Leaves

Tuesday we had our last warm day for many months. It was in the mid70s so I made the kids go outside and enjoy it. Bohdin and Nyla made a leaf pile and buried things in there.







By Friday it was much cooler and our first frost was predicted. We bundled up and went outside to harvest the last of the tomatoes and basil.





Friday evening I took Nyla to the neighborhood Halloween event. Bohdin stayed home because he was feeling sick and I left Cora home so I wouldn't have to carry her. Nyla dressed as a monkey but I forgot to take a picture. Saturday we went to the library book sale and found lots of great books. The kids books were only 50 cents each so we bought 51 hard back books. Some of the books I had checked out in the past year. I didn't do enough to save them. Afterward we went to a Halloween festival in another part of town. It sounded like it would be a lot of fun for the kids and thousands of people had the same thought. The line for trick or treating was crazy long so I convinced the kids to skip it. Later I found out that it is best to arrive one hour early to get a spot. That's not going to happen. There were other things there like an animal petting area and bouncy things. Cora gets excited by animals so I wanted to get her in there. She mostly just wanted to see the animals and point at them instead of touching them. She was too little to do any of the bouncy things but Bohdin and Nyla had fun on them. The lines for everything besides the trick or treating weren't too bad. They did come away with a little bit of candy after doing some games. I don't think we'll go back again next year.



Yesterday the library book sale reduced prices to $10 per box. After Cora fell asleep I thought I would sneak out myself and go but Bohdin and Nyla wanted to come. It was great that they came because they were both extremely useful. While I was looking at the adult books Bohdin went through the kid books. Nyla guarded our box. I went over Bohdin's choices and was surprised. He picked only nonfiction books which he preferred on a range of topics. There was a lot of history which I expected but then there were some odd choices like the book on colon cancer. Since there was room in the box I let him keep that but I vetoed the guide to writing essays for high schoolers. I don't know where we can store all of these books yet.

After the book sale we headed to the science museum. We originally planned to pick up Cora and bring her but we spent too much time at the book sale and had to leave her at home. The science museum had some special Halloween stuff the kids wanted to see. Bohdin's favorite was making bubbles with carbon dioxide. It was really neat and I wished I had the camera for that. Nyla liked it when they electrocuted a pickle. There were several other fun things to do and it was really nice not to have to deal with Cora during that time. Nyla was sad that Cora wasn't with us because she wanted to play with her. We'll take her back again another time soon.

The other night I asked Nyla what she wanted to be when she grew up. She responded "A fairy. No. A doctor ... on a bicycle."

Pumpkins

Friday morning after breakfast Nyla told me that her stomach wasn't feeling well. I told her to go lay on the couch for a few minutes while I finished my breakfast. Nyla thought that was a terrible idea and exictedly suggested the science museum instead.

Buddy had a work gathering on Saturday at an orchard about an hour away. It seemed like it would be a fun time for the kids because there was also a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and playground. The kids did have a lot of fun. Bohdin and Nyla each picked out a pumpkin and I bought some apples. After loading the car I went back into the store and asked if they would give me a deal if I bought all of their tomatoes. The tomatoes were looking pretty rough and I don't think anybody was buying them. After some negotiation we settled on half price. We came home with over 50 pounds of tomatoes. The past few days have been devoted to making salsa. We should not run out until next summer. I still have one more box to do tomorrow but that will be sofrito and enchilada sauce.







Bohdin and Nyla started soccer practice today. I emailed the coach to ask if Bohdin could join the younger kids so I wouldn't have to drive across town twice per week. She was cool with that so Bohdin joined several four year olds today and learned basic soccer skills. He loved it. I don't think he likes the confrontational aspect of actually playing the game. Maybe he will eventually but right now a skills class is fine for him. Nyla was excited despite the fact that she has a bit of a cold. She has matured a lot and really is ready for soccer now. She also loved it. Cora kept trying to run out and join them so I did not love practice. I don't know what I'm going to do with her. She was not interested at all in the many things I tried to divert her attention. At one point she picked out a book for me to read. After reading the first sentence she shoved it aside, grabbed a few more books to throw on the ground, and then ran away.

Cable Found

The cable was inside a book. I think it may have been Bohdin who snatched the cable instead of Cora. That was lucky because if it had been Cora I could have been looking for weeks. I found a diaper in the neighbor's yard yesterday along with Cora. She has a big range for moving things.

