just in time for child #2, we no longer have to interact with child #1

Ellis is recovering well from his first ear infection since the tubes were put in last summer. I was somewhat under the impression that the tubes would actually prevent infection, but they mostly just facilitate the oozing of pus out of his ear. Disgusting, but better out than in, I guess. Since it wasn't bothering him, we were mostly just ignoring it, but he developed a fever yesterday so we opted for a trip to the pediatrician and a round of amoxicillin.

This evening he requested that I help him play "the pig game" and after some investigation we figured out this was a game that Trey had showed/ played for him on Poisson Rouge. Once we'd loaded the site, it occured to me that Ellis was probably ready to start "driving" the mouse for himself. I was frankly shocked how quickly he figured it out. Once I stopped hindering his progress by saying "move the mouse down", "click here", "no, click the other button", etc. he made very rapid progress. After 2 minutes, he'd stopped picking the mouse up off the surface of the desk, after 5 he figured out how to click just the left button, and by 10 he'd gained almost complete accuracy. Seeing his face after he realized he was actually controlling what was on the screen was like seeing him get his first taste of sugar. Or maybe, like his first taste of crack, really, considering his genetic predilection toward Internet addition on both sides of the family. It was pretty cool to see how quickly he learned, but also terrifying. Lazy mother that I am, I want him to be independent, but also only to choose to do things I want him to do. Is that asking so much?

Meanwhile, we are at 39 weeks on this pregnancy and there's no sign of the baby yet. But, I did wash our sheets tonight, so I'm hoping that will tempt fate into causing my water to break around midnight. More likely, our 4 AM preschooler bedmate will just crawl in and pee all over the place. Sigh.

One idiot deserves another...(in which we meet the neighbors)

So we are on our way home from the grocery store today and as we get onto our one lane road there is another vehicle coming the other way. So, I pull into the turn out and wait for her to pass. She waves and jumps out of her car and says, "I am just waiting for my kids they are sledding down the road." Yes, you might wonder if I heard her right, but I did and they were indeed sledding down the road. (Idiot #1)

So, not knowing when a gaggle of kids might come flying down the road on sleds, we sit there. (Idiot #2) Finally, the mother sees the kids and waves them off the road so we can go up to our drive. But, she is in the middle of the road and not moving, so I try to squeak around her and the soft shoulder drops out and my wheel lands in the ditch. Trying to get out I put another wheel in the ditch. (Idiot#3)

Her husband came down and pulled us out with no harm to the vehicle. Perhaps the worst part was when Ellis started to cheer that we were going to have to have a tow truck come rescue us. The prior incident made an impression on him and clearly that impression was "wee and we get to watch a tow truck do something cool." Clearly, I didn't cuss enough for him to get the message that there is nothing fun in any of this.

Anyway the neighbors seem nice even if their sledding choices are poor and they know all of the previous owners so maybe we can find out why some thing are the way they are in the house.

Savant?

Today I took Ellis with me to Lowe's. One of the things we needed was a new all-purpose blade for the table saw. At some point while I was looking, Ellis picked a blade and tossed it into the cart. After I had finished perusing the options and picked out what I was going to get, I walked over to the cart and became aware that Ellis had already put a blade in the cart. Looking, I realized that the one he had picked was the only one of its type, and hence I hadn't seen it because it was already in the cart, but it turns out that it was the one I wanted and the one we got. I guess I should have listened to him.

Booty Smack--Montesorri Style

Shortly before bed...

Me: Ellis can you hear me.

Ellis: NO. NO I CANNOT.

Then later, upstairs, he rolled up his towel came after me with it. But he didn't roll it rat tail style like you learned in the locker room in junior high. Rather he very carefully laid it out and rolled it up just like they do their work mats at school. The initial attack evolved into a game that was originally called, "I am going to get your booty". I was also issued a towel and shortly thereafter the game was finally renamed, simply, "Booty Smack". I pretty much played defense while Ellis actually invented new attacks, the best being holding his towel out and spinning in the fastest circles he could while trying to move in my direction. The problem with this move is that after a couple good smacks, Ellis couldn't walk a straight line and became easy pickins. Ellis also refused to play in his pajamas, choosing rather to compete as the Greeks did, buck naked.

