Trouble and the gang

Introducing TROUBLE

As our friend would say, "He's a good boy!" And "What do you expect for someone named Daniel?" I'm sure he spends all his free time contemplating ways to complicate our lives.


Daniel's favorite word is "Uh-uh", and that's(above) what he looks like when he says it. He really is a lot of work right now-he's not happy unless one of his siblings are playing with him or I am holding him. If he's being ignored by his siblings he'll wreck the game/toys they're playing with. If I'm ignoring him, he'll open up cupboards, and try anything else he can think of to get that attention (even frustrated mothers are better than ignoring mothers). And yes, it doesn't take a whole lot of thinking for him to succeed!


Just to show off-here are two of my kids sharing peacefully! (They are always like this. ;) )


Matthew's thinking of what sort of trouble he can get into next time he's sitting on the potty...




And a smile-to keep me from going crazy (smiles restore sanity-everyone knows that-especially the kid!)


(Even weird ones count.)

Growing up too fast!

Two firsts this week for Nathan:

One. Lost his first tooth! It came out quite painlessly, to his relief-during naptime when he was bored and fooling around with it.
Two. First bloody nose! (Though it was not a full out gushing one, still, it now looks a lot like it could have been!) It happened when we were sliding on our (small!) hill with crazy carpets. Unfortunately, I left the stroller at the bottom (bad thoughtless Mommy Roze! who watched him ever so slowly-it seemed-get closer and closer until-smash!) and Nathan didn't think to stop, or put his hands up to protect himself. Poor guy! Life is harsh!


And a picture of each kid for all those patiently waiting readers of mine:
(You know who you are.)

Nathan


Melanie


Matthew


Daniel

An explanation

of why we might seem a little preoccupied over here.
(Well, one small reason of what seems like many, anyways.)

Matthew is doing the potty training thing.

"I'm a daddy."

(You are a getting big!)

Packaging

Free toys are the best toys, even though they don't always last very long.

The toy of the hour here is the packaging from a parcel I received.

Melanie really liked the wrapping, but was upset when her brothers went on it, or ripped it.
(Yes, we're working on sharing, but that's a lifelong lesson to learn!)

After the boys tired of teasing their sister,
(Yes, we're working on not bullying, but that's another lifelong lesson to learn.)

they decided the box was more fun anyways.

Matthew and Daniel would fill up the box with blocks, and Nathan would dump it out (like a dump truck) so it could be filled up again.


This left Melanie to contemplate how she could repair what she was left with.
(Would I let her tape it?)

Old pics again

And nothing to say again.

Colors.

Rich and royal

just like me.

Spoiled

OK, Mom, I'll pose. Just for you.
But seeing as it's my birthday, you'd better make it quick!


That was one good-enough one, so I'm outta here!
(Can't say I didn't warn you, Mom!)


Being one is so much fun!!

Every one knows that youngest children are always spoiled.:p With us, this is no exception. Daniel, after all, ought to be given as much opportunity as possible to turn out "normal"(spoiled). In order to nurture this, we decided he ought to be the first one to have a first birthday present. Nathan, Melanie, and Matthew were all ripped off at a year, but darling Daniel, he gets the prize!


Daniel: Nice teddies, but what are they good for?
Maybe I should make them fall on the floor?


Daniel: What makes them think I need help? I guess I'll have to help them on their birthday's then!


rrrrriiiiiiippppppp
Daniel: This is kinda fun!
(Usually Mom puts me in bed for ripping paper!)


Why do they keep shoving this silly string into my hand for?


Hah! I got it.
All for me!
Watch out windows, here I come!

Giggle fits

I brought out the magnet letters, hoping the kids might have some educational fun without realizing it. Once again, my expectations are set much too high! I try to get them started, only to have Nathan and Melanie trying hard to sound out "bum". Nathan had "bam" and the mistake just got their goats.
"It needs a "U"" says I.
(Nathan makes "baum".)
"What does it say now, Mom?
"Baum."
Nathan and Melanie:
"GIGGLE GIGGLE!"

In an attempt to divert them, I spell another body part, "hand."
That isn't exciting enough.
So I show how I can change the word with one letter.
"Now what does it spell?" I ask.
(I end up sounding it out for them.)
"Handy."

Thinking this is a fun game, they decide to try it.
"Handy." Says Nathan, calmly.
"Randy." Says he, again.
"I can make "handy" into "randy"!"
"Then you'll need an "r"" says I.

"Now what does it say?" asks Nathan.
"Sound it out." I say. (Education! think I! He's learning!)
After a while, I have to help him sound it out properly-as in, read it for him.

"Hnrdy!" giggles Nathan.
"Hnrdy!" giggles Melanie.

(Mommy Roze sighs deeply and gets back to her work.)

And what do you know, they eventually get there!

Notice how enthralled Melanie is!
Nothing like a big brother to help you in your silliness!

"Look Mom, we did it!"
"Now it says Randy!"

Crappy Birthday

For his birthday Daniel gets

to cut two of his first molars
a fever
and a flu.

Birthday Boy!!

One year old!
Give or take a day.
Where did the year go?
What was accomplished by me that year?
Why aren't my Mom and Dad still here to baby me?


Oh, right
-the birthday boy.

Daniel is such a

pleasure
treasure
frustrating trouble-maker

walker
talker
(yell-er)

toddler
cuddly baby
wiggly squirmer,

and he looks just like me when he's tired.

I really love the way he points and talks and yells to copy what we say and demands for things in a yelling sort of talking voice and how he grins and runs away from me when he really should be listening and

he drives me crazy 'cause he hardly ever listens.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL!

Budding Artist

Daniel feels he's a very talented individual. Born with much skill, his artistic side is no exception, and (according to him), is far more developed that other children his age (and those older).


He finds himself especially adept at adding finishing touches to other people's works of art. There is the added pleasure of hearing people complain (squawk loudly) if they weren't prepared to admit their own masterpiece was anything but perfection, and did not want any revisions or additions made.


Unfortunately, Daniel's appetite for art is not always satiated with merely delving in a bit of drawing. To really get into a project, he likes to sample his materials,
(that red stuff in his mouth includes more than just his tongue)


unfortunately, his mother does not approve of this.
Thus, the early development of his skills are ended.
(As well as his chalk snack.)

Matthew's version

It's been so long, that I forget the all-important things I was going to say about Matthew.
Sorry.