The countertop is a sort of greenish brownish color with gold flecks. From a distance it just looks dark which is the look we were shooting for.


Cora looks very much like Cora in the next few pictures. Her expressions and personality were captured perfectly.





We have had a huge deer problem this year. Sunday morning there were two bucks and a doe in the yard. That day they practically killed our mulberry tree. In the past they have munched on pepper plants, tomato plants, and almost everything except the basil. We were unable to grow green beans at all because the deer wouldn't let them grow. We lost perhaps half of our tomato plants to them as well. We need to come up with a good plan before next year because this gardening year was too disappointing to repeat.




Buddy cut down the weeping cherry tree that blocked our view out of the the new kitchen. It wasn't the right plant for the location. The kids were really sad. They both said it was their favorite tree and cried for quite some time. I told them they could each choose a plant to put in its place but only Nyla was satisfied with that. She wants a pink tree with pink bark and a pink nest. Bohdin wanted the exact same tree. Even now days later he is still really sad. Nyla felt better soon after it was cut down. I said we could have a funeral for the tree but Nyla thought it needed a name first. She named it Sarah and said her goodbyes. The tree is actually still in the front yard and we haven't had the funeral yet but Nyla feels better. She waves hello to it sometimes.





The plumber came today to hook up the plumbing. We weren't ready for the dishwasher so it is still in the old kitchen. For the next little while I'll be straddling the two kitchen. This afternoon I made banana bread and cookies on the new counter and it was fabulous. I had room to spread out. The new kitchen is bigger than my last two kitchens combined. I need to enjoy it while I can because there is no telling how big the next kitchen will be. Cora likes the counter space as much as I do.  She finds it to be a perfect spot for being tall and dancing.  She gets mad when I don't lift her up there so she has just been climbing on top of the table and benches instead.  This morning I walked into the new kitchen to find Cora dancing on the table while Bohdin ate breakfast. 




Cora was grinding her teeth tonight which was unbearably annoying. I caught her in the act.

Countertops

I was going to post pictures of the countertops that were mostly installed last Friday but Cora seems to have run away with the cord at some point.  After 10 minutes of searching I am not much closer to finding it.  Cora is an expert hider so there is no telling when it turns up again. 

The plumbers are coming tomorrow to finish up the plumbing.  I'm so excited because it finally looks like a kitchen.  We've put some of the pulls in place and tomorrow I will try to move stuff over.  The fridge will be moving over tomorrow and I'll probably start cooking there as well.  I only have two functional burners because we never fixed the broken grate thing after the drywallers broke it.  That will move up on the to do list.  We also need the granite people to come out and finish the job.  We have had a lot of drama with them.  They hate me I think as much as I hate them.  I wish they would just finish up so we never have to deal with each other again.  

Buddy claims that Cora behaves very well for him when he takes her to the store.  I find that hard to believe because she doesn't do great for me.  She stands in the basket despite the buckle.  She wants me to hold her or she wants to get down and run away.  We saw a 16 month old at the store tonight that was nicely following her mother around while she browsed.   Cora, in the very same store, likes to run away.  I'm zero for three on little toddlers that will stay close.  Cora is definitely the worst since she is so mischievous.  She thinks it is funny.  On Saturday we went to a lighting store and Lowes so Buddy was able to see first hand that Cora behaves horribly.  He says that she only does that with me.  Perhaps that is true.  Maybe I am doing something wrong.  Or maybe he just hasn't had her out often enough to experience this.  Sometimes she does fine for me also but not every time. 

I was reading the blog entries from three years ago to Bohdin and Nyla last night so they could see what Nyla was like at Cora's age.  Cora is entering the age where she wants everything that Nyla has.  If Nyla is drawing, she wants the marker that Nyla is using and not any other.  If Nyla is playing with a doll, she wants that doll and no other.  When I explained the situation to Nyla she seemed incredibly mature about it.  We'll see how that works out with her temper.  Anyway, I noticed that I used to write the things Bohdin would tell me and I don't do that much for Nyla.  Right now Nyla likes to talk to me about Nina who is her imaginary fairy friend.  Maybe friend isn't the right word but I can't think of a better one.  The other night we talked about Nina's surprise party the next day at our house.  Nyla told me about Nina's house and her mother whom I would meet soon.  This past week has been mostly Nina stuff which is vastly better than the previous fairies who would want to visit.

