Day 2227

What a difference a couple years makes! Chinchilla was totally uninterested in costumes and trick or treating... he just wanted to stay inside with his hoodie, boots and toque on and look at all the people and point out our pumpkin.

Lizard was SO excited about trick or treating and seemed to be in utter disbelief that people were just giving her their candy.

And because her brother didn’t actually collect any candy, she offered to share her haul.

All the feels.

Day 2226

With some kids, it might have been a grim death march. Lizard told me she was cold, and that her legs were a little tired, but she was still happy that we got to go on an adventure together.

Day 2225

You think you’re into a nice path of decreasing diaper changes, and then all of a sudden your kid’s stuffed panda is pooping all over the place and you are needed to fix it.

Just because it’s pretend doesn’t mean it’s fun, child. Especially the hundredth time.

... although I do enjoy hearing you say “change bumma!! Boop!”

Day 2224

Today Lizard learned the word disagreement. Because we were having them. All day.

On the plus side, when I told her I was feeling a little discouraged, she asked me what she could do to  help, and gave me a big hug. And then “read” encouraging mail to me.

And Chinchilla brought a puzzle over to the big table and climbed up on the big chair so he could do puzzles with his big sister.

Day 2223

Dear Chinchilla,

When your sister gets sent for a timeout for something she did to you, it might be counterproductive for you to go and sit with her out of solidarity.

Love,

Your mother

Day 2222

Movie nights with everyone snuggling and laughing together on the couch are the best nights.

Day 2221

It’s a dark day when your toddler learns to pull the kids off markers...

But on the plus side, Lizard has really started belting it out when she sings, and it’s my favourite. Time to start introducing her to power ballads...

Day 2220

Aggravating children in the morning then one so snuggly and sweet in the evening and the other with all of the feelings.

Hold the snuggles close to your heart; deep breath and let everything else go.

Day 2219

Trying to rake leaves with two small children means trying and failing to convince them to let you use the rake, and then grabbing the rake and raking as fast as you can the moment they get distracted and put it down.

However, they did both help put leaves in bins and bags. And their earnest little assistance was the best part.

Day 2218

Cracking down on the wandering Lizard, and encouraging silly dance moves from our kids.

And hearing Chinchilla dent that he’s a stinker: “tinker, no!”

Day 2217

Our children continue to be charming at parties.

Lizard was so impressed with the organization of it that she has started playing Birthday, and was decorating and cooking up a storm. She had so much on her plate that she asked her brother to keep an eye on her cooking so it wouldn’t burn.

She also told us about her babies, who get up to all sorts of shenanigans, like refusing to nap, stealing their mommy’s food, climbing on the garage and spinning around, and eating their bottles.

Sounds like a case of demonic possession.

Day 2216

When your one and a half year old puts on their boots, brings you their coat and asks for help, they might be trying to tell you something.

Day 2215

Don’t get your kids flu shots on your birthday unless you want to deal with them being almost comedically overwrought... but mostly annoyingly overwrought. With brief detours into concerningly overwrought.

Day 2214

This morning we played a game with Chinchilla.

“Are you a doggy?” “No doggy!” “Are you a potato?” “Tato! No!” “Are you Charles?” “NO DARBLES!”

...until Lizard got fed up with having to wait for her breakfast: “Stop all that silliness!”

Day 2213

Chinchilla seems to be developing an awareness of when he needs to poop, but sometimes seems to get confused between poops and farts. This evening he was mostly The Boy Who Cried Boop <pats bum>.

Day 2212

Yes Lizard, we also miss Penelope. But that won’t make Honda fix her any faster, so cool your darn jets.

Day 2211

Post-vacation recovery begins. We’re firmly in the ‘need another vacation’ phase.

Day 2210

We’ve discovered that our little monkeys are excellent little roadtrippers, for which I am extremely grateful.

But still.

Home at last.

<exhales>

Day 2209

Our vacation took an unexpected turn and we ended up playing Arkham Horror with my mom. “I use this card to increase my might... did I kill the whosits?”

Day 2208

Zoo days with toddlers: a workout for your legs, arms, and patience.

Also totally worth it.

Day 2207

Chinchilla has definitely learned to say no, but there is no evidence that he knows how to say it only once. He has the saddest most pathetic string of nos I’ve ever heard.

Day 2206

Vacation always reminds me how important naps are, and also what sweethearts our babies are.

Day 2205

The babies seem to be excellent little roadtrippers, especially if you bring LOTS of snacks and don’t expect Lizard to sly.

On a related note, it’s not a great time to start discussing why you shouldn’t call people names when your kid is extremely overtired. Or so the stinkybutt leads me to believe.

Day 2204

Filling the bath with buckets and sawing wood so you can heat the house sure makes you appreciate modern life. But it’s nice knowing you can do it.

Day 2203

If it weren’t for the fact that sleeping in the car seems to give her nightmares, I think Lizard would be pretty happy doing road trips basically all the time. And she doesn’t even know she can watch movies in the car yet!

Day 2202

Turns out our tiny humans suck at sleeping in the car.

Also, moose adjusters. Moose adjusters adjusting your car into oblivion.

Day 2200

Entertaining an almost four year old in the car for hours is much easier than entertaining a one and a half year old.

Day 2199

That feeling when you go for a run even though it is cold and miserable out.... and end up 0.07km shy of your goal. AAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

Also, Lizard cried when I took the elastics out of her hair because apparently her hair isn’t beautiful anymore when it’s not in braids.

Also, Chinchilla gave me one of his most ridiculous pouts when I suggested he could stay sitting on the toilet while I grabbed a clean diaper. Nope, apparently not an option.

Day 2198

Lizard is much more enthusiastic about helping her brother than he is about receiving her assistance. But this morning he was willing to go along with her when she decided to dress him.

“Come sit on my lap.” Which he did, only then she couldn’t see or reach to do much because she’s only a little bigger than he is.

“Remember, the tag goes at the back!”

“No, that leg goes in the other hole! What a silly little boy!”

Day 2197

 When you say ‘No!’ forcefully enough that your kid is startled and freaked out and needs to come sob in your arms... until they calm down enough to realize that you’re the mean one and have to switch to sobbing in the other parent’s arms...