"Nope, Try Again"

May I redirect you here to remind you of one of my favorite quotes. I was reminded of it again this weekend.

The family went out to dinner and we took the MIL with us. Before our food arrived, T-Man folded his arms, directed us to do the same and then said, "Prayer?". So I followed his instructions and began a short, abbreviated, restaurant version of a prayer only to be scolded following the "Amen".

As I so reverently concluded the prayer, T-Man says loudly to the entire table, "NOPE, Try again." Apparently the abbreviated version did not meet his approval.

"While we try to teach our children all about life . . . our children teach us what life is all about." Amen to that!!

Why is it that my computer will crash, but my son will not?

Christmas came early at our home of hope...

After 5 restarts, 3 shut downs, and one HUGE stomp on it (mixed in with a MAJOR crash/meltdown of my own and a partridge in a pear tree) ...


My computer has been put to rest...

It served me well...

It was a hand-me down from the hub so it served us both well..

I'm in love...

This is the new machine from whence I type...

I'm in love...

Velcro Sheets

I think I have just discovered a child product that will make my family millions of dollars and will support us for the rest of our lives:


Velcro sheets for children's beds.


T-Man WILL NOT stay in bed. It appears that his old matress has been substituted with a spring loaded matress. Once that handsome, perfectly shaped, little blonde head hits the pillow, his eyes fly open and he literally shoots out of bed. This is how he was found two nights ago at 10:15 p.m. :


p.s. that's not his chic new modern bed, it's a simple chair that sits in the corner of his bedroom.

So Much to be Grateful For

foto by flickr

I realize that November/Thanksgiving is over, however, as I was driving in a terrible, terrible, snowstorm at 2o mph on a trip that had taken 45 minutes instead of 15, I had moments of deep thoughts. As I pulled into the driveway with my precious cargo unharmed and happily comatose/enthralled in a Christmas episode of Little Einsteins, I realized I had so much to be grateful for. I had been listening to Christmas music, Josh Groban "Oh, Holy Night" and was just overwhelmed by how much I have to be thankful for and I better start appreciating it more!

I am grateful:

1. to be a wife
2. to have been selected to be T-Man's mother
3. for a warm home with working heat
4. for a wood-burning fireplace
5. for modern medicine and antibiotics
   
6. for ALL birth mothers - not just ours
7. to have the church guiding my life
8. for mittens, scarves, and warm fuzzy boots
   
9. for Diet Coke in a McDonald's cup
10. for dishwashers and washing machines
11. for disposable diapers
12. to have completed my education before children came along!
13. to have Little Einsteins and Yo Gabba, Gabba as parenting partners when I need them
14. to have learned how to operate the snow thrower and salt spreader
15. for HOPE. It keeps me going so I can face each day and dream of a second child
16. to have entire days filled with Christmas baking
17. for down comforters
18. for the sense of smell and the scent of cinnamon, cloves and all-spice in the air.
19. for tomorrows and new days with no mistakes in them!
20. for incomplete "Grateful lists" that can be continued on a moments notice in another post on another day!
    

Indoor Snowmen

Chicago weather: 3.5" snow and 19 degrees.

We were not about to go outside today - 19 degrees, yeah right! (Not to mention the thoughtful gifts - bronchitis and laryngitis that I got for my birthday!)

Can't go outside? Next best thing - bring the snow inside!

Materials required: 1 bucket of snow, 1 blanket, 1 mini-shovel or dinner utensils, 2 bowls, mittens, scarf, mini carrots, cloves for eyes, sticks for arms, one baking tray.

T-Man and I sat on the family room floor and built mini-snowmen inside. We had the best afternoon! "Oooooh, c-c-c-c-c-c-cold" was about all T-Man could say. Even the dog got involved (no, don't go there, there was no yellow snow -- she just licked the snow) .

Photo: not ours; courtesy of Flickr. Ours melted before we could snap pics. Too much fun playing, didn't even think about a camera.