Can't blog...

....busy enjoying the magic of Disney World with Matt and the kids as well as Nana, Pop-Pop, and the Schambow family (J., Dan, Jackson, Tyler and Teagan).  Back soon.

Trouble

Mandrake

Okay, I admit it, I own the Wii game Lego Harry Potter (Years 1-4).  Matt and I sometimes play this game together and in it there is often a Mandrake that you have to retrieve ear muffs before picking up and then putting in a bucket in order to quiet it down.  Sometimes, Declan reminds us of this mandrake.  He squeals and screams and makes an awful ruckus that is damaging to the ears.  But...Matt has discovered that if you put him in a bucket, he too will quiet down!

New Feats

Here is a list of Declan's latest and greatest:

5. Unplugs the computer.  My computer already has issues with the power cord, due to Declan forcing the plug into it several times one day and ruining the receptacle.  Now, he finds it fun to just pull the plug out of the wall.  So...I will sit down at my computer and wonder why it's running on battery power.  I will fiddle and fiddle with the plug to try and tweak it to the magical place where it finally works, only to discover that it is a simple matter of plugging it back into the wall.  Grrrrr....
4. Pulled stereo cabinet door off of its hinges - to the point where the door was lying on the floor, pathetic and useless...oh, and made of glass.  Matt kicked in his handyman gene (doesn't happen often) and managed to get the door back in place, but it is a constant battle.
3. Plunged the downstairs toilet (water everywhere, big mess). He got this great idea after watching Daddy do it this weekend. I said to Matt, "That was not a good idea to let him see that." It was not an hour later that I heard a mysterious noise in that bathroom.  We now have a safety knob on that door.
2. Climbed up the piano; as in to the the top.  He got onto the bench, climbed onto the keys, and then up to the top of the piano.  It seems he wanted to read the piano book.  I heard him call "Mommy" once very quietly and got suspicious.  When I got there, he looked at me very calmly and said, "Help."  I suppose he wanted to get back down.
1. Climbed into the fireplace.  Declan opened the fireplace doors and decided it might be nice to see what goes on inside one of those things.  Matt found him there (luckily, I was away!) and after trying to get him away, only for him to go right back again, we have now installed locks, locks, and more locks in this house.  We have spent a small fortune on keeping this child safe...or maybe keeping ourselves sane.  I am not sure which.

Lari and Lari

Me: Declan, can you say "cookie"?
Declan:  Tu-tie
Me: Declan, can you say "cake"?
Declan: Cake
Me: Declan, can you say "cut"?
Declan: Tut
Me: Declan, can you say "Kyrie"?
Declan: Lari

As you can see, all sisters are called Lari in this house now.  We all laugh and get a big kick out of it, but it does cause problem when Declan is attempting to get Kyrie's attention -- "Lari.  Lari!  LARI!"  No response.  Gee, Declan, maybe you should call her "Kyrie"!

Lari-kins

Winter Wonderland

My Li'l Cowboy

Declan is obsessed with the boots in the playroom.  So, add an authentic cowboy hat purchased in Wyoming and you have a little cowboy.  He decided to sit on the step all on his own, and of course, I couldn't help taking a photo.

Happy New Year!

Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!

From the musical "Les Miserables" (which I will be seeing with my book club this year in April!!!)