The neighbor girls came over last night and Buddy and I were not excited.  The last time they were over about two weeks ago they left the basement a mess while doing art.  I thought making Bohdin and Nyla clean up their mess would keep them from wanting them over again but it didn't work.  Those girls really wanted to come inside but we wouldn't let them.  They had to play in the yard which didn't work out either.  One of them broke Bohdin's plasma car within moments of getting on.  Those girls are crazy so I'm glad winter is coming.  We won't see much of them as the weather cools. 

Interview with Nyla

I did both of these interviews over the course of several days last week.  Despite Nyla thinking that we adore granite places that is not true and we are so done with that.  Also, Buddy does not watch baseball ever.  I don't know where that came from.


1. What is something mommy/daddy always says to you?

mommy - You always say that you love me and I'm your special Nyla.
daddy - He always say I'm a silly.

2. What makes mommy/daddy/ Nyla happy?

mommy - Me?
daddy - Cora
Nyla - By laughing

3. What makes mommy/daddy/ Nyla sad?

mommy - By missing me 
daddy - Me going
Nyla - You leaving

4. How does mommy/daddy make you laugh?

mommy - Funny stuff
daddy - Tickle me

5. What did mommy/daddy like to do as a child?

mommy - Play around with me
daddy - Play with you

6. How old is mommy/daddy?

mommy - Um I don't know.
daddy - Um I don't know

7. How tall am I?

mommy - Um.  I don't know
daddy - I don't know.  Taller than you for sure.

8. What is mommy's/daddy's/Nyla's favorite thing to watch on TV?

mommy - Um.  I don't know. 
daddy - Baseball
Nyla - Dora

9. What does mommy/daddy do when you're not around?

mommy - You try to find me
daddy - He goes to work or watch football

10. If mommy/daddy become famous, what will it be for?

mommy - I don't know
daddy- I don't know

11. What is mommy/daddy/Nyla really good at?

mommy - Cooking
daddy - Working
Nyla - Making people laugh

12. What is mommy/daddy/Nyla not very good at?

mommy - Um.  Touching the ceiling.
daddy - Getting pictures hanging up on the ceiling.
Nyla - Getting cereal in the pantry

13. What does mommy/daddy do for a job?

mommy - cooking
daddy - working for a new kitchen

14. What is mommy's/daddy's/Nyla's favorite food?

mommy - Um. I don't know
daddy - The one that we had at his birthday party.  (Pork and sauerkraut)
Nyla - Cereal.  I mean a chocolate sandwich

15. What makes you proud of mommy/daddy?

mommy - Um.  The kisses you gave me
daddy - I don't know

16. If mommy/daddy were a cartoon character, who would I be?

mommy - Um.  Ours.
daddy - Ours

17. What do we do together?

mommy - Hug! and kiss
daddy - Tickle me

18. How are we the same?

mommy - We're not the same.  Hey!  Our teeth are the same.
daddy - Cora's teeth are the same and daddy's teeth are the same.

19. How are we different?

mommy - Our hair color isn't the same
daddy - Our hair color isn't the same.

20. How do you know mommy/daddy loves you?

mommy - Because you always tell me that
daddy - Because of tickles

21. What do I like most about daddy/mommy?

mommy - All the hard work he does
daddy - You.  He likes you.

22. Where is mommy's/daddy's favorite place to go?

mommy - Science museum.  I mean the granite place.
daddy - Um.  The granite place
Nyla - the Science museum

http://buddyhelen.blogspot.com/2010/10/interview-with-nyla.html

Interview with Bohdin

1. What is something mommy/daddy always says to you?

mommy - I love you.
daddy - Hmm. (One minute later) Hmm.  I don't know what.

2. What makes mommy/daddy/ Bohdin happy?

mommy - Being with her Bohdin
daddy - He likes sleeping
Bohdin - My birthday

3. What makes mommy/daddy/ Bohdin sad?

mommy - Cora's crying
daddy - Not getting enough sleep
Bohdin - When Nyla hits me

4. How does mommy/daddy make you laugh?

mommy - Jokes.  You do pretty good jokes.
daddy - Tickling me

5. What did mommy/daddy like to do as a child?

mommy - Hmm.  Being with your brother?
daddy - Hmm.  I'm not able to think of an answer.

6. How old is mommy/daddy?

mommy - 35?
daddy - 63?

