Will's first sleep over!

While Taylor and Kenzie were out cruising, we got to get our hands on Wills for a couple of days!  He came to us in great spirits after being cared for by the avenues group- Drew, Rach, Laura, Mems and Papa.
THANK YOU! 

I took him on a long walk around the block which he loved.  Then we started our weekend by taking Wills out to dinner.  We went to Pei Wei and odered him his own Terriaki Chicken dinner.  He wasn't crazy about it but he LOVED the free oranges.  Jake was thrilled with his leftovers so it worked out great! Then we went to Barns and Noble. Again, Will was thrilled- loved the escalater. Then home for Wills most favorite...
MARBLES, MARBLES & more MARBLES!

Saturday we tackled the yard work.  He loved being outside and enjoying the spring weather. 

We logged in many, many hours of marbleworks. I must say that I believe I can beat any Nana in the world at building marble runs.
 I'm serious! {the pictures don't do me justice!}

Check out those little hands full of marbles.  So cute!

He took a tubby in my bath room with lots of bubbles.  He was a bit nervous at first but as you can see, he warmed right up to it and had a great time splishing and slpashing!

He enjoyed all of our undivided attention.  He was so cute to do all his tricks:  sounds the animals make, what Tarzan says, where Nana is, Papa is and Mama and Daddy. Plus he makes the best "Mmmmmm" sound when he eats and "Ohhhhhh!" To anything that captures his fancy.  He's very expressive.

Then it appears that things got really fun after I left to attend some AlphaGraphics meetings.  I left Wills with the boys- Nathan, Jake and Curtis.  The evidence of what happened after I left was captured on my camera. Hmmmm, I guess all I can say is

 "when the cats away, the mice will play!"

 

and, "Boys will be boys"!

What a great weekend. 

And good news... The McBride princesses are next week and

 Halle gets our attention the week after! 

A spring full of young chicks!  Lucky me!

Move over green smoothie girl- it's green smoothie baby!

 Halle LOVES her green smoothies!

No matter who is drinking one, she is mooching.

Halle's healthy high-

"little bits" of happiness!

My grandbabies are kind of little shrimpies!

Will's ball rolled under the armoire so he simply crawled under to get it!

He's 18 months old but a little on the little side!

His nickname is "mini munchkin" - "mini munch" for short.

Halle has struggled with the growing thing right from conception!

Now at one year, she still only weighs 14 pounds.

Since that is down from what she weighed at 9 months, the

doctor insisted on running some tests to see why she isn't growing.

  It turns out she just needs lots and lots more Vitamin D!

We affectionately call her "the bug".

I promise-

Big happiness comes in little packages!

A first for me

I just saw my first foreign film with subtitles and everything.  It was the Acadamy Award winner for foreign films in 2008.  I actually really liked it!  It's about a man who finds himself falling into the profession as an encoffiner.  He plays the cello and comes from a broken family.  If you want to see how that all works as a story line, you'll have to watch it yourself!

Quite possibly the most perfect movie ever made-

I wish I had a dollar for every time I have watched this movie.

I would be rich!  I think that it is quite possibly the

most perfect movie ever made.  Fortunatly, Nathan loves it

too so we watch it over & over again.  Here are my three

 favorite scenes which I belive are absolutely masterful.

The scene where Lizzie and Darcy are dancing in the ballroom

and then...all at once... it is them, dancing alone in the room.

Soooo romantic.

The scene where Lizzie is on the swing and as she twirls

the seasons are changing. It's the most artful passing of time ever!

Then of course everyone's favorite, the scene where they walk

across the field to declare their love for each other. Yum.

I love a man in a long coat and boots- who stutters!

You know what stresses me out?

Commercials for the i Pad. I'd like to believe that I'm somewhat keeping up with technology, but the iPad commercials are blatent reminders that I am quickly losing my grip on the tools of the times.  And that stresses me out.  Like I literally start getting little anxiety symptoms and start fearing that I will be left behind to communicate with only my grandmother who calls cell phones "celery phones".  How will I keep in touch with my children and grandchildren when everyone has moved on and is embracing the latest and greatest and I am still struggling with texting. (I can text- I'm just super slow at it). I almost can't stand it.  It's too much, too fast. Sometimes I want to yell at the world

 "Slow down, you're movin' to fast!  

Halle Ann-

Happy Birthday!  I love you oodles and tons!

The perfect Easter

Here is what a perfect Easter looks like to me:

I am so blessed with such a beautiful family!

I love my husband, kids and my grandchildren so much. I am

thankful for the time we are able to spend together and

the traditions that are uniquely ours.

