Published!

As many of you know I write for The Cloth Diaper Whisperer, usually about once every six to eight weeks.  If you cloth diaper, or know someone who does, it is a fantastic blog (not because I write for it, but because it is a great resource...had to clear that up).  As I have (obviously)been out of the blog world for quite a few days, I missed the day that my post about washing a disposable diaper was published, but you can read it here.  It was a total fiasco (the washing ordeal, not the blog post).  So I did not was a disposable diaper.  Not me!  (Linking up with Not Me Monday which has returned!)

I've been out of the loop because:
A) #1 switched shifts at work which always alters our entire family's schedule
B)  Homeschooling Snug two days a week is rewarding, but also takes a lot out of me
C) I am SO tired at nap/bedtime that I rarely do anything but fold laundry and lay on the couch.

We had a great weekend as a family, and I have some nice pictures to post...later.

A Day At The Pool...Little M Man's View

 This summer I went from a "I must have my life jacket on in case the water touches me" boy to a swimming with my face in the water without any help boy (as long as I can touch...nothing over my head please!).

 When I can't be in my "Nemo Fish Pool" I love love love the water cannons at the splash pad.

 I will spray you if you come close enough!

 My mommy thinks I'm cute.  She keeps taking pictures of me...and I just want to SWIM!

 At the beginning of the summer all I'd attempt were the little slides in the "Nemo Fish Pool".

At the end of the summer, I'd do the little slides in the "big pool".  

 I always tell mommy what a brave boy I am after each slide.

 And when I'm tired, I go back and relax in my "Nemo Fish Pool".  I cried when the pool closed this week and there is no more swimming.

*Mommy*
I am so proud of how far LMM came this summer.  Until the end of July he was terrified to be in any water over his head, even with a life jacket.  He was not confident even in water where he could touch.  By the beginning of September, when our pool closed, he would not only go into water where he couldn't touch with a life jacket on, he'd take it off in water where he could touch.

The downside is, he developed a NASTY case of swimmer's ear in mid August...something we battle daily now.  He cannot get even a drop of water in his ears without them starting to get infected.  He dutifully wears earplugs and an ear band-it to protect them.  The other day Snug was taking a bath, I was helping Rosebud, and the next thing I know he was in the tub with Snug with his head under the water "swimming".  As I had left him at the table to finish his milk...well lets just say I wasn't prepared to have him swimming.  And now he has a fever and headache and earache...which means it is once again back.  We'll probably have to take him to the doctor as I've battled this by myself for two days and he's getting sicker.  We have medicated ear drops, but we know from the first time that if it gets bad enough we have to do antibiotics.  With his previous history we simply cannot take any chances when it comes to his ears.  Evidently he didn't get that memo.

Little Monkey Man's First Day

 Today was LMM's big day.  The first day of preschool.  He is attending the same school that Snug did last year for pre-kindergarten.  He was a very very proud little boy today.  He was thrilled to have new shoes.

 He just is growing up so fast.

 He and Little Miss E. that I have in my daycare are attending the same school, same days so that is very convenient for me.  And as Snug's (strange) school schedule also has him in school on Tuesdays...#1 and I went grocery shopping with just Rosebud today.  We called it a "date".

 He was very happy to pose for some pictures and show daddy his classroom.

After "clipping in" he ran to the train table and didn't even say goodbye.  I guess that is better than tears!  He cannot wait to go back Thursday.  I don't know his assistant teacher, but his lead teacher and I have known each other for years and I love her dearly.

When I picked him up after preschool, the director of the preschool said "he did really well.  He will have to learn to follow our rules, but he's not the only one."  Hmmmmmmm....could be an interesting year!  I am just glad he was happy to be there and wants to go back.

Yay Yay Yay for Labor Day!

