Funny Stuff

I keep a baby book for Madeline and Charlie -- not very well, but I do try to tape in their birthday party invitations, document my best guess at when they took their first steps, and stamp their little hands and feet in the hospital. They've both got a sappy letter from a hormonal moi.

But this blog is where the joy, humor and absolute raving chaos of our day-to-day springs to life. Here are some of the tidbits that have happened in the last two weeks (and a few random things that I forgot to write up when they happened months ago):

• Madeline was racing the older kids outside when she wiped out, scraping her knees and hands on the pavement. She was hurt and very upset. Charlie, who was dripping in blue popsicle juice from the Ice Cream Man's recent visit, walked up behind her, peeked his head around like a little ferret, and gave her a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
• I discovered Charlie stumbling around the playroom double-fisting a couple of Maple turds. There's just nothing quite as horrifying or nasty, as any dog owner with kids will agree (specifically, my friend Jo, who just had a similar experience)...
• At the indoor mall playground (a favorite on rainy days), I asked Madeline if she needed to use the restroom. She loudly announced to everyone within earshot, "Nah. I'm just itching my little peepee."
• Our cul-de-sac had a wienie roast Tuesday night. Charlie, who helps blow out candles at our daily birthday parties for Madeline's dolls and animals, tried for at least 15 minutes to blow out the fire. Rob said he looked like he was in a trance. But he just kept trying.
• We love watching all the bunnies in our yard. One day, Charlie started going nuts at the window. There was a baby bunny just 10 feet outside our front door! And if you think Charlie was excited, you should have seen Maple. For over an hour, we took pictures, talked about bunnies and ran from window to window to look at it from different angles, not wanting to scare it away. Eventually, the wind tipped it over and I realized it was my neighbor's dog toy.
  
• Every time we hop in our car, I ask Madeline for the magic word to open or close the garage door. She says something silly and acts amazed when the garage door magically opens. About three days ago, I said, "Does anyone know the magic word?" She casually answered, "Mommy, that's okay. You can just push the button."