My need to clean is wearing off on Teigen....

I've been cleaning/doing chores since I was very young which I think is a great thing. I LOVED cleaning when I was little. It seems like most of my childhood pictures I was cleaning the house, getting grubby in the yard-always in mud or dirt, acting like I was helping my dad fix the car when I was around 6, etc. My mom would tell you that I was pretty detailed in my cleaning for a young child. Then in High School as every kid does, is rebel. I HATED cleaning! I still did my chores like clean my room, dust and mow the lawn, but I hated to do it.
Now that I have my own house and it's part of my daily schedule-I actually.......I'm gonna say it......love cleaning! I know, right! I don't like things out of place. I don't care if all the toys come out of Teigen's room as long as there's nothing out when he goes to bed. I like having a clean sink when I go to bed too. Those are the 2 major things.
In all of this, I have taught Teigen to clean. He's my helper. Since he turned 1, his main job was to put the clean silverware in the drawer and then I would go back and put them in the right silverware slots. As long as he put them in the drawer, then he did his job. He liked it and now he's wanting to put everything else away too. I love it. He's almost 21 months and he puts his dirty clothes in the hamper(when he sees clothes on the floor in our room-he automatically puts it in our hamper-no matter if it's clean or dirty) It's awesome. He also picks up his toys when it's bed time and puts them back in his room. Now I figured I'd let him help me with cleaning the bathroom. His job is cleaning the toilets...I know I'm mean, but HE wanted to! So after he cleans the toilet a little, I take the brush and go back to brush a little harder to finish.
Ummmmm......news flash mom........I don't want to be done cleaning the toilet and please give me my brush back!!! NOW!!
No one has taken the toilet brush from me to finish my job, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't cry. Maybe rejoice.
Teigen has taught me something though......When Teigen ain't happy ain't nobody happy!!

My boy loves to clean.....I can't get mad at him. It's in his genes.

Quack Quack...

(WARNING....SOME EYES MAY NOT BE SUITABLE LOOKING AT THE PICTURES THAT FOLLOW)


So, Justin has started duck hunting this year with Sophie (our 2 year old black lab). It's both of their first time going and they both LOVE it of course. So far they've gone three times. Opening day, last week and then again on tuesday. They leave at around 4:00am and get back early afternoon. Justin and a couple buddies of his usually kill around 5 and Sophie retrieves them either in water or ground. She did okay the first day but improved a ton the next time. She's such a good girl and she loves it. They're both exhausted when they get home from getting up early and from hiking all day to get where they wanted. This last time they walked through a lot of water and Sophie probabley swam nearly a mile. She's such a trooper. We're so happy to have her in our family.


Justin brought a couple ducks home and he had to gut them for the first time. I taught myself how to cook them for the first time. And eat them for the first time! I was a little nervous but willing. I made an Orange-Tarragon glaze for the duck breasts, Asparagus and almond rice, and mandarin orange spring salad with red onion. We invited friends over to try with us. They liked it and so did we. Phew! Only thing..it was a little tough not too bad)
Overall...Justin likes hunting duck....we like eating duck. I just need to think of a new way to cook it next time. I have some duck breasts i've already cleaned and are waiting for me in the freezer.

BEFORE......

AFTER......

Halloween 2009!

So, last year might have been Teigen's First Halloween, but this year sure felt more like it although it would have been better if daddy didn't have to work but we're grateful he has a job!!!
It was so fun. On friday we went to our Church's "Trunk or Treat" and Carnival. Teigen had a blast. So many fun games to play; fishing for candy, cake-walk, face painting, halloween bingo, bean bag toss, art tables, and bowling. He loved the fact that he got candy after EVERYTHING he did! So guess what we did??? EVERYTHING! haha. The only problem was that he wanted to open the candy right then and eat it. That was not so fun. lol. But I gave in because I'm an awesome mom. ;)
On Saturday night, HALLOWEEN.....we went with 2 of my friend Kristins' kids around their neighborhood. Teigen loved it. We went to about 30 homes and scored big time, getting full size candy bars, goody bags already made and soda! These houses also went all out on decorating and dressing up themselves. Teigen's bag was dragging by the end but WOULD NOT let me carry it for him. haha. (Guess he gets that from me....actually maybe Justin. We're both stubborn at times) Teigen was the cute little vampire that was talked about around the neighborhood. Overall, we had a great Halloween! Hope Justin can come with us next year!

On our way to the Church party...very excited.

Excuse me but there's candy in my bucket.

And I need to eat it NOW! I don't know what later means.

The Vampires unite!

Not sure what he was pointing at.

Teigen had to find a pittbull to befriend.

Look how little he looks.haha.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!