Literally Literal

I've been noticing lately that Tatum is indeed very literal. She likes things to be said the way that they are precisely, and any deviation from the exact truth, has been, well, corrected promptly. Here's a few examples of things recently said. This girl is nutty.

 

Mom: Wow Tatum, you just did a Summer Sault!

Tatum: No No Mama..ACTUALLY (a very over used word now in her vocab) its FALL time, so its REALLY called a FALL SAULT. And in the Winter, you say WINTER SAULT and in the SPRING, its called a SPRING SAULT!

Mom: (To Grandma with Tatum overhearing) So look, heres  Tatum's  Kitty Cat costume-black pants, ears, tail and black turtle neck..

Tatum: Um..no its not a TURTLE neck..its a kitty Cat neck!

Mom: Tatum, please just hold your horses!

Tatum: But mom, I dont have any horses to hold!

 

Anyone:Oh man!

Tatum: BUT Im not a MAN! Im a lady!

HOME

                                                                                          

Excuse the long absence please, but we are now officially HOME (in our new home that is!) Its been a long and crazy ride buying this property, but we are now in and feel so blessed to have found this Gem of a home! I guess you could say it all started with casual house hunting about a year or so ago. We weren't sure where we would end up, but we kept our options open. Then, on the 4th of July, we decided to head out to Spreckels (about 10 minutes away off of highway 68 from our old house) for a little independence day parade. It was then that I totally fell in love with this town. Its 3 blocks wide and 5 blocks long. The streets are lined with trees and old victorian and craftsman homes. In the center of the town is a park. And a tennis court. Racket ball court. and baseball field. Its funny, but I was telling Riley the other night..Ive never felt like I really belonged in California. And Ive never felt really, that Ive even belonged in this era (okay this is sounding weird) but really, the thought of churning butter on the front porch, quilting by candlelight at night, riding hoses bareback to the general store, or even milking a cow has always appealed to me.  And seriously, this town feels like a nowhere around here, and many features have remained untouched since the 1800's. (including our house) Also a dream of mine, to live in an old home with lots of neat charm and character. Rileys dream? Not so much. The word OLD to him, has always meant BROKEN, and NEEDS REPAIRED. Its been an ongoing battle really-what kind of house is better, an old (really cool) house, or a brand spanking new one. Well this home is the perfect combo. An old victorian (built in 1889) that has been totally remodeled from the outside in, without any of the homes integrity lost. The kids love the space, and we love everything about it. Really we are still pinching ourselves that its ours! We could not have  engineered our circumstances ourselves to have this outcome, but only the Lords hand we know. We feel so blessed to be here. We arent quite all the way settled yet, and theres some work to still be done (especially the yard..ugh)  but heres a few pics to atleast give you an idea.                                             

                                                                                   Kitchen

                                              Play Room!

                                             Our Bedroom

                                            Tatum's Room
                                              Brady's Room
                                                 Guest Room 
                                            Guest Bath
                                            Front

                                             Entry Way

                                            
                                           Dining Room
                                             Downstairs 1/2 Bath
                                      Living Room
                                              

Einstein

Just layin back watchin a little Baby Einstein...I can see the Einstein emerging already. He's gonna be a genius, I just know it.

Ma and Papa Visit

Ma and the kids havin a little book time. So much cooler than when mom does it.

Questions

Please excuse the previous post. Clearly, I had nothing to do with it... My husband is one strange man, and not just a LITTLE excited about football season beginning (Arent we ALL?) Anyway, on with the next post(:

So about Tatum. What a girl! Shes always been quite a talker. Started talking fairly early, and really has not stopped since. BUT I was not prepared for what was in store! She is literally NON STOP. And I mean NON STOP. Poor Riley and I can barely get a word in edge wise during any family gatherings. The car, the dinner table, the grocery store. You name it-shes talkin. The other day, I even told her-"Tatum, you know its okay to JUST BE QUIET right? Like, you don't have to talk ALL THE TIME.." She listened briefly and then moved onto her next subject at hand. When Riley and I are trying to converse with her around (or me and anyone else) Her favorite things to project with are.."Excuse me Mommy!".."Yes Tatum?"...Silence.. (as she thinks of something to say)..."Um..." and then inevitably she thinks of something. Or another well used projection-"Mommy what are you and Daddy talking all about?"...that's another thing-the questions! Of course I knew that "WHY?" would enter her vocab whether I liked it or not-and it has-but she asks so many questions I can hardly keep up. Exhausting at times but utterly endearing. Oh you just gotta love her. Ive been keeping a little log on my fridge of things this girl says and questions she asks so I'll never forget them. Here's a few of my favorite questions from the past few months:

-

-"How do Dogs hug?"
-"Are stars flashlights in the sky?"
-"Mommy, when I get big like your size, can I eat all the candy I want? What else can I do when Im big like your size? Can I touch the oven?"
-"Mom! (as we go by a lake with geese) I love to hold a goose! When there's ONE, you say GOOSE. And when there's TWO, you say GEESE. (as Im wondering where she learned this-later I found out from dad)...after some silence..What do you say when there's ALOT?
-"Where do bears go potty?"
-"Does Jesus fly?"

To list a few..

Are you ready for some Football?

LOVER BOY

Ive heard it said that boys have no idea what to do with dolls or stuffed animals, and that if they ever encounter one that they just drag it around by its head or fling it mercilessly into the air. Not my son. He takes great care of any dolls or animals that cross his path, and has been known to rock, kiss and even "sing" to them on many occasions. Of course when Dad sees this sight he rips it away immediately and replaces it with a bat or a truck. (little does he know that my mother and law told me that HE was the same way as a little boy!) In my opinion its simply adorable and good practice. Hell be a great husband and daddy someday too.