Mental Junk

Well… it happened.

Cameron was at least shown how to open his bedroom door.  Nate?  No.  He figured it out on his own.

At 7 in the morning.

I thought I heard footsteps in the hall, so I checked on Cam – nope.  He was still in his bed.  Michelle got up to look down the hall and found a small little boy slowly creeping down the stairs.

Oh well.  We will miss the by-gone days of them staying where they were put.  It wasn't all too long ago he wasn't able to walk or even crawl.  So, if we put him on the floor, we knew he would be there for a while.

Fairwell peaceful nap time!

Fairwell restfull night sleep!

Is it wrong to put locks on their doors?   Hmmmm…..

It's amazing how quickly time passes.  It just seems like a few months ago Cameron went into his own bed and Nate went into the crib.

Tonight, both boys are in new beds.  Cameron is in a full sized single and Nate has his Cam's old Lightning McQueen bed.

Nate has been stubbornly gnawing at his food without teeth for too long.  He has finally broken his first tooth – at nearly 20 months old, this kid just doesn't like to do things normally.

With all of his health problems, we've been cautious about the lack of teeth, but his development has been delayed, so this could just be another delay.  We were told not to worry until he was two, xrays showed he had them, so not to worry.

Well, he's got his first tooth.  Hope the rest are on their way.

Last friday I picked up a gum ball machine for Michelle.  It needed (still needs actually) locks for each of the three units.  They don't hold together unless they are locked down.

To make them work, I manufactured a double-sided long nut to screw into the mounting pole and screw the lids into.

Short story long… we now have working gum ball machines!!  

uhhhh…… what do we do with them?

It's not something we're happy about, but it was bound to happen with two boys.  I'm surprised it's taken this long to happen since I keep finding pens around and I am continuously taking pens from the kids.  The offending child?  NATHAN!  The younger one.

It's a dry erase marker, but doesn't want to come off the wall.  The photo is after a washing attempt, so that gives you an idea how long this may stay around for.

Using the time off I've had over the past two weeks, I delved into a project that was needed for the boys.

There has been a (back?  side?) door that goes nowhere for years (the old stairs rotted away over a decade ago).  After we had the kids, Michelle and I have kicked the idea of wrapping the front porch around the side of the house to catch this lonely door.  However, this will require funds that we should spend elsewhere for the time being.

So, I have made a 'temporary' stand alone back porch that just exists from the unused door right into the backyard. I say temporary in quotes 'cause that usually means 'decade' or longer around here.

The rationalization I've been using to do this is the safety and convenience for the kids.  I don't want them to get into the backyard on their own through the workshop – nor do I want to make the shop kid-friendly.  That limits their backyard access to when Michelle and I are around.  I know this isn't an issue right now, but in a year or two, Cam should be able to head in and out on his own – as long as we know where he is.  Since it may take me that year or two to complete…. I'm right on track

Over the past few days we have seen the steady decay of his life, and this morning, he lost the battle.

We bought a Ghost Knife sometime in late 2004.  After some research, Michelle found that he was more likely to be an Albino Clown Knife because of his markings.

We bought him as a return from the store, so we don't really know his true age.  However, we do know that he had his share of fights, becuase he only had one eye when we got him.

Can I get a puppy now? 

My parents headed out to my sister's over the weekend and saw my niece and nephew for the first time since Christmas.  It was the first time we were able to exchange Christmas gifts.  It sucks being so far away sometimes, but it has been an eventful (and amazingly blessed) start to the year.

The boys received great new hats that they loved so much they wanted them at bedtime – Nate looked great in his Jester hat and Cam buzzed around his room as an airplane.

Thanks guys!!! 

As I am writing this, my 2 1/2 year old is bouncing around the house like a hopped up junkie.  Great way to start the day!

I
got up this morning and realized that both boys were still quiet and
still asleep, Michelle hasn't been sleeping well, so I decided to get
up and get ready quietly.  After my shower, I quietly got dressed and
opened our bedroom door.

As soon as I did – my stomach dropped.  Cameron's room was wide open and no one was there.  Dead silence.  Not good.

I
woke and told Mic then started to head towards Nate's room listening
for a boy about to get into trouble.  Nothing.  Nate is quiet.  So, I
started heading downstairs.

This is when thoughts of kidnapping, children wandering the streets at three in the morning, and —- OH MY!!! MY LAPTOP!!!
I passed the livingroom – the most inoccuous room he could be left
alone in – empty.   Drat.   Looking into the dining room, I see he has
set up his little chair and table like a tea party.  Awwww.  That's
cute….. still may have to kill him.  He's been here, though – and he
is quiet now.

Quick look into my office saved his life – no damage.  Laptop fine, all things good.  Now – to find him.

Heading into the kitchen I didn't see him at first.  The lower
cupboard was open (which opens right to the floor) and is half-hidden
by the kitchen island.  I was beginning to think he may be in the
basement – a place not in the least bit kid-proofed.  As I rounded the
island, however, I discovered the quivering, vibrating body of a child
on a major sugar rush.

"What are you doing?" I asked in my most stern of parent's voice.

"White pepper and peanut butter."

Oh, boy.  Don't laugh – he's in crap.  I brought him upstairs,
stripped the glazed clothes off his back and changed him.  All the
while, attempting to admonish his actions.  Now Michelle and I are
trying to figure out how to attach a bell to his door so we can hear
him leaving.

I still like my chain idea….

EDIT: My wife pointed out I never explained it properly – "white pepper" is sugar to Cameron.