Most recent kid happenings http://mark.biek.org/kidblog http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ ‎"It was love at first sight, Stu. We have the strongest bond a brother & sister could ever have." 2012-02-15 22:07:14.138643 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/484/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ At some point in the last few days, the kids brought home lice from school and we all ended up with. The entire weekend was spent washing clothes, washing hair, combing hair, and picking out nits with tweezers. Suck! 2012-02-13 14:07:58.684336 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/483/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: "Daddy, who took care of the very first baby?" Me: "The baby's parents?" Ivar: "No no no. The very FIRST baby that ever was that didn't have any parents. Who took care of it?" 2012-02-13 14:06:20.258277 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/482/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: Stuart, will you read me Scaredy Shark? Stuart: Aww, man! I read that to you last night. I don't want to read it again. Ivar: But I really want to hear it! Stuart: I'll read Goldilocks and the Three Bears instead. 2012-01-25 01:19:09.977612 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/481/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: I'm so thirsty, I could drink blood. Stuart: I don't think that's going to help. Blood's pretty warm. 2012-01-15 03:20:39.204485 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/480/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "D.L. days are the best because they go so fast and I get back to Mommy faster." 2012-01-11 13:23:23.275280 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/479/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: "Mr Mouth hates lettuce." Jane: "Mr Mouth?" Ivar: "Yeah, my mouth is a boy cuz I'm a boy. You're mouth is a girl cuz you're a girl." Jane: "Oh." 2011-12-22 13:28:41.564067 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/478/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I just heard Rina say "Stuart, it's not fair. You always get pussy! " I'm pretty sure she was talking about the cat. 2011-12-12 16:05:02.218020 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/477/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane made Catarina study for her science test in the car driving home from Baba's house. She ranted and raved the whole time saying things like "I'm never going to make my kids study. I'm never going to make them do anything they don't want to do!" After a few minutes of this, Jane heard Stuart mutter "I'm going to make my kids do all of the same things I had to do. If I had to suffer, they have to suffer." 2011-10-27 13:15:59.981786 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/476/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart got a book about King Tut from Nana and he's obsessed with it. He walks around reading it constantly. He ever offered to let me borrow it today so I could read it too. 2011-10-21 12:40:05.558206 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/475/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "I think I'm the only person in my class who has no idea who Justin Bieber is." 2011-10-21 12:39:26.230190 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/474/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina responded, "I'm too young to have breasts." 2011-10-18 13:43:27.568723 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/473/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ At breakfast Ivar said, "Quit staring at me. You look like you're in love with me. You look like a girl with breasts on." 2011-10-17 19:05:16.400299 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/472/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ ‎"If my prayer partner were in second grade, I would be hoping to have Stuart." 2011-10-14 19:59:07.923837 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/471/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ ‎"A boob needs a nipple." 2011-10-07 12:32:12.527039 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/470/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart also had a game on Sat. They were short-handed because most of the girls were off at a Girl Scout thing. Luckily kids from the other team hung around so they had enough to play. Still there was only one sub so every SRS kid played almost the entire game. Stuart was goalie for most of the game and had one great save where he dove on top of the ball. 2011-10-04 20:36:29.475625 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/469/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar had a soccer game on Sat and his team totally dominated. He had lots of good plays but my favorite came about halfway through the game. The ball was down near the SRS end and a little girl from the other team was maneuvering toward the goal. Ivar came rushing over, slipped in front of her and kicked the ball out of bounds. Then he turned toward her, pointed at her with a little smirk, and walked away. 2011-10-04 20:34:24.520191 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/468/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ When told to go outside, Ivar (5) exclaimed "Frick, butt, fart! 2011-09-26 00:48:42.939929 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/467/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ ‎"I had one whole year of loneliness." --Rina on the birth of Stuart 2011-09-16 12:33:56.995728 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/466/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ ‎"What if our car had our bikes' tires and our bikes had our car's tires? Then our bikes would go really fast." --Ivar 2011-08-29 17:56:43.646723 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/465/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ ‎"Let's be like Lord Voldemort. We take people's things & make bodies out of them." --Catarina 2011-08-12 12:45:59.269158 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/464/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina's in the office with me again today. I had to go to a meeting in another building so I showed her how to call my cell from my office phone in case she needed something. Within 2 minutes of my arrival to the meeting, she called to ask how to open the DVD player. I'm just glad I didn't teach her how to page me over the intercoms. 2011-08-11 15:03:07.009480 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/463/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were talking about kindergartners and Rina & Ivar were making jokes about kindergartners who pee in their pants. Then they, of course, started talking about kindergartners who poop in their pants. Here was Stuart's response: > "If I was a kindergarten teacher and I had a kid in my class who pooped in their pants, I'd walk out of the room, get into my car and drive home." 2011-08-01 18:47:47.934106 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/462/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina had a pretty spectacular bike wreck a few weeks ago. I wasn't there to witness it but here's my understanding of what happened. They were riding down Denham Rd. Rina was going really fast when she went to make the sharp right onto Drayton. She panicked, tromped on her brakes, and went over the bars. She chipped a tooth, scrapped her face, arms, knees, & foot. And actually bit through her top lip. Luckily some people on the corner saw it happen. They stashed Rina & Jane's bikes in their backyard, then drove them home. Rina was a mess for days. Her lip was so swollen, she could hardly even open her mouth and talk. Plus she was really upset about how she looked and sounded. Have a few days where she really didn't talk was pretty bizarre. The first major step to recovery happened at the Benton's about 3 days later. Rina really didn't want to go because she said all of the kids were going to think she was a friend. We tried to reassure her but she didn't believe it. But, of course, Kate & Anna were super sweet and Rina was running around hooting and hollering like normal. 3 weeks later, Rina's pretty much back to normal. She's got a small scar on her lip but it looks like her arm & knee won't scar at all. I made her get back on the bike within a day or so of the wreck and she's been riding pretty well ever since, although she has yet to revisit the scene of the horribleness. 2011-07-29 13:33:36.902909 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/461/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to a friend's house for dinner and their house is large enough that it actually has a small elevator. The kids were, of course, fascinated and wanted to ride it. I took them into the elevator and we were trying to figure out how to turn the light on inside. There was a switch marked "On/Off" but switching it on didn't actually do anything. Stuart looked around for a second, then said "I bet you have to turn the switch on and then close the door for the light to come on." And, sure enough, that's exactly how it worked. 2011-07-29 13:28:28.005424 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/460/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar got his training wheels off last weekend. Within a day, he was able to start by himself and now rides around the block with Rina & Stu. Here's a note from Jane on riding around today: > Ivar crashes into a trashcan on his bike, falls, knocks his head on a lightpost. His response: "Good thing I have my helmet on." And he gets right back on. Awesome. 2011-06-20 18:34:33.531783 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/459/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Me: Tomorrow's Saturday so you can sleep in as long as you want. Ivar: Yeah, but I probably won't. I usually wake up too early. 2011-06-11 03:23:20.308830 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/458/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ On Sat, we were riding home from a party and Stuart got doored and knocked of his bike. Luckily he wasn't hurt or upset by it. Then, on Sun, he got stuck in one of the outside bathrooms at JCC and spent a couple minutes hollering for help before Jane heard him. The rest of the weekend was good though. Lots of playdates with all of his favorite people so it, hopefully, evened out. 2011-05-23 13:18:02.564177 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/457/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was hugging Ivar good-bye this morning when he grabbed me extra tight and said "More hugging, less leaving." 2011-05-18 12:06:31.105905 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/456/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > "This is awesome!" > "I love you rhinos! I think they heard me." > "Look at their ginormous poop!" 2011-04-25 14:39:55.977096 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/455/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The choice last night was for Jane to go swim at Mary T by herself or for all of us to go play tennis at the courts on Park Boundary. Luckily we chose the latter because it was one of the best evenings I've had in a long time. My bikes were all out of commission so Jane & I jogged while all of the kids rode their own bikes. Everyone was a champ on the (short) ride. No complaining or stopping. Luckily I got to hang back with Ivar and Jane took the lead with Rina & Stu. Once we got there, the kids took one court and some extra balls and took turns with their 2 rackets and had a lovely time. Jane & I took to the other court where I was thoroughly trounced (as usual). The kids got tired of playing tennis after a while and spent most of the next hour running around the woods & fields. Then it was time to ride/run home. Again, everyone was a champ and arrived home sweaty, tired, and happy. 2011-04-21 14:00:04.130870 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/454/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We've finally managed to turn Rina into a rider of bikes. She doesn't get freaked out, doesn't complain, and takes great pleasure in whizzing down steep hills. I'd say she's just as good as Stuart at this point. 2011-04-21 13:56:34.612813 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/453/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar celebrated his 5th birthday on an airplane from PDX to SDF. I told the flight attendant on the first flight that it was Ivar's birthday. While we were waiting to take off, he made an announcement over the loudspeaker that there was a birthday on board. Then he turned off the cabin lights and had everyone turn on their flight-attendant call buttons. Then everyone on the plane sang Happy Birthday and Ivar pretended to blow out the lights. 2011-04-13 18:07:29.720391 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/452/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina & Anna apparently like to play a game about the crucifixion. There are disciples, Jesus, and a cross. The best part is that the cross sings a song to Jesus. > JESUS, you're gonna get nailed to me > JESUS, you're gonna die. > BUT, you're gonna RISE! And so on. 2011-03-31 01:28:49.516376 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/451/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ >‎"Mom, some kids at school made the biggest mistake of their lives today. They brought fleeces & jackets." And Catarina has mastered the art of hyperbole. 2011-03-22 10:40:56.450945 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/450/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ So Stuart eats ham now. Out of no where, he's eating a ham & cheese sandwich. 2011-03-17 19:23:30.550017 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/449/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ >"That game where you are the moon and you have to eat the jellyfish? That game is hard." Ivar's analysis of pacman. 2011-03-15 19:26:53.867428 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/448/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ >Two Nanas and two Papas makes three people. 2011-03-15 19:26:23.914190 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/447/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were driving back from Baba's and got behind a truck with a **giant** sign reading > IF YOU VOTED FOR OBAMA, THANKS A LOT ASSHOLE Catarina, of course, started reading it out loud. "Thanks a lot...asshole?" "Daddy, what's 'asshole' mean?" Then we got to have a lovely discussion about the meaning and why they aren't allowed to say it. 2011-03-07 15:40:43.838501 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/446/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar told Jane that he wanted a bow tie. She told him that was something Nana was better of buying so he asked to call Nana and ask for a bow tie for his birthday. She, of course, sent it well in advance of his birthday and he insisted on wearing it this weekend. 2011-03-07 15:20:42.407947 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/445/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart just said he wants to name his son James "After grandpa because he's a good grandpa". 2011-03-07 15:19:21.196528 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/444/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart got asked at school, if he could have any three wishes, what they would be. 1. A pet bird 2. Cake 3. More Wishes 2011-03-03 03:30:45.464041 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/443/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's taken all of his stuffed animals and put them into his nightstand which is now called the "Lovey House" 2011-02-04 06:08:43.245332 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/442/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > ‎"I wish you were in my bed instead of Dad's bed." 2011-02-02 06:19:11.590754 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/441/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart's been taking guitar lessons for a couple of weeks now. My parents got him a nice, used electric guitar for his birthday and he seems to like it. He's already ridiculously good at reading music. 2011-01-26 18:32:32.723592 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/440/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar, the kid who won't eat **anything**, is suddenly obsessed with cheeseburgers. 2011-01-26 18:31:17.908723 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/439/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina wanted a box so they could play "time machine". They spent about half an hour coloring on the box and then 2 hours after that going to the past & the future. The saw Rina's room when she was a baby, Stuart when he was in high school, Jane & I when we're old and also collected numerous dinosaurs and extinct snakes from the past. 2011-01-08 14:45:54.492223 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/438/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > "Mom, the golden rule is treat others how you want to be treated & Ivar called me stupid, so that's why I hit him." Has anyone ever misinterpreted the golden rule more than Catarina Biek? 2010-12-18 19:59:38.083556 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/437/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to Rina's dance demonstration on Tues. Not really a recital, more like all the grownups come and get to watch a class in progress. Ivar, predictably, got totally bored after about 10 minutes and had to be taken to the gym to play. Stuart, on the other hand, was very good. He sat on my lap the whole time and was very quiet and well behaved. I could tell he was getting bored thought because he started playing with my hands. I let my hands go limp and he was moving my hands all around, balling them into fists, pushing them flat, making certain fingers stick out. I couldn't figure out what he was doing until he made both hands into fists and started bouncing them up and down before rearranging the fingers again. He was making my hands play Rock, Paper, Scissors against each other! He did for close to 15 minutes, totally absorbed. 2010-12-16 12:44:37.280081 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/436/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Thought I was doing Ivar a favor by cutting his hair super short so the static would not make it stick up anymore until he looked in the mirror, burst into tears and said, "I can't go to school. I don't want anyone to see my hair like this." Mom: fail 2010-12-08 07:58:47.877594 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/435/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > ‎"I pledge allegiance to the flag.... ....with liberty and justice for Paul." (Ivar, totally on purpose. He is highly amused by himself.) 2010-12-03 06:22:12.542328 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/434/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ So, Ivar totally ate chicken and rice for dinner. Okay, it was smothered in ketchup, but still...chicken and rice. Normal people eat that! 2010-11-29 18:19:04.312900 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/433/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Not sure where Ivar got the idea that Batman would say, "Missed me. Missed me. Now you gotta kiss me," to the Hulk in a fight. 2010-11-29 13:40:12.649633 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/432/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids were sitting at the dining room table having a snack when I heard this exchange. Ivar: Pee-na! Pee-na Rina: If you say that again, I'm going to come across the table, hold you down, and punch you in the face. 2010-11-27 18:25:27.057289 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/431/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > Dear Tooth Fairy, last night I swallowd my tooth. Can you please still give me money? love, Catarina P.S. I love macick and faireys 2010-11-17 19:59:11.343090 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/430/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart's been practicing tying his shoes on his own for several weeks now. Today, he did both shoes entirely on his own. It's cute because he talks about the steps he's going through the entire time. 2010-11-16 10:39:44.112745 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/429/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's been having some penis problems lately, culminating in this heartfelt lament: > All I wanted was a vagina but God gave me a stupid penis instead! 2010-11-15 12:05:42.542502 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/428/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > 'You know what would be really awesome? If you guys stopped being annoying.' (to Rina & Stu) 2010-11-12 06:32:47.925805 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/427/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (Talking about a Batman villan, the "Music Meister") > I like his singing but I don't like his evilness. 2010-10-31 07:02:10.579566 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/426/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ At a value session at the SRS church. Stuart is sitting in a pew surrounded by a bunch of little girls from his class. One of them has her arm around him and is whispering in his ear. 2010-10-27 07:50:05.782085 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/425/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I've been wondering when we switched from calling Catarina "Rina" instead of "Cat". I found an old video tape from when she & Stu were babies and it looks like the switch happened sometime right before she turned 2. I don't think it was anything formal or planned. Just one of those things. 2010-10-27 07:49:09.537403 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/424/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina got to see Brigadoon at the JCC with Jane & Nana. The next day, walking home from piano, the kids saw a yard decorated with tombstones for Halloween, one of which read "Out to Lunch" which the kids thought was hilarious. Jane explained that "Out to Lunch" can also mean spacey or not paying attention to which Rina replied: > Oh, that's like in Brigadoon when Tommy goes back to New York and he's missing Fiona and ignoring everything else. 2010-10-26 14:28:27.717160 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/423/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > "Mom, this bun is ridiculous!" (Because the bun in her hair kept falling out) 2010-10-26 14:25:39.657751 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/422/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > You can hardly even taste the pumpkin. You can only taste the pie. 2010-10-14 18:12:12.394988 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/421/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ >"Is the reason you got that phone because your other phone got stolen by a freakin' robber?" 