Do you know this Gator Man??

One of the benefits of living in a college town is partaking in the college activities. Yippee! This weekend was Little Siblings weekend at Waynesburg and Friday night we were entertained by a witty juggler who balanced a 6 foot step ladder on his chin and then juggled bowling balls. On Saturday we learned about reptiles from The Reptile Man.

Aside from holding the little gator, Ethan also enjoyed photographing the exhibits.

I am already formulating the firm response to the inevitable question....."Mom when can we get a (insert creepy reptile) ??????"

Field Trip

Mothers of small children need adventure.

Mothers of small children need excitement.

Mothers of small children need energy (the more the better).

Therefore, mothers of small children crave sugar.

Hence the need for an early morning field trip to the local Krispy Kreme donut shop.

It felt like a scene from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as we watched the cascading glaze waterfall spill over the tops of donut after donut through the smudged glass windows along side the conveyor belt. The donuts take a ride on a donut elevator making the trip up and down three times before taking a dive in a swimming pool of cooking oil. Then they proceed under the glaze waterfall and take their final resting place.

I half expected to see Lucy and Ethel shoving donuts in their mouths as the belt kept speeding up but instead I watched two nameless women in rainbow tie dye shirts carefully package the donuts in box after box after box after box.

Gotta make the donuts.

Lethal Combination

Take 2 two year olds mix in some good old-fashioned curiosity alongside some alone time with Mimi's purse and the result is......

Will came up the steps double fisted with tubes of lipstick revealing two perfectly place teeth marks in the tops and Bea had it through her hair. Luckily for Will he hardly has any!

All in all it was a fairly easy cleanup with only two small spots on the carpet. Not bad indeed.

Challenge Completed

Kevin is a visionary. Perhaps, also, he has the heart of an engineer. For years now he has dreamed of using ALL of the Thomas railroad pieces to build a complete railroad track extraordinaire. This past February 21, 2011 he, along with his sidekick Martin, worked diligently for hours to make this dream a reality.

What began as a normal gray February evening, turned into a give and take of ideas and an exchange of opposing theories of construction principles. It was an evening when a poet and a mathematician joined forces to create a railway design that will live in infamy. An evening when all of the pieces of the Thomas track were put to their intended use and flourished in the figure eights, turns and bridges thought up by the two "would be" railroad designers.

I tip my conductor's cap to these men, their perseverance and the example that they have set for our offspring. Remember children, someday if you work hard enough, and your parents have purchased enough Thomas track (supplemented with the cheaper no-name brand) you can achieve your dreams.

Happy happy

Birthday Will!

Just seems like yesterday I was denied my epidural and Will was thrust forward into the world caught by the hands of a stray resident walking down the hall.

Here it is two years later!

He had a lovely Thomas a/k/a Choo Choo birthday.

Thanks for all the presents and birthday wishes.

Feller's Cake Bake

At Ethan's Cub Scout Pack banquet last night they organized a Feller's Cake Bake. The contest rules were very strict about no involvement from females of any kind. Kevin and Ethan took this very seriously and therefore I was banished from participation.

They chose to carve pound cakes covered with chocolate icing to make logs. Ethan enjoyed using a fork to make the bark markings on the outside.

Then the logs were placed on top of brownies rolled in powdered sugar (coals) to make a campfire scene with colorful fruit roll up flames.

The result.......Most original. Hooray.

Here are the proud bakers displaying their handiwork. Actually Kevin should handle all future cooking endeavors with the children because he was much more patient than I am, especially for a project involving powdered sugar!!

Night Night Part Two

Found Will this morning going Night Night with this guy.

Reminded me of "The Godfather."

Night Night

Night night has quickly become Will's favorite game. Sometimes he places himself under a blanket and pillow at any random location (floor in kitchen, stair landing) and demands quiet for night, night. At other times he places his animals in night, night.

Last night we were visiting Bea Bea, Will's best buddy, and I watched as Bea laid on the beanbag chair and pulled the blanket up to her neck. Then slowly Will walked over, leaned in and kissed her night, night. To quote Beatrix when Kim asked her about it, "Will kissed me right on the lipstick."

Kudos

Hats off to Aunt Susan and Uncle Johnerik who have managed to provide hours of entertainment with Will's birthday present which, of course, arrived one entire week early! I didn't know that was possible, because it certainly is not possible from my household. I just told someone on the phone yesterday "Happy Belated Birthday" and informed them that I thought of them all day on their actual birthday although I didn't get my act together enough to send a card or phone! I used to be so faithful and responsible! E-gads.


