Double Trouble

I fully admit, the boys have been wearing on me lately. Maybe it’s the change in weather, maybe it’s the amount Kevin has been working lately, but whatever the reason, these boys have been extra extra naughty over the last few weeks. They are constantly making messes, fighting, screaming, hitting, crying…you know the rest. This is why I was more than happy to allow Kevin to take Soren to work with him the other day while I got some visiting in with some old friends and their new babies.  Kevin’s report of Soren’s behavior was amazing (as you can see here). Bodie, too had an incredible day. I have never seen him so calm, quiet, and well behaved. Actually, that is a lie. The last time I saw him that well behaved was when I brought him to a shower, with the same group of friends, without his brother!  So, there is a possibility that my group of ex-swimming friends either has a magical effect on my child’s behavior, however, I do doubt this is the reason. But more likely, perhaps we should give Soren and Bodie some time away from one another once in a while!   Kevin and I were basking in our relaxing day from parenting only one really well-behaved boy, but not to worry, our basking was short-lived. As soon as our sweet little boys were reunited and reacquainted, the making messes, fighting, screaming, hitting, and crying started right back up.

Little Men

Soren and Bodie got to take a shower the other day. They were so excited to take a shower “like a man”.  They used Daddy’s shampoo and body wash, and they wanted to wear their towels like Daddy.  They came downstairs smelling and looking like little men!  Who am I kidding, they were acting like men too! 

(pay no attention to the nipple licking)

The Future Swimmers of America

I consider both Kevin and I to have been extremely fortunate to grow up swimming for Canoe City Swim Club.  Not only did swimming teach us some very valuable life lessons, but we made some life long friends!  It was very cool to be able to get together with some CCSC alum friends and allow the 2nd generation swimmers to have some play time!  Ian seemed a bit intrigued by Bodie—“Huh, another boy, I wonder what kind of tricks he can teach me?” 

The Sphinx Poecila

When the boys and I shot a few pictures of a strange looking caterpillar on the bog walk, we didn’t realize it would be quite a to-do. 

Since the caterpillar was so unique, we sent a few pics to the head honcho of the bog walk just in case other patrons may have been interested.

This is the response that we got from him: 

Hello,

I e-mailed Professor David Wagner at the University of Connecticut who wrote the book "Catepillars of Eastern North America", Princeton University Press, 2005.  Here is what he said:

I would guess it is a prepupal Sphinx gordius.  Some sphinx caterpillar turn rather red (they are green while feeding but go on a walkabout looking for a good pupation site and become increasingly reddened).

In his book he says: "Green to blue-green or rarely purple-brown."  The common name is Apple Sphinx.  It occurs central and eastern Canada south to central Florida.  If you google the scientific name "Sphinx gordius" you get some great pictures.

Thanks - the photograph is just wonderful.

Jim Bird
Orono Bog Boardwalk

Before Jim Bird got back to us, we posted a pic on Facebook to see if anyone could identify the mystery bug.  The posts from our good friend Anne Cowperthwaite Malena are just too entertaining not to share:

• Amanda L. Sidell

  First one to identify this caterpillar wins!

  

  Wall Photos

• • Anne Cowperthwaite I can't tell if its furry or not, sure its not a slug??

  • Anne Cowperthwaite some species of papilio swallowtale??

  Anne Cowperthwaite Red-Striped Fireworm or Aroga trialbamaculella

  September 14 at 9:06pm · Like

• Anne Cowperthwaite and please answer soon because

• Anne Cowperthwaite I am getting ridiculously obsessed over something that I don't even like!! I have online shopping to do!!

• Amanda L. Sidell anne, you make me laugh! i don't know the answer, that is why i posted it!

• Anne Cowperthwaite I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO mad right now! But damnit I'm a quasi larvae genius now!!!

