Metamorphosis

I forgot to take a picture of the caterpillar we caught from our dill plant. He was the size of a rice grain when we brought him in and put him on display as our new pet. We were fascinated on how fast he grew and how much he ate. We had to clean out his glass castle everyday and give him fresh dill because he would eat it up. Mason enjoyed watching him and during nap time one day he turned into his chrysalis. Then this past Sunday when we got home from church we had a beautiful butterfly waiting for us. It was truly miraculous watching metamorphosis right before out eyes.

Offutt Air Show

We took Ellery and Mason to Offutt Air Force Base today for the air show. I'd like to say they were the most excited members of our family, but I would be telling a fib. Rob was the most excited to go and extremely excited to see the Blue Angels. He even planned our day out so that we wouldn't miss the jets allowing us to hit the parade and then head out to the air show. We learned from last year that Mason wasn't going to nap after consuming all that candy from the parade so might as well use that sugar high and see airplanes. We were amazingly surprised at how well the kids did. They did cry at first due to the loud jet engines, but settled in and loved watching the show. Ellery did her usual hushing with her finger to her mouth to tell us to listen because she hears an airplane. She did it more for the propeller planes rather than the jets. I think the internal humming you feel with the speed of the jets scared her more than the sound. Mason is a proud new owner of a miniature Blue Angel fighter jet and we think it was a good investment on our part.
Funny thing, we walked through an air force plane and I had no idea what it was, then I hear Rob talking to my dad and saying the actual name of the plane (C-17). Funny how things like that don't register or sink in with me, but Rob is on it. I am always amazed at how he can look at a plane and tell me what kind it is and I have a feeling I will have two experts rather than one.

Happy Birthday Hudson

Hudson is 7 years old today. I have threatened him many of times that I was going to take him to the pound and I can proudly say I haven't done that in so long that I can't remember the last time I told him. It makes me laugh to think we used to get him a doggie b-day cake and throw him a party and invite his dog friends over to play. What a hoot! I treat him like a dog now, but Rob still treats him like a child. I am very thankful that Rob brought the dog whispering ways into our home, that is why I don't threaten to take him to the pound anymore. I am sad to report that I never got him his bone a year ago, but this year we told Mason that it was Hudson's birthday and Mason instantly requested to get to eat some of his cake. I think he was disappointed to learn that we got Hudson a bone rather than a cake, but forgot the disappointment when we let him give the dog a bone.
http://chaplinclan.blogspot.com/2008/08/happy-birthday-hudson.html

Millard Day Parade

http://chaplinclan.blogspot.com/2008/08/millard-day-parade.html

We hit the Millard Day Parade again this year and Mason didn't need any instructions on picking up the candy. He did however stop going after it once he obtained a piece he felt was worth stopping for. He loves Tootsie Rolls, Little Dum Dums, and Twizlers. It was the same as last year except no one cried at clowns or loud bands, or cars. Ellery even enjoyed collecting candy and placing it in the sack. I think my goal next year is for them to obtain enough that I don't have to buy Halloween candy. We did get a hoot out of the Shriner's this year. I was fascinated by their tassels on their heads and I wonder why some tassels are longer than others and if it has any meaning. I still need to look that up. I also got a chuckle out of the tow truck named "Little Hooker". Is that really kid friendly? Something did put me over the edge and just didn't settle quite right. As they go by in the hearse with loud music playing Elvira, which gave me a short visual of them twirling the tassels, but it was short lived when I read what was written on the hearse. I leave you with a visual from the Shriner's along with a quote from them. "A Child's Smile Makes It All Worth While"

Ellery 18 month check-up

Ellery had her 18 month check up today and it proves she is finally growing. She checked out with good health. Her pain receptors are intact, she screamed after her shots. Although she didn't scream as long as Mason does so I think she is tougher. She is a wonderful little eater and it is finally starting to show.
Height: 33 inches 86%
Weight: 22lbs12oz 27%
Head Circumference: 46cm 35%
http://chaplinclan.blogspot.com/2008/01/18-month-check-up.html

