BUY IT!! DEBIT!!

Okay...anyone with half a brain who knows me, knows I love to shop...doesn't matter what really, just shop (well, except groceries)...so today, Kenden and I went to run errands tonight...get birthday presents and cards, etc. We went to Target for our cards and some detergent, and as we are checking out, I run the card through the scanner, and the cashier asks, "Credit?" and I say yes...as this happens, Kenden shouts at the top of his lungs, "BUY IT!! DEBIT!!" We both burst out laughing, as well as my teacher friend who happened to be behind us at the time...the cashier said, "He must go shopping with you a lot" and I had no other choice but to say YES! It is official, Kenden is a Turner...you can't be a Turner and NOT like shopping....not to mention, my mom and I know how to do some damage, too! I just love this kid...hilarious...

Lay down....

Jeff and I went to the Nickelback concert tonight at the amphitheatre, which was AWESOME....but, on another note, my son had a sitter tonight from My Gym (the little kiddie gym he goes to on regular basis) and when she showed up, I told him, "Show Megan your toys!"....he promptly took her into the den and said to her, "Lay down!"....Jeff told him, "No, it is sit down Kenden." To which he replied louder, "LAY DOWN!"...it gets better....I gave him a bath and when he was naked, he kept yelling, "Ding-a-Ling, Ding-a-Ling!" while his diaper was off, all the while laughing and going crazy with Miss Megan in the room!! My son was getting fresh with the sitter at 22 months old. I guess "playa" (player, for those who can't figure the slang out) is genetic after all...NOT FROM ME....it is strictly a male trait....I guess I need to school him on the nice, gentlemanly way of "whooing" the ladies...

Ridin' in Lukey's car!!

We went to MacArthur Mall today with Lea, Luke (our neighbors....Luke is a month older than Kenden) and a couple other friends and their kids...we were a sight to behold....4 strollers, Lea is pregnant, and Jaime had her newest in the Baby Bjorn carrier...You should have seen all of us trying to pile into the dressing rooms at Arden B to try on shirts!! Kids were screaming, clothes were flying....I am sure they were glad to see us leave. But, the highlight for Kenden was the fact that he and I rode in Lea and Luke's car....we decided it was dumb for both of us to drive since we are across the street from each other....so, when I told him this morning that we were riding with them, he screamed "Rie (ride) in LUKEY'S car!!!!" and once he was dressed, he ran to the front window to wait and see them pull into the driveway so we could attach his carseat and put the stroller in with them. As soon as he saw Lea pull out of her garage, he RAN to me, yelling all the way, "LEA IS HERE, LEA IS HERE!!" It was hilarious....I guess it doesn't take much to make him happy. All through the mall, that is all he talked about! Ridin' in Lukey's car!!!

Pretty Mommy

While we were driving home from swimming at the Fuller's home today, we pulled up to a red light. I had pulled my wet, skanky hair up into a ponytail until we could get home and I could wash it. It felt too tight, so I pulled it down, and as I did, my son said, "Pretty Mommy!". I sure didn't feel too pretty, but how could I argue with that! He is shmoozing the women already...I guess he is testing his techniques on me! hahaha!

Swimming at the Fullers'!!

A super big thank you to the Fullers, who graciously allowed Kenden and I to come over today and enjoy their WONDERFUL swimming pool! Once again, we were able to join Kelly and Blake, as well as a couple of the other teachers I had the pleasure to work with at Salem, Dawnette and Jan. Jan also brought her daughter, Katy, whom I taught! She will be in 8th grade this year, so I feel good and old now! Kenden LOVED playing with Dawnette's kids, Noah and Gabby! He and Noah shot water guns at each other and Kenden kept yelling, "Squirt somebody!" He is still not nuts about the pool, but he'll come around. Kenden also got in touch with his feminine side by wearing Gabby's pink life vest! We've had such a wonderful summer getting to do a bunch of fun things!

Norfolk Botanical Gardens!

On Tuesday the 21st, Kenden, Mommy, and our friends Kelly and Blake went to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and visited the World of Wonders! The water features were sooooo cool, especiallly considering that it was about 95 out with a heat index over 100, so it was "cool" in more ways than one! We had a great time and Kenden napped from 1 to 4:45 once we got home...no, he did not sleep in the car...never does!

Show your QUADS!!

