Family Bonding

Please note the presence of all 3 children in this fight.  Later on there was some serious (Hunter actually said, "Epic") armpit action.  I didn't get pictures.  Sorry.

Happy Mother's Day!

Look what I got!  I didn't take a picture of the actual camera because I'd have needed to go get my old camera to do it.  It's pink! (and, yes Dad, I did read the manual.)

I got it today instead of tomorrow for two reasons.  1) Sundays are insane at our house and more importantly 2) Todd can't sit on a gift for more than a couple of days without imploding.  I am so cool with that.

Anyway.. Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there.  Love ya!!!

Random Spring Break photos.

My parents at the beach.

Easter treats. (yeah, it's a cake pop. it has a marshmellow tail.)

Public Service Announcement:

http://baconcamp.org/Bacone

I haven't made these yet, but I thought that for the greater good of mankind I would go ahead and start disseminating the information.  I think it is valuable.... maybe even life-changing.  Definitely artery-clogging.

In how many languages can you say, "YUM!!!"? (maybe "triple-bypass" as well?)

Dear Mr. Groundhog, P.S. ...

I take it back.

Groundhogs Can't Count

Dear Mr. Groundhog,

I would like to lodge a formal complaint.  10 weeks ago, your shadow predicted 6 more weeks of winter.  Now, I am aware that in some parts of the world 40 degree daytime temps would be considered swimming weather, but not here.  Not south of the Mason-Dixon.  I saw snowflakes during lunch last week.  SNOW!  I hate to be a nagger, but I hardly think a few 60 degree days sprinkled in make a "Spring". 

 Can you do something about this please?  

And have a word with your shadow, would ya'?

Isaac's Birthday

We started Isaac's birthday off early by all donning mustaches whilst he opened his presents, most of which were Bakugan-related.  He also received some pet frogs and a metal detector.

From that we moved on to Assateague Island.  It's about a 4 hour trip through some beautiful farm land.  The island is famous for its wild ponies but it also has a fabulous beach.  Here's a shot of Ike trying out the new detector.  He found 51 cents.  The coins remarkably resembled some coins which had recently been residing in Todd's pocket, but we won't mention that.

(Yes, that's Todd in a cowboy hat.  The farther we move from Texas the more he reverts.  Go figure.)

On the way home from the island, we stopped for some birthday treats.  Cake Pops, of course!!  Cake mixed with frosting, put on a stick and covered with chocolate candy.  Does it get any better?

It was a great day, good weather, safe journies and fun side-stops.  When I get my hands on someone else's pics from the day, I'll show you some ponies.

Parental Creativity:

Dear Josiah,

This looks like a very fine, $5 tooth to me. I do not have a $5 bill with me tonight, but I will be sure to make a 5 dollar deposit into your parents' bank account in the morning so that they can buy you something nice.

Good Job!

The Tooth Fairy

Spring in Bethesda

Coming soon:  Isaac's Birthday, My Parents' Visit and Easter.

Extra points.

It's a bright, sunny (though slightly cold) day today and the boys are out of school for Teacher Inservice.  Josiah is entertaining himself by dressing up as Link from Legend of Zelda.  I think he gets extra credit for having fun playing and also embarrassing his big brother at the same time.

SCORE!

Squirrel Feeders.....

They're cool but they do NOT keep the squirrels out of the bird food.  They DO, however, make for nice, plump squirrels.  

No.  I am not setting Todd loose with a BB gun in my yard to fetch us dinner.  I've learned my lesson.

:-)

Whatcha doin' son?

Last week on a particularly warm night, I went outside to find Josiah for dinner.   He was tearing down the sidewalk at top speed grinning from ear to ear.  That particular grin is usually reserved for mischief involving brothers so I asked him who he was playing with.  His reply?  "I'm playing car chase, Mom."

My son was chasing cars.  He would wait down the walk for a car to round the corner then see if he could beat it to the big oak tree in front of our house.

