Friday, June 25, 2010

Swimming Lessons

They had a blast during their week of swimming lessons and I had my first taste of what it will be like to be the mom-taxi. I think we will not do many extra-curricular activities!






Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Updating again

Maybe someday I will get my act together and post things as they happen. Until then I am forced to go back a few months and write posts. Let me tell you it was very strange to think back to February to this post
about the terrible snow storms we had! Especially when it was well over 90 today with super duper steam bath humidity blah!

In March I added several posts with lots of videos. I dated them to when they actually occurred, so go over to the blog archives and check out any you have missed. I would love to keep working on these posts, I still have to do April, May & June yikes! ...sigh... but it seems that there are other things to do. gee, I sure wish the laundry and dishes would learn how to get done on their own!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Annual Family Survey

Last year I did a survey (click here to read it)  with my family and came across it recently. I thought it would be fun to see how their responses have changed and even to do this every year, perhaps around Mother's Day.  oops a little late this year!  It is funny how some of the answers have changed, although I think that some of the answers would change depending on what day or even what time of day I asked them.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy a glimpse into my family's thoughts about me!

Here are Sam's responses:


1. What is something mama always says to you?

ummm I want to say what I want to say ok mama.  ummm now you have to start all over again. I wish I had bug spray, kid bug spray.  (I ask the question again) ummm do not bite and do not do bad stuff to you and I wish I had my own police car

2.What makes mama happy?
hugs and kisses and um I wish...I wish I had what Daddy has when I am bigger

3.What makes mama sad?
ummmm, (shrugs) I dont know ummm ummm ummm biting people and doing bad stuff to people.  but what makes me happy is staying in my own bible study I mean staying in my own church

4.How does mama make you laugh?
funny faces umm and I wish I had my uniform and my police guns and everything that daddy has, sort of, and that is all I want to say now.  Now type my name.

5. What was mama like as a child?
ummm funny faces, I like funny faces, all done, now type my name, I really want to see you type my name ok mama.  OH!!! can I type my own name on the computer?  Thats why I need you to get out of my way ok mama. (he moves to sit on my lap so I let him type his name) sam - (he giggles with absolute delight), LOOK I really typed my own name, isn't that exciting mama!!!
(then I say - ok lets do more questions) Then I can type more letters mama? (I say - sure, when we are done)


6. How old is mama?
how do you draw an x? I mean how do you draw a police car with a pencil? (Sam, how old is Mama?) I don't know, I want to type a bunch of stuff now.  (first lets answer these questions ok?  How old is mama?) I don't know


7. How tall is mama?
he puts his hand on top of my head and says, you are about this high


8. What is mamas favorite thing to do?

be on the computer, make sure to type a v


9. What does mama do when you are sleeping?
umm do work, and mama then after you have to answer my questions.  actually no I think I will just type on the computer for awhile


10.If mama becomes famous what will it be for?

umm to be happy


11. What is mama really good at?


mmmm making snacks


12. What is mama not very good at?
mmmm ummm finding bug spray and stuff, kid bug spray and I wish I had my own police car and um how do you stop a car with a telescope inside a van


13. What does mama do for a job?
ummmm do work (I ask - what kind of work?) ummm work on the computer


14. What is mamas favorite food?

smiles mischievously... macaroni and cheese, now ask what is Sams favorite food? my favorite food is brehfrest (haha I love how he says breakfast)


15. What makes you proud of mama?
umm the thing I'm proud of you is you going to bible study while I am playing with Sarah and David but David and the other kids aren't home, are they mama?


16. If mama was a cartoon character, who would she be?
ummm I think you...I would dream you would be if you were a cartoon character...you would be bat girl


17.What do you and mama do together?
umm play games


18. How are you and mama the same?
umm (shrugs) I dunno, now I want to type a bunch of stuff, can I type now?


19.How are you and mama different?
umm I dont know. what would I be if I were a cartoon character, what do you dream of if I were a cartoon character? do you think I would be spider man or batman or wolverine or which charcter mama?


