Scintillating, poignant, fascinating, delightful, and sometimes accurate observations about the world around us.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Arrrr Matey!
There is a talent show out at the Stake center tonight that I'm looking forward to. I can look forward to it because I'm not in it. There's no way I would get myself up there and fumble around. Plus I lack talent which I suspect would be a vital ingredient for a talent show.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Let Them Eat Cake...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
You Spin Me Right 'Round, Baby!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Cub Scouts Cake Baking Contest
Anyway, his cake was great. On the surface it looked like a map of Virginia with colored areas for Shenandoah and the Virginia Beach area. Then we clipped some of our vacation pictures of Ian in those locations and we taped them to sticks and stuck them into the cake where these pictures were taken. Does that make sense? Basically pictures of Ian at the beach were poked into the beach area, etc.
He was very excited to win an award for his cake. I think he won the "Most 3 Dimensional Cake" award.
Cami entered her cake in the contest as well and she was so excited to win an award. I told her she could put her cake in the contest but probably would not win an award because the contest was for the boys, but our Bishop insisted that they would judge her cake anyway.
The dinner went very well and our Cubmaster did a great job of organizing the event. It was very well attended and a great time was had by all.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A New (and uninvited) Addition To Our Family
Monday, February 23, 2009
Field Trip
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Stylin'
And speaking of messes she had mud all over her hands and she was pressing them up against the house and the car and anything else she could. Just like in the Curious George movie there were hand prints everywhere.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Blondes Have More Fun
My son certainly has a nose for young blonde women. At the playland the other day a young mom and dad showed up with their little boy and Ian struck up a conversation with her almost immediately. It's a good thing he's only 7 years old, otherwise he might have gotten himself into trouble with her husband.
I was impressed that her husband went up into the playland with their little boy. I used to be able to do that but I've gotten way too old and fat to do that anymore. I can still fit in there but I hurt myself trying to get out.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Breakfast In Bed
This particular breakfast consisted of a mix of bologna and mayonaise (in a bowl), some cut up cheese sticks, some milk, plus there might have been some cereal in there somewhere, and if memory serves they included some Lifesavers candy.
They took so long making it that mommy eventually got up and came downstairs and I don't think she ever ate it. But hey, it's the thought that counts.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Will We Wii?
My best friend gave our family a Wii for Christmas this year. He wasn't able to give it to us until last Sunday because he was having a very difficult time finding one in the stores, or even on-line. He finally got one at Blockbuster video of all places. We set it up and the kids commenced fighting over it.
I have expressed some concern about how my kids will be affected by a video game, but so far it seems like the Wii is very fun and non-threatening. I might be wrong about this but there do not appear to be a lot of blood and gore games but rather the games are Super Mario type games. I remember several years ago my youngest niece was given a GameCube console for Christmas. The games I saw her playing were not, in my opinion, corrupting games. Instead they were games where gorillas and other animals would race around on souped-up dragsters, and similar games. The Wii is the successor to the GameCube and I expect that most of the games are similar. Of course, if there are blood and guts games we can simply not buy them.
My kids love the game, but there is a reason there is a strap on the controller. My daughter would have thrown the controller across the room if she hadn't had the strap around her wrist.
One thing I've noticed about how my kids play. Ian get's closer and closer to the TV as he whips the controller around. He needs constant reminders to back away from the TV so he doesn't break either the TV or his hand. Cami, on the other hand, needs constant reminders to move away from Ian so she doesn't get smacked in the head. It's great fun!
I'll post some pictures when I have them
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Show Us Your Moon
The other night it was somewhat warm, "warm" for February means it was in the 30's, and I noticed that the clouds were really moving up there. The moon was full and amazingly bright. I waited for a good chance to take a photograph and this is the result. Not too bad for a hand held shot.
Last night was cub scouts and it went really well. I was in charge again and I always worry that the boys are going to be either bored with my projects or they'll be crazy, or even worse only 1 boy will show up. But, I must say last night went really well.
Next week is our Blue and Gold dinner and along with the dinner will be a father and son cake baking contest. I'm really looking forward to it, but I'm not looking forward to the cleanup. This could either be a great experience or it could be a disaster. Only time will tell.
And next month is the Pinewood Derby! Woohoo! That is always a great time.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!!
Plush puppies and chocolate. Ahh, it doesn't get any better than that. Valentine's Day is always a big hit with my kids, especially my daughter. Not only is she female but she also has a massive sweet tooth. This girl loves candy. She takes after her dad with his love of all things chocolate. And just like dad her favorite is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Chocolate bunnies at Easter are also a big hit. She isn't all that excited about Brach's Bridge Mix, though. Maybe it's because she has a hard time telling what flavor she's getting in any given piece.
Daddy actually picked up his Valentine's Day card for mommy about a week early this year. He was so proud of himself that he was not at Walgreen's at 2:00 am the night before picking from what few cards were left over.
I remember one anniversary I gave her a card that I had purchased the night before at around 2:30 am. I gave it to her the next morning. I was so pleased with myself that I remembered to get her something. She thanked me for the card and then asked if I knew it was a birthday card. Sure enough, the card I got her was a birthday card and not an anniversary card. Oh well, I tried. Don't I at least get credit for that? Especially when you consider that she did NOT get me a card.
Monday, February 16, 2009
A Happy Girl
Friday, February 13, 2009
Spring is Springing
Here's a picture I took earlier today showing the new sprouts. I hope these plants have sweaters because it's supposed to snow tomorrow.
Better Weather
Here is a panarama photo of a lake that is near us, and you know what!? It's melting! Woohoo!
This is the same lake that some foolish snowmobilers ride around on. It amazes me that people still go out onto a frozen lake. It's been cold this year, but it hasn't been that cold. I would never trust the ice.
Many people in the Midwest are happy that the weather is getting a little more tolerable. I'm not. I actually enjoy winter. Even though we've had lots of snow and cold this year we still haven't gone sledding or skating. Can you believe it? I sure hope it snows again so we'll get our chance.
It's at this time of year that my mind turns to what activities I can busy the kids with during the spring and summer. Camping perhaps? I'd love to take the kids fishing but I'm almost certain that one of them, or more likely myself, will get a fish hook embedded in their skin. Ouch!
I've already promised my son that we'll do lots of bike riding this year, especially around the local forest preserves. Perhaps my daughter can come along with us. She can be really really slow when she rides her bike because she makes lots of stops to pick flowers. By the end of the ride her basket is loaded with them. This is great but my son wants to go super fast. This means I get stuck in the middle trying to speed her up while trying to slow him down. It's great fun!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Movie Night
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Mall Rats
Monday, February 9, 2009
We Can Almost Smell Spring!
Friday, February 6, 2009
I'm Blessed With Health Insurance
And now he has added a broken nose to the laundry list of injuries. It happened at school during recess. He and another boy collided while playing. My son was knocked silly by the collision and still claims he doesn't remember anything about what happened. That's probably a good thing.
It's possible that his nose isn't actually broken, although I'm sure it is at least to some extent. His doctor never felt his nose during her examination nor did she x-ray him. Rather she gave him several neurological tests fearing that he might be concussed. He seems to be fine, other than a swollen nose and puffy yellow eyes.
And did I mention my daughter's various accidents? She has swallowed a battery, severely cut her finger requiring, if memory serves, 7 stitches, plus she split her head open when she fell head-first against a door frame and we think she broke her cheek bone when she pulled a TV cabinet down on herself. And let's not forget the time she fell on a water park slide and busted out a tooth and split her lip open. She required 8 stitches to sew her lip back together.
Boy oh boy, I'm really happy that I have health insurance.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Clones
The kids love this place because there are all sorts of hands-on activities for them to play with. I think their favorite was the veterinary clinic where they could care for all manner of stuffed animals. My daughter also really enjoyed the face painting area.
She is excited about going back there for her kindergarten field trip in a couple of weeks. I'll be a chaperon on this trip so I'll post some more pictures when I can.