He's No Honest Abe

I have a huge collection of candles that I've been given throughout my years of teaching. I used to burn them all the time but got "burned out" on them and put them away for awhile. When I was in Phoenix my sister was burning a Gold Canyon candle that was to die for and it made me want to get my candles out and start burning them again. The other day I sat on the floor next to the candle cabinet and started taking out my candles, removing the lids and smelling them. Artem wanted to smell them too, so after I smelled a candle I put it to his nose and let him smell the candle. He was really cute and would always nod his head and say, "mmmm" after he smelled it. After we smelled my candles Artem helped me set some of the jars out around the house for decoration, clapping after he placed the jar on a table for me.



Later that afternoon I noticed that it was too quiet in the house and I went to investigate. I checked all of Artem's usual spots only to find him totally AWOL. I finally went into the living room and saw him by the end table with that, "oh man I am so busted" look on his face and I could see one of my Yankee candles behind him with the lid slightly askew. I asked him, "Artem, did you get into mama's candle?" and he quickly shook his head "no". I asked him again, "Are you sure you weren't smelling mama's candles?" and again he shook his head "no". Now I didn't actually see him smelling the candles, but I don't think it takes a full semester in detective school to figure this one out....

God love him! Lucky for him, he's pretty stinking cute and mama's got a soft spot in her heart for a certain little boy with soot rings on his face.

I bought a Gymboree outfit for Artem awhile ago that has a hat that matches the shirt and shorts but haven't dressed him in it yet since I figured the hat would only last a few minutes. But lately when Artem sees my hat that I wear on our morning walk or Randy's hats, he taps his head and tries to say, "hat". This has gone on for a few days now so I thought we'd give the airplane outfit a try today for our big trip to the DMV for motorcycle and truck tags. (You guys envy my life don't you??) Artem not only kept his hat on for the whole DMV visit, but he kept it on through his lunch date with Layla, AND got very upset with me when I took it off for his nap. After he woke up he started tapping his head again asking for his hat and he wore it all the way until bath time tonight. I guess I'm going to have to buy him a few more hats to wear.