Bubbles

I love the bubble machine. It's a cheap, easy and fun way to spend 15-20 minutes. Annabel enjoyed it too and I have her on video saying "bubble"! It's her first word other than MaMa and DaDa!

Something Fun

Last night Jimbo and I watched Be Kind Rewind. During it I got to thinking about how obsolete VHS tapes are now and that my own children's children won't have any clue as to what a VHS tape is (much like Beta tapes were to me).

I told Jimbo I'd actually miss that technology. I can't say why for certain. The picture is grainy, it's not as easy as clicking a button to jump a scene and once a tape is damaged that is pretty much all she wrote. But I do love my old VHS tapes and plan on keeping them long past when they are considered antiques (some of mine are getting close to that mark).

As 2001: A Space Odyssey was "sweded" (term from Be Kind Rewind, which is funny as hell!) I told Jimbo I'd never seen it. He looked shocked and told me it was very good and that I had to check it out. Suddenly inspiration struck. What if I had a project for myself where I'd watch so many VHS movies in so many days and I'd review them just for the fun of it. Sort of like the Steve Guttenburg project but not limited to one specific actor/actress or genre?

Right now I'm still thinking it over. I'd have to decide how many movies, how many days/months and if I'd limit myself to VHS or if DVD's could be slipped in (which let's face it, will probably have to happen, it's hard to find VHS tapes and I can't afford to purchase every title).

I'll let you know what I finally decide, I think it could be fun. I'd like to review many of the 80's old school horror movies. Movies like The Fog, The Stuff, Creepshow, Cat's Eye, and Fright Night. Those are true old school!

Father's Day, Pie and a Show

So my dear husband had one request today, homemade Apple Pie. Otherwise his day was spent relaxing around the house and vegging together on the sofa tonight to watch Gremlins.

That is the one thing we all do together as a family I really enjoy. It's so much fun to watch the children laughing when silly things happen on the screen (they can't be scared when we make funny noises and say "get that gremlin!"). Logan would stand and mimic the people slowly walking around on the screen (like the Mom investigating the kitchen) only to go "BAH!!!" at the right times.

Vincent of course snuggled in with Dad, Annabel snuggled in with me and Arwen floated back and forth around us all and we laughed until we cried.

I called my Grandpa and Dad too to wish them a Happy Father's Day. I'd really hoped to see Dad today but he wanted to check out the gun show with his Dad and it's his day after all. Maybe I can get out to see him this week or this weekend. I've really missed him.

Picnic

Today was the annual company picnic. We loaded up the kids and took off this afternoon in what we hoped would be a fun family day. For the most part, that is what we got, with one noticeable exception...the freaking redneckville HEAT.

Oh my dear god. I broke my "no shorts" rule and purchased some capri's the night before. It marked the first time in years I've worn anything other than pants out (another topic for another day) and it's a good thing too or I'd never have made it.

The one thing I have to blog about though is the poor little girl in the blue harness. She was perhaps 3 years old and was strapped into a blue harness that wrapped around her chest and shoulders. On the back was a clasp and this was attached to a blue leash. On the other end was the girls Mom. Now I realize some people like the child leash but it reminded me of a woman on a walk with her dog. This Mom would walk a decent distance ahead of her child and then pull on the leash. The little girl would stumble at times and do an odd jog to catch up only to fall behind and be tugged at once more. I finally snapped a picture to share with you all. Let's hope they never read my blog!

After we were finished we packed back into the van and rushed to Hell-Mart to pick up the things necessary to bake an apple pie (Jimbo's request for Father's Day). While there I got stuck in a 20 minute line and by the time I made it to the Van Jimbo handed me the camera with one instruction:

"You have to watch this, I recorded it while you were gone."

Since the kids were screaming their heads off I pretty much knew what it was he wanted me to see. I have to say I'm so glad I was the one that went inside the store.

Tally

Friday we did something for the first time as a whole family...we went out to eat in a restaurant. Ok technically we went to dinner at Pizza Hut but still, we took all the kids and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I was so pleased as all of the kids were on their very best behavior. They sat patiently and colored on their papers until the pizza arrived. We left a 20% tip and I'm sure the waitress was pretty happy as it was easy money.