Everyone got a new pair of Reef flip flops for Easter.

It's been a tradition for years and years and I love it!

I tried out a new chicken recipie...

YUMMO! (If I do say so myself)

I am also eternally thankful for the gift of the resurection:

"He is not here: for he has risen, as he said."

Matthew 28:6

I am so blessed.

Happy Easter!

Whitney's bad influence

Whitney keeps getting us addicted to all these dramas!

She calls them "guilty pleasures".

We've watched season one and two of army wives

and when we were sick last week, she snuck in and

 left us season three which we watched from start to finish in

one weekend! (I'm slightly embarassed.)

So now we are ready for season four-

Oh, I hope Joan didn't really die...?

Curt's new crib

Curtis is now a tenate. Check out his new digs!

And some temperary wheels to get around.

He's jumped into independence with both feet-

Remember Curt- Dinner here every other Sunday!

My hunk a man

THE UNIQUENESS OF NATHAN:

He is an avid reader (I call him "the professor").

He is a movie buff, but gets a little pouty if he can't have

popcorn and a large Diet Coke during.

He is learning to play the guitar with Jake.

He has mad love for:

He is a lover of nature.

He loves to ski, waterski, surf, golf, and motorcycle-

 as long as he's doing it with his kids.

He's an opptimist.

He thinks he brought back-

(we don't have the heart to tell him otherwise.)

He loves black licorice.

He has the BEST legs ever and he knows how to use them.

He's an awesome G-pa!

He makes our bed every morning (since he's the last one out).

He is super, duper too smart for his own good.

He's very philisophical- he enjoys quotes like:

"The truth is, we know so little about life,

we don't really know what the good news

is and what the bad news is."  -Kurt Vonnegut

He is a loyal friend.

He is a really great dad and will do ANYTHING for his family.

 He can eat anything he wants and not gain weight.

He is a bit of a free spirit.

He coughs when he laughs.

He has a thing for things that start with

"B"

boxes, bags, books, bungis, brief cases, bras, that's enough.

He thinks he can speak like 5 different languages but he really can't.

(It is funny when he tries though)

He thinks he still has "dark" hair.  He recently had an argument with the DMV when they made him change Hair color: from "Dark" to  "Gray" on his Drivers license.

He is patient, kind and loving.

and bonus...

He's MINE!

Back in the olden days...

There was a time when I had to deal with the casualties of the flu without an in-house washer and dryer.  So heres how it works... You just start throwing stuff out the front door.  And I'm not kidding.  Blankets, rugs, sheets, towels, jammies, etc.  And then, when you felt strong enough-(a day or two later, you would load up the kids and quarters and the soap and dryer sheets (were there dryer sheets back then?) and off too the laundry you'd go.  Dealing with "day old" you know what!

To take it a step further...

This is what some of our fore-mothers had to do... disgusting!

At least I had acsess to the laundrymat!

And while we're on the subject...  Here is what I am lusting for. 

Aren't they dreamy?

 

Sad for the marketing department :(

Nathan and I were dying for a 7 up yesterday. Of course we had Sprite in the fridge, and some Sierra Mist. But only 7 up does the job when you are in the "throws" (excuse the pun) of the throw ups. It's not too sweet, not too heavy. It's just simple comfort in a can. The problem is that 7 up can't really capitalize on it's natural healing powers because who wants that image associated with your product?

   "Feeling barfy? Drink 7 up!" 

 It doesn't work which is sad.  Because there may be millions of Americans who don't realize that in times of intestinal distress,

" 7 up...it's the only soda that delivers fast, effective relief!"

Ready for launch-

Curt is ready to take on the world.  I almost can't stand it.  I'm trying to re-cap the almost 20 years we have had together.  Have I taught him all the skills he needs to survive in the jungle out there?  I am seriosly doubting my mommy skills.  But for the life of me, I can't think of any more advice to give.  I just want him to be healthy, and happy and safe.  That's it.  However he gets there, that's his journey and his alone.  I love my Curtis with all my heart and will miss him being around all the time. I am completly confident that he will experience lots of success in life!

 I love you Curt!

YEW!

YEWWWW!  We have the flu!

What hurts:  Everything, Knees, hips, head, knuckles, you name it... it hurts!

What helps: Nothing

Who has it: Me, Nathan, Jake, Curtis, Halle & Whitney

When Whitney called in to check on us, Nathan willed her all our

 money.  (In the event that we don't "make it")

Then he told her where he keeps his fortune.

(On the shelf above the t.v.)

I'm sure she'll split it 5 ways.  That should give each child about

 $1.23. (I already scored all the quarters.)

I hope tomorrow is a better day:(