Last but definitely -

NOT least - A-Dog! Seriously - do you think he needs a hair cut? Good luck convincing him! We don't argue about hair. There are so many other things I can come up with to argue about, hair is not one of them.

A-Dog is not your typical almost teenager though. Yet. I'm sure we will be getting a nice dose of it soon enough, but for right now, we are going to sit back and enjoy this kid!

The boy has always loved baseball. LOVED IT. By 2 years old he was hitting pitches that were tossed to him, not just hitting off a tee. He could spend hours playing invisible baseball (where you throw air and subsequently catch air - and believe or not, it was possible to not be good at this game. Really.) It was an obsession and by the time he was 3 or so, figured out that Sportscenter was the best show on TV.

But now we spend the better part of our lives watching him play real baseball with an actual ball. He is loved by all his teammates and his coaches. He brings a positive attitude to this game that can often be frustrating. He pretty much plays year round with a few breaks here and there.

For as intelligent as A-Dog is (because he is in National Junior Honor Society, a gifted program at school and has never had anything but A's on report cards...see why I don't argue about hair???) the boy lacks common sense. I've always said it can't be taught, so trust me when I say, I stand by that statement.

I mean look what happened to him:

He nearly got eaten by a stuffed tiger at the Wildlife Museum.

And THEN....

he was taken out by an alligator...or is it a crocodile? I don't know- it all happened so fast! Thank goodness there was no blood! What a mess that could have been!

But truly, common sense is one of those attributes that he must have traded for good hair, or his awesome sense of humor. I think for now, it was worth it - but boy, it might prove valuable at some point in his life!

For now, we will just have to spell it all out for him and just not rely on him to get us out of a burning building or anything. We do have 3 other kids that could do that. As long as we all find our 'buddy', we should all make it out : )!

A-Dog, we enjoy you each and every day! Thanks for being awesome! I love your sense of (dry) humor and I love that you think I can be funny sometimes!  I love making you laugh and helping you find humor in life!  May you find success in all you do (remember our talk about what success is?). We love you! and...GO METS! GO THUNDERCATS!!!

He's one of a kind...

I've always said that "everyone should have one of these", ya know, an Agent P. Or, your own version of him.  He has 2 speeds. High.  And Off. That's it. Anything in between would be wasteful :- )! He is full speed from morning until whenever his body finally allows him to fall asleep. He talks constantly and it was no surprise to me that he started reading early (can sound out nearly any word he is presented) before his 5th birthday.

There is no reason everyone shouldn't be blessed with a kid like this. It is grounding and eye opening!  He loves every bit of life and loves it hard. He is rough on absolutely everything we own  - and things A-Dog had for 10 years have been known to disintegrate in his midst.

He is silly and goofy! This photo is him actually posing for it. This is an actual conversation I had with him this week.

As a premise to the conversation - we had just dropped of Alec's friend Nick after spending the afternoon at the County Fair. 

Agent P: I want a brother named Nicholas. A-Dog can I call you Nicholas?
A-Dog and Me: NO!
Agent P: Why not?
A-Dog: It's not my name.
Agent P: Mom, you need to pray REALLY hard to God.
Me: Why?
Agent P: So that he will give you another baby. It will be a brother and we will call him Nicholas.
Me: That's not going to happen sweetie, so let's just pretend Nicholas is our other brother.
Agent P: OK.

Tip of the ice berg I tell you. I could go on and on about conversations that I have with this kid and not a one of them did I actually come out the 'winner'. We go round and round and he just wears me down :- ).

I can tell you tho, I do win the conversations about getting another sibling. One day he asked me if Target sold older sisters because he'd like to get one of those too. Honestly, don't we have enough people in our family?? I decided today that is why God blessed him with twin siblings - one would have NOT been near enough for him! It is pretty much a tag team situation at my house where Agent P goes from one person to another until each person just can't take it any more :- )!

I would not change a thing about him tho. The kid is amazing, and sweet, and full of life. He takes our days to a level we would never accomplish without him!!

Agent P - you are a masterpiece that God has big plans for!  Never change for anyone :- )! We love you! We can't wait to celebrate your 5th Birthday next month!!!

This handsome boy...

has 3 great loves. His trucks, his blankie and his Daddy. Anyone who knows us, knows that I am a sad sad substitute for when this boy wants his Daddy. I get it, Daddy is awesome :- ) Plus, I have 3 others if I needed to feel loved and that works out...sometimes :- )

Monkey has started talking just as much as his sister. I have been known to carry on multiple conversations at one time with several kids. So far, I have not promised anything I didn't remember promising :- ).  They will gang up on me in a few years tho!  Monkey has a unique way of talking and you really have to work hard to understand him.

