A Red Head and a Sleepy Head

I love my bird feeder. My brother got it for me for Christmas, and I have it hanging so it's in view when I'm standing at my kitchen sink. I find myself looking at it often...I'm obsessed with it. I love watching birds...they are so fascinating. I want them all here, in my yard, feasting, drinking. Hey, I provide. Feed them, and they will come... Lately, I believe deer have been eating every last seed at night. I can  fill it up after work, see a few birds nibble here and there,  and by morning the seed is gone. Gone, I tell ya! The suet cakes are still there...and today, for the first time, a red-bellied woodpecker came to peck. I've had hairy or downy woodpeckers, but never the red-bellied. With a red head. Confusing!

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Ethan's bedtime ritual...well, has changed. And it's ok. It works for him to have his closet light on and show me tractors in his little book. But tonight, he was awake longer than I thought in his little bed after I walked out...and later I heard his barefeet pitter-pattering around on the wood floors upstairs...(just love that sound), which meant he was wide-awake, and not in bed. I gave him a few minutes, because I knew exactly what he was up to. He crawled into our bed, shimmied himself perfectly under the covers, and laid down and drifted off to sleep. In my spot.

No flash used, just my one-bulb closet light, and no baby toddler was woken up by the picture-taking.

It's late.
Off to bed.
Sweet dreams!

Baby Ofay

Ethan is attached to this newborn Cabbage Patch Kid I had when I was much younger in my years. He totes "Baby" all over the house, to grandma's, in all its nakedness glory, and will sleep with it. I don't mind...not one bit. It's cute, actually. For now. We named the baby "Baby Ofay" (read: Oh-fay), since that is how Ethan pronounced his name. But now he says "Ethan", and I missed hearing "Ofay", so that is how Baby became Ofay.

So here is Ethan giving Baby Ofay his nukie this morning. Awww...

Then he realized Ofay would have nothing to do with nukie, so he popped it back into his own mouth.

When does it stop?

As the momma of two boys...one two and the other 5....when does it stop? The hitting, the pinching, the times where the oldest thinks "you're playing nice and I'm going to walk by you and take something or push you", the times where the youngest just wants to be close to his older brother so he lays right on top of him? I see magical times where they get along so well...I think 'this is it. Here we go...the start to being friends.' Then it starts all over again. I know it's in them, I've witnessed it. I just want more of it!

Here we are...tonight. They were goofing off on the couch...and I had Ethan say sorry to Austin.



Then Ethan pretended to be asleep.
Stinker!

Whole Wide World

Love....

Mr. Squirrel and...

Sunday was a gray, gloomy day here. Just yuck. Ethan crawled into bed with me while I was sleeping around 7am and snuggled in close and we slept that way for 3 wonderful hours, waking our bodies up at 10am. A little slice of heaven...sleeping in. The weather demanded it. We climbed out of bed, made our way downstairs, and I made Edna Mae's Sourcream Pancakes. It's the only pancake recipe I'll ever use. Ever! (The link will take you to another blog that talks about them, and has the recipe.) I showered, got the boys ready, and we headed to Point for the afternoon.

First stop, Rocky Rococo. Can't justify not stopping there when I'm in town. So, as we pulled out, Mr. Squirrel apparently couldn't pass up a stop to Rocky's either.

It's a rather disgusting photo, but kinda cute at the same time.

We met up with my parents...then ventured to Culver's where we met up with Nicole and her boys. Some indulging in sundaes may have occurred, but I'm not telling. Here are a few quick pics of the boys...if only they'd act this nice the entire time we're in a restaurant!

Yes, I know. He's two and still has "Nukie". On my list...



Then back to Mom and Dad's for spaghetti and a quick visit with my brother and his girlfriend. Ethan was just giddy and quite kooky with both of them...not sure what was up with that.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY:
Outside my window...darkness.
I am thinking…that Spring cannot come fast enough!
I am thankful for…the longer days.
From the kitchen…Sour Cream Noodle Bake from the Pioneer Woman. Love.
I am wearing…velour lounge pants and a white v-neck t shirt.
I am creating…a SMARTboard unit for a class I'm taking.
I am going…to have a great vegetable garden this year. Hear that, rabbits? No peas for you this year!!!
I am reading…Sink Reflections.
I am praying…for those living the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The men, women, children, animals...and their help. They have been on my mind.
I am hearing...the fan on my computer and the noisy keys. Silence.
Around the house…a mess clutter. Note to self, read more Sink Reflections and get going!
One of my favorite things…My new Ketti Handbag. Cannot wait to use it!!
A few plans for the rest of the week…a haircut. Bangs, or no bangs? That is the question...Also get together with 3 girlfriends Friday night for dinner and watch our 9 kids play together. Should be interesting. Run around the house with a bag and declutter. Again, Sink Reflections.

This post is linked to The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Caps For Sale

All last week Austin's 4K class was celebrating Read Across America in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday. This week they asked for volunteers to come into their classroom and read a book. I fortunately had Friday off, so I asked if I could come in then and read. We settled on 2:25pm...and Austin chose three books and we'd go from there.

Ethan accompanied me to Austin's class, and stood by my side the entire time.

I started by reading Caps For Sale, the same copy my parents read to me from. My favorite. One of Austin's many favorites. The kids laughed. I had so much fun.

I proceeded with Rattletrap Car,

then finished with Elmer.

I was done, but the kids were not. There was a boy who wanted me to read 26 more books. Haha...
I'm sure someday I'll be back, kiddo.