I’ve been stopping by bookstores lately (this barnes and noble at the mall of america) to make sure the Ant Farm book is displayed well and also to sign a few copies (they can’t return signed copies to the publisher, a little author trick I’ve learned!).

Today both boys wore Ben's clothes.  The rise on Ben's jeans is the length of Lewis's entire torso.  Then Lewis took Ben's shirt off of himself all by himself.  He's so good.  And Art buttoned the first button of his pajamas all by himself.  He was very proud. That took a lot of work and he didn't get frustrated.  Well, he may have, but he didn't give up.  

"I want something long… like tights… with socks in them!  Who can give me thaaaaaaaaaaat!!!??"  

Today I spent a chunk of time with the kids as Jess ran some errands. I had hoped to get both kids down for a nap so I could get a little break. Around one I tucked them into their separate beds. 10 minutes later I heard laughing and running and went up stairs. They had gotten out of bed to goof off. We compromised that they could sleep TOGETHER on our big bed. I knew this would not work, but figured I could at least finish a couple things downstairs while they goofed off. I came downstairs and noticed it was very very quiet. This usually means they’re either sleeping or doing something they know the ought not. It was the latter. 10 minutes later Art came walking downstairs and looked at me with this face pictured here. My fears were realized when Art showed me the permanent marker he was using. I was quite scared, imagining that our kids would have scribble tattoos for the next couple weeks. But luckily most of it came off with a little warm water and scrubbing. I couldn’t quite reach inside Lewis’ ear to get the markings in there…

First overcoming the fear of not being able to draw a face, now laying down in the water with his ears SUBMERGED!?!?! What’s gotten into our boy!?

Art’s friend, Evva, has always been good with her fine motor skills ever since they met barely over one year old. She can tie knots and likes to wrap things with strings and scarves. The other night we were over at her house for dinner and I took these pictures. Apparently she had been quite busy.

It’s been hovering between 10 and 20 or so this week, but we still walked to Walgreens! Wouldn’t you just love to be in this little trailer all snuggled?

Art, Ben and I went to build “gingerbread” houses (out of graham crackers) recently at a local school.  Our initial attempts at a classic cottage with roof and chimney failed.

After the umpteenth collapse we redirected our efforts.  We turned it into a mobile home complete with broken down car:

T.V. antennae:

And sleeper compartment extention (on the far right).  Art provided moral support and a tiny bit of landscaping.