Yes, Kenden knows where his quads are! I can't imagine why....it couldn't be because his father powerlifts and has HUGE quads, or that his mother competes in figure competitions!! So, he learned to show his quads today and will do it on command!! It is HILARIOUS...can't wait to show his new talent off at FLEX gym this week!! They will get a kick out of this one. He already takes weights in his hands and does squats there....Lord help me...

Tiptoe through the tulips...or crush them with your Dump Truck!

Got some great pics of Kenden playing in the flower beds the other day...picking the flowers and running through them with his beloved dump truck...such a boy!

Best friends REUNITE!

Last week, Kenden and I made the trip to Hopewell, where we stayed with Grammie and Papa. We left on Monday and returned on Friday. He and I spent the week hanging out with my 2 best friends, Mary Lajaunie from TX, and Hilary Warthan from Chester. Mary was in town for a family wedding, but decided to come in several days early so the 3 of us with our boys (yes we all have sons) could hang together. Needless to say, it was an adventure in toddler land for all of us...sharing is an artform that none of the boys have seeemed to pick up very well, but they got better with time....and a few tantrums and loud screams of protest! And we received wonderful news that Mary is expecting again! Due in March. Now, I am the last one standing, so to speak (not prego), as Hilary is due in mid October with another boy.

Kenden and I also visited with Nanny, Michael and Amanda a few times, and even got to hit the ole' stompin' grounds of his mom and dad, Wood-Dale Swim Club (where our romance blossomed!! hahahaha!! Jeff, quit rolling your eyes....). He loved swimming with his cousin Amanda, and got tired out really fast. Wish we could have hung in there longer for a swim...they have reallly made the pool so nice.

We had a wonderful time and look forward to the next visit from Mary, as always. I think Mary, Hilary and I are still recovering from our 1 a.m.+ nights....I am too old for that junk anymore!! hahaha!

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and Grapes??!!

Okay....Lord knows I have the world's pickest kid...he won't even eat a chicken nugget or french fry for goodness sake!! So, today we sit down together for lunch...he is eating his "arrrr's" (translation: Pirate's Booty...sort of a cheeto type thing, but it is baked, not fried...he calls it "arrrr's" b/c that is what a Pirate says...duh!! hahaha!), some drinkable yogurt (now he says "Like Mimi's house, b/c he had it at my best friend Hilary's Mom's house), and grapes (which he hasn't eaten in at least a week!). I sat down with a couple of crackers and some Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. Well, he points at the hummus dip, shows me his cracker and says, "More??". So, I said, do you want to try some, too, all the while thinking, yeah right, hummus dip. He won't even eat a piece of toast! We gave it a whirl....and he ate it and wanted a little more, too! THEN, he started shoveling grapes into his mouth like they were going to grow legs and run away....this kid wouldn't touch a grape one week ago! I guess the moral of the story is, never say never. Who would have thought he'd eat hummus dip, but not a hot dog, or chicken nugget, or french fry, or PBJ sandwich, or eggs, or bacon, or, well, you get the point....hummus dip.....unreal....

Keys on da box...

Okay...Jeff and I decided to go to McArthur Center Mall in Norfolk last night so we could go to Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn since we are doing stuff to the house. We get there, all is well, and Kenden is playing with the keys to the Expedition, which has a aftermarket alarm on it....meaning that the keys have the remote to the alarm....which means the remote beeps when the buttons are pushed, which my son LOVES. Well, Kenden is happily holding the keys, pushing buttons through several stores, when we walk in to Brookstone. Jeff and I pretty much stayed in one area of the store, Jeff picked a couple things out, and on our way up to the cash register, he says, "Kenden, where are Dada's keys?" So I start checking underneath him in the stroller, all under the stroller in the basket, in the pockets of my diaper bag...NO KEYS....so I say to Kenden, "Where did you put daddy's keys?!!" (very desperate).
Kenden: "Keys in da box"
Mommy: "WHAT??!!"
K: "Keys on da box" (with laughter)
Daddy: "Amber, check to see if you have YOUR keys w/ you for the Expedition!"
M: "yes, they are here"
D: "So at least we can get home!"
M: "Jeff, go check where we were standing in here! Maybe they are under the shelf unit!"
M: "Kenden, where are daddy's Keys!!??!!"
K: "On da box keys"
M (to salesperson): "I think my son has lost my husbands key to the car. It is one Ford Key, w/ an alarm remote. We will come back and check to see if someone turned it in"
M: "Jeff, go back and check again!"
D: "I already did"
K: "ON DA BOX"
Walking out, we glanced over, and there the stupid keys were, on top of the boxes of alarm clocks....No wonder Kenden was saying it like, "you idiots, I said on the box!". When we found the keys, I said to Kenden, "did you put daddy's keys on the box?" and he said, "hahahaha, YEAH!" Real funny....at least it is NOW....

