Grandparents Day

Today was Grandparents Day at Aidan's school and five very special guests joined him for the event. Four grandparents and one great grandparent each came more than 300 miles to share the day with him. What an AWESOME family!

Grammie and Papa D (Deur) and Great Gramma Deur

Papa and Nana (Christensen)

Great Gramma Deur

Storytime Live

Last night we took the boys into the city to see Nickelodeon's Storytime Live at the State Theater. Kellen was mesmerized by the show blinking all of once during the first half of the performance.

The show featured the characters from four popular kids shows including the Wonder Pets (my favorite), Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans and Ne Ho Kai Lan.

Photography was not permitted during the performance but I managed to pull this cast photo from the internet.

Tuesday at the Zoo

Rachel's back to work in two weeks so we're trying to sneak some family outings in on weekdays when kid friendly attractions may be less populated than they would be on the weekends.

We saw some zoo visitors dressed in Chicago sports gear and the guy on the right (below) who obviously shares our love for a certain Midwestern football team known as...Da Bears!

I don't remember seeing camels on previous trips to the Minnesota Zoo so this guy (and his friends) are either seasonal or new.

Rachel and I always joke about the farm animal exhibits at zoos. I guess growing up in Iowa these guys don't seem so exotic. Of course not every kid knows his way around livestock as was evident by the kid explaining to his friend where the milk comes out of a bull. Ahem...that's not an udder you're looking at young man.

Kellen was highly entertained by the sheep calling out to him and his opportunity to feed the goats.

VIDEO: Volcano III

While contemplating how to boost the bang of our volcano, I drew inspiration from the following video.

We misfired neglecting to recognize the lack of pressure in an uncapped volcano. The post-volcano bottle attempt fell a little flat too having drained some of the soda again falling short on the pressure we needed to build inside the bottle.

Next time we're in Iowa we may need to find an open field and try this...

...and hope this doesn't happen...

The Fine Print

As part of their assortment of Easter basket* goodies, Rachel grabbed the boys what was labeled as a two pack of Spider-Man kites. Upon opening them yesterday, we found the second kite (pictured below) had the standard spool of string and a long flowing red tail.

We also discovered that the kite was all of four inches wide. Upon further review the package deemed it a micro kite and included dimensions in centimeters. Our web shooting superhero is about as big as George Washington on a dollar bill and likely to be just as visible in the sky...if not for the long tail.

* Incidentally, nothing says "He is risen!" like Easter baskets that look like Star Wars Storm Troopers.

The Boy Who Cried False Alarm

With Phase One of potty training in good working order and Phase Two a work in progress I offer this final check in...unless something hilarious happens in the next few days.

Earlier this week I was told by Kellen that I also do a good job going potty and should have my own sticker chart when I turn 21 or 22 or 23. It was nice to get that vote of confidence! Perhaps when I fill my chart I can have a cupcake party just like him.

Kellen also has found an indestructible excuse for climbing out of bed repeatedly in the evening. We already had trouble keeping him there and now he just claims he's up to use the bathroom. How can we rush him to the restroom during the day and tell him we're not buying it at night? One out of four or five exits turns out to be legit and the others draw a "got you" smile, a shrug of the shoulders and him saying "false alarm".

The False Alarm

Don't Be Shy!

One of my students submitted the following picture during our discussion on marketing techniques.

It's the weekend...pick one up and let loose!

Forecast: Increasingly Dry

It’s Day Two of potty training and things are progressing very well. Kellen’s only post-lunch incident yesterday was caused by the distraction of playing outdoors. It was such a nice day and he and Aidan were running around enjoying the weather. He climbed up the stairs of the deck and looked like someone had water ballooned his sweatpants south of the belt line.

Today was 99% successful on the Phase One side of things (fellow potty trainers know exactly what Phase Two is…o.k. you all know what #2 is). Thankfully the one incident took place on the kitchen linoleum. I’m guessing he was concentrating on finding a snack as the puddle marking the scene of the crime was in front of an open cupboard door and a near an open box of Oatmeal Crème Pies.

Kellen again helped himself into position today and remembered to remove all necessary items of clothing this time. Rachel came in to find him seated, smiling and pointing everything in the right direction. Not bad for his second solo effort!

He’s getting the hang of everything and taking unprompted trips to the bathroom. In fact he just interrupted my posting telling me he needed to go, requested his celebratory sticker and said he was going back to bed.

"Kellen's doing AWESOME baby! No more Diaper Dandy...he's a PTPee'r!"

Logan in the Studio

Here's a sampling of Logan at six weeks...

Adventures in Potty Training

Today Kellen began the important step toward big boyhood that is actually using the bathroom when nature is calling. Looking back on Aidan’s journey toward the same milestone I see seven pairs of damp drawers by noon and no recorded successes. Kellen is off to a better start having pasted five stickers of success on his potty chart and misfiring only twice.

The highlight funny moment of the day so far was Rachel walking into the bathroom to find Kellen taking care of things all by himself. He was proudly sitting on the throne making it rain but unfortunately he had neglected to removed his Mickey Mouse underpants. Do we put that one in the win or loss column?

The Ring of Honor

My Life...

...420 characters (or less) at a time.

Looking back at my Facebook statuses from the last two months, I realized many of the little nuggets of joy that life brings me never find their way to the blog. I may throw a thought into the social networking stratosphere and never return to share it here.

My post count has regressed since teaching made me busier and Baby Boy 3.0 entered the picture but there have been plenty of entertaining moments, just not enough time to share them here.

