Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Rendition

Here is Michael's rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star:

Twinkle star
How you are
World so high
Diamond in sky
Twinkle star
How you are

I think I have a future singer in my house.

Big Tractor Ride

Michael is enamored with any type of vehicle or machine that moves - trucks, cars, tractors, backhoes, trains, bicycles, 4-wheelers, etc...you get the idea.  Well, Michael got the opportunity to ride in the "big tractor" the day after Thanksgiving when my sister was hauling manure (yes manure) on my brother's farm to spread in the fields.  Michael could see my brother running the skid steer on his farm from my parents' window and my sister hauling the manure to the fields.  He was glued to the window and was verbally ecstatic about all of the commotion going on across the field, so Russell finally took him over there in hopes of getting him a ride.  Russell said Michael cried at first when they boarded the "big tractor", but finally settled down and enjoyed the big excursion!

I found Michael earlier in the week in my pantry making himself at home....

And lastly, Michael helping me fold clothes (into balls of clothes I should say)....

I've got to give the boy an "A" for effort!

The Refrigerator, Part II

Remember the photo I posted of Michael surveying the refrigerator for something to eat?  Let me refresh your memory.

Well, now, he goes and gets his step stool, opens the refrigerator on his own and does this....

Heavens to betsy, this kid gets into everything!!!

It's 'Nowing Outside

Our first snowfall (can you believe it?) arrived last Wednesday, Nov. 9th.  They were originally predicting 6-10" of wet heavy snow, but we ended up getting about 5".  It was quite the pretty snowfall and the first one at our new place here in the woods.  It was actually very beautiful, and I spent alot of the day just gazing out the window watching it snow.  The title of this post is in Michael's words.

The squirrels and birds persevered in trying to find food during the storm.

The trees were coated with the heavy white snow...a pretty site to see....

A view of our driveway from the main road



So what did Michael think of all of this?  Not a whole lot.  I actually dressed him up for his Christmas picture and took him outside without a coat to get my Christmas shots.  By the time we accomplished that feat (which he always makes so difficult), he was cold and wanted to go inside (and rightfully so when his Mom takes him outside for pictures without a coat on!).  I dressed him up in his winter coat and hat and put his mittens on and went back outside, but he cried and cried to go back inside.  So we did, and will try again another time.  As for now, the snow has all melted.

Conquering the Crib

One day last week I laid Michael down for his afternoon nap.  He usually talks and plays for the first 15-20 minutes, and then finally goes to sleep.   While I was waiting for him to get quiet, I was browsing the internet, and heard this beating and banging in or outside the house.  I couldn't tell where the noise was coming from...it sounded like from outside so I was looking out the windows to see if someone was breaking in the house or whatever.  Well, a few minutes later, Michael comes running down the hallway to me with a big grin and laugh on his face...he conquered getting out of the crib by himself!  So a few days later, I asked him to show me how he gets out of the crib.  And he gladly offered the following demonstration.

The strange thing is now every time he wakes up, he doesn't get out of the crib by himself and come out of the room...he yells for Daddy first...then me if Daddy isn't around.  Then when we go in his room, he wants to crawl out himself.  And now this week, when we put him to bed, he has to crawl in the crib himself as well.

Last week I taught him about Eskimo kisses (rubbing our noses together).  Well, he's remembered that, and every night we put him to bed, he asks for a "mo-mo" kiss from Russell and I.

It's time to dismantle the crib and set up the toddler bed.

Bikes and Trailers and Other Tidbits

*Editor's note:  I promised blog posts to folks last week but my internet went down for some time but am now back on line.

Early last week I spotted Michael riding his bike toward our shed which is a little ways from the house, and I noticed he stopped at the trailer.  I decided to walk outside with the camera to see what he was doing.  He had his bike backed up to the trailer hitch and was trying to lift the hitch to connect it to his bike.  He tried and tried to lift it, and then asked me if I could do it.  I willingly appeased him, and showed him I couldn't lift it either!

Remember doing this as a kid?  I do.  He eventually just takes the shirt off.  This is the only shirt he does this with.  I think I'm just going to pack it away.



How is this for table manners?  My Dad taught him this next habit when eating soup or anything with liquid in a bowl.  Very cute when he can drink and keep the liquid in his mouth, but not so cute when he dumps it all over himself.  That Grandpa!

And lastly, more helpin' (as Michael puts it) Mom with chores around the house.  He can actually push this fairly heavy vacuum cleaner around the carpet.  He's very strong for a 2 year old.