Just hangin' around

Ummm...what did you say?

So the other night I was putting burrito to bed. It had been a long day of school for him and in his own words, "he was beat."

School nights are always interesting around here. At first, burrito is like an explosion of energy, I think a result of being confined to a structured environment all day at school. Then he is ravenous, eating anything in sight, and he is usually not a very good eater. Then comes the meltdown....total exhaustion causes zero self control, which materializes as mean behavior towards A, talking back to us, and just general total meltdowns. Bedtime cannot come soon enough.

And on school days, burrito always surprises me with something new that he says that I have never heard him say before. There are usually two or three new phrases each day he goes to school that I notice that evening when he is home.

Well, on Monday the Bible story at school was about Adam and Eve and their sin in the garden. Burrito and noodle both know this story very well and when asked why Jesus had to die on the cross they will respond, "because they (Adam and Eve) ate the bad tree (fruit)." We have spoken of the snake and maybe we have even mentioned that this was the devil but for whatever reason, we have never spoken of the snake as "Satan." Well, that is the one detail burrito picked up from the story that day. He proudly told me that the snake was Satan.

So, he is climbing up into bed that night and I am closing the curtains and getting everything set for bed. He is trying to lug this huge bear that used to be mine up in bed with him. I named the bear "Brown Sugar" as a child but burrito and I have many times argued over whether his name is Brown or Black Sugar. Burrito just doesn't get that there is no such thing as black sugar!

So with my back turned to him, I hear him say, "Come on Satan. It's time for bed." I spin around and ask him to repeat what he just said. Again, he says, "Come on Satan. It's time for bed."

Okay, I can live with the name Black Sugar, but Satan?!??! No way! I tell him that he cannot name the bear Satan and he just smirks and says, "Yes, his name is Satan."

No, I will not have my son going to bed with Satan! I haven't heard him say it again.....

The Gators

For Burrito's 3rd birthday we (collectively as an extended family as this thing is not cheap) purchased the BEST present ever....

a John Deere Gator.

Seriously, if you are looking for a toy that will provide hours (and I mean hours!) of enjoyment, can stand up to rough and tumble preschool boys, and also comes in quite handy for hauling mom and dad's stuff too, then this is the toy for you. John and I both agree on this. Out of all the things we have bought for our two boys (and we've had it all thanks to garage sales), this is by far the best thing ever!

We liked this Gator first because it is made by Peg Perego and they have a great line of baby/toddler products. Now, I am one of those moms that obsesses (yes, I can admit that) over buying the best for my kids, of course within a reasonable price limit. The product must have great reviews, be reasonable in price and must last a long time or I just won't buy it. I guess that's my business background coming through. I appreciate a good investment. Or maybe it's just the fact that we're income challenged (that sounds better than poor, doesn't it?). So, we knew we wanted a ride-on that met those qualifications at the minimum. We liked the Gator because it has 2 seats, so both boys could enjoy it at the same time (minimizing the squabbles is a good thing). We liked the idea of Burrito being able to haul his "stuff" in the back. And we've hauled sod, dirt, and other yardly items back there too!

So we were so excited to give this to Burrito on his 3rd birthday. And wouldn't you know, it just had to snow outside....in April....on his birthday. Nevertheless, I think it was a hit. At least it was with Burrito. Noodle was a little nervous about Burrito's driving skills, can you tell???

So, a year and a half later, it is still so popular that when John and I saw the John Deere tractor for sale nearby (thanks craigslist!), we had to get it for Noodle (well actually my mom did, thanks Mimi!). It has been so fun to watch the two of them riding around together and they just love it!

And after having the tractor for several months now, Noodle realized last week that he has the skills to drive the big gator as well.

And then check out what the two of them discovered they can do....

Riding halfway on the curb the stretch of our yard. They were laughing hysterically and my "don't do anything to get hurt" mommy instinct wanted to tell them to stop, but I just couldn't. And honestly, they weren't doing anything that was going to harm them or the gator....they are both too tough for that!

So if you have a preschool boy you need to go buy a Peg Perego John Deere Gator now!!! And no, I have not been paid to say that!

Our visit to Baby E....

Well the boys and I made it out to see our new friend baby E. She was very sweet and the boys loved her. Congratulations M and K!

I had the distinct privilege of answering 101 questions about babies, how babies are born, how babies get in your belly and why are they at the hospital on the 45 minute trip over. While I appreciate my 4 year old's inquisitiveness, whew, I had to drink in an extra dose of patience (that translates to more coffee!).

Welcome Baby E!

Our wonderful friends M and K are at the hospital waiting to deliver their sweet baby girl! M called this morning to say that K was in labor and should be delivering by lunch today! Yeah! We can't wait to meet her!
When Burrito heard John talking to M this morning on the phone, he excitedly told us that he wanted to see the baby "pop" out of her belly. Then, quizically, he looked at me and asked "How does a baby pop out of your belly?"

No comment....

Pictures to follow soon we hope!
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*Update*
Well, that little stubborn baby E didn't "pop" out until 4:54p this afternoon! We were so glad to get an update tonight from the proud papa and the boys and I plan on heading over in the morning to meet her. Sweet little Noodle, my baby lover, desperately wants to hold her but I have explained the hands off rule for now. He would make a great big brother, *hint, hint.* We'll post pictures tomorrow of our new sweet friend!

More fun....

I really would like to hire a lawn service.

It's not that my husband doesn't do a good job, in fact he does a great job, it's just that lawn work takes away from my time with him. I don't expect that to make much sense to you. It's sounds a little obsessive and maybe over the top. I know it sounds that way, but I assure you it's not. I am an independent person. I can do most things all by myself. I am pretty self-sufficient. If I don't know how to do something, I can probably figure it out. I'm okay with being by myself. My melancholy personality demands it at times. So it's not that I need my husband to be around all the time, it's just that I prefer him to be around at all times.

If you don't know our "story" then you might not know that we spent most of our dating/engagement time in different time zones. He was in Philadelphia and I was here. I tell him that this time apart has traumatized my spirit. :)

Anyways, that was a really long story to introduce and explain to you our little "lawn work" tradition. This tradition was created in part due to my disdain for lawn work and the fact it normally means that I am stuck inside with the boys while John mows outside.

Our tradition is this: the boys think it is hysterical when John pretends to chase them with the lawn mower. John will be mowing along minding his own business pretending not to notice the boys, when suddenly he veers from his mowing path and chases the boys with the lawn mower.

Now don't worry, we are responsible. John does not get too close and I am always watching the boys to make sure they don't get hurt. In fact, if you were to witness this event, you would see me running with the boys, away from the lawn mower. This just makes it all the more hysterical to them.

Fun times with a 4 and 2 year old son! And check out that grass! Way to go hunny!

We've been busy...

Okay, so it's been like 5 days since I've posted on my blog. I get so mad when I go to check one of my favorite blogs and the blogger hasn't posted anything new. I mean, come on, your readers are waiting! Well, now I know why you can't blog something everyday. Too much stuff goes on!

But....I have been thinking a lot about my blog these past few days, being more purposeful in remembering things to write about and taking pictures! That's what I love the most about this blogging adventure of mine. It is making me (at least for the time being) enjoy and remember more moments in life.

So what's been going on with the Rutherfords you ask? In no particular order....drum roll please....

First and foremost, finishing our kitchen/dining room disaster. Remember my blog about removing wallpaper. Well, I think we finished with decent results except for one small accident...

Is that premature graying you ask? Well, not exactly....more like Behr "Gobi Desert" paint right in the hair!

Such a good sport about it! I think by this point we were just delirious from lack of sleep and paint fumes! So this is how we spent our Labor Day weekend.....working! But, we are happy with the finished product and as soon as everything is finished, I will post some pics of how it looks.
The boys and I needed a break from all that work yesterday so we headed out to one of my most favorite places on earth....the zoo! Some of my very earliest memories are those of my family at the zoo. We have this great tradition of taking our picture by the "picture tree" every year. The picture tree is this huge cottonwood tree that has been there forever! My parents have pictures of me and my sister by this tree when we were babies through our teenage years.
So, being the traditionalist and sentimentalist that I am, of course, we have continued the tradition with our kids. Here are burrito and noodle as babies in front of the picture tree.

burrito was 6 months old here

Here is noodle, just 2 weeks old, in the carrier and burrito "driving" the old double stroller

Then much to my horror (why didn't they warn me before this happened...I mean...don't they know my tradition?) on a recent visit earlier this year, we expectantly walk up to the picture tree to document one more year of great zoo memories and this is what we find:
They chopped the thing down! I was crushed! I literally had to hold back the tears (I know, I know, it's just a tree). But, ha, we will not just let this tradition end. We will still take pictures, just now the tree is a stump!

So, I searched online and came up empty handed as to why the tree was chopped down. I was thinking maybe it got too big and too old and became a danger or something???? I don't know...does anyone out there know the story? If so, please share with this tradition loving tree mourner! :)
So the boys had a great time at the zoo (and truthfully, so did I!) in part because there was no one there! I think going to the zoo the day after Labor Day was ingenious on my part (yes, let's just pretend I planned it that way!) because I think they all went on Monday and had to go back to work on Tuesday. We had the whole zoo to ourselves and finally got to enjoy the new penguin exhibit that is usually so crowded, we just zip right by. And good timing too, as the zookeeper was feeding them fish for lunch. We ended the day with a trip on the train, and because we were the first in line (and the line only included about 5 people!), burrito's wish finally came true! He always wants to ride at the very end of the train but we have never been able to (I guess that's a popular choice). So yesterday was his day!



Like I said, we've been very busy around here and believe it or not, I have more to share....more stories and more pictures....but I think I will save those for another day.