Super Sunday

Today is the Super Bowl (Go Packers!), so to celebrate we thought maybe we'd have a little Super Bowl picnic in our living room. Cut up some cheese and some strawberries, put out some pita bread and hummus, cook up some hot woofs, lay out a blanket, and... TA-DAH!

It was really very entertaining. Dex was captivated by the commercials during the pre-game show - especially a movie trailer with Adam Sandler and some chick with big boobs in a yellow bikini, walking out of the water. That got the most vigorous pointing, which had us completely rolling on the ground. For different reasons - Dex was signing "swim" while we were just focused on the large chest area. He liked the flags during the National Anthem, and he liked the smoke and the lights when the players were introduced.

And when the game finally came on, he was all "go-go-go" and "RUN!" (at least we think that's what he was saying) and "up" and "down" as the football was run, thrown, and kicked. He really does like his football on TV.

We were kind of thinking that perhaps we could have guests join us for our picnic, but after seeing Dexter's picnic etiquette, I think perhaps not. He's not just a double dipper. He takes every cracker and every piece of cheese, puts it in his mouth, decides that one is not quite right, and puts it back. He was the biggest offender with the pita bread and hummus - I believe every piece of bread was dipped in hummus, licked off, and then put back on the tray.

John was cracking up as Dex sampled every piece of bread, with some hummus

It was nice out today, so despite the child's bad cough (he has a cold) he ventured outside for a little while, as the hot dogs cooked.

We know a whole bunch of Wisconsin peeps, and zero Pittsburgh people, so we're rooting for the Packers tonight. The game is on TiVo and is currently on pause while John puts Dex to bed.

Things That Make Life Good

1) This recipe for black bean soup. I've made it like three times in the past month. It's that good. I just made it, just now, to cook all day tomorrow and have for dinner tomorrow night. It sounded like a good "we're having another day of goddamn wintry mix or cold, cold rain" kind of dinner. Also, something I just discovered was amazing - the little food processor attachment for my blender. I haven't used it in about 10 years. But DUDE - it chopped up some veggies in 3 seconds FLAT. Love it.

2) This vacuum cleaner. Yeah, I know, right? You're all "Who is this domesticated person, and what did she do to Alissa?" I didn't think it was possible to love a vacuum cleaner. But this one? SUCKS. A LOT. The brush attachment about sucks your hand off. It's heavy as hell, but it's awesome and it's quiet and the brushes actually STAY ON the vacuum cleaner when you're not using them, and it sucks up dog hair on the floor like it's nobody's business and OMG I think I might love it. Dexter, on the other hand, hates its everloving guts. He spent the entire time I was vacuuming tucked away in the blue room pretending to play with toys, while really he was crying and shouting "all done" the entire time. I think. I couldn't really hear him.

3) The goddamned dog. This one's a double-edged sword. He's awesome because he will happily gallop around the house in circles, making the small child giggle hysterically. He will obediently jump in to the swimming pool in the basement, filled with four balls, Mama, and Dexter, when there's really not room to add a small dog to the mix. He will cheerfully romp around the box in the basement, poking his head through the window, sitting on my lap when asked. He will run through the tunnels in the basement, and will hang out in them chewing on his bone or lord knows what else he has found in the basement. And yet? He will somehow end up inside the neighbor's fenced yard, sniffing lord knows what from the recently unearthed septic system (hopefully that means we might have a new neighbor moving in soon!). He will run by a plastic ball from the ball popper and will quick as a flash pick it up and commence eating it if not stopped immediately. And. AND. He makes the child sick. Damn it. Allergy testing on Tuesday confirmed that Dex is allergic to dogs and cats. And, likely, horses. Guess what's in our house? 15 year old carpet filled with cat pee and dog hair. A horse farm in the back yard. And a black dog. Who the child loves. Or at least loves to laugh at.

4) A kick-ass husband. A husband who stayed home from work on Tuesday to drive us to the allergist on the icy roads. A husband who bought a kerosene heater on Monday in preparation for the impending FORECAST OF DOOM ice storm of the century that kind of turned out to be nothing. But, hey! I am prepared for Saturday's ice storm now! The husband who will climb in to a tent, wear a toddler sized bike helmet on his head, watch the Gookie video on his computer seven billion times, and endlessly draw cars and train crossings on the white board and the Magnadoodle. The husband who left us for 36 hours for a much-deserved day and night out with the boys. I missed him at 6:30 this morning. I missed him at bed time tonight. I'm gonna miss him again at 6:30 tomorrow morning. When Dex woke up in the middle of the night last night (he has a cold, and breathing is not his forte right now), I went in to pick him up. And he called out for Daddy. Who popped out of bed and came right in to give him a hug. He's a good dad.

