We're moving!

(This is Nate) Well, we'll get to 'that' moving in due time. First, following Katie's lead, we're attempting to move the blog to a new website, one that should make things easier for us to update and keep frequent:

http://theclinefamily.wordpress.com/

Bookmark it now! First post to come soon!

Cut Your Own

(This is Nate) Well, Katie and David (http://clineberger.blogspot.com/view/classic) have shamed me into posting again...

Today I bring pictures of our annual trip to Linvilla Orchards where we take a hay ride and cut down our own Christmas tree. Ben thought every one was perfect, especially the one furthest away and down the hill (Lil agreed - see below), but after a little walking we circled back to one that worked for everyone. 

Ben & Kris enjoying the hay ride; Lil, apparently concerned for the safety of the tractor from the 1800s...

WE WANT THIS ONE DAD!!!

Best we could get. Sigh.

Our kill. We proceeded to eat the heart.

Awwww!

Don't Want To Forget This One...

I work for Lilly Pulitzer, a brand I truly love and admire. Lilly is long known for being fun, colorful, carefree...it just makes you happy and there's nothing not to love about that. BUT working for the company sometimes I get so busy "talking" about why people love the brand that I separate it from actually personally experiencing the love. 

Thank goodness I have Ben in my life to bring this to my attention. I was wearing this dress the other day (I actually don't have a picture of me in it!) and Ben says to me: "Mom, wear that dress the rest of the day because you look BEAUTIFUL in it. I love that dress. It makes me so happy to see you wear it because it reminds me of the beach and of boats. Because it has sea shells and anchors."

Love you Lilly. xx, Kristen Cline 

The Beginning of the End

I know you're not supposed to compare your kids, but Ben and Lilly have such different personalities. Ben is so social and has always loved being around people. He will walk up to anyone and talk their ear off. He loves having visitors, going on trips and being independent. I think he came out of the womb saying no and trying to negotiate a later bedtime.

Lilly on the other hand, is more reserved. She is definitely fun and fun-loving, but she likes to stick close to her Mom and Dad. She's my little shadow...and when she's not right next to me she's calling "MOOOMMEEEE." She's been easy-going and compliant - although she has always been very clear on what she wants and doesn't want.

I have a feeling that's all beginning to change as we officially entered toddler-ville with one very powerful word: NO. Lilly was standing on the sofa and I said "Lilly, please sit down on the sofa" to which she looked at me square in the eye and said "NO." I was shocked! Up until that moment she had really been very good about going along with what we asked. Ever since then it's been a downward spiral. "Lilly, time to get out of the tub." "NO." "Lilly, please close Mommy's drawer." "NO." I've been putting her in time-out if she really gives me attitude, which is hilarious because she has no clue what's going on (but she's learning) and Ben is SO thrilled that someone else is going in time-out that he wants to be very involved. I have noticed that they sit with each other when one is on a time-out, which I think Supernanny would not approve of, but it's so cute I can't say no.

Terrible, er terrific, two's are on the horizon and it looks like Miss Lil is ready to become a bit more assertive. I'm just hoping that we can avoid the classic toddler melt down/temper tantrum in a very public/embarassing location. I'm sure we won't be so lucky!

Why, Why, Why?

A conversation that occurred at bedtime after reading a Batman book (of course):

"Mom, why doesn't Bruce Wayne want anyone to know he's Batman?" I'm not sure buddy.
"Mom, why does Wonder Woman need an invisible jet if she can fly?" I'm not sure buddy.
"Mom, why does Batman wear his underpants outside his suit?" I'm not sure buddy.
"Oh, I know. I bet his wein is on the outside of his suit so that's why his underpants are too."
I think it's time to start coming up with some better answers.

Three Out of Four Ain't Bad

(This is Nate) Had to share this picture Kristen took of Lil the other night. Backstory is there was a solid week or two where we kept finding her with one limb out of the crib as she slept and we'd tuck it back in...this night there were three. Looking forward to how baby Houdini manages all four.

