Competition's Good for Everyone!

This chrome buddy just can't compete with...














...this guy!














Bath time has never been so easy or so full of smiles. (And full of my constant refrain: "Jacob, don't pour water out of the tub...I mean it." But "I mean it" really peppers all of our dealings.)

Isn't he cute?














If you want to read a lot more about competition in the marketplace (and such) read this. Don't hate Matt for loving economics (the dismal science) and the White Stripes (a great band) so much.

Higgity Hair Cuts

Finally.



















































They really needed it.

Brothers gotta hug

Hugs are usually initiated by Jacob.

They are wildly and happily accepted by Nicholas.

There is always a risk of injury.

Mother usually has to ask Jacob to end the hug when things get violent.

Nicholas laughs through almost all violence.

And lastly, often Jacob prefaces these hugs with the phrase, "I just love him so much".

Was this worth 1,500 dollars?

Our buyer (yes, you heard right) wanted the septic tank pumped and inspected prior to purchase. Apparently, before finding our amazing home, they were very interested in another home with a septic tank. A septic tank that hadn't been pumped in 30 years. Yes, you heard right, 30 years! To add to the nightmare, the owner of that disgusting septic tank didn't want them pumping and inspecting it! Oh golly, it's so gross (having looked our septic tank in the eye) I can't stand it!

Anyway, when the septic tank guys came they had a DIGGER hitched to the back of their big pump truck. Now, it was actually a mini-excavator. Jacob was hooked. So happy. And totally engrossed.


















They located the septic tank through a 6th/septic sense. They stuck a small rod into the ground and thumped on the tank to show me that it was there. I truly had a small hope that there was a treasure chest there and not a box of poopies. Alas...

We stayed outside and watched until they opened the tank. I had read online that you should never clean your own septic tank (like we would want to!) because the fumes would kill you and--ahem--anyone who attempted to rescue you. Truly. That's what it said. Unfortunately, the fumes aren't really that deadly, because they beckoned me out and (as I previously mentioned) they forced me to come near it and look into it! The workman insisted that I OK every aspect of the job. Please, no! My eyes! My nose!

They were using septic terminology that just meant nothing to me and the smell and concept were horrid. "The hoozibob is crumbling and there are roots growing all through the whatsigig. We really should put some chirrioos in it and replace that crumbling hoozibob."

I would have agreed to anything...ANYTHING! Just to escape!

So, I was able to flee after forking over $1500 and looking into the thing 5 times. It was harrowing.

But seriously, to have a digger in your own back yard...

Priceless?

I sure hope so.


















Do you see Jacob?























Jacob had one request during the digging. Listen up as I coy-ly ask him "what?" about 4 billion times. Diggers are amazing AND loud.

Make him an offer he can't refuse

Could you refuse him?

Oh my

Look at little Jacob a year or so ago at Grandma Jan's house.

The pants. The belly. The face. The hands on the head.

I couldn't keep this one to myself.

Look at me when I'm talking to you

The other night during Nicholas's bath I was really annoyed. I couldn't get him to look at me. I had the camera and was ready to document his graduation into the big tub. He just wouldn't look around. No amount of tongue-clicking (a Nico favorite), friendly name calling, splashing or even cawing could get him to turn around.














I starting trying to physically move him and then I realized why he really wasn't interested in me at all.

He already had some pretty good company.














Can you see who his bath time friend is?

Sleepover

Three have become five. The more the merrier! (Nemo and Elmo add some much needed commercial appeal.)

Temptation

A camera.

Unattended.

A cursory understanding of how to work the thing.

A few stolen moments.

Voila.

Nice try Jackson

You call that spikey?



Check out Nicholas's "Alfalfa Dreadlock" (as I like to call it).







Good luck next time!


















(Two things: 1. I really do brush Nicholas's hair and 2. is the constant reoccurance of these wacko tangles something to be proud of?)