Week 19

This past week was a busy one. It is hard to believe that we are going on 20 weeks since Nathan left---that's like half of a pregnancy and almost 5 months! I think Lincoln is really starting to feel the lack of testosterone around the house. We have had some really bad whining episodes that we have been dealing with. For me I can take an infant crying any day over a whining toddler. It is like fingernails on a chalkboard! Most of the time it is not a specific issue that he is particularly upset about, it is just that everything upsets him---making me think it is more of displaced anger since Nathan is gone. We are working through it though, so that is good.





We did some major experimenting with Corinne's hair this week. She has developed a slight 1980s rat tail, so I am trying to make her look more girlie and less "mullet-like".















On Monday night we went to Family Fun Night at the Community Rec Center. This week's activity was crazy concoctions. We made our own sidewalk chalk paint out of cornstarch, water, and food coloring.
















Corinne did a great job hanging in the backpack--as chipper as can be.






















Then we made "blue goo"---similar to that old school Nickelodeon Gak that I grew up with.





















It was by far his favorite activity, but we both left with seriously blue stained hands.





















We also made a "Little Guy" as Lincoln calls it---our homemade Chia Pet out of dirt, panty hose, grass seed and a yogurt cup.
















I figured out that pig tails work the best with Corinne. They are far enough out of the way that she doesn't try to pull them out constantly.





















And it gets all that hair off her neck for when we are out and about in the sun.
















Lincoln has been sporting his faux hawk with pride.















We went to San Clemente beach this week with the church group. At first I wasn't going to go because the kids were a bit snotty, then my dad convinced me that the salt water will be good for them. I was glad we went because we had a blast and discovered a new favorite beach site. Going with the church group that is made up of a bunch of moms with older kids is great because it feels like I have 15 babysitters. Corinne just hops from lap to lap and Lincoln plays with the big kids and flirts with the pretty girls.
















Lincoln loved the big rocks as well as the sand.















He made a new friend with Miss Hannah who built sand castles with him.















Corinne stayed out of the water, but worked on her tan once the clouds cleared out.
















Hannah and Lincoln started out with taking trips down to the water to aid them in their sand castle efforts.















But he quickly talked her into going for a swim. The whole ride home I heard, "I swam in the ocean with Miss Hannah!" from the backseat.





















Corinne discovered a serious love of red velvet cake cookies. She had one taste and attacked me for more!















































We went to the pediatric ophthalmologist on Thursday to checkout Corinne's clogged tear duct. The doc said everything looks good, but they will need to schedule surgery to unclog the duct. So I will wait to hear more about when this is going to take place. Apparently it is only a 5 min. procedure and they just "gas" her to put her under. But we will be down in San Diego for about 6 hrs. from start to finish. For now I am waiting on a date from the surgery coordinator.

After the appointment I laid Corinne down for a nap and she later joined Lincoln and I for some pool time fun in the sun.





















I was a little confused why she was walking funny and looked drunk. Then I remembered that her eyes might be a little dilated still. So our outside time came to a halt and we spent the rest of the day indoors.




















Lincoln and Corinne got a nice surprise in the mail from their friend Ana---Silly Bands shaped like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Characters. Both kids think they are pretty cool!















Lincoln did this all by himself one day after going potty---he was Superhero Undies Man.

Jessica and I had big plans to go down to the San Diego Children's Museum for "Toddler Time Water Play." So we packed up the kids in their swimsuits and planned for a 2 hour blast of fun in the sun. Well, when we got there we found a little patch of grassed roped off with a sprinkler and some buckets----LAME! After already forking over the time and money for the drive and parking we decided to go do the museum instead. I just have to say that I am really glad I got the military discount of $5 a person---instead of the usual $20 a person. It really makes me think, who in their right mind would pay $20 each (for kids too) to come to this place??? The kids had fun, so that is what really matters, but I was very disappointed. Nothing compares to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

Here is the "draw on the fur" room----interesting to say the least. I guess that is what you get in San Diego.

And who knew plastic animals could be so much fun. This was such an odd assortment of whales, sharks, rams, and dinosaurs. I mean really what was the theme here???

















Corinne got in on the plastic animal action too.






















Lincoln made a painting for Dada.























This area was called "Barnyard Dance". It had one puzzle--pictured below, a ride on ladybug (when did a ladybug start to fall under the category of farm animals???), and a bunch of bags filled with stuffing labeled "feed". Not the most exciting room, but the one geared for 2 yrs. and under. HMMMMM??? How many two year olds do you know that are thoroughly entertained by a 6 piece puzzle and pillows???

I guess this was considered the "grocery store" room. Corinne enjoyed a seat at a table. And that "block" under her foot is a cardboard box taped up with a bad drawling of a dog on it. Come on, I could do better than that! Those cashregisters in the background are just blocks of wood---no buttons, no noises, no bells and whistles.

And I have no idea what these little contraptions that were littered all over the floor were. Lincoln decided he would try it out as a hat.

This room wasn't so bad. The kids enjoyed the shoe free zone and the huge puzzle pieces.

The building block area was somewhat entertaining for them. You can tell by the excitement on Corinne's face.

















We were hoping this bubble area would be a blast. However, someone that works here doesn't know how to make a proper bubble mixture. It was mostly water and hardly any soap, so there were no bubbles to be had.



















This Trojan Horse replica was pretty cool. Lincoln was itching to get inside it.

Then they got to play with some more blocks.

After sitting with this Museum employee Jessica and I decided you have to be "special" to work in a place like this.

Lincoln enjoyed the climbing wall the most---probably because he wants to be just like his Daddy.

He made it to the top with ease and even got down by himself.






















We wrapped up our day with some eisle drawling.




















Here is a shot of the little artist focusing on his work.






















The artist in myself came out a bit this week and I finally got Lincoln's firetruck paintings done.

















No thank you Pottery Barn Kids, I will pass on your $300 paintings and do my own for less than $50 and 3 hrs of work!















A special suprise came in the mail from Grammy! Lincoln loves his new sidekick---Woody!




















And Corinne can't get enough of her hooded Jessie towel. Right now it is getting more use as dress up than drying off.

Here is Lincoln saying "Don't touch my Woody!"

And here is our "Little Guy" at the end of the week. If you look closely you can see he has sprouted a few hairs.

















QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Quote 1:
While talking about our adventures---specifically our trip to the Fairy Festival last week. He climbed up this 6 foot wall all by himself and I have no idea how he got there in the first place.
Me: "You are a monkey!"
Lincoln: "I climbed that wall at the Fairy Festival."
Me: "Yeah, that was crazy!"
Lincoln: "Kiddos love to do that stuff."
Me: "Yeah, I guess you are right."
Lincoln: "I climbed that wall like Dada."

Quote 2:
While talking to my sister on the phone and packing up sand toys for our beach trip the following day.
Me: To my sister "Oh he wants to take the huge dump truck to the beach." To Lincoln "It's too heavy kiddo. I can't carry it." To my sis "I wish I had an extra person here to carry stuff on our trips."
Lincoln: "I a person--I carry it!"
And he did. I told him we could take it, but only if he carried it and took full responsibility for hauling down to the beach. I parked far away and he carried/pushed/dragged that truck all the way there and all the way back. He was so determined and took his job very serious.

Quote 3:
While trying to get Lincoln in bed one night.
Lincoln: "You're sick and tired of us kiddos being mean!"
Me: "Yes, I am!"

What can I say, it was a stressful week with lots of tantrums.

Quote 4:
Out of nowhere.
Lincoln: "Peee-ewwwe! Chompy stinks. You need to take him to the dry cleaners!"