20.How do you know mama loves you?
umm hugs and kisses and now I can type a bunch of stuff?(I say Yes!)

edxsjuddnsnenwnnwns  snwncn
sam
ben
hqhhwwyrtrtgegeg4ttteffrettttetetrefwfs
(I say - tell me the letters you are typing)
um not right now, I really have to do this, I need to do this, this is my homework right now!
dfsfsf xbsgdlettetttqfsfqfqffsafsfagsywyshdhz      shehewqdggdhdehdjdyetetet54y65ieide7r47u56k6krkkdk,,,l
thanks mama now I will be a very good kid typer


Wow! that was a tough one to get through!!!  Last year was way easier to keep up with what he was saying!!!  Lets see what Carlee has to say...

Carlee's responses

1. What is something mama always says to you?
stay together when you walk on the road and if there is a car coming get on the grass


2.What makes mama happy?
giving her a love and kiss


3.What makes mama sad?
you dont give mommy a love and kiss.  when ben loves you this small that makes you sad


4.How does mama make you laugh?
tell jokes


5. What was mama like as a child?
hmmm hmmm uhhhh flowers


6. How old is mama?
ahhhh i wont know


7. How tall is mama?
10


8. What is mamas favorite thing to do?
be on the computer


9. What does mama do when you are sleeping?

give a kiss


10.If mama becomes famous what will it be for?
mmmmm (staring out the window) I dont know


11. What is mama really good at?
the computer


12. What is mama not very good at?
cooking (then she giggles the little brat - she must have been coached by her Daddy!)


13. What does mama do for a job?
I dont know


14. What is mamas favorite food?

Eggs! does that say eggs?  My favorite food is eggs too.



15. What makes you proud of mama?
ahhhh eggs


16. If mama was a cartoon character, who would she be?
I dont know


17.What do you and mama do together?
make bread  (hmmph I must be good at cooking that HA)



18. How are you and mama the same?
mmmm eating



19.How are you and mama different?
not eating


20.How do you know mama loves you?
sleeping


Yep, her answers are very matter of fact and to the point.  Her survey went very quickly!  Oh boy, now time for Ben and his could go any number of ways.  Let's' see what happens...


Ben's responses:

1. What is something mama always says to you?
um kiss you (then he kisses me)


2.What makes mama happy?
umm umm eat chex wiff you


3.What makes mama sad?

cry

(at this point I think that this will go just as smoothly and quickly as Carlee's, I should have known better - this is Ben afterall!!!)

4.How does mama make you laugh?
do this (then he makes silly faces) that's funny!


5. What was mama like as a child?
and when you were a little girl I think you eated mustard on your cheese (I say Gross! then he laughs hysterically) how bout mustard on chicken!


6. How old is mama?
one? (giggles) or 2 or 3 or 4 or 6 or 7 or 9 or 10, what number are you? 9 or 10



7. How tall is mama?
short (giggles, then sings) your short, your short, your shoooorrrrtt 

(I want to say "Oh Yeah, well so are you Buddy! but I don't instead I try to figure out how a 3 year old knows that his mother is short - must have been coached by Daddy!!)


8. What is mamas favorite thing to do?
play games wif you
(runs away, but soon comes back)...I need to see this! Can you type alot of things, puhleeease.


9. What does mama do when you are sleeping?
um leave (I ask - leave where?) leave to your room.  what do I do if you sleep in your bed, I go off an sleep wif you that is what I do when you go to bed, then I start again sleep sleep sleep sleep again again and again until somefin strange comes
(runs away again)
ok I'm back.  Oh wait I am firsty, need a drink


10.If mama becomes famous what will it be for?
umm ummm gets some string things that are toys



11. What is mama really good at?
playing


12. What is mama not very good at?
hmmm driving
(again, must have been coached by Daddy!)


13. What does mama do for a job?
work on the computer



14. What is mamas favorite food?
ummm hot dogs and macaroni and cheese


15. What makes you proud of mama?
umm sleeping wif you
( I really want to say how proud I would be if he slept in his own bed!)


