Fun with Blocks

Colter got some alphabet blocks for Christmas that for some reason are for ages three and up. Well, this week after Colter had removed all the dvds from the entertainment center, took all his books from the shelf four times, spread a pack of diapers all over his room, etc. I opened up the blocks in an attempt to distract him for awhile (I baby-sat for a newborn a few days this week that took 45 minutes or so to eat--it was hard to feed the baby and keep Colter out of things at the same time!). He LOVES the blocks. As long as I keep building towers, they'll keep his attention for a long time. He knocked down blocks for almost an hour a few times!

I don't know why the blocks are only for ages three and up. Anybody know? I guess if Colter decided to throw them, it wouldn't feel good, but don't three-year-olds throw things too? They're probably tainted with lead paint that's only safe for those over three or something weird like that.

Anyway, since there isn't a FFF theme this week, here's a Favorite Video Friday for your enjoyment.

10 Things I Didn't Know Before Story Time

1. There's a sharp-toothed snail inside everybody's nose that likes to eat fingers. So don't pick your nose. If you don't believe me read...

"Warning" by Shel Silverstein.

2. Vugs live under rugs and they're scary.

There's a Wocket in my Pocket by Dr. Seuss

3. The Chinese think it wise to give all their children short names, like Chang, because a long time ago a boy named Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo fell into a well.

Arlene Mosel's Tikki Tikki Tembo

4. A mother kangaroo is called a flyer, and a father kangaroo is a boomer. A group of kangaroos is called a mob. A group of bears is called a sloth.

-Eric Carle's Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?

5. Cows can type and sometimes write letters to farmers.

Doreen Cronin's Click Clack Moo Cows That Type

6. Cats that wear hats are trouble-makers.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

7. Giants from giant country come out at night to eat human beans. They especially like to eat humans from turkey because they taste like turkey, but humans from Panama taste like hats, so the giants don't really like them. There's a big and friendly giant that restrains himself from feasting on humans though. He eats snozzcumbers.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

8. A cuboid is a rectangle cube.

Chuck Murphy's My First Book of Shapes

9. A wump is a camel-like creature. Some dude named Mr. Gump has a seven hump wump that goes bump bump when one jumps on its hump.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

10. Dr. Seuss smoked crack.

I got DUMPED.

Not really. I've never been the dumpee, just the dumper. Who in their right mind would want to get rid of a wonderful, super-hot, intelligent, magnificent, oh-so-modest person like myself? I'm actually referring to the dumping of my camera--not my relationship history (or lack there-of).

While reading my friend Rachel's blog (Rachel really is wonderful, super-hot, intelligent, and magnificent) I found out about a photo contest that some lady with quads is having. To enter your supposed to "dump" out your camera, select your favorite photo, and e-mail it to her. The pictures I dumped last week are still on my card, so I've already posted the picture I entered. I love this messy boy.

There were some other pictures of my boy (in the blue) and his buddy, Carter. These two are only 11 days apart. When Carter was born, he was a giant 10 pound 3 ounce (something like that) baby. Colter was 8 pounds 2 ounces, but he's caught up now, hasn't he? What's with that silly face?

Colter didn't know what to think of his company! He's not used to sharing his toys or his mommy.

I didn't get very many successful pictures of these guys. It's hard to get two babies to smile at the same time! They were more interested in trying to get to me and the camera, so I got several blurry, weird angle shots. There's that goofy face again!

Here's the weird, face-distorting, backing-away angle a few months ago...

and again! There not high quality shots, but they're funny!

Don't Turn Me In

I'm harboring a serial killer. Without mercy, he hunts down the innocent and brutally slaughters his victims. Something about this time of year brings out his viciousness. It doesn't seem like a spring day goes by without one of his murdered trophies laying about for my husband to quickly clean up to try to hide the bloodshed from the neighbors. A severed head here. A pile of innards there. It's gruesome.

We're trapped. If we try to escape, he'll turn on us. He pushed his own brother into a fish aquarium, shattering it into thousands of tiny pieces, so what might the killer do to my husband and I? He has already slashed the screens in our windows, destroyed the paint on our car, and had the audacity to relieve himself in our home as if threatening us in some sickening way to take action against his reign of terror.

Meet Pancake the cat...

Mass murderer of mice. Killer of rabbits.

Enemy to the small, furry, and feathered.

Family Pet.

FFF-FOOD FIGHT! Sort of.

Vegetables anyone?

What a mess!

I feel sorry for the teachers on lunch duty when Colter is in high school, because he's already starting food fights! Well, I guess it's actually more of a spoon fight. I don't know what age babies generally decide that they want to feed themselves, but Colter has decided that it's nine and a half months. He has been INSISTING that he get to take charge of the spoon at dinner time. On Wednesday after he had taken the spoon from me, I was holding his mixed veggies pretty close and he suddenly dipped his spoon in and put a big bite in his mouth. He got it perfect on the first try! When he tried again though, he completely missed the food and put an empty spoon in his mouth. Funny stuff!

Then he he got the spoon flipped around the wrong way, but he still was having a ball.

Are you sure I should be doing this, Mom?

You realize, now I'm going to need a bath after every meal.

Aww, man. I forgot to get stain remover at the store this morning. I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a lot more laundry.

If you would like to see more Favorite Foto Friday pictures, click here.

A Barn Falling

Isn't the saying, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?" The lamb must have been hanging out with Barry Bonds (think steroids) this year because on Monday my parents' way cool, really old barn BLEW DOWN in a storm. They don't know if it was just strong winds or a small tornado.

Mom sent me this picture today.
It used to look like this...

I haven't seen the flattened barn in person yet, but just the picture makes me sick. I mean, thankfully, it was just an old barn and not their house, and no one was hurt, but I spent a lot of my childhood playing or working in that barn. It was a really neat old building. I loved it, and I can't imagine what the farm looks like without it. The only picture I have was taken from across the field on a hazy day. Sad.

Cabin Fever

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY! I want spring. I want 70 degrees. I'm tired of the warm days being rainy, and the sunny days being cold and windy. Rain is great, and I guess too much rain is better than too little (except for residents of a flood plain), but we've gotten so much rain lately it's ridiculous! If April Showers come in March, what happens to the May flowers? And do the April showers become April monsoons? I'm ready for nice, warm walks outside. I'm ready to sit on our deck and wish the neighbors' dogs would all get sent to the pound. I'm ready to dig in the dirt and plant something. Most of all, I'm ready for the trees to get some leaves!!!!

LOOK at this tree! How long is it going to stand in my yard NAKED?! Put some leaves on, man.

It's so close to budding. Almost there!

I'm ready for the trees to look like this.

And this. By the way, since it's April now, and surely the weather will warm up soon, I decided I'd better get serious about my baby weight/stomach pooch that apparently isn't going to just disappear on it's own. My spring clothes are not going to fit if I don't do something drastic, so today I worked out for TWO hours and ate only CELERY and CARROTS!


Absolutely no Easter candy.


Or peanut butter.


April Fools.