Just Doin' Some Fishin'

Ron's sense of humor (poor bluegill).
Abby's fish - you go girl!

Throwback Friday

Parent of the Year....

....back up for grabs.

(Lauren, summer '07 -- it was an all-out, will-do-anything effort to try and get her to stay awake until we got home - so she would nap in her bed.  Mission failed.)

Cookies....but not the kind you're thinking of....

These are dirt cookies.  Literally.  Dirt.  Pressed into cake shaped "cookies" and eaten by Haitians who have no other options to fill their bellies.

As I tried to explain this (and our abundance!) to the girls today, Abigail says, "Why can't they just go in their pantry and get something?" 

If only it were that simple.  

For more on this story:

Haiti's poor resort to eating mud as prices rise

Nap Time

This is my brother with his new little guy.....napping at the lake this past weekend.

Is that sweet or what?

Going Bananas

Remember when I was just discovering how different boys are?

Wow.  We've really made progress.  

Gabriel decided that one banana was just not enough.  He managed to take just one bite out of almost all of these....skin included.  

As I grabbed the camera to catch this moment on film, he even paused the  feast for his famous, "cheeeeeese."

Gabbers - those were banana bread bananas. 

Throwback Friday.....a little late

I will never forget this day.  We had volunteered to feed the homeless and our "item to bring" was 250 Twinkies.  Apparently, that was dessert.  (I don't plan the menu people....but I did volunteer several other suggestions.)

As we headed to the store, the girls were like, "Uh, Mom, what are Twinkies?"  It occurred to me (ok, that is a huge lie....I knew they didn't know what they were.  Sorry, I'm outing myself.) that they had never had one before.  Now before you think this is terrible, I found out about Little Debbie cakes (and the like) in 1st grade during lunch.  My Mom packed carob for my delightful snack.  

Have you heard of carob?  It is cultivated from the Carob Tree and the edible seed pods are considered (by no one other than my wonderful mother) to be "healthy" chocolate.  

So, I am way ahead of schedule with my kids and not nearly as crazy.

(I love you Mom!)

Twinkie Taste Test Outcome:

Madeline said, "Ick!" and threw her Twinkie in the trash.  

Abigail ate every. single. bite.

Endocrinologist

I might have lugged all the kids downtown to my endo appointment today.....much to the chagrin of the attending nurse.  She opened the door to call my name and immediately rolled her eyes.  Nice. 

(in fairness to me - not that I really care about "fair" - I called to warn/ask permission to bring my gaggle.)

And if only she knew - I had already bribed said children with lollipops and a trip to Wendy's if they could survive stuffy doc office.

Determined to "move in the opposite spirit", I told her how amazing she looked and asked if she had lost weight recently.  (Ok, not really.  I wish I would have thought of that though.)

At any rate, the doc finally arrived (after Gabe nearly tore the office apart and used up all the medical gloves - boys are F-U-N!) and started to review my file.  The best part of the appointment was when he said, "Well, if you were trying to conceive we'd really be in trouble.  Your thyroid is all out of whack!"

(huh?  not sure what you're talking about doc.  conceive?)

Did he really need to say ALL. OUT. OF. WHACK.  Just like that.  Isn't there some type of medical term for my off-the-chart numbers?  Seriously.

Backyard Olympics

These Olympic games are very similar to the ones in China but instead of gymnastics and swimming, we had the 100 meter, 3-legged Pillowcase Race and the 2-man Balloon Toss.

Poser

Gabe's latest is to yell, "Cheeeeeese" and close his eyes when you take his picture......he starts as soon as he sees the camera coming.

Old Man's....what, are you crazy?.... Cave

Because Disney didn't phase us, we decided to add a couple kids and head to Old Man's Cave for some hiking.  One lady asked us if it was a daycare.  What?  Because 10 of the 12 children are under 8.  I don't get it?

