Thanksgiving Fun.

This year we went to TN for Thanksgiving. It was fun to see my family. We missed having my brother and his family though. Here are some highlights.

I was a little worried Kristen and my cute little niece would have the MINE wars and Kristen rough her up a bit as she has in the past. This time however they were more like Thing 1 and Thing 2 except there was no Cat to come clean up the mess. This is a picture of their Makeover gone really wrong.














Luke's highlight was getting to go hunting for the 1st time with his Uncle Chad. They didn't get anything but it didn't matter to him he had a blast and can't wait to go again. I don't have a picture but you can tell how he chose to decorate his room just how much he likes the idea of hunting.
We just relaxed and my kids got their Disney channel fix. We saw some movies and of course it wouldn't be a trip to TN if I didn't go to Wal-Mart at least once. Here is everyone crammed on the couch watching more TV. It was a fun trip with good food and great company!

Boys

I was looking over this parenting book I got a long time ago called So you want to raise a boy. Well I got it when I only had 2 small boys. It made me laugh because now having 4 boys they left out some chapters that would have been nice to know. Like..

Chapter 10..Life's a hoot..when you always toot
.. this includes the information that boys find every sound or function your body has as the absolute most hilarious thing you have ever seen/heard/smelled ever!! Seriously if they even hear the word pee or even better poop they are sent into hysterical fits of laughter which sometimes results in spitting or drooling which just escalates the laughter even further.

Chapter 11..Stick=Sword, Lego=Gun, Spoon=Dagger
..this is instructions on how boys can and do make pretty much any toy or piece of nature a weapon of some sort.

For years I didn't buy any toy guns not wanting to encourage that kind of play but then found legos could be built into a gun, sticks were anything from lightsabers to daggers and even the fairy wand my daughter had doubled as a sword (unfortunately even by her). So why fight the inevitable and at least get cool Nerf guns and of course my family's weapon of choice the Lightsaber.

Lord of the Dance...

Move over Michael Flately there is a new dancer in town.

You know how I love dancing so I have been taking this line dancing class for fun and Colin wanted me to show him. He then showed me how he can do it too--it came out looking more like Irish step dancing but hey my grandma did come over from Ireland as a young girl so I guess it comes natural to him. We will be developing his act(his back up dancers need some work) and I will let you know when tickets will be available.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the best fireman, lego builder, project helper, all around coolest Dad ever!!
I hope you had a great day here are some highlights:














He's so special he gets TWO cakes. One was an Eclair Desert for everyone and the other a Graeter's Grasshopper Ice cream cake for just the adults who can appreciate it. Notice the candles. I totally forgot to get candles so I scrambled and found some tea lights. Each one counts for 11 regular candles.














Kristen also had a great time having some girl time with her aunt Lisa and Ellen. They did her hair and nails-she had no clue about nail polish and at first every time they put in on her nail she would just wipe it off. Later we found Kristen on the basement stairs with the ice cream cake she swiped out of the freezer and she was trying to dig into it. Apparently she wanted to appreciate it as well.
All around it was a fun time and a great day! WE LOVE YOU KEVIN!!!

Special??

It took me a week to finally get a chance to write this down but last Sunday was the Primary Program--that is where the 3-11 year old kids sing and talk about what they learned that year.

Colin got up and says--"My family is special because I am in it... and because my Dad is a fireman."

Well it's good to know what pinpoints the greatness of our family. I kind of thought the other 5 people not mentioned were pretty great too but I guess we don't quite measure up to the truly "special" category. Without Kevin and Colin we are apparently just average. So I don't know if I should be happy he knows how special and great of a kid he is or if I should be worried he is a little self absorbed. Then again I've yet to meet to many kids that don't feel the world revolves around them.

So maybe we should all be able to acknowledge and proclaim just how special we are!

I've been tagged!

Well I guess I have been tagged by Corrie and I'm always ready to play a game so here it goes.

Here are the rules: "MY UNSPECTACULAR QUIRKS"
1.Link to the person who tagged you
2.Mention the rules on your blog
3.Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about you
4.Tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them
5.Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

1. I'm obsessed with anything that has dancing in it. I will watch any movie or tv show that has any type of dancing in it. Even if it is the lamest movie--which unfortunately alot of the movies that center around dancing lack in plot and acting ability. I guess I like to live vicariously through people who can dance.

2. I have to finish a book/movie that I start. Even if the book/movie turns out to be painfully boring I have to know what happens. Even if I don't care the least about the characters. I know it doesn't make since--my mom when reading will just skip ahead if it starts to drag but I just can't do that. I have to torture myself with every last boring word or watch every last painful minute of something until it is done. The one acception if it's too inappropriate than I won't finish.

3. I am a walking contradiction. I hate any type of cherry filling or toppings but I like fresh cherries or cherry artificial flavoring in candy is ok too. I hate banana artificial flavoring in anything but I love fresh-real bananas. I hate coconut but every now and then I'll eat an Almond Joy(Ok that's mostly because I can find no other form of chocolate around). You see it makes no sense.

4. I hate watching people brush their teeth. Not just kids either. Anyone. I have always and continue to hate seeing people brush their teeth. I should be pleased they have good hygiene but instead it makes me gag. Even if it's on a movie I turn away especially if they are trying to talk while they are brushing. I guess it may be related to the fact I don't like spit. Perhaps my sister chasing me pretending she was going to let spit fall on me-just to see me get hysterical helped encourage my weird dislike.

5. I have an obsession with office supplies. I love them. I get excited when I walk in an office supply store. I have to work hard to maintain focus as I take in all the wonderful, glorious, organizational products, paper, staplers, etc. Several years for christmas I got gift cards from Staples--and loved it! I guess it is no shock that I loved my accounting office jobs and would often be found organizing the office supply closet. I know how lame is that!!

6. I have a great need for efficiency and a touch of OCD but I'm too lazy/tired to carry it out. I love things in perfect order. I feel anxious when my house is messy or I can't see my kitchen counter. If I wasn't lazy and or tired I would have all my pantry alphabatized and in perfect symetric order. Same with my linen closet and all shelves. I sit and think about how I could arrange things for optimal efficiency. I'm constantly obsessing over finding the perfect schedule or organization that will make things run the smoothest but I rarely take the time to actually make it happen.

Even typing these makes me think maybe I need some therapy or something. Well that's probably more than you really wanted to learn about me-- so here is an opportunity to read about more people. I tag.
1. Maura
2. Michelle J
3. Jamie
4. Dory
5. Shayleen
6. Sarah H

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!! I hope you have a great day with lots of rest and good food. It was fun getting to see you guys in August. We love you!!