• Anne Cowperthwaite Can the real caterpillar expert PLEASE STAND UP

• Anne Cowperthwaite If you enlarge pics 1 and 3 I think this is it you have created a freak. Wait, I have always been a freak.http://umaine.edu/blueberries/factsheets/insects/205-red-striped-fireworm/

  

  The University of Maine - Cooperative Extension: Maine's Native Wild Blueberries - 205-Red-Striped F

  umaine.edu

• Amanda L. Sidell don't think so anne. it wasn't shiny at all and it had that huge horn. you are seriously making my night. i can't stop laughing....did i mention that i love you! and that you should come down this weekend:)

• Amanda L. Sidell I win...its a Hemaris diffinis. turns into a sphynx moth. http://www.austinbug.com/larvalbugbio/sphinxmoths.html see bottom picture on website.

  

  Sphinx Moths

  www.austinbug.com

  An article with photos about sphinx moths and their caterpillars in our Texas gardens.

  September 14 at 9:36pm · Like ·

• 

  Anne Cowperthwaite You have NO idea how irritated I am that you found that. I seriously just joined a "butterfly and caterpillar identification association" and submitted the picture.........I am too obsessive and competitive to play this game!!! I easily could be wasting time playing Sims, or perhaps trying to get some sleep! lol............I miss you<

• Anne Cowperthwaite awww yeah "If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.
  Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help. "

Thanks to Anne Malena, we not only were entertained with the banter over a 24 hour period, Soren is now somewhat famous amongst the caterpillar lovers of America! 

Our find can be found on this website:  http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/mePenobscotsphlar.htm

Soren was so excited to see that he is now “famous” due to his caterpillar find!

Peterson Work Ethic

Anyone who knows the Peterson men know that they do not shy away from manual labor. After being with Kevin for 17 years (yes, that is right), I am still regularly awed at how hard and how long he can work doing manual labor.  And I am still amazed at the things that he can figure out, build, and fix.  I certainly scored a manly man!  Needless to say, I was thrilled today when Kevin decided to bring Soren to work with he and Beepa.  Because of the rain, they remained in an apartment all day laying floor. Soren did great!  He brought trash up and down the stairs, delivered necessary supplies to Daddy and Beepa, and stayed focused for the entire day (except for an hour break for the parade because we couldn’t miss that).  Soren left for work with Kevin at 7:30am and stayed until 4:30pm, even though he was given several opportunities for me to pick him up.  He was so proud of his work laying floor and he even earned $5.00!   We’re grooming him early to be the new CEO of Peterson Properties LLC!

(Of course Kevin didn’t take any pictures of the event—too busy working. I did meet up with them at the parade and got a few snap shots. Note the way all three of them are holding their hands…genetics are freaky)

Looky Loo Who’s in Underoos!

We are very happy to say that after 4.5 years of changing stinky diapers every day, we have not changed a diaper in weeks!  Go Bodie!

Only One Year Late

When I was younger I didn’t quite have a full understanding as to why my older sisters had full and detailed baby books, while I had an old brown paper bag with various dates and developmental landmarks scribbled in pencil.  Well, now that I am a busy working mother myself, I totally get it.  You are forgiven Mom!  We have a special book for Soren outlining my entire pregnancy and then another book outlining his first year. Of course this was done promptly and I had it ordered immediately following his first birthday.  Let’s just say I was a little less prompt with Bodie’s.  But thanks to blogging, notes written on a calendar, and my brilliant memory, after a mere 2.5 years, Bodie’s baby book is done! 

Click here to view this photo book larger

And in case you are interested in seeing the books that we ordered for Soren 3 years ago…

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to view this photo book larger

A New Season

So I guess it is official, pool season is pretty much over (I say this, however Soren has continued to swim in our freezing pool every evening).  The days of waking up, putting on a bathing suit and spending the day in the pool are past and now I have to find activities for the kids each day.  And now that my boys and Timmy are on different schedules, that means that I have lost my social planner, Amy. 

Week one of adventures took us to one of our favorite outings…The Bog Walk.  I am happy to say that both kids did great and Bodie took very little coaxing to make it to the end.