Wii Surprise

Since we would be travelling to St. Louis for Christmas, Santa visited the Becher house early this year. Michael and Katie opened up all their presents under the tree. Afterwards, we found some more gifts in the kitchen. Michael and Katie did not know that Santa had hooked up a Wii in their playroom during the night. They were quite confused as they opened accessories and games for a Wii console:

Chef Katie

Katie and I made truffles Saturday night to give to her teachers for Christmas. They turned out AWESOME!! I have to say, these truffles tasted just like the ones from a chocolate shop. I went out on Sunday and bought more ingredients to make another batch!

The First Boy Scout

Michael joined the Cub Scouts this year. He is technically a Tiger Scout. I have honestly never seen him so dedicated or enthusiastic about anything! The first night that we got Michael's uniform and Scout Handbook, he asked to wear his uniform to bed. He also requested that I read to him from his handbook as his bedtime story. He has been diligently working on his Tiger Scout electives at home. For every 10 electives, he earns a bead to wear on his uniform. He has also completed the requirements to earn belt loops for baseball and soccer.

(Doing the Cub Scout salute)

At Michael's first Pack Meeting, the boys had a no-hands Twinkie eating contest. I'm not really sure why, just something fun to do, I guess. Katie was at the meeting with me and asked "What's a Twinkie?" I'm kind of proud of myself that my kids have never heard of Twinkies, but can identify 3 different kinds of squash. I'm sure their grandparents will hook them up with Twinkies very soon. :)

(Michael didn't win. He's a very delicate Twinkie eater)

Visit from the Tot Fare

Poor Michael had 4 teeth pulled yesterday. Don't worry, between the Nitrous Oxide and the oral sedation, he was feeling no pain and was actually quite entertaining. I think he was putting the moves on the cute hygienist - he kept calling her "bebbeh."

Michael was very excited that he had now caught up to Katie on lost teeth and he would be getting his first visit from the Tooth Fairy. The Tooth Fairy left Michael some cash and a little note. He came into our room at 4:30am to tell me that the Tooth Fairy had left him a "Twenty Dollar Buck!!" I sent him back to bed.

Of course, Katie couldn't just sit by and let Michael get something she wasn't getting! So she made up little gifts and notes for the Tooth Fairy to try to get some money of her own.

This gift/note says: Der Tot Fare. Tacs For The 20 Dlr Bil. *heart* Katie

(Dear Tooth Fairy, Thanks for the 20 Dollar Bill. *heart* Katie)

She hasn't received a 20 dollar bill from the Tooth Fairy. She's thanking her in advance so the Tooth Fairy will feel obligated to leave a $20. Clever!

Another note for the Tooth Fairy.

This one says: Your a God Prsin Bcus You Giv Pepol More Mone For Tir Tot

(You're a good person because you give people more money for their tooth)

I guess Katie believes that kissing up to the Tooth Fairy will get her some cash. Katie made so many gifts and letters for the Tooth Fairy that they were spilling out from around her pillow! The Tooth Fairy left Katie a very nice note thanking her for all the lovely gifts, but also explaining that the Tooth Fairy has little wings so she can't carry them home. She left no cash and Katie was a little miffed. She searched under all her blankets and pillows then checked her whole room in case the money just fell out. Tonight, Katie plans to make the Tooth Fairy some small notes that she would be able to carry in hopes that she will leave some cash under Katie's pillow.

Katie is a Peer Model

Katie has been selected by her school to be a Peer Model in a friendship group. Katie would be in a group with kids who have some social problems and Katie would model appropriate social interactions for these kids. I'm very proud of her and I know she will do a great job!

Glad I Could Help

Michael: Mom! Mom! I can't find my invisible rubberband!
Me: What???
Michael: I can't find my magical, invisible rubberband!
Me: Uh ... It's... right here. *holds out empty hand*
Michael: Oh, thanks Mom!