2010-10-13 06:30:38.561053 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/420/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina likes to say "Hang up" instead of "Hang on" 2010-10-12 18:22:31.143409 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/419/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > "Whoever made this shirt is partly awesome for making a Frankenstein shirt and partly hosey for not making it scary." 2010-10-08 06:58:40.119571 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/418/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ There's a little girl named Emily in Ivar's class that he talks about constantly. In particular, he always talks about how beautiful her hair is. > ‎"I wonder what kind of hair Emily will have today? Last time I wore this jacket, she had a ponytail." 2010-10-04 18:42:32.841205 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/417/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > ‎"I'm not coming out until Mom apologizes. And that goes for you too!" --Rina > "I'm sorry." --Stuart, with puzzled expression. I loved that he was ready to apologize for no reason just to get his sister out of her room. 2010-09-29 06:59:18.118588 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/416/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ >She's his mommy, that's cause only girls lay babies. 2010-09-25 08:10:00.577998 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/415/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ It's early 2003, January or February. Catarina isn't sleeping and I'm pacing around the house holding her when I notice the moon out the window. It's close to full with a bright halo. I wrap Catarina in a giant blanket, put a hat on her, and walk outside. We stand in the silver night of the backyard looking up at the moon together. My face pressed against hers as I say "moon, moon, moon" over and over like an incantation. She's totally silent, staring wide-eyed up at the sky. 2010-09-22 18:58:30.757758 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/414/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids are playing "zombies" & Rina just said "Can we keep their bodies to remember them by?" 2010-09-17 18:27:39.440268 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/413/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane was combing his hair at breakfast. > ‎"Mom, you're ruining my style!" 2010-09-09 07:27:13.193031 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/412/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart was really gung-ho about the idea of being first in his class to get on the "Tooth Chart" so he asked me to pull his tooth last night. I wrapped a piece of floss around it and it came right out on the first yank. He didn't even flinch. Minimal bleeding and Stu was **super** excited. We fashioned an Altoids tin into a "tooth box" and he got $0.50 from the tooth very. 2010-09-03 10:30:04.806995 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/411/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart has his first loose tooth! 2010-08-31 19:02:39.802343 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/410/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina's room is a pigstyle. According to Ivar. 2010-08-31 06:49:03.235210 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/409/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > "I wish our house was made out of bed. I wish the whole world was made out of bed. Even juice, even beer, even pink milk was made out of bed. Then we could be warm." - Ivar 2010-08-31 06:45:42.977529 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/408/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "I'm not famous but I AM awesome." 2010-08-30 18:19:05.554256 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/407/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > "Hey, Ivar, how was your nap?" >"Awesome." 2010-08-30 13:48:34.386122 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/406/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "I'm Frickin hot" (after walking to school) "This McDonalds is frickin stupid" (after they didn't have a Blue Beetle Happy Meal toy) 2010-08-30 11:42:56.524744 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/405/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ My 4 YO just dropped something and said "freakin' frockers." Mom: win. 2010-08-27 07:14:06.725268 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/404/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to the State Fair this weekend and everyone had a huge time. It was rainy so not too crowded. We started off with the fish displays, then looked at the animals, then went on rides. Stuart is 48" this summer so he & Rina could go on pretty much everything. Ivar also went on the giant ferris wheel for the first time. 2010-08-22 17:58:12.933519 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/403/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I'm not sure what game the kids are playing but it involves a laundry basket, a couple of wooden spoons, an ocean, & Jesus. 2010-08-22 17:54:43.844735 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/402/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar went off the diving board for the first time at Lakeside on Sat and, as we predicted, is completely obsessed with it. He does cannonballs, dives, and yesterday at the JCC, even tried a backflip (completely out of no where). He made it about 3/4 of the way around and came up with no complaint. 2010-08-17 08:20:52.687347 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/401/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane as wondering why King Stuart and Queen Catarina were ordering God around until she figured out they had British accents and were actually saying "guard". 2010-08-16 09:22:30.396732 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/400/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The death of Fishy has provoked a great deal of discussion with the kids. In the end they decided that, when Fishalina dies, she and Fishy will have ghost babies in heaven. 2010-08-10 08:49:24.525051 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/399/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart's fish (Fishy) died while we were gone. He was upset but recovered when we said he could pick a new fish. The new fish's name? *Fishalina* 2010-08-10 08:48:26.531933 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/398/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I looked over and Rina was rubbing the boy's backs. She said she was giving them *sabotages*. 2010-07-13 10:53:02.344321 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/397/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: It looks like breakfast time because the sun is shining. Jane: Want a knuckle sandwich? Ivar: Can you make waffles because I love waffles? Jane: (hysterical laughter) 2010-07-13 10:52:30.105031 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/396/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "I want it to be my turn to get my penis fixed."--quote of the day (Ivar) 2010-06-16 11:53:01 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/395/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane: "The girl at the children's lounge just told me the kids get along better than any siblings she has ever seen. Mom: win. Then she said they refused to include others in their games. Doh." 2010-06-09 10:52:16 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/394/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > Fish + Shark = Dead Fish 2010-05-23 13:59:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/393/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ At the pool yesterday. "Daddy, your nails on your toes look like witches nails." 2010-05-23 06:32:36 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/392/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We just blew Ivar's mind with the revelation that chicken nuggets are made of chickens. > "But why can't they talk?" Does he know a talking chicken? 2010-05-12 11:38:25 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/391/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Mommy, when I am a grown up, I will not say 'wipe, please.' I will wipe my own bottom." 2010-05-06 06:55:20 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/390/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart had numerous question yesterday regarding what pee & poop are made out of and why our bodies produce them. 2010-04-30 14:07:10 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/389/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Let's pretend my Nana has a million of moneys, and you said, "No fair. My Nana doesn't have a million of moneys. 2010-04-30 14:06:27 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/388/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Anna Benton: Dear God, thank you for Squeaky-the-cat, and please help Squeaky have a wonderful rest of his life with the Bieks. 2010-04-12 20:21:34 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/387/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ At piano... Ivar: "I hears Rina's music," Jane: "Yeah, it sounds pretty," Ivar: "It sounds like bad guys arriving to me." 2010-04-12 14:07:56 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/386/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Don't shout, "grow a pair!" in traffic. Your 7 YO WILL ask what that means. Lesson learned. 2010-04-07 15:53:51 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/385/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids were playing out front when I noticed them bowing and kneeling in front of a stick they'd stuck in the ground. The stick was covered with beads and toys and they were whispering as they knelt in front of it. I was able, at one point, to hear Catarina saying as she bowed in front of the stick "I love you Great Grandma Dorothy". It appears the stick is a mock grave for Jane's grandma who died when the kids were little and they were having a pretend funeral for her. They talk about her all the time and Jane brought up the good point that Dorothy was the first person they knew well who died. 2010-04-05 19:16:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/384/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ > "Oooooh. Flower undies. My bottom will be full of flowers." > "My bottom will be full of Spiderman." 2010-03-27 09:33:51 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/383/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Mommy, I will miss you when I'm a grown up. I wanna live with you when I grow up. If a vampire drinks all your blood, you will die." 2010-03-26 07:43:22 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/382/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Bye. Have a good day at school. You're the best guys in the world." 2010-03-26 06:53:47 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/381/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: I want to be a nerd. Rina: But then people will eat you. 2010-03-22 17:53:48 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/380/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina had to practice piano on Fri night so Jane read to the boys and I read to Rina when she was done with piano. She picked a medium-length book. I lay on the couch and she lay nestled between me and the back of the couch with her head resting on my chest as we read. Her small warm little self reminded me of when she was a baby and she'd fall asleep laying on my chest, her entire body moving up and down as I breathed. 2010-03-22 07:35:46 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/379/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "My penis is whistling." 2010-03-11 06:58:20 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/378/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to the AJ Pasta Supper last night, the highlight of which is Mr. Magic doing a show at the end. Rina got called up on stage to help and, when her part was over, turned to the audience and executed a perfect curtsy. 2010-03-09 09:27:39 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/377/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Dinner is my favorite sport." 2010-03-08 07:01:10 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/376/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to Cherokee Park yesterday and the kids rode their bikes. Stuart rode up the backside of Hogan's Hill with no stops and up Barrett Hill with only one. 2010-03-08 07:00:59 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/375/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "The hard poop shattered away and it got easier." 2010-03-05 12:23:44 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/374/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Watching Glee: $40 per month Dish bill. Listening to Glee Soundtrack: $10 from itunes. Hearing your daughter sing, "She wants a man who brings home the bacon": Priceless. 2010-03-05 12:23:13 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/373/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "If you want to know why he is my boyfriend, you have to listen to the whole story." 2010-02-11 15:53:34 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/372/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stu is obsessed with this video of an Orca killing a Great White. He likes to recite the steps of the attack over and over. 1. "The Orca crashes into the shark and flips it over." 1. "The Orca holds the shark until it suffocates." 2010-02-10 19:59:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/371/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I think the fundamental difference between Rina & Stu can be illustrated by the fact that Rina LOVES to watch videos of herself and Stu can't stand to watch a video of him. I played back a video of Stu to him and he plugged his ears and wouldn't look at it. 2010-02-10 19:57:50 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/370/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I've been telling Stuart about dinosaur-related news that I read and how he's taken to asking me "Daddy, did you learn anything about dinosaurs today?" 2010-02-09 11:34:51 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/369/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina made a birthday card for Amy which said, among other things: "I love red!" and "I love you and so dose[sic] God" 2010-02-09 11:34:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/368/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "when I die, I want to be a spirit." 2010-02-08 16:47:06 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/367/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ So, Ivar played soccer with his hat on the whole time because "I don't want anyone to see my hair sticking up." I told him he didn't get that from his dad and he said, "I got it from Nana.". He got that right. 2010-02-08 13:30:18 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/366/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "If I were going to be a monster, like Shaggy in Scooby and the Blue Monster, I could totally step on people. The only way for people not to get stepped on, is if they run." 2010-02-08 08:48:42 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/365/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "That is so weird that that boy is doing that." This from the kid who just said he wanted it to rain nuggets and ketchup from the sky. 2010-02-01 12:49:11 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/364/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ My dad & I took Stuart on his first ski trip yesterday at Paoli Peaks and it was awesome! He didn't quite master the snowplow but, by mid-morning, he could pretty much do the short Green run by himself. He'd turn sideways at the end to slide to a stop. Plus he was a champ on the chairlift. No rope tows or magic carpets for this kid. He had a huge time and has been asking me when we can go back. 2010-02-01 09:37:38 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/363/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ So we've finally gotten to a point where we're reading non-picture books out loud at bedtime. We just finished Matilda (Roald Dahl). Catarina, in particular, was a big fan. We're starting the Ramona books next. 2010-01-14 16:40:42 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/362/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina was practicing piano last night and we decided to try Alouette along with the music for the first time. Me: Don't worry if you have trouble keeping up with the music the first time around. It might take a couple of tries to get it right. Rina: But I HAVE to get it right the first time or I'll get sent to jail and have to drink green slime! (We both laugh hysterically) 2010-01-14 08:36:54 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/361/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina & Stu were being really annoying this morning. Way too much fooling around while they were supposed to be getting ready for school. They finally got sorted out and were standing at the top of the stairs on the back porch fighting over who was going to go down first. I'd had enough so I just picked them both up and carried them down the stairs. Neither one said a word the entire rest of the way to school. We were walking through the parking lot when Rina said "It stinks because on days where we don't get yelled at by our parents, we get yelled at by our teachers. And on days when we DO get yelled by our parents, we STILL get yelled at by our teachers." Sigh. Don't I feel like the a-hole now. 2010-01-14 07:59:29 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/360/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was playing with the shark oven-mitt, having it pretend to attack Ivar. He was giving it his usual one-two punches. Just for fun, I said "Aaaargh" and had the oven-mitt flop onto the floor, at which point Ivar came over and started stomping on it with his foot. 2010-01-12 13:23:32 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/359/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar just asked why do some moms get sick and die? Who can answer that question? 2010-01-12 13:22:28 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/358/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart got his first phone call from a friend last night. August called because he missed Stuart and wanted to arrange a playdate. It was a surreal experience to holler "Stuart, phone for you." down into the basement. 2010-01-12 09:51:24 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/357/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane's mom was visiting and wanted to put on a movie for the boys. She was having trouble with the DVD player and Jane was busy cooking and couldn't help. Luckily Stuart was available to assist. He got the entire thing set up on his own. Last night, when I got home from work, the Christmas tree was unplugged. Jane asked me to plug it in but, right as I was walking into the living room, the tree came on. Stuart came crawling out from behind the tree. "Don't worry Dad. I took care of it." 2009-12-10 10:39:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/356/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Hey Mom, I want to be a tentacle. 2009-11-19 15:59:32 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/355/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart has become completely obsessed with dinosaurs. He brought home a book from DL day a couple of weeks ago and spent all day every day begging people to read to him from it. He was really sad to have to take it back to school because he didn't think he'd be able to find another dinosaur book that was "about REAL dinosaurs". We finally convinced him to ask the librarian to help him find a book and he came home yesterday with a new book that he's just obsessed with. And added bonus is that it's given him even more drive to learn to read. He's already able to go through most of the first batch of BOB books and can actually read a good bit of his new dinosaur book. 2009-11-18 08:50:18 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/354/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "My lips are all chopped up. I need lipstuff." 2009-11-11 18:58:54 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/353/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "That grumpy guy right there (Taz) beat up all the bunnies and made them fall down." 2009-11-02 08:06:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/352/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Why are old mans and old ladies so old?" 2009-10-27 14:04:48 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/351/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: I'm having Cheerios Rina: Ewww gross! Ivar: Rina! You use your manners and say "May I please have no Cheerios" 2009-10-17 15:28:58 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/350/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Rain, go away or I will kick you in the face. Then kick you in the butt." 2009-10-16 13:59:48 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/349/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "At first I wanted to go pee, but then the pee went back in my penis." 2009-10-16 13:59:22 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/348/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: I want to chop someone and eat him. How about you? Jane: You want to chop me and eat me? Ivar: Well, I have to wash my hands first. 2009-10-14 08:23:24 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/347/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I have a old book called Tar Beach. There's a part where the kids in the book are talking to a guy who used to be a boxer and there's a line that reads "Pancho says one time Sal killed a man." At some point when I was a kid, my mom colored over that line. Now that Catarina can read, she's discovered that part of the book and talks about it constantly. She, of course, filled Stuart in on what it says so now they play "Pancho" all the time. "Hey Pancho, why'd you kill that man?" "Hi, I'm Pancho and I'm going to kill a man." 2009-09-21 21:03:23 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/346/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I'm not Superman. He has a different chin. 2009-09-21 16:39:59 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/345/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "I'm just tired of being Ivar. I wanna be Stuart." "But if you are Stuart, who will be my Ivar?" "Stuart can be Ivar." 2009-09-18 08:38:42 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/344/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Mommy, Noah is my best friend. Bobo is my best girl and Charlie is my best buddy." 2009-09-17 08:21:38 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/343/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I have a "stash" of empty cans on the floor of the backseat of my car. Rina & Stu like to jump up and down on them as they're getting out and talking about how they're skiing. 