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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

1.  I went to Muffins with Mom at the twins' school this past Friday. As you can see from the picture, they were thrilled to have me there. Always fun to go hang out with the boys on their turf. At one point some of the little girls in Bryce's class were whispering behind us: "No, you go tell him-you're the one that likes him" "Well, you're the one that wants to hug Bryce".
Bryce just looked at me said, "Don't make eye contact, mom, just pretend you didn't hear them."
I wish that I could.

2. Quiet weekend here at the Lakes homestead-the twins had a basketball game on Saturday and then I slept for the next eight hours. Why did I sleep? Awful, awful migraine headache. Oh, and I missed the entire first period of the twins' game-I'm not a morning person on my best days but add on a raging headache and it isn't pretty. I'm just proud that I was able to function enough to get me and the two little ones there and back. Little victories...

3. The Moose was looking pretty cute at church this week-I love the sweater vest combo on little guys.
My son is obsessed with remotes, we literally have to hide them from him (and sometimes from ourselves!)

4. And this is what happens when you give a Moose spaghetti...they want more...

5. I'm currently reading Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky-so far, so good. It's about a woman who has a baby that looks nothing like either parent-turns out that the father has some interesting branches on his family tree that he didn't know about. I'll let you know how it turns out.

6. Jarron's appointment at the GI specialist went really good (Or is it well? Where is Grammar Girl when you need her?)-they are pretty sure they've figured out his issue, which they think is IBS. We met with a nutritionist and got lots of good tips on how to manage it going forward. I'm really hoping this was the answer we'd been looking for, he's been dealing with stomach pain for nearly a year now.
 
Nope, not gonna smile.

7. I just had to google how to tie my new scarf that I plan to wear to work tomorrow. Let's just say fashion is not one of my strengths. Sad but true, people.

8. Since he finished the John Wall dance brainwashing, Chuck is currently trying to teach Brody how to say "WHHAAATTT". So far it's not happening.
 
Yeah, so the kid looks nothing like me-completely his Daddy's boy.

9. Scrapbook night is this Friday and I can not wait. I have been putting together page kits and sketching out ideas for weeks.

10. I'm betting that nearly everyone who clicked on the link to Grammar Girl (love that site, BTW) thinks I'm the biggest nerd ever. And I am okay with that. Good grammar is cool.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

1. I'm beginning to feel like we live in Alaska or something. Ohio just isn't supposed to be so snowy. There is literally two canyons of snow on either side of our driveway, where we have been constantly shoveling the cars out.  I blame Puxatawney Phil for this, if only that little rodent hadn't seen his shadow!

Check out the snow in the backyard: (that's a full size ruler!)
 
What you can't read it? Here, get closer...

2. I just finished the book Game Change, about the 2008 presidential election-it was really, really interesting. If you are into politics, I highly recommend it. And I am very into politics (I was a Poli Sci major until my advisor told me I'd never find a job after graduation.), good book!

3. My super awesome hubby turned 35 this weekend. (He reads this blog, so I have to nice things about him-kidding. :>) We celebrated by letting him take 3 of the 4 boys snow tubing with our friends, the Noonans. Denise and I stayed warm and dry at the house hanging out with the Moose. Fun was had by all!


 

  

4. I just found the coolest scrapbooking product today-it is totally going to change the way I scrapbook. These two little strips of plastic are going to allow me to abandon those silly three ring albums and return to the wonderful world of post bound albums. So happy. You can read more about it here. 


5. I helped out at Bryce and Jackson's Valentine's parties last week. Bryce's teacher shared a pretty funny story with me. She got engaged this past week and invited her fiancee to the class party. Bryce told her that he needed to check the guy out and make sure "he was good enough for her". I guess at some point they got to ask the fiancee questions. (Oh boy.) Bryce said, " I have two questions-one-who is your favorite football team?" The fiancee said, "Ohio State" to which Bryce replied, "Ok, I'll give you that one and and two-do you like to wear fleece?" Quick background here, Bryce loves to wear fleece pull overs-he thinks they are the most comfortable clothing ever. The fiancee said, "Sure, I'm wearing one right now." 
Later on, Bryce pulled his teacher aside and said "I'm still not sure he's good enough for you, I think I need to get to know him a little better first, but I guess he's okay for now." That afternoon on the way home, Bryce said, "I was pretty impressed with Mr F-he got us some really cool valentines, none of those baby cartoon things-manly sports stuff, maybe he'll be good for Miss D after all." That's our Bryce.

 
6. Jackson's class loved the little valentine craft I organized. Jackson, however,  was far more interested in going through his Valentines-on the way home he sorted them into piles-"cool ones" (Bakugan and Spiderman), "delicious ones" (Fun Dip, suckers, etc.) and "stupid girly ones" (also called the garbage pile). BTW, those were his names for the piles, not mine.
 

7. Jarron decided to ignore all games, crafts and socializing at his class party and instead focus on the important stuff-food. He brought home his creative writing assignment this week-it's a story called "Burger Time" about 4 crime fighting, food eating contestants.  Fighting crimes and eating 50 hamburgers all in an afternoon's work! Such a Jarron thing to write.

 
8.I feel like the Moose has grown up overnight. The shirt he is wearing this picture? It's a 4T. Granted, it ran a little small but still, the kid is only 17 months old, for Pete's sake.
 

