The Latest and Greatest

Apologies for the lag in posts, life here at the Padhouse has been very full!  The beloved author of The Padhouse has been up to her eyeballs in online coursework.  Taking a class on multicultural art from an online university has proven to be much more work than she was expecting.  And while the class will last another two weeks, please be patient if the posts are sporadic at best.  That aside, spring is coming swiftly to The Padhouse, and not a moment too soon!  Sam and Jack have enjoyed partaking in the afternoon sun while cruising in their new double jogging stroller, complete with iPod jack.  Sam like to listen to The Jackson 5's song ABC, but after 6 or 7 times in a row, Jack requests something else.  Jack has  officially decide that walking is the preferred mode of transportation, and now is concentrating on his speed, and not falling over.  Sam is dealing with the newly mobile Jack in typical two year old fashion, and freak outs happen daily over such important issues and who gets to play with Percy the train, or who ate the stale square of graham cracker that was under the couch.  While Jack has been practicing his walking moves, Sam has been working on his vocal talents.  Singing nearly as much as he talks, his repretoir is expanding and now includes such hits as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "Happy Birthday", and a song made up about his best friend simply entitled, "Crawford Dog".  Dave has been slaving away at American Greetings, understaffed and overworked, but has been writing some killer country tunes in the basement, and plans to go into the recording studio mid May to record some of these songs.  All in all, we are well, life is busy and at times it seems like it will be too much for us to handle, but the sun is shining and the kids are ready to take naps at the same time...life is good!

The resident animal rights activist

Our beloved Sam has decided to latch onto the plight of the oppressed, the downtrodden, the outcast. In our house, that means the ladybugs who have slumbered the winter away somewhere in our house and are now emerging to start their year. Sam has been insistent that we find as many of these poor souls as possible, so we go on "ladybug hunts" every day. We are often sucessful, as they are plenitful on our second floor. Once we discover a misplaced specimen, we crouch down and determine whether it is alive or dead. Sam likes to say that they are all dead. If in fact our little friend is deceased, we throw her unceremoniously into the trash can. However, if we come across a live bug, Sam yells "alive, alive!" and we take her to the bedroom window where we set her free to explore the big world. I know that someday I will have to explain about life and death in a little bit more detail, and will have to let Sam know that not every dead creature goes in the trash can, but that day is not today. For now, though, it is enough to hear Sam say

"Do free, ladybutt, do free!"

Sam Eats Veggies!!!

For those of you who don't know, Sam has had a hard time expanding his palatte in his short little life. In the extreme ignorance of those who don't have kids yet, I remember stating passionately that I would never had a picky eater. Who ever said God is without a sense of humor? Sam, my precious firstborn, has eating nothing but chicken nuggets for dinner for over a year now. Yes, a whole year. He eats other things during the day, but his list of approved foods is dismally short. This has caused me much guilt and anxiety, but the fact remains that I can't physically force the food down his throat, and I don't have the heart to let him get hungry enough to eat his shoes. However, we've had a breakthrough this week! In addition to Sam's daily dose of nuggets, I've put (yet again), a serving of veggies on his plate. I didn't expect much, he usually ignores said veggies, but this week he tried some carrots. The I asked him to take 3 bites, and he did! They were pretty well salted, judge me if you will, and I'm sure he was surprised that they didn't taste like the dirt he expected them to. The last two nights Sam has eaten first 5 bites of peas, and then last night he ate the whole serving! Yes, he still ate the preservative filled chicken nuggets, but we got some veggies in him! Hallelujah! Maybe this is the beginning of the end of the nugget regime!

The Padhouse is open for business!

Hi everyone!
Welcome to the all new, get it here first, information avalanche that is The Padhouse! I thought this would be a great way to keep all our adoring fans up to date on the latest and greatest. We'll have pics, videos, amusing anecdotes, and witty commentary, all designed to satisfy your craving to know what we are up to! Check back regularly, and be patient as life is busy and I'm very new at this.

We should introduce the players.

Sam: Almost three feet tall, shaggy haircut thanks to his inexperienced barber, sings these days more than he speaks, is obsessed with all things train related, has amazing ability to calmly administer punishment to his younger brother without making a sound.

Jack: Almost as tall as Sam, curling blond hair that is always crusted with the remnants of whatever meal he's just consumed, loves to practice his standing and walking moves, is very attached to his pacifier and whatever meal he is consuming, will return Sam's punishment in a very short amount of time.

Diane: Sam and Jack's mom, the witty commentator on all things Padhouse. Stay at home mom who teaches art classes part time, likes wine and gardening, believes in the saying "dull women have impeccable homes".

Dave: The hero of Padhouse, brave warrior who slays dragons during the day and rocks through the night. Dad to Sam and Jack, he is well accomplished in the arts of toddler wrestling and infant tossing.

Those are the players, check back for more engaging stories from Padhouse

Choice tidbit of the day: Shortly before naptime, Jack was caught eating out if the garbage. While it was just the rind of the pear he had for lunch, his mother was beside herself with guilt and was thoroughly grossed out.