Did the bike again today. I'm not as stiff as I was yesterday but I don't want to push it either.

It's in there!

Owen has mastered the concepts of "in there" and "up there", or as he says "innnn deeeer" and "upppp deeer." When I take him out of his crib he informs me that "panna bear innnn deeer, lammmy innn deeer, dooblebuggy in deer." It's important to know this. He will then jab his hand into my shirt pocket and explain that "tigglebuggy in deer."

Once down stairs he will inform me of the contents of all the important parts of the house. It's good to be updated like this.

At dinner after taking the meal to the table Cecilia, always the one to think ahead, will usually ask if there is more to be had should she eat all of hers. I usually reply that there is more "up there." Lately, however, Owen beats me to it by pointing to the top of the refrigerator and explaing that there is "mo uppp deeer." He is obviously aware that the land above the fridge is were all the greatest of the worlds treasures are stored. In fact several times I have been tasked with lifting him high enough so that he can glimpse, if only for just a second, the magical land of "up deer."

karma and the naked baby

The neighbors behind us have two boys. The are about the same age as Cecilia and Owen. Last summer, both of them took to the habit of running around their backyard naked. I believe this is a natural stage for children to go through. Jen and I took to calling them the "naked babies" knowing that of course our children would never do such a thing.

Well, karma is a bitch. Both Owen and Cecilia know like to play the naked baby game.

Owen seems to be the game master now. He will play happily for a while in his fully garbed state. Then at a seemingly random moment he will stop what he is doing and start the game in the traditional manner employeed by fraternity brothers across both time and distance. For those not in the know; He will pull his pants down to his knees, raise his arms and shout "NAAAAAAAAAKEEEEEEEE BAAAAAAAAABBBY." Afraid that valuable points could be lost, Cecilia will then strip to her underpants and run laps from the dining room into the living room and through the kitchen for 15 minutes. It's a bold ploy in this game and one that Owen will not allow to go unchecked. Seeking extra points for level of difficulty he will usually kick off his pants and pull his shirt most of the way over his head. Then with his arms held high and waving his trousers he will also start running laps screaming with delight the whole time: "tigggle bugggy get chooo, tigglebuggy hahahahahahahahah."

I'm not sure who wins this game, or in fact if, this game is ever won. I'm just happy that the 20 minutes of laps tends to tire them both out enough to keep them quiet for a while. Besides it's winter and what the neighbors can't see doesn't actually happen does it?