3.5

Today, Drew is three and a half years old.

It's not that big of a deal, I suppose.

It's not like we had a party. Or cake. Or even ice cream.

But I guess it's the realization that tomorrow, he'll be closer to four years old than he was to three.

And that's significant.

Because my baby

definitely isn't a baby anymore.

On the Road Again

Remember this?

Today was the sequel.

The boys and I were on the road again today, headed to Minnesota because I just couldn't stand another day away from my new baby niece.

And, minus Barney and torrential downpour, it was almost an exact replay of last summer's travel adventure!

This time, we got hung up in road construction on both I-80 and I-35 (nothing like matching bookends for our journey!).

But this time, this mama got smarter.

I created my own detour...twice...and after it rained Cheerios inside the van, the seatbelt was colored with red-orange crayon, and I flipped an illegal u-turn, we pulled into Grammy and Papa's driveway in 8 hours and 45 minutes.

This mama is going to be even smarter next time...and choose an entirely different road!

For the record, the Imagination Movers make the final, trying two hours of a long car ride much more bearable.

And arriving to meet this little face....

...made every delay and detour totally worth it!

Toy Story Marathon

Or should I say triathlon???

After going to the movie in the park last Thursday night, and wanting to take Drew to the theater to see Toy Story 3, I decided why not make a little Buzz and Woody movie marathon out of it?

Because, after you see the first one, and before you see the third one, you must watch the second one! It only makes sense, right?

Toy Story, viewed 7/15/10, Mineral Springs Park

Toy Story 2, viewed 7/18/10, at home

We don't own either movie (maybe a three-pack to be sold sometime around Christmas?), so we borrowed this from friends.

Those previews are exhilarating!

Much better!

The credits were even something to watch...or, more accurately, a new way to stall on going to bed!

Toy Story 3, viewed 7/19/10, Kerasotes Theater here in town

This wasn't Drew's first time at the theater. Friends of ours took him after his third birthday party, which was very kind but unexpected. I really wanted to be the first to take Drew to a movie, so in my mind, this was his first trip to the theater!

I think he liked it. :)

Drew tells me we have to go see Toy Story 4 now.

Adelynn Marie

So, what was this picture from last week's POTDs all about?

I didn't want to share when I posted because I wanted to be sure the good news calling tree had made the rounds and that our family was learning the news from the appropriate people.

So why was the phone so significant on Saturday???

Because we spent all day just waiting for it to ring already!

We were waiting to hear the really good news...

and finally...finally...the phone rang at 9:35pm.

It's a girl!

Welcome to the world, Adelynn Marie Clifton!

Drew and Reed's newest cousin was born 7/17/10 at 8:33pm
7 lbs 11oz, 20.5 inches

Mom and Dad with baby Addy.

Sweet, sweet Addy. The first Clifton granddaughter.
You're a special one, sweet girl.
So, so special.

Picture of the Day, Week 28

Drew and I made Rainbow Pudding Pops on Saturday and pulled them out of the freezer today. Aren't they so cute? And they were really good, too! :)

Macho, macho men.
Reed has learned where his tummy is, and apparently Drew likes to encourage the learning.

Minnesota blood runs deep.
It was a coincidence that two of us wore our Twins shirts today, but it totally was on purpose that the third one did, too!

Brad and I had a semi-date night tonight, which involved a trip to Best Buy. We've been thinking about and researching buying a new camera. Our point-and-shoot is several years old and just surpassed the 11,000 picture mark. I've been wanting one of these for a while, and tonight, I became an official owner of a Nikon D3000 SLR camera.
I'm in love.

Thursday nights during the summer, the park district hosts a free movie at one of our parks. Tonight, it was Toy Story, so the four of us packed up our lawn chairs and snacks and headed out to the park. Drew was enthralled (even though he's seen the movie a handful of times), and because it was a late night, Reed fell asleep before the movie was half over. It was a gorgeous evening and a fun family night out.