I think Booty Smack has a real chance of getting into the 2032 Summer Olympics. Ellis will probably be too old to compete by then, but hopefully, The Whirling Ellis will be a popular finishing move.

Unrelated, Random

This is what happens when you tell a literal three year old to go do something outside that you don't want him doing inside.

He found two pieces of styrofoam in a box and noticed that when you rubbed them it made all sorts of white snow. Rachel ordered him to stop or go do it in the garage. So he bundled himself up, flopped down on the mudroom floor and, by the letter of the law, did indeed destroy the styrofoam outside. The amazing thing is that this entertained him into silence for a good half an hour. In fact, I went to check on him because he was so quiet for so long.

In other news, I wanted to post this picture:

As you might remember, I started working on an old boat with my buddy John before we moved to Vermont. Despite my absence, and the fact that he has his own life and job, John has continued to work on the boat. The hull is now fully coated, buffed and waxed and looks pretty damned good. Can't wait to see it in person and pull the oars.

He didn't want to

Ellis has been throwing some real fits lately, usually related to us trying to get him to make a choice between two things he really wants to do, say wrestle with daddy or watch a movie. Usually, it is best if we let him settle down for a minute or two or sometimes five rather than trying to coax him out of the fit. Unfortunately, we have a hard time keeping a straight face, because during these fits, Ellis tends to narrate them out loud in the third person.

Making things worse is the fact that he is giving up his nap and by evening is very very tired, resulting in fits over ridiculous things. After putting on his pajamas, I asked him if he had tooted and he fell down on the floor bawling, screaming, "He didn't fart, daddy farted."

Then a little later tonight he was unhappy with the movies available and his teary monologue included:

"He wanted to do something else."

"But, he...he couldn't think of anything else."

yuletide past

Christmas came, it was nice. We even had snow, which was a relief since Catherine and Mom kept making to reference to White Christmas before their arrival. I would've hated to disappoint.

Ellis got along well with Silas about 80% of the time. Sometimes one wished for less collusion as when they ransacked multiple bathrooms for rolls of toilet paper, then used it to carpet the

bathroom floor and, finally, in an inspired coup de grace, sprinkled water all over it. Ellis's

behavior with Emmet however, was far from gracious and doesn't bode well for his upcoming role as a big brother. Bridget assures me, however, that the first couple months when the baby is completely immobile won't be so bad. Only when baby #2 can start grabbing at toys and food do the real trouble begin. Perhaps Ellis will be magically more magnanimous by this summer. Hmmm, no.

We were also very fortunate to have guests willing to spearhead some home improvement projects. Pictures will be posted, but not until I finish up a few things that will make the rooms look a bit more finished. Sadly, given my slow rate of progress, that may not be for a while. Until

then, here are a few pictures from (mostly) Christmas Day:

Two Feet High and Risin'

I know we owe you all pictures of the house, the renovation projects in the laundry room and Ellis's room, not to mention Christmas, but our crazy weather is way more interesting. You can read about it here. The official Milton total is quite a bit less than we have at our house. We had a solid 24-28" this morning when we got up. Now we are probably close to 32". Being at a bit higher elevation has probably given us a little more. Snow removal has been top notch.

Early this morning we had even deeper snow right up at the house due to all that had blown off of the roof. If we get as much tonight as they are saying, we might have 3 feet totals for the storm.
Those of you who watched the birds with us this week probably can see the feeder stands which are now almost at snow level.
And here is our little Scout, Ellis, Silas and Bridget blazing a trail. The best site of the day, by far, was when Scout got in over her head and ran under the snow raising a little mole hump. She seemed to alternate between loving the snow and finding herself in deep spots and not realizing that if she turned around she could get out.

The boys all had fun, although Ellis tends to wimp out a little in the deep spots. Since out company needs to get out of here early, we will have to go out and snow blow one more time tonight. The snowblower has performed admirably.