Just When We Thought It Was Over...

Well, my friends, recently we had a "passing of the torch" experience at the Imbler household. Many of you know and have seen first-hand our First Born parading around in this little number for months. After nearly 7 months of daily wear the dress went into hiding. (When Luke put it away I thought "finally!!! the dress stage is over!). This was wishful thinking! Jakey, who up to this point had been more than resistant to Luke's continuous pressure to dress up has now for some unknown reason embraced and adopted the dress (sans glitter shoes thank goodness!)!
Let the saga rear its dirty little head again!


Impulse Buy Gone Right!
I have a few guilty pleasures in life...one of them is impulse buys for my kids - a couple bucks here, couple bucks there no biggie. However, about 3 months ago in ToysRUs Jake latched on to this $25.00 momma panda and cub. When I actually tried the illogical, ridiculous, no-win, what-are-you-thinking attempt to reason with a 2yr old and inform him I had no intention of buying ANOTHER stuffed animal, a LARGE one AND one that costs $25.00 the inevitable drama began to unfold at the check out counter.

Bottom line, I cracked, caved, I GAVE IN! Yes, it's true I just didn't want to deal (go ahead, say it...PUSHOVER, SUCKER, WEAK, STUPID, come on I can take it!!!) Well, I am hear to tell you that not all sucker purchases end up living in a closet or at Goodwill shortly after coming home.

Panda has been a unexpected companion to Jake. She's not a constant companion but Jake finds quality time for his little black and white friend. It began when Jake lugged her into the car on his first week of school. I was expecting she'd wait in the car til after school but Jake had other plans. He drug Panda all the way through campus down the outdoor dirty cement hall to his classroom. And drug her all the way back to the car when I picked him up 4 hrs later.

In this picture Panda is getting her fur combed (with Jake's comb). Hygiene must be one of Jake's priorities because Panda has received two outdoor baths (compliments of his owner) as well as good nutrition. Today for breakfast (at her own seat at the table of course) Panda enjoyed a hearty meal of Trix, toast, bacon and a banana.

I could gobble this kid up!!

Fall...my favorite season!

In Ventura, like most places in So. Ca we don't get to experience much Fall weather. But fortunately for us the lone tree in the front yard generously showers a portion of the lawn with gorgeous hues of Fall.

I couldn't let my favorite season go by without being a little crafty and bringing some of this awesome color indoors. So I made this wreath by recruiting the boys to gather as many leaves as possible, then wound a metal clothes hanger into a circle and wrapped each leaf around the hanger with copper wire. As you can see from the picture (which I took the day after I made it) it's already quite brittle. Oh, well, it'll be a one-season decoration for us to enjoy!

Project #2

Gravity hasn't been kind to our scarecrow who dons moms old duds. She's fit & trim in some places yet the fat still finds a way to her belly...poor dear! Based on her expression I think she's pretty peeved about it too...aren't we all!!!

Her frame is made of white PVC piping - basically looks like a big cross with twine tying the poles together. Brad came home from work to find me holding the "cross" in the front room. Let's just say the look on his face could be described as concern and suspicion. He was relieved to learn that the project was in its initial stages and I wasn't running off to join a cult!

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IronMan & Vernon at a local trunk-or-treat church event

It Takes So Little...

It was a sad day recently when my beloved Longs Drugs sold out to CVS. It is no longer the shopping mecca I had come to love. Not only was Longs conveniently located from our house but they had everything I needed. I've purchased food, gifts, toys, make-up, household items, decorations, toiletries, etc. and I confess with a hint of embarrassment that I had also purchased clothing (yes, sweats) from Longs, which I actually like, thank you very much.

But all things must change so I'm trying to be open-minded about this "major shift in my life" and learning to embrace CVS.


THIS IS MY STORY...

With a mission to develop a relationship I headed over to CVS Saturday morning to pick up some pictures and milk. A few minutes later I mysteriously found myself in the Beauty section and within 30 minutes had accumulated a healthy dose of goodies promising to make me look younger, prettier and less wrinkly (plus some tasty treats "for the boys" I couldn't resist at the counter). But the BEST part was Revlon was having a buy one get one free sale AND I had a $10 off coupon. I came home and slapped on all that goodness to find that I don't really look any younger, prettier or less wrinkly but you know what, it was so much fun paroozin' and I'll confide in you....
it's no Longs Drugs but I think I'm falling for CVS.

All this after a full morning of preschool...

A fun afternoon of playing in the rain and

hanging with our great neighbors!

while Luke photographs his remaining face paint (compliments of mom) of a leopard (forehead), crown (cheek), race car (chin) and spider (other cheek). Look at those lips!

