Wordless Wednesday: RoboCat

Tackle It Tuesday Bathroom (Not What You Think)

Usually, Tackle It Tuesday is about what I need to get done or clean. This week is a little different.

I want to tackle some bathroom behaviors. And it won't be just today, but ongoing.

We are having a few ongoing problems:

A. Aiming into the bowl
B. Watching what you're doing (see A)
C. Flushing when you're done
D. Washing hands

These have been constant battles. We have tried many strategies related to the above:

A. Throw cheerios for target practice
B. No more taking toys in with you to do your thing
C. Nagging, nagging, nagging
D. Books about germs, rewards, fun colored soap, hand washing songs

Now we have a new development that has created fear in me...

While I was watching TV the other night, two separate times Baby Pumpkin came running across me dripping wet. I didn't think much of It, thinking that maybe he was getting into his water bowl, but them discovered that his water bowl was dry and there was no water anywhere.

Then I caught him in the act...the silly kitten keeps trying to jump INTO the toilet!

So now I have to add yet another bathroom problem...














I'll even present it to you in rhyme

E. PUT THE SEAT DOWN OR PUMPKIN WILL DROWN

So, this morning, after the bazillionth time of yelling at a child for breaking numerous of these rules, I had had it. I need a plan...

This is what I came up with.



















and



















and when you leave the seat up, you will see














Who knows if it will work but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Oh, yes, and since they still forgot something once in awhile after I posted the signs, I added this:



















So, yes my bathroom does need a good cleaning, as it does every day when there are three boys in the house. And most days, a quick wipe with Clorox bleach wipes does the trick while I am getting ready to get into the shower.

But for now, we have other bathroom issues to tackle. What are you tackling today?

Photographer Noah and the Coast Guard Festival

Wow...I just realized that I passed my 200th post about 9 posts ago. I don't have any idea of fun ideas for a 200th post. Any suggestions?

This weekend, when we went to the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, there was a lot of waiting in line and walking, but it was the first time touring the coast guard ships. It was fun, but hot and crowded. We will make sure not to go on the weekend again. We did get a few cute shots though.







The boys in the Captain's Chair













Looking at the other ships












I love this picture...looking out of the front onto the lower deck

















There were A LOT of stairs in the front and back of the ships. Noah climbed them like a pro...Aaron was a little afraid of some of them, which resulted in Steve or me carrying him on the very narrow steps.










And of course we can't go to Grand Haven without stopping at our favorite ice cream store.














To break the monotony of a long ride home after all pf the waiting and walking, I handed the camera over to Noah for the ride home. We didn't realize what he had taken and why the boys were giggling so much until I looked at the shots later.




The horses that led the way in the parking lot














A serious self portrait













A less than attractive self portrait (that he LOVES, by the way)












Mommy putting away the stroller in the car













And several shots of Aaron the Ham
































Gotta love the stickers on the windows...I highly suggest these on car trips. You can use Goo Gone to get rid of them later.








From what I heard, Noah had taken a few WONDERFUL shots of mommy's back end, but was smart enough to delete them before mommy got the camera back.

It was a fun weekend and all too fast...aren't they all?

Happy Monday.

He's Becoming One Of Us!

So awhile ago, I think at least a year ago, my friend Chris talked me into opening a facebook account. I didn't really see the need, but sure, why not. I also added Deb at the time.

And then I didn't look at it until somewhat recently, when Amber, a new bloggy friend, added me to her friends. And then my sister started using it exclusively for her email. It sparked my interest again, so I started seeing who else I could find. I found a couple of friends from high school (17 years ago) and a couple of friends from college, as well as people that I speak to every week.

Then came the barnyard animal phase. By this I mean, my sister started flinging random animals at me. (You wouldn't really understand this comment unless you've been to facebook). So I thought, "If my sister can have some fun and send silly things, I really want my husband on here to fling a sheep at once in awhile too."

Steve, my wonderful, adoring, loving, husband has been rolling his eyes for quite awhile at my involvement with my blog, and then with facebook. He enjoys reading what I write on the blog, but has had NO interest in writing himself.

But, while Steve was in the shower yesterday, I set up a facebook account for him. Now it seems, he has been dragged into this kicking and screaming, but I think he is going to enjoy it too. He seems to be piling on the friend requests from people, some of whom I know and some not.

My theory is that as our kids get older and the technology becomes more varied, we need to both be up to speed on how these things work.

Chris was teasing Steve a little while ago about when he was going to start his own blog. I think he is happy to leave that one to me.

But he better watch out for flying pigs!

My Second Movie Review and Some Soul Searching

I don't know if anyone remembers my last movie review here. It was of the new Indiana Jones movie and it was NOT flattering at all. As most of us with kids can say, I rarely get out to watch adult movies. So I finally got out to a "chick flick" with my sister last night. (Jenny, I wish you could have joined us)

We went to Mama Mia. I had no idea about it other than it was ABBA songs and my mother in law and step mom both said I needed to see it.

It was a very strange sensation but I'll get to that in a minute. For right now, I just have to say, I have not stopped running all of the songs through my head since I got home last night. I woke up in the middle of the night sing "Dancing Queen".

What a fun movie. If you don't like musicals, do NOT go see this movie. It was very packed full of songs. But if you're in the mood for fun silliness with a lot of upbeat music, you will enjoy it. I suggest going with a girlfriend, as opposed to going on a date.

The story was built around ABBA songs. The story line is pretty hokey, centering around a daughter raised by her single mother and wanting to find her real dad when she invites the three possibilities of her father to her wedding. I won't spoil it anymore.

I have been watching You Tube clips this morning just to get the songs out of my head and now Aaron is hooked too. He keeps wanting to dance to the songs I put on.

The weirdest part was the memories that came back to me while I was watching it. My sister is 7 years older than me, which now doesn't seem like much. But when I was 5 and she was 12, it was quite a difference. When "Dancing Queen" came on, she was remembering listening to the music and dancing around the living room. To me, for some reason, it was bringing strange butterflies to my stomach, remembering a time in my life that is so foreign to me now. I have spent a lot of time trying to erase a lot of my preteen years from my memories for so many reasons so they don't carry into the raising of my children. But the time of my life when my mom and sister were listening to this ABBA album was before the turmoil began. In my little 5 year old eyes, my life was clear and everything seemed perfectly rosy. It made me think of a mother that my sister knew, but I really didn't because of mental illness.

So when this song came on in the movie, and it is truly a show stopper, and so much fun to watch that you want to jump up and right into the screen, it also was very strange to think these other thoughts. I have been listening to the song over and over this morning, trying to make that part go away, so I can just enjoy the music. I never would have thought this would have happened from a fun "chick flick".

As far as a movie review, I definitely think you should grab a girl close to you and go. I am really hoping that my sister will make me a copy of her soundtrack soon. I can't get the songs out of my head. (Shannon, now that I am addicted to the music, I think we need to go again). I guess the only thing lacking was that Pierce Brosnan shouldn't have tried singing. It was forced sounding and not pleasing at all. Other than that, the singing was very good.

As for the other stuff, we all have pieces of our past that have shaped who we are. My sister and I both wondered however, what song will pop into the boys heads 30 years from now and bring back memories of today, and what will those memories be?.