Thank you outside for existing

You know that scene in The Simpsons when Homer licks the back of a toad in substitute for beer, his pupils dilate and he is suddenly transported to a magical world.....That is what happens when Landon steps outside. It's like something just clicks inside him and he must do everything and anything "boy".

First and foremost, we find a stick or an object that looks or can function as a stick would. i.e broom, shovel, misc. metal poles we have in our garage. It is then placed into the dirt and beaten by another stick-like object. Once we are bored with that, we then turn the stick into a spear and chase the dog with it. Which inevitably ends with falling into dirt, dog poop, or random puddle even though it hasn't rained in days.

After that, we bring it down a notch and start poking ants with the stick. Which always leads to me to explaining that ants are living and have feelings too blah blah blah...So then it turns into an ant hunt which miraculously will occupy him for longer then 5 seconds. After we tire of the ants we might try something more "normal" like dig in the dirt for worms. As soon as all these activities are completed it's as if there's is a collected sigh of "okay, now I can swing or ride my bike or play in the sandbox"

magical mini

With the arrival of the twins nearing (i.e. I felt like I was dying) Shaun and I thought it would be a good idea to get the manual out for my car. We wanted to look up the "logistics" of putting three carseats in the back of my car. This is what we found in bold letters...."WARNING even though there are 3 latch hooks DO NOT install three car seats under any circumstances ever or we will blow up your car after we drive over it with a monster truck." Cue the hormonal waterfalls. Aughhh. I cried for a day....would stop....picture "it" in my head and start crying again. I hated that i've said things like"i'll never drive a minivan ever..whawha." Who EVEN cares. seriously. as long as my lil ones are safe i'll do it. I'll sacrifice any ounce of coolness that I didn't even have to begin with and drive a mini.

So after an interesting (and luckily) five second drive home from the hospital. The search was on. 3 days later in the daze of what shaun and I now refer to as "being raked through the coals of hell" (just kidding girls, we love you ) we were the proud owners of this beast.

That was a compromise from what I really wanted which was this:

I also feel really special that I get to do things like this now:

Oh, and if anyone knows where I can buy this little treat please let me know

A follow up to "dreams really do come true...when you poop on the potty"

There really is no better feeling then providing joy for your children. With that said, why is there always a certain level of, how do you say, awkwardness, involved? I've never been a "clapper" or described as being "hyper" not that there is anything wrong with these characteristics AT ALL, it's just not me.

But what is it about seeing your child in pure-explosive ecstasy that makes me start clapping and say really awesome things like "hey landon, look at his watch thinging majiger um yeah...." This "ductor" was a very patient sweet man, and by his good graces puts up with this on a volunteer bases. My personal highlight of the day was when I looked out the window and saw some guy in tight jeans, black rocker shirt, somewhat greasy long blond hair, strumming on his guitar with a look of pure pleasure as the train roared by. Landon's was for sure the "cows running" Which either disturbed him or made his existence because he couldn't stop talking about the cows, which in reality, were running in terror from the train.

All in all the coopersville-marne train was a exceptional way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Lucky for us we missed the bunny train which ran last weekend. *darn* I can't even begin to imagine the awkwardness of adults dressed up in bunny suits. You would do it for this face too.