2009-09-17 08:04:20 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/342/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina did a drawing of Jesus being crucified yesterday. She said that she didn't think Jesus would be happy about being crucified but she doesn't like to draw sad pictures so she has him smiling while he's on the cross. He also has purple shoes so he can "be fancy". 2009-09-09 15:21:08 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/341/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: Daddy, naughty unicorns drink unicorn blood. Ivar: Daddy, unicorns like to eat bones. The steals boneses from doggies and eat them. 2009-08-20 08:21:30 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/340/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: "Mom, the Grinch doesn't HAVE shoes." Good point, Ivar. I guess the problem is NOT that his shoes are too tight." 2009-08-20 08:20:54 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/339/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: "Mom, what if people were all chicken nuggets and the pool was the ketchup?" 2009-08-17 19:08:55 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/338/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar came strolling out of the bathroom after taking a tub yesterday. "Hey Grandpa. See my penis? It's really big! When I grow up, I'm gonna have a super big penis just like my Dad!" 2009-08-11 11:43:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/337/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to the KY BBQ Company (owned by Jane's friend Greg) for dinner last night. One of the special treats we do for the kids is to let them play with the pool tables (only the balls, no cues). In the car on the way there, Ivar said "Mommy, I want to play with Greg's little balls!" 2009-08-11 11:41:47 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/336/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "No peoples are allowed of roofses." 2009-08-05 16:09:38 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/335/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: Daddy, I'm a little worried. Me: What are you worried about? Rina: I'm worried I won't find someone I like to be my husband. Can I marry you? Me: Nope, you can't marry someone from your family. Rina: But I really love Stuart, can I marry him? Me: Nope. Rina: Could I marry Noah? Me: Sure. You're a lot older but that wouldn't matter much once you were grown up. Rina: Yeah, but I don't think Noah would be very good for me. 2009-08-04 20:51:45 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/334/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The Bentons have a screened in porch which locks with an old-style skeleton key. At some point, the porch was locked and the key was nowhere to be found. After much searching, Jane asked Ivar if he knew where the key was. Jane: Have you seen the key? Ivar: Yeah! Jane: Can you show Miss Amy where the key is? Ivar: Yeah! I show where Noagi's key is. I followed them into the living room to hear Amy ask "Where's the key?" and Ivar reply "It's right there under the table." And there it was. Where Brent and I had BOTH looked. 2009-07-19 22:25:58 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/333/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's watching Dora upstairs and he's in a completely foul mood. Dora: Larga or corta? Corta! Say Corta! Ivar: (sullenly) Corta. Dora: Say Corta! Ivar: (yelling) I SAID Corta! 2009-07-13 10:47:23 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/332/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar throws a car belonging to another little kid. Jane: Please don't throw that. I don't want you to break it. Ivar: I didn't break it. See! Jane: I know, but please don't throw it. And I LOVE you. Ivar: I love you too. But you're mean! 2009-07-13 10:46:25 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/331/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: Mommy, why does everyone have big breasts? Jane: Not everyone has big breasts. Rina: Really? Jane: Some people have big breasts and some people have small ones. Rina: Who has small ones? 2009-07-04 16:09:25 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/330/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Mary Anne is making cakes with the kids and the cakes are sticking to the pan. Mary Anne: Oh Shit! Stuart: Why did you say Oh Shit? Mary Anne: The cakes are sticking to the pan. Me: That's kind of a grownup word. Kids shouldn't say it. You can say Oh Heck instead. Stuart: Or Oh Hector! 2009-06-28 12:05:14 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/329/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Here's how bedtime works: 1. Everyone goes to the potty 2. Everyone brushes teeth 3. We read 3 stories 4. I go and tell Ivar a true story, then Stu, then Rina. Of late Rina (and now Stu) thinks it's hilarious to pretend that she's dead when I come in to tell her her true story. She's always laying on the bed on her back with her eyes closed and her tongue sticking out. The game is that I have do silly things to get her to start laughing. This is becoming harder and harder to do every night. Here's what I did last night: 1. Licked her nose (nothing) 2. Stuck toys in her ears (nothing) 3. Whacked her repeatedly with a pillow (muffled giggling but she didn't break character). In the end, I had go to my stand-by which is rib-poking. 2009-06-24 08:37:13 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/328/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina had (finally) her first swim meet tonight. She did pretty well on the freestyle but really rocked the backstroke. There were huge numbers of kids who had to stop multiple times and she made it across in one shot. Pretty good considering the lifeguard had to help her out of the pool at practice the first time she tried backstroke a month ago. 2009-06-22 22:56:18 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/327/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I found a bunch of cars stuffed into the brown chair in the basement and Ivar apparently has them lined up on the table while he eats breakfast. Ivar: Mommy, the cars are parking at the museum. Jane: Oh yeah? Ivar: Yeah, they crashed into the museum. Jane: Uh oh. Did they wreck stuff? Ivar: No no. They just made a hole. Jane: Why didn't the use the door? Ivar: Mommy! (laughs) They don't have hands! 2009-06-22 08:50:50 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/326/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar says "Whoohoo" everytime something happens that he wants. Ivar: Can I have a popsicle? Me: OK Ivar: Popsicle! Whoohoo! Ivar: Can you help me put my sandals on? Me: OK Ivar: Sandals! Whoohoo! 2009-06-21 22:29:46 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/325/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ 1. Who does it belong to? 2. Where's my spot? 3. Who's turn is it? 2009-06-20 08:24:35 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/324/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Looking out the back window and seeing Stuart & Ivar standing next to each other peeing on the big maple tree. 2009-06-16 20:51:21 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/323/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane was reading Ivar a story about Christmas and Santa. Ivar: Where's Santa? Jane: I think he's probably at the North Pole. Ivar: (Laughs) No, he's not at the North Pole, he's at Costco. Jane: What's he doing at Costco? Shopping? Ivar: No! Getting ice cream! 2009-06-05 13:39:26 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/322/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart always refers to superheros by their alter-ego names. "Hey Ivar, let's play with Bruce Wayne & Tim Drake" 2009-05-30 23:32:07 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/321/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The warm weight of carrying a sleeping kid from the car to the house. 2009-05-23 22:15:32 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/320/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar: Daddy's the strongest. Stuart: I don't think he is. I think Grampit is because Grampit can eat really spicy stuff without drinking any water and Daddy just likes the mild salsa. 2009-05-21 21:50:08 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/319/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar figured out how to peddle last weekend and he's already riding standing up and asking us to take off his training wheels. I don't think he's ready yet but maybe by the end of the summer. 2009-05-18 21:57:53 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/318/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart and Rina are hollering about how much they love each other again. Then Rina says, "Guess how much I hate you?" She rolls up her hand into an 'O' "Zero!" 2009-05-15 08:52:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/316/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ As Rina & I walk across the yard to go to school, she & Stuart are shouting back and forth about how much they love each other. 2009-05-13 11:51:48 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/315/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina wanted to know, the other day, what a typewriter was. She was oddly excited about the idea of being able to type RIGHT ONTO A PIECE OF PAPER without having a computer in the way. 2009-05-04 09:23:46 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/314/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart & Wesley were peeing at the same time the other day, cackling wildly as they intentionally made the pee-streams criscross each other. 2009-04-26 22:50:38 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/313/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina's much harder to trick now that she can read. 2009-04-24 01:11:19 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/312/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids where downstairs watching Star Wars (A New Hope) last night. I went down about 7:30pm to tell them I was setting a timer and I noticed Stuart wasn't there. I asked Rina where he was. "He said he was tired and to say Good Night." I went upstairs and he was completely sacked out in his bed. 2009-04-23 16:01:32 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/311/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ #1 Rina hurt her foot and Ivar went and got the boo-boo-bunny out of the freezer and brought it to her. #2 Jane was talking about how it's sad that her mom doesn't have her parents or her brother and sister anymore. Stuart said, "yes, but at least she has her husband." 2009-04-19 17:24:20 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/310/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We're at the playground when a couple of little kids come over and start staring at us through the fence. Ivar yells, "Hey Kids! I'm Ivar the little guy." 2009-04-18 16:43:57 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/309/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: If Robin is strong and brave, why does he wear girl-shoes? 2009-04-17 13:48:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/308/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart & Ivar & I were riding bikes out front yesterday evening. I was helping push Ivar down the sidewalk and Stuart had ridden up ahead. Usually, Stu has to stand there and wait for me to catch up because he can't get started on his own yet. Imagine my great surprise to see him hurtling back down the sidewalk at me hollering "I did it! I started by myself! I did it!" I'll admit to getting a little choked up. 2009-04-16 10:52:57 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/307/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: Is the Easter Bunny a real bunny or just someone in a suit? Me: What do you think? Rina: Well...I don't there can even be an Easter Bunny at all! Me: Why's that? Rina: Because a real bunny wouldn't be able to deal with all those eggs without hands. And why would someone dress up in a bunny suit and leave eggs in people's yards at night? Me: Just try not to spoil it for your brothers, OK? 2009-04-13 08:02:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/306/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Noah was over this morning. I tried to give him the Batman car to play with and he said "No! That's Ivar's favorite toy" 2009-04-10 11:57:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/305/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's sitting on the bed in the basement with 2 Batman action figures going "I have nipples, I have nipples, You have nipples." 2009-04-10 11:56:39 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/304/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We took Stuart's training wheels off tonight and he can already ride half of our block without help! 2009-04-09 19:17:29 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/303/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart had his 4th hospital visit last night. #1 10 months, 105F fever. Nothing wrong. #2 3-ish. Stitches in his lip. #3 Ear tube/adenoidectomy #4 Fever/neck pain. The on-call pediatrician people said to bring him in to make sure it wasn't meningitis (turned out to be a really bad case of strep). I'm conflicted because I obviously didn't want him to have meningitis but I also hate going to the hospital for something the pediatrician could have handled. Luckily we went to Baptist East instead of Kosair this time so the whole process only took 3 hours instead of 6. 2009-04-09 11:24:52 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/302/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ So Catarina apparently asked for a cell phone the other day. Jane responded appropriately by laughing. "Can I have a cell phone?" "Hahahahahaha...No...hahahahahaha!" 2009-04-09 11:22:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/301/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar comes up to me holding a plastic stethoscope. "Daddy, let me see you ear." I turn my head and he presses the stethoscope against my ear. "Now open your mouth and say Ahhh". I oblige. "Daddy, you're sick. You need a shot." 2009-04-05 21:01:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/300/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Dark Mater (Darth Vader) Chewbaba (Chebacca) Two-kip (q-tip) Mr. Credible (The Incredibles) 2009-04-01 22:21:30 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/299/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart told me tonight that I "need to go to the brain store and buy a new brain so you can stop being so mean." Sigh. 2009-03-26 21:10:37 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/298/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids were talking about middle names the other day. Stuart: I'm Stuart Marshall Biek and Ivar is Ivar Stevenson Biek. Ivar: No! Ivar Batman Biek. 2009-03-25 20:57:06 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/297/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (From Jane) Your son just told his poop, "bye, thanks for the fun." He did feel it necessary to explain to me that his poop does not talk though. 2009-03-05 16:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/293/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's holding a Misfit's album and saying "I LOVE this movie! That naughty fiend guy's awesome." 2009-03-01 17:00:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/292/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Noagi is Noah. Noah is my buddy. Noagis my best buddy. Noah is hot. 2009-02-22 17:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/291/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Winnie-the-Pooh = "Two Bear" 2009-02-22 17:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/290/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: "Mommy, sometimes I can feel the earth spinning." 2009-02-22 12:10:06 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/289/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane: (Points at an oval) What shape is that? Ivar: An oval! Ivar: What shape is Uncle Davey? Jane: What do you think? Ivar: Uncle shaped! 2009-02-17 16:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/288/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ On the way home Catarina told Stuart not to get hit by a car, "because if you die, there will never be another you." 2009-02-13 16:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/287/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Who killed Abraham? Jane: Abraham Lincoln? (Thinking they must be talking about Lincoln for President's Day) Stuart: Yeah! Abraham Lincoln Jane: It was John Wilkes Boothe. Stuart: Why? Jane: Well, Boothe was kind of a naughty guy. Stuart: But why did Darth Vader kill Abraham Lincoln in Star Wars? Jane: Ohhhh. Do you mean Obi Wan Kenobi? Stuart: Yeah! Obi Wan! 2009-02-12 18:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/286/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Oh no! I wanted to marry Princess Leia first!" 2009-02-08 19:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/285/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We just finished watching Star Wars and Rina & Stuart are now pretending that two Ken dolls are Luke & Han Solo. Rina: "Stuart, this one can be the one who likes Princess Leia and this one can be the one who only likes money." 2009-02-08 19:40:07 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/284/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ When Jane puts Ivar's gloves on in the morning and his fingers don't go into the right places, he looks up at her and says "Smarten Up!"* *(It's important to imagine that as said with a thick Boston accent) 2009-01-23 09:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/283/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were driving the kids to Baba's house yesterday when I heard this in the back seat. Catarina: So Ivar, how do you like sleeping in a bed? Ivar: What? Catarina: How do you like sleeping in a bed? Is it better than a crib? Ivar: Yeah! Catarina: Yeah, I like my bed too. 2009-01-19 10:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/282/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina just read "Mortimer K. Saves the Day" all by herself 2009-01-17 08:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/281/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar and I were looking at old pictures and there were some of Noah. He said, "I go in there?" I asked where, and he pointed to the computer. I asked if he wanted to go in the computer so he could see Noah, and he said, "Yeah." 2009-01-15 16:10:07 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/280/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ One of the things we say to the kids when they're freaking out about something stupid is "Stop your tears." Ivar's picked up on it and is always telling Stuart "Stu! You stop your EARS. You take a nap!" 2009-01-07 10:40:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/279/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We got some new "Smores" flavored granola bars. After dinner, Stuart came up and asked if he could have "One of the new granola bars that has chocolate & mashed potatoes." 2009-01-05 11:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/278/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We showed the kids how to skip commercials on the DVR, which is great because they now hate commercials. The last few mornings though, we've noticed that they've bee staying upstairs much longer than whatever show they happen to be watching. We'd just assumed they were playing something and got distracted. Well it turns out, they've somehow figured out how to restart a show once it's finished. Too clever for their own good. 2008-12-29 09:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/277/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart took a shower with me yesterday and we were weighing ourselves before we got it. Stuart weighed in at 43lbs (he's really growing!). I turned on the water and looked back to see Stuart squatting down next to the scale. "I'm going to weigh my penis now." 2008-12-29 09:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/276/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart heard "Puff the Magic Dragon" for the first time tonight and it made him cry. 2008-12-27 21:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/275/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina: What language do they speak in Maine? 2008-12-18 08:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/274/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart said today that he was glad August was back in school because "Everytime you're not there, my heart breaks a little bit." 2008-12-17 12:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/273/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We've been having a lot of problems with Catarina's constant complaining. For example: I had her, Stuart, & Wesley pick up all of the toys in the basement yesterday. The deal was that, after they finished cleaning, they would get a chocolate coin & get to watch a movie. Stuart & Wesley rose to the occasion while Rina spent the entire time complaining and not actually cleaning up. I finally told her that, if she didn't stop complaining, I would send her to her room. "But then I won't get a chocolate coin & get to watch a movie!" "Exactly." "You're the meanest dad ever. You only love Stuart & Wesley and not me and I hate cleaning" (and on and on and on). "OK, go to your room." And she ran off wailing and yelling. After giving her some time to cool off, I decided to go and tell her that she could earn her chocolate coin & movie back by cleaning her room. Imagine my surprise when I opened her door to find her room spotless. "Did mommy tell you to clean your room?" "No, I just thought that would be a good choice to make so I could get a chocolate coin & watch a movie." "And you're exactly right. That was a very good choice to make." 2008-12-15 11:20:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/272/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: If you had a lady lighthouse keeper, she would be Mrs. And if you didn't know her name, you could just call her Mrs. Keeper! Me: Interesting. What made you think of that? Stuart: My brain just told about it. 2008-12-09 10:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/271/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I walked past the bathroom yesterday to see Stuart in there holding a wash cloth on his wrist. "What happened, buddy?" "Oh. Rina's stocking holder thing fell on my arm." "Are you ok?" "Yeah. I'm just putting a cold washcloth on it." I looked at his wrist and he had a nice little divot from where the 3lb hunk of pointy metal had landed on his arm (not bleeding though). I checked the living room and the stocking & holder were back up on the mantle. That means that this thing fell on his arm, he put it back up, then went into the bathroom, got a washcloth, & put cold water on it to hold on his arm. 2008-12-08 09:00:01 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/270/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I went in and woke Ivar up from his nap late yesterday afternoon. He opened his eyes but wasn't getting out of bed so I just left the room to give him a few minutes. I came back to check on him again and he'd gotten up and headed into the bathroom to pee. He finished, threw a quick "Hey dad" my way, and wandered off to the kitchen to get his milk from the fridge. 