Good Reads

I can't believe I waited 26 years to read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. Wow! I highly recommend it.

And now that I've finished stuffing my brain with important, relevant, and useful information, I'm going to begin reading "Confessions of a She-Fan" by Jane Heller. This woman wrote my book, stole my idea, lived my life. Oh well, at least I'll enjoy reading about it!

(Just a note. In the time betwixt drafting this post and publishing it, I've found Ms. Heller's account to be interesting, yet vulgar. So, she stole my dream, then added many a four-letter word to make it her own. My version would have been much better.)

(And a second note. In the time betwixt the first note and this one, I've almost finished the book. While Ms. Heller is "living the dream" as far as I'm concerned, I am less than impressed with her book. "It's a good lasagna, but not a great lasagna.")

Samantha is 1!!

Blogger is not treating me well as of late...but here are some adorable birthday pictures...finally! First, Samantha is parched after eating her cake!

She licked the frosting off her cake one finger-full at a time.

The kids were WAAAAYYYYY too helpful in opening gifts. In this picture I think she has about had it!

She did love her new toys, blocks, books, coloring book. We've been reading "The Pig of Happiness" over and over again. Sam just like the ducks..."nat nat, nat nat"! (That's the sound of Samantha quacking.)

Samantha and Dad on her birthday morning...8:48 am...exactly one year old!

Toddler Talk

*Foe-eber: The length of time requested to play with a certain toy or watch a certain movie.


*Pork-a-cheese: The language that Zack is learning to speak on his mission in Brazil.

*Da-schwa: Sam's name for Joshua.

*Gosseth: The thing that Joshua keeps reminding us that we're not supposed to do because it's mean to talk about other people.

*Rellow: A favorite color of the rainbow.

*Resplode: Another word for "blow up."

*Covered: The peanut butter is in the...

*Moven: The thing you are not supposed to touch because it's hot!

*Nat-nat: What a duck says.

*Nat-nat: What a cow says.

*Nat-nat: What a puppy says.

*Nat-nat: What a kitty says...you get the picture...

Displaced

Samantha has been displaced...in favor of a new/old dresser...see her crib in the corner?! I love it. It's almost as good as when Benjamin's bedroom was the bathroom.

But, the reason I post this picture has very little to do with Sam, or showing how we lay out our church clothes on Saturday night *rolling my eyes*, and much to do with EmJ's comment about our furniture choices.

We recieved this hand-me-down gem from my parents. As soon as they dropped it off, we pulled out the painting supplies. Emmeline said, "Why do we have to paint the dresser before we can use it?" I told her that it needed a fresh coat of paint just to make it look nice. She thought for a moment and said, "Oh, so that it looks like it actually came from a store!"

Oh my.

Happy Valentine's Day

Luke's car got decorated by some seminary students this morning. Should I be concerned? Since we are such good regifters, Luke stuck the hearts on my car.

Benjamin didn't get all the athletic genes, apparently. His antics this morning were remniscent of Steve Urkell. While Benjamin was busy trying to figure out what the helmet was for, Joshua and Luke were playing catch with a football. Joshua was catching every toss, however, at one point I heard him say, "Hey, that one didn't even hit my chin!"

I mentioned Samantha's love of macaroni and cheese in a previous post. I think we'll expand that to include any and all pasta. This was her first attempt at ravioli. She inhaled it. What a mess!

I wish I had thought to take a picture of the kids' Valentines that they made for their classmates. Joshua and I covered Hershey's nuggets w/pink scrapbook paper (hooray for using scraps!), and he was so proud to bring the candy to his class, including a bag of treats for his teacher.

EmJ, on the other hand, insisted on creating her own valentines. They were pretty cute, but the best part was the regifted Halloween candy. Yup, that's right! Next year, when you're wondering what to do with your thousands of Dum-dum lollipops...just tape them to your homemade Valentines!

Some of you are saying, "Wow, how resourceful!" Others of you are saying, "Man, they personify white trash!" Hilary is sending the short yellow on over to pick me up. But you are all JEALOUS that my Halloween candy is gone!!!

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!!

Diaries

Emmeline wants a diary. With a lock. The lock is vital. There is just such a diary in this month's Scholastic book order (heaven forbid she actually want a BOOK!), and it costs $7.

Poor, poor EmJ only has $3.

She pestered and pestered and pestered and pestered Benjamin yesterday to loan her some money, until he finally broke down just to get her to quit annoying him.

I promptly got Benjamin's money and returned it to him, reminding EmJ that her birthday is coming up and that the world is full of diaries with locks.

EmJ cried that she wanted "That diary!"

Joshua, ever compassionate, said, "Emmeline, when I get some money, I will buy you a Diarrhea!"

Benjamin is Three

First of all, we were thrilled to host Tony, Heidi, and their kids this weekend. It was so nice to visit with friends, stay up late and talk like grownups, see the kids interact so well, and eat yummy peanut butter cup s'mores!! Benjamin thought they came into town just for his birthday, and he was thrilled to have them around for some of the celebration.

Benjamin is three!! I can't believe it! Here are the birthday pictures and stories...in backwards order. First of all, the birthday money. $4!!! This is not the first time Mr. Krabs has fallen asleep clutching his loot!

A train set from Kitty Grandma! This is a fabulous toy...trains, trucks, rockets, and it glows in the dark. Wow! I have had as much fun playing with this as Benjamin!

Benjamin helped frost and decorate his cake after church on Sunday. He wanted a "diamond-saur" cake...and it turned out lovely!

Benjamin's birthday breakfast of choice, pancakes. Notice the goggles--they are an essential part of his outfit.

The Friday before Benjamin's birthday was also my mom's 50th birthday! Happy Birthday, Mom! Her cake is cracking me up.

We celebrated my mom and Benjamin's birthdays together on Friday. Gus was less than thrilled with the frosting-less angel food cake!

A Batman big-wheel from Uncle Zack! (Did you know that Zack?!) This toy has been just in time for a few sunny, warmish days! Hooray!

But, of course, the favorite gift was the stickers. My mom got them for free in the mail and stuck them in his gift bag. He was so excited we had to take a gift-break and use them all up. I love it that kids are so easy to please.

Okay, last but not least, the next birthday girl. She got this car from my parents a few days ago and LOVES it. She tries to kick the older kids off all the time, and loves to sit on her car and honk the horn. It's great for meal time--since she has learned how to climb out of the high chair--as it keeps her in one place for a few bites.