The Becher Scouts

Oh Boy! Sometimes parenting genius just hits you out of the blue! On Saturday, we formed the Becher Scouts. Michael and Katie were so excited about earning badges for Girl/Boy Scouts this year, sooooo why not capitalize on that at home? I made them each a banner out of construction paper, then I color up "badges" on little squares of paper. The kids just glue the badges onto their banners. Michael quickly earned his Picking Up The Back Yard So Daddy Can Mow Badge and his Cleaning Up The Trash Badge. They both earned I Love Reading Badges for reading 2 books. They can earn stickers under their badges for repeating a task.

Here are a few of Katie's badges on her banner. I couldn't get the picture of Michael's badges to upload from my phone. His are randomly stuck all over the banner, unlike those of Miss OCD.

Tonight, the kids earned Movie Night Jamboree Badges by watching some movies up in the playroom. I hooked them up with popcorn, candy, drinks and flashlights. The kids were invisible for 2 whole hours!! Yay!

Liberty Belle

Meet Liberty Belle, the newest addition to the Becher family. She's a 7-week-old lab puppy we adopted today. The kids are SUPER EXCITED!!

First Day of School!!!

Michael and Katie had their first day of First Grade today! They were so excited to start school. Michael woke up at 5:20 this morning - a full 3 hours before school starts. Not so with Katie. I had to get her up.

I drove the kids to school. They would not let me walk them to their classrooms. They wouldn't even let me get out of the car. *sob*

When I picked them up for school, Michael reported that 1st grade was soo great and he can't wait to go back tomorrow. He told me every detail of his day - indoor recess, lunch with Aiden, etc. Katie shrugged and reported that school was fine. She couldn't remember what she did or who she ate lunch with.

They already have homework. They have to bring in a paper bag filled with things that tell about themselves. Then they'll do a presentation for the class.

Here they are decorating their homework bags. It looks like they're getting along, but they are actually fighting over paint.

I'll Drink to That!

Katie was so excited today when she found some little drinking glasses on the counter that were just her size! She promptly filled them both with water for herself and Michael.

On a side note, it's a little surreal to see your six-year-old walking across the kitchen with two shot glasses filled with clear liquid.

TV Stars!!

Michael and Katie were on the local news in Harrisburg, PA. They went to see the City Islanders play Soccer. Their Uncle Billy is the coach.

http://www.fox43.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=527490d8-4562-4966-b7c5-de2021a9ed23&src=front

PS - This is my first time trying to embed a video. Hope it works.

Soccer Camp

The kiddos are having fun in Pennsylvania. They have been to some place called Chocolate World where they got to see how chocolate is made. Michael was trying to tell me about it, but he was talking so fast I couldn't really understand him. I could only make out "Chocolate World" "Neat" and "Awesome." I'm kind of picturing the Willy Wonka factory with that river of chocolate.

Michael and Katie are attending their Uncle Billy's soccer camp during the day. Here they are in their Lower Dauphin soccer shirts. I believe Lower Dauphin is the county where Uncle Billy coaches.

Michael appears to be in his third trimester.

Sweet, Sweet Freedom

The twins left yesterday for 2 weeks in Pennsylvania and Connecticut to visit their cousins. I don't have any video of my celebratory booty dance, but believe me - I shook it HARD! Yay!

Steve and I went out to a local bar last night for beer and fried food. I'm a cheap date! We are hoping to get in as many date nights as we can while the kiddos are gone. Paying $8/hr for a sitter doubles the cost of any date so we don't go out much.

We had to put down our beloved dog, Norman, on Thursday. Steven, Katie and I are taking it pretty hard. Michael doesn't seem to care much. I think he's just behind Katie, maturity wise, and he doesn't really get the finality of it all. Katie has a new stuffed doggie and she's put Norman's collar on it. I'm hoping this trip will distract her from missing Normie.

Boogers in the Outfield

Coolest Kiddie Pool EVER!!!!

You know I love entering contests and the kids love helping me enter. Today, we are trying to win the most awesome bounce house/kiddie pool ever to grace a backyard. Look at this thing!!!
It's called the Pirates Bay Inflatable Play Park from Playhouse Bouncers . You can try to win one of your own (or give it to me!!) at a cool blog called J. Leigh Designz. The kids are kissing up and down my arms as I type. I am totally feeling the love right now. I hope I win!!