2008-12-08 09:00:01 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/269/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart just informed Jane that her nipples are on fire but it's OK because he's spraying water on them. 2008-12-01 10:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/268/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart's class had their Thanksgiving Feast today and every kid got assigned an Indian name. Stuart's was "Sleeping Rhino". 2008-11-25 11:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/267/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Hey you clouds, get off my friend the moon. 2008-11-09 00:39:31 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/266/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar just told Jane that his penis is really big. 2008-10-31 15:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/265/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina wanted to know how come some people were twins. We were explaining how most babies come from one egg but sometimes an egg splits or two eggs grow at the same time and that's how you get identical & fraternal twins. Her first question? "Human eggs aren't for eating, are they?" 2008-10-28 19:15:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/264/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar broke the pool table of our favorite BBQ restaurant today by dropping a toy truck down one of the wholes where it couldn't be retrieved. Luckily Jane's friend is the owner and he wasn't pissed off. 2008-10-21 20:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/263/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I went downstairs this morning to wake Rina up and I could hear Ivar talking to himself in his bed. I went into the boy's room and Ivar was laying there drinking his milk. That means that he woke up, went into the kitchen, got his milk out of the fridge, and then went back to bed with it. 2008-10-15 22:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/262/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar wanted raisins tonight so I gave him the bag, sat him down at his spot, and went to give Rina & Stu their tubbies. I completely forgot about him & the raisins until I was done with tubs. When I came back, Ivar was laying on the floor and there was no sign of the bag of raisins. "Buddy, where are the raisins?" "Daddy, I clean up!" He had finished eating and put the bag back on the shelf in the pantry. He was so proud of himself. 2008-10-11 20:20:08 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/261/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ At bathtime tonight, Stuart wanted to know what his testicles were. I said they were his testicles and that was enough for him. Rina: What are testicles for? Me: They hold special little seeds. Rina: But those are big. How can there be LITTLE seeds? Me: There's a big ball and the little seeds are inside that. That satisfied her. But it's just a matter of time until she wants to know what the seeds are for. 2008-09-29 20:20:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/260/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: We were playing Twinkle Fairy at recess at school and Eva was the mommy fairy and she was very good at it because she was very bossy. Jane: Mommy's are supposed to be bossy? Rina: Yes, good mommy's are bossy like you. 2008-09-24 16:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/259/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina is loving her piano lessons and wants to practice all the time. Stuart also started tennis lessons this week and they said he was too good and should be moved up to the next class. He's very pleased with himself. 2008-09-24 16:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/258/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ It was time for Catarina to do her homework tonight and she was excited about it for a change. It was a little worksheet where she had to circle the pictures that started with the same sound as "cat" (cow, cake, candle) and then trace the letter C a bunch of times. Stuart came over to the table and asked if he could do homework too "Just like Rina's." I drew up a little sheet that was exactly like Cat's and then showed him how to do it. He was so cute, pencil clutched in his little fist, tongue poking out with concentration as he carefully circled each picture. 2008-09-09 00:22:56 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/257/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane was changing Ivar's diaper today and had the following conversation. Ivar: That's my penis. Jane: Yup, there it is. Ivar: A naughty bear tried to get my penis. Jane: Oh no! Ivar: Yeah, that's terrible. 2008-09-02 09:30:31 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/256/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina loves kindergarten and her teacher. The only problem is that she works so hard to be good all day that she's a complete grump when she gets home. She had her first homework last night which was to write her name 4 times. You wouldn't believe the amount of pissing & moaning that involved. 2008-09-02 09:30:31 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/255/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane: So, my daughter told me yesterday that when she grows up she is moving to Maine and she will NEVER come to visit me. Meow! All because I made her try on her new shoes for school before she ate her pretzels. 2008-09-02 09:30:31 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/254/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Today was the first day of Kindergarten for Rina. She got out around 3pm, went to JCC with Jane and then, around 5pm, we took her over to Baba's house (where Stu & Ivar had been all day). We walked in the door and Rina called out "Hello my boys!". They both came running. "Rina! Rina!" Lots of hugging and squealing ensued. 2008-09-02 09:30:30 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/253/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar is in the same phase Stu was in at two. He loves his penis and wants to play with it all the time. The real fun is that sometimes, when he's really upset and crying, he'll sob "I need to hold my penis!". And then he sticks both hands down his pants and stops crying. 2008-09-02 09:30:30 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/252/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (Playing in the mirror after tubs) Me: Ivar & Daddy & Ivar & Daddy & Ivar & Daddy (pointing back and forth) Ivar: (laughing) Again! Me: (repeat) Ivar: (laughing) Again! Me: (repeat) Ivar: OK Daddy. Put my jammies on now. I'm cold. 2008-08-05 14:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/251/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar has officially moved into the bottom bunk. He slept there last night and naptime today and I dismantled the crib this evening. Of course he was up and running in circles around the house 10 minutes after bedtime. 2008-08-03 21:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/250/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We decided to try Ivar in the bottom bunk tonight. My (correct( thinking was that he'd fall asleep very quickly after a hard day of traveling. He did fall asleep almost instantly but kept creeping closer and closer to the bed. I went ahead and put some blankets on the floor next to the bed in the event that he rolled out. I went to check on him just now and he was fast asleep....on the rug in the middle of the room. 2008-08-03 02:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/249/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I'm sitting with Ivar on my lap. We're cuddling and tickling when, out of no where, he sticks his finger all the way up my nose. "Hey! Don't do that!" "Oh....sorry" 2008-07-31 12:45:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/248/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We took the kids to Lake Redding park yesterday which, it turns out, is really more geared for younger kids. There are a few swings and a small climbing structure with a slide. We got out of the car and walked over to the play area and Stuart said "Are you kidding me? This is the playground?" 2008-07-31 12:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/247/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We'd put the kids tonight and I was getting ready to head upstairs. I looked down the hall into the boy's room and saw...Ivar climbing up the ladder to the top bunk. After I walked into the room and put Ivar back in his crib, Stu said "Ivar climbed out of his crib onto the changing table." I went upstairs and, about 10 minutes later, Stuart came running up. "Daddy! Ivar's out of his crib again." I went downstairs again and Ivar was laying down in Rina's bed. I got the message and moved the changing table. 2008-07-16 22:25:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/246/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stu made a major swimming break-through today. It was pretty much the most comfortable I've ever seen him in the water. He started off jumping off the side, going all the way under, and then swimming back to the ladder on his own. He was also going underwater and just floating. After a while, he asked if he could try the diving board. He walked up to the end of the board, asked if he would go all the way to the bottom (no), asked me to count to 10 (yes), and then jumped. He probably went off 20 times in all, even spinning around on some jumps. 2008-07-12 21:10:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/245/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart seems to have a pretty strong gag reflex that's particularly sensitive to water. Sometimes just getting water splashed on his face is enough to set him off. That's part of the reason why we're so happy that he's been going underwater during his swim lessons. Well, I guess I spoke too soon because he just got a mouthful of water and barfed in the family pool at JCC. The pool is now closed while they do a chemical shock treatment. Luckily the lifeguards aren't pissed because it means they get a break. Unfortunately today is a hot sunny day and the pool was [b]mobbed[/b]. 2008-07-10 13:00:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/244/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart's having a great week. He's doing amazingly well at his swimming lessons and is pretty much swimming on his own. He's also completely unafraid of going under water. He wrote his name perfectly yesterday. And he also gets Ivar out of his crib and gets him his milk in the morning sometimes. 2008-07-10 09:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/243/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Pol Nailish = Nail Polish 2008-06-29 10:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/242/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids are all into about fireflies now. I've been catching them and bringing them inside at bedtime but Stu has been missing out because he falls asleep so quickly. They've been staying up later the last few nights in preparation for going to CA so they finally got a chance to catch some themselves. They managed to get close to 10 into Stu's little bug box and were super excited because the fireflies kept lighting up like crazy. 2008-06-23 16:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/241/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane was in the bathroom getting dressed when Ivar came in. Ivar: (pointing to her nether-regions) "Mommy, what's that?" Jane: What's what? Ivar: That's your beard. That's Mommy's beard. 2008-06-16 10:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/240/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (This actually happened last year) Cat: Mommy, your vagina's HAIRY! Jane: Yup. Yours will be too when you're grownup. Cat: But I don't want to have a hairy vagina! (a bit later) Cat: Mommy, does Daddy have a hairy penis? Jane: What do you think? Cat: Daddy has a hairy EVERYTHING! 2008-06-16 10:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/239/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Mommy. I have to ask you a question. Jane: OK, ask me. Stuart: What are Crunch Kids? (laughs) Cat: They're kids who have a dad whose last name is "Crunch"! (more wild laughing) 2008-06-11 13:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/238/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart rode Rina's bike almost all the way from our house to JCC (about 3mi). The original plan was for Rina to ride & Jane to push Stu & Ivar in the jogging stroller but Rina got tired after a few blocks so Stuart took over. We'll see if they make it home or if I have to go rescue them. 2008-06-06 15:15:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/237/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ When Catarina puts her mind to something, watch out! They went to the pool for the first time this summer and Cat asked to go off the diving board (which she's only done once before). She climbed up and ran straight off the end. She did it 8 more times and only stopped when Jane made her because the boys were getting tired of just sitting there watching. 2008-06-04 17:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/236/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar says "Not Yet" whenever you ask him about something he doesn't want to do. 2008-05-28 08:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/235/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina: "I'm actual Catarina" Stuart: "I'm an actual ghost!" 2008-05-28 08:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/234/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I'm putting Ivar's clothes on after the tub. He's laying on the bed pointing to himself. "Ivar" "Yup, that's Ivar." "Rina's Ivar!" 2008-05-25 18:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/233/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina to Stu: Do you want me to be the princess so I can give you a hard spanking? 2008-05-22 12:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/232/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: Where's Dr. Roth? Me: Probably at home Rina: Is he everywhere? Is he all around us? Does he live in heaven with Jesus? (laughs hysterically) 2008-04-30 11:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/231/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: "What does the sky feel like?" 2008-04-28 16:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/230/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The morning routine has been this for the last few days: 1. Ivar wakes up. 2. Rina wakes up. 3. Stuart wakes up. 4. Rina gets Ivar out of his crib. (we still don't know how this is done) 5. They all get their milk out of the fridge. 6. They come upstairs. Imagine my surprise this morning when only Stuart & Ivar came up. The first thing Stuart said when they got upstairs was "Daddy, Ivar wanted to get out of his crib and Rina wasn't waking up so I just got him out and got him his milk myself." He was very proud of himself. 2008-04-24 10:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/229/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was changing Ivar's pants yesterday while he played with Zurg (Gurg!) & Buzz. He put Zurg on top of Buzz and said, clear as day: > "Oh no! Zurg is on top of Buzz Lightyear's head!" 2008-04-21 09:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/228/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ It's only 8:30pm and they're already almost asleep. Cat & Stu spent from 1:30pm - 7:30pm playing outside in the backyard (with the occasional potty break) and Ivar was out there from about 5pm on. They came in filthy, exhausted, and incredibly cheerful. Yay for sunshine! 2008-04-16 20:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/227/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I don't know if Dad already told you the saga of Stuart's new bike-trailer but here it is: The trailer is like the thing Rina has for Jane's bike. It's basically half of a bike that hooks onto the back of my bike. On the first ride out, about 5 blocks from home, the right pedal fell off. I turned around to pick it up and the back wheel locked and refused to spin forward or backward. Stu and I ended up walking home while I dragged the bikes along. I called Schwinn and they told me that a certain cog on the back of the bike needed to be screwed back on which Dad and I did and everything looked good. I took Rina out for a ride on it and everything was great. Then I came back to take Stuart for a ride. Again, about 5 blocks from home, the left pedal fell off. I stopped, screwed the pedal back on, and we continued on our merry way. We were headed down a hill about half a mile from home when...BOOOM...the back tire on the trailer blew out. It seems that dragging the bike home after the first ride wore a hole in the tire which eventually caused the tube to explode. So, once again, Stu & I walked home pulling the bikes along. I called Schwinn again yesterday, explained the whole saga, and they very graciously agreed to ship us a new tire & tube free of charge. 2008-04-16 14:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/226/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was up reading at about 2am this morning when I heard Cat get out of bed. I noticed that she didn't open the door to go upstairs like she usually does so I peek down the hall in time to see her climbing into bed next to Stuart. He didn't wake up at all and they spent the rest of the night snuggled together on the top bunk. 2008-04-14 11:10:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/225/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar jumped out of his crib tonight. He, unfortunately, landed flat on his face and had to spend 10 minutes with Jane rocking him to calm down. 2008-03-31 19:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/224/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: You say "Ridiculous", I say "tomahto" 2008-03-31 19:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/223/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart & Ivar running through Luda's back yard, flopping down onto the wet muddy grass, and then standing up soaking wet and cackling. 2008-03-31 19:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/222/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were getting dressed up for brunch at the Galt House with Annie last Sun. Jane & the kids were in their fancy duds while I was still in flannel pants & a t-shirt. We were complimenting each other on how nice we all looked when I said, to Cat, as a joke "Do I look fancy?" Her response? "You don't look fancy but you're still very handsome." 2008-03-31 11:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/221/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane, as usual, put Ivar into the pack-n-play in the basement for her afternoon nap. Cat & Stu were outside playing and Jane was reading on the couch when she heard a door open. She walked into the kitchen and there was Ivar coming up the basement stairs. "Hi Mama!" 2008-03-26 20:35:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/220/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (After the easter egg hunt at the Douglass Community Center) Rina: Mommy, was that easter bunny real? Jane: What do you think? Rina: I don't think he was real because he was wearing shoes. I don't think the real easter bunny would have shoes. Stuart: Daddy! There's a hair on my hand. Get it off man! 2008-03-16 19:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/219/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane was in the bathroom putting her makeup on, only wearing underwear. Ivar went into her drawer and dug out a bra and brought it to her. 2008-03-15 13:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/218/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar went downstairs to play and came back up a little while later with no socks on. Me: Where are your socks goofy? Ivar: What socks? 2008-02-14 08:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/217/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were all watching a movie together downstairs. Jane was sitting in the brown chair and Cat, Stu, & Ivar were on the floor. At one point, Stu climbed up into the chair with Jane, looked right at her and said "Hey there little fella." 2008-02-07 12:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/216/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Time: 4am Place: My bed I wake up to Cat poking me to get my attention. She's standing there in the pitch blackness next to my side of the bed. "Daddy, does the furnace have legs?" 2008-01-25 15:05:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/215/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat & Stuart are always talking about things freaking them out. Cat: "Daddy! Stop tickling me! It's freaking me out." Stu: "My new dinosaur toy is kind of freaky" Cat: "Yeah, it's freaking me out." 2008-01-23 21:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/214/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were listening to Genesis in the car today and Stuart asked if this was music from "Tarzan". Pretty good considering how long it's been since we've watched Tarzan and he has no idea who Phil Collins is. 2008-01-13 22:15:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/213/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Lemon meringue pie = Lemonade pie 2008-01-13 14:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/212/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Football players are babies! Rina: Yeah! They're babies because they poop in their pants. Stuart: Wah wah! I'm a football player and I need my pants changed. 