5) A new "bring a friend" tooth brushing routine. I had no idea this one was going to work. But on Monday morning our usual tooth brushing struggle was turned 100% delightful by the presence of a ball. Who also got his teeth brushed. The next day it was his green cup. The next day I think it was his new pillow. Today we brushed Clifford the Big Red Dog's teeth. Or, at least, brushed his picture on a DVD cover. And we also showed Clifford how awesome and perfect you could be while having Nasonex shot up your nose. I? Am shocked. SHOCKED that this shit works. But, hey. I can pretend to brush a pillow's teeth with the best of em.

6) Empty boxes. These guys watched Clifford the Bog Red Dog from the box today. All of them. It's kind of a tight fit, but Dex seemed to make it work.

7) Toss-up here. These paint by number books I think are probably designed for larger people who can handle smaller brushes. And not really for toddler beginner brushes that load about a gallon of water on to them with each dip. This book was shot after 30 minutes of "painting." It's in the recycle bin. But the paint cups and the paint brushes? Kick some serious ass.

8) This bad boy, that I am getting ready to go snuggle with in a few minutes. It's hotter than hell - I wake up sweating. It's big enough for the bed. It doesn't seem to make the child cough and sneeze. When the duvet cover (which cost as much as the damn comforter) arrives next week, it shall be easily washable. Which the old comforter? Was decidedly not. And, hello? $35! For a KING SIZE alternative down comforter! Lovin it!

Extraneous pictures of one thing that makes life extra good:

The Birthday Boy

This weekend was all about the birthday boy. And napping. And John fixing the broken car. But mostly about the birthday boy. Aunt Jeanne came down to help us celebrate, and we went to the Please Touch Museum on Saturday. Aunt Jeanne believes that people who do bad things should be sent here on a Saturday morning instead of to prison. She fondly referred to it as "kid hell." You can kind of see why, as the whole place pretty much looked like this the entire time:

Saturday night Jeanne and I went out to get Dex some balloons and some birthday cake and also some bacon. Because no birthday breakfast is complete without bacon. Sunday morning consisted of present opening, playing, eating french toast and bacon, going to the Y so Daddy and Dex could swim in the pool and Aunt Jeanne and Mama could die from far too much aerobic exercise, napping, more present opening. Oh, and Skype with the grandparents. And CAKE!

Here's some photos from our most excellent birthday weekend. Happy Birthday, Dexter!

When you go to the Please Touch Museum with Jeanne AND Dex, you kind of go with two kids...

See what I mean?

Rapt audience watches a ball ring some chimes. Cool!

John and Dex elbowed their way in to a spot at the water

A balancing act

Balancing act Part 2

Nothin but class in the back seat of the car...

Kick-ass car balloon

Balloon might be bigger than him

TWO balloons!

Ridiculous stash of presents. We have not yet opened them all. We are S-L-O-W

Hey, what'd I catch?

Tah-dah! Bugs! And SNAKES! Mama? Not so pleased about the plastic snakes. Thanks a lot, Aunt Jeanne.

Somehow Dex suckered Aunt Jeanne in to a game of go-go-go with the shopping cart

Balloons were a huge hit all day. And, I am sure, will be for weeks to come.

Had two kids ALL weekend.

Between the balloons and this goddamn card from Marc and Bill that played Elmo singing Happy Birthday about 7 billion times all day long... we didn't need any other presents.

Bug catching

Hey, where's my bug?

Hey Dex, how old are ya today?

Two years of cute

Showing off presents from Daddy. That he was there to buy. But it didn't matter. This year.

Mmmmm. CAKE! Cookie dough blizzard cake from DQ

Daddy blew out the candles

Way happier eating cake this year than last. Perhaps because Grandma is making him giggle over Skype.

Grandma couldn't believe that after about two bites of cake Dexter abandoned the ice cream in favor of "hot woof" and "bue ba-baa." (hot dogs, and blueberries)

RRAAAWWRRRRR! Were you scared?

The boys shooting hoops

Highly entertained with the finger paints from Aunt Christy (fortunately still safety sealed), while Skyping with Nonna

My boys. Two peas in a pod.

Killer Play-Doh set from Aunt Jeanne - sure to be eaten in the near future

We end the day in a fairly typical fashion. Buddy at warp speed...

Followed a second later by Dexter at warp speed. Excellent end to a fun birthday weekend.