Beauty & Grace?

Last week Taryn started her ballet/tap dancing classes.  Mommy was a little shocked at the cost that quickly piled up...  We had ballet shoes, tap shoes, leotard & tights, class fees and registration fees to pay for.  Not to mention another fee for costumes coming down the pipe for the Christmas production.  It's worth it though! 

Parents don't get to stay and watch the class, so some of us stick around downstairs.  From that spot was can hear the class and from that, I can only imagine the comedy going on upstairs.  When the girls get their tap shoes going, it sounds like a tin roof in a hurricane.  Wow, I can't imagine how deafening it is to be in the same room!  The teacher asks the girls questions throughout the class like "What is your favorite sandwich?"  I could hear all of the classic "PB&J" responses.  Then I heard Taryn...  "I LIKE TURKEY AND CHEESE!"  That's my girl. 

At the end of class the parents file back upstairs.  The class hadn't quite ended, so I snuck a peak around the corner to see what was going on in the class.  Taryn had a stick with a ribbon on the end of it (think rythmic gymnastics style) and was waving it above her head.  Her face had a look that was half amazement and half caution out of fear of hitting herself in the face with it.  I cracked up.  I told Lee that he needed to take a peek and he got a good chuckle too. 

To say I'm anxious to see what our Christmas production brings is an understatement.  Teaching 3 & 4 year olds tap and ballet MUST be like herding cats.  But, I can pretty much guarantee it will be a good, entertaining show! 

Enjoying Summer's End

I am officially back to school...  Taryn is going to daycare 3 days a week.  Her preschool starts in a week and a half...  Summer is over.   But that doesn't mean we can't take advantage of these nice evenings!

 

Taryn managed to talk her Grandma in to buying her a picnic set (I'm sure that was really a tough sell), so we have been taking many a picnic out in our yard.  We always have to use every piece of silverware, which sometimes means eating fruit snacks with a fork.  We cheers our cups many a time and wave to the neighbors that go by. 

 After our picnic, we strolled down to the end of our street and walked around in the grass.  Took advantage of this photo op.  Can you say classic Indiana? 

And what photo session is complete without a shot of the windmills.  I love windmill / sky pics!  (Yes, this is the end of our road.  We definitely live on the EDGE of town.)

Going Going Gone

You know how toddlers always want to "race" you...  And you have to pretend to be slow so that it's actually a race...  Sometimes you let them win...  

Well, I don't have to pretend anymore.  Taryn can legitamately beat me in a foot race now.  And it definitely isn't because she is getting a lot faster.

Zen

Meditating after a good yoga workout?  Or random toddler sleeping position?  Your call.

Dear Baby Cole,

I made you a collage.  It is hanging on your bedroom door.  This is a picture of me with your collage.  I'm not wearing a shirt because we used glue...  I can't wait for you to get out of mommy's belly so that we can have fun and I can start teaching you everything under the sun.  I will most likely also run your life.  And blame things on you even when you are a newborn.  Right now I have to blame the kitties.  Oh yeah, stay away from Dapper.  She may look fluffy, but she does not like babies.  I love you baby brother!! 

Love,
Big Sister Taryn

Root root root for the Indians?

For the past 7 years or so, the Klemme's have gone to a Cubs game each summer as a family.  As the family grew, it got a lot harder and more expensive to manage.  Last year we actually rented two 15-person vans to get there.  As we drove the 3-hr drive home, all exhausted and bordering on heat stroke, we discussed that it may be time to find a new alternative. 

 That alternative, we decided, was an Indianapolis Indians game!  So, this year we made the much shorter trek down to Indy for a game.  The tickets were a LOT cheaper.  So was the parking.  And there was room to sprawl out.  We even managed to sit in the shade! 

 Taryn opted for to cool down with a battery operated fan. 

 I don't even know what this mascot's name is.  I want to say Rowdy?  But perhaps I just made that up. 

 I opted to cool down by putting wet paper towels on my head.  Even in the shade, this has been a brutal summer. 

 This picture really sums it up...  This was about 10 minutes after the end of the game.  And it looks like we're the last ones in the stadium!  Much quicker than a Cubs game!! 

Though the "BIG BOYS", Lee, Neil & Matt surely noticed the difference between MLB and the minors, the rest of us really didn't care too much!  The kids had fun and were worn out enough that Taryn fell asleep with her water bottle in her hand.  (I've seen Lee do this with a beer!) 

Go Indians!

Adios Lake

This summer Lee's parents decided to sell their lakehouse and move back into the West Lafayette area.  While some of the family members couldn't comprehend the decision to leave the lake, most of us understood their decision.  They bought the lakehouse about 12 years ago.  At that time, all of their kids ranged from age 20 to 25 with zero grandkids.  Everyone had lots of time to spend at the lake and lots of time to help with the maintenance of the place.  There were parties galore!  As you can see from the pictures below (not pictured:  Lee), times have changed.  They are now a family of 10 adults and, as of October, 10 children.  They empty beer cans scattering the yard have been replaced with sippy cups and a swingset. 

While the little ones love the lake, the family just didn't have the time to spend at the lake.  And the grandkids are starting to participate in sports.  So, in addition to their normal 40 minute commute, the Klemme's found themselves spending many a evening in West Lafayette at various basketball and T-ball games.  The era of the lake had ended for them.  Below are a couple pics of the day they moved.  It was a sad farewell, but I know the Klemme's will be much happier being back close to their kids & grandkids. 

