Mealtime Messies

Has anyone else ever had this mealtime idea: serve the toddler spaghetti with only a diaper and a bib?  If you haven't, I highly recommend it!  Kids love spaghetti, but, wow, the mess that it creates is absolutely mind boggling!  Noodles and sauce literally end up everywhere.  Oh, and another piece of advice: serve it on bath night!

"K" really does love the ground beef in the spaghetti.  For the longest time, he was not really in favor of the noodles, but he has started to get better about eating pasta.  Thank goodness, because pasta is one of my favorite items to eat!  So, enjoy this after dinner photo of the spaghetti-loving-little-man!

Dinner Guests

One of my favorite things about spring and summer is the weather!  I love being able to be outside, and enjoying some delicious grilled treats!  My good friend EM, was back for a visit, so we celebrated in the best way possible - with dinner from the grill!  Thanks EM for sharing the photos and your time we us, we had the best time!

The female crew that came for dinner is pictured here.  The guys were the photo takers - thanks Mr. Fixit and WM!  We enjoyed steaks, chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli salad, fruit salad, bread and this fun Jell-O dessert which DM brought.  I honestly don't know the name of it, but "K" pretty much thought it was top notch!

Sleepy Boy

Nap times are quite the adventure for "K," as it seems like playing in bed is the favorite thing to do.  As a matter of fact, sometimes he talks and plays for about an hour before he actually falls asleep!  I am wondering if it is time to cut out the morning nap, as he really sleeps quite good during that nap time.  Hmmm, oh the dilemmas of toddlerhood!

So, here I snapped a photo as I was trying to wake "K" up.  He had been asleep for about 2 1/2 hours, and it was time to wake up for snack.  Just a fact, in case you are curious, he does not like being woke up.  Typically, a wake up is followed by a l-o-n-g cranky period!

Feline Friend

Mama Cat, the name that we have given to the stray that we adopted from Mom and Dad's, since they were moving, has really taken a liking to her new digs.  She has 4 little kittens, and they are also quite comfortable roaming around the yard.  Mama Cat especially is fond of "K," maybe because she gets to eat his leftover snacks and meals?

"K," at first, was really in to pulling her tail and her ears.  She was quite the laid back, and forgiving kitty, so thankfully, she put up with the fuss.  "K" has now taken to "kissing" the cat.  I am not really quite sure of this, but I have decided - as with all stages - that this one too, will not last forever!

My "IFriend"

I call my friend EM, my "IFriend" because she is from an "I" state and lives and works in an "I" state, which, I think, is rather cool.  So, my "Ifriend" reference is not really related to technology at all, except that, she is really good at technology, and technology keeps us in touch when we can't see either other very often!

So, EM came back for a visit - thank goodness - because I have missed her.  Phone calls, Facebook and blogs really cannot do a person justice.  Plus, it is just difficult for us to travel to see her right now with the "little guy," as Mr. Fixit calls "K."  Someday, I would love to take a vacation to the "I" state, but for now, we must relish the great visit we had!

Sand Box

Recently Mr. Fixit engineered a sand box out of a cattle feed bowl, and of course, some sand.  The sand box is hanging out on the deck, strategically placed on several tarps designed to capture the sand.  However, I will let everyone know, that the sand really does find its way all over the deck.  My advice: wear shoes when you venture out!

This photo shows "K's" first day with his sand box.  He loves grabbing handfuls of sand and distributing it in various places, such as chair seats.  He also like using the rake and shovel to move the sand around.  We are still working on filling buckets and dumping them in the sand box.  Hopefully, a skill that will come soon!

Ear Tubes

After six ear infections, or maybe one ear infection that never went away, and six rounds of antibiotics later, Little "K" received ear ventilation tubes last week.  The process to get to this point was about four months, and Mr. Fixit and I are both hoping this is the ticket to a happier and healthier baby!

The surgical appointments for these little guys are early.  We headed in for our 7:15 a.m. appointment, and were on the road home by 9:00 a.m.  The doctors and nurses used a anesthesia to put the little guy to sleep, for about a 10 minute procedure.  Then we waited for Little "K" to wake up, and take a few drinks of water before we were cleared to go home.

Everything seemed to go smoothly, and after "K" had a round of hiccups later that morning, I really began to wonder.  Hiccups seem to be very painful after ear surgery.  This photo shows a little flashback to birthday times, because I did not want to photo a very cranky camper!