A new stall tactic.
Luci has become less and less willing to go into her kennel whenever the boys and I may head out during the day. Today, when I told her it was time to get in her kennel, she stopped by the patio door, and so to prevent any messes, I thought it best to let her out before I locked her up. Well, the smart pooch is catching on. When I looked out to see what was taking her so long, I found this.
Well played, Luci. Well played.

I'll explain this one later.

Grumpy Is as Grumpy Does

So, as you know, we go to the library on Tuesday mornings for story hour minus the actual story hour since all Drew wants to do is the art project, check out new books and come home. We usually end up picking out 4-5 books to bring home for the week, and just like a kid, both of us usually pick the books based on their covers.

I know, I know, don't judge a book by it's cover. But c'mon, you know you do the same thing. Especially with children's books. Good illustrations make for 90% of the reading experience!

I digress. Anywho, sometimes, regardless of the cover art, the book ends up being a dud. Newsflash: not all books are, well, that great. Some are quite dull, actually. Out of the 4-5 that we bring home, one, maybe two, are worth reading over and over and over again. And Drew will be sure to let you know which one that is. :)

This week, though, we picked up a great book. So great that I ask Drew if we can read it over and over and over again!

This baby should be a children's classic.

First of all, check out that illustration. Just begging to be read, right? (The illustrations on the inside are just as vibrant and fun. Click here to check them out.)

Second of all, you know what that birdie wants to do with that lip, don't you???

And lastly, the storyline is classic and oh-so-true! It goes through all the things that a kid might be grumpy about (like waking up on the wrong side of the bed, being touched by your brother/sister, having your gravy touch your peas, etc, etc, etc) and concludes with the "worst" reason of all.

Now you know I can't give that away. I want you to go read this book!

I think this book resonates more with me than with Drew. He's not so much in the grumpy stage of childhood, but it's one that I clearly remember when I was a kid.

And I'm pretty sure my parents remember, too.

Right, Mom? Dad?

Busy Body

He flits

and flutters

from

here

to

there

until

he finally

crashes.

Rainbows & Clowns

I try to be Supermom.

I pull it off in about one in a gazillion tries.

Every other time, I just fake it.

Or steal it from a real Supermom. :)

On Saturday, we set out to make popsicles (another check off our Summer List!). My original plan was to freeze kool-aid in those plastic popsicle makers. Then I found these pudding pops and had to try them instead!

Here was our process...

Mix pudding in bowl following package instructions.

Add food coloring.

Make level layers of each color in small disposable cups (these are 3oz bathroom cups). (We ran out of colors, so our last cup is only a three color rainbow.) Insert popsicle sticks.

Freeze.
We made them after dinner on Saturday, so we had to let them freeze overnight before we could devour them.

Waa-laa!
Rainbow Pudding Pops!

They're as big as your head!

And good enough to share.

An added bonus: clown lips!

Easy peasy, and oh so good!

Picture of the Day, Week 27

Family time, glow sticks, games, and fireworks made our Fourth of July fantastic!

Papa and Drew playing catch during my Monday night softball games.

We spend Tuesday mornings at the local library's story hour (minus the actual story hour as *someone* just wants to "do the art project, get new books, and go home.") Drew loves books, and Reed is just starting to bring me a book and sit in my lap for me to read it to him. I hope the love of books and the love of learning follows them into adulthood.

Superheroes in training.
"Faster than fast" Lightening McQueen + superhero capes = two super speedy Superboys!


Learning to pedal!


Friday {7.9.10}
Brad spent the day in Silvis, IL attending day 2 of the John Deere Classic. No phones or cameras were allowed on the course, so I'll be pulling online images to make some kind of collage for today's photo. Brad followed many players, including Zach Johnson, Steve Stricker, Kenny Perry, Davis Love III and Boo Weekley. And as a bonus, he ran into KJ Choi in the parking lot and got his autograph.

Look who's 16 months old!