Saturday, January 31, 2009

Pinch Me. I Must Be Dreaming.

I just had the most pleasant experience shopping today...at Wal-Mart. Even more extraordinary is the fact that it is a Saturday, and not any other Saturday, but the Saturday before the Super Bowl. On a normal day it would have been a nightmare. But for some reason I chatted with several friendly customers (I didn't know any existed at Wally World), had a lovely conversation with the meat department employee, and didn't have to wait in a long line only to deal with an incompetent cashier! As we were driving away Chris and I were trying to think of the last time we had a pleasurable time at Wal-Mart...and we couldn't think of one.

It might also have had something to do with the new DVD player we bought, who knows!?

Monday, January 26, 2009

He actually wants to learn?

I love good books for my kids. My favorites right now are:
Alphabet Mystery by Audrey Wood (who I love!)
My mom gave this book to Gordon for Christmas and he carries it around with him everywhere! He asks me to read it to him at least twice a day. I love it for one reason only: it has made Gordon interested in learning his letters. Which is impressive for a three year old who can't sit still for more than 20 minutes. He can now recognize half of the letters in the alphabet. It is so cute, he points them out everywhere. On signs, TV, stores, billboards, anywhere. I love it!

Also a good one for letters is Chicka Chicka Boom BoomBut everyone knows that one, right?

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Just a Thought

I came across this blog the other day and I think it was just what I needed to hear. I haven't posted in over two weeks and it was nagging on me at least once a day. Where do I start? How do I pick up again? I better have a dang good post to make up for missing all that time...But after reading this fellow blogger's post I realized: I do NOT needed any added stress to my life. Why am I doing this to myself? So I give you her post. I copied and pasted (and she said I could) so these words are not my own but I like them. Go here to see her blog.

After coming across what seemed to be the 4000th or so post on someone's blog starting with "I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile." I decided it is time to rethink what makes a good blog and the expectations that have come to be part of it. I am thinking that no one should utter those words again . . .and with that thought I give you Blogging Without Obligation.

  • Because you shouldn't have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.
  • Because its okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.
  • Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.
  • Because sometimes less is more.
  • Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.
  • Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.
  • Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be "bloggable".
  • Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won't be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time. . .
My New Year's Resolution: Do not make blogging a chore! You will not hear any apologies from me. You might hear from me three times a day or once a month. No Guarantee!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Who would allow their children to read such things?

Gordon has a book entitled "Treasury of Bedtime Stories" it includes all the classic fairy tales such as The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, The Little Red Hen, The Ugly Duckling and so forth. Lately, Gordon has requested a story from this book every night (and occasionally after lunch or during Edison's naptime). Chris and I have both noticed these so called classics do not have very good morals to them.

Henny Penny - this "mother" hen enlists all her friends to help her tell the king the sky is falling and when a fox comes along she ditches her friends, runs home and leaves them all to be eaten by the fox. What a great friend.

Puss in Boots - the moral of this story - lie about who you are and you will be rich, marry a beautiful princess, and live happily ever after. Great life lesson I want my son to learn.

Jack and the Beanstalk - now this naughty little boy is something else. He robs a giant not once, not twice, but three times. AND after this man's wife feeds him supper TWICE!! This poor giant does nothing to Jack. In the end...he KILLS the giant.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin - talk about disturbing. The Pied Piper takes all the children when the mayor won't pay him his money! What a greedy little son of a gun.

Rumpelstiltskin - "Hey, I can spin staw into gold; marry me!"

It is so funny when I read Three Billy Goats Gruff to Gordon, when the troll gets tossed into the river and "was never seen again" he'll go, "ooohh" like he's all sad. Everytime. Never fails. Hilarious.

Monday, January 5, 2009

And the Winner Is...

Some people (my sister) have expressed an interest in whose gingerbread house is whose. And so without further ado...I give you...
Gordon's gingerbread house (third place)-
My gingerbread house (aka THE WINNER!)
Chris's gingerbread house (coming in a close 2nd)
It was a pretty tight race I tell you what, wow! Anyway, thanks all for voting.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Christmas Rundown

The Holidays around our house were pretty uneventful. I mean besides cleaning up bodily fluids. (Sorry that was totally inappropriate.) Christmas Eve we had the boys open their jammies.

And Gordon was in an okay mood. He actually smiled. We read the Night Before Christmas and did the Nativity Story with the flannel board and sent the kids to bed. I was pretty exhausted by 8:30 myself.

I love the Christmas tree all lit up at night with all the presents around it. Too bad it never turns out in pictures. Christmas morning Gordon woke up early not because he was excited to open presents but because he was hungry. We gave him some crackers and told him to go back to bed. Are we mean parents? Gordon was excited about his "mixer that spins" and all of his other kitchen appliances but that was about it. I think we are going to save all his toys for next year. Edison LOVED the over-sized bear. It is the cutest thing in the world to see him snuggle up to that thing. I got a sewing machine and Chris got car mats and an awesome home-made coupon book from me (you know with things like: back massage, pass on a dirty diaper, golf day...) Besides the fact that Gordon was ornery and didn't like his gifts it was a fairly normal day. Here's to starting the New year with no sick kids! Happy New Year!