I've been investigating ways to post a status feed here for those not connected with me there. Until then here are some Logan related thoughts from the past eight weeks and some accompanying afterthoughts.

Travis Deur is going to fall asleep if he stops moving...a common side effect of "New Baby in the House Syndrome."

How quickly you remember the most impacted element of your life when there's a baby in the house!

Travis Deur is surprised his name is not splashed all over CNN this morning. Can I assume the verbal spat between me and the President at the grocery store was just a dream?

A week into sleep deprivation and I dreamt the President was less than appreciative of my assistance at the local store. He got snippy and I got loud.

Travis Deur is pretty sure he could land a role on a NASCAR pit crew if he sent in a videotape of his diaper changing efficiency. Not sure I can handle the lug nut gun thingy but I'm lightning quick rotating Pampers with my bare hands.

Just like riding a bike you get right back into your rhythm.

Travis Deur hates it when you finally get relaxed and calm and suddenly you soil your pants and you're instantly uncomfortable and highly irritable. You all know I'm talking about the baby, right?

I feel the need to reiterate that I was talking about Logan.

Travis Deur burps every time he's burping the baby...but does have the courtesy to say "excuse me".

I've discovered that I cannot induce a burp out of the little guy without one of my own surfacing.

Travis Deur loves the smell of a baby's head...unless that baby just baptized himself on the changing table.

Aidan got me many times...Kellen never did...Logan's doused me and himself.

Travis Deur enjoyed a weekend with his sister and brother-in-law. The newlyweds have likely had enough cartoons and Chutes and Ladders to last them several months.

We've enjoyed having many visitors since Logan arrived. We just hope they haven't been bored to death by our inability to fully entertain then while they were here.

Travis Deur fell asleep on the couch and woke up to Oprah's bra intervention. Should I stick with it and watch the shoe and handbag intervention?

Some of the most interesting things on television can be found during the overnight hours with a restless baby in your arms.

Travis Deur knows it is time to empty the diaper pail when I spin the handle, one disappears and three come back in its place.

Kellen's potty training is right around the corner which should slow this phenomenon a bit.

Travis Deur apologized to Logan for potentially leading him into a lifetime of sports misery as a cub fan. He immediately spit up all over my Cubs t-shirt.

With no ties to Chicago perhaps Logan will revolt against the family and root for the Twins.

Travis Deur sometimes feels like he's being played by the two month old. Today for the second time in a week he soiled four diapers in the span of two minutes. After wearing one for about four seconds he audibly ruined it, smiled and pumped his fist in the air as if to say, "Dance for me old man!".

What can I say...the kid owns me right now!

My Life... (Part Two)

Of course the other boys and life in general are still part of the equation...

Travis Deur was discussing brain tissue with Aidan this morning and he told me you don't blow your nose into your brain.

I had no argument for his response.

Travis Deur finds the quickest way to get a live person on the phone is to threaten the automated one with severe bodily harm.

I do not love automated menus and wonder if anyone monitoring them has every put me on a watch list.

Travis has visions of meat, fire and a cold beverage dancing in his head.

Grilling season is here!

Travis Deur is a fan of overtime, upsets and buzzer beaters!

The opening day of the NCAA basketball tournament was AWESOME!

Travis Deur had a fun conversation with Aidan. We discussed the possibility that a bear had come out of the woods and popped a roadside car's tire with his claws or a sharp stick. Then we wondered if that scenario would warrant exceeding the speed limit and how unfortunate it would be if you were then pulled over by an unsympathetic police bear. All of this triggered by him asking what the word possibility meant.

If you thought the brain tissue discussion was interesting...this was an epic on-the-way-to-school chat!

Travis Deur observes the power of TV marketing every day. This weekend the boys stood transfixed every time the airport guys flashed their "BAGS FLY FREE" chests, waiting for their opportunity to shout, "take my bags, not my money!" If they go missing and their piggy banks are empty I'm calling Southwest.

They've always got some commercial related jingle or phrase in their head and this one had their full attention.

Travis is sitting on the couch watching hoops with a three year old who should be sleeping but is instead giggling as he repeatedly says "Farokhmanesh!".

Kellen likes to slip out of bed and I was too busy enjoying the game to fight him on it on this particular night.

Travis Deur hopes to avoid the family germ cycle. Kellen and Aidan are currently sharing a cough.

I later claimed to have been drinking hand sanitizer to keep the germs out of my system. Anything to avoid a nagging cough.

Travis Deur would like to thank the lady walking down the street eating a brownie for supplying me with humor this afternoon. I'm guessing her walk around the neighborhood was for the benefit of her dog and not meant to be exercise.

It's the little things in life that entertain me.

Travis is back from the theater. "Dragon" in 3D with popcorn and Aidan's first Icee.

Free movie passes got expensive once we hit the concession stand.

Travis Deur was serenaded by two April fools as they took their baths tonight. Who knew slapping your own rear could be so musical?

Did you know?

Kid Compare (2M)

Logan had his two month check up today. He weighed in at 14 pounds, 10 ounces which matches Aidan's weight at the same age and trails Kellen's 15 pounds and 1 ounce. We'll see if he paces his oldest brother through his first birthday or if he matches the epic marks posted by the big boy in the middle.

Logan

Kellen

Aidan

The Easter Bunny

Kellen's Three Year Picture

VIDEO: Swim Star

After two summers at the community pool Aidan was still a little timid in the water. After just two, half hour sessions at the local swim school he's part fish.