On many, many words - he leaves off the first letter or 2. Like "ampa". That's "Grandpa". Not too tricky, right? Then there is "ailer" (trailer), "yap" (lap) etc. Here, now you try:

"ocks". Ok, I know. That's a hard one. It could be rocks, socks, clocks, and the list goes on. You can see how the day can be frustrating for the poor boy!!! His mama just shouting out rhyming words until he agrees.  And it's not like you can repeat "ocks" and call it good. Oh no. He is waiting for 'word repeat recognition'. Oh joy. But success is sweet!

I really love it when he says 'thanks' to anyone.  Very slowly he will say "thanks" makes a pause "mooommmm" or "sis" or "daaadddd" or whomever he is thanking. It is sweet as pie and I melt every time!

• 
  
  He is fierce and loves to roar like a 'scary monster' and chase his brother and sister around the house while they scream "let's get out of here!"
• 
  
  He is never far from a truck, trailer, train, monster truck, car, airplane..you get the idea. he even has several in bed with him to play with if he can't sleep or wakes up early.
• 
  
  Loves on his blanket every chance he gets by sticking it in his mouth. (ya, I know, EW).  I wash it as frequently as I can get it away from him, but within hours it is back to the eye watering, nasty smell.
• 
  
  Has the most insanely funny laugh that none of his siblings can mimic (tho they try). It's almost as tho he sucks air in while he laughs instead of breathing out. How he doesn't hyperventilate, I don't know!
• 
  
  Decided he wanted to get potty trained one day (3 weeks ago) and refused a diaper, but couldn't figure it out himself. So he spent 3 days (3 very dark days for me) - and then VIOLA! On a Friday afternoon, emptied his bladder, the light went ON and has been golden since then. They both do diaper at nap and night - but that's IT! YAAAY!
• 
  
  Thinks that he should have anything someone else has. As he says "I had it first". Gee, wonder where he learned that line?
• 
  
  Calls out every semi truck, trailer, tractor, truck with a hitch, RV, etc - while we are driving. Our driving conversations are very exciting like that. The kid could spend the day at a truck stop and not be happier!
• 
  
  He loves to feed the dog, ride his tricycle and play outside.
• 
  
  He doesn't like to have 'stuff' on his hands or fingers and requires getting washed up if this occurs.
• 
  
  Ironically, he is far pickier of an eater than his sister. His size is deceptive :- ) While he never passes up any sort of dessert, he often doesn't eat much dinner. He loves 'ocolate' ice cream (chocolate) from the DQ :- )
• 
  
  He loves his sister and talks to her all the time!

Even on the trampoline at Aunt H's house! (don't you love the static hair???)

He is so sweet and so tender and shy in so many situations. Once he is out of his shell, he is funny and personable and chatty. We would not change one second of having twins in our family. Not one second.

We love you Monkey!

This sweet girl -

is certainly one of a kind! At nearly 2.5 (6 weeks out) she is such a joy and her large personality can hardly be contained in her petite little body. She warms my heart each day and never fails to make me smile!

She has been known to say more than her fair share! Lately I've heard her say:

"I don't sink (think) so mommy" (when I tell her it's time to clean up)
"Oh, Daddy is at work sweetie" (to Monkey when he is asking for Daddy)
"Mommy this dinner is 'alicious'  "(delicious)
"Be quiet Monkey - I'm trying to sleep!" (she doesn't cal him Monkey, but you get the point)

She speaks in full articulate sentences and loves to talk. All. Day. Long.

• She doesn't run, she sort of hop/skips as she "runs"l!
• She loves to sleep and never complains about going to bed! When she wakes up from her naps, she will just pick up a book and read and rarey lets me now she is awake. (Her brother has that job covered)
• As of today's nap - she has a bed full of 10 board books and about 10 friends (babies, bears etc) :- )
• She eats nearly everything that we give her.
• She has been potty trained for about 6 months - but has random accidents when she's too busy playing - or doesn't get a nap :- ).
• She loves to have her hair done with "pretties and clippies"
• Loves her blanket - the one with the tag she can suck on (eeeww)
• She is a sweet girl and when the boys aren't paying attention in the morning, she'll sneak up on her daddy's lap for a little snug :- )
• She can scream louder and more ear numbing than anyone I know.
• She can throw a fit, and then put herself in timeout for doing so.
• She is colorful top to bottom. Loves hats, sun glasses, other people's shoes..

Without this sweet girl we would not be blessed with a girl, since she is the only one! We love you Mini P!

My fly swatter

(If you love flies, you should not read this. If you opposed to getting rid of flies inhumanely, you should not read this. Close your browser now.)

 A while back, I got a new fly swatter. The kind that electrocutes the nasty little buggers. I know, PETA will be after me for this post, but honestly, they are annoying. Simply swatting them just wasn't enough satisfaction for the aggravation that it was causing me. Out here where I live, we get the flies that dive bomb and disappear, spending hour torturing me. They are ridiculous creatures that have no business bothering us! 

