Getting Closer to Spring

What Were Wii Thinking?

So it started off as a few simple questions in my head. What is the Wii like? If we were going to get a video gaming system for the family would this be the one? Do I really want one in the house? In need of a new pair of pants I head to Target, while there we go check out the electronics department just to see...maybe if I see one I can decide. None in stock, no, they don't know when the next shipment is coming in, no they don't have a waiting list and by the way, "good luck finding one anytime soon." A quick shrug of the shoulders and off I go to the clothing section. On the way home from Target I need to stop at Fred Meyers for a couple things and guess what I do, yes, I headed straight to the electronics department. None in stock, no, they don't know when the next shipment is coming in, no they don't have a waiting list and by the way, "good luck finding one anytime soon." Now my competitive nature is kicking in. I sleep on it for a night, get up the next day and go have Green Eggs and Ham with Noah. On the way home we stop at Walmart for no other reason than to head straight for the electronics department. None in stock, no, they don't know when the next shipment is coming in, no they don't have a waiting list and by the way, "good luck finding one anytime soon." GAME ON PEOPLE! That's right I will have one and I will crack your shipment codes and I will have one soon! By this time, it doesn't matter if I think we should have one because we're getting one! Later that day I head over to Game Stop. I put on my game face and get the information I'm looking for, they don't know for sure what day they will come in but they receive shipments around 10:30 a.m. If I call at that time and they have one, they will put one aside and give me 15 minutes to get there to buy the system. Ha! One ace up my sleeve but that's not enough for me so I go to Fred Meyers and cull the weakest sales associate from the bunch. She gives in and tells me that Wednesday and Friday mornings are their shipment days so if I really need one I should be there right at 7a.m. on those days. Got it! Send Joel to Fred Meyers at 7a.m. before he heads off to work! Just to let the Wii folk know who's in charge I talk to my friend at Chevron whose son and nephew both work at Best Buy. They have me on speed dial to let me know when they get one in...victory is soon to be mine people! Wednesday morning Joel's at Fred Meyers, no luck there, just after 10:30a.m. I call Game Stop - THEY HAVE ONE! Off I go, I'm there within ten minutes and we are now the proud owners of a Nintendo Wii! None in stock, no, they don't know when the next shipment is coming in, no they don't have a waiting list and by the way, "good luck finding one anytime soon." I don't think so! That was not in my game plan.

Then Joel Says

"Look, puck-muffs!" I turn and this is what I see...

Sam I Am

Beaches, a local and might I add very yummy restaurant, puts on a Dr. Suess Green Eggs and Ham breakfast each year for all of the first graders in the Evergreen School District. This is done by Beaches at no charge to the schools. The parents get invited, the kids all get a silly hat and there is a raffle at each school for a gift certificate to Beaches. We pawned Oliver off on my friend, Katie, and Joel and I went and had breakfast with Noah. Those were the greenest eggs that I have ever seen! It wasn't a bad breakfast at all and we loved having breakfast with Noah. Joel took these pictures with his phone since I forgot to grab the camera (that I had set out) when we left.

Getting Closer!!!

Noah was wrestling with Oliver the other day and wanted to make sure that no accidents would happen so he put a diaper on his little brother! Of course by the time we feel comfortable leaving Noah alone with Oliver while we go out Ollie won't be in diapers anymore but still, Noah does a great job of taking care of his brother. We see it as one step closer to a built in baby sitter. The diaper was put on perfectly and Oliver seemed rather proud to be wearing a diaper that was put on by his big brother.

Guess What We Were Doing Tonight...

Valentine Activities

Yesterday, as we all know, was Valentines Day and I volunteered to help out in Noah's class for their party. It was fun and Mrs. Voeller is a miracle worker because she kept the chaos level at a tolerable level. 24 first graders with access to candy for the last hour of the day...they did great and we all had a lot of fun! Here are some pictures:

Noah showing us his box that he decorated.

Noah is showing Oliver how to sort, count and then graph the results...if you look closely you can see that Oliver is skewing the results by sampling the items.

The pile of Valentines

Cute picture of Noah and his friend, Andrew

At this point Noah took the camera and snapped this picture of Mrs. Voeller...isn't she sweet!

This is Noah trying to get a class picture...I think the sugar had fully kicked in by now!

Nice Try Noah

A little history first...Noah is now the proud owner of a Sony PSP and loves to play the heck out of it. Noah has also been putting up a pretty good fight as far as eating whats good and healthy for you lately. This has been a huge topic of conversation lately. We're working on it but we've got a ways to go yet. Anyway, after I mentioned something about Valentines day this is what Noah had to say...

Mom, I know that I should really be eating healthier. I also know that I eat too much candy, some you don't even know about because my friends share with me at school. So since I need to start eating better I figured that for Valentines day you shouldn't get me any candy, since it's bad for me and all. But I don't think it would be fair if I didn't get anything so how about you just get me a game for my PSP? That way I won't have to eat the candy that's bad for me. We could check Game Stop for a used Spiderman one if you wanted.

