Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
 I know it's a little early, but I am hoping that a very early request gives a better chance of getting what you ask for. (Even though I am fully aware that there is no way that I will be getting this for Christmas this year, especially since one of my children decided that he wanted a wii from Santa this year.) 
I was looking through the pictures on my blog and decided that I desperately need this

(Nikon D90)





But I will gladly except this

 (nikon D60)


And I would even be okay with this




(Nikon P90)







Well, just thought I would give it a shot.  I was made aware that there are only 113 more shopping days until Christmas by a friend.  Might as well give you a heads up.  I have been pretty decent; I didn't even throw a fit about moving out of state.  And I have tried to keep a pretty clean house, be a relatively patient mother, a good friend, and a devoted wife.  Oh, and I have even done my visiting teaching regularly almost the whole year (having 3 moths off with the move helps with that statistic).  I definitely think I made it above coal level this year.

Sincerely,
A very wonderful and deserving mother of two that knows that pictures are all we have to remember......and they grow WAY too fast!

The Precious Moments of Life

It is the end of the day.  The close of an evening, and I am more grateful than usual for the sweet sound of quite.

 We did something very brave tonight.  We decided that we  had gotten way to lax with our children.  This began after I picked up Caleb from a friends house yesterday and she informed me that Caleb didn't eat any lunch because he said,  and I quote, "um, I just don't like that kind of macaroni and cheese".

Hmmmm, yep we have officially become the lazy parents, the ones I used to watch as their children threw hysterical fits if they didn't get McDonald's chicken nuggets and nothing else and swore I would never be like.  Yes, the ones that have somehow allowed their children to become picky eaters.  It snuck up on us so fast.  We thought because they would eat broccoli and asparagus that we were all right.  And all of a sudden my child will only eat a certain brand of macaroni and cheese.

Tonight was the night.  They now have to eat their entire plate of food, which is not entirely new.  The kicker is that their plate contained 'grown up food'. Yes, like pasta salad and cucumber dip.  No more playing to their likes and dislikes.

Total success.  (No sarcasm hinted there whatsoever)

Ernie, after about 30-40 min of complaining incessantly finally at least had a bite of everything.

Caleb cried the entire rest of the evening.  I mean bawled.  Screamed about how we hated him because I made food that looked gross.  Cried that we just didn't love him and we didn't want him to have anything to eat.  Insisted that it wasn't his fault that we only make 'stupid food'. (And, yes, I will admit that we did find some of the fit rather amusing.)

About 2 1/2 hrs later he was finally aloud to leave the kitchen to get in the bath.  As I was getting him ready for bed this is what he said,
"Mom, I'm really hungry (with a huge Caleb style grin).  Do we have anything to eat?"

We really got to him, didn't we?

Summer Nostalgia

Today is supposed to be the beginning of fall.  Summer for us will now never end :), but the call of fall decorations and Halloween costumes made me a little nostalgic.  All those wonderful summer memories came flooding back. So many seem like a lifetime ago now, but they were only a few months ago!   Being the sentimental person that I am (kids growing up does that to you)  it sent me down memory lane.  These are some of our favorite memories from the summer months.   I assure you that this is not my entire photo album, although it may seem so, and I edited quite a number of pictures that I wanted to add to my post out.  I thought you might enjoy going down memory lane with me.

Vegas Rain

This past weekend we were in Vegas. While we were out and about my parents took over the job of kids. (A job that they are very anxious to take on, much to our fortune.) My very creative and enthusiastic father (wearing his 'happy' shirt- thanks for that one Layne) thought it would be fun for the boys to remember what "rain" was like. They had a blast, so I thought I would share the picture. May I also add that yes, they got completely drenched.

The True Life Indiana Jones Adventure

I decided to devote an entire blog entry to letting you all know how great I am. I had a birthday party for my son Ernie (yes it may have been a week in a half late, but that is totally irrelevant) I'm talking a theme and everything. I am usually very uncreative, but I was very impressed with myself this time, and decided I must share my own awesomeness.
So, shockingly he wanted to have an Indiana Jones party. The kids had a blast! We had an obstacle course with a fire pit, a tunnel where guns went off when you crawled through (bubble wrap)just to name a few of the 'obstacles'. I even made a treasure chest by spray painting a Styrofoam chest. I know, I know, so creative, right?! They also had a treasure hunt, and played a few other games. And of course the awesome cake with a cave. I may have not made the cake, but coming up with the idea and figuring out how to have someone else make it counts for something doesn't it?
As for pictures, I only have a few. Sorry, I was not the best party photographer. Here you go, enjoy.