Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from SuperLemur!

(PS - Note the long, ringed tail. He's very proud of it!)

The Perfect Storm

I have a cold. And I didn't get much sleep last night. Throw in a teething baby and a mysteriously foul-mooded three-year-old, and it made for a Perfect Storm. Tantrum after tantrum (from the three-year-old), clingy fussiness (from the baby), and me wondering alternately, "What happened to my sunny Lemur?" and "If I just dropped him at school and didn't come back would anyone notice?" There was way too much TV viewing going on here today, but it was that or Mommy losing her mind...

But thankfully Kevin came home and caged the Peevish Primate....

Phew...

Thank Heaven days like this are rare. My nerves would not survive frequent onslaughts of this behavior, I assure you!

Seven Months Of Brotherhood

Here we are at the end of October with pumpkins and leaves galore. Soon it will be time for Christmas shopping. The time, she flies by....

Gran-Gran took this picture in our front yard. I am envious of her photographic talent.

Here's Liam picking out a Halloween pumpkin...

...and playing in the leaves.

The weather has been crazy, too. Tuesday I was cramming the kids into now-too-small summer clothes, and then on Thursday, it was bunting time.

I just love little boys in stripes and overalls.

Colored leaves make a great toy on a trip to the zoo...

...and we learned that orangutans use large leaves to shelter themselves from sun and rain. Apparently the same logic applies to Lemurs, as well.

Boo!

"I'm so glad you came out of Mommy's tummy, Kiri!"

(Yes, that is an actual quote from SuperLemur. Long may the sentiment continue!)

This is the shortest seven months I've ever known. Time seem to go even faster with the second baby...

Big Bird and Nursing

The thoughtful Karen over at Nine Texans just sent me this link saying, "Big Bird is on board with 'the agenda' too." Check it out...



...and while you're at it hop on over to Karen's place and leave her some cheerful notes. She's in her first trimester and is having a rough time of it. Thank you, Karen, and hang in there - pretty soon you'll have another little baby to rock and nurse!

I'll Take This As A Compliment

A local hospital was running a "Baby Shower" here today. It was pretty much what you'd expect - booths promoting various baby goods and services to expectant and new moms. Kieran and I were there manning the La Leche League booth. At one point we went for a walk. Hanging out at the babywearing booth, I overheard a formula company rep say to a local pediatrician:

"Those La Leche League people definitely have an agenda, but MY GOD they have happy babies!"

"Happy, happy, happy - that's me!"

Jeff, 1999-2007

The sweet white ferret in the picture above, Jeff came to us over a year ago from a shelter along with his buddies Penny and Pippi. We didn't know if he would make the transition to our house at the advanced ago of 7+, but he did. He's given us a great deal of love and a lot of cuddles. Thank you for gracing us with your gentle nature, Jeff, and peaceful travels along the Rainbow Bridge.

Our History In Numbers

3 years together in college (all fun)
+ 3 years of grad school (mostly fun, but some blah)
+5 jobs (all good)
+ 4 houses (don't remind me about our mortgage)
+ 5 (6?? 7???) vacations to DisneyWorld (let's go next year. Again!)
+10 cars (7 of them Saturns)
+ 2 dogs (both neurotic)
+ 15 ferrets (crazy, every last one of 'em)
+ 2 beautiful kids (gorgeous!)
+ Numerous ups and downs (many, many, many)
------------------------------------
17 years of marriage (with many more to come)

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

Six Months Of Brotherhood

In six months we've gone from a little boy and his newborn baby brother to a full-fledged pre-schooler who has a little brother almost half his size:

Don't they just look like they're up to something?

Liam dyed this silk at his school's Michaelmas festival. He brought it home and promptly used it to transform himself into Super Lemur, a broccoli-eating primate...

Speaking of fall festivities - Liam found all these "treasures" on a bike ride. We brought them home and made a wreath with them.

Meanwhile, back in Babyland, Kieran demonstrates the "sit up and pull off the socks" maneuver.

I think it's a construction worker playing guitar, but I'm not entirely sure...

Mmmmmm, peaches!

All this eating and playing sure make a fellow tired!

I can't believe it's been six months already!

Nursery Rhyme Improv

Liam (mumbling to himself):

"Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King's horses,
And all the King's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again....

Um, Mommy? Mommy? MOMMMEEE??"

Me: "Yes?"

Liam: "What happens next? What's the next rhyme?"

Me: "Um, Hickory Dickory Dock?"

Liam: "No, no, no. What happened to Humpty Dumpty? After he fell?"

Me: "I'm not sure..."

Liam (looking like he won't take no for an answer): "What's the next rhyme? Where he got undamaged?"

Me (thinking fast):

Humpty Dumpty got off the ground
And glued himself all nice and round.
All the King's horses
And all the King's men
Were shown how to fix him so nicely, then!"

Liam: "Thanks, Mom....um????

Me: "Yes??"

Liam: "What happens in Hickory Dickory Dock after the clock strikes one and the mouse runs down? Where does he go?"

Me: "Let me think about it and get back to you tomorrow."

Liam: "OK. Or maybe I should just ask at school."

********

With questions like this it's a good thing he's broadening his information sources!