Ellery 1.5 years old

I could have titled this "I love jelly and so does my daddy". I came around the corner this morning and was greeted by this face. Rob was feeding the kids breakfast and loaded down Ellery's toast with lots of jelly and she was loving every minute of it because daddy puts more on it than mommy. Rob likes to use the phrase "prove it" and I think I just did.
I can't believe when Mason was this age I was due to have this little peanut in a month. I also learned that I was a bit more vague on his monthly updates in describing what he was up to or able to do. I will try to do better with her, but I find that time just slips by and I do touch the accomplishments in other posts as well. Little Peanut isn't so little anymore and can take care of herself now. She loves putting her shoes on herself, doesn't matter if she is in her pj's or dressed for the day, she loves putting on her shoes and yours. She adores music, books, and dance. I will find her sitting quietly reading a book or singing a song to herself and if she sees anyone dancing or hears a good tune she will start to move. Her current favorite songs are Twinkle Twinkle, Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABC's, and You Are My Sunshine. She also loves the ABC books along with Barnyard Dance, Peek A Who, Brown Bear, The Very Busy Spider, Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Touch and Feel books. She is talking more and more and getting to where we actually understand more and more what she is saying. She loves to color yet she still feels the need to taste a lot of items including markers and crayons. She can climb the ladder to the play structure unassisted and go down the slide all by herself. I also let her climb up and down our stairs at home unassisted as well. She is becoming very independent and loves to help you cook or re-organize by getting into every drawer and cupboard. As I said I could go on and on. I could have wrote she is right on track with most 18 month olds and saved you all this reading, but now you know what 18 month olds like.
http://chaplinclan.blogspot.com/2008/01/mason-18-months-15-years.html

Mail

One loves getting the mail when you get a card unexpectedly, but getting something sparkly unexpectedly can make your day if not your month or possibly my year. I got home from vacation and had a pile of mail to go through, but I had a box to open. I of course rip into the box and find a beautiful white gold necklace with some sparkling diamonds on it from Papaw. One might ask why I received such a lavishing gift, but it is a just because gift. I love and adore my new necklace, it warms my heart and makes me smile. Thank you DAD!

ABC's

We have a new ABC singer in the house. She is a bit premature on her finishing with her clapping, but she does keep trying. I do find her singing Twinkle Twinkle more often, but she does like to sing. Her new favorite is You are My Sunshine.

Sunny Outside

I walk around the corner and find Mason and Ellery sitting in the chair together in peace. That is odd enough, but then Mason informs me it is too sunny outside.

Green Beans in Ears?

Rob and I leave Nana and go out and this is what she captures while we are gone. I have no idea what sparked this moment, but he seemed to enjoy it and I think it gave Nana a good chuckle. He looks so serious, I wish I knew what he was thinking.

Nana Visits

Nana came up for the weekend and boy was it a welcomed visit. I know we wore her out, but I was worn out from my late night toasting and jumping so I was in heaven when she took the kids in the morning and let me sleep in. She came bearing gifts and the kids are in heaven. I might have to start intercepting items at the door and save them for Christmas, they are that good of toys. She came with a talking robot that sings and teaches all sorts of things and a discovery view finder that also doubles as binoculars. Nana was even brave enough to venture to the store with Mason alone. She learned that you need to put him in the cart quick because he tends to latch onto items and repeat over and over that he either needs it or wants it. She came home with a Lightning McQueen pillow case that he talked her into. I am sure he said he needed it rather than wanted it. You have to watch those Nana's. She did also come home with a cake and fed it to Mason right before dinner. We attempted to feed him dinner and then Rob and I took off and left Nana to deal with the children sugared up. The sad part is that I don't think she learned not to do it again.

Friends

I wish I had some clever quote to give you regarding good friends. They are encouraging, cozy, intimate, comfortable, uplifting, refreshing amongst many other things, but these are just a few that come to mind quickly.
Kim and I planned ahead and called a baby sitter to come over at 8 am so we could go to a yoga class together we didn't plan our night before so well. I went to say goodnight to Rob last night and he asked what Kim and I were up to. I told him we were going to go drink wine, jump on the trampoline, and eat nutty bars and he looked at me with a funny face. Then he said seriously what are you guys up to and I replied with that is what we are going to do, and just that we did until 1 am. Luckily the kids were a bit worn out and slept until 7 am rather than 6, but I think the morning came quicker than we wanted. Kim did find herself rather funny when she high jacked my facebook account and wrote a Mandi is...... comment. I found myself equally as funny to do it back to her on her account. Interesting the things we find funny after a few glasses of vino.