Side note: See the blue tape on the left side? Its covering the area where I had to saw the rail to get Ben's leg free back when he was experimenting with escaping the crib.

Side note #2: See the scuff marks on the rail? Ben loved to chew on it. It probably helped his teeth come in and definitely helped him meet his minimum lead paint intake (those supplements were getting expensive).  Lil hasn't been interested. I ask you, which kid is smarter?

Rocky Bluewinkle

(This is Nate) Ben and I went to the Wilmington Blue Rocks game Friday night. This was about a year from the last time we went down for a game.


This year Ben consumed the following: two bags of chips, one hot dog, one pink lemonade and one ice cream sandwich. He also got to say hi to their mascot Rocky Bluewinkle and we got to sit in the first row for a while, where he could talk to the pitchers in the bullpen. We didn't get home until about 9:45 and Ben was still full of energy (see food consumption, above) BUT it did result in the unprecedented wake up time of after 9:00 AM the next morning.

Thought I'd post the pictures from each both visits.

August 2010

August 2011

Sunday Funday

(This is Nate) Took the kids to a double feature today, the new Delaware Children's Museum and the DuPont Urban Wildlife Refuge.

The DCM is similar to the Please Touch Museum, but a much more manageable scale and less crowded; we had to pry both kids out of there. A quick stop down the street to the new viewing area and boardwalk for the wildlife refuge was cool too, though we didn't see any animals today. Both at the Wilmington Riverfront.

Got a bunch of good pics, so I put them up over at Picasa: 8/7/11.

The War Rages On

Not since the Hatfield's and the McCoy's have two "neighbors" been at such odds. The first battle...waking up to our garbage can being completely chewed through and garbage strewn through our front tree like Christmas lights. This is when we knew the squirrels taking residence at 252 Clamar Ave. were out for keeps. We retaliated simply with an industrial strength garbage can. Things seemed to quiet down until we found a half eaten bagel in the window box. It was a simple message - we'll be back...

Perhaps the squirrels greatest assault commenced about 2 years ago. I was feeding a 1-year-old Ben in his high chair when I heard scratching across the ceiling. It didn't sound good so I decided once Ben went down for a nap I would figure out who needed to be called to deal with what could only be an intruder. Once Ben was down for his nap I walked into the living room and immediately came face to face with...a squirrel. In my living room. The next 2 days were a blur. Me grabbing Ben, a golf club and my cell phone and retreating to the safety of the car; a squirrel hunter who arrived, spent about 2 days at our house catching THREE squirrels that had eaten through the porch roof and invaded our home; and the subsequent destruction of everything the squirrels came in a 5ft. proximity to. The squirrels were caught and removed from the premises. Obviously, we thought we had taken care of the problem.

Of course, we were wrong. The squirrels now have their sights set on my new pride and joy - my tomato plant! I've been known to have something of a black thumb and this tomato plant is finally starting to change perceptions and give me some gardening cred. The squirrels are intent on making me look bad. I had noticed some ripe tomatoes a couple of weeks ago. All the sudden, nothing. It was perplexed until I saw one of my "neighbors" feasting on some juicy, home-grown tomatoes - right outside my window. I loaded up the tomato plants with crushed red pepper, basil and some "Joe's Hot Stuff" for good measure. It was a futile attempt. We caught them yet again feasting on the tomatoes that I have not even had a chance to sample - they get every ripe one before we can get to it. AH!

I don't even know where to go next with this. It's clear that Havertown squirrels have an unparalleled bravado and I'm not sure that there will ever be peace. In the meantime you can probably find me at Home Depot spending my paycheck on anything with a squirrel crossed out on the label. I won't give up!

In Case We Forget...

...This will serve as a reminder:

Crocs mean Ben is Bruce Wayne

Boots mean he's Batman

This is, of course, per Ben who is obsessed with anything Batman and now really anything superhero-related. I've spent my morning as Clark Kent. I'm not sure about my alter-ego footwear though...