PIper and ATticus Painting

 

 

Talking on the Phone.....

is almost impossible with 2 kids. Most often, I have a sympathetic ear on the other line who is more than understanding when they realize I havent heard one word of what they have said for the last 5 minutes... " I am sorry, tell me again last thing I got was your heater broke, your engines dead and your stuck on the highway... " but sometimes I think it might be a little annoying when your trying to have a conversation with me and only hear my sweet ones in the backround yelling " mommmmm". Chris gets the worst of it, however, because it often happens that he is on call when I have to work. So a waterleak will happen at one of the buildings or some issue will occur in which Chris will need to be on the phone and our adorable little ones will fail to cooperate. Take for instance, Chris's first on call there was an actual waterleak which Chris had to address on the phone by calling vendors and talking to the caretakers. This can take a fairly moderate chunk of time. Well, Chris was talking on the phone and Piper, being the motherly sister she is, decided to give Atticus a snack. She took a tupperware container and a jar of dish soap and fed him soap soup. When Chris got off the phone Atticus was burping up bubbles. He had to call poison control who assured him Atticus would be fine. When one of us wants to talk on the phone, nothing is a deterrent. TV is no match for the attention of a parent who is off limits for 5 minutes, nor is painting, a walk, playing in dirt. Nothing will placate them while we are on the phone. So, if a conversation is really important we just let them get into trouble and keep an eye out that it wont be too bad. Last Thursday, Summer called and I really wanted to hear how Ella's dilation went so the kids had paints out and I just let them "independently" paint while I talked to Summer. This ended in Piper resembling frakensteins bride, a little creepy, and Atticus looking very purple. Picture to follow. Saturday, I talked to Summer again. This time, the kids and I were taking a leisure stroll around the block. Once again, we were talking about Ella and I wanted to listen so I didnt say anything when the kids were holding my hand, crossing the street and walking to the park. I knew if I started to complain a tantrum would follow and my conversation would be over. Usually I try to save these conversations for naptime, but it just doesnt always work out that way.

Snacks, Treats and Special Treats.

Anyone who knows a Campbell kid knows they are snackers or "grazers". Chris and I laugh thinking about when we were at the hospital and all Piper wanted to do was nurse, she nursed for hours on end and the nurse prophetically warned " better watch it she will be a snacker". Now, whether or not that was the catalyst is debatable, however, we did end up with a snacker. Atticus is a snacker only because Piper is, you know, " Pete and Repete" as Chris calls them. Trying to get eager participation in the meals Chris and I prepare so lovingly every evening, we have taken to setting snack times 1030 and 230pm . But because they will not eat breakfast, (or lunch, or dinner) they are hungry constantly. So, Pipers way around this is to differentiate snacks from treats and special treats. A snack is fruit, veggies (anything healthy). A treat is.....well I'm not sure, you have to ask Piper that. A special treat is a popsicle. We have mad love for popsicles in our family. So, when Piper has had an apple for snack she will then ask for a treat...when you point out she just had an apple she says " That was a snack, I want a treat". If she is lucky and blessed with a popsicle she will later say " I want a snack" when you point out she just had a popsicle she declares " but that was a special treat, I havent had a snack". If this fails, she then moves on to Atticus. " Atticus, do you want some crackers" Atticus says "yeah". Piper will then yell " Mommmm, Atticus wants some crackers. For some reason, Piper thinks that if Atticus wants it, then it is in the bag. She is repeatedly disappointed when Atticus is denied. On top of this, Piper is big on adjectives these days, especially when she is not happy. Saturday we were eating leftovers for lunch. Having had a late night on Friday Piper was a cheery ball of sunshine. When she saw her lunch, chicken, she cried " but this is dinner, I dont want to take a bath and go to bed". When we explained that we were not going to send her to bed for the night at 1200pm she cried " my dress is too short for me and too long for the baby". She was running low on things to cry about. Piper also did not want to drink her milk " this is not the good milk its yucky, disgusting, I dont want it". See what I mean, a ball of sunshine and postivity. Mr. Repeat (atticus) then chimes in " I dont like milk, its disgusting" as he chugs down his and Pipers milks. gotta laugh at that.
This weekend, we continued to work on the yard. I guess I should clarify that Chris did most of the work while I sat in the directors chair. In the process, we got a great big mound of dirt that the kids have been using to make lemonade and pies. They look delicious. But it has been sweet to watch them end up in head to toe mud and love it. Our tub may never be truly clean again.

