Overalls vs Jean Jumper

Noah was getting Lincoln dressed in his overalls this morning. These are the toddler overalls with the snaps up both inseems and crotch to facilitate diaper changes. Lincoln was uncooperative being snapped up until Noah said, "Dude, don't you realize that these snaps are the only thing keeping you from being mistaken for a homeschool mom?"

(We can make jokes like this because we are planning to homeschool our children. And yes, we call all the boys "dude". A lot.)

A Few Things I Am Thankful For Tonight

Of course I am thankful for all the meaningful things in my life: 3 beautiful boys, a super-hero husband, good family and friends. I am also thankful for the other things in life: good jobs for Noah and I, a place to live, cars that are reliable.

But tonight I am also thankful that:

1. The parking lady in the lot where we were ripped off did not hear Deacon say, "boy that lady is REALLY old!"
2. Roman only stood on the dead bird. He did not sit on it or pick it up.
3. The strange smell in the air which I thought was the dead bird was not actually the dead bird.
4. The strange smell that Noah was convinced was actually our child, wasn't.
5. I have a nose to smell,
6. And that I have a respirator type Darth Vaderesque mask to wear so that I can't smell the stripper that we are STILL using on our floor in the basement.

Happy Late Thanksgiving, Everyone.

I hope to get back to regular blogging soon.

What I Need

Well, there are a lot of things I need: a lock for the fridge, child proof gadgets for every drawer, door and switch in the house, a 2 week long vacation somewhere warm, a 2 week long workation in my house...I could go on.

However, the thing that is currently on my mind is The Return Day.

I gotta tell ya, there is a lot of stuff in my house that is not mine.

I currently have DVDs from 2 neighbors and my in laws.

I have a Dora suitcase that belongs to a little girl I watch.

I have tupperware and cookie sheets that are my moms.

I have other stuff that is my moms. We play hot potato with some items.

I think that I still have my sister's high school track shorts. She doesn't read this though, so shh.

I have an anonymous gray hooded jacket. (Is that yours Deimel-Lurker? How was DC, by the way?)

I have hot pad holders from church that I washed. I have AWANA books and Sunday School books that I need to bring back.

I have plastic fencing from another friend.

I have Becki's snowflake Christmas cards from 2 or 3 years ago.

Oh, and a stack of written thank you notes from Lincoln's birth 18 months ago that I apparently forgot to send. Sorry Misty, Jamie, Dana, Blairs and more. They got kind of damp, and I doubt you want them now.

And that is all just the stuff that I am willing to admit that I still have.

So I am calling for a Return Day.

I have not yet decided when it will be, but when I do I am going to load the boys up and just drive around and return things all day.

In conclusion, I have 3 questions for all my lurkers and readers out there.

1. What do you have that you need to return?
2. What are some other return-themed activities that we could do on Return Day?
3. What do I have that is yours and you want back? (ok, Deimel-Lurker: I am holding your Burt's Bees lip gloss captive, but I did return the yoga pants :)

Innocent

He looks all cute and innocent, doesn't he?

And he is cute. But he is not innocent.

I love this little boy like crazy.

But he is driving me crazy.

Quickly.

He is very nosy.

Thankfully he can't open doors yet.

The problem is the other little people can.

And they don't shut them.

Christmas Survey

I got this survey from a friend via email...


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?


Paper- I like glitzy with lots of bow and ribbons. Last year I used old retro paper someone gave me. It saved me a lot of money. I am not sure which route I will go this year.


2. Real tree or Artificial?


Real Tree. I like artificial, but Noah puts his foot down :)


3. When do you put up the tree?


Early to mid December. Due to the ages and destructiveness of a certain child (who broke eggs on the kitchen floor today while I was changing the laundry around), it may be quite late this year.


4. When do you take down the tree?


As soon as possible after Christmas! I am kind of a scrooge.


5. Do you like egg nog?


I can take it or leave it.



6. Favorite gift received as a child?


I guess there are none that stand out as so much better then any others. I got the sweater with the puffy polar bears on it one year. We got doll cribs one year. I got this armitron thing once that you could pick up things with it and move them other places. I liked that.



7. Do you have a nativity scene?


Yes. It is ceramic and Noah and I painted it ourselves. He did the cow and the donkey and I did everything else.


8. Hardest person to buy for?


Noah is hard. His family is harder :) No offense, guys.



9. Easiest person to buy for?

The boys because they just love new things.
My sisters because they don't buy much for themselves.
My mom because she has so many interests.


10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail. Because it seems right. I suppose supporting the postal service is a good thing. BTW, my photo cards are already ordered. It is the one thing I am ahead on this year.


11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

I am actually easy to shop for. I like most things and don't complain about my gifts. I also don't return things. It is a GIFT for crying out loud. No one OWES me anything. So who cares if it is not perfect?


12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

It's a Wonderful Life

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Not that comes to mind.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

I like a small portion of Rommegrut. Cranberry fluff (especially for breakfast) and cookies.

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?

colored

16. Favorite Christmas song?

Mary Did You Know

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Usually go to my parents close by. Sometimes we will make the trek to Iowa, but the 3 little boys make it a lot of work.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?

Yes. And all the states too. Which is more important?

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Both and several other times too.

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year.

Everything. Like I said, I am kind of a scrooge. I like the holidays, but they require so much EXTRA WORK, EXTRA STRESS and EXTRA MONEY. I liked them more when I was younger and I could sit around and eat cookies all day and do puzzles.

21. Favorite ornament theme or color?

Noah and I both have a lot of ornaments from our childhoods that we like to talk about every year as we put them on the tree. I like mine from my Great Aunt Hazel. Tradition is to eat chinese after we decorate the tree.

22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner?

Didn't I already answer this? It doesn't matter. Really, anything is fine by me.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year?

Lap top, Keen shoes, socks with no holes, a telephone that doesn't keep falling apart. I don't need any of those things though. All I really need is to somehow figure out a way to keep my sanity for the next month!

As always, feel free to leave your own interesting answers (maybe not the whole survey :) in the comments section!

Just call me Astro-man!

Start of Picture Weekend

We are heading into a "Home Improvement" weekend, so I am just going to get caught up on posting some pictures...

What is this imposter?! Paper Towels in Julie's kitchen? What is it with the weird designs on paper towels anyway? I know I buy the ultra cheap ones if I buy them because I use them for painting projets mostly. But seriously, what are those things on there and WHY?!

1st snowman of the Year


Deacon, dressed and ready for some glow in the dark frisbee. Seriously. He wants to wear shorts when it is 20 degrees, sweats to church and THIS to play night frisbee?

The clothes from their friend were a big hit.

Roman is FINALLY willing to make attempts at getting himself dressed. And at least he TRIES to do the underwear thing.