2008-01-05 15:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/211/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Guycakes = Pancakes 2008-01-05 15:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/210/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina: And then I began to look for my toy... 2007-12-30 15:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/209/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Daddy! Do you know where you are? 2007-12-22 17:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/208/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Sitting in the middle seat of the van, all three kids in the back. The 12 Days of Christmas is playing on the stereo and Cat, Stuart, & I are all singing along. Ivar is happily watching us all. 2007-12-18 13:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/207/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ There are twin boys (Zach & Sam) in Cat's class and they are both completely in love with her. Sam is very outgoing and very much like Cat so she spends most of her time playing with him. Zach is very reserved and shy and spends a lot of time sulking because he didn't get to play with Cat or sit next to her, etc. So imagine our surprise today when Cat announced that she was going to marry Zach. Cat: I'm going to marry Zach when I grow up. Me: That's nice. What made you pick Zach instead of Sam? Cat: Well, I don't play with Zach very much so I thought it would be nice if I married him instead. 2007-12-18 13:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/206/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Instance #1 Rina & Stuart have a standing agreement. If either one has a bad dream, they can go and sleep in the other's bed. Rina is taking advantage of this as I write. I heard footsteps in her room and came upstairs to check, just in time to see her quietly slipping into the bottom bunk. Instance #2 We went to Gattiland for lunch today and, as usual, there was a large school group. They were lining up in the hallway as we were wending our way back to the playroom. Stuart was walking behind Ivar. When we got close to the crowd, he said "Come on baby. Take my hand so you don't get lost." And then he took Ivar's hand and gently led him through the throng of 8th graders milling about. 2007-12-18 02:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/205/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids are in the beds for the night. Cat: Stuart! Are you awake or asleep? (silence) Cat: Stuart! Are you awake or asleep? (silence) Cat: Stuart! Are you awake or asleep? (silence) Cat: (whispering) Stuart? Are you awake? 2007-12-17 21:05:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/204/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat and I were at Meijer yesterday. Cat: What do we need to buy? Me: Broccoli. Cat: Oh, no! God doesn't want us to buy broccoli. He thinks it's yucky. Me: That's too bad because we need broccoli. Cat: Well God is going to be very angry with you. 2007-12-16 12:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/203/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ From a kid in Jane's Spanish class: "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of chicken!" 2007-12-10 21:15:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/202/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane and I woke up to Ivar hollering this morning. Not long after we heard Cat & Stuart start talking. Normally they would come upstairs to tell us that Ivar wants to get out but today was different. We heard all kinds of delighted hooting and thundering back and forth across the house. I went downstairs after a while and found ALL THREE of them playing on Cat's bed! Me: How did Ivar get out of his crib? Cat: Stuart & I helped him. Me: OK then. 2007-11-29 14:15:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/201/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar came crawling up the basement stairs today. He look at me and said, clear as day, "I got a ball!". Then he held up the ball to show me. 2007-11-28 22:30:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/200/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane: Who did you play with at school today? Cat: I played with Daniel. Jane: What did you guys play? Cat: We played that Daniel was the human baby and I was the human mommy. 2007-11-27 08:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/199/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Words: Dump truck, fire truck, Rina, Stu, Dora, Backpack, Map The boy is OBSESSED with Dora now. It's kind of frightening how fast he picked it up. He even sings the "Backpack" song. 2007-11-26 10:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/198/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cushion ball = Cotton ball 2007-11-26 10:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/197/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ 35.5lbs 40.5" Stu went in for allergy testing today. Fairly horrible (so many shots!) but they didn't find any severe allergies. He does have some fluid in his ears which explains the hearing problems. We've got some drugs to try over the next couple of weeks. 2007-11-15 15:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/196/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ 44lbs, 44" 90\% height 75\% weight Very very normal 2007-11-11 15:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/195/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ It's nap time and Cat is supposed to stay in her room until 4:30pm or so. I've just gotten out of the shower when I hear a noise at the bottom of the stairs and I look down to see Cat opening the door. "Sweetie", I say. "It's not time to get up yet." She sighs. "Yeah, that's what I thought." And she goes back to her room 2007-11-11 15:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/194/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Episode #1: Cat and Stuart are downstairs watching a movie after dinner. Ivar comes up and pushes the Carebear and Fish trucks into the living room. He pushes the Fish truck right up to me, saying "Na Na Na!". Then he gets behind the Carebear truck and starts to walk away. He looks back and me and says "Uh! Uh! Dadadadada!". Then walks a little bit, stops, and looks back again. Finally I get it and start pushing the Fish truck after him. We spend a good 10 minutes pushing our trucks back and forth across the house, crashing alternately into the back door and the couch. Episode #2: I discovered, several weeks ago, that our copy of The Wheels on the Bus has the sheet music printed in the back. I sat down and played it briefly just to hear what it sounded like. Cat & Ivar were very excited. Fast forward to last Sunday. Ivar & I were reading stories in the living room when he picked up The Wheels on the Bus and handed it to me. When I took it and started read, he yelled "No!" and took the book away. Then he walked over to the piano and set the book on top of the piano. I went over and played the song, singing along as best I could and he was happy. 2007-11-07 11:20:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/193/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ My parents took the kids to McDonald's last night and the agreed to get them ice cream after they'd finished eating. They were all sitting down, ice cream in hand, when Cat said "Now, let's not tell Mommy & Daddy we had ice cream." 2007-10-31 07:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/192/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat got her ears pierced yesterday. They did both at once just so it would be over and done with quickly. They gave her a lollipop when she was done and the first thing she said was, "Can I have another lollipop for my brother?" 2007-10-30 09:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/191/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat got a "Webkin" for her birthday and she went off to think of a name for it so we could register it online. She came back a little while later. Cat: I thought of a great name for my horse! Me: Great! What is it? (pause) Cat: I forgot. 2007-10-30 09:20:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/190/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Knows the sound of each of the following animals: Cat Dog Monkey Pig Lion Can point to each of the following on his body: Nose Ear Mouth Knows the names of almost everyone at Ganon and says "Hi" & "Bye" to them by name. 2007-10-25 14:45:10 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/189/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Both Cat & Stu are total obsessed with the new The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie. They enact elaborate fantasies based in the land of Narnia (or "Nahnya", as they say). My favorite is when they start combining elements of Narnia, Shrek, & Charlie/Lola into one big fantasy. 2007-10-25 12:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/188/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane was talking to another mom about what costume her kid was going to wear for Halloween. Mom: What do you want to be for Halloween? Kid: I want to be a possum! Mom: Why do you want to be a possum? Kid: Because they're cool!. They eat brains. Mom: Actually, possums don't eat brains. Kid: What eats brains then? Mom: Zombies! Kid: Oh. OK, then I want to be a zombie. 2007-10-22 12:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/187/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ 26lbs Exactly normal in every way 2007-10-15 07:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/186/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Everyone LOVED Stuart's "Mater" costume. Everywhere we walked, people were calling out "Look, it's Mater!" "Hey, that kid is Mater, cool!". He was a little weirded out by all of the attention but he would duck his head and give a little wave to whoever was calling out to him. 2007-10-14 18:50:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/185/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar walks into the dining room where Jane and I are finishing breakfast. He squats, turns bright red, and lets out an appallingly load grunt. Then he turns to me and says, "STINKY!" and comes over holding his arms out to be picked up. 2007-10-14 18:50:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/184/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were reading "Miss Nelson is Missing" tonight and Catarina asked, "Does Miss Viola Swamp live with Miss Nelson?" 2007-10-13 16:30:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/183/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Dave & Luda were over for dinner last night. Ivar was playing a game with Dave where he would run away from the table and then come running back, laughing hysterically. The problem came when he didn't stop in time and ran straight into the side of the table. 2007-10-12 06:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/182/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Plunger-man" = "Plumber" "Tooshue" = "Tissue" 2007-10-11 22:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/181/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (Upon detecting a certain distinct odor) Me: Ivar, do you need your pants changed? Ivar: Stinky! Me: (Holding up a diaper) Come here baby. Ivar: No! (Runs away laughing) 2007-10-08 16:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/180/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina: (to Stuart). Let me sniff your butt.
(Leans over, pretends to sniff his butt)

Catarina: EWWWW! GROSSS!
(Hysterical laughing)

Stuart: OK, now let me sniff your butt.

(repeat over and over) 2007-10-04 20:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/179/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's accidents in the last 2 days: 1. Fell off something in the climbing room at JCC. Gigantic bump on the forehead. 2. Fell down the basement stairs. Assorted bruises on the face. 3. Pulled his highchair down on top of himself. More face bruises. 4. Fell on the sidewalk out front. Split top and bottom lips. 5. Tripped over broom. Resplit top lip. It really looks like he's been in a fight. Hasn't dampened his spirits at all though. 2007-10-03 15:25:07 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/178/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's new thing when he's in the tub is to stare down at his penis for a long time, point at it, and then laugh hysterically. 2007-09-30 16:15:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/177/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ After Jane reached back to adjust Cat's helmet while we were riding, Rina said "I thought that I fixed my helmet but I was confused because I didn't see my arm reach up to do it." 2007-09-23 13:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/176/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart just came up to Jane asking if she would cut his hair. So they went out onto the porch and he sat quietly, perfectly still, and got his hair cut. 2007-09-23 13:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/175/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ A little boy from Jane's Spanish Class came out from the bathroom whining, "My penis hurts!" Jane: Is it askew? Boy: It's not askew! It's a penis! 2007-09-21 16:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/174/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to Mr. Gatti's for lunch today and there was a septic-tank truck pumping out sewage right in front of the restaurant. We were hurrying the kids inside because it smelled AWFUL. Jane/Me: Hurry, hurry! Get inside, it smells terrible out here! Cat: Why does it smell so bad? Me: See that truck there? Cat: Yes. Me: It's full of poop. Cat & Stu in unison: EWWWW! GROSS!!! And they went running inside. 2007-09-19 10:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/173/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Pizza Up Round & Round (wheels on the bus) Cluckcluckcluck (Barnyard Dance) Hi Daddeee! 2007-09-18 07:55:19 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/172/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I left before Stuart woke up the other morning and he was very upset because he didn't get to give me the customary kiss on the arm before I left. Jane found him out in the driveway yelling "DADDY! I WANT TO KISS YOUR ARM!" Then he said "Mommy, I'm just going to walk to Daddy's job so I can give him a kiss on the arm. I'll be right back." Sweet boy. 2007-09-18 07:45:19 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/171/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ While Cat & Stuart were playing Legos: Cat: My name is pony but I don't like baloney. 2007-09-04 21:50:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/170/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Mama Dada Hi! Get down All done What's that? Cracker Car There's more but it's inconsistent. 2007-08-22 10:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/169/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: Stuart! Let's play. I'm going to be the princess and you can be the naughty guy. Stuart: I don't want to be the naughty guy! I want to be a prince. Cat: OK, you'll be the prince and I'll be the princess and we'll go dance on the bed. So they go off and dance on the bed for a while. Cat: OK, now it's time for the prince & princess to kiss on the lips. Stuart: OK! So they hug and kiss on the lips for a while. 2007-08-22 10:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/168/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: What would happen if I didn't have any bones? 2007-08-22 10:50:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/167/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ 1. Ivar walks around saying "Hi!" to everyone. 2. Stuart came running into the dining room last night shouting "Daddy! Daddy! Ivar's climbing the ladder on my firetruck bed again!" 3. We went to the fair on Sat. The kids had a huge time. We saw a variety of animals and Ivar was particularly excited about the rabbits. He kept trying to climb out of the stroller to get at them and it was a challenge to keep him from getting his fingers bitten off. The big kids also went on a bunch of rides which they LOVED. They went on the mini-roller coaster, 2 different kinds of carousel-type rides, the big slide, and the ferris wheel (with Jane). 4. Sun. was a pool day. Everyone had a lovely time. Stu apparently needed some alone time and spent the first hour driving a toy truck in the gutter on the far side of the pool from where everyone else was. Ivar graduated to running and jumping off the side of the pool. He can actually get his head back out of the water for 1 breath before someone has to grab him. Crazy! 2007-08-20 16:10:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/166/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ 1. Standing up on the Care-Bears truck 2. Climbing the ladder of the bunk beds 3. Jumping off of things 2007-08-18 22:40:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/165/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: "I'm very good at finding out the how of whys of things!" 2007-08-17 13:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/164/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane & I were in the basement yesteday when Stuart came down talking about how "Ivar was wrecking the toilet paper." I went to look and found Ivar sitting calmly on a pile of toilet paper in the dining room shredding it and throwing the bits up in the air. I found another pile in the hallway and another one in the bathroom. He pretty much killed off an entire roll. We went to Davey & Amy's for dinner that evening and were sitting in the living room chatting when Ivar came wandering out with an armful of TP from their downstairs bathroom. We laughed, Amy replaced the roll, Ivar headed down into the basement, and we all sat down to dinner. About 10 minutes later, Ivar came into the dining room pulling a line of toilet paper behind him. I followed it and it went a good 30ft in an unbroken line all the way back to the bathroom. 2007-08-13 13:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/163/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat (hollering down the basement stairs): Mark! Mark! Me: What? Cat: Mark! Jane is looking for you! At the pool Cat (to the lifeguard): What's your name? (The lifeguard tells her) Cat: My name is Rina and his name is Stuart. Stuart: And his name is Ivar and her name is Mommy...Actually her name is Jane. 2007-08-13 13:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/162/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to The Galt House for brunch with Annie & Tad today. The lobby had very shiny black floors and Ivar kept freaking out every time I put him down to walk. I couldn't figure out what was going on until he got down on all fours and started trying to scoot backwards like he was going down stairs. Then I realized he was seeing the reflection of the lights in the floor and thought it was a hole that he was going to fall into. 2007-08-12 13:05:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/161/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar made a major leap in terms of comfort in the water today. He started crawling around the baby pool and was practically swimming because his butt kept floating up into the air. Someone has to stand right next to him though because he really wants to crawl into the deeper water which doesn't work very well for obvious reason. He's also figured out about keeping his mouth closed when going underwater which makes things easier. That meant that he and I also got to play a game where he stands on the steps of the big pool and then I hold his hands and drag him underwater for a short distance. He was HUGE fan of it and we did it over and over for a good 10 minutes. 2007-08-05 02:15:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/160/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The game of the day is "alligator". Stuart is an alligator. He goes and crawls under an upside down laundry basket which is his cage. Cat comes and "feeds" him through the holes in the laundry basket and they have lengthy discussions about whether or not he is a nice alligator or a mean alligator who is going to eat her. The answer to this varies and he sometimes ends up chasing her and pretending to bite her. 2007-08-05 02:10:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/159/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat said, at breakfast this morning, "Baba says that if you go in Jesus' tummy that you live forever." We had to have a long discussion about how everyone dies and that different people have different ideas about what happens after that. She got upset because she doesn't like it when we contradict Baba but we explained that dying was sometimes a good thing like when a person is a very old and sick and doesn't have a good life anymore. Eventually she calmed down and it seemed to make sense. This comes right on the heels of the marriage discussion. Cat & Stu were playing with a bunch of dolls and stuffed animals and Jane heard Cat say "No Stuart! Only a boy and a girl can marry each other." Jane got to set the record straight on that one. I hope this doesn't end in our having a discussion with Baba about what's appropriate to tell Cat because there are a lot of "moral" issues that we disagree fundamentally on and I don't want Cat to end up in the middle. 2007-08-05 02:10:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/158/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I had to run to the store last night and decided to take Ivar with me. He was busy pushing a truck around the kitchen so I wasn't sure if he'd be up for it. Me: Ivar! Do you want to go to the store? (He immediately dropped his truck and came running over, arms out, for me to pick up him up) Ivar: Unh! Unh! Unh! (We walked outside and through the back gate to the driveway. He pointed at the van.) Ivar: Car? Me: Nope, we'll take the stroller. Ivar: OK! (I took the stroller out of the back of the van and he climbed in, happy as can be. 2007-08-01 10:45:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/157/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart was looking at the picture of the boat with a person on it that hangs in our dining room. Stuart: Mommy, is that person big or little? Jane: It's a grownup. Stuart: But they're too little! Jane: It's a little grownup. Stuart: Oh. Rina: Grandma's a little grownup. 2007-07-26 08:55:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/156/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Just a hair over 24lbs. Not sure about length. The perfect example of a normal baby. He's very into walking now and hardly ever crawls. He also talks CONSTANTLY. He points at things and says "What's that?" and then tries to repeat the word you tell him. He also speaks very carefully cadenced gibberish and gestures with his hands while he's talking. 2007-07-18 16:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/155/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to the pool on Mon night after dinner. Near the end of the
evening, the kids asked me to go off the diving board. I've been
attempting to a decent flip for the last month but end up landing on my
back everything time (stupid non-springy new diving board!).

But tonight was my night. I got up there, bounced, spun. Boom!
Perfect flip. Feet first in the water. No pain.

I swam over to the side ready to soak in the praises of my progeny.

Cat: "Daddy, I missed it. Can you do it again?"
Stu: "Yeah Daddy, we missed it."

