Pumpkin Pickin' Comparison

Yes, I am being lazy today and giving you "the comparison" post. It's cute nonetheless.

2009 vs. 2010

Visiting a Mouse

No, not THE Mouse that lives in Orlando. Just the mouse in Humble, Texas: Chuck E. Cheese. What I thought would a be good, short, morning activity turned into a three hour event with us getting home at 1:30 in the afternoon! Now, CEC isn't anything like I remember as a kid. I remember a huge playroom with a ball pit that would bury a grown man, a swinging from a vine/zip line thingy, a maze of punching bags, and a lot more. And I remember a full stage of animitronics that put on a 15 or 20 minute show. None of that exist now- at least not at our place. It did have a tiny "stage" with just Chuck singing a 2 minute song that came on every 30 minutes or so. Anyway, we met our friends Maddie(and her mom Laura) and RJ (and his mom Christa) for some video game fun (well, toddler versions of video games) and ENDLESS rides on the machines. We're definitely going back...often.

The Magic Word

Amanda is out running errands the other day. So, Quinn and I are messing around. He *needs* a snack. We decide on string cheese. After the fist bite, he wants more cheese or "mo cheez." I ask him to say please. He does. "PEAS DADA, CHEEZ!" Not bad.

Next piece of cheese, I ask him to say please, again. He does.

I'm happy, he's getting the hang of being nice.

Next piece of cheese, I try something new, "Quinnie, say the magic word."

He does...

He throws his arms up in the air, gets an excited look in his eye, and then he says, "TAAAADAAA!!!" while turning around.

Perfect. "Please" is not the magic word. The magic word is what you say when you do a magic trick to make people clap...

Obviously...

Just As It Should Be

Since the weather has been "cooler" (in the mid 80s), we've been able to get outside and play. I really can't remember a day I have been more at peace than on days like today; sitting in the backyard with Ben as Quinn and Ruby chase each other and play. Little boys are suppose to run non-stop. And yell. And laugh. With their dog. In the backyard. Today was just as it should be.

A Kiss Is a Kiss Is a Kiss

As you know, Quinn and Abby have been fast friends since birth- give or take a few months. Us parents have been waiting for the time when they would be able to run and play together, have cute kid conversations, and all that gushy stuff. Well, the time has come. Anytime we go out the front door, Quinn bolts toward Abby's house- straight to the front door and rings the doorbell. Allyson will tell you that Abby does the same thing. They hug hello and hug goodbye. And lo and behold, they kissed this week! Allyson, Ben, and I ventured up to the clubhouse for our neighborhood's National Night Out festivities with Quinn and Abby in tow a la wagon. Thank you, Ben, for pulling that load all night! I didn't witness the kiss (only Ben did) but I heard Quinn jabbering away about, "Kiss Abby?" "Abby like kiss?" "Ooh, kiss Abby." Allyson and I couldn't believe it! We didn't know whether to gush with sappiness or start planting sticker-bushes under all the windows.

It really does warm my heart. Quinn has learned that hugs and kisses are how you show someone you care about them. I'm kind of proud of that lesson.

Star Gazing and Talking about Birds

Q and Baker

Posted by Ben:

Super sweet Quinn story. Coming back from Chik-fil-a the other night, Quinn is just chattering away. He does this stream-of-consciousness thing where one phrase or word takes him straight into another. So, somehow he was talking about bears, then brown, then dogs, then he starts talking about Baker. Amanda asks him if he remembers Baker (who used to watch over and protect Quinn obsessively). Quinn then says "Baker! Big Dog! Brown! He Bark! Ruby and Baker!" As if Quinn was telling us, of course I remember Baker! Amazing to know Quinn remembers what an awesome dog he had.

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