Quotes for the week

It was hard to pick just one quote from each boy, they give me so much material to work with.

"Just nothing."
-Athan Paul, anytime you ask him something and he doesn't want you to know the answer (like, "Where did that candy cane go?").


"Yes you do! It's checkers!!"
-Alex's response when Paulie said he didn't like the game they were playing.


"Mom, when I get adopted I hope I get a family as nice as this one."
-Ambrose, last night after dinner.

Merry Christmas

In case you didn't receive an email from us or you want to watch this video twice a day like I do...here is our 1st digital Christmas greeting 'card.' Enjoy!

Let's boogie!

Watch our dance

The Burrito Brothers

I recently developed a few rolls of film and I'm so happy this one turned out. The boys love to be rolled into tacos or burritos--or "Kacos" if you're talking to Paulie. This time even Lucy and Orange joined the fun.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What was the last game you purchased?

I just purchased M&M checkers for Alex for Christmas.

Soup
Name something in which you don’t believe.
Skinny = healthy

Salad
If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?

Matt Damon, but only if he promises to speak in his thick "Good Will Hunting" boston accent.

Main Course
What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?

Don't put a sweater in the dryer and walk away thinking you'll remember in 3 minutes that it's time to take it out.

Dessert
Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.

The walls would be lined with favorite books and music would always be playing. There would be hot tea or coffee along with ice water. And let's not forget the stamping area! It would be a grand stamping area--completely organized. ;)

Have a great weekend! And don't forget to buy everyone on your list a book.

Winter day

I'm not a 'winter person.' When I left the mitten state I vowed I'd never return, and yet, here I am trying to get through another dark, cold, and dismal Michigan winter. Is there just a giant cloud that hovers over Michigan for 5 dreadful months?! Good grief.

Alright, no more complaining because the sun IS shining today and the snow is glistening and it's actually quite delightful.

I never enjoyed playing outside in the winter, but I easily forget that others do. So, when the boys wanted to go outside today my first reaction was "ugh." But, it turned out to be a lot of fun and really only lasted 15 minutes (not counting the 20 minutes getting ready to go out). We made snow balls (actually, I just made snow balls and passed them out) and threw them at the garage, followed rabbit tracks in the yard, and made snow angels. We retired inside to play 20 Questions while we warmed up with our cranberry apple tea--here comes today's funny. It was Alex's turn to ask a question and he came up with one I'd never heard before:

"Is it something you can cut off from yours body?"

Ambrose and I almost fell off the bench from laughing so hard.

It was a great Winter day.

But who's counting??

Jesse has been gone for approximately 183 hours--he is due back in 1.5 hours.

Today was the LONGEST day, as to be expected. But, Alex did provide me with a laugh when he was playing a computer game; he turned to me and said "Mommy, I gonna kick dis yobot's BOOTY!" Apparently he was battling a robot and thought he had the upper hand. I love that kid.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

What was your first “real” job?

I worked as a dishwasher when I was 14, but that only lasted a couple of months. I assume that's a 'real' job, it had a paycheck--that was all that mattered to me.

Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?

Outside.

Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…

It's revealed that I don't/can't keep up with current events.

Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?

It's never too late to change.

Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years.

Gangsta' rap. Teen dance club nights. All basketball shoes were named after a b-ball player.

Overheard in the night

"Tomorrow is hotdog day!"
-Alex, talking to Athan from the top bunk.


"No! Tomorrow is Saturday."
-Athan, responding to Alex.


(The "tomorrow" they were debating was today, Thursday.)

Handwritten note from Ambrose.

I think it's okay--he DID say "Love" before "Hate." AND he finished the letter with a "Love Ambrose." I think he was just trying to put his frustrations of the day into words, which is great. This stems from him being upset that I had him stay in his room for his quiet time--sometimes it's tough being 5.

Ambrose attended his 1st 'school friend' birthday party this past Saturday. I stayed to help Anthony's mom with 16(!) 5-6 year olds--and also to make sure Ambrose could handle the situation. He seemed to have a blast, but later in the day Jesse asked him if he had a good time, he answered:

"Yeah, if you call getting pushed down 11 times FUN."

Oh boy.

Friday Feast

This is from Friday Feast

Appetizer
Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies?

Popcorn. Although when I was in high school (and didn't care about the ridiculous prices), I always got Goobers.

Soup
What year did you start using the internet?

I think it was 2000-ish.

Salad
What is your first name in Pig Latin?

achel-Ray

Main Course
Name something you are picky about.

Loading the dishwasher.

Dessert
Fill in the blanks: I ____ ____ yesterday and I ____ ____ today.

I didn't run yesterday and I won't run today.

I lived to tell about it

I survived my second Harry Potter Release Party! It was an exciting night with LOTS of HP fans. I was in charge of "Pictures with Harry" and also the costume contest--Snape won and an adorable Rita Skeeter (she was only 8 years old) was the runner up.

After the activities, I cashiered--CRAZY cashiered! It's an adrenaline rush to ring up over a thousand people who had waited for HOURS to buy/see/touch the HP book. In case you are wondering (with tax) "your book comes to $22.25, if you are a member it's $20.02."

**Here's a shout out to April, Liz, Danielle, Billy, Joanna, and Kelly for visiting me last night--hope you liked your pictures! Thanks guys.

