A white New Year!

What a New Year surprise!  2015 snow!

32 Years HOTT

Not only did this man turn 32, but ALSO his Seahawks won the Super Bowl.  Actually they didn't just win, they ANNIHILATED. Does life get any better.  Why, yes it does.  Nana's homemade Dutch Apple pie. Shooooooooot.

Crabby (the 2nd)

Well, who knew a dead hermit crab out of his shell (gross AND creepy) could make a little boy Marshal so sad, while rallying so much support from friends and family.  Or that out of this grieving I would be duped into buying two more hermit crabs.  Don't judge me.  RIP Crabby II. 

Lobster Petting Zoo

Who knew Red Lobster could be so exciting!!!

Two-Tits

These are my two little Abercrombie models???

Look at their cute little bodies! 

They got play tattoos in their stockings.  

Mason calls them two-tits.  

"Wanna see my two-tits?"

"Where's my two-tits?"

"Look at her two-tits!"

"Can I see your two-tits?"

You can see how this causes sideways glances. 

Where's your tooth???

A couple of things noted from this picture... 

First of all, Maso is indeed missing a tooth.  His pediatrician says he'd have it by now, and luckily it won't have any impact on his permanent teeth.  It's super cute, and we play a game asking him where his tooth went - his belly? Armpit? Ear?

Secondly, can you guess what's in his mouth?  That would be asparagus.  Two hours after we ate dinner.  Why? Because my dear Middleist doesn't like to swallow his food.  In fact he will stuff his cheeks to beyond capacity, to the point where he is physically unable to swallow.  He frequently has to spit out his food because there is so much in there.  This is quite startling, yes.  

 

Chicken Pox!!!

While the boys have been looking a lot like THIS:




We've been doing a lot of THIS:




 And this...




And taking lots of oatmeal these:



 And watching this:



Eating, napping, benadryl-ing, rocking - and A LOT OF TV...
Sorry, we'll cut back to normal once we're not quarantined.  
Hang in there little M boys.  

Glad it Wasn't Me...

I saw this car pull out of its parking place,
right in front of another car, and stop.
Then I realized it had no driver at all.
Someone missed the "P" and hit the "N" instead.
Bummer for them.  Funny for me.  Picture-worthy for sure.

Guess who's 100!!!

This is my 100th post!

In honor of turning 100, I decided to post this crazy old lady.  

No significance.  

A little creepy.   

The Death of Darch

Well that sure didn't last long!
If you missed it, read all about Darch here.
Notice legs are now up and stiff.
Yes, Darch is dead.

Some things I learned in this Darch loving escapade:

• Roaches are even more gross than I ever knew.
• They start out crisp and light brown when alive and healthy.
• They become GREASY and OILY and BLACK as they slowly die (BARF).
• A roach can live 3 days in a completely air-tight tupperware.
• I will not be using that tupperware again, ever, for anything.
• They stop pooping after day one.
• They can survive (for 3 days anyway) shaking, throwing, suffocation, spinning, and baking - all without any food or water.
• I very well might be roach-hunting tonight while Marshal sleeps so that tomorrow morning Darch is awake again for my sweet, Darch-loving boy.

Meet Darch

Absolutely disgusting.  Roaches are so ICK.  Unless you're Marshal Jay Peters, and then for some reason they're super cool.  He doