A few things

It seems we have a nudist in our midst. Tralee has been removing several items of clothing (diaper included) and running around bare-bummed. It's cute until she stops and decides to "relieve" herself. I'm not a fan of the clean-up duty. We're working on keeping the diaper on.

Tralee also discovered a pair of bright pink shoes in my closet. They're her new favorite accessory. Or. . . if she's running around as described above her ONLY accessory. I was laying in bed with my eyes closed (trying to get a little rest before #2 arrives) when I heard clickity-clunk clickity-clunk clickity-clunk chiming down the hallway. I got up to investigate and saw Tralee walking around in my bright pink shoes. The other day I also noticed Kitty laying on a chair with her two back paws placed in the pink shoes. I walked around the house and noticed that one of Tralee's bears was also sporting some of my flip-flops. Heaven forbid her stuffies go bare foot. Yet, it's fine if Tralee runs around in nothing at all.

I've decided that not very much makes sense when you're dealing with a two-year-old, but it's sure fun to see what they come up with next.

Fove

I went to the doctor yesterday morning while Jim stayed behind and watched Tralee. There's no news on the baby, he's still cooking. However, when I called Jim after my appointment he shared the following story with me about Tralee.

While Jim was talking on the phone with his mom, Tralee came running up to him. She started tugging on his clothes and wanting to be picked up while exclaiming, "Fove! Fove! Fove!!" (this is how Tralee says love). Jim wasn't sure what she wanted until he picked her up. As soon as he did, Tralee gave him a giant hug, laid her head on his shoulder, and said "Oh, fove!" Then she started tickling her daddy's neck and snuggling up to him. Jim said it was so cute and adorable he couldn't help but laugh, which made Trish (his mom) laugh, and me laugh when I heard about it.

I'm sure glad our daughter knows she can go to her daddy if she's ever in need of some love.

Hearing this story melted my heart, and don't tell him I told you (he's trying to keep up the nothing-can-break-through-my-super-tough-and-manly-exterior act), but Jim said it melted his heart too.

Tralee's Nursery Class Part Two

In a previous post, I wrote about how Tralee likes to teach her stuffed animals. We figured out this is how they teach/sing in her nursery class at church. At the end of nursery, we usually walk in to find Tralee and the rest of the kiddies sitting in a semi-circle singing along with the nursery leader's guitar. Tralee LOVES it! So, why not bring the fun home?

I went to a baby shower this morning, and while I was gone Jim took this picture and video. Jim said Tralee did this all on her own. He walked in to find her singing and reading stories to her "class."

Don't mind Tralee's appearance. I didn't have time to do her hair or get her dressed before I left this morning, so what you see is what you get. Jim has tried to do Tralee's hair in the past, only to give up after a half-an-hour of his huge man hands trying to get a tie in Tralee's super-fine hair. I laughed when he told me of this attempt. I love that he tried.

Anyways back to the video. Listen for "the end" at the end of each book. It's hard to tell that's what she's saying, do to her stuffy nose (she's getting over a cold). Also, when Tralee gets to the color book she actually says all of the colors. You might not be able to understand clearly, and that's probably due to the cold, and, you know, she's two. But, just know that she gets every color right. Which is a good thing. I don't want her stuffed animals walking around being all confused about colors.

I think we either have a future teacher or veterinarian in our midst. The girl LOVES animals, and LOVES to teach them. :)

Chocolate or Vanilla?

I always tell Jim he's like a woman when it comes to his chocolate obsession. When he wants chocolate, he will scour the kitchen looking for something to satisfy his craving. Sometimes he'll even melt chocolate chips in the microwave and eat them with peanut butter if he can't find anything else chocolaty enough. I've learned that some of his family members (all women) are the same way.

I'm different.

I've come to the realization that -- dare I say it -- I prefer vanilla over chocolate. I don't even like chocolate ice cream (yuck). Chocolate candy does nothing for me. I like vanilla cake better than chocolate. Same with pudding. I even prefer french vanilla hot "chocolate." Is that weird? Am I betraying my sex by making this announcement? I mean, as a woman, aren't I supposed to crave all-things-chocolate? I don't. I like it. I'll eat it. But, that's as far as my passion for chocolate goes.

Jim thinks I'm crazy, or that there's something wrong with my taste buds.

What do you think?

What do you prefer?

Easter Weekend

There are a million pictures on this post. So, I'll keep the dialogue to a minimum so it won't be too terribly long.

Jim's sister Sue and her family came to Boise for Easter. We had fun hanging out with them and other family in the area.

The Saturday before Easter is the annual Callister Easter egg hunt. We've had it at Trish's and Uncle Dave's in years past. This year it was at Aunt Michelle's. She has some nice acreage, so it was the perfect place for the Easter Bunny to leave TONS and TONS of eggs. Seriously, I think each kid was able to find 20 to 30 eggs EASY!

The troops rounding up for the hunt

Tralee patiently waiting with her Daddy to look for some eggs.

Cousin Kelly, Tralee, and cousin Colleen waiting for the hung to begin

Lookin' for eggs

Time out to swing

Egg in a tree

Check out all the eggs!

Swingin' some more with Colleen

Getting some more eggs.

She can almost reach it!!

Try not to be disturbed by the following picture:

Jim sporting his mother's wig.

The next few pictures are from Easter morning at our house. The Easter Bunny left some goodies for Tralee.



Cute Easter Dress Pictures
Tralee's Grandma and Grandpa Jacobs got this cute Easter outfit for her. I LOVE it!

The following two photos are of me trying to get a good picture of the hottest couple I could find. I think it was impossible to do.

Below are more Easter pics. I captured a few of our nephews Henry and Keaton, and most of the gang gathering to eat Easter dinner -- YUMMY!

We had a lovely Easter weekend. Thanks to everyone who helped make it so fun.

One Little Monkey. . .

. . . jumping on my bed.

Tralee LOVES to jump on or off anything.

Today while I was doing the dishes in the kitchen I heard Tralee giggling. I followed the giggles until they lead me into our bedroom where I found Tralee happily jumping away on our bed.

"Good," thought I. "I bet our mattress needs some fluffing up a bit." Then I grabbed the camera and took some pictures of my daughter in the midst of her delight.

Nope. I'm not one of those parents who forbids bed jumping.

I did it as a child and still recall the glee I felt hopping away on my mattress. How could I deny my daughter such fun? I mean,

check out this face:

Would you put an end to it?

I didn't think so.

There are other ways I can say "No" to Tralee. For instance, "No playing in the toilet," "No coloring on yourself or the furniture" (still working on that one, as you can tell from her blue hands in the pictures), or "No running away from Mommy at the grocery store." BUT "No jumping on the bed" is something I will never say.

Sorry.

Won't do it.

So if yours is a house where bed jumping is not allowed. . .

you probably shouldn't invite us over.

I had to put the above picture in because I thought Tralee's face was hilarious! Gravity sure is unkind, even to a toddler! :)

Tired Girl

Tralee had a busy day today.

First we woke up, got ready, and played outside for a while. Then Tralee and I got in the car and headed off to Toys R Us. They were having a Nickelodeon scavenger hunt thing for the kids. I was a little skeptical about going because the last special kids day they had (for the Little People's 50th anniversary) was kind of lame-o. Today's experience was much better.

When we got to the store we found the start table where they handed Tralee and I (Jim was working) a page to color, some coupons, and a little scavenger hunt booklet. The booklet had some clues on where to go in the store to find the stickers you needed to get your prize. It was pretty easy, and Tralee and I had fun wandering around the store looking at all of the toys. At each sticker station Tralee wanted to put the sticker on herself or kitty (her constant companion), instead of in the booklet. I knew I probably shouldn't have, but usually I let Tralee take one sticker for herself and one for the booklet. Besides, where' s the fun in following the rules exactly?

After we found all three sticker stations, Tralee and I headed towards the prize table, turned in our book, and got our little goody bag. In the bag were some little sample toys, a magnet, more coupons for the sample toys, a Sponge Bob sucker with slime and sugar dip (every kids dream, every mother's nightmare), and a dollar off coupon for ANYTHING in the store. I led Tralee over to the candy and let her pick ANYTHING she wanted. She picked a Push Pop that was exactly $1. Good girl. We checked out, I owed nothing, Tralee carried her little goody bag to the car while happily sucking on her push pop, and we headed towards home. Mission accomplished.

Jim was done working about an hour after Tralee and I returned from our Toys R Us adventure, and after some lunch, the three of us went outside to play again. I left to get some groceries, and when I came home Jim and Tralee were outside once more. Jim was teaching Tralee how to golf (which was SUPER cute).

While I was making dinner Tralee totally zonked out from her busy day. That was around 6pm. She's been out -- we're talking O-U-T since then, and I don't think there's any hope to revive her until she's rested up a bit.

What will probably end up happening is Tralee will wake up at 4AM and be rip-rearin' to go. Oh well. We'll deal with it then.

Until next time. . .