Grrrrrr! 2007-07-18 10:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/154/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat, while pretending one of Jane's books was the bible: "And then Jesus said, 'Oh where oh where is my Prince Charming?'" 2007-07-14 01:50:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/153/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's finally gotten a taste for walking. He starting taking a few steps about a week ago and has been gradually increasing the distance every day. Initially, he'd only do it when no one was looking but he's gotten over that. He's even attempted running a few times which he can't do very well but seems to enjoy. 2007-07-05 11:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/152/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stu filled up his potty chart today. He's pooped on the potty 30 times so he finally got his big-boy bike today. He was soooo happy. He and Rina and I went riding a couple of times around the block. 2007-06-30 15:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/151/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I went into the boy's room to check on people before I went upstairs and I found Stuart merrily shredding all of the pages from one of his Living Books. I got a garbage bag and made him come down and clean up the mess. To his credit he came down and did it but bitched the entire time saying things like "You're mean Daddy!" and "Daddy, you're not being nice to me." Having to clean up didn't really seem to resonate with him though and this isn't the first time he's trashed a book. He has a potty chart and he gets to put up a sticker every time he poops. When the chart is full, he gets a big boy bike. He WAS 3 stickers away from the goal. I brought the chart in and pulled off a sticker and threw it away. He, of course, started to bawl. "Why did Daddy take a sticker off your chart?" (Between sobs) "Because I wrecked my book" Sigh. Another one for the memoir when he grows up. 2007-06-27 22:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/150/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: "Daddy? Can I have a peanut butter cracker with no peanut butter on it?" 2007-06-27 20:35:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/149/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Baptibbins = Baptism 2007-06-23 21:40:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/148/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat & Stuart have been at Bible Camp at Luda's church this week. Here are some highlights 1. The song who's chorus went "Plunge right in to Jesus Christ." 2. Stuart telling us stories all week about JP. "I played with JP today." "JP was lost today." "JP hit his head today." "JP didn't hit his head today." Jane went to pick them up today and it turns out that JP is a guy in gigantic penguin suit. 2007-06-22 14:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/147/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I just got off the phone with Luda. Stuart pooped in the potty and Cat went running to get Luda. "Baba Baba! Stuart pooped in the potty! Come look, it's pretty amazing! 2007-06-21 20:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/146/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I'm putting Stuart to bed. Ivar lays in his crib murmuring to himself as Stu and I read stories. I finish reading, tuck Stuart in, kiss him good night, and climb down from the top bunk. Ivar immediately pops up in his crib. "Kiss kiss kiss?" I walk over and give him a big kiss on the cheek. He smiles and says "Dadee!". Then pops the binky back in his mouth and drops down onto the pillow. 2007-06-19 02:00:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/145/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat jumped off the diving board on Sat. We told her that, as soon as she could jump off the side and swim to the ladder, that she could try the diving board. It took her a bit of walking back and forth before she got up the nerve but then she jumped 5 times. 2007-06-18 14:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/144/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart pooped on the potty again yesterday. He's been doing amazingly well since last week's pootastrophe. Jane created a 30 square chart last night. He gets to put a smiley-face sticker on the chart every time he poops in the potty. When the chart's full, he gets a big-boy bike. He's very excited about the whole thing and keeps going into the bathroom to look at the chart. Rina's also doing amazingly well at the pool. She jumps standing from the side of the pool and then swims back to the edge entirely on her own. She's met her end of the bargain so we're going to let her try the diving board again this weekend. Ivar hasn't really been doing stairs since we got home from HHI but it clicked back on again last night and he goes to and from the basement at will. He's also discovered the joys of pitching large toys (dump truck/ Care Bears truck/etc) down the steps. Last night, I stopped him from sending the Fish Truck straight down into Rina. 2007-06-14 10:10:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/143/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Luda signed up Cat & Stu for Bible camp next week. Cat asked Jane today is Jesus was going to be at camp. 2007-06-13 21:40:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/142/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Here's how Stuart eats a slice of pizza: 1. Pull all cheese off so all you have is a slice with tomato sauce. 2. Eat all of the slice except the crust and a thin .25" strip down one edge. 3. Repeat until full 2007-06-12 13:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/141/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (Cat dawdling on the way out the door) Jane: Rina, hurry up! We need to go. Cat: I AM hurrying. I do what I do and I don't what I don't! 2007-06-12 13:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/140/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ On Saturday, completely out of no where, Cat started swimming. Less than 30 minutes before, she'd been whining and complaining about how she didn't want to go under water. Then she and Jane went to the lap pool and she just started swimming. She floats, puts her head under water, kicks, and paddles and can easily go 7ft without taking a breath. Today was even better. She was diving for rings in the baby pool, jumping off the side and swimming to me, and even taking breaths and continuing without putting her feet down. She even wanted to try the diving board. She didn't actually jump but did make it out to the end of the board. 2007-06-11 01:20:06 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/139/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart, when asked about any injuries he might have, now says that they are a result of his bike crash on the way to his beach house. 2007-06-10 21:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/138/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Serious progress made yesterday. Stuart pooped on the potty 3 times. The first 2 times, he came to us and said he needed to poop. The third time, he just went on his on and then started hollering for someone to clean him up. Today was good too. He pooped in the potty once before lunch and once again right after dinner. And then he pooped in his pants. Not 5 minutes after going in the potty, he crapped his pants. Two gigantic poo-balls fell out of his shorts onto the floor and Ivar crawled through them. Stuart was covered in poo. Ivar was covered in poo. The entire living room floor was covered in poo from Ivar crawling. Tubs for everyone. I had to mop and disinfect large portions of the hardwood and carpet. Stuart's underpants went in the garbage. Lots of other things in the laundry. 2007-06-08 19:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/137/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were getting ready to leave the pool one evening while we were in Hilton Head. Ivar, as usual, was being held by Dave. I had a bag of toys to give back to Dave & Luda so we were walking over to their car so the bag could be loaded up. Dave took out his keys and Stuart promptly burst into tears. "Grampit! We need Ivar back! Don't take Ivar, he's our baby!" He didn't calm down until I took Ivar from Dave. 2007-06-05 21:15:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/136/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Rina, do you have your swim lesson today? Rina: Yup, I have my swim lesson. Stuart: Are you going to go underwater again? Rina: I don't know yet. Stuart: I think you will because you're very brave. 2007-06-05 09:55:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/135/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar was playing with Stuart's "Mack" while Stuart was eating breakfast. Stuart, for some reason, was not wearing pants. He finished eating and went running over to get his "Mack" back from Ivar. While he was standing there scolding Ivar for taking his toy, Ivar reached up and started batting Stuart's penis around. Stuart was not amused. 2007-06-05 09:55:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/134/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: Mommy, can you take off my shoes please? Jane: Sure thing. (Starts taking off shoes) Stuart: Mommy, why are you taking off my shoes? Jane: Because you asked me to. Stuart: Why did I ask you to? Jane: No idea. 2007-05-29 22:15:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/133/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Here are some of Ivar's tricks: 1. "So big". He even does it with both arms now. 2. Likes to shake his head back and forth. Then he stops and waits for you to do it too. 3. Claps whenever anyone says "Yay!" 4. Flaps arms up and down and yells whenever anyone says "Eeeeeee!" 2007-05-24 10:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/132/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I found Ivar sitting in the hallway tonight with "Red Hat, Green Hat" on his lap flipping through the pages. He was making gibberish noises that exactly matched the words (Red hat, blue hat, green hat, OOPS!) Ba BAH, da DAH, bu BUH, OOPS! 2007-05-21 20:35:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/131/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: Stuart! Did you know that Woody's friend Jessie died? Stuart: Yeah! Cat: She touched a bug and all of her hair fell off and she got hit by a car and she died. Woody's crying but he misses Jessie while she's died. 2007-05-21 20:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/130/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: We're all mice. Baba is a mouse and Grampit is a mouse and Stuart is a mouse. Stuart: I'm not a mouse! I'm Stuart Biek! Luda: Stuart Marshall Biek. Stuart: I'm not a mushroom! Stuart: Mommy, you're a square. And Daddy and Rina and Ivar and me squares too. Cat: I'm not a square, I'm a circle! Cat: Woody and Kitty-Hello went to Head-Hilton to their beach house. 2007-05-19 09:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/129/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Asking Ivar for kisses gets you a sloppy open mouthed one on the lips 2007-05-19 09:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/128/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ For the first time in WEEKS, Stuart has pooped on the potty! Here's hoping it'll last. 2007-05-16 14:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/127/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ As of last week Ivar (13 months) had 4 teeth on the bottom and none on the top. Then, after several days of EXTREME grumpiness, we discovered 4 more coming in on the top AT ONCE. Yikes. 2007-05-12 20:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/126/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (Cat standing there holding a chopstick) "Daddy? Can Ivar have this Chinese Stick?" 2007-05-04 13:40:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/125/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was toweling off after a shower while Jane & Stuart nuggled in our bed. Jane: Why are you licking me? Stuart: Because you're a lollipop! 2007-04-29 14:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/124/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was standing in the bathroom drying off after a shower and Stuart was wandering around when he happened upon Jane's tampon sitting on the counter. Stuart: What's that, Daddy? Me: That's Mommy's tampon. He picked it up and paused. Stuart: Can I eat it? Me: Nope 2007-04-28 15:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/123/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The most normal baby in the world. Just a hair under 21lbs. Not sure about length. He's still not very interested in trying to walk but he's getting better at standing and can stand unassisted as long as he doesn't realize he's doing it. Talks & eats constantly. Loves to say "Hi Dada!" whenever I come into the room. He also pats people on the back when they pick him. If you "Kisses!", he'll lean in and start gumming your shirt. 2007-04-24 11:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/122/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Wesley is obsessed with baseball at the moment. Davey & Amy dvred a baseball game for him which he apparently watches all the time. One of the players on the team is Albert Pujols (pronounced Poo Holes) which means that Wesley runs around talking about Poo Holes all the time. 2007-04-24 11:30:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/121/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane: What did you do at school today? Cat: Cantor Lipp came to read us a story. Jane: Neat, what story did he read. Cat: It was a story about Jesus. Jane: Are you sure it wasn't somebody else? Cat: No! It was a story about Jesus & his 10 rules! Jane: I think maybe you mean that it was Moses and the 10 Commandments Cat: No Mommy! It was JESUS! 2007-04-23 20:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/120/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane was cutting my hair today. I was sitting in a chair, shirtless, in the back yard while all of the kids (Wesley) too were running around. Wesley came over at one point and pointed at my chest. "What are those?" "Those are my nipples." "Oh! I have those too. See?" At which point he pulled up his shirt and started pointed at his nipples. 2007-04-22 20:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/119/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Poconut = Coconut 2007-04-21 08:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/118/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar figured out how to shake his head "No" yesterday. We were eating outside and I kept trying to give him grapes. Everytime I'd hand him a grape, he shake his head so vigorously that his saucer would rock back and forth. 2007-04-21 08:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/117/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane's been trying to get Stuart to walk to school instead of riding in the double-stroller with Ivar. The problem is that, every time Stuart sees the stroller, he makes a huge fuss. We finally decided to just take the double-stroller out of the van and put it in the shed. And it worked like a charm. Ivar goes in the single-stroller and Stuart walks the whole way to school with no fuss. I took Stuart out into the shed to get the lawn mower a few days ago and he spotted the double-stroller. Stuart: Wow! Daddy, that stroller looks just like OUR stroller! Me: Wow, that's pretty weird. Stuart: Yeah! That's weird. And that was the end of it. He didn't ask to ride in it or where "our" stroller went. Just went about his business. 2007-04-18 09:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/116/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I'm in the kitchen cleaning up when I hear Ivar start to cry and yell "Daddeee!". It's muffled so he must be stuck somewhere. I pause and listen. Definitely the living room. Behind the green chair? Nope. Behind the pink chair and end table? Nope. Behind the couch? Bingo! I pull him out, clutching a bouncy ball with both hands. "Danks daddee" "You're welcome. Did you get stuck?" "Esss!" And off he crawled. 2007-04-10 19:25:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/115/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuartism: "Mr Daddy's" == "Mr. Gatti's" Cat: "Are those caterpillars going into their raccoons so they can turn into butterflies? Cat: "I had a sad dream that I was out of my bed by accident at night and I was sad." 2007-04-07 16:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/114/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Me: Did you know that Margaret's coming this week? Cat: Really? Awesome! Me: She's going to come dye easter eggs with you guys. Cat: Dye easter eggs? Me: Yup. Cat: But why did the easter eggs die? We then had to have a long discussion about the difference between "dye" & "die" 2007-04-06 16:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/113/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat's started telling us about her dreams lately. They're usually about something she's been playing with or something that's happened recently. They seem to be fairly literal. Last night's was that the Disney Princess computer game was broken and she was trying to fix it. 2007-04-05 08:55:14 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/112/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar was pretty much moved into full destructo-mode. His new favorite games are throwing everything out of his crib (not strong enough to throw the pillow yet) and trying to put everything into the tub. He threw both of his socks in while I was getting him undressed and Jane found him making a valiant effort to throw Stuart's towel in. 2007-04-03 10:50:13 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/111/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Yesterday was a gorgeous day. Unfortunately Cat & Stu spent very little of it outside due to a large bumble bee that seems to have developed a fondness for the sandbox. Every time the bee came back, they'd come running & screaming into the house. The only exception to that was when I looked out the window and say them huddled by the back gate sobbing and bee flying around the back porch. As a result, they were completely bonkers by the end of the day from not playing outside enough. I tried to make a rule that they were banned from the ground floor (outside or basement only) so that I could do the dishes and Jane could clean up for Elaine coming and take a tub. Alas, it was not to be so I gathered them all up at about 7:15pm and dragged them to Douglass Park. I made Cat & Stu walk and put Ivar in the backpack They, of course, had a HUGE time at the park. Cat & Stu spent the entire time tumbling down one of the large slides together chanting "Hello Mr. Magic Poopy!" over and over. Ivar also discovered the wonders of the tunnel slide. I let him crawl up the steps to the opening of the slide, then went down to the bottom and started calling his name. I crawled about half way up to convince him to do it the first time. From then on, he was obsessed. He probably went down 20 times. There were a couple of times when I had to run around the slide to catch him at the bottom because he crawled up so fast. 2007-04-02 11:00:16 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/110/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was in the kitchen making lunch. Jane & Stuart were in the dining room. Stuart: Daddy! Scoot up my chair please! Jane: Daddy's busy but I can help you. Stuart: Daddy! I need you to scoot up my chair. Jane: Buddy, Daddy's busy but I can help you. Stuart: Daddy! Scoot up my chair! Please! Jane: (to me) I want those catalogs (Joe vs. the Volcano) Me: Then please order them. Stuart: Daddy! I want those catalogs! 2007-03-29 08:45:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/109/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane & Cat were at Target. Cat was trying to get Jane to buy her things and Jane was using various tactics to dissuade her. Cat: Mommy, you're tricking me! Jane: What? Cat: I know about you and you know about me. People know about the people they live with. 2007-03-27 15:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/108/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Minton" = "Mint" (as in peppermint) or "Mitten" "Vilawomp" = "Miss Viola Swamp" "Person" = "Purse" "Vanilla Bar" = "Granola Bar" 2007-03-27 07:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/107/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was doing the dishes last night when I heard all sorts of grunting and rattling around in the dining room. I came out and saw that Ivar had crawled underneath the easel and was working very hard to remove as many cds as possible from the cd tower. Assuming that he was just in destructo-mode, I went over to retrieve him. When I bent down, I saw that the situation was actually quite different. There were 3 bouncy balls and a toy car behind the cd tower (presumably put there by him) and Ivar was trying to take enough cds out so that he could reach through to get the balls & car. I took pity on him, pulled him out, grabbed the balls & car, and set them in front of him on the living room floor. From there he proceeded to methodically place each ball underneath the green chair in the living room. 2007-03-27 07:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/106/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was in the kitchen, Cat & Stu in the living room. Suddenly things got very quite and I could hear them whispering to each other. And what should I find upon sticking my head around the corner to see what they were up to? They were calmly playing go fish together at the coffee table. And they were even playing it properly (although Cat did have to help Stuart out a bit). And when they were done, they carefully put the cards back in the box and put the box back in the drawer. 2007-03-26 10:45:10 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/105/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart found a bottle of red nail polish in the coffee table this morning. I discovered this when I heard Cat say "Stuart, why are you painting with that nail polish?" I rushed into the living room to discover it all over his arms, all over one couch cushion, and on a big section of rug. We pretty much had to just turn the couch cushion over. The rug is a hosed. 2007-03-24 19:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/104/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ In addition to pulling himself up on things, Ivar has also figured out the important task of getting back down. Nice for us since it means he doesn't have to be rescued when he stands up in his crib. He's very proud of himself too. He pulls himself up, makes noise to make sure I'm looking, and the lowers himself back down. 2007-03-23 17:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/103/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Here's what Ivar had to eat yesterday: Breakfast Blueberry pancakes Pears Bacon Lunch Cheese Pears, Apples, Dried Plums Clam Chowder (which he LOVED) Dinner Mac & Cheese BBQ ribs Raisins 2007-03-19 07:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/102/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We went to the AJ Pasta Summer last night. It was fun but, unfortunately, no one in our family won the raffle. There was a magician there that Cat had seen before so she was all excited about that. The highlight of the evening for me was when I went to take Cat to the bathroom. One of her teachers was standing over by the door as we were leaving and Cat leaned into me and asked "Daddy? Do we need to ask Miss Karen before we go to the potty?" 