats, and going to see the cows. But the cutest thing ever, was the fact that the kids just couldn't quite remember who's house we were visitng.
When asked where we were staying, they always referred to it as....
Uncle Randy and Unc-Elanine's house.
Pictures to follow.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
She May Be Nagging a Little Too Much
My mother-in-law is a devout Catholic. Oftentimes when we call in the evening, Grandpa will tell Tanner & Morgan that grandma is "at church".
On the way home from the grocery store on Sunday, we drove by a church. Here's how the conversation went from there:
Morgan: Mommy, that's a church, Jesus lives in Church!
Mommy: Yes, dear.
Tanner: No, Mor-dan. Grandma lives in church.
On the way home from the grocery store on Sunday, we drove by a church. Here's how the conversation went from there:
Morgan: Mommy, that's a church, Jesus lives in Church!
Mommy: Yes, dear.
Tanner: No, Mor-dan. Grandma lives in church.
Dear Blog,
Umm...hi, it's me. I'm sorry, I haven't been neglecting you. You see, things have been busy. Really, really busy.
Remember that whole job thing? Well, I think I finally got it figured out. As much as we really didn't like the thought of moving, the opportunity is just too good to pass up. It really came down to the fact that I can't do this job in Kansas City. I would have to go back to a job in a related field, but with completely different hours and priorities. This job is fun, I enjoy the work, and I think I add value to the company.
The decision process wasn't easy. I took the advice of a friend who told me to "pray for roadblocks". That's what Randy & I did. At first, we saw many roadblocks. The company didn't want to pay me what I wanted for the move - that went away. We were concerned about selling our house and having two mortgage payments - the company allowed us not to move until after the house has sold. Randy's change in jobs - nearly every company he has applied to has expressed interest. We worried that my mom wouldn't be able to come visit, but she's had some health issues lately which will even prevent her from coming to see us in Kansas City.
Today is the day that we put the house on the market. This house was built from the ground up by Randy,I, and my family. I know no one else will appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears that went into this home. Will they appreciate all the little things that we did to make the home easier to live in? Will they know that the corner near our master bedroom door is where the kids have spent almost all of their timeouts over the last two years? Will they see the fact that the last two ballusters on our railing are different from the previous ten? Will they appreciate the cost or labor that went into building the playground and putting the rubber mulch underneath it? Will they realize how much the willow tree has grown from the small tree we planted six years ago? Will they know the Ash tree in the yard was planted for Tanner and the Maple for Morgan? Will they know the beautiful pink Crepe Mertle was planted in Angel Haley's memory?
And, as much as I know moving out of this house will be the third most difficult thing I've probably done, I'm kind of looking forward to the future, too.
Remember that whole job thing? Well, I think I finally got it figured out. As much as we really didn't like the thought of moving, the opportunity is just too good to pass up. It really came down to the fact that I can't do this job in Kansas City. I would have to go back to a job in a related field, but with completely different hours and priorities. This job is fun, I enjoy the work, and I think I add value to the company.
The decision process wasn't easy. I took the advice of a friend who told me to "pray for roadblocks". That's what Randy & I did. At first, we saw many roadblocks. The company didn't want to pay me what I wanted for the move - that went away. We were concerned about selling our house and having two mortgage payments - the company allowed us not to move until after the house has sold. Randy's change in jobs - nearly every company he has applied to has expressed interest. We worried that my mom wouldn't be able to come visit, but she's had some health issues lately which will even prevent her from coming to see us in Kansas City.
Today is the day that we put the house on the market. This house was built from the ground up by Randy,I, and my family. I know no one else will appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears that went into this home. Will they appreciate all the little things that we did to make the home easier to live in? Will they know that the corner near our master bedroom door is where the kids have spent almost all of their timeouts over the last two years? Will they see the fact that the last two ballusters on our railing are different from the previous ten? Will they appreciate the cost or labor that went into building the playground and putting the rubber mulch underneath it? Will they realize how much the willow tree has grown from the small tree we planted six years ago? Will they know the Ash tree in the yard was planted for Tanner and the Maple for Morgan? Will they know the beautiful pink Crepe Mertle was planted in Angel Haley's memory?
And, as much as I know moving out of this house will be the third most difficult thing I've probably done, I'm kind of looking forward to the future, too.
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