Boof

We have strong feelings in our house about the types of shows we watch and what we want to expose Zoe to. Typically N and I don't watch much television that we would truly enjoy while Zoe is awake, except Food Network every once in a blue moon.

We typically watch some Mickey, Pooh, Handy Manny or the Backyardigans.

At Grandma's house she has a different standard for her television. One that N & I aren't too happy about. We feel she's been warping Zoe's mind.

Her television viewing includes Barney.

N and I strongly dislike Barney for many reasons. Actually it has little to do with Barney or his dinosaur friends (except that BJ constantly calls Baby Bop "sissy" and I have flashbacks to Urban Cowboy). It mainly has to do with the major over-acting of the children on the show. They drive me nuts.

However, because Grandma doesn't have the same feelings about Barney that we do, it has slowly become one of Zoe's favorite shows. By slowly I mean overnight sensation almost equal to The Beatles coming to America.

Now when we ask her what she'd like to watch we hear, "Boof! Boof!" That is her word for Barney. When you ask about Mickey or Pooh, she shakes her head "no" violently. She needs Boof. NOW.

It hasn't been uncommon for me to hum the Barney theme song in the shower now.

N has been caught humming it too.

We are one "I love you, you love me" away from making sure that all dinosaurs are extinct.

We just keep telling ourselves it's a phase and way better than having to watch Tele-Tubbies. Like my sister!

Might as well face it, she's addicted to...

At church N was asked if he would start playing in the worship team. He plays bass guitar and they would love to have him play on Sundays. The only hurdle is they practice on Thursday evenings and right now N's in school.

They are willing to meet with him on Friday or Saturday evening to practice so he can play.

Can I tell you how cool our worship team is? They are some of the most welcoming and inviting people. It totally made N's day to be asked to play.

In fact he was so excited he came home and started practicing. He had a little help.

I wonder if the worship team knows N's a package deal?

She's a big girl now

Zoe's newest thing is wanting to sit at the table with us. Her high chair is good for breakfast, but beyond that she wants to sit at the table.

We have one of those high tables that have chairs the same height as bar stools, so I've been a little apprehensive to put her at the table.

This weekend we bought a booster seat for her.

Now she wants to sit at the table all the time. To color, to watch cartoons, to drink her water, to talk to mommy, etc. She is in love with her new big girl status.

Recap: The TWOrific birthday

I've been a little MIA on the blog. It's because I've been nursing a cold. If you know me at all, you know I basically shut down, whine and make N wait on me until I'm better. It's part of my charm.

I spent some time catching up on The Office this weekend and playing with Zoe. Because I'm still not 100%, I thought you all would enjoy some pictures from Zoe's birthday party.

The centerpieces. Every two year old need some centerpieces made of paper! Because I get a little carried away.

With her cousin MJ and her new trike. Which has become her chair for snacking and watching cartoons.

Getting ready to plant he seed. Before the mouth full of potting soil.

Our birthday girl. All hyped up on sugar!

I was blind, but now I see

For the last two days I've been seeing something off into the distance. I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me because I've got a cold and my drug of choice is NyQuil. I've been in some kind of stupor for a couple days.

Alas it's not the NyQuil, it's more scientific than that. It has something to do with the earth's gravitational pull and the rotations.

We have more sunlight.

When I come to work it's light out. When I pick up Zoe after work it's light out.

I think this could possibly mean that we are on the downhill side of winter. I don't want to say that too loud for fear I'll scare the sun off.

Can you tell I'm still in a NyQuil stupor? I think if I ever left Neil it would be for a cherry flavored bottle of NyQuil.

Apparently I also like writing it's name because I've said it 4 times in this post.

I realize I'm rambling but I can't breathe out of one nostril and I think the lack of oxygen to my brain is causing me to do some rambling on and on about nothing.

Like cold medicine.

Her palate is very refined

Last night I made cookies for a memorial service at church on Thursday. My mom is the memorial service director and has to round up food for the family meal and cookies for the fellowship time.

If you've ever had a mom that is the director of anything, you know you'll get a call to help. I'm happy to. This lady was charming, sweet and it was my privilege to know her.

I made the classic chocolate chip cookie for the fellowship time. Zoe noticed that I was making "tookies" and needed one.

I grabbed one that had cooled down the most and gave it to her. She picked a small piece off, put it in her mouth and immediately spit it back out. The chocolate chips were cool, but still mushy. Apparently mushy chocolate chips are not enjoyed by the 2 year old crowd. She spent the next 15 seconds trying to get that slime off her tongue.

Zoe's rules: Potting soil = good. Melted chocolate = gross.

We had a part-tay

I had no idea the toddler crowd could be such partiers. We had about 13 kids, including the birthday girl.

It was utter chaos. Yet completely fun.

We had a bit of some game time at the beginning. If you've never seen 13 children running and screaming, you're totally missing out. We thought it would be best to start off with that to work up their appetites.

Then we feasted on hot dogs a la picnic style. That can be either good or bad depending on whether or not your plate got eaten off of or stepped on as someone was running through.

After all the food we decided to open presents. Zoe got some really adorable things. Cute clothes, some books, some stuffed animals and lots of toys. She's still learning about opening presents, but her more experienced friends were more than happy to help her unwrap and even break in her newly acquired items. I'm not going to lie, there was a bit of a mob mentality going on during the present opening. I've never seen so many little hands clawing and grabbing at stuff.

We made it out safely and onto seed planting. What is a garden party without some flower seeds. Each child got their own little pot, a spoon to shovel the potting soil and some sweet pea seeds. The birthday girl was the only one to take a big spoonful of potting soil and eat it. She was also the only one to attempt to eat one of the seeds.

I think this year we'll be working on non-food related activities. Apparently snacking is too much a part of her every day life.

In an attempt to get rid of the potting soil taste and the fall-out from me freaking out and rinsing out her mouth, we did cake at the end. Plus there is nothing better than sugaring all those kids up and sending them home.

The birthday girl was a bit shy and preferred not to look at the crowd singing to her. She was more than happy to have a BIG piece of chocolate cake and eat it with a big girl fork.

It is safe to say the party was an absolute hit. I had as much fun as the toddler crowd.