9. Have you ever been so tired, you just can't seem to move a muscle? Have you ever been so tired that you fell asleep mid-bite? Moosey has...
 
Seriously, he fell asleep in the middle of eating cheese! Who does that?

10. I really, really wish it would stop snowing. I don't even want to think about how muddy my yard is going to be when it all melts.


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

1. So for those of us living in Ohio, I'll state the obvious, we got some snow the last few days. And by some, I mean about 10 inches or so total between the two storms. This weekend's storm wasn't too awful but today we got hit hard. So we sent the kids out to play in it. (One of them without a hat-awesome parenting skills at work as usual!).

 
Bryce the hatless kid, that will probably have a cold this weekend.


Jarron, the sensible one. 


The Moose in a somewhat staged photo (he sat there like a statue not moving a muscle-I don't think he likes snow too much)

2. Some of you are probably doing the math in your head right now....wait a minute isn't there four Lakes boys? Why yes, yes there is. But this Lakes boy doesn't really care for snow. He'd prefer to hang out in pajamas that are wee bit too small (but he refuses to stop wearing) and pretend to be Spiderman. Can't say I really blame him.

 
3. I had two of my funniest conversations of the week with Jackson. The first was completely random.
Jackson: Why did you name me Jackson?
Me: Because Daddy and I liked it and Jack is a family name.
Jackson: Why couldn't you name me something cool? Can I change my name?
Me (using my standard answer): When you are 18.
Jackson: I'm changing my name to Snakeman Lakes. That's a cool name!
Me (trying not to laugh): It's different. Where'd you come up with that?
Jackson: I just thought of it. I like snakes.
Conversation number two happened a few days later.
Jackson: Can I get a wolf?
Me: Like a stuffed wolf?
Jackson: No a real one.
Me: I don't think so.
Jackson: When I'm 18, I'm getting a black wolf.
Me: Where are you going to keep him?
J: In my house.
Me: Won't he be kinda big for that?
J (looking at me like I'm crazy): I'm not gonna get a big one, I'll get a baby one. He won't bite or anything.
Me: I don't think wolves live in houses.
J: Haven't you read Little Red Riding Hood?
Point taken.
 Snakeman Lakes, wolf tamer

4. I got not one, but two, new floor cleaners this week. The first is a new vacuum and was my 5 year anniversary gift from my company. (Yes, I chose a vacuum rather than a two man tent or a watch-I'm nothing if not practical.) Let me just say I love the new vacuum, it one of those lightweight deals that does carpets and hardwood floors-buh-bye broom! The other floor cleaner is something Chuck had actually requested-a Shark steam mop. It's very, very cool. It doesn't use chemicals or cleaners, just ordinary tap water. The steam does a really thorough job of cleaning and it's very easy to use-buh-bye Swiffer WetJet!

5. Uncle Don requested that I put photos of the car he made for Andrew for drive in movie night on the blog. Uncle Don goes a little bit overboard on these things. :) Well, see for yourself:
 
That's his-the hot rod with flames. Seriously. For the record-we were just supposed to decorate cardboard boxes to sit in for drive in movie night. I think the wheels actual moved on that thing.
Here's a look at it with Andrew in it:

Yes, that's a passenger in the car with Andrew. And a personalized license plate. Nice-I just noticed that. I like to give Don a hard time but he has some serious car decorating skills.

6. If I ever agree to plan two different Valentine's parties for two different kids on the same day at two different schools, just slap me, okay? Not my best idea ever. But these little ladybugs will be an awesome craft (I hope).

 
(the kids will be adding the eyes and hearts for polka dots)
  

7. Is it just me or does he look like he is a teenager in this picture? Stop growing up so fast. Please.

8. I wish Chipotle delivered, then I would eat it every night for dinner. Just putting that out there.

9. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the boxing gloves my son obtained at the AWANA store, this week it was badminton rackets. What's next- nunchucks and Chinese stars? Honestly. It's like a store full of potential weapons. The boys LOVE it. Me? Not so much.

10. Chuck has just about taught Moosey to do the John Wall dance. (Go on google it, I'll wait.) I'll get it on video and post it this weekend. It's pretty stinking funny. He is also teaching him exercises-that is really funny to watch. Chuck and mini-Chuck exercising together. Hee.

How you doin'?

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wednesday Whine

I'm sure you're here visiting for Ten on Tuesday right? Unfortunately, instead you get a Wednesday whine. Our youngest child, aka Moose, aka the kid who will not sleep through the night more than 3 days in a row, gave quite the performance last night. I knew he was in rare form, so I had prepared myself by going to bed early. Moosey started his awful screaming at 9:30, so I gave him some Motrin (teething) and brought him into our room. At first it was nice, he was cuddled up all nice and sweet against me,  and I thought to myself, "better enjoy this now, because before you know it he'll be 8 years old and you'll be lucky to get a goodbye kiss." That was my thought as I drifted off to sleep at least.
Only to be woken up by a sippy cup to the head at 3AM. Apparently Moose was thirsty and I had not responded to quickly enough to his whimpering for more water, so he chucked the cup at my head. Awesome.
So now, not only am I tired (3AM was not his only wake up) but my head still kinda hurts. So here's the whine-why, oh why can't this child sleep through the night on a regular basis? Good thing he's so stinking cute.