Stupid Kid Tricks

The girls make life interesting, so very interesting. For example, Frances can now do this:

Which allows her to reach a whole plethora of things she couldn't a little while ago. One of her favorite uses of this trick is to hang on to my leg and giggle while I try to cook.

Teresa, on the other hand, likes to make silly faces. This one was influenced by my father.

Isn't she adorable! Teresa also loves it when Frances wakes up. She runs into her room, climbs up and does this:

Normally, Frances loves it. Normally....

On another note, the strip mall that housed our neighborhood 7-11 is being torn down. Ken especially is saddened by this, so we took a family trip there to have one last slurpee.

Poor Ken, he looks so sad. Frances was inconsolable.

Announcement

So, as it turns out, I want to write about more stuff than my kids. That's hard to understand, I know, but I talked to Ken about it, and he didn't want me to clutter up this blog, so I created my own. The template has pink in it!!! Here is the address, and I will get Ken to put a link to it. WARNING....IT'S NOT ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT MY KIDS! In fact, I hope to not talk about them at all. Here it it:

http://waitingtoperspire.blogspot.com

Halloween in the Hundred Acre Wood

Halloween has never been that big of a deal to me, but to deny the joys of an evening of dress up and free candy to a toddler is just plain mean. This year we were in Minneapolis for the big event, having tagged along with Ken to his "Big Conference." We got to spend time with Russ and Meghan Menno style, with the girls and I spending time with Meghan and Olivia, and Ken meeting Russ for lunch. It was nice to be out, to spend time with other people in a different place. Alison, the family friend we were staying with mentors some families new to the country, so we got to trick or treat with a family from South Korea and Teresa took a shine to a teen named Munsi (I hope I spelled that right), who is visiting from China. Teresa drew her own pumpkin face (it will be obvious) and was exhausted by the time we were ready to leave. I wish I could elaborate on this post a bit more, but the fact is I'm in a funk and totally not in the mood to be loquacious. I will apologize by posting an obscene number of cute pictures.

It's funny because Frances looks like she's smoking a cigar...

Teresa, explaining the complexities of life and toy trains.

Yes they are close to the same age.....why do you ask?

Auntie Sarah and Teresa carving. Teresa wanted to use the big knife, but Sarah does not like to share. If you look closely, you will see a scribble between the two eyes. That is the "face". The two "eyes" are actually drawings of Frances and myself. The "mouth" is actually fur. I don't understand either.

Frances getting in on the action. Sarah wouldn't let her use the big knife either....spoil sport.

The finished product.

Tigger and Eeyore. This picture was taken seconds before Frances fell to the ground face first.

See, she's tough.

My gang from the Hundred acre Wood. Ken went as Christopher Robin.

Action shot!

Teresa and Munsi, Minneapolis BFF's.

Tonight We Celebrate!

Wednesday I had the pleasure of having a day off in order to attend my third convocation at the U of M.  I am not perfectly sure, but I do think this makes me the first Yost sibling to reach such a feat.  Yes my degrees are BSc, BEd & PBDE (Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Education), no Masters or PhDs to be found, but heck.  For those who are unaware I took a pile of courses pretty much with the sole rationale of receiving a raise.  Yes, that's right, my unionsociety doesn't want good teachers rewarded with better pay, rather simply those who feel like sitting through more painful classes at the University.

What was great was getting to spend the morning with Teresa and Frances.  I decided to make this post the moment Teresa came running to me as I took a moment in the bathroom saying "Daddy, I put Frances on my bed so she can't play with my toys".  I immediately ceased my actions and sprinted to her bedroom where there was Frances, in crawling position a foot from the edge of her bed.  Yes that is right, Teresa now picks up and carries Frances around the house, sometimes helping by taking her away from Rowdy's dish, sometimes just because.

Beyond that some of the craziness in our house has included Teresa being her crazy old self, but now Frances is getting in on the action.  Frances loves chasing Rowdy while crawling (at breakneck speed), but is now beginning to stand up on her own, pulling herself up on the couch.  Today Cara has felt what she believes to be a tooth and Frances has learned how to take one arm out of her shirt.  Lastly Frances continues to eat new and interesting 'food', and I guess I should mention that Teresa is now a skirt girl.  If we try to put pants on her it is met with the weeping and gnashing of teeth...

So tonight Cara and I are off with friends for dinner.  Tonight we celebrate!

Teresa doing two of her favorite things - making sure Rowdy is healthy and having a tea party...

Yes, that apple is as big as her head.

I can't believe Cara didn't post this.  The only way to get 8 month pictures of Frances alone.  Lock Teresa out...  Actually Teresa & I went to 'shave'.  Teresa gave her forehead a clean shave.

My hat has become a new plaything for Teresa.  Doesn't she look smart?