Week 23

Our week was filled with UPs and DOWNs, but mainly UPs---and a whole lot of viewing of this new movie that we got...




















Luckily I really enjoy it and so does Corinne so watching it at least once a day hasn't been so bad. The beginning of the movie starts out as more of a slide show of the life of the old man and his wife. When we watched it together the first time, I narrated it for him to explain what was happening. From then on out each viewing has started with Lincoln telling me "Oh they getting married just like you and Dada. They are climbing the hill. She sees a turtle. They are climbing the hill again. She says--hurry up slow poke. He sees a baby. She says I want alotta lotta babies. They are getting the baby's room ready. Oh no, the doctor says you can't have babies. She is so sad. They decide to have an adventure instead. They save their money. They have to use the money. They are getting old. Ellie dies. He is so sad." It is actually quite endearing to hear him and watch it. He also has told me to call him Russel this week and that Chomper is his talking dog. He then turned his prized vacuum into a leaf blower so he can fly away like Russel does in the movie. The movie Up has treated us to quite a few UPs during our week.

On Monday we started out with what I thought was going to be a fun morning outside. It was nice and warm, but not too hot. So I made up some sidewalk chalk paint, but Corinne dumped it and Lincoln flipped out, even though his favorite part is making hand and foot prints---perfect for spilled paint. But regardless I had to "chalk" this one up as a DOWN.















Lincoln was so grouchy that he didn't want to get in the pool despite the water being the perfect temperature. He then tried to dump it so Corinne couldn't play in there either. I sent him inside to calm down, and Corinne and I made an UP out of pool time.

With Lincoln's temperament, I knew we didn't have time for swimsuits, so we just went in with a diaper. Look at how absorbent they are!

Corinne learned how to climb in and out of her highchair this week. At first I thought this was going to be a major UP, I mean, that is one less thing I have to do for her now right? Wrong! Now every meal consists of her climbing up and saying "more" eating a bit, saying "all done", me cleaning her up---only to find her back in her high chair 3 seconds later saying "more". This cycle continues for at least 20 minutes or until I clear the kitchen and get her sidetracked on another activity. This is definitely a DOWN!





















Tuesday morning while I am getting the kids ready for breakfast Lincoln informs me of a few ants on the kitchen floor. A DOWN for sure. After a more thorough investigation I find that there are about 30 all over the kitchen, but they are not headed for food, but wandering aimlessly. I grab the ant bait traps and move the love seat to block off the kitchen so Corinne can't reach them. We finish breakfast and I put the kids in the family room and leave the ants to their business. Just hours later I find that word travels fast and I now have thousands of ants in my kitchen---yuck! I trace the trail into the dining room and then discover there is a nice hole on the outside of the house where they are getting in. I decide a trip to Lowes is in order because I can't wait for these little critters to take the poison back to the rest of their friends and I want my kitchen back! So we head home armed with spray, granules, outdoor traps, and flashlights---because Lincoln informed me that our was broken and it was a 2 for $5 deal on flashlights. We decided to eat lunch out because I can't stomach the idea of eating or fixing a meal in the kitchen, then I lay the kids down for a nap and get into exterminator mode. Call me sexist, but this truly falls under a Man Job in our house and I wished more than anything that Nathan were here to hunt down the creepy crawlies. The only UPside to it all is that the spray and granules are supposed to work for spiders too, so I have hopefully taken care of all our little critters for the season. The kids cooperated well with taking a long nap giving everything ample time to dry and our house was then kid friendly---after I mopped and vacuumed up the dead ants.

That night I taught Lincoln how to make shadow puppets with our new flashlights. He was really good at guessing the animals and even made me a heart with his hands---definitely an UP moment.




















He learned how to put the light under his chin to make a "scary guy" face---compliments of Scooby Doo.





















Then the flashlight show turned into a monster truck show. He was the announcer and kept telling me about all the big, loud trucks---another UP moment.






















His vivid imagination never ceases to amaze me = UP.






















Corinne fell down that stair on Wednesday---yes I said stair, not stairs. She climbed down the whole set backwards, just like she is supposed to, then sits on the last step and I thought she was going to scoot down on her bottom. No, she decides to walk down, or more like fall down onto her face. Literally a DOWN moment--as pictured with a big egg on her head. On the UPside she has been practicing her puzzle skills and can now do the basic ones on her own. Her favorite pieces are the duck and bunny ones.




















On Thursday we had swimming lessons and it is really paying off. Lincoln did great and is getting a lot of good practice going under water and being able to hold his breath. When we came home I thought, since he was already wet we would wash Daddy's truck. He had a meltDOWN, and I attempted to wash it myself. It ended up more as a "bubbly rinse" and I gave UP and join Lincoln inside for a viewing of Up--once again. I decided I will just hose it off from time to time and take it somewhere right before he gets home.

On Friday we headed to the Aquatic Center again with the Lewison's. After our initial dip in, we took a snack break. Corinne loves their chocolate cookies.




















And Lincoln loves a special treat of "Ava chips"---what he calls Cheetos. Special junk food snack = UP.




















