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Memorial Day

 photo from http://packerchatters.com

It's about more than a day off. More here.

Dancing Machine

So she isn't wearing her hat like the rest of the dancers, no biggie. She didn't wear it in the group photo either. And so what if she doesn't follow the routine? She has the rest of her life to follow rules, stay in line, conform etc. But for now...it's just Ruby being Ruby, doing her thing.

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Mess

We've been watching a lot of the tv show Hoarders lately. I am (perhaps overly) minimalist and organized. My wife is all about clean but has a much higher threshold for clutter than I do. Call me paranoid but I've already started worrying about how our habits will effect the kids. At the end of the day we make Ruby help clean up. At first she fought kicking and screaming and would only move one or two things. As time has gone on she has more and more of an interest and does more and more.
My niece is really into cleaning. Apparently you can give her a rag and she'll dust the entire house. I remember when I was young I earned part of my allowance by doing chores. I think this is a smart system that we'll use when they get older.
I had lofty goals and aspirations when we first talked about kids. My thoughts were to get them started as soon as possible, totally old school. Maybe pick them up a shady factory gig when they are still in single digits. When they are big enough to push a mower we could get them doing some mowing and landscaping around the neighborhood. By the time they are driving age they can buy their own car. After that no more toting them to the factory, they can drive to their office job. Once they learn to live off of the meager funds they will have left after they have to start supporting us they can start their own college fund and 401k. I know it sounds a little harsh but if they invest wisely, they can retire early. 
Like so many other areas with the girls, I want them to get the best parts of my wife and I and none of the bad. Realistically, I will be happy if they are clean and neat but not white glove obsessed or germaphobes.

Tattooed

Thank God they make washable markers.
Ru loves tattoos. These are of Mommy and Daddy. I think we both look a little like squids, other than that I can see the resemblance perfectly.

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http://pootergirl.blogspot.com/

 

 

Mothers

I know some good ones. 

Hope your Mother's Day was awesome, thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for me.

Scary...

There are a couple things hanging out in the playroom lately that scare the crap out of Sailor. One is an inflatable St. Bernard. I'm not really sure where it came from or how it got here but let me tell you...she hates it. She'll eye it if it starts to get close she won't take her gaze off it. Once it is within six inches, the screaming starts and the water works come on. She won't bat at it or try and move away from it. She just sits in hysterics until someone moves it.

The other is the Learning Farm playset and walker. We've been trying to use it as a tool to help her get experience and confidence with taking steps. It isn't working. Set her up behind it with her hands on the green bar...forget it. She won't try and sit down, fall down, take a step or do anything. Its just screaming, crying, etc. She can crawl down the isle at her wedding if she wants to, I'm losing the battle and I'm over it. 

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