September 20

Apple Picking!

We took the kids to an orchard where you can pick your own apples. It was fun but oh so tempting to eat the apples (even for me and Mike). Tyler kept saying, "Just one bite Mommy." And I was trying to explain to him that one bite or twenty bites. It didn't really make a difference. So a couple of apples got "tasted" and a couple got thrown on the ground but we were paying so much for these darn apples, I think the orchard assumed that this must happen with little ones. Tyler got to go on his first pony ride. The pony's name was Wyatt just like Aunt Lori's doberman so it was even more special. Tyler's facial expressions are classic Tyler. The other day I came home from getting my hair cut and I said, "Were you good for Daddy?" He thought for a moment and then replied, "I was a little bit good and a little bit bad." He then when on and accounted for his good behaviors, "helping Daddy with Mia" and his bad, "pushing Mia down and taking her toy." You have to admire his honesty...

Otherwise we have been very good just very busy with our new schedule. Tyler loves school and talks about it non-stop. I am working a lot and the kids are busy with school and playdates and we are getting ready to leave for another trip in two weeks so it's just hectic and busy and everyone has a bad cold. Tyler came home from school, laid down on the wood floor and fell asleep. That is actually what I felt like doing. Some day there will time for rest - right?!

The Letter B

Tyler is learning about one letter a week at school so we started doing some letter projects. Here is the first one. The letter B designed like a bumblebee (not one that stings, as Tyler told me). He asked me if they had bumblebees in heaven. Lots of God, Heaven and Jesus questions now. I said yes I am sure they do but they don't sting in Heaven.

September 10

It's a little hard getting into this new school routine so I decided we would just have a very relaxing day and enjoy a beautiful fall day playing outside. The garden is still producing and Tyler is my "picker". He will sit in the garden and pick vegetables for hours but he is especially fond of the cantalopes zuchinnis and green beans. There are so many grape, cherry and plum tomatoes that I think he is a little overwhelmed by the sheer number there are to harvest. The one picture is of our sunflowers that are just in their final days. They grew to be about 10 feet high and had beautiful flowers (mostly while we were in NC). We will be sad when the garden is done but will have fun this winter planning what we are going to plant.

Tyler came home from school today with lots of questions about Jesus because they had Chapel today. He wants to know how old Jesus is, where he lives, if there are honeybees in heaven (in case you are wondering yes there are but they don't sting - pretty impressed with that answer aren't you?). It's great that he is asking all these questions now I just have to figure out some good answers so I don't mess things up for him...

Feeding Myself

Mia is really intent on feeding herself. It goes pretty well until she loses patience with her sppon and just starts picking up the bowl and trying to eat right out of it. Let me just tell you that suction cup bowls do not work. Save your money. No matter how hard I try to get it stuck on there, she is focused on getting it off and she ends up with food all through her hair, in her ears and over every orifice of her body and she HATES getting wiped off. Tyler reports all of this to me in a running commentary while I am trying to get his breakfast and my breakfast ready. "Mommy, look what Mia is doing. Mommy, Mia is getting applesauce everywhere. Mommy, Mia is not using her spoon. Mia, why are you making such a mess. Mommy, Mia has applesauce in her hair. Mommy, Mia has applesauce on the floor. Mia, you are so messy." This goes on and on with no pause. I guess it's better than him watching tv while he eats and just as entertaining.

More September 9

So Tyler's big surprise was a fish bowl and three fish - a very big boy gift for our big preschooler. Tyler named the fish, "Dora, Diego, and Arizona Grammy." The following day we had a scary moment. I was bathing Mia and I should have known that it was much too quiet and all of a sudden, Tyler comes in cupping something in his hands and says, "I caught one." Well, he caught Arizona grammy. I said, "Tyler put him back in the bowl!" So we carried a naked Mia covered with lotion to Tyler's room and he quickly put the fish back in the bowl and I said, "Tyler, where is the orange fish. Where is Dora?" and he calmly said, "Behind the nightstand." and he was telling the truth. I pulled out his nightstand and there was Dora flapping around. I was covered in steriods and creams so I grabbed a towel and put Dora back in the bowl and everyone seems fine. Let's just hope these are a"hardy" variety of fish. They are getting a little too much food but we are trying to keep that in check and I am trying to keep the cats out of Tyler's room because they think the fish are as exciting as Tyler does. Ah, another new adventure in the Posch house...

