Half-pint Is a Photographer...

A few days ago, I was cleaning the kitchen when I realized I hadn't seen the boys for awhile. I knew they were in the office, but I thought I'd better check on them. When I stepped into the office, instead of seeing Half-pint sitting at the computer playing games, I found him standing on the desk, with the still camera in his hand. He had been doing a photo shoot with the office and his brother as his subjects. Here are a few of his pieces of artwork...

There were plenty of fuzzy pictures, and lots with his fingers covering part of the lens, but a few of them were actually decent...

Quarter-pint is a "Wild Child"...

The night Quarter-pint wore his motorcycle pajamas, his Momma called him "Wild Child"...

He ran around and around the family room into the night and through Daddy's favorite TV program...

He came upon the Fierce and Fun Half-pint...

Quarter-Pint squealed his terrible squeal, laughed his belly-laugh and smiled his smile of joy... and together they began a lively rumpus...Quarter-pint ran through Daddy's favorite TV program, into the night, around and around the family room, and right through the sliding screen door...

He tumbled out into the back porch with a start...

Then the unscathed "Wild Child" calmly sat in his Momma's lap until bedtime...

Half-pint Finally Visits the Beach...

Earlier this month we took a family vacation to Southern California. It was quite the trip! What an adventure taking 14 people (6 under the age of 6) on an airplane, and to some of the local attractions. Half-pint was really excited about going to the beach. In fact, that's all he talked about for months

(even before he knew we had a trip planned). Two days before we boarded the plane to head southwest, he finally asked me:

"Mom, what's Disneyland??? Is it the beach?"

I was driving and talking on the phone (with my blue tooth) when he asked;

"No, it's not the beach. We'll talk about it later."

"What's Disneyland, Mom?"

"It's where Mickey Mouse lives."

That's all I gave him...he was quiet for about a minute...you could tell he was processing, then...

"Yeah! I want to do that!!!"

Needless to say, we went to the beach, and Disneyland-twice...each! Despite the less than sunny weather, the kids had a GREAT time playing with their cousins. We wore the kids out everyday! The played HARD (we all did) and did really well overall! Half-pint had a difficult time with his listening skills the first day or two. On the second night, we had Chinese food-his fortune cookie said "It will profit you well to be a good listener this week." I about died-I couldn't believe how unbelievably appropriate it was.

When we got home from the airport, Quarter-pint crashed, with a soaring fever. I took him to Urgent Care, thinking it was strep (two of the cousins got step on the trip), but was shocked when they told me it was actually a double ear infection. He was a trooper-we didn't even know he was sick until we got home.

Half-pint Loves Cheesecake...

This afternoon, as I sat down at the computer to send a quick email, Half-pint intrrupted me... "Mom, can I have some ice cream?"

"No."

"What about a Popsicle?"

"No, I need to send ONE email, then I come help you...we'll figure something out."

"Okay." He sounded a little disappointed.

I finished composing the email and was working on the long address list when Half-pint came in again...

"Can I have some cheesecake???"

"No cheesecake. I'm almost finished, then I'll come help you."

Half-pint disappeared and I finished the email. When I got to the kitchen a minute or two later, I was shocked to see Half-pint with the remaining cheesecake (nearly half the cake) smothered an inch deep in NesQuik Chocolate granules (we're completely out of chocolate sauce, and he doesn't like cherries). He had to use a kitchen chair to get the NesQuik, which I intentionally keep out of reach, then drenched the cake in it and started to eat the center out of all the remaining pieces. I calmly and firmly told him to go to his room. To my astonishment, he actually obeyed with little fuss...I'm sure he knew he was busted!