We collected sticks (being careful not to accidentally pick up worms that covered the sidewalks) to attempt a "home school project" of sorts. Let me not be too prideful to mention I thought this was very creative of me! So much for pride, my outdoor classroom ended up with only one student...me! Oh, well. I rationed the sticks so I could write the whole alphabet but I came up a "Y" & "Z" short AND left out the "Q" (which I didn't notice until my sweet neighbor pointed it out to me). Here's proof that I would be less than ideal at home schooling!


I barely have words for this picture!!
How you like that swag?! Not only is there "no shame in his game" but it is 60 degrees and raining outside!

I turned around and this is what I saw...he has a play drill he's using to "fix" the chair with...NAKED!

Doesn't this make sense?! Luke is in long pants with a winter jacket and boots and Jake is well, comfortably uninhibited shall we say??!!! Help ME!

Thankfully he decided to get dressed after my coaxing and 20 minutes of coldness. However, this only led to yet another sub par decision by my adorable 2 yr old.

Yes, he'd get dressed but on his terms which included short sleeves, no socks or shoes, no jacket, etc. and eating an apple in pouring rain. He nonchalantly sauntered down the sidewalk (note in picture: Luke, Lauren and the pouring rain!) then turned around paralyzed with a look like "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?"

Don't fret (or call child services quite yet) I regained my "Mother of the Year" award by thawing them out in our mustard-colored, geriatric-equipped shower...


followed by Tinkerclartrumpbone practice

Such sweet music...a day with my two adorable toddlers! XO

Dancing With The....Super Heroes?

Points of Interest:

1. Both boys' costumes are big enough for a 13 year old to wear.
   
2. With moves like that IronMan could be mistaken for a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger. Could've fooled Mom!
3. Is that PotatoBugMan or Spiderman?
   
4. Can't be Spiderman because he's not wearing a mask; so we know who he is!
5. Jake may exchange his SuperHero badge for a career in interpretive dance?
   

Fishing at Foster Park

We headed to Foster Park last week to throw stones in the river and have a picnic. That was the plan at least. But the water was barely running so the boys "fished" (for algae growing on the surface!).

The picnic plan was also modified due to the stray dog that had been hanging out with us for the past hour whom we were loading into our car. No worries, it didn't last long. Luke freaked when the dog stuck his head through the dog gate and licked him. So being the compassionate soul that I am I opened the back hatch and said "good luck, Dog" and off we went.

The "unfortunate" part (really now, go with me) was when we got home Luke was sobbing (crocodile tears and all) that the dog would not find his mommy...and it was his fault we didn't bring the dog home! Poor guy, broke my heart! But we talked and prayed about it and then he was better. I was ready to drive back to Ojai to get/look for the dang dog...thankfully Luke was comfortable "knowing" the doggie had found his mommy.
SO, we picnicked at home...in front of t.v. = kids haven!


First Catch of the Day!
My fish is bigger than your fish!!
It was definitely a competitive day of fishing!

This stupid picture cracks me up! I so wish you could hear Luke. He's all bitter that his brother got slime on him while they were "painting" the rock.

Anyone interested in a "whine-off"? Bring it! Luke Imbler is the reigning champion!

That however, is not the part that makes me laugh...look at Jake's expression...he doesn't give a rip, he seriously doesn't care and Luke is so bent out of shape about this situation. You can't help but laugh! Sweet brotherly love!

Protective EyeWear, IceCream, & Kinda Creepy

After playing at the park for about 2 hours, which included a toddler boot camp on the exercise course if you will
Miss Tatum Shoemake and Luke dined on fine ice cream at the local Marble Slab last weekend.

Then it was off to PetCo to check out fish, hamsters, lizards, birds and kitty cats...thank goodness we left empty-handed. A couple weeks ago we "babysat" two hamsters from Luke's class; I've had my fill of rodents for a good 5-10 years now!

So Sweet!

THE NEXT 3 PICS ARE MISCELLANEOUS BUT WORTH POSTING
(for a laugh) I THOUGHT.

On our way to the gym. I guess you can never be too safe in those nurseries!

An hour later when I picked them up Jake still had the goggles on. I think Luke's one-eyed expression here says it all!


Twilight Zone Baby!
I KNOW this looks a bit creepy but it actually makes me laugh because cuz Jake had found a way to get his favorite blanket wrapped around his whole body and then laid there perfectly still and content UNDER INFARED LIGHTING ooooooh (our video monitor) until he dozed off to sleep.

Enjoyed a fun Sat morning together at Marina Park

Coming Soon to Circus Vargas!

Man Balances on 6" Post While Performing Hang-On-For-Dear-Life Stunt With Sons!

Wheee!

Boy lives to tell about it!

Do you smell anything that smells like flowers?