God's Bowling...

Yesterday at my parents' home, there was a short, but loud thunderstorm, and for the first time, Kenden actually paid attention to the thunder. Everytime, he would run to me and whine a bit, acting scared. So, I would pull him up into my lap and tell him, "God is bowling up there!". That is what my dad used to tell me when I was little. This happened numerous times, until we coudl not hear the thunder anymore...which leads me to today. Kenden and I returned home from our 5 days in Hopewell, and there was a storm rolling in since there is a cold front coming through. Jeff and I sat down with Kenden at the dinner table so he could eat his dinner and we could all catch up since we'd been apart, and Kenden kept repeating something that he'd been trying to say to me earlier, but I really couldn't understand it....suddenly, I heard the thunder from the brief storm we were getting.....and I put 2 and 2 together....and Kenden repeated what I initially couldn't understand, "God bowlin' up dere!" HOLY SMOKES!! I didn't encourage that at all, and he remembered it from yesterday and said it!! WOW!! Jeff and I just laughed and laughed!! It was so hilarious, but also stunning at the same time. Just goes to show what sponges they are at this age! What a stinker!

Off to the 'Well...

Better known as Hopewell, where Jeff and I grew up! My best friend Mary is coming in this week from TX, and staying with my other BF, Hilary, at her new home in Chester (which is right outside of Hopewell), so it is reunion time! All 3 of us have sons now, and Hil is working on son #2, so it should be a rambuncious good time! Hil's son Colin, is almost to the day exactly a year older than Kenden, then Mary's son is almost 4 months to the day younger than Kenden! TONS of fun....Hopefully, Mr. Nasty (aka Kenden) will not rear his head there....so, needless to say, I will have some great pics to post once I come back! See you next Friday!!

Daddy Day Care!

Jeff spent most of the day today watching Kenden for me. I had a nail appointment this morning, came home, Kenden played outside until naptime, then he napped....then I had to leave for a friend's Open House party. Jeff decided that instead of getting a babysitter, he'd stay home and I could go. So, Kenden enjoyed his time with Daddy today! They washed the Mustang, then went swimming in our backyard neighbor's pool...I love nice neighbors who let you use their pool so you don't have to dig one in your own yard! Kenden went into the pool with gusto! Jumped to Daddy and even went under a few times! Boy, did he nap good today....enough said! Go daddy, go daddy, go daddy....

Nothing like sweat and food in your hair!!

This is very "There's Something About Mary" of Kenden (if you have seen the movie, you get it!)....he had been outside playing, then came in for lunch and decided to rub his hands ALL through his hair...super gross, but funny as all get out, too! There is no point in trying to stop him...he does it more! So I let him do his thing. Like I said in my previous post, this week was the "Terrible Twos" week, so he was going to do what he wanted (within reason). I did not feel like fighting this battle...ha!

Mowing the lawn at Grammie and Papa's

Kenden is obsessed with Lawnmowers...or anything else that makes loud noise and has wheels...trucks, cars, tractors...you get the point. So, while visiting my parents last week, he just HAD to help Papa "mow" the lawn! No, the lawnmower wasn't on, but he had fun anyway...he also got some time in in the inflatable pool!

Terrible 2's, here we come...

This week has been, well, bad as far as Kenden's attitude and behavior are concerned! I am officially a parent of a toddler now. Mr. Nasty (aka Kenden) reared his head this week....he gave me a run for my money for sure. Hitting, screaming, etc....Lord help us when things are not going his way. Today has been better and I will be adding some really cute and funny pics of him helping Daddy wash the Mustang, and swimming with Daddy in the neighbor's pool...thank God for neighbors who are nice! Hope to post those pics tonight~Jeff is going to show me how to download them to this MAC. I haven't mastered it yet...