2007-03-13 08:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/101/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ #1 Getting a tooth #2 Climbing half way up the basement stairs, getting stuck, and wailing until someone came to rescue him. 2007-03-07 19:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/100/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart and I are walking across the El Nopal parking lot after seeing "where the backhoe used to be." Stuart: I love you Daddy. Me: I love you buddy. You're a sweet boy. Stuart: You're MY sweet boy. 2007-03-07 13:30:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/99/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar pretty much only uses a binky when he's sleeping (sometimes in the car too). I was putting him to bed last night and put him down on his pillow so I could get the binky from off the floor. He pushed himself up on all fours and wailed: "BIIIINKY!" As soon as I plugged him in, he dropped back down and promptly went to sleep. 2007-03-06 16:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/98/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar brought home some gastrointestinal illness that's been making the rounds through all of us. Wed: Stuart came up to our room in the morning covered in dried barf. I asked what happened and he said "I threw up so I slept on the top (he usually sleeps on the bottom). Can I watch Charlie & Lola now?" We kept him home from school and he was basically fine from then on. Thu: Cat complained of being sick at school, specifically her head hurting. She was pretty much of a lump all afternoon at Luda's house and then barfed in the car on the way home. Luckily she was covered up with my parka so minimal damage there. She was fine the next morning. Fri: I started getting ill at work about mid-morning. Unfortunately we were having power problems at work so I was running around plugging in various computers with extension cords and wasn't able to go home and sleep until after lunch. I barfed in the restroom at El Nopal. I spent most of the afternoon sleeping and was human enough to get up and wander around. This was lucky because that's about the time that Jane got sick. I managed to get everyone fed and put in front of a movie and then spent the next hour lying on the floor with Ivar crawling on me until Jane came down and we got them all into bed. Sat: Everyone is pretty much back to normal except Ivar who's had diarrhea for several days and is very grumpy. He doesn't have a fever though so we've been keeping him well hydrated and pumped full of pain relievers. Luckily he's the only one of the 3 with a taste for Pedialyte. 2007-03-04 00:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/97/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Occasionally says "Thanks" when you had him things. Also said "cracker" several times when I handed him crackers during snack. 2007-03-03 16:05:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/96/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane and I were in the kitchen talking when Stuart came in. Stuart: Daddy, I want MONEY! Me: What? Stuart: Daddy, I need some money! Me: What do you need money for? Stuart: I don't know. I just need it. Me: How do you ask? Stuart: Can I please have some money? Me: Would you take a check? Stuart: No checks! I need money. Jane: (Grabs a pad of paper, tears off a piece, draws dollar signs on it). Here you go sweetie. Five bucks, just for you And he walked off happy, money in hand 2007-03-01 09:55:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/95/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ (This morning in our bed) Jane: (hugging Stuart) I love this boy! Stuart: (hugging back) I love this girl! 2007-02-27 14:40:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/94/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I took Stuart in for a followup visit after starting on the nasal spray & the miralax. The doctor said his tonsils looked normal and his nose looked clear. The plan for now is to keep him on the nasal spray since it seems to help with the snoring. We'll keep watching the tongue sticking out and his breathing in general and see how it goes. He also got vaccinations for HepA & flu. I'm really pissed off the nurse on this one. She's not someone I've ever had before. Basically she didn't give any warning so I wasn't holding Stuart down and she didn't make any attempt to hold his leg herself. Just stuck him in the thigh with the needle! Of course he jumped about a foot in the air and the tip of the needle snapped off and she had to do the whole thing all over again. She was pissy about it at first but I gave her crap and she eventually apologized. I'll have to watch out for her in the future. No permanent damage done to Stuart though. He stopped crying the second he got a lollipop. It's sad because the thing he's most freaked out about is having to lie down at the doctor's. All he talked about the whole time was "Do I have to lay down? I don't want to lay down!" Luckily he didn't. I expect that's residual from when he went to the ER to get his lip stitched and they had to strap him to the table. Poor kid. 2007-02-26 17:50:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/93/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Waves and says "Hi" (or even "Hi Dad-ee!") Pointed to himself in the mirror and said "Ivar" Asked for "cake" when Cat & Stuart were having cupcakes Says "Na" when he hands things to people. Especially likes it when you give it back to him so he can say "Na" and hand it over again. 2007-02-19 10:20:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/92/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was putting Ivar's jammies on last night after I got him out of the tub when we had the following exchange: (I cover his face with the towel. He laughs and pulls it off) Ivar: Hi dad-ee! MBB: Hi baby! Ivar: (Looks toward the kitchen) Ba-ba? MBB: Yup, you're going to have a bottle Ivar: (Starts doing the excited grunting thing he does when he's about to eat) 2007-02-09 19:05:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/91/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Mama" "Daddy" "Hi" "More" 2007-02-02 08:55:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/90/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart was really excited to hear the messages from you guys last night. I'm assuming you got his callback. He's also completely obsessed with the race track. I took some pictures which I post soon so you can see him playing with. Ivar apparently loves it too. Jane said he was excited to get to play with while Stuart was at school this morning since Stuart won't let him near it otherwise. Ivar even knew to put the cars on the track. He also spent a bit of time trying to get his binky to go down too. Stuart's been having a rough couple of weeks. He's very easily frustrated at home and is absolutely horrible to Jane. Apparently he just spends the whole day refusing to let her do anything with him and yelling that he wants me. I'm hoping that it's all because he's been sick and he'll settle down a bit after this round of antibiotics. He seems happiest on days when he has school so we're also looking at sending him 5 days a week for the rest of the year. Cat compounds things by constantly devising new ways to torment Stuart. She's also working on being sneakier about it which is unfortunate. Luckily she's not very good at it yet so we catch her most of the time. There was an incident this weekend where I caught her dancing around and teasing him while holding one of her toys in the air so that he couldn't reach it. I took the toy away and made her watch while I threw it in the garbage. She got the picture after asking a few times if she could have it back and me telling her that it was gone forever. It must have made an impression since she's been much nicer this week. Evil daddy! Obviously it's not like that all the time. There are large blocks of time where they play (sometimes all 3 of them) nicely together, sharing toys back and forth and making up bizarre games. Making toys pretend to go potty is big fun at the moment. Otherwise things are ok. Jane and I have had better luck finding time alone together this week which makes things easier. We're also reading a bunch of really good books. Jane randomly bought "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" by Diana Gabaldon which we discovered is actually the 6th book in a series. We've since gone back and bought the first 3 and are reading them from the beginning. Really good. Any word on the lawsuit these days? Have you guys filed the motion to take over yet? Hope things aren't too stressful out there. We're looking forward to seeing Dad soon. Love, Me 2007-01-30 15:20:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/89/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were getting ready for tubs when Stuart climbed up onto Cat's bed and lay down on his stomach. I said, "God, I hope he's not getting sick" since that's pretty unusual behavior for him. Jane took a closer look. "He's not sick, he's humping a Barbie doll." "Oh. Good!," I said. "Good? You think it's good that your son is a pervert?" "Sure! There's no $30 co-pay associated with him being a perve. By the time it's a real problem, he'll be old enough to pay for it himself." 2007-01-28 17:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/88/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was feeding Ivar dried prunes for a snack. He suspicious of the first one but ended up really enjoying it and wolfing it down. He then looked right at me, reached out his hand and said "MORE!". I gave him another and he was supremely happy. 2007-01-28 17:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/87/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Margaret was babysitting the kids last night by herself. At one point Cat came up and asked Margaret if she could have a lollipop. Margie obviously told her no to which Cat replied. "My mom would let me have one." It starts young, doesn't it. 2007-01-28 17:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/86/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar pulled himself up to standing for the first time today. We were in the basement and he pulled himself up on the side of big tub that holds the train tracks. 2007-01-26 17:35:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/85/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Rina: "Daddy, does the Easter Bunny have a car?" 2007-01-18 14:10:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/84/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat's finally starting to get better. She went to ballet yesterday and had a lovely time. She even won the "ballet duck" which is a little stuffed duck the teacher hands out to the girl who did an exceptionally good job that week. She's also back to school today which means we can all go to El Nopal for lunch. Yay! Ivar continues to learn all sorts of new tricks. He's figured out how to pull himself up to a sitting position in his crib and he REALLY wants to pull up more. It'll just be a matter of time before he's jumping out. He's also able to stand on his own for VERY short (5-10s) periods of time. He pretty much just cruises around the house, following whoever he's interested in at the moment. He also continues to eat like an elephant. For dinner last night, he ate an entire jar of Apples & Blueberries, a gigantic hunk of meatloaf and 2/3s of a baked potato. Stuie (Stuy? Stuey?)'s good too. He's got peeing on the potty completely down (still poops in his pants). He's also crossed some new mental threshold where he talks about things in a lot more detail. We get to hear a ton about what he does at school. His sense of humor is also developing. There are a lot of jokes that he finds funny now that he didn't used to. Of course he makes a lot of "jokes" that I don't get either. There's a lot of talk lately about doing things with butter. "Daddy, I'm going to put you in the tub with butter!" "Daddy, I'm going to put you in Ivar's jumper with butter!" "Daddy, I'm going to give you a spanking with butter!" etc. 2007-01-17 11:00:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/83/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat got sick today. She had a fever when she woke up from her nap at Luda's and spent most of the evening in bed. She was up long enough to watch a movie on the couch and take a tub and then she went back to bed. The barfing started after Jane & I finished taking showers at about 9:30pm. She fell asleep for an hour or so and has been barfing about every 20 minutes since. I finally just gave up on trying to sleep at about 1:30am and parked myself in the living room with the laptop. The last time she threw up was at 2am and she seems pretty sound asleep now so I might get lucky for the rest of the night. I should do one more load of laundry before I call it quits though. We've gone through a full set of sheets, 2 comforters, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 towels. 2007-01-15 02:30:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/82/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's 9 month checkup was on Fri. 17lbs, 5oz. While he's a million times chunkier than he used to be, he's still just barely appearing on the growth chart. He's also gotten incredibly fast at the army crawl. He pretty much moves from room to room at will. 2007-01-13 20:35:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/81/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Tonight was a birthday celebration for Dave. Dessert was angelfood cake. I put whipped cream and M&Ms on Stuart's. When I asked him what his favorite part of today was he said, "Free cake." 2007-01-13 20:35:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/80/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Catarina: "Daddy, I'm ALWAYS beautiful" 2007-01-13 17:35:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/79/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane taught Spanish today at JCC. The activity was dressing up little paper dolls as doctors, firemen, policemen, & dentists. They also talked about what they wanted to be when they grew up. It went something like this. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "I want to be a teacher!" "I want to be Pocahontas!" "I want to be a lion!" "Me too! I want to be a lion!" "I want to be a lion too!" Pretty soon, they all wanted to be lions. 2007-01-10 20:40:11 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/78/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart (finally) pooped on the potty tonight. Jane had the bright idea of making him sit while he watched "Cars". It took almost the whole movie but he finally went. The basement still reeks. 2007-01-10 20:40:10 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/77/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I was walking past Cat's room last night and I heard her say "Why do I have to go to sleep?". And then I heard Jane clearly say "Because it's late and you have school tomorrow", which was weird since I hadn't heard her come downstairs. I looked into Cat's room and she was the only one there. I hadn't heard Jane at all, but instead heard Cat talking to her dolls. 2007-01-05 09:25:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/76/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I gave Cat a kiss after tucking her into bed last night. This is what she had to say. "Daddy, your lips are gross. You need lipstuff. You can use some of mine. It's over there." and she pointed to her dresser. So I walked over and put on some lip stuff. "OK, now give me another kiss.", she said. Which I did. 2007-01-02 20:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/75/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Things have been going much better with Ivar & Stuart together. Ivar doesn't seem to be bothered by Stuart's hooting & hollering at bedtime and Stuart doesn't wake up when Ivar cries in the morning. Hopefully it'll hold. Sun. night had all 3 of them sleeping in there (Cat on the bottom bunk). It worked well but Cat & Stu stayed up until almost 11:30pm fooling around and were complete spazzes the next day. Probably have to disallow the sleepovers for a while. 2007-01-02 16:10:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/74/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We decided last night that it was high time Ivar got the hell out of our room. He's been upstairs with us for more time than Cat & Stuart put together. Cat & Stu spent the night at Baba's house last night so we took that opportunity to move the crib. Unfortunately I couldn't get it turned around the right way before bringing it down the stairs and it got wedged in the hallway at the door to our room. With Jane's help and the removal of some additional pieces, we managed to get the thing out and set up in Stuart's room. Ivar did alright in there by himself but naptime was pretty much a disaster. After about 40 minutes of howling, we moved him to the pack-and-play in the basement so Stuart could get a decent nap in. My hope is that he was just off kilter from not getting a good morning nap at Mary Anne's house and that tonight will be better. 2006-12-31 16:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/73/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We've been talking a lot about names with Stuart lately and he now knows that his full name is Stuart Biek. We asked what our names were and he said "Daddy Biek" and "Mommy Biek". 2006-12-30 22:35:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/72/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat was looking for Woody's hat today. I heard her rustling around in buckets in her room then say loudly "DAMMIT! Where's Woody's hat!" 2006-12-30 22:30:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/71/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ 1. She wants to play Clara in The Nutcracker when she's 10. 2. She wants an iPod when she's 16. (Jane asked her if "daddy had told her she could have an iPod when she's 16". To which she replied, "No, I thought of that myself.") 2006-12-28 12:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/70/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: I want to see Stuart. Jane: I'm sorry but you have to go to school. Cat: But I want to see Stuart because he's the best boy in my world. 2006-12-27 10:25:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/69/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: (joking) Mommy, you have a penis! Jane: No I don't, silly. Cat: Why don't you go to the store and buy one to put on? Jane: I'm not really into that kind of thing. Stuart: I have a penis! Jane: That's great sweetie. 2006-12-27 10:25:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/68/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar has set a new personal record for the "Army Crawl". He managed to drag himself about 3" to get to me in the basement this morning. I suspect that he'll be able to go further with a better motivator. Cat's white whale when she was 9 months was the cordless phone. 2006-12-26 16:30:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/67/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart peed on the potty FOUR times today and had NO pee accidents. Of course he also pooped in his pants twice at Luda's house. But progress is being made. 2006-12-22 03:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/66/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: "Stuart is my best boy in the whole world." 2006-12-22 03:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/65/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar's started saying "Dadadadadada" all of the time (in addition to "Babababababa"). The neat thing is that it occasionally seems to refer to me. I was holding him yesterday and he kept hugging me, then saying "Dadadada", and then looking at me. He also started yelling it when I had to leave the room and he was by himself. Of course there are plenty of times when he says it and clearly DOESN'T mean me, so who knows. 2006-12-20 10:30:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/64/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Ivar took his first tub with Cat last night. He was very excited about the whole thing. Lots of splashing and "BABABABA"ing. http://mark.biek.org/movies/0612171950\_100\_3007.MOV 2006-12-18 13:50:15 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/63/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat got a bunch of stickers in her goody-bag at the birthday party yesterday. When she got up this morning, she'd stuck almost all of them to her legs. 2006-12-18 12:05:08 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/62/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Sunday was better. Davey & Amy took Stuart and Ivar, Jane, Cat, & I rode our bikes to JCC for a birthday party. Ivar's fever spiked again so he was kind of a grump for the rides but the party was fun. 10 little girls running around in ballet costumes dancing is pretty hilarious. Some progress with Stuart (although he did poop in his pants twice at Davey & Amy's). There were a couple of times where he told Jane that he needed to pee and actually did go in the potty. I still think it's going to be a long week. 2006-12-18 09:35:10 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/61/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We decided to start potty training Stuart and consequently spent the entire day stuck in the house. It was pretty much of a disaster. He peed on the potty once and wrecked his clothes and peed on the floor an untold number of times. I did get to go out with Cat so she could ride her bike for a while and it's amazing how good she's gotten. I had to run a few times to keep up with her. 2006-12-18 09:35:08 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/60/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat was pretending to be a waiter last night. She had the little magna-doodle tablet and kept coming up to me asking to take my order. At one point I told her that I was getting hungry and she said "Your food is ready. It's over there, go get it!". No tip for her! 2006-12-15 09:45:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/59/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart's sick today and not going to school. He and Jane had the following conversation on the way to drop Cat off. Stuart: Can I bring Dora to school? Jane: Sweetie, you're not going to school because you're sick. Stuart: Am I going to go to home with my friend you? 2006-12-13 09:05:03 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/58/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The kids like to come up and visit Dave after lunch sometimes. He keeps a small stash of toys (and cookies) in his desk for such occasions. Cat & Stuart were playing a game in his office last Fri where they were throwing the toys in the garbage. Well they really hosed themselves because Dave forgot to fish them out before the cleaning people came. No more toys to play with in Grampits office. 2006-12-11 16:15:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/57/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ First Sausage
I gave Ivar a sausage at breakfast yesterday and he went bonkers. You
wouldn't think that someone without teeth would be able to eat something
like a sausage but he just gripped it with his gums and tore it to shreds.

