I'm Living with Gene Simmons!

No, not the real one - but close!

Ladybug recently discovered the joys of sticking her tongue out. She's been doing it all day for 2 days. Now when she leans in for a snuggle or a kiss, I'm getting inadvertently licked. She especially likes grinning with just the tip stuck out between her lips and gums. It wrinkles her nose up and makes her dimple stick out. :)

She has a cute little pink tongue, for sure! Much more attractive that the real Gene Simmons.

Sushi, Anyone?

I couldn't help but bust a gut when watching The Backyardigans today with Darling.

We watched the episode where Tasha is a fisherman (fisherwoman? fisherhippo?), who is just trying to make a big catch. Hilarous antics ensue, and she finally lands a big fish. Of course, we can't have a dying fish on a preschooler's show, so it was a catch and release affair.

However, it struck me as ironic, when Tyrone asked if the others want to go back to his house for a snack - for sushi!

3 Years

Darling is almost 2 1/2 years old. I realized that she has been in my life for 3 years (yes, I'm counting when she was in my belly!).

And then it suddenly hit me that it has been the best three years of my life. Better than anything else at any ever time in my life. I cannot remember a time that even comes close, and cannot fathom a time that ever will. Probably the hardest three years of my life as well, but by far the best.

Thank You so much, Darling for coming into my life.

The Man with the Yellow Hat

Ever wonder what's up with The Man with the Yellow Hat on Curious George? Or Monkey George as Darling calls it.

• He lives alone with a monkey.
• Wears all yellow all the time.
• Where did he get George?
• Doesn't seem to really have a job. Although there was that one episode where he did artwork for the signs at the Paris Children's Museum.
• Needed to fly to Paris to take the artwork there. Ever heard of the internet and email?
• Must carry around his passport everywhere, because they went straight to the airport after the Museum director - and actually caught the flight that was leaving in "one minute!"
• Seems independently wealthy. Door man building, country house.
• NEVER LEARNS THE LESSON: Saying, "George - be a good monkey" is a sure guarantee that George is going to get into some mischief! You'd think he'd learn that a monkey on its own usually ends up in some crazy situation.

I sense some deep seated emotional issues here!

Nanny 101

I'm blessed to be able to work infrequently. A good friend of mine who has the summer off agreed to be my Franny (a friend/nanny, you get it?) again this summer, and I'm picking up about 2 shifts a week at my job. I wanted everything to go smoothly the first full day they had together. I had her come about an hour early to get everyone settled. I put Ladybug down for her morning nap right before I was to leave for work. Darling and Franny were playing outside happily in the backyard.

I thought this to be a great time for a few quick goodbye hugs and kisses from Darling. I walk back into the house, lock the sliding glass door and leave, thinking hopeful thoughts for an easy day for Franny.

Yes, you read correctly - I locked the door! Locking Darling and Franny in the backyard, and Ladybug asleep in the house. Our backyard is fenced, and the gate has a combination lock on it. Thank God Franny has a good memory and remembered the combination to the side gate that I told her probably 2 years ago! She said there was just a moment of panic, especially since she had left her phone in the house. She texted me after everyone was safe and in the house, but boy did my heart drop when I read what I had done!!!

It's a Horse, of Course!

We had a busy weekend at the Back for More household. My mom came for a quick weekend visit after hauling a horse nearby for a client. She drove up with a surprise in the trailer for Darling. It was her miniature horse! Darling was ecstatic! I was a little (ok a lot) nervous about having a horse in my suburban backyard. What if the neighbors complained? Would it totally trash the lawn? But I decided to just go with it. We played in the backyard all weekend, and a lot of our little friends came over to see the horse. We even took it on a walk to the park! It only nipped at one neighbor (I was mortified).

I did, however, get a tad excited when it ran in the house, right next to Ladybug playing on the living room floor. I caught it on the hard wood floor of the kitchen and herded it back outside, after snatching Ladybug up. Mr. B said I broke the sound barrier running inside to pick up the baby. Either that or teleported myself to her side, I moved so fast. He said I yelled "outside", like I do with the dog. Horses speak dog, right?

Illness Strikes the Back for More Household

Illness has struck the Back for More household. It hit Mrs. B and Darling first. Days of weird fevers and then the cold. It sounded like a tuberculosis ward with all the coughing. Mr. B and Ladybug thought they had escaped the wrath of the cold gods, but no luck!

Mr. B and Ladybug were the second wave of casualties, getting hit about 5 days later.

The third wave of casualties included Darling watching WAY too many Backyardigans (hence the title of the blog) and Curious George. She learned what Chuck E. Cheese's was from the little promo before the episodes start on PBS (Curious George). I had such high hopes for my parenting abilities before I had children. Now I think I might have to actually take my kids to a Chuck E. Cheese's at some point. I cringe at the thought of the germ-ridden ball pit. I think the post following that outing will also be entitled - Illness Strikes the Back for More Household.

The fourth wave of casualties is probably our future. Because I've had the TV on for the girls way too much, and have been surfing the Internet mindlessly, trying not to hack up a lung. I found some hilarious blogs like this one, and this one and decided in my Ibuprofen induced stupor (drawback to breastfeeding: no Nyquil - drat!) that I needed to spend my own toime doing the same. I can almost hear my future time being sucked away as I type . . .