Mealtime Melissaisms

While eating lunch:
"You know what? I think we should change Isaac's name. 'Isaac' is a funny name. We should change it to something else. How about 'Corn Dog'? I like corn dogs. They taste good. That would be a good name for Isaac. We should call him Corn Dog. He would like it too!"

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"Dad! Dad! It's time for dinner!"
OK Melissa.
"Dad! Dad! It's dinner time! Dad!"
I heard you Melissa.
"Dad!"
OK Melissa. It's dinner time.
[Looks at Jonathan with her big blue eyes]
"I know that!"

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"What's that yucky smell that smells like food?"

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"I don't like that."
You haven't tried it before.
"I know, but I still don't like it."

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"I can pour the milk ALL BY MYSELF! I am getting BIG."

They are so sweet...

...when they are sleeping!

They can go from fighting tooth and nail in the day, to as cute as can be a night. Oftentimes Matthew will read bedtime stories to Melissa after we've put them to bed- in their own little beds. As long as it is still light outside, we turn a deaf ear to little noises emanating from either of the rooms. Heck, it's summer.

Sometimes Melissa crashes in Matthew's bed after story time.

Matthew and the Frog

Our story begins a few weeks ago....

Matthew was sent outside to water the flowers. Within seconds he shrieked and dashed inside the house. It took a bit to calm him down enough to find out what had transpired. He'd left his shoes outside the night before, and apparently when put his foot in his shoe, a frog jumped out and startled him. "I hate frogs. They jump out and scare people. That's not nice!" The little brown frog hopped away, and under duress Matthew finished watering the flowers.

About a week later he was again sent out to water. "What if the frog is in my shoe again? He might hop out to try to scare me," Matthew protested. "I bet the frog is long gone, Matthew. Besides frogs are nice. They eat bugs and pests. Look, there isn't a frog in your shoe. See?" I overturned one shoe, no frog. When I tipped over the other shoe, a little brown frog hopped out. Oops. Matthew began panicking again. "Matthew, I'll catch the frog and then you won't have to worry about him hopping around. You finish watering."

I caught the frog and made Matthew finish watering- under protest. The two little neighbor boys and Melissa all touched and admired the frog. They thought it was pretty cool. Matthew got close enough to look at it, but would not touch it.

"Bring in your shoes so the frog can't live in them."

Matthew got to thinking...

"But then the frog wouldn't have a place to live would he? He must like my shoes." More thinking. "Hey, can he have one of my old shoes that's too small to live in?" Sure. Matthew got his old shoe and put it by the back door. I let the frog go. "Mom, can the frog be our outside pet? Maybe you can catch him once a week so we can look at him."

Everyday for a week we checked the shoe. No frog. Matthew even watered the shoe so it would be nice and cool for the frog. No luck. Yesterday I saw this peeking out at me:

Matthew thought that was pretty neat. I think he's finally over his frog-phobia. Next time he even wants to hold it.

Dad Life

This is Dad life. It's how we live 24/7, 365. Checkmate.

Love it!

More BIG News

Isaac has decided he wants to sit on the potty, because that is what Big people do. Not only does he want to sit on the potty, he produces! He insisted on his privacy, "Ge' ow! Ge' ow!" and cheerfully waved, "bye! bye!" He's decided on his own to go to the bathroom 4 times in the last 2 days and each time has done his number.

Time to pull out the big boy training pants? Are we ready for this!?!

Two wheels and ready to ride

Today we went to a park. The temperature was only in the low 90s, but the humidity was around, oh, 120%. Matthew brought his bike and I brought a wrench. We took the training wheels off right there in the park. He climbed aboard and I clutched the back of the seat. Matthew pedaled and I ran around and around and around the playground.

After about fifteen minutes he rode with just a light touch on his shoulder, and some time after that, no assistance at all. He biffed it a few times, but got right back on the bike.

I am proud of him.

Glad he was so quick to learn, because I was dripping like a popsicle in a sauna. The humidity turned Melissa's hair into very tight corkscrews and Isaac had a halo of tiny damp ringlets around his head.

Look Ma! No training wheels!

He rode around in a circle about 20 more times, then I declared it time for A/C and lunch at MoMaks. After we got home he had to ride again- even in the rain. "Come watch me Mom!" Okay, but I watched from the dry porch steps.

Look out world, here he comes! He's got places to go and things to see.

Update: He rode like an old hand today, and even persuaded his Dad to go on a bike ride with him. In the middle of the day. In July. In South Central Texas. Now that's love.

Chris Graduates

Proud Colonel Sinden standing next to the newly minted Airman First Class Sinden. Behind them is the mascot of Chris's squadron during basic.

In formation.

My goodness he's gotten tall! This was taken right after the military parade and oath the new airmen took. There was even a B-52 bomber that swooped in low right after the parade to honor the new grads.

Chris had a few hours off of base Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We visited the botanical gardens on Saturday.
The gardens had a playhouses and forts exhibit for the kids to enjoy. Isaac probably spent 30 minutes in this playhouse alone. He loved it!

While Jonathan stayed behind with Isaac, Melissa raced ahead with Grandpa. I think they probably saw just about everything.
Matthew chose to go with Grandma. A wise decision as it turned out, since he got ice cream!

Dad with 3/4 of the gang.

Grandpa and Grandma bought Matthew a flight suit. He's worn it every day since he received it. Yesterday he informed me that he was ready to enlist. "Mom, I think I will join the Air Force tomorrow. I already have a flight suit."

The weekend was all too short....

Saying goodbye.

He will be stationed at Lackland AFB for the next 7? months, so we hope to see plenty of him during the weekends when he gets permission off of the base.

(Thanks goes to Dad and Jeremy for the pictures. I managed to forget my camera. Twice.)