His new found confidence in the water made the visit much less stressful this time---UP!















He was so brave about going down the slide that he took a few trips down backwards!




















I am sure he got a ton of water up his nose, but he was still a happy camper. Happy Lincoln = Happy Mama = another UP moment.




















He could have stayed there all day going down that slide.







































He did decide to take a break here and there and chased Corinne and I all around the pool, which we all loved---UP, UP, and more UP.

On Saturday morning Lincoln and I tried out a new recipe for banana-lime cupcakes with key lime frosting. He was an excellent helper and banana smasher, and I must say that they were delicious! Definitely an UP on taste, but a DOWN for my waistline. Luckily we gave most of them away to friends and neighbors. We definitely have a winning recipe for Lincoln's birthday party/Welcome Home Daddy party. Wait did you just read that right??? Yes, we found out Nathan should be home towards the end of September---UP, UP, UP, UP, UP, UP! I have decided to push back Lincoln's birthday and combine it with a welcome home party for Nathan. So we are having a Toy Story party with little green alien men cupcakes and of course the "dinosaur cake" Lincoln has talked about making for Dada since the day he left. We will see what kind of disaster it is trying to make "Rex" for Daddy.
















If all else fails, at least I know the cupcakes are yummy!
















And so the countdown begins, but not really--because I don't have an exact date yet and nothing is for sure with the Marine Corps. I am not telling Lincoln or Corinne anything about dates. I always just say Daddy and Uncle will come home as soon as they can. Now if I can just keep us cool and busy thoughout August, I am sure September will be here in no time. And September will be consumed with me trying to get everything "ready" for the homecoming and party. Oh yes, and after we made cupcakes I detailed the inside of Nathan's truck. It had not been cleaned since we have been back in the states. Needless to say it was in need of some serious TLC. I found old, dried up craisins, gear Nathan is probably missing, mysterious coffee spills on the floor, blood spatter on the ceiling---I mean seriously Nathan what were you doing in there??? Running dog fights??? After skyping with Nathan and Uncle Warren Lincoln made them promise "Uncle no smoking in Daddy's truck ever, ever again. And Dada no spilling coffee, ever, ever again!" I second that because the truck is now pristine! A clean truck for the hubby to come home to and one more thing checked off of my list---UP!

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that we got our tickets and are officially headed to Rome for two weeks this winter to hang with the Booth Clan = UP! Uncle Warren is coming with us = another UP!


QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Quote 1: While we were playing outside and Corinne disappeared to the side yard where she goes and sneeks rocks and dirt to eat.
Me: "Where is Sissy?"
Lincoln: "Oh she is gettin' hurt in the dangerous place."
Me: "Is she on the side of the house? Can you tell her to come out of there?"
Lincoln: Runs over to the side yard and yells "Come back!" then to me "Her not listening. You have two feet, you go yell at her!"
This kid is totally using my own words against me. This is the same thing I tell him when he says I need to go get his blankie and George!


Quote 2: At lunchtime.
Lincoln: "I want to eat cake."
Me: "We don't have any cake."
Lincoln: "Your birthday comin' up. I am going to go to Mimi's house and make you a cake and buy you a car and give you lots of presents and a lotta dolls and suprises!"
Me: "Oh you are! Thank you, what a nice boy!"


Quote 3: Randomly
Lincoln: Gives my butt a love pat, "You got a big old hiney!"
Ummm, thanks Lincoln!


Quote 4: Takes Corinne's milk from her and I give him "the look" so he tries to cover it up.
Lincoln: "Oh, thank you for sharing that with me Sis. That is being a good girl. We have the best Sissy in the whole wide world!"
Okay, I will let him get away with it this once.



Quote 5: While working with Corinne on saying "I love you".
Lincoln: "I love..." squeezes himself and says "mmm, mmm, mmm" then points "YOU Mamom!"
Me: "I love you too kiddo! Thanks for saying that. It makes me feel special."
Lincoln: "It makes your heart happy!"
Me: "Yes it does."


Quote 6: During dinner he spots the Ranch dressing.
Lincoln: "That is Aunt Linny's favorite!"
This kid remembers the craziest stuff, but I know his condiment loving Aunt will be proud.


Quote 7: At bedtime.
Lincoln: "My weenie hurts. I want you to give it a moochie."
Me: "You're out of luck kiddo. It will be okay."


Quote 8: At prayertime we were talking about our date with Nathan on skype for tomorrow night.
Me: "You know how we have our date with Dada tomorrow night? Uncle is going to talk to us on the computer tomorrow with Daddy. Won't that be fun?"
Lincoln: With a head tilt "He's not going to be sleepin'?"
He knows what Uncle Warren does best!


Quote 9: After prayers.
Lincoln: "I want you to give me scratches on my back!" Flips over and lifts his shirt up.
Me: "You are getting spoiled rotten."
Lincoln: "Uh-huh, just like my Dada!"
Then when I was done giving him tickles. He convinced me he was the BEST KIDDO EVER!
Lincoln: "Lay down Mamom. I am going to give you tickies." Of course I complied!