Why I will replace all our dishes with paper ones

I will answer that question in just a bit.. First: why our neighbors don't like us:

Click to enlarge

For those with bad eyes (and without a mouse to click & enlarge): that's Colonel Hathi's march from the Jungle Book CD played 43 times. FORTY THREE!

What song does your child makes you listen over and over and over and over and over?

It is unfair to pretend that I don't like the songs, because I do. We laugh and dance and act silly and sing. And the only reason there is a 'normal' song between the children's music is the enormous amount of trumpet played in that song.

Speaking about repeat, here's one I could do without:

Emptying the dishwasher:
get dish out of dishwasher
remove baby out of dishwasher
get dish out of dishwasher
remove baby out of dishwasher
get dish out of dishwasher
remove baby out of dishwasher
get dish out of dishwasher
remove baby out of dishwasher

It takes less time to travel the world on a turtle, then to empty our dishwasher.

And finally, the repeat I did not expect so soon:

"MOMMY I AM POOPING IN THE KITCHEN!" ............ "JUST KIDDING! HAHAHAHHAHA"

"MOMMY I AM PEEING ON THE CHAIR!" ............ "JUST KIDDING! HAHAHAHHAHA"

"MOMMY I AM POOPING ON THE GROUND" ............ "JUST KIDDING! HAHAHAHHAHA"

Poop, pee and fart jokes. Monkey started them at 2.5 years and have not stopped yet. He repeats the same over and over and over and over again. I thought poop jokes where something for 5 year olds. But I understand I have at least 2.5 years of poop jokes ahead of me. The joy. And he takes his poop jokes very seriously. He really pretends to do the act, and a few weeks ago, that triggered an accident in his bedroom.

"MOMMY I AM POOPING ON THE GROUND" ............ "MOM? Something happened.. Mom?"

My favorite photos

.. well of this week anyway. I couldn't come up with words, but as I scrolled through iPhoto, I saw our latest photos and they put a smile on my face. They're not the best photos, the golden ratio isn't anywhere to be found and the lighting probably isn't the best either. But it's a little peek into my heart and my family.

Monkey and Roo playing together with Roo's toys. Seeing my children have fun and playing together is one of the best things.

Monkey imagining he was a pilot. How come I often photograph my children with little pieces of breakfast and lunch on their faces. Seriously, how do you keep up with cleaning faces?

I look like I downed a bottle of wine, but I love this photo and Roo's big blue eyes.

Later this week you'll find a new photo on top of my blog. This is the one that didn't make the last cut, but I still love it.

Where did my baby go? Look at her. She is so big.

Why don't you drop me your favorite photo(s) in my new Drop :)

Just click on add files, select the photos you want to drop and then click on Drop It!

To see what was dropped so far, visit my drop.

That's it! I hope you all had a nice weekend!

Your advice is needed: the llllittle pieces

Dear internet & blog friends, I need your help.

I have an almost 3 year old toddler Monkey, and a 10 month old VERY mobile baby, Roo.
I have 1 living room with 2 baskets, filled with 14,561 toys.

If the toddler takes toys from 1 basket, and plays with it for 1 hour, what is the chance that mommy breaks her legs by slipping over one of the toys?

Now, Monkey is starting to play with toys made for children for 3 year old's and ABOVE.

The thing is, toys for children UNDER two do not contain small parts because of the choking hazard. Because children UNDER two cram anything in their mouths, especially little colored choking hazards. But toys for children ABOVE 3 can have many little parts and/ or breakable parts (depending on the quality).

See where I'm going?

If you have (had) a toddler and a very mobile baby, how do (did) you make sure your baby doesn't get hold of the toddler toys? Sure, I have explained to Monkey that Roo can't play with all his toys and that he needs to clean things up when he's done playing. But he is too young to be responsible.

This is really a big concern to me. Choking hazards. And to be honest, I am quite anal about it too. Have been, since the day Monkey was born. I've thrown away toys, have a box filled with little pieces and gifts that are really too small for Monkey. And (oooooh bad mom) have taken away gifts (not thrown away, I've kept them) that where really for 3 years and up. I can get really cranky about choking hazard toys.