I replied, "Son, you can't do this stuff out here in public where people can see you."  But since I was also grinning and reaching for my camera, I'm pretty sure he didn't take me seriously.  I don't think you can see his grin in any of these pictures.  I wish you could.  That grin is the most amazing, contageous thing in the world.  We do almost anything in this house to see that grin.

Even let our kid chase cars.  In public.

:-)

Snow Update

Just FYI:  breaking ice and shoveling out a parking lot . . . . both also suck.

(this is Josiah playing in the snow and also hiding from the wind)

Even action figures enjoy a good snow day.

Blizzard Report

So this is my official Blizzard Report.  When my mother-in-law told me they were calling this snow a blizzard, I smiled.  There is a lot of snow, for us, but not hardly enough to be called a blizzard.  Then I went outside and became enlightened.  "Blizzard" is more about the wind than the snow.  That wind is nuts!

Here's the rest of my report:

The snow is deep-ish.  Probably 4-5 inches, up to 6-7 in some parts of the yard.  The snow is also very powdery, which I'm sure is great for skiing but stinks for snowman making and/or sledding.  We can't get the sleds to go for nuthin'.  The wind is miserable but it makes the snow in the air sparkle like glitter falling.  It's quite beautiful . . . if you're looking at it from your living room window.  The boys are still outside but Mom gave up after about 5 minutes of trying to sled then trying to form a snowball then trying to walk around in blinding wind.  I announced to them:

"It is my professional opinion that this snow sucks.  The wind sucks.  The cold sucks.  I'm going in."

I'm sure that makes me a terrible mom.  I'll take up a collection for their therapy at a later date.

Meanwhile, I'm toasty in my house watching the poor doves shiver on the branches.  Not a good day to be a bird.

Ice baby

Don't you just love 7 year olds? They're so full of energy and the desire to prove themselves useful. It's a handy way to get a clear sidewalk.
I tried to make a looping slide show that would show Isaac in action on that walk, but I think my free Google Picasa ap' is just not adequate for the job. That's o.k. I still love Picasa. You can live with a measly little movie-ette can't you? 

 The last shot is from this morning.  All that "snow" is actually ice, with maybe a little snow underneath.  My chihuahua was NOT amused.  I, on the other hand, got a good laugh out of the whole thing.  I did not take pictures of the event. Sorry.  :-) 

Today was a late start for school. Since Monday was a teacher workday and we've been out for 2 days due to weather, my kids will get a grand total of 1.5 days of school this week. Next week is going to be a harsh dose of reality for all of us I'm afraid.

Belly Luge

Our beautiful snow received a blanket of ice last night.  It's even prettier now but changes the logistics of sledding a bit.  Apparently, this is more fun.

I added video to yesterday's post so you can see what I mean.

Snow Day

Yet another reason we love living next to the church driveway. (see video below)











These snow flakes are real! These are from yesterday and I couldn't get over how much they looked like little cellophane cut-outs of snowflakes. So amazing!

Snow angels. They've mysteriously appeared all over my yard and the parking lot. Hmm....

















And EVERYTHING is more fun in the snow! Well.... maybe not swimming. Maybe.

I've set the boys to builing a snow man in the parking lot while I read a book by the fire.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  :-)

Hey, remember Christmas?

Christmas Eve at Church:

Bribes for Santa

Here's what we've been doing since Christmas morning.... pretty much nonstop.  In fact, Isaac was late for school once this week because of it:

We went and saw the National Tree Christmas night.  Boring.  Seriously.  But now we can say we did it.

That's pretty much it.  Nice and quiet. 

 I have to tell you, Hunter looks different already than he did Christmas Day.  The week after Christmas he did another of those freaky growth things where he grew an inch,  his shoulders broadened by about 3 inches and suddenly his stomach is all flat and stuff.  And he's growing a "moustache" (Yes, it's in quotes.  We all know what kind of fuzz I'm talking about)!!  Without my permission!!!  None of it!  I did not give permission for any of this!

Gratuitous Cuteness