(not pictured and probably peering over cliff:  Hannah and Gabriel)
The girls thought this looked like Moses with his staff.  In Madeline's words, "the glory of God is shining down on him."  

                              Can you see it?  (hint: tree roots) 

She absolutely gets her creative side from her mom.  (does anyone see lightening?)
What Gabe thought of the hike.  (how am i supposed to stay awake when I'm stuck in this Kelty?)

Christian the Lion

Why does YouTube always make me cry?

Throwback Friday

August '06

Maddie and Abby enjoying a Starbucks together.

Friendly Mom Tip

Never accidently throw a diaper in with your bleach load....or any load for that matter.

Just don't.

It ranks as one of the Top 3 most disgusting things I've ever dealt with.  

Above barf at 4 am when you are prego?  Definitely.  (which I'm not, btw.  Darn it.  You thought you had good scoop.  Sorry bout that.)

Worse than the little bird egg that one of your children thought would be "so sweet" to keep in the back pocket of one of car seats....for several months?

Well, actually that is #2 on the list.

The Olympics Have Started!

We had our own, private, Olympic opening ceremony complete with the torch -- or 12 candles...whatever.  It wasn't as elaborate as the one in China (that was amazing!) but it was definitely as memorable.

(as I am posting this I am listening to Ron explain the finer points of synchronized diving....all part of his unit study on the Olympics) 

Throwback Friday

This is a Throwback Friday photo...in a weird way.  It reminds me of the days when my mom and aunts would line us all up - on a sofa, the front porch, it really didn't matter - and snap pictures of us until they were confident they had a "good" one.  These were the pre-digital days after all. (not that it matters much as you can see from the photo below.)

Now, its my turn to line all my little ones up and fire away.  

My nephew Eli is particularly fond of the photo session....

Joke's on You!

Madeline had to take a picture.....my pack job for a 3 day holiday with Ron.  Its amazing how light you can pack when its just you.

That, and I'm not a big fan of the airline's new policy to charge you $15/bag each way.

Did I squirt shampoo/conditioner/hair gel/face soap/face lotion/hairspray (ok, that didn't didn't work) into random trial-size samples from a recent trip to CO B*igelow in order to avoid said fee?  Possibly.

Happy 9 years babe!

Big Question

Here is the first interesting conversation of the day....before breakfast:

Madeline: (running into room with anticipation)  Mom, am I adopted?

Me: Umm, no.  Well, I mean God adopted all of us, is that what you are talking about?

M:  No, I'm wondering if I am adopted.  (very hopeful)

Me: You're not sweetie.  (letting her down gently)

M:  I just really thought I was because of this picture.  (she thrusts photo in front of me)

Quick break:

Ok, at this point, I am trying not to burst out laughing.  Its a photo that our friends Liz and Charlie took when were at Disneyworld.....11 years ago.  They took the photo from behind and we are walking towards a crowd of people (with our hands in each other's back pockets....but that is an entirely different story.)

Ok, we're back:

M:  I mean, you look like you are running to get me.  Like I was being adopted.  

Me:  (still letting her down easy)  Sweetie, you actually came out of my tummy.   Isn't that exciting?

M:  Yeah.  (definitely no Oscar nomination)

Throwback Friday

The girls are always "watching" photo albums on the Mac and a few days ago they ran across this picture.  It was several days after Hurricane Katrina hit.  Ron decided he had to head down and see what he could do to assist.  He, our BIL Jeff and friend Shawn decided to hit the road.

Our pastor announced their plans at Sunday service and before we even arrived home that day (2 hours later!) our doorstep was packed with food and supplies.

I will never forget the way our community, neighborhood, church, family and friends came together to make a difference.  Since that time, we try to send something to any tragedy that we hear about.  Something.  Anything.  I got to see first-hand that it does make a difference.

People thought they were just donating $10 or a single box of diapers......in actuality the boys left that week with $10,000 in cash (for generators) and a truck and trailer loaded to the hilt with food and supplies.