But now he's getting older, and more ready to play with them. And he really is done with the rattle.

How did you do it? Or have you ever seen a great solution to the problem?

Your advice is GREATLY appreciated!

Last night, I won a million.

Game host: Congrats, Nadine, you have won one MILLION euros!!

Me: I can't believe it!

Game host: BELIEVE it! You are RICH!!

Me: Hooray!

Game host: ONE million euros! Come on the stage.

The game show host, Ruben Nicolai:

Gives me 3 kisses

and a BIG check.

Game show host: What are you going to do now you're rich?

Me: Ehm, buy a big house.

Monkey: MOM!

Me: And.. quit my job.

Monkey: MOOOM!

Game show host: Aah, how cute. It's you son!

Monkey: MOOOOOOM!

Game show host: I bet you want a BIG toy car, don't you, little guy.

Me: Good idea, we'll buy a BIG car.

Monkey: MOOOOOOOOOOOM! Come ON!!!!!!

Me: And a toy car. Sure.

Monkey: MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Me: What?

Husband: Honey?

Monkey: MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Husband: It's 7 AM darling. Monkey is calling for you.

Me: Ruben? Check? House? Quitting the job?

SO not fair.

How I became a retired Airforce fighter pilot at age 15

Nothing makes me prouder than the achievements my two children make every day. From the first step, to a new learned word, from the first smile, to the funny phrases our two-year old makes. I am sure I exaggerate their accomplishments, though I don't need to. My children are simply the most perfect children on this planet. Just like every other child.

I've come to the realization, my parents do the same thing. Still. My dad's favorite story is how I was almost a fighter pilot.

Though the truth is far off. Yes, I did pass quite a few tests to become excepted to the air force training to become a pilot. Yes, I did pass tests not even 1% of all applicants pass. Yes, that still makes me smile.

But that fact is when I was called for a 3-day simulator test, I failed. And my journey to the skies ended. It left me sad for a while, though I accepted it and now it's just a memory.

But my dad still proudly and vividly remembers his daughter coming that far at age 15. And every time he refers to the story, he adds a little color to it. Imagine his reaction when I did a simulator test to see how many lessons I needed to get my drivers license (yes, 30, no drivers license, shut up) and I failed and the advice was 48 (!) hours of lessons. It was quite funny. I'll update on the drivers license topic soon.

Simulators aren't my thing when it comes to learning how to control vehicles. Yet failing the simulator test was my vehicle to the life I have now. And now I'm pretty happy with a less risky job and a loving family. With my two perfect children. Truth to be told, I never really liked the idea of warfare.

I daily zoom through pretend skies with Monkey. We race through big clouds with pretend airplanes, pretend rockets and pretend fighter jets. I'm grateful I didn't pass that test. Yet I'm grateful my dad still tells people the story. It makes me smile. Because only a loving parent can be proud of something a child tried, yet failed.

I love you dad.

Penis conversations

I already knew.. men always .. men most of the time .. men sometimes some men I have heard the rumor - that's what is probably is.. just a rumor - a very small percentage of the male population thinks with their penis.

But what I did not know, the penis makes a great conversation pawl.

And it starts at a young age. On the toilet.

Monkey sometimes sends me away (he's all about being alone on the toilet lately, I have to remind him he still follows me to the toilet) when he uses the toilet, and than he starts talking:

"Hi pee pee, we're going to the playground."

or

"Hi pee pee, are you there!"

I find it funny because this is the only body part Monkey will occasionally talk too.

Very interesting.

Monkeyism's amaze me anyway. And they've start to embarrass me too.

"LOOK MOMMY! That man is wearing underwear too!"
(about a man, fully dressed mind you, walking just a few feet away from us)

"LOOK MOMMY! A VERY SMALL MAN!"
(about an old, yes small, man entering the tram we were sitting in)

I'm just glad he stopped saying I have a penis.

Happy Friday!