Share...Share...Share...

Teaching a toddler to share has got to be one of the most challenging tasks as a parent. It's in their nature to be selfish, and it's a hard pattern to break. We are trying our best here in the Hoose household and I think we're getting through...somewhat.
I have to mention, yet again, the favorite show around the house, Yo Gabba Gabba. Sure, the host may be a little different looking, but we don't judge a book by it's cover, right? The messages are good and valuable to a toddler and come with catchy repetitive tunes that really stick into a kids head, or a mom's. For example, Olivia and Gryffin can both say the word share, and they know what it means to share. The sharing song on Yo Gabba Gabba just happens to be one of their favorites. Here are the lyrics: I love to share. I love to share. It's more fun to share. It's more fun to share. Sharing with my friends is fun. Sharing with my friends is fun. Share, share, share, share... and repeat about 1000 times! Seems kind of remedial and irritating, but I even hear Tom and Hunter sing it around the house so at least I know we're all being brainwashed into sharing our things and food. Most of the photos are evidence of recent sharing that has taken place.

Olivia "shared" the favorite gardening clogs with Gryffin who was more interested in teething on a leather belt.

Gryffin sharing his yogurt with Olivia

And he's very thrilled about it too!

Olivia sharing the yogurt on her hands with Link

See how happy sharing makes Olivia!

We love to share!

Other happy news in Sewickley:

My cousin Dana had her first baby boy on Saturday. I went to see them at the hospital on Sunday and everyone is doing fine despite the 3-week-early delivery. His name is Nori James and he is super sweet!

Lost and Found

My camera was lost for the entire month of December, so we're making up for lost time here and I'm going to post a bunch of pictures. This is one of our "Friday Nights" with Aubrey and her kids, Nadia and Cai.

My 16-year-old cat Mozart, more commonly referred to as "Bubba" researching recipes on the Macbook.

This is one of the few pictures I actually took in December before the camera was lost. We put up our tree quite early this year, and our tradition is for Hunter to put on the star. This year, Hunter did not want to do it. He was scared of being so high up and despite what it looks like in the picture, he's screaming and terrified. He got over it pretty quickly though.

My little girl and me hanging out before bed, and yes, I have another binky kid!

The other day, we gave the babies marshmallows for the first time. Obviously, they were a huge hit and have now become a bribing standard. We quickly realized that they were ready to graduate to the jet-puffed variety and the look of joy on their faces was priceless. When Hunter was about two, he got his first marshmallow. He proceeded to ask for "Marsh-pillows",I loved the word so much, I wouldn't correct him or pronounce it properly. We still refer to them as marsh-pillows to this day even though Hunter has learned better.

Olivia definitely takes after her father when it comes to food. She's a bottomless pitt and she shoves things completely in her mouth instead of taking manageable bites.

Gryffin found the old Bumbo in my bedroom because I'm getting ready to sell it.(Don't worry, it's the newer kind manufactured after the recall which has a lovely safety label printed on the side reminding you not to put it on a high surface and leave your child unattended...duh.) He dragged it out into the living room to use as a chair for watching their favorite Yo Gabba Gabba. Olivia thought that it looked neat and she wanted it as a TV chair too, so the struggle commenced. In the end, Gryffin was victorious by shear brute force.(he outweighs her by 2.5 pounds)

Victory is so so sweet!

Olivia pretty much dances during the whole show, so the seat wouldn't have worked for her anyway.

This is Olivia discovering that I used electrical tape to affix her baby Lee Lee's hat on. She was not pleased and promptly ripped it off.

The brave dog Link, dutifully taking his daily dose of toddler abuse...I mean love.

Here is a sweet, albeit rare moment of cooperation and harmony during playtime.

My sword weilding boys fighting dragons and ogres on the castle

Hunter insisted on a perfect midair shot of him jumping off the castle and attacking...it took about 20 tries to get what he considered to be acceptable...sometimes I curse the digital camera and it's instant view capabilities!

Happy New Year!