Well, it didn't last a full season because A-Dog just couldn't accept that they would die by simply being touched by the racket (yes, it was a racket - somewhat bigger than a ping pong racket). He insisted on swatting and frequently a bit too hard. The zapper died...

It was Fall when that happened and the zapper had to be tossed into the garbage, much like the dead fly carcasses. Being that it was Fall, no one was selling this seasonal item. I had to settle for a basic, plastic swatter.

This is the best swatter I have owned since my zapper!  Not for its swatting abilities (although it is far more durable than I could have imagined! It is made of rubber maybe? Like tire tread perhaps...), but for the entertainment the packaging has brought!

It's called 'Sergeant Swat'.  Here are some items listed on the packaging:

888 Civilian Uses - Here are 8
1. Keep it in the truck for the winter and use it as a windshield scrapper
2. For those that don't mind spreading a little bug shrapnel, try it as a back scratcher
3. Emergency toothpick (works well, don't let your wife catch you)
4. Canoe paddle, never know when you'll be up that creek without a real one
5. Makes a good fish club
6. Beer can crusher
7. Redneck badminton
8. Manual mouse-trap

Caution:

• While sergeant swat is effective on most campsite pests; it has been shown to only annoy bears.
• Meant for backyard warfare between you and the flies-not your neighbors or dogs.
• Keep away from unruly kids (unless you like getting thwacked) 

So, as it comes in to fly season here, I will be using my new Sergeant Swat fly swatter. It is a sad replacement for the sweet device that sparked each time I successfully annihilated a fly. But, hopefully it will accomplish the task at hand...getting rid of the flys.

Those creatures at the mall....

Have ya'll really thought about this before?? Ya know, you go to the mall during a random season and there is usually someone that is dressed up in an incredibly hot suit that depicts some fictional character. I've often wondered what type of person is under the Bunny suit or the Santa get-up and did he really pass a back ground check? Do they have finger prints on file? Is it someone's gramma - or someone I'd rather not try to picture? Have you considered this?

This time of year it is the Bunny. The Bunny has to be one of the worst ones! First, they have to be hot - and not to mention sweaty. Ew! Then, they have this permanent "look" on their face (really, it's their mask). The whole idea freaks me out. Then to toss a kid or two on his lap for a photo...it's just too much for me!

I think that A-Dog has exactly 1 Santa picture and 1 Bunny picture. He's 12. Agent P has ZERO. He's very smart and realized that it was not a good idea to sit on their lap.  The twins have 1 Santa picture, only because the photo was done at A-Dog's school and I knew who was under the "Santa" outfit.

I have not pushed any of the make believe characters (tooth fairy, Santa, Bunny, etc). I just figure, WHY? They all just cost me money. Plus, I get no credit for any of the items these people bring - and trust me, I need all the credit I can get. I am always bucking for some extra "points" around here! :- ).

If there is an off chance I'm going to get a decent photo of my kids - I'm going to be sure that it is with someone they love. I will have lots of opportunity this weekend as we have our...er, uh...9th (is it 9th or 10th? Not sure...) annual Cousin's Easter Eve.

Saturday will be spent with many cousins, aunts, uncles, grammas and grandpas. We cannot wait! Here we will spend time reconnecting, chatting, eating, drinking and celebrating the true meaning of Easter. (not the Bunny).

Thank you Jesus for giving your life for us, so that we may have ours. You have blessed me with an amazing family! Thank you for allowing us to celebrate YOU together!

Happy Easter All!!!

Cheers!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

No, not mine. Nor anyone else's in MY house. But these 2 cutie pies...

are in their room, (2 hours after nap time started), yelling (at the top of their lungs) to each other "It's my Birthday!!!" and then I hear "No sissy, it's MY birthday" followed by "NO, it's MY Birthday".  They have yet to sleep. I hate these no-sleep days, but I digress because the main point is - IT IS NOT THEIR BIRTHDAY. Not today, not for 8 more months. This has been an ongoing argument for the last few days.  Why they think it's their birthday....I'm pretty sure I'll never know.

I really needed naptime to be quiet today. I need to recharge my patience and my stamina (because Monkey is potty training, but that is a WHOLE other post). To reset myself to get thru the rest of the day...what I needed was to have quiet. I'm not getting that today I'm guessing.

Later, they won't be cute like this...

Or this...

They will be over tired. Cranky. Weepy. Mean to each other. And probably will be spending some time crying about nothing (or that it isn't their birthday).

Oh, and by the way, Agent P informed me after Preschool on Tuesday that he wanted to have his birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese's. I'd like to know who told him about that place. I do my best to make our kids believe that birthday parties are at HOME. I have about 6 weeks to re-convince him of that. :- )

What is it with my kids and their desire to have their birthday?

Cheers!