Little Tigers

In honor of my alma mater being in FIRST PLACE in the SEC East (what?!), I figured it was about time we showed some Mizzou Tiger spirit around these parts.  

I took these photos a few weeks (months?) ago, so forgive me for just now getting around to posting them. Life of a momma of two is busy!  Also, how is it already mid-November?  And snowing!  

Anyway, time is flying and since these photos were taken, Mac had another haircut and looks at least 8 years old.  Mim has since doubled in size and is growing some serious thigh rolls and a finally getting a neck.  

We're so proud.  

She's still totally bald though.  I love me some fat bald buddha baby. 

Taking photos of two kids together is proving to be much more of a challenge that I expected.  I don't know how "real" photographers ever manage to get sibling shots with both kids looking in the same direction, yet alone smiling.  It took me twenty minutes and 135 Skittles just to convince Mac to put on the shirt, yet alone sit for a photo and hold the baby he despises. 

Once he was hyped up on sugar (and knew he had the upper hand), he refused to look at me, refused to hold Mim, refused to smile and refused to sit still.  What should have been a 5 minute photo shoot turned into a full-on toddler wrestling match.  I basically had to strap him down and just throw Skittles in his mouth.

Toddlers are SO much fun.

But then the stars align and you get ONE shot that just melts your heart. One shot where they're both looking at the camera, not screaming or spitting up, not falling over or running away.

  

Totally worth that inevitable sugar crash to come.

Even if the baby is falling over and licking her arm.  Whatever. 

Speaking of sugar high...yep.

This is Mac showing me how big and strong football players are.  

And this is how tall you have to be to be a football player.

And you have to be LOOOOOOUUUDDDD!!!

(Actually, I think he was just yelling at me for more Skittles.)

How you do say no to this face?

(Seriously, if someone knows, please fill me in,)

Or this face?!  

Those blue eyes and the chubby cheeks.  I could eat her up.

Could they possibly be any cuter?

Yep.
Is he GQ or what?

Toddler Ryan Gosling.
Hey girl...

Anyway, what the hell was my point?

Oh right.  

MIZ!

Go Tigers!

Chugga Chugga Chugga

Is there anything that toddler boys love more than trains?  Well, other than bugs, dirt, poop and throwing things?  Oh, and jumping off furniture.  And dogs.  And candy.  Ok, so trains are definitely probably in the top 10.  Right? Or is my toddler just extra crazy?  Don't answer that.

Anywhoo, Mac loves trains (and anything huge and insanely loud with wheels).  He especially loves Chuggington (Disney Jr. for the win).  Actually, he really just loves the Koko train on Chuggington. You know, the cute and zippy purple girl train with a heart of gold. He's got a major crush on Koko that little tramp.  He has a little Koko train that he sleeps with every night.  Not kidding.  As I've mentioned before, he doesn't really sit still long enough to watch much TV, but he does like the Chuggington episodes featuring Koko.  I think I've seen the "Can't Catch Koko" episode about 600 times.  And the one where she's waiting for the baby giraffe to be born and her light goes out.  He loves that one.  

So, when we got the opportunity to try out the new Chuggington train set - Chuggington StackTrack Brewster’s Big Build Adventure Playset - you better believe I was all over it!  Mac was SO excited to get this in the mail and kept asking whether Santa or Papa sent it. 

Because we've just completely given up on trying to have nice things or be grown-ups these days, we swapped out our living room coffee table for a train table.  Again, not kidding.  Yes, it's tacky and obnoxious, but if it keeps the toddler entertained for 5 minutes while I'm making dinner, it's a win in my book.  So we set up the trainset right in the middle of the room and let Mac have at it.  

The playset comes with an elevator, an escalator, a working mega crane, a trick bridge, a tunnel, and two engines. It has 4 levels of elevation and multiple layouts for extended play (so when he gets bored with one, we can switch it up).  With so many cool features, he didn't even mind that Koko wasn't included.  (Okay, so that's only partially true...he brought his Koko train down from his room, but she's too big to fit on the track so he has her in his pocket. Silly obsessed boy.) 

Needless to say, Mac loves it!  He's played with it every night since we set it up and it's kept his attention longer than most of his other toys.  He really likes the tunnel, turning the crank on the escalator, the elevator that moves the crane arm and racing the trains "really fast" down the track to the bottom.  (He also loves driving the trains off the side of the track, where they crash and burn on the table and everyone aboard dies a horrible death, but we'll just stick to the niceties here.)

Ryan had the whole thing set up in a few minutes and said it was really easy to assemble.  He set it up according to the instructions, but there are three other configurations that you can do as well.  And it's compatible with other Chuggington trainsets, so you can combine them if you want something more elaborate.