I stood there looking at him for a moment then busted up laughing. That kid has some smarts in that head of his but he's not going to fool his mom. He knows (and sadly for him I also know) that between grandparents, Valentines and Valentine parties at school he will get plenty of the sugary stuff to eat. So hitting me up for a new game, which are not cheap, by using the "candy isn't good for me angle" just had to work, right? I have a feeling that my eldest child is going to have a bummer of a Valentines Day...all because I love him.

NOTE: Because a few have asked...no, Noah did not get a new or used game for his Sony PSP. He did, however, get a couple of Lego Racers and one Nestle Crunch bar from his mom and dad. The rest of his sugary needs were meet by friends and extended family members. =)

Cool Spring Day at the Park

So I had my fun posting pictures of the signs of spring and now here's another sign of spring...at the park but my are those cheeks flushed, nose snotty and fingers bright red! Why didn't I bundle him up more you ask? Well, I did then watched as the stubborn mule, I mean Oliver, dug in his hooves, I mean tennis shoes and brayed, I mean sobbed on the front porch begging me to take off the hat, coat and gloves. I figured he would either be just fine, which he was, or he'd learn that mommy was right (ha!) and he'd wear the items next time (not going to happen!).

Signs of Spring!

Lent Leading to Easter

While in the nursery and at Sunday school yesterday the boys each got a calendar to follow through Lent leading to Easter on March 23. The boys and I are going to follow along with the calendar and we wanted to know if you would like to also? I've decided instead of posting something every day that I would add a feature to the left of the blog that tells you what the activity or prayer or exercise, etc. is for the day. To get caught up...

February 6 - Ash Wednesday: Create in us new and honest hearts, O God.

February 7 - "Lent" means lengthen. The short, cold winter days lengthen into longer, warmer ones. (More time to play outside!)

February 8 & 9 - Find out why these objects are good symbols for lent. (There are pictures of a lamb, a fish, a shell, a heart, grapes and a crown of thorns.)

February 10 - Praying, Jesus taught us how to pray. Read Luke 11, verses 1-4.

So if you feel like following along, the rest of the activities will be over there to the left...no your other left. =) I'm sure your kids will have fun and if, like me, you are struggling with your spirtuality these days, this just might be a fun way to re-new something good. Have fun!

Sorry Dads!

This one makes me laugh everytime someone forwards it to me so now I'm permanently displaying it on the blog...

Mom Test
I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up somethingoff the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that."Why?" my daughter asked."Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it'sdirty, and it probably has germs," I replied.At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration andasked, "Momma, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart."I was thinking quickly."All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mom Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mom."We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.
"OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the dad.""Exactly," I replied back with a big smile on my face.

Useless Information

Here is mine...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess Tiffany the Carnivorous of Frogging over Womble Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Here is Joel's...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: The Most Honourable Joel the Sheepish of Hardy St Thomas Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Beth made me do it! Let me know what your aristocratic title is...

Unfamiliar Faces

John, Stephanie, Tamara, Chris, Mitch, Joel and I all went to the Doug Fir Lounge last night and saw Matt Costa. It was a great show. The venue was interesting, music was great, friends all around me, wish you could have been there too!

You Never Know

Our taxes needed to be done so I put in one of Oliver's favorite videos, set out a favorite snack of his and sequestered myself in our room where the computer is. Luckily, our taxes are pretty simple to do and we are getting a refund. Anyway, I was almost done and I could hear Oliver rummaging around the kitchen, I went out and he had gotten into my baking cupboard and pulled out the marshmallows. Needing just a few more minutes I gave him a few and focused again on the taxes. When I got done I came out and found my boy relaxing on the couch, watching his video, no marshmallows in sight...until I took a closer look. It appears that he chewed or sucked on one of them and then proceeded to rub it on his eyebrows, in his hair, in his ears and all over his mouth. Really? What goes through this kid's head? After a shower, change of clothes, etc. we sat down to read a book. I grabbed the coffee table and felt something sticky. Not on the top because I had already cleaned that part but rather on the sides. Oliver had chewed up tiny bits of the marshmallow and stuck them all along the side of the table. When I asked him what it was he just gave me a big grin and said, "pretty!" I guess in some cultures it could be considered "pretty" right? I, however, failed to get a picture of the "pretty" so you will have to use your imagination on that one.

How I Found Him

Sticky Ear
Eyebrow Glued Into Position
Sticky Mouth With a Little Cat Hair for Good Measure

Attention All Scrapbook Enthusiasts

...and other creative and so inclined persons. You really need to go check out my friend, Liz's, new website. Her and her friend, Jackie, created this site to share their ideas and hopefully inspire some in us. The name of the site is "Illustrating Stories" which is a great way to describe what us scrapbook fanatics do! You can link to it by clicking here or use the link on the right side of my blog. Be sure to leave Liz and Jackie a comment letting them know what you think and you could be a winner of a RAK (random act of kindness).