September 9

Today was Tyler's first day of preschool and he did great. He was so excited that he was in the car about 10 minutes early and wore his backpack all around the house this morning. He had met his teacher before so he had no worries about leaving me. I came back a little early and watched the class playing outside. Of course that was the highlight for Tyler, "playing outside on the slide." Mia enjoyed being the only child for a couple of hours. We went shopping and I think she relishes all the attention when it is just her and me.

Tyler was almost crying when we left preschool because he was having so much fun. We definitely made the right choice in schools. They pray when they come in, at circle time and then again when they are leaving and everyone just dotes on the kids.

More to come this afternoon. Daddy is bringing home surprise for Tyler!

September 8

We are already for Tyler's first day of preschool tomorrow. This picture is the one we took for Tyler's cubby at school, where he will store his coat, backpack and boots (don't even want to think about that now). We got a Diego backpack that he picked out a month ago and took for a test drive to North Carolina. It rolls on wheels or can be a backpack. Tyler prefers the wheels and he often runs around the house with the backpack in tow. I give it about 2 months before we need to purchase backpack number 2. Anyway, the backpack is ready and has Tyler's teddy bear in it for their September theme and his picture. When I explained to Ty that I wouldn't be staying with him tomorrow, he said, "Well how I am going to get there? I can't drive yet"

Sept 7

We took the kids to Chase's flag football game today. In all honesty, the kids had no interest in the game. They couldn't even tell which one was Chase so I took them to the park with Carly and they played Tag and Mia practiced going down the slide her new favorite park activity. Today was also the first day Mia dropped her morning nap and just took one long afternoon nap. She did ok and was less cranky than I thought she would be even after we made her sit at a restaurant at 6pm. My funny girl is going to be like her daddy with her love of condiments. She ate a reuben and then dipped her fries in the extra thousand island dressing. She ate so much she couldn't even finish her bottle before bed.

September 1

Mike's dad likes to say that Tyler is "100% boy" and oh how this is true. He is going to take after his cousin Chase and his love of creatures great and small. Tyler already loves icky, slimy bugs, reptiles, fish, amphibians - the creepier the better. Today, we went to Lori and Eric's for a BBQ and Tyler enjoyed the new little pond and waterfall they built. It was the perfect place to store and trap fish and frogs.

August 27 & 28

We had such a wonderful visit with Grammy and Papa Roos in North Carolina. Lots of rain form Hurricane Fay but the kids didn't even notice. On Thursday, we went to the Greensboro Children's Museum which was perfect for the kids. Tyler got to explore a fire truck and real plane and they got to play doctor and house. I think the kids could have gone for hours but after about 2 hours Grammy, Papa and especially Mom were just pooped. We spent lots of time just hanging out at the house and enjoying all the fun things grandparents do that mommy and daddy are usually too tired to do. We were so sad to come home. Lots of tears. Tyler is getting to the age where good-byes are a little harder. Thank you so much Grandma and Grandpa for making us feel so welcome. The memories from this trip are priceless to me. You are amazing. We love you sooooo much and miss you already!

August 26

We are having fun!!

We went to Mimi's for dinner last night and the kids got the oreo dirt and gummy worm dessert. Oh what a mess they made but they were in pure heaven. Hope is the dog by which all other dogs are measured in Ty's eyes. She gets the newspaper every morning and carries the mail upstairs to Papa's office. She is so sweet and loving with the kids.

Tyler is especially enjoying playing on the computer with Papa and Grammy is enjoying cuddling sweet Mia.

Nothing like making your 80-something great-grandfather tow you in the wagon.

August 25

We arrived in Greensboro, NC yesterday afternoon to spend the week with my grandparents. The kids were great travelers yesterday. We got a new Diego dvd for the plane and both kids were content for the 1.5 hour flight. They settled right in and made themselves at home. Today we went to the science center/petting zoo. Both kids are really enjoying have a new grammy and papa to spend time with.