Long time no blog. I have been really tired lately and just couldn't seem to get the energy to sit down and type. I don't know if it's the empetigo (itchy, gross patch of skin) that I picked up or but I'm in pretty sad shape! Well, I have worked on other projects so that's good. I just sent off my 2006 blog entries to a publishing web site so hopefully my first blog book will be here. I usually post lower quality images so the book won't be stellar for pics, but it will mean that I have been officially keeping a journal for the kiddos for almost two years! And if that book looks good, I'm all set to get the 2007 one done, too! It was so cool to go back in time and see Katy's long, curly hair or Allen as a teeny, tiny baby.

Here are the recent Katy-isms:

*zizzorz = scissors

*deliget = delicate (as in "this puppy is very deliget...be careful"

*ardigenz = Backyardigans (formerly referred to as just "genz"

*aderpidder = caterpillar

*bizit = visit (as in tricking Mom into an all day play date by asking for a bizit, okay?)

Today we had Katy's teacher come for a bizit. Katy will start pre-school at the beginning of September and she is SOOO excited. I'm excited, too! And very relieved that potty training worked out for my Bird. So Ms. Altendorf came this morning and Katy has been practicing saying her name for a few days. I waited but she never addressed her teacher by name. Dang it! All that practicing and she didn't even show off! Well, Allen showed off by dropping a deuce right beside Katy and her teacher as they assembled a puzzle. While I cleaned him up they read a book together. Katybird already really likes her teacher - yay!

While I was giving the teacher some of our background, I mentioned that three of Katy's grandparents live within just a few blocks of us. And the fourth one is within a short drive. She told me I was spoiled and I just had to agree. We get freshly canned green beans, home-grown veggies, delicious appetizers and scrumptious home cooking! We get free babysitting from people who love our kids almost as much as we do! We have a personal shopper with Marjean picking out clothes from her Saturday morning shopping. We have Mookie to drag screaming kids out of the store while I'm waiting in line to check out. Spoiled rotten!

This past week was Grandparent-Palooza! The nuggets played with Grammy & Papa on Friday, and Mom stopped by while we played with our chalk and paints on Wednesday, and then we saw Gramps on Thursday. He took the kids for their very first trip to Chuck E Cheese and they loved it! Katy didn't eat more than one bite of pizza, though. Big Juice more than made up for her by eating at least 1-1/2 pieces. Both the kids have had a cold, but they perked up for the rides and games.

Mom joined us on Saturday for a boutique blow-out sale where I picked up a racy bikini for next summer. Not for me...for Katy, of course! Then we went to "Chick-a-lay" and Katy dragged Mom over to the play area. Mom held open the door for Katy who hesitated to go in alone. Instead she looked up and said, "It's scary. Maybe I need to eat first" which is what I wanted all along! Lately she won't even potty alone because it's too scary. She must have been hanging out with Emily to learn that one!!

When we finished eating we went into the play area together and Allen proved once again that he has no fear. Whether it's climbing tall stairs and teetering on the edge or scaling the slide from down below...he just doesn't get scared. And when he does tumble, don't expect any kind of a cry. He is one tough little nugget! He has molars coming in and that does make him cry. Then he cheers up again if you drop him into a tub of water or even just let him splash his hands in running water from the kitchen sink.

OK, that's all that I can think of right now. I'm sure I'm forgetting all kinds of cute things but I can hear that nap time is over.

Meg