16. If mama was a cartoon character, who would she be?
maybe a race car driver



17.What do you and mama do together?
play cat race



18. How are you and mama the same?
eating cereal togedder


19.How are you and mama different?
umm umm not sleeping togedder


20.How do you know mama loves you?
giving kisses and loves (as wraps his arms around my neck and squeezes! yep he is still my snuggle bug!)



Now lets see how much hubby's answers have changed! 


1. What is something mama always says to you?
when are you coming home?


2.What makes mama happy?
when I get home



3.What makes mama sad?
(he laughs) When daddy comes home



4.How does mama make you laugh?
telling stories about the kids


5. What was mama like as a child?
moody



6. How old is mama?

last year he said - 36 (I say OH your wrong!) he is very puzzled when he says your 37?  I always count two years less than me. So that means you are more than two years younger, no less than 2 years...Damn woman you are almost 40!

this year he said two years younger than me haha note that he did not use a number this time


7. How tall is mama?
5 foot tall



8. What is mamas favorite thing to do?
to watch soap operas when the kids go to bed with a pepsi in a freezie cup, her feet up and snuggled under a blankie



9. What does mama do when you are sleeping?
snore



10.If mama becomes famous what will it be for?
selling toys


11. What is mama really good at?
snoring, making quilts and baking bread



12. What is mama not very good at?
running (then laughs)



13. What does mama do for a job?
school teacher



14. What is mamas favorite food?
oh gee wonder what it was last year? probably cheesecake, fries, shrimp, pepsi in a freezie cup, salt & vinegar chips and reeses peanut butter cups



15. What makes you proud of mama?
everything



16. If mama was a cartoon character, who would she be?
jessica rabbit (then giggles)



17.What do you and mama do together?
.....(this comment has been censored) ;)



18. How are you and mama the same?
beliefs


19.How are you and mama different?
besides hair?


20.How do you know mama loves you?
cuz she puts up with me




Well there you have it, our 2010 Family survey is complete!  Tune in next year to see what crazy things they have to say then...

Saturday, June 12, 2010

New Blog design!

So what do you think of the new blog design?  I like it because it shows the power of God through what we see as chaotic weather.  Just like our family - God works through us, blessing us amongst the chaos!!!

Friday, June 11, 2010

too funny - what's for lunch

This morning I was asked "What's for lunch?"  Me being somewhat lazy today said "How about peanut butter and jam sandwiches?"  To which there were three very excited kids.  But then I heard this...

Sam    But mama, I only want jam!
Carlee I only want peanut butter,
Ben     I want peanut butter and jam.

Okay, let me just complete the short order form and I will get those served right up!
I am trying out some new ideas for a change to my blog design.  Please hang in there while I figure it out, for some reason I get distracted and interuppted alot and it is taking longer than I thought...

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

too funny - story time

I quite often ask the kids to tell me a story.  Here is a couple examples of what I might get... haha enjoy

Ben's Story



Carlee's story (with alot of interference - but a perfect example of how we are really good at tuning each other out when we want to)


Sam's story




at the end he asked me to take a picture of him and Carlee.

too funny - Terminix was here

Here are a couple of videos I took after Terminix was here for the regular visit.  I thought it was hilarous that they immediately changed their bottles of bubbles into bug poison!



Okay, they were so excited they forgot to stand back from the camera.  I needed a little more of a controlled video...  The way Carlee says Buug cracks me up!



I wanted to get another video of Carlee says buuugs because it is just so darn cute.  Didn't know I would also get a demonstration in how we take turns, a long warning about the dangers of airplanes and how special bug poison is and also a secret.  These kids crack me up!