Piper and Atticus in " SWAN LAKE"

Day At The Beach

Today being super hot we treked to the beach, actually we didnt trek, we drove. Piper and Atticus played with our endless supply of emtpy containers (parmesan, parkers p.b) to make fabulous sand creations. They are into filling the containers with water and making puddles in the sand. They also like to fill the containers with water and throw it on me, which is good for oodles of laughs.

The Car

This weekend Grandma was nice
enough to take the kids so Chris and I
could go out to dinner and sleep in.

jkjc

Trains, Trains, Trains

Bedtime

While Chris and I are excited to say that we have conquered the bedtime troubles of Atticus, we have yet to master the art of the dual bedtime. Meaning when they go down at the same time all bets are off. All rules are broken, and noone goes to sleep until they pass out from intense, undeniable exhaustion. The funny part is that they can seek and destroy in room that has been stripped bare of everything. No toys, no books, nothing is in that room except the sheets on the beds, the Dog (see him peeking out from the sheet Piper has skillfully pulled off the bed while leaving the bed saver intact) and a radio. Thats it. Yet, they still manage to party like rockstars. The emptiness must fuel their creativity. Anyway, on this night for whatever reason I opted to not spread thier bedtimes (must have been late) I went up to stick them back in bed several times and found my patience wearing thin, so, I closed the door and let them jump around and wear themselves out. About an hour later, I went up and opened the door to this sweet scene.

Boppers Dudey Pie

Although Chris and I are not really sentimental nor do we enjoy much corniness we have quite a few nicknames floating around our house. Pipers most often used nickname is "bopper" which orginated when Piper took to calling herself "bopper" instead of Piper. I think the "P" was tricky. Atticus is often referred to as "Dudey Pie" or in short "Dudey". Which, lucky or unlucky, for him has caught on and others call him this too. When he was a baby Chris and I would tell Piper that the new baby was a "cutey pie" and Piper would say " Ahhhh look at the dudey pie". So Dudey it is. Dudey has even taken to calling himself "the dudey". Recently, Atticus has taken an interest in family photos that are lying around everywhere, he likes to identify the folks in the pictures. I especially like when he points my picture out in the multiple magazines laying around the house. He apparently has caught on to my alter egos as: Hollywood diva, Political Superstar and Fashion Model. He will point to Kate Hudson, Hillary Clinton, the spritely young J. Crew model and even Condaleeza Rice and say "mommy". It lets my mind wander to how my life would be if I really were those people. If I were Kate, I would be cruising Rodeo Drive my blond hair blowing in the wind, waving to paparazzi, shopping packs carelessy thrown in the back of my BMW, no , make that a Prius convertible (this is just for fun, right). Imagining myself as Hillary (who I love dearly) or Condaleeza (who I admire, but have no ickling of aspirations to mimic, esp. since it would mean I would have to work for W. which would annoy me) is not enticing at this moment so I will move on to the J.crew model. If I were a J. Crew model I would be in a cute perfect brown 2 piece on a sailboat, one hand over my eye looking out over the sun streaked water, with several best friends sporting permanent grins.Truly Fun.
Chris becomes the likes of every man in This Old House, and every daddy changing a diaper. When we go places it is Chris on Billboards, and Chris on the Labels, smiling candidly. I feel this is more accurate than my alter egos as probably 50% of these anonymous folks are named Chris.
Every baby takes on the name Sophie (who is only 2 months younger than Atticus yet still considered an infant) or Kaija ( this one is closer to a baby but is 1 so not really an infant either). dogs, interestngly, are Sophie too (like our neighbors dog, who they do not call sophie but call wheezy after the baby sophie's dog). I think it is funny that he does not call any dog King? that puzzles me. Back to the nicknames, Chris is "Chrisser" which Chris really despises. He prefers to be called "Chris- Cool as a Cucumber" which makes me laugh everytime I say it because well, its just funny to me, since I prefer to call him grumpy old man( hes a cute and lovable grumpy old man). But that will be a future blog.

Piper the Pretty Princess

I need a separate blog just for funny Atticus faces. This one is my favorite.

Playgroup at Maggies

maggies house is one of our favorites for playgroup. Dressing up

playing outside,

reading sessions, and

toys make for a great time. Today was especially fun, as the weather was great.

Piper the Duathlete.

