Jeb The Two Hour Snowman

An overnight snowfall brought us Jeb the snowman. A quick thaw and a shoddy foundation took him away.
RIP
Jeb
12/19/09
8:30 am to 10:30 am

Bennett asserts his opinion

...and says this is the COOLEST. SHOW. EVER.



YO... GABBA GABBA!!!

Vote for me!

Psst: I made it onto the Etsykids "Harvest" Design Challenge! VOTE FOR ME here: http://etsykids.blogspot.com/2009/11/etsykids-design-challenge-its-time-to.html

Pumpkin

Bed Head

Sometimes when you wake up from a nap you just want to snack outside. WITHOUT the mamarazzi taking photos of your bed head.



This means leave me alone in Bennett-speak.

New Pole

We woke up to Big Trucks out front the other day. Our old power pole has been a splintery old mess for several years, and they were getting ready to replace it.


Later on in the afternoon they had to cut the power to change over the wires, so we hung outside and watched them work. So much excitement! Bennett liked the big bucket trucks the best!

the Rogue Garden Gnome

Well, the costume was awesome.

For about ten minutes. Then he disassembled it and was running across the yard chasing various vampires, corpse brides and even a storm trooper missing the hat, beard, and one boot and sock.




HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Have a great weekend !!!!

the Apprentice

Sadly, cloth tools just don't cut it in the real world.

Improper use Part II

Or for our geekier friends "The Newest Rampage Character Bennettzilla"

Improper use.

Goodnight Moon

I've been thinking of Burke quite a bit lately as the evenings are getting shorter and the sun has been struggling to come up. Another summer is getting ready to end, another summer with only one child asleep upstairs.

Fall makes me think of quiet tv-free Saturday nights sewing by little spotlights, which brings me to drinking copious amounts of tea, which leads to listening to Prairie Home companion, and this digression leads me to Jake Speed and the Freddies.

Thank you, Jake. I've got Goodnight Moon playing tonight while I sew, and a little candle lit for Burke.

Babe in a box

...because it's been a while with no updates.

Popcicles

Who likes orange-sicles?

Pool

The Sad Story of Unca Butt

So since G decided to post about my current frustration with lil' B I guess I can tell you all the story of Unca Butt. Grab a carpet square and cop a squat because my tale is about to begin.

Not too long ago in a 'burb not so far from here some of our dear friends reside. Back when we were buying our house our current landlord wouldn't extend our lease another month while we were waiting to close so our dear friends took us in. At the time their eldest child was a little younger than lil' B and every time I got my hands on her I tried to get her to say Uncle Brian. As hard as I tried she never did, and we got our house and moved out.

Months go by and we go over our dear friends for dinner and to my astonishment I get called out by name, well not really by name: I was at this point branded "Unca Butt". This tradition has been passed down through the next two children, so for the last ten years I have been know in certain circles as "Unca Butt".

But wait there is more! There can't be more you say, that is enough to drive a man's self esteem in the gutter. I know, I know, but sadly there is more. I believe it was the next child in their clan. My objective was to get her to say "EEE EEE EEE" when I would ask her "How do the monkeys go?" . Well some may already see this coming. Somehow and I don't blame D but.....The question got changed to "How does Unca Butt go?" and after months of practice with no response to the monkey question I watched as her little mouth open and a "EEE EEE EEE" comes out.

So back to current day. I am trying to not pressure lil' B into saying anything. Mainly out of fear of what nickname I will be dubbed for the next 18yrs. Yes, it has been a little frustrating waiting for it but it is worth it in the end.

Hi Dad!

Conversations with Papa & Bennett over the six weeks:

"Bennett, what's that?"

"Cat-cat-ca-cat-ca!"

"Yes! That's the cat!"

"And who's that?"

"Ma-ma!"

"Right! It's mama!"

"And what's this?"

"Gog-gog-GOG! Gog!!"

"Yeah, it's the dog! Yay!"

"And who am I?"

...silence. "Ca-Cat-CAT!"

"Sigh. No, I'm Papa. Can you say Papa?"

Bennett pointing to cat: "CAT-CAT-CAT!!!"

"Yes, and who am I? Am I Dad? Dada? Papa?

Pause, then "Cat! Cat-cat-cat-cat! CAT!"

"No, I'm Papa. Say Papa! Or say Dada!"





This has been the running conversation between the two of them every day for weeks.

Even a couple weeks ago when Big B and Bennett were coming home from the sitters, Bennett fired off a "Hi, Cat!!!" at the cat sitting on the step, waiting to be let in. It's been a bit of a sore spot with Big B to be so firmly behind the pets in the order of spoken words.

Then last week, when Big B picked Bennett up from the sitters, Bennett looked at him coming through the door and said "Hi, Dad!"

At least he said Dad before learning to say "cheese," his favorite food.

Garden

I'll make it fit.