Change is Good

That's Ollie's new philosophy these days, and it's a good thing since we sold the pool table last night. He enjoyed playing in the big open space. He is also enjoying the new big-screen TV. He didn't want to have anything to do with it, but when he saw Sponge Bob, that was it. He got disappointed when Teen Nick came on and he had to go upstairs to watch the digital channels. Tori is also mesmerized with the new TV and the big space to run through. Anyway, Ollie says that we can now make changes around the house.

Grandma Who?

In a few weeks, Sharon our sitter is going on vacation to see her new grandson. My mom is coming up to stay with the kids. Ollie keeps getting confused as to which grandma is coming up, and every time I tell him Grandma Vickie, he demands to know about the third grandma. I keep thinking it's Tip, but when I mention her, he says no, the other one. I know he can't be talking about my dad's mother, so I am not sure who this third grandma is. It isn't Grandma Marie, he assures me. Who it is I don't know. She must be the mystery grandma.

Tori, Tori

That's all Ollie kept yelling last night. He was a motormouth, and so was his sister. Nonstop chatter from the moment they got into the car. When we got home, Ollie put away his blocks, pulled out his Power Rangers and spun some yarns for me. Than, when his sister got home from the grocery store, he plied her and his dad with stories. The two chatted with each other and with us all night long. It got so loud at one point that Huts and I had to shush them. They were so quiet at dinner, and then, boom. The talkin' started.

The Best Brother Ever

We went to a '50s diner the other day, and Ollie had a milkshake. For some reason, he was being extra nice that day and fed his sister the cherry. Then he put another straw in his milkshake and the two drank it together. He also fed her a strawberry that was in it. I wished I had a camera, so you could see their two heads together as they sucked on the straws. So cute.

Change Not Necessary

The TV in our living room is on its way out--too many color changes from blue to green to gray. Huts would like a larger TV, but Ollie has another opinion. He is afraid of large TVs and says we may only buy one if we change everything back to the way it used to be. We moved the cactus in the kitchen, got a different table for the TV and added a sofa table in the living room. I also moved around a couple of other things. Well, that has just been too much for Ollie, and he wants everything back the way it once was. Things look way too different to him. Boy, is he gonna be sad when the new TV comes in and the old stand goes upstairs. That should really flip him out since the family room is his domain.

Scrunched Up Hands

Ollie's knuckles are raw from constantly washing his hands. He is obsessive with washing his hands. Can't touch his underwear without washing his hands or eat gooey food in fear of getting his hands messy. Another phase. Because his knuckles are so raw, he has been clinching his fingers and walking around with scrunched up hands. He looks silly, and when I ask him about it, he gives me a sly smile and giggles. He already knows how to push my buttons.

Lego-Mania

Every time we see toys, the only thing Ollie wants are Lego's! He is Lego crazy! He's gotten very good at looking at a picture in the Lego book and building the car/boat/animal/person in the picture without instructions. Every time he gets a new one he and I put it together together. If its simple he can put it together by himself without following the instructions. Some of the harder ones like his Star Wars vehicles, take a helping hand from his parents. I don't think he's played with much else since since he's got his first small set of Lego's for Christmas.

Every night its the same thing when we get home, turn on the Good-Night Show on Sprout and play with Lego's. We always end up with multiple things he creates from the Lego's nightly. Sometimes he has to borrow pieces from his already created objects to make new ones. He knows exactly where to get the pieces. His memory and building ability are astounding at times. He's definitely more creative than his Dad!

Pitch Man

It started simply enough. It was an innocent viewing of a Life Alert commercial. We were told often how we needed Life Alert, how great it was and how we'd never be alone when we were alone at home. This is what the Pitch Man said, so it must be true.

The other day a banana inspired a pitch about the Green Bags that allow your food to stay fresh. Its continued on with putty, cleaning supplies and space saving bags that are even water tight! All the information was dizzying! Apparently its his current calling because the Pitch Man won't stop! Luckily, we can say "No" to buying this guys products.

The Pitch Man

Brother OK

Ollie has decided that it is ok for us to have a boy, He says that he will play with him, teach him things and be good to him. Of course, it is ok if we have a girl too. He will name her Abby and let us name it if it is a boy.

Oops!

While walking through the furniture store last night, Ollie decided to tell me a story about his babysitter. He got excited, raising his voice, and in the middle of the story, he blurted out the word "ass!" A couple of women in the store swung around and heard me tell him that we don't say that word. He had no idea what the word meant; he was just repeating what he had heard at the babysitter's. Poor guy hung his head when I told him not to say the word anymore. Oh well. He returned to his sunny self by the time we got to the front door.