What an adventure!! Today I decided it would be a good
idea to try Pipers biking endurance. Always one to shoot for
the moon without a rocket ship we took off with no plan, no
water, no snacks to let the wind take us where it may.
Well, first we biked to Nokomis Park ( by the comm. center) and played for awhile. Piper seemed so energetic and excited to bike I thought " hey, lets take the long way home!!!". We got 2 blocks in on the long way and the troops started singing "Im thirsty" legitimate since it was 80 degrees and we had no fluids to consume. Anyway, they both persevered and we managed to follow the golf course around past Bergans and home. I am guesstimating a good 2 miles. She did opt to walk her bike up hills and ride down. I thought that was smart and pretty good for only being a biker for 3 days. There were tears and smiles and 1 minor crash but all in all I was a proud mama and Piper was proud at her accomplishment. When we got home she asked when she could do a race.

Zoo time

went to the zoo today with Matt, Sophie and Jen. We Rode the horse tractor for the first time and found out on w/es you can go IN the goat cage. The best part for the kids was running through the fountains. They had a great time. Afterwards was our house for a lazy bbq and Lunds longevity noodles. I am addicted to those things!!!!

Dog-Gone We nearly Lost it....

The Dog that is. Wednesday I foolishly let Atticus
take his beloved "doggy" out of the house.
"Doggy" is Atticus's best friend. Although the
relationship is not always tender and loving,
Atticus is pretty dependent on the dog.
During his resting hours the dog can usually be
found on his head (as shown in pic) or underneath
either way the dog is there. In order to fall asleep, Atticus will bang the dog against the railing of the bed and then bang the dog against his own head in order to relax. Interesting, but it works for him. When Atticus wakes up in the morning, he has three needs
1. Doggy
2. Binky
3. Milky--- the overuse of the "y" is another blog and something that I havent come to understand yet.
Anyway, unable to accomadate all of his acoutrements Atticus throws the dog downstairs
(its 9 feet or so) and then picks him up again on the way
down. Once downstairs, the dog is likely to be a team player with Atticus in all activities. When
Atticus tries to use the toilet, the dog is shoved in the toilet first. "The doggy has to go pee pee"
When Atticus wants to brush his teeth. "Brush
Doggy's teeth". When Atticus is Dad's shop, the
Doggie gets to be hammered.....you get the picture
this dog is everywhere. Often we find him in the
oddest of places. Stuffed inside a box, a lego
container, a kitchen drawer, the fridge etc. We
spend at least 30 minutes looking for the dog
everyday which is why we didnt think too much of it when we couldnt find the dog Wednesday night. Unfortunately, this was the first night our 14 y.o neighbor boy was to watch the kids so we could go see Batman. Prior to leaving
I had tried to find the dog and couldnt
Atticus was seeming a little anxious as I tried
to get him to sleep, but I thought it would turn up and didnt think to much about it.
We left, thinking the kids would get so sleepy
that the dog would not matter. Wishful thinking. Atticus did not go to bed, either did Piper and He went to bed and woke up looking for the darn thing. Needless to say, Raliegh ( the babysitter) who thought the kids would be in bed, had a couple of livewires on his hands. His dad ended up coming over to help him get them to sleep. Smart Dad put them on the couch with a movie where they finally fell asleep. I was too scared to ask at what time. I hope he will come again. The next day we searched high and low for the dog. Atticus was not sleeping (which, as Summer pointed out, has always been his strong point) and seeming really anxious. I went to work that night and came home to a full bed as Chris had a bear of a time getting them to sleep. I came home in a panic, his no dog anxiety was effecting me, no sleep for him = no sleep for me. I planned a mission for the following day to scour all places we had gone to FIND THAT DOG!!!! Piper had casually mentioned to Chris that the dog was at the park. But not listening to Piper we went with Atticus who said first "Molly took it" (molly is the nanny. I knew in my gut she had been eyeing the dog but didnt think she would be so brave to take it) and then he said " Summers House". So, to Summers we went. No go. Very Bummed about it I decided to call Brackett Park where we had gone and where Piper said it was and Thank goodness, they had it. " Is it floppy and a little dirty with a pink nose" the staff asked. I honestly had no idea about the nose and a little dirty sounded kind for our dog but I hoped and it was the dog. Thinking Atticus would be elated I handed him the retrieved dog and he just took it and put it on his lap, like it had never been gone. Go Figure. But all is well again in the Campbell household and the dog endured his first stair toss this a.m. I thought I saw him smile.