Monday, June 7, 2010

a few funnies heard recently

I sure have not been very good at keeping my blog updated.  Spending too much time on facebook I guess.  I have alot of posts to do from the last couple months, but need to upload photos and videos for that, and well that takes time!  Quick little funnies on my facebook status are easy!  Anyway, I thought I would copy some of them from the last month or so that those of you who are not on Facebook could have a giggle or two as well.  Of course, that may only be my Mom and Mel haha enjoy!


Ben comes to sit with me and says "I really want to snuggle with you Mama" of course I can't refuse. He then rubs my cheek and says "I love you Mama" as he leans in for what I think is going to be a kiss. I should have known better! Nope, my darling 3 year old sucked my nose. GROSS! Then he started to laugh hysterically and ran into the other room chanting "I sucked Mama's nose! I sucked Mama's nose!"


Ben and Sam were having a nasty fight. It was over who was going to throw something in the garbage. I sent them to time out, then they were supposed say sorry for fighting and have a hug. Now they are fighting over how big of a hug they are going to have. Isn't it bedtime yet?


Ben tried out my new scissors on my nice comforter. They work - really, really well. Then after I had tamed the Mommy Monster he comes to snuggle with me and says "Mama, I am real sorry I cut your blankie and your pillow". Aww so sweet - wait a minute - what was that about my pillow??? ....sigh.... just another day....


Who knew that a hole puncher would provide 30 minutes of entertainment


Lesson of the day - teach your 4 year old how to unlock the toy handcuffs BEFORE you agree to be the bad guy and get handcuffed


While snuggling with Sam he says "Mama you smell funny" I say "Oh really??" Sam says "well not stinky, or smelly, you just smell different" Then I recalled that I had been in the pool today. LOL



When I opened the oven Ben yells with overwhelming excitement "Oh yummm! My Favorite!!" then he quietly says "Um Mama, what is it?" LOL
 
 
The boys are upstairs in the bathroom and I hear "EEEEWWWWW that's gross" followed by hysterical giggling. I honestly do not want to know and I really thought I would have a few more years of sweet boys before all the gross stuff started...sigh...


In case you were wondering what happened at our house today...I now have a bunch of brown sugar beautifully mixed in with the white sugar and a whole lot more decorating my floors, yes, the same floors that I had just finished cleaning not that long ago...sigh...now where did they hide the mop.   When I asked what they were doing they said, practicallly in unison "havin a snack" to which my reply was "ummm, well, sugar is not a snack" of course they asked "why not" so I told them "because it is an ingredient!" and thankfully they were happy with that, oh and a bowl of fruit loops. LOL no sugar in those right?




Sam is sitting with me and asks very seriously "Mama, will you be my Mommy forever?" I say "yes!" He says with a huge smile "Oh good, and I am going to be your son forever!!" I nearly melted!!


Wanna start a giggle fest at my house? Just sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Ants, wearing purple underpants"  For days after this started Carlee would only wear purple underwear!


The kids are playing outside and I go to check on them. They inform me "We are playing family and you can go back inside now" Apparently I am not part of the family LOL


Ben came screaming into the house "A bee bit me, a bee bit me on my fum" (aka thumb LOL). Then he said "The bee bit me with his bad pokey part, OH MAMA it hurts so much!! I am never ever ever going to pick up a bee ever again!" hmmm lesson learned!


We were watching some cute videos and Sam says, "can we turn this off now, it is disturbing my brain because my brain is still trying to sleep" LOL


The kids were spinning each other and then were just spinning. Carlee started singing "I'm a spinny girl, I'm a spinny girl" Oh golly, I sure hope not LOL

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Gardenias Galore

I never cared much for the Gardenia scent until I experienced the real thing!  This is right beside where I park the van so I get to smell it everytime I walk by...heavenly!




I had Carlee stand in front of it to show how big it is...and that is when I noticed a rake shoved in there!


As she took it out she said "OH those boys!" LOL