First tubby in the big tub
He's been doing such a good job sitting up that I decided to skip the
baby-tub when I gave Ivar his bath last night. He did fine, just
sitting there playing with toys and splashing like always. Rina claims
she wants to take her tub with him tonight. We'll see. 2006-12-11 08:55:09 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/56/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Luda (to Cat): Who do you like best? Grandma & Grandpa, Nana & Papa, or Grampit & Baba? Cat: Actually, I like Woody best. Cat (listening to Jewel sing "Oh Holy Night" in the car): Is this Jesus singing? 2006-12-04 09:45:04 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/53/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat spent close to 20 minutes last night telling me stories about her "sister". I couldn't make out the name exactly but it was something like "Tella". The best part was that the sister is 11, has two babies, and the oldest baby is 12. 2006-11-30 12:10:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/52/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat: Stuart? Will you be mad at me? Stuart: OK. RAAAAAAAR! 2006-11-27 22:50:02 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/51/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ "Mommy, can I marry Stuart when I grow up?" 2006-11-27 09:55:08 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/50/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat to Stuart: "I'm going to be Dorothy the mommy and you can be Tin-man the daddy. 2006-11-27 09:55:07 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/49/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat, being completely obsessed with The Wizard of Oz, now has an imaginary dog named "Toto". She carries him everywhere and he sits under her chair at meals. She rode her bike to the store with me yesterday and we had to spend a good amount of time making sure Toto was properly secured to the bike. 2006-11-27 09:55:07 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/48/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat & I are walking through the little shopping center at Harbor town past all of the stores. She points to the stores and says, "Daddy? What are all those?" "Those are little shops where they sell things?" "When I'm grown up, can I have a little shop?" 2006-11-22 14:35:06 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/47/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane & Ivar and I are at IHOP having breakfast. Ivar has had pears, pancakes, & waffles and we are fast running out of other things to give him. Just for fun, I give him a hunk of ham from my plate. He holds it up, looks at it, says "NO!", and places the ham back on the table. 2006-11-22 14:35:06 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/46/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ The last couple of nights, Cat has been doing drawings to give to Jesus and "Jesus' Mommy" for Christmas. She does a very involved drawing on construction paper that no one is allowed to see "Because it's a surprise". She then spends 10 or 15 minutes carefully folding and taping the drawing with "sticky tape". 2006-11-16 08:30:23 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/45/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Dave & Luda kept the kids for dinner last night so Jane and "tiny" and I went to El Nopal. Ivar had a jar of carrots, a jar of apples w/ blueberries, assorted cheerios & sweet potato puffs, and a hunk of bagel. He ate all of that and was still demanding more. Just for fun we gave him a small piece of shredded chicken from my burrito which he gummed up, swallowed, and opened his mouth for more. I know that he's technically not supposed to get meat until 9 months but he loved that chicken. 2006-11-14 08:55:05 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/44/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane read them "The Cat on the Dovrefell" for the first time yesterday. Every since, they've been running around the house squawking: "PUSSY WILL YOU HAVE SOME SAUSAGE!?!" At bedtime, we had to let Jane read it to Cat first and then immediately give it to Stuart so he could read it too. 2006-11-13 11:00:06 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/43/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2006 08:23:18 -0500 "Daddy, where'd my 3 go?" 2006-11-08 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/42/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:07:46 -0400 Cat, Stuart, Ivar, & I all went to Kroger last night while Jane was in the tub. I quickly ran out of room for all of the groceries in the stroller so I gave Cat a big packet of diapers to hold. We got up to the self-checkout machine, I scanned everything, and started walk away. Cat immediately hopped down, handled me the packet of diapers, and started scolding me saying "Daddy! Pay for these! You need to pay for these!" So I almost (accidentally) shoplifted $20 worth of diapers but Cat kept me honest. 2006-10-26 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/41/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 08:34:14 -0400 We were laying in bed with Ivar this morning before we got up and he kept trying to put his binky in our mouths. 2006-10-25 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/40/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 12:55:58 -0400 pah-china = vagina 2006-10-17 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/39/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2006 09:15:05 -0400 (From Cat) "Do monsters have penises?" 2006-10-17 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/38/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:06:03 -0400 Cat: I want a toy Jane: Why don't you get that ball over there? Cat: I want a toy with EYES! (Cat is playing with a toy net in the tub. She's dipping the net in and out of the water) Cat: I'm catching fish from my vagina! 2006-10-05 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/37/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2006 09:52:52 -0400 Jane had to get lunch ready this morning because she's taking the kids to the zoo with some of their friends. She got Stuart sitting on the potty and Cat agreed to come into the bathroom to read Stuart a story while he sat. She also strapped Ivar into his bouncy chair and put him in the bathroom too. Ivar was immediately pissed off and started to howl. Unfortunately lunch had to be made so Jane just left the three of them to it. She could hear Ivar yelling the entire time but not in a way that indicated anything was wrong. You can imagine her surprise when she want back to check on them a couple of minutes later to find Ivar out of his chair and rolling around on the bathroom floor. We're not entirely sure how he managed it given that he was strapped in. He must have pushed hard enough with his feet to go up and over the back of the chair. Yikes! 2006-10-02 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/36/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:07:25 -0400 This one comes courtesy of Wesley: He, like many others before him, is incapable of saying "Grampit". Instead, he says "De-shrimp". It's funny because you can tell he really thinks he's saying it correctly. "Can you say 'Gram'?" "Gram!" "Can you say 'Pit'?" "Pit!" "Can you say 'Gram-pit'?" "De-Shrimp!" 2006-09-25 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/35/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:05:39 -0400 Neither of us were in the room at the time so we only have Cat's description of events which are that Stuart was walking around the basement with a bucket over his head and walked into the TV. Give his proclivity for walking around with buckets on his head, this is probably an accurate description. 2006-09-19 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/34/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:34:40 -0400 "Are you thirsty? Would you like a drink?" "Yes, I'm thirsty." "What would you like?" "I want milk" "OK" "I want pink milk" "OK" "I want pink COWS milk" "OK" "I want pink COWS milk because I don't like soy milk." "OK" 2006-09-17 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/33/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:14:01 -0400 Nu-cay-nu of the orange bear A-ghee-nah the mermaid 2006-09-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/32/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:27:21 -0400 Cat was talking to us about how Jane's having a hard time figuring out what to get me for my birthday. "Mommy! You should get daddy one of those big orange grown-up drink bottles. Get daddy liquor because it's his birthday!" On the Stuart front, we've been talking a lot about "Mommy-milk" (what Ivar drinks), "Baba-milk" (soy milk), & "Mommy-and-Daddy-milk" (regular milk). We had a big discussion about how "Mommy-and-Daddy-milk" is actually cow milk which he found fascinating. Then, this morning when Jane gave him his morning milk, he said "Thanks cows!" 2006-09-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/31/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:39:17 -0400 I'm sure you noticed Cat's tear-stained face in these two pictures: http://mark.biek.org/gallery/index.php?album=digitalpictures\%2FKid\_Pictures\%2FWesley2Year\%2F&pic=0608262042\_100\_2334.JPG http://mark.biek.org/gallery/index.php?album=digitalpictures\%2FKid\_Pictures\%2FWesley2Year\%2F&pic=0608262042\_100\_2335.JPG She got up on the fire truck and was perfectly happy. Stuart, on the other hand, had no interest in climbing up. Luda decided that it would be a good idea to make him do and carried him up onto the truck, kicking and screaming. Then Cat burst into tears and started yelling at Luda to let Stuart get down. Sigh. 2006-08-28 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/30/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:03:17 -0400 1. Ivar can now roll from front-to-back AND back-to-front, although he has to pretty pissed off to do it. 2. We went to the pool last night and Cat had a major breakthrough swimming-wise. She wasn't at all interested in going underwater or trying to swim between Jane & I without water wings. Then we went back to the baby pool and there was a little boy her age there swimming around underwater. It was like a light went on in her head. She hopped into the pool, dove underwater, and swam about 4 feet. She spent a good 30 minutes doing that over and over, totally unafraid. I think she's going to want to call and tell you all about it later. That's all. Talk to you later. Love, Me 2006-08-24 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/29/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:59:44 -0400 Cat & Stuart spent the night at Dave & Luda's on Tue. When it came time for bedtime stories, Luda asked Cat what she wanted to read. Cat replied that she wanted to read "Baba's 'special book'". Luda didn't know what she meant so she told Cat to go and get it. Cat came back with Luda's Bible from the living room. Luda read her excerpts from the Book of Mark and Cat was happy as a clam. 2006-07-27 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/28/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat is doing well. Her thing is that each one of us has to be a character from whatever her current favorite movie is. It's Mary Poppins at the moment so she insists on being called Jane, Stuart is Michael, I'm Bert, and Jane is Mary Poppins. We were at the park and there were some other little girls and Cat introduced herself as Jane. Ivar is still doing well. He was a hoser on Wed night but slept 9 hours last night. He also is very smiley and gurgly. He gets all worked up when someone stops to talk to him. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/27/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I told Dad this on the phone last night so you may have already heard it. Stuart likes to play with himself all the time now, especially when he's falling asleep. This is a problem at nap/bedtime because he has a tendency to end up with his penis poking out of the top of the diaper and then he pees all over the place. Luda was complaining about this on Tues and I was telling her how we usually try to point it down in his diaper which helps sometimes. She said that she had tried that but he got very upset, sticking his hand down his diaper going "Where's my penis!?! I can't find my penis!" 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/26/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat & I were talking last night and I was telling her how you guys are coming to visit soon. Her first question was "Can Grandma come too because her foot is all better?" I was pretty surprised that she remembered about that whole thing. Anyway, she's still sick but excited to see you guys. She's moving through the exact progression of this stomach virus that the nurse told me about. Phase 1: Fever only Phase 2: Fever & barfing. Luckily this one only lasted about 2 days. Having to drag her out of bed at 1am to bathe her gets old Phase 3: Fever & explosive diarrhea Supposedly that means she's going to start getting better soon. If she hasn't shown a major improvement by tomorrow, I think we'll have to drag her in. Everyone else is good. Ivar still isn't sleeping particularly well but he's spending a lot more time during the day alert & happy which is nice. He absolutely loves it when people talk to him up close (especially Jane). Stuart is good too. So far, at least, he doesn't seem too ticked when we can't help him with stuff because of the baby. Still, we try to give him all of the extra attention we can. We were supposed to go to Davey & Amy's last night for dinner but decided not to because Cat was sick. Annie decided she'd go by herself and Stuart marched right up to her and said "Nana, will you take me to Uncle Davey's house?". So she did and he and Wesley apparently had a huge time. That's the scoop. Back to work. Love, YK 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/25/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat has been taking all of the toys and books in her bed and cramming them under her pillows. She then sleeps on one tiny corner of the pillow that doesn't have anything under it 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/24/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart: "Daddy it's dark outside. It's nighttime" Me: "That's right. It is dark outside." Stuart: "Daddy? You turn the light on outside?" 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/23/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were having lasagne the other night and Stuart kept asking for more despite having a full plate full. Jane pointed out how much he still had on his plate. He reached down, took everything off his plate, placed it into one of the wells of his high chair and continued asking for more. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/22/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart was so excited to have everyone over for his 2-year birthday party. He was standing in the living room jumping up and down and shouting "It's a birthday party! It's a birthday party!" 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/21/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart loves "In the Night Kitchen" and walks around hollering "Milk in the batter! Milk in the batter! We bake cake and nothing's the matter!" 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/20/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat carried around a 3x5 card w/ coloring on it for a whole day talking about how it was her "p'tation" (invitation) to Daisy's party 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/19/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ I took Cat to the potty after lunch today. I started to go over to help her up onto the potty when she said, very forcefully, "Daddy! Don't help me!" So I left her alone and went to keep Stuart from sticking his hands into the urinal. She did the whole thing from beginning to end, including climbing on and off of the toilet, pausing periodically to remind me NOT to help her. All grown up I guess. Me 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/18/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Stuart says "Now we're talkin'" all the time when something isn't working and then it gets fixed. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/17/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat likes to talk about the shape her poop makes and what it looks like. One of the more recent ones looked like a bird. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/16/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ cat calling cranberry juice spamberry juice 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/15/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Cat coming to me asking to change her pants. She's holding Charlie & Lola. She goes and lays down on the floor of her room so I can change her and proceeds to hold up her book and continue reading. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/14/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Sat Cat's bday at gattiland lots of fun. cat & stu first in line for pizza. enjoyed skeeball and riding horses, climbing in play structure. fisher didn't want to ride the merri-go-round because it had koalas in the middle. Trick-or-treating at the zoo Crowed but still fun. Stuart liked to run from booth to booth saying trick-or-treat. he would even hit up each side of the booth. don't think he realized it was candy though. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/13/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ Jane has a friend who had her baby a couple of weeks ago. Cat always used to talk about Mai (the friend) having a baby in her tummy. She was very excited to see the new baby and now she's always talking about how the baby came out of Mai's tummy. Then she talks about how the baby in Mommy's tummy is going to come out and live with us in Mommy, Daddy, Catarina, & Stuart's house. She also likes to lift up Jane's shirt and talk to the baby. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/12/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ the kids like to go into our bathroom and pull the shower curtain open and closed and yell "Take a shower!" 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/11/ http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/%(id)d/ We were watching Beauty & the Beast w/ the kids for the first time tonight. At the very beginning of the movie, Gaston takes Belle's book away from her. When he did, Stuart freaked out and started yelling "Book! Book! Mommy help you book!". He didn't calm down until he saw that Belle had gotten the book back. 2006-01-01 00:00:00 http://kidblog.biek.org/entry/10/