hide 'n seek

If I were a frantic mother, looking for a M.I.A. toddler, where would I look after I'd checked:

• the front door (locked)
• the garage door (locked)
• the playroom (empty)
• the back door (locked and backyard empty)
• office (empty)
• kids' rooms (empty)
• garage again (empty)
• front yard (in case he managed to somehow get out AND lock the door behind him)

???????

Of course.... the shower, while fully clothed. Having the best time ever. He's taking full advantage of the whole "I'm growing taller every day, and can reach knobs I couldn't reach yesterday". (He's been missing the pool)

security breach

I awoke at 6:30 this morning to Todd hustling out of bed, mumbling something about hearing the doorbell. The person at the door was seemingly impatient - repeatedly 'dingdingdingdingdingding' with the bell. By the time I was awake, the ringing stopped and Todd was on his way to the door in his underwear.

When the door wasn't promptly answered, the woman at the door started to try and speak through the door - clearly having something urgent to say, with Todd answering as he came down the stairs.

This woman, at 6:30 in the morning, was returning our son.


Thank goodness for ID bracelets, kind ladies and light traffic on a Sunday morning.

In order for his great escape to be possible, these are all the things that went unnoticed by his slumbering family:

• his bedroom gate opening and closing (he has just this week figured out how to open it - we're working on a new plan) - we even have a monitor in his room to be able to hear when he's awake (apparently useless)
• the chime from the house alarm 'beepbeepbeep' -ing as he unlocked and opened the front door
• the front door screen slamming shut as he left (we think maybe the screen door was unlocked)

Oh my! Being too sleepy and too under dressed for conversation, the only details we know are that Gabriel escaped and was found in the middle of the street by a kind stranger.

I imagine the scene before she came along may have looked similar to this. Gabriel, outside on the street, doing a little shadow dancing. Most entertaining (to himself). These were taken several weeks ago when the kids were going to school. Gabriel just went out there and started dancing with his shadow, with a 'coon skin cap as an accessory.

does whatever a spider can

Looks harmless enough.

Yes, I'm the mama and I know what's coming...

Todd is a believer in all things duct taped - maybe we'll just duct tape his toes together and that will keep him from scaling the fence.

oh the things he can do!

Here's photo documentary of some of the things Gabriel has been keeping himself busy with so far this summer:

Sneaking into his brother's bed at night

TV

He may or may not be excelling at this activity (I'm not tellin')

Learning to drive while Paige documents occasion

I know, very Britany Spears (I swear, it was only around the corner)

Honing his skills as a talented musician

along with his mentor Barney

Finding new uses for mommy's lipstick

Counting to five

He needs a bit of assistance on 'three'

Being a pool bum

(pun intended)

Acquiring weapons

He's caught on to the 'scoot the chair around' trick. Ah-oh.

Remodeling the kitchen

Taking the face off the drawer gives him much easier access

Mimicking his mama

this is not an emergency

Paige has learned a few important lessons this weekend:

1. The police know when you call 9-1-1.
2. They don't like it when they call back to make sure you are o.k. and you hang up on them.
3. They also know where you live.
4. They will let themselves in the house if you don't answer the door (and your parents are working in the backyard), and they will not be happy.
5. Eventually, we will figure out that you were the mystery caller.
6. When that happens, you will feel very sad and embarrassed and cry for an hour - even while completing your chores.
7. 9-1-1 is for emergencies only.