Dear Caillou's Parents,

Yes, I am aware that you are an animated mother & father on PBS, but I have some gripes to pick with you. 

1)  Whining.  When my child whines, I have a problem with it.  I ask her to use her "big girl" voice and ask for things politely.  She doesn't get what she is asking for without a complete sentence that contains 'please' and does not contain whines.  When I am out and about and other kids whine, it may as well be fingernails on a chalkboard.  Perhaps it's because I'm a teacher and hear a lot of overgrown adolescents whining like 2 year olds.  I don't know.  At any rate, YOUR child, Caillou, is one whiney little mo' fo'.  If my daughter is going to be obsessed with this show, I really don't want her learning that being a high-pitched, cringe-inducing, whiner is ok.  Ok?  I know he's got a high pitched voice and probably will til puberty, but there are some steps you can take to help him so his voice doesn't make me gag on my Cheerios each morning. 

2)  Consistency.  Have you ever read a book on parenting?  Oh, again with the "I'm a cartoon" excuse...  Well, generally the first rule on parenting is consistency.  If my child asks for something and I say NO and then she asks again (and again and again and again)...  The answer is still NO.  If you cave, they will learn that if they pester you enough, your answer will change and you will never be able to say no ever again.  What am I referring to?  There are many examples that come to mind, but when Caillou wanted to go to the park to look for his friend's lost dinosaur is a great one.  To refresh your memory, Caillou said he wanted to go to the park.  You said you would take him in the morning.  He asked again (probably whined a little, see above) and suddenly you said you would walk over there after dinner.  Not cool.  Trust me, kids know who the pushover is and they will strong arm you any chance they get.  Why do you think kids love going to their grandparents so much?  Because grandparents = pushovers.  But, grandparents are allowed to do that.  They have earned that right.  Parents need to hang tough. 

3)  Punish bad behavior.  Don't reward it!!!  When I say this, I am thinking of a very specific situation.  You guys were at the park and Caillou heard the ice cream truck.  He wanted ice cream.  You guys tried to get to the truck, but Caillou's baby sister, Rosie, was too slow and you missed the truck.  Sucks, I know.  I love me some ice cream too.  But, Caillou threw a total fit and was a prick to his little sister.  Just because she is, what, like 1 year old?  So, what happens next?  Does Caillou get a timeout?  A spanking?  At least reprimanded?  No.  He goes home and his dad makes him ice cream sundaes to make up for missing the truck.  WHAT?!?

So, in summary, please step up the parenting.  I don't want my child getting these ideas for poor behavior from her cartoons.  A PBS cartoon, nonetheless!  And I don't want her thinking that every household should be run by a 4 year old whiney kid.  If I don't see a timeout in Caillou's near future, the DVR may accidentally delete all your shows. 

And for the love of all that is holy, please get your kid to stop whining or I'm going to stuff a sock in his yapper! 

Sincerely,
Lauren

God is Great, Beer is Good & Toddlers are CRAZY

Spending my summer home with my favorite 3-yr old has been wonderful.  But, it has given me hours and hours of time to watch and contemplate.  As summer comes to an end, I have come to one final conclusion...  Toddlers are freaking nuts!  

First, we have the battle being waged against naps.  Why?  I mean, naps are glorious. SO glorious. You get to snuggle up in the afternoon, take a break from the day and nap off your lunch.  Do you know how many afternoons I spend at work WISHING I could nod off for an hour or so?  YOU GET TO DO THAT!  Living the dream.  Seriously. 

But, I do understand that toddlers are nosey little folks.  They don't like to miss any of the action.  And they love to play!  And naps are not conducive to that.  Toddlers would rather turn into miserable raging puddles of tantrum.  So, I still think it's nuts, but I will proceed...

But NOW...  A war on EATING?  That is just straight up loco.  I can't even fathom a reason that you would not want to EAT.  And we're not talking about gross food here.  We're talking mac & cheese and peaches, pizza and other toddler faves.  I just don't get it.  It doesn't matter what is on the plate, it's not getting eaten in a timely matter. 

Every meal takes about 45 minutes and we have to battle... for... every.... little... nibble...  There are negotiations, threats, time outs, counting to 3, bribery, leaving the table, being sent straight to bed...  We try it all. 

Please, PLEASE for the sake of my sanity, sweet toddler, give up this assault on eating!!  And take a damn nap for good measure! 

It's Done! (Pretty Much)

So, aside from shades that need to go on the windows (not shown in pictures anyway!), Cole's room is pretty much done...  I say pretty much because I am sure I will obsessively tweak and rearrange in the next 8-11 (please be closer to the 8) weeks.  I am already not happy with the red blanket on the twin bed and the old light fixture.  But, a large part of me is trying to be reasonable here.  The light is perfectly functional.  The red blanket is something we already had and he won't even use that bed for like 2 years!  But, logic usually gets stifled by pregnancy perfectionist craziness.  I posted the before & after pics because you really can't get a true appreciation of the finished product without seeing where it came from.  Eek! 

* By the way, I opened my blog back up to public viewing.  So, those of you that use Google Reader can hopefully start seeing it again!