Today's funny comes from Alex

"I no yonger a hungy man."

-Alex's response when asked if he was done with his lunch.

Where do they come up with this stuff?

My kids never cease to amaze me with their imaginations. For example, this morning Ambrose was dancing around the living room singing an 'original' Scooby Doo song. When he noticed me observing him, he said, "You see, I'm a movie director for Scooby Doo and I'm working on a new song." See what I mean?

Guest blogger: Ambrose (5 years old)

Do you want to hear a joke?

What's the first thing a gorilla learns at school?
His Ape-B-Cs.


Ready for another joke?

What kind of ape lives in a gym?
A gympanzee.


This is the last monkey one...

What kind of monkey can fly?
A hot-air baboon.


Here's another animal joke.

Why do elephants have trunks?
They'd look silly with suitcases on their faces.


Would you like to hear another joke?

What do vegetables give each other when they get married?
Onion rings.

One more...

Did the animals go into Noah's Ark in pairs?
No, the worms went in apples.

I hope you enjoyed the jokes.

'Be careful' taking advice

Two days ago, I had a stamping class at our house. As usual, I was hurrying to get my supplies prepared and the house presentable. In the midst of the chaos I remembered a 'tip' for cleaning up in a hurry--if you have dishes on the counter, just stick them in the oven. "Brilliant! That will save me from having to unload and load the dishwasher!" I stuck them in and forgot all about them, literally.

(since it's Summer, we rarely bake)

Fast forward to today--I had made lunch for the boys and was anticipating my own lunch of leftovers from our date last night, so I started the oven. About 10 minutes later, the boys were done and tearing through the house and I saw that I hadn't put in my lunch yet. I opened the oven and...you guessed, there were my dishes!--all nice and 'toasty.' There were some Pfaltzgraft dishes, a soup pot, a casserole dish, and a big rubbermaid bowl. Which one do you think couldn't take the heat?! I REALLY wish we had a digital camera so I could show you the result of baking a plastic bowl. Anyone have a advice for getting melted plastic off your oven??

Tonight's funny:

(Jesse & Rachel are cleaning up after dinner)
Jesse: This dining room is disgusting!
Rachel: Wonder why?! (as Athan throws a half eaten carrot across the room)

Summertime

Here's a picture of the boys enjoying the summer. We were at Meijer Gardens where the boys learned about how chocolate is made and saw real cacao trees. Ambrose's favorite was the jungle green house--he was thrilled with the enormous leaves.

*the cute little one in the orange is our friend, Caden

What I've enjoyed this week

Whenever Friday rolls around, I reflect on all the good things over the past 5 weekdays. This week, there were some great times shared with family, friends, and alone--some included:

*Strawberry picking--all 5 of us went picking and returned with 20 pounds of berries!

*Strawberry eating!

*Visiting various parks--I try to take the boys to several different parks each week. It's fun to watch them progress in their social & physical skills--and equally as nice to tire them out for naptime!

*Stamping class--I taught a class last night in our home; we made Father's Day gifts & cards. I enjoy teaching and am so glad that I'm back into stamping.

*Wine + husband--Jesse and I frequently open a bottle of wine after the boys are in bed. We've been married almost 8 years and are still crazy about each other.

*Daydreaming--speaks for itself, I think.

They grow up so fast

8am this morning--

me: I really need some coffee
Athan: Me too!

The funny thing is, he really meant it. He is the 3rd biggest coffee drinker in our house--and he's only 2! He'll drink it hot, cold, sweetened, black, anyway he can get it.

a better life

Jesse has been reading Barbara Kingsoler's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, and when you are married to someone reading a book--it 'almost' counts as you reading it yourself. It has challenged us to question our eating habits, where our food originates and what happens to it along the way. I have seen daily evidence of my struggle with this topic.

It's baby steps for us; we've lived a lifestyle similar to many Americans not giving a second thought to our food and it's direct effects. I decided that we are going to buy our bread fresh and local (or make it ourselves when we have the time--in 5 years maybe). Yesterday, the boys and I trekked half a mile to the bakery, walking (not relying on oil)--another lifestyle change. It was wonderful. I got the exercise I'd been trying to find the time for, we got fresh baked (cheaper than the grocery store!) bread, waved at EVERY car and neighbor we passed by, and enjoyed everything seeing the things we usually zoom past.

It's these choices that will hopefully create, what every parent wants, a better life for our children. We would love for them to slow down, enjoy life, and spread love to everyone around them. The bakery trip was our first and will now be included in our weekly activities.

Sightings

Our family was walking into church on Sunday and a guy with long brown hair and goatee was holding the door for us. Our troop walked through thanking him as we passed--Alex was the last one. When he passed the gentlemen, he looked up with a big grin and said "Thanks Jesus!" Of course...why wouldn't he expect to see Jesus opening the door to welcome him to church.

Another sighting:
I took the boys to the movies and in the lobby Alex started pointing and trying to get my attention. He pulled on my arm and said "Me! Me! (his name for mom) uh Jesus!!" I look over to where he's pointing and see a life-size cut out of Capt. Jack Sparrow. I had to break his heart and tell him "Baby, that's a pirate."

I've arrived...

Whew, I just flew in from xanga and boy are my (insert humerous computer piece here) tired.