Anyhow, the kicker is that Will hasn't even opened the box yet! Here is a picture of Will and Ben riding the bucking bronco, known as the UPS box. Thank you Susan and Johnerik for a good 30 minutes of peace and solitude. I enjoyed it immensely!

New Addition to the Family

Ben would like to introduce you to his brother, Chen.

In 100 years

In celebration of the 100th day of school, Ethan brought home a paper that read the following:


In 100 years, I will be old and I will visit my grandchildren.


I wish I could be around to see that!

Joke of the Day

Since there seems to be an abundance of attorneys in my immediate family, I got a good chuckle out of this Joke of the Day.

hardee har har.

Family Historian

My husband was elected by his family to be the family historian. What this really means is we get to store all the family memorabilia at our house. Really we don't mind, though sometimes I wonder what I would do will all the space freed up if the vast album collection (including but not limited to Andy Gibb, Barry Manilow and Michael Jackson) were to vacate the premises.

Because of his holding this office, we have in our possession the family Atari.

Last weekend we broke it out and the result, an impromptu Atari Party.

At my house, my brother and I would play Pong, Space Invaders, Asteroids and Pac Man. Kevin's family had a few that I am not familiar with Q-bert and some war game where you spin your tank and shoot at objects in the distance. I was a little disturbed watching my 5 year old enjoy blowing up things and providing such commentary as"Take that you. I'll get you."

It's amazing how it all comes back to you. During Pac Man we instinctively knew to wait for the ghosts to gather around you BEFORE you eat the square that causes them to flash for 10-15 seconds thereby ensuring you to digest several more ghosts than if you just haphazardly ate the square. Also with space invaders you have to hide underneath the shields just enough that your cannon can fire at the space aliens but enough that it also affords you some protection from their shots.

We are a bit out of shape though. My trigger thumb doesn't seem to be a subtle as it once was and the reaction time must be improved if there is hope of venturing to a second level.

Next time, Super Nintendo featuring Super Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong. If only we didn't have to share screen time with the kids!

Spring is in the Air??

The boys and I spied this fellow in the holly bush outside the kitchen door. Apparently he was too bashful to flash his red breast. That's right boys and girls. You heard me correctly. We spied a ROBIN.

I am hoping that this is indeed a sign that spring is on the way and not just some lone Robin who decided to return to Greene County even though everyone else was staying south.

First the groundhog and now this. I should have paid more attention to the color of the wooly worms this summer. Come on spring! We're rooting for you!

It's Official

We have, what I need to refer to as, a Craisin Emergency.

Any airlifts in the area carrying Craisins please drop supply in this general vicinity.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Tribute to an Oldy but Goody

When we purchased our house, along with it came my current broom. Sure, she may not look very good. She's a bit tattered and torn after 30 plus years of sweeping hard wood floors. However, she gets the job done, oftentimes with style. She is also very versatile. When need be she can be reversed to retrieve a lost matchbox car that has run amok under a sofa or the kitchen stove. She's a good worker and trusty companion.

Therefore I take offense to a recent person's comment that an intervention was needed and my broom must be replaced. I've tried. None have her firm yet pliable bristles able to reach into the cracks under the counters. Others are flimsy and can't muster up the gumption to sweep a major salt spill or wandering oats from morning oatmeal.

So I will stay strong and loyal. You will never be replaced on my watch, old girl. Sweep on. Live long. Know that there will always be a place for you in my kitchen corner.

Missed the Girly Gene

Maybe it's because I grew up in the country, as did my mom.
Maybe it's because my next two closest siblings were boys.
Maybe it's because there just seems to be more fun things to do than primp.

I've never had the girly gene. I wing it most of the time. I like some of the current fashions, but then when I try them on at home, they just look kind of silly on me.



I was tickled when I received my free clinique gift and opened a container of eye shadow to find this.





OHHHHHHHH. I had never understood it before. First one, then two and then three. I mock , however, I did try to follow the sequence of steps only to think I looked silly. I have always had mixed emotions when it comes to eyeshadow and eyeliner. I'm supposed to do what? And it looks good?



Also my eylash curler sits unused in the drawer. I'm not sure who talked me in to purchasing that one.

My clinique samples will last me until the next big event. Until then I will just wing it and go.

Happy Noodle v. Sad Noodle

Not sure about the lyrics to this children's song.  It's one of those songs that sticks in your head until all  hours of the night and slowly drives you insane....or even more insane than usual.

Pulled out Grandma Lida's Homemade Noodle recipe today and whipped up some noodles.  The recipe makes me laugh because you are supposed to add flour until it looks right.  Huh?  What?   Somehow they never seem to taste like I remember them.  Maybe it has to do with someone else doing the cooking.

Had a picture, but seem to be experiencing some technical difficulties.  You will just have to imagine them.