On to today. I'm disappointed to report that the alloted snack times are not working out so well. As soon as a snack is finished I immediately get asked for more. On one hand I don't mind giving snacks as we eat pretty healthy around here. Sure we have chips and snack cakes but usually we eat bananas, strawberries, yogurt or popcorn. Unfortunately however the cost of gas has really hit us hard. We paid $60 to fill up the van Friday. That's $10 more than our norm and considering we'll probably have to fill it again next week that's a $20 increase. This means we have to be more conservative with things and that includes cutting back on feeding snacks to my piglets.

I've decided to give snacks 3 times per day and the major snack I've decided on is popcorn. This way I can give a snack about an hour after breakfast, another an hour after lunch (before nap) and another when they wake from nap. I know they are not starving if they get these small snacks and hopefully they will learn that these are the only times I am giving into requests. I also have to teach them that snack times doesn't mean endless snacks. Logan is terrible about asking for a yogurt, wolfing it down and wanting another...and another...and another. Logan can go through roughly 10 yogurts per day if I'd let him. He loves them more than anything else.

Annabel has been difficult as of late. At night she doesn't sleep well and therefore I don't sleep well. At first I thought she might be coming down with the same bug I have but I found out today the cause of her discomfort is from cutting her top teeth. They are trying to come through and this means now more than ever she has to start on some solids. I hope to break some ground with her in the coming weeks.

Otherwise the day has been awesome. I'm waiting for my luck to run out!

Summer Scoreboard:

Kids=2
Mom=3

Woo-Hoo! I'm on top, wonder how long that will last?!?

Food Fight!

My kitchen is covered in lemon cake and lemon icing. That was the flavor the boys chose to bake this morning. We baked cupcakes and a one layer before icing them. But at some point Logan nailed me in the face with a half eaten cupcake and that let lose a food fight of epic proportions.

And you know what? In between throwing icing around at each other and cake crumbs falling all over the floor, I had the best time. The mess was so totally worth it. I just wish I had my camera to take some pictures.

I love my little guys, they keep it fun around here. Now where is my mop?

Baking with Vince

Field Day!

All I can say is Arwen had a great time and it was wonderful to be able to enjoy watching her. I can't believe Kindergarten is almost over...my little girl is growing up before my eyes. I'd better not blink.

Impractical

I'm a self confessed purse junkie and I'm not picky. I love all kinds of purses ranging from the incredibly cheap to the outrageously expensive (most of which I do not own by the way). The one thing that has changed about my purse addiction over the years is the size of purse I carry. I've evolved to the "Mom" purse club. We are easy to spot, simply look for the purse that doubles as a diaper bag.

A couple of years ago, I purchased this purse for my Mom. I loved it immediately and thought she would too. When it arrived I was sort of taken back (I ordered it online) at how impractical it was. Sure it was adorable but you couldn't fit much inside. Mostly just a small wallet, lipstick, keys, and phone fit in there.

My Mom kept it for a few weeks before handing it over to me because she had to carry something bigger (and she knew I'd use it if only from time to time). So it's sat in my closet until today. I pulled it out and while I enjoyed carrying it I'm sad to say I'll have to put it back up tomorrow before Jimbo takes me out (on a side note: we are going out, I'm so excited! I'm really looking forward to having a date with my husband, it's been 6 weeks!).

By the way, don't you love that top photo? If you look at my face you can see how challenged I am when it comes to technology. I'm not kidding. Someone get me a Technology for Dummies book asap!

♥ Mark and Kristi ♥

Today has been hell but I wanted to blog quickly about DWTS last night.

♥ Mark and Kristi ♥ are the two to beat this season, seriously. Her Mambo was so awesome!

Jimbo told me his company is offering a free ballroom lesson this week and I so hope I can go. I asked him last week if he'd consider taking classes with me. I'll confess my husband is rather hot when he wants to be (aka when he shaves! he just doesn't like looking so young) and I'd love to see him dress up nice for me and not just for work!

I have the fever! And dancing would help get me back into shape. If my body will accept the challenge that is.