I'm pretty happy with the trainset.  I think it's very well-built and sturdy, which is important with a wild preschooler  I really like the fact that the tracks are interlocking and snap securely together and to the elevation stands.  They're sturdy, so they don't come apart with any little movement. We have another train set in the basement that requires constant adult maintenance because the toddler is not gentle with it and the tracks never stay put.  This one's already taken quite a beating and is fine.  Plus, they're like puzzle pieces that snap together, so Mac can do it himself, if they do come apart.

The only thing I'm not crazy about is the "trick" bridge, which collapses when you drive the train over it, so you can use the crane to fix it.  For most kids, this would probably be a really cool feature, but Mac's not really into the whole "fixing" aspect of it yet (he's more of a destroyer than a fixer), so it slows the trains down and he has to manually reattach the bridge by hand.  Not a huge deal, but I do wish there was a way to turn that off.  

This train set is based on the extended new Chuggington TV special airing on Disney Junior this fall, where Brewster (the blue train) rides up an elevator to operate a working mega crane and repair a broken track.  The episode helps your little one discover important lessons about safety, responsibility and teamwork.  We received the "Chuggineers Ready to Build" DVD, with this episode and a few others to watch while we played with the trainset.  Koko made a special appearance in the show, so Mac was happy. 

So, if you're looking for a fun birthday or Christmas gift for a toddler/preschooler who loves trains, definitely check out the Chuggington StackTrack.  You might even get this kind of awesome reaction!

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Anyone else have a kid obsessed with trains?

Chuggington StackTrack Brewster’s Big Build Adventure Playset

All new to train play, this Chuggington set features a working escalator that takes your engines back to the top so you can send them speeding back down again and again. Or take Brewster for a ride on the elevator so he can get to the top to operate the giant crane and repair the broken track. There are so many ways to play. Brewster’s Big Build Adventure Set is based on the Chuggington tentpole episode airing this fall, so it’s sure to keep the excitement going as kids play out their favorite scenes from the show. This set comes with an elevator, an escalator, a working mega crane, a trick bridge, a tunnel, and two Die-Cast engines. It even features 4 levels of elevation and multiple layouts for extended play. Take train play to new heights with the Chuggington StackTrack system! SRP $49.99. Ages 3 years+. Available now at Toys R Us and Target.

Chuggineers Ready to Build DVD

The strongest and most dependable construction crew in Chuggington is ‘Ready To Build’ in the newest Chuggington DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment. A brand-new collection of five fast-paced adventures – including the extended new special slated to premiere on Disney Junior this fall, “Chuggineers Ready To Build” recently made tracks to retailers nationwide. In this special collection of hard-working adventures – including the “We are the Chuggineers” music video! – Brewster joins Chuggineers Zack, Fletch and Tyne to build tracks, bridges and tunnels, make repairs, haul heavy loads and more! Featuring new wagons and machines, including the massive yellow Mega Chug Crane, and new friends Payce, the tunnel runner from Tootington, and Cormac, the cheeky forklift engine, “Chuggineers Ready To Build” will help Wilson, Brewster, Koko and little trainees at home discover important lessons about safety, responsibility and teamwork. SRP $14.98. Available now on Amazon.com

**I received the Chuggington Playset and DVD free of charge for purposes of this review.  All opinions expressed are mine (and Mac's).

Falling

Last weekend we had one of those perfect fall days.  You know, the ones where it's cool and crisp outside, but not too cold. With dappled sunshine that gets filtered through the colorful leaves on the trees and makes everything glow warm and golden.  Where the grass is still fresh and green and a few trees had shed layers of crunchy leaves, while others held onto a rainbow of ripe foliage that twinkled in the breeze.  Can you tell I'm madly in love with fall?

Never one to back down from anything requiring the use of gardening tools, Mac helped his dad rake the leaves into giant piles in the backyard, while Mim and I bounced around the yard singing and taking pictures of the silliness going on.  Without being prompted or encouraged in any way, Mac took it upon himself to turn the leaf piles into his own personal landing pads, like he'd been doing this his whole life.  How did he know to do that?  It must be ingrained in the minds of little kids that leaf piles are perfect for jumping into because he didn't hesitate for a minute and thought it was the greatest thing that had ever happened to him.  

I, being the lover of all things fall, can't even get over the cuteness of it all.  I mean, his little face sticking out of a giant pile of leaves nearly killed me.  I swear, this is why I had children in the first place.  For this.  My heart probably doubled in size watching just this kid play in the leaf pile.  Maybe I'm easy to please, but this is the stuff dreams are made of. 

The dogs just tried to stay out of Mac's way for fear of being jumped on and Mim was slightly less than impressed with the whole leaf pile thing.  She preferred to be carried around the neighborhood and take some photos of the trees and leaves.  She'd make cooing noises like she was directing me and I'd take a photo for her.  I think she's got an eye for this. 

Anyone else having a love affair with fall?