Things to do with friends

Mason has had a great time playing with his new friend Cora. He hadn't seen her since his 1 year old birthday so they have had fun reacquainting themselves. They are having a great time together playing and invading personal space. I will fail to mention the sand in eyes incident and leaving red marks on her body from a hard body blow. Mortifying moments of being a parent, but does give your child a good learning experience. They have a long laundry list of things they had fun doing together, but just to give you a visual on a few:

Starting the day off together eating breakfast

Jumping on the Trampoline

Reading with Rob

Taking a Bath Together

Visit to the Zoo with Kim and Cora

My dear friend Kim is here visiting with her daughter Cora. We took them to the Omaha zoo and had a wonderful time with the kids. Cora and Mason had a good time sitting so cozy in the double stroller together, they had a great time crawling in and out to look at the exhibits. I think they could pass as twins. Ellery was happy as can be to be riding by herself in the single stroller. It did give me a glimpse of myself having 3 kids and I have to say it wasn't a bad vision. It helps that Cora is a good kid.
Mason learns or notices something new every time we visit the zoo. Today he learned to walk like a gorilla on his knuckles.

Worth Every Penny

The trampoline had been worth every penny. We are still going strong and jumping on it everyday. Ellery isn't as big a fan as Mason, but she does jump sometimes. Part of the reason might be due to the fact she is the only one Mason can double bounce. Mason is learning new tricks and getting more coordinated and controlled. He finally figured out he can jump and land on his bottom and then pop back up by putting his feet beneath him and keep going.

Big Boy Mason

We are pleased to announce we are wearing big boy undies at night now. It is official, we are done with diapers/pull ups. He traveled to South Carolina in big boy undies without any accidents and has been doing great. He has been dry in the morning for the past few weeks, but we didn't want to chance it while on vacation, but we finally took them away and wha la. He also has started going #2 on the real toilet and goes without being told. He has figured out the urge and I couldn't be prouder. I am also thrilled to have discovered flushable wipes, they are fantastic. We have had to change out the undies a few times in the past few weeks, but never enough to go through to his pants. It tends to be when he is really excited about a toy or in a large group playing and I don't give the extra nudge I know he needs.

Also, if Mason every starts a yard service we have the perfect marketing picture for him. He is all about safety in his safety goggles and asks you to try to poke his eyes while he is wearing them.

Little Shadow

I am going to go ahead and blog this before Rob does it for me. Rob corralled the kids upstairs to start getting them ready for bed and they both ran for our room. Mason got into our bed and positioned himself just so and put my eye mask on his face and said "I want to be mommy." If only my world were this surreal, but it seems my child thinks so.

Turtle Dove

Our newest member of the family showed up while we were vacationing on the beach. We got home late Sat. night and I was out watering my flowers on the deck when I was scared to death when a bird fluttered away. I got to looking closer and noticed she was sitting on her nest that she made in my herb garden hanging off the deck. Those babies are going to smell just like basil when they hatch and look so pretty garnished with parsley.

Camp Bow Wow

While we were gone Hudson went to Camp Bow Wow. It is a kennel that allows the dogs to go to doggie day care during the day. Hudson had to go for an afternoon to "try out" and I was sure he would come back with a less than average score, but he shocked me and got 4 out of 5 "tail wags". His passing grade allowed him to stay while we went to the beach. They even had a link you could go and visit so you could view your dog at camp bow wow and watch him play with others. Our internet at the beach house was a bit sluggish so we only viewed him once, but he seemed happy. He did come home tired as can be so that is a plus.

First Painted Finger Nails

While we were at the beach I painted Ellery's finger nails for the first time. It was the ugliest paint job I ever did, but it was also the cutest. It made me think of her as older with painted nails and she looked a bit daintier.