Matching Wits

This is why you never try to match wits with a child.

Me: Katie, quit bouncing on my bed.

Katie: I'm just bending my knees up and down really fast. Your bed is the one bouncing me.

Me: I..wha...huh? NO!

I think kids are so great at arguing because there is no argument too rediculous or implausable that they wouldn't give it a try. They simply have no shame.

CSI - Overland Park

Michael and Katie have been playing detective. I taught them about how everyone has a different fingerprint and told them how the detectives dust for fingerprints. Here are some pics of the the kiddos dusting the kitchen for clues. Notice the latex gloves to prevent tranferring their own fingerprints to the crime scene.

.

(I have no idea what that white thing is behind Michael's left hand)

More Bowling

Another day of free bowling!

(If you lean to the right, the ball goes to the right. Right?)

The Ice Cream Parlor

Michael went to a laser tag birthday party tonight, so I took Katie out for a treat at a little ice cream parlor near the house. After what seemed like hours, she finally chose a waffle cone dipped in white and milk chocolate and two scoops of ice cream - cotton candy and cookie monster. Yum!

A Little Too Much Honesty

The kids and I had this little conversation a few days ago.

Katie: *grinning* Mom, you're chubby!
Me: What??
Katie: *still grinning* You're chubby!
Me: Katie, do you know what chubby means?
Katie: No
Me: It means kind of fat, and that's not a nice thing to say.
Katie: Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry. I didn't know.
Michael: I didn't say you were chubby, mom.
Me: Okay, Michael. But Katie didn't know what it meant.
Michael: I didn't say you were chubby ... even though I think you are. I still didn't say it.
Me: Yeah, thanks Michael.
Michael: *cheerfully* You're welcome!

Fishing at the Lake

I took the twins fishing today at the lake behind our house. They got fishing poles for their birthday and were very excited to try them out, finally. Unfortunately, we could not locate Michael's fishing pole anywhere. I improvised by tying some fishing line to a long dowel and he was happy.

We took the fishing poles, worms, hooks and bobbers out to a nice spot by the lake with lots of reeds where fishies would want to hide. I got them all set up and only stabbed myself with the hooks twice. I should mention, Katie was very disappointed that worms don't bleed when you put them on hooks. Mom's do bleed when you put worms on the hook. Luckily, I packed more first aid supplies than tackle in Katie's little Barbie tackle box.

After about a minute, Michael's bobber starting going under. He squealed and pulled up a little fish. Seriously, he caught a fish with a dowel and string. We released the little fishy back into the pond. Katie was determined to catch a fish, too. She moved over to Michael's little spot and fished harder, if that's even possible. A few times, her bobber was pulled under but there was no fish. Then it got pulled under hard and she pulled up a little fish of her own. She grabbed that fish and held it up with pride!

Game On!

Katie had her first t-ball game last night. Her team is the Hot Shots. Their uniforms are hot pink with rhinestones for extra bling. Kindergarten t-ball is pretty generous to the players. Everyone bats until they get a hit. Runners who are "out" stay on base and continue to run the bases. Each inning lasts until every player has batted. All games end after an hour and 15 minutes. I have no idea if anyone keeps score.

They rotate the players to let them play all the positions. Katie played in the outfield, 2nd base, and catcher last night. Apparently, being the catcher in a t-ball game involves sitting on your butt and making piles in the dirt. She did pick up one ball and promptly threw it into the opposing coach's face.

The girls had their team pictures taken before the game. I got Katie showered up, put her hair in little pigtails (too cute!) and put her visor on her head. When we got to the picture area, some of the girls didn't have hats or visors yet, so the coach decided to take pics without them. Katie's hair was still wet when I put on her visor, so her bangs were crushed and matted to her head. No amount of spit or clips would fix them. I convinced the photographer to let Katie wear her visor for her individual picture, but I had no luck getting them to leave it on for the team photo. *sigh* I got a good look at the goofy faces she was making during the photo shoot. They may want to just photoshop her out of there all together.