7. How tall am I?
mommy - Wait.  I know.  I'll be back. (He runs downstairs but comes back up empty handed) I'll just have to guess.  Fifteen feet and 3 inches
daddy - Let's see.  Twenty feet and 10 inches.

8. What is mommy's/daddy's/Bohdin's favorite thing to watch on TV?

mommy - The news
daddy - Football
Bohdin - I don't know.  I have a lot of favorites.  Okay, it's Wild Kratts.

9. What does mommy/daddy do when you're not around?

mommy - Misses me?
daddy - I don't know.

10. If mommy/daddy become famous, what will it be for?

mommy - Because of your temper?  (I asked him what my temper was and he said I was nice.)
daddy- Because of how much money he has?  (We wish)

11. What is mommy/daddy/Bohdin really good at?

mommy - sewing
daddy - Playing instruments
Bohdin - Running.  I know another thing I'm good at - picking my nose.

12. What is mommy/daddy/Bohdin not very good at?

mommy - Fighting
daddy - Flying.  (Nyla is listening and says that daddy is very good at lying.)
Bohdin - Digging with a shovel.

13. What does mommy/daddy do for a job?

mommy - Take care of everyone
daddy - Go to work

14. What is mommy's/daddy's/Bohdin's favorite food?

mommy - I don't know.  Okay I'll guess.  Soup?
daddy - I'm going to guess.  Noodles?
Bohdin - Chicken

15. What makes you proud of mommy/daddy?

mommy - You are one of a kind and I love you.
daddy - Daddy is one of a kind and I love him too.

16. If mommy/daddy were a cartoon character, who would I be?

mommy - Dora because you have the same hair color.
daddy - The Man in the Yellow hat because he is a man and he has hats.

17. What do we do together?

mommy - Play games
daddy - Tickling me

18. How are we the same?

mommy - We both have jobs.  (Bohdin says his job is playing)
daddy - We're both boys.

19. How are we different?

mommy - The color of clothing we wear
daddy - Our skin color

20. How do you know mommy/daddy loves you?

mommy - Because you always tell me
daddy - He tells me

21. What do I like most about daddy/mommy?

mommy - Daddy?
daddy - You?

22. Where is mommy's/daddy's favorite place to go?

mommy - The fabric store?
daddy - Work?  I know.  The military.
Bohdin - Granite America.  I also like Toys R Us.

Here is a link to last year's answers.  http://buddyhelen.blogspot.com/2010/10/bohdin-interview.html

Mouse

We've had mouse issues the past few weeks but numerous traps have failed to catch any mice.  This morning when I walked into the new kitchen to help Nyla with breakfast I saw a glue trap with a mouse on it.  I have a very strong aversion to mice in my home and wouldn't go anywhere near it.  Nyla went close, waved, and said hello.  She thought we ought to let it go so it could be with its family while I was thinking we ought to put it on a pike outside the garage as a warning.  Cora and I were in the old kitchen getting her breakfast when I heard loud squeaking.  It was an unfamiliar noise so I went to investigate.  When I asked Nyla if she was making the noise she said that it was the mouse.  The mouse had been completely still earlier and appeared dead so I was uncertain.  Nyla went to look and there were now two mice on the glue board.  I went upstairs to wake Bohdin up since we had to leave for Lego League in 10 minutes and tell him what was going on downstairs.  While he dressed himself I went back down.  Nyla wanted me to look at the mice so I went closer and saw only one.  Another mouse was slowly crawling away.  The sticky glue was making it difficult.  We went into the kitchen and grabbed a large plastic container.  I shoved it at Nyla and told her since she was the brave one she needed to catch the mouse that was trying to escape.  She said no so I told her I would pay her five dollars if she caught a mouse.  She grabbed the container and went to find the mouse.  We took too long and the mouse had disappeared.  The first mouse was still on the glue trap and was trying hard to escape.  Bohdin was down by this point and I told him I would pay him five dollars to get rid of that mouse.  He picked up the trap, put it in an old oatmeal container, and threw it in the trash.  He thought it was an easy way to make five dollars and I didn't have to do it myself.  It was a win win situation.  This evening Bohdin set up five more traps.  I will gladly pay him to catch more mice.  They have come into the basement as well and the thought of them walking all over my stuff really creeps me out.  I hope I'm paying Bohdin more money tomorrow.