Labor Day marks the beginning of festival season here in SW Ohio.  We still live close enough to my college town to return for events, one of which is their Labor Day celebration.  This year we are leaving out a major part of the festivities, which is the BEST fireworks I've ever been to (besides Disney, but that's a given).  They don't start till 9:30 plus we still have to drive home afterwards.  Due to school tomorrow, and the fact that I'd be taking the kids by myself, we won't be attending this year.  It may be Labor Day, but daddy still works.  He's moved shifts for the fall/winter so he does get to enjoy daytime fun.

We always start off our time at the fireman's breakfast.  $5 for each adult, kids five and under eat free.  It is supposed to be a fundraiser...I think they lost money on our family.  We brought pancakes for LMM, but he ate his fill of eggs, sausage, and orange juice.  Snug had four pancakes along with the eggs. OJ, and sausage.  Rosebud ate eggs, hash browns, sausage, and a pancake.  That right there was $10 in breakfast.  We won't say how many pancakes daddy had  :o)

 After the breakfast the kids got to climb around on the firetrucks.

 After the initial festivities, we walked around the festival site and then headed to main street to our pre-saved parade seats.  The parade route fills up quickly.

 On the way, we found several families from our church congregated and settled there instead.  Daddy went and retrieved our chairs and we squeezed in.

 Parades may have bands, and rescue vehicles...tractors and floats...but what my kids go for is CANDY.

 The ironic thing is that they get 1-2 pieces during the parade and they never see the rest of it.  The candy fairy lives here and visits after every parade and holiday.  We don't actually say the candy fairy came...but once it gets home, candy is never to be seen again.

 Rosebud settled herself down right on the street to enjoy her sucker.

 Eventually daddy got tired of tripping on her and put her in a chair.  She was just as happy.  The sweatshirt she is wearing was mine when I was a baby.  How fun!

 After the parade we meandered back to the festival grounds for, as LMM called it "money in a haysnack".  They spread out straw on a tarp and then threw nickles in it for kids to find.  I am SO glad they broke it into age groups as when the 7-10 year olds did their's it was quite aggressive.  LMM was in the 3 and under group.  He got 30 cents.

 Rosebud could care less about nickles, and she joined both the under 3 crowd and the 4-6 year olds to simply play in the straw.

Snug got it and collected about 60 cents.  Not bad considering that is more than 2 days of chore money for him!

Well, here it goes!  Almost every weekend from here on out is some activity...I love the fall!!!

A Day At The Pool...Rosebud View

 Welcome to my pool!  My brother Little Monkey Man calls it "Nemo Fish Pool" but I call is "EEEKKKK".  I see the water and screech.  I can't wait to get in and splash.  There are several fountains and two slides that say "ages 2-4".  Guess what.  I'm bored on them already.  But this is the pool I spend most of my time in.

 Sometimes I wear  bathing suit...

...sometimes I don't.  Depends on what my mama feels like.  I could care less either way as long as I have my Bummis swim diaper on.  There is a rule at my pool that my un-potty trained peers must have a swim diaper on.  Guess what?  Nearly half the kids here have regular diapers on.  It is so gross.  They get all saggy and then the gel starts to seep out when their mamas pull them out of the water.  SICK.  

 Once an hour there is a fifteen minute break.  I hate break.  It means I have to get out of the water and...sit.  I don't sit.  But the splash pad stays open and I like to play there too.

 When daddy goes to the pool with me, he takes me into the big kid pool.  Now that is a party!

 This people, is a real slide.

 Here...

I....

Go!  Often I end up face first at the bottom and that really makes me laugh.  It makes the lifeguards nervous.  Actually I make the lifeguards nervous overall.  My favorite trick in the "Nemo Fish Pool" is to float face down, arms and legs out.  And then I stand up and laugh.  And they hate it.  So does my mama.  

In the end, I am exhausted.  We usually only go to our pool for 1 or maybe 2 hours at a time.  But man, that is a lot of work for a little lady.  

Stay tuned, my brothers will give you their takes on the pool.