Summer Reading

Michael and Katie signed up for the summer reading program at the local library. They need to read 20 books by the end of July to get a free book. They've been reading a lot (and I've read to them) and carefully writing the titles down on their reading charts. Here, Katie is reading a book to Michael and he is helping her with the hard words. It's such a sweet moment. Well, it would be sweet if Katie wasn't getting royally ticked-off every time Michael helped her. She doesn't mind if I help her, but he'd better not!

Summer is Officially Here!

My little Kindergarteners are now First Graders. We have kicked off the summer with free bowling. I signed up at www.kidsbowlfree.com and got coupons for the kids to bowl 2 free games a day, each. Saweeeet!!

Katie also started the summer with a new do. Here are some pics of bowling.

"Aww" Moment of the Day

Michael has been playing around with his Spiderman mask all morning. He put it on and told me "Even when I'm smiling it looks like I'm mad because of the mask. And Momma ... I'm always smiling at you."

Aww. Now I'm smiling, too! I swear, that kid is so sweet he has maple syrup running through his veins.

Get me the CDC, stat

I think my kids have the Whine Flu. Is there any kind of vaccination for that??

Marker Face, The Aftermath

I decided to talk to Katie about the Marker-All-Over-Michael's-Face incident of last night. Of course, Michael told me that it was all her idea and she was the one who did the drawings on his face. I totally believe him. Katie would test gravity by pushing Michael out a window. If she wanted to see if you can face paint with a maker, she'd color all over Michael's face. Plus, I found the marker in her bed. Oh, and she had marker on her hands. They don't even have this much evidence on most episodes of CSI. Our marker conversation went like this:

Me: Katie, do you want to tell me what happened with the red marker last night?

Katie: Huh? What red marker?

Me: The red marker you used to write all over Michael's face. We need to talk about that.

Katie: Red marker on Michael's face? I don't know anything about that.

Me: Katie, I saw his face. I have pictures. I found the red marker in your bed.

Katie: I didn't have a red marker.

Me: How did Michael get red marker all over his face? He said you did it.

Katie: I didn't write on him with red marker.

Me: You didn't draw on his face with a marker.

Katie: Oh, I drew on his face. But it was an orange marker.

Me: *facepalms* Why did you draw on Michael's face?

Katie: I wanted to see if I could face paint with a marker.

Me: Then why didn't you draw on your own face instead of marking up your brother?

Katie: *blinks*

Me: You know, you could mess up your own face with your experiment instead of your brother's face. Since it's your little experiment.

Katie: *more blinking* But, then I'd have marker on my face.

Me: YES!

Ah, Katie. She can't even wrap her head around that concept. I feel so sorry for Michael.

And on a side note, that marker was red. I washed it off Michael's face this morning and the washcloth was red. Plus, I found a red marker with no lid in Katie's bed. Oh, and I'm 34 so I know my freaking colors!

Crafty Katie

Katie did some crafting today. She's making projects that she wants to sell at stores. First she cuts about 10 strips of ribbon all the same length. Then she has me sew them together like a snowflake. Last, she ties them to a hair clip. While I was sewing the ribbons together for her, she told me that she thought she could make a little money selling them at the stores. When everything was all finished, she remarked "Wow, I could make a lot of money selling these!"

Marker Face

Usually, Michael and Katie come out of their rooms 3 or 4 times a night, after they've been put to bed. Last night, we were uninterrupted. Now I know why:

Yep, his face is covered in red marker. See the circle around his right eye? I knew what they'd done as soon as I saw it. At my work, we do facepainting on Mondays and Michael often requests a doggy face. I start by making a circle around one eye, kind of like a spot. Then I add freckles, whiskers, a black nose and a floppy tongue. I confirmed it this morning. Katie was making a doggy face on him with red marker. What a suprise, Katie's behind the mischief. Michael said that he tried to clean it off with a wipe but it wouldn't come off. Great. Fortunately, most of it came off with a good scrubbing this morning.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! For my special day, I got to sleep in until 8:30. Before kids, that was called "getting up early" not "sleeping in." The kiddos brought me breakfast in bed from McDonalds - Sausage McGriddle and Hashbrowns, my favorites. Michael and Katie both gave me cards and gifts they had selected themselves from the Dollar Store. These gifts are always my favorite because I get to see what the kids think I like. I've learned that they think I like cleaning and anything that is green. (Green IS my favorite color.) Michael gave me a scrub brush for my dishes. It has a small handle and green bristles. It matches the long handled scrub brush with green bristles that he got me for my birthday. He was so excited to give it to me because now I can "scrub smaller bowls and pans." And I "don't need to use the dishwasher anymore!" Yay! Katie gave me a green rubber mat that you use to line your refrigerator drawers and protect your produce. She also suggested that I could set my newly scrubbed dishes on it to dry. I hate to disappoint them, but our dishwasher is not going into retirement any time soon. All in all, it's been a great Mother's Day.

Toothless Katie

Katie had her two bottom eye teeth pulled this afternoon. She had already lost the two bottom front teeth, but the remaining teeth were too tight for her permanent teeth to fit. One was growing in the middle of the gap and the other was coming in somewhere behind it. According to the dentist, we bought about a year and a half of time with the two extractions, but count on major orthodontics after that. Great.

Spring Pictures 2

Here are the Spring Pictures. I have no idea why they retook Michael's. He looks great in both.

But no retakes of this gem?

Really?

And did they HAVE to pose her hands so that her chipped nail polish is showing??

Spring Pictures

Michael and Katie's school takes spring pictures in addition to the regular school pictures taken in the fall. I should add that they just send you a package of pictures and then you can either pay $35 for them or send them back. I hate that. Now I have to send back these pictures in my kids' backpacks and explain why Mommy doesn't want their pictures. Jerks.

So, we got these pictures on Monday and apparently the photographer took two sets of pictures of some of the kids and just one set of others. He just took one pose of Katie and two of Michael, adding to my picture drama. That led to this exchange:

Katie: *sob* Why did Michael get two pictures and I only got one. That's not fair.

Mrs. Chaffee: Katie, maybe Michael's eyes were closed in one picture and they needed to retake it. (They weren't.)

Katie: Michael, guess what!!! MY first...

Me: Katie... just .... no. Let's not.... (too late)

Katie: MY first picture came out soooo good they didn't HAVE to take another picture of ME. YOUR picture needed to be retaken.

Michael: Or... I looked so good, they WANTED to take another picture of me. Because my picture came out so AWESOME.

Katie: No, they NEEDED to retake it.

Michael: No, they WANTED to retake it.

(repeat those last two lines for the next hour.)

*sigh* You just can't win.

At least Michael is standing up for himself more than he used to.

On the Trampolines

While we were in St. Louis for Easter weekend, we did some shopping at St. Louis Mills. They have a place there where you can purchase time on a bungee cord/trampoline set-up.

Michael went first.

This is as high as he got - about 4 feet.

Katie was up next.


Holy Crap!

Yep. She's flipping in these pictures. Totally fearless.

Smart Cookie Club

Katie is the newest member of the Smart Cookie Club.

Aren't those glasses too cute!!!

That's a Good Question

What's more bad-ass than a lightsaber?

A sword tied to the end of a lightsaber. Duh.

This is Why My Kids Think I'm an Idiot

Katie asked me this question on the way home from school today.

"Mom, you know those candle things with the tubes and water in them? Well how does it get there? Is there some kind of air conditioner at the top?"

What is she talking about??????? I'm always saying "I don't know" because they ask me questions like this!!

Last week, Katie asked me if it bothers me that Daddy is so much smarter than I am. He's smarter because he knows the answers to their questions. Well, Daddy gets ten totally easy questions a day, and I get 500 gems like that one above.

APRIL FOOLS!!!

The kids planned their own April Fools prank for Steve. We got a slime egg to serve Steve for dinner and put a whoopie cushion on his chair. The whoopie cushion was electronic and had a cord and push button to make the tootie noise.

(Lying in wait)

(The yucky egg)

(Hee. The whoopie cushion in action)