When Life Gives you Lemons...Make a Funny Face!

Need I say more?

Remembering to Laugh! (Out loud if possible)

Last night we had some friend over for dinner.  Dinner is always a circus, but when we have guests the problem only escalates.  After an evening of the kids usual shenanigans we tried to sit down with our friends have have some human/adult conversation.  Of course, it was one interruption after another.  I was starting to get annoyed (yeah I know) when we were interrupted with this this gem.

From downstairs we hear a frantic voice...

Micaiah: "¡Ayúdeme, ¡Ayúdeme  Help Me, Help Me!"

Greg:  What's wrong?

Micaiah: "My undies are stuck!"

Greg:  "Stuck where?  In your bum, or in your drawer?"

Micaiah:  "No! In the computer!!"

Without even a thought, about what may have just transpired, I tried to continue my conversation with our friends.  I looked up and realized they were both giggling.  Hmmm?  Did someone just tell a joke, and I missed it?  No....? Of course, they were laughing at Micaiah.  But I hadn't even stopped to think that the ridiculousness we had just overheard might be funny.  I guess when you hear odd things all the time, they begin to lose their hilarity.  Sad.  I decided then and there, that I didn't want to let these moments pass me by, and that I want to laugh when something if funny.  Because, let's face it, even though kids are not always well behaved - They are stinkin' hillarious!

P.S. In case your curiosity is getting the better of you.  I have no idea what happened with the undies in the computer.

A Week of Normal - In Pictures (and a few words too) - TUESDAY

TUESDAY (affectionately.known. as.) Gramma Sally Day.

Since the kids were little they have spent almost every Tuesday afternoon and evening with Gramma Sally and Paco (Grandpa) Ron.  I'm pretty sure my kids don't even know the real days of the weeks because of it.  In our house it goes Sunday, Monday, Gramma Sally Day, Wednesday...and so forth.  It has been a wonderful blessing for all of us.  G.S. does many things with them that I would not do (or do not have the energy, patience, creativity, time...)  and, of course,  they love it (and her), and I get a generally peaceful (as peaceful as it gets with a baby) afternoon to get some things done (or not).

So since I am not with my kids Tuesday afternoon, I guess this post will be all about my Tuesday.  Feel free to take a nap for the rest of this post.

Girl Lunch:  A while ago my mom and I started one of the most wonderful traditions.  Every other Tuesday she takes me out to lunch!  How could we not love this?  Everyone should start this tradition with someone that they love (and would also love to pay for your lunch).  In the beginning I did protest, but now have become quite accustomed to the life of luxury.  (after having said this, I have a feeling free lunch might be over as she is one of my most dedicated readers.)  After we went out several times we added my sisters to our regularly scheduled program.

As soon as Gramma Sally comes to get the kids I hop in the car, pick up my mom, and on this Tuesday decided to go see "Aunt Mo" doin' her thing..making non fat, low fat, iced, java chip, mochachinos, with extra whip, of course.

Then My brother decides to try and crash Girl Lunch, not gonna happen buddy!

Restaurant choice of the week - Free State Brewery.

The reason Free State is the choice of the Week!  These onion rings are the size of bagels, and just as good for you I'm sure.

Zayin has reached the age where if there is food near by, it needs to be in his mouth.  Okay if anything is near by, it needs to be in his mouth.  Here is my sister valiant attempt at keeping him entertained while we tried to talk.

Now I was hoping that this would be the part of the post where I got to talk about Tuesday evenings.  We usually spend Tuesday evenings at Exit 2:9 (wow, we need a new picture and some major updating), but this Tuesday we ended up being called home early because Anya was coming down with strep.

*Nadvornik fun fact - In the past 1 and half weeks we have had 4 cases of strep throat, 3 cases of the stomach flu, and one mystery bug that prefers to remain unnamed. Yeah for summer vacation.

But despite the abnormality of my "normal" Tuesday it was still a wonderful day, spent with my wonderful family, eating WONDERFUL food.  (Sorry guys, but you know that those onion rings deserved the biggest wonderful).

And for those of you that have been napping, it's time to wake up.  I'm sure my next 20 posts will be kid related!

Little Boy

The Mother of Boys - Miriam Sieber Lind

Praise to the High One for giving me joys

Peculiarly sweet, I'm the mother of boys!

Mud puddles, torn blue jeans, toads, whistles and worms.

The furred and feathered and whatever squirms.

Black knuckles, bats, arrows and thundering noise.

They're all in a day for the mothers of boys.

But, ah, 'tis a dear joy to turn the blue eyes

To the manifold wonder of earth, sea and skies.

And, ah, 'tis a dear joy to watch a small hand seize

The hand of God in the knowledge of these.

Spare me, oh High One, to praise Thee more when

This mother of boys is the mother of men.

A Week of Normal - In Pictures (and a few words too) - MONDAY

This group of posts has been rolling around in my head for some time now.  I was just never sure how to make it happen.  I thought about posting every day for a week...but we all know that won't happen, and if I try and spread it out over a long time period I will lose interest.   So I just decided that I will start posting, in no particular order, different days of our normal week.

Monday:  Not everyone's favorite day of the week to be sure, but I have kinda grown fond of it.  We start every Monday morning "Shoppin' with Papa".

I could probably write and entire post on my love for ALDI.  (Sad, but true) We start the trip here and end at Checkers.  I also have a lot love for Checkers, but no pictures to prove it.  

Everybody in?

Slave Labor.  

I usually push and send my runners to grab the food, but Ani wanted to be "in charge" of the cart this time.

"i-phone"

Papa always brings his i-phone and buys treats throughout the trip.  Here Micaiah has a "meat tack" (stick) - (gross, I know, but so tasty).  Papas just have a special knack for being able to get by all my Mommy healthy foods/no spoiling rules.  Typical "Papa treats" may include, but are not limited to...turns with the i-phone, meat sticks, donuts, poptarts, popcicles, lunchables, kid's cuisine, soda, juice boxes, coin operated goodness (mustaches and rings are a huge favorite), and no shopping trip is ever complete without a coin operated pony ride.

Where was this when I was a child?  I wasn't even allowed to put sugar on my cereal!  Oh the injustice!  

Of course Papa is not only along to "spoil" the kids, but to help entertain the crew and help me maintain some sanity while grocery shopping with 4 squirmy kids.  I must say he does a fabulous job of both!  Thanks Dad.  When we started this 7 years ago, I had no idea how much I could look forward to grocery shopping!

  The rest of our day is usually spent hanging out at my parents house.  When school is in session we bring our  books and Gramma helps with lessons.  School is so much more fun when mom isn't teaching.  When school is not in session we find a myriad of ways to entertain ourselves.  Yesterday the mulberry tree was heavy with fruit.  Unfortunately so were the birds, as they tried to drop gooey mulberry missiles at us  from above.  The kids, however, were not fazed and had a great time picking and eating all the delicious purple goodness.

  I was going to make mulberry jam with their bounty, but I think more berries made it into their mouths than into the bag.  We'll still try for a small batch.  After playing and naps we all eat dinner together.  Sometimes it's just us and other times it's a crowd (ok - I guess we can be a kind of a crowd on our own).  But because of all the fun and family Monday had found a special place in my heart.