Crazy Week

I haven't thought about the blog much this week. There has just been too much going on. Here's my run down.

• I've decided that I would like to change the color of my kitchen and I started by painting a green swatch on one wall.
• The swatch became a darker shade of green the next day.
• Mike got some crazy virus that was weakening his muscles. Last Sunday I had to button up his shirt for him, fasten the pants, tie the tie. Then he couldn't even drive the car to make it to his meetings. He is now on steroids and improving.
• Hosted playgroup at our house.
• Started the "learn to read in 100 easy lessons" book. Charlie loves it and I'm not sure that I'm quite ready for the dedication yet.
• Watched others children twice this week.
• Made it to Book club ( I almost never read the book, I just enjoy the evening out)
• Painted the children's play area downstairs. Pretty cute if I do say so myself.
• The kitchen now has two different swatches of yellow. I still don't think I have it yet.
• prepared my RS lesson
• Enjoyed General RS Meeting.

I really didn't think about the blog once. I'll try to do better this week.

Dance

The laptop is in our kitchen so that we can utilize our music at any moment. Oh how I love free napster. You'll find Jane's comments in red. Today's dance play list is as follows:

• Another One Bites the Dust - Queen (she knows this one and just sings along)
• Single Ladies (Put a ring on it) - Beyonce (That was a good one Mom)
• Motownphilly - Boyz II Men (Oooh yeah, I like this one)
• Bust A Move - Young MC ( two beats into the song yeah yeah this one)
• Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire

Mike doesn't dance. He doesn't get it. He tries to put on different songs but Jane doesn't dance. We've tried to explain to him that Coldplay doesn't have a beat that makes your body move without even knowing it.

Experiment with this: get some kids in the room, go to www.freenapster.com , don't tell them what you are doing, then just turn on some different songs. If their head starts bobbing than you've got it. Mags will be in her highchair shaking it, if the song is right. If you need help then check my list. I'd love to hear how it goes.

Hooray for Education

Our local high school has a preschool program. Charlie and Jane are in it together this year. This is their first week and so far they have loved it. I have loved it even more! They go at Maggie's nap time. Yahoo! The first day, I was so excited that I didn't do a darn thing. That's right, the house needed cleaning, but no. The dishwasher needed to be emptied, nah. There was a pile of clean clothes on my couch that needed folding, no thank you. My plan is to take that valuable time and read a book. We'll see what I actually end up doing.

This is Amanda. She is their current high school teacher/ helper. I like her.

This fine young man is baby Nate. I stuck him in my car while we waited for his Mom and big brother to warm up to the preschool thing. Isn't he luscious? (you should see his dimples.) I have arranged his marriage to my sweet Moe. Can you just imagine the cheeks their children will have? Can't wait.

Moe

Any Pet Will Do

Sweet Janey asks for a puppy just about every day. One day it will happen. Until then she can keep collecting and squishing every bug that comes along. She will carry around a dead fly all day long in her hand until we can convince her that it has passed on to the other side. This katydid was her favorite. It didn't try to get away but just tickled her as it walked up and down her arm. (don't worry, it's still alive somewhere outside)

24 Hour Vacation

We made a last ditch effort to hit the beach before the weather turned too cold. The idea turned out to be a great one. We drove over on Friday afternoon, did a quick check in and unload at the hotel and then ran out the back to make it to the beach while there was still light left. We ran and played until after dark. Dad let the kids pick out a treat in the lobby and then we went up to our room and ordered pizza. The kids had candy and ice cream and then fell asleep before the pizza ever arrived. Ha!

The next morning we had pizza for breakfast and then went out bright and early and played all day long. Perfect weather. Happy kids. Great waves. Happy Parents.

We drove home feeling like we had made a good decision. I'm certain it's what heaven feels like. I felt pure joy spending that time with my family yesterday. Here are some pics that look much like all of our other summer/swim pictures. Moe and Mom (26 -52)Moe spent most of her time doing this. The last hour of our trip she started playing in the sand and decided that she like it.

Burying the kids is always fun. The next pic shows how close I came to drowning them. Rogue wave came right up to their necks. Oopsie.Dad, Moe, Jane and Charlie

He knows

Charlie: "Jane quick get up, you can't stand on your head because all of your blood will go to your brain and then your body won't have any blood. You'll die."

Jane: " nu uh"

Charlie: " Jane it's true. Richard told me. He's six Jane, he knows."


While lying in bed with Charlie the song, John Jacob JingleHeimer Schmidt, came on.

Charlie: "Mom, what does he look like?"
Mom: "Uh, I don't know."
Charlie: "Which Prophet is he? Does he look like Moses?"
Mom: "He's not a prophet. He's not real, it's just a made up song."
Charlie: "Mom, he's real."

Sibling Love

I found the disc from this cute picture that was taken two and half years ago. I love these sweet little faces. And even more than that, I love that they love each other. Tonight while putting Charlie in bed he told me that today his friend twisted Jane's arm and she cried. He also said that he told his friend to leave her alone and then he hugged her until she was all better. Good moments. I'll take every one I can get because tomorrow....he'll punch her.

Bo Ring!

Sing songing the word "boring" when your cute little daughter tells you she wants to watch her Strawberry Shortcake CD for the millionth time, is a bad idea. Little did I know this news would be so devastating that she would bury her head in her hands and run into another room. I've been told numerous times since this event, several days ago, not to call her CD boring.

"It's not nice mom and it makes me sad".

Jane is a great communicator. I do love this about her. When she is sad or mad she makes it very clear why, who and even the consequences for it. Here is an example....

"YOU MAKE ME MAD, CHARLIE. DON'T PUNCH ME! Now I am not going to play Cody and Aubry with you." This is essentially the game of "house" that she plays with everyone multiple times a day. So really this is the ultimate threat for her to make.

Oh no!

When your child does something new, isn't that vital information that you need to know?
For instance; when they learn how to open a drawer, now you need to watch for smashed fingers.
When they begin to crawl, now you monitor their speed so you know how fast you have to make it to them.
Crawling up stairs, because they will surely tumble down.
I came down the stairs and Moe was sitting at the table. I didn't know she could climb up on the chair? My husbands response was, "Oh yeah, she crawled up on the table yesterday."
WHAT??? And you didn't tell me?
See, that's what I am talking about. Vital information.

Moe found a treasure when she crawled up on the chair. Charlie's uneaten cake. As soon as I came down the stairs and found her, she quickly shoved it in.

Baltimore Aquarium

Yesterday we went to the Baltimore Aquarium. The drive was long because of the never ending traffic jams. At one point a police motorcycle came up the shoulder and put his hand out for all of us to stop. Then a big white suburban police car pulled in front of us diagonally. Then coming up the shoulder were about 17 more police suburbans blaring their noise. There were a couple of cars in the middle. It was quite the motorcade. Maybe an Obama passenger? Who knows.

(I really had to speed up to get this photo, total after thought, but a lot of the police cars had already rounded the corner and they were cruising.)

The Aquarium is right downtown and it is really nice. We were able to attend a dolphin show. The best part was certainly the kids faces. I enjoyed watching their reactions the most.

Ruth, Peter, Charlie & Jane

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I took about six of these stinkin blurry photos. Maybe it's for the best, remember the zitty face I have? Call this blurry photo "a blessing from heaven".

Dogs and Kids

Mike : "Kimber, do you want me to get you a treat?"

Kimber: "No thanks."

Jane: "Silly Dad, treats are just for dogs and kids."