Big Week in News for Our Family

Aside from Ben's newpaper debut, my sister-in-law, Jen, and niece Sarah, attended President Obama's signing of the Nutrition Bill.  Check it out Jen and Sarah

Jen is sitting right in the back between the President and Michelle.  She has long dark hair and is dressed in black.  Sarah is over on the left, top row and you can't see her until the end, but resembles her mother, tall with dark hair.

Pretty cool.  I guess a benefit to living in Washington DC is being a part of the action.

Ben Maxwell, a Man of Many Words

Our lovely friend Kim interviewed Ben about his recent search for the perfect Christmas tree.  To read about Ben's quest in the local paper.....click here  Christmas Tree Story

Autographs will be provided upon request.

PS  Hope I did the link correctly.  :)

Odds are Against Us

With three kids it seems that the odds are definitely stacked against us.  At least one person is in a bad mood (including mom or dad), someone is feeling like life is unfair and unjust, etc etc.  Just yesterday I was looking at Ben playing and thinking, "Wow everybody is doing pretty well...pretty healthy."  JINX.  Ethan threw up in the night and Ben woke up with a runny nose.  WHY did I let myself even think it????????

The odds were in the children's favor this year for the annual group Christmas photo.  Here are examples from the 40-50 failed attempts.

Needless to say, we opted for the individual shots this year. 

From Rags to Riches??

While trying to discover why the bathroom window wouldn't close (and we were therefore freezing to death in our closet sized bathroom), Kevin discovered two very dirty coins shoved in the window frame. 

What were they?  We speculated that the previous owners, who have secret storage compartments all over the house, had hidden them in the window from any potential thieves.  Furthermore, we speculated...."They must be worth SOMETHING."

Indeed they are.....minted in 2009 they have a face value of $.50 each for a combined total of $1.00.

I wonder WHERE we will spend our new found fortune?

2

cold to blog.  fffrrrreeeezzzzziiiiinnnnnnggggggg.  and winter is just starting.  I better brace myself.

Things That Go Bump (or Growl) in the Night

I have a long list of nocturnal activities.....talking in my sleep, pulling snakes off the beside lampshade, punching my husband in the head to save him from some unknown attacker (sorry dear), leaping from the bed to the middle of my childhood bedroom floor and awaking to feel my chest throbbing from the impact...etc etc.  Not sure when deep sleep sets in.  Probably why I feel tired most of the time. 

The other night as Kevin and I were watching Glee, we hear thump, thump, thump.  It is a benefit of an old house with rickety floors...you know when ANYTHING is moving upstairs.  Kevin runs upstairs to find Ethan aimlessly wandering around the first floor.  "What's going on buddy?", he asks.  Ethan mutters something incoherent and Kevin redirects him upstairs and he instantly falls back asleep in his bed.

Strange occurrences. 

Last night Ethan and Kevin camped out at the zoo with the boy scouts.  I'm wondering, "Are there locks on the lion's cage?"

Just curious.

Urgent Message

Children running in circles.    stop

Husband working late.     stop

Send reinforcements.    stop

Not sure how much longer we can hold on.    stop

SOS

Injury Report Filed....Worker's compensation forthcoming??

Background story: 
A few weeks ago I was cooking pasta, with baby on hip, and needed to drain it.  Not wanting to steam burn baby, I held the large pot with one hand and poured it one handed into the strainer placed in the sink.  I felt a small pop in my wrist and ever since then my left wrist has been a bit tender at times, especialy when I twist it.

Present time: 

While cleaning the bathroom and basically hugging the toilet to get to the urine that seems to mysteriously miss the toilet bowl, I tried to clean the left side of the toilet that sits beside an outside wall.  Well, to sum up, I couldn't work my wrist correctly because requires a twisting motion of the left hand.  Flashback to my "stay at home mom" kraft macaroni and cheese injury.  (Yes Virginia it is a dangerous profession.) 

ANYHOW that is all you need to know to understand the following conversation.

Sally:  I was having a hard time cleaning the behind the toilet because my left wrist seems to be a bit sore.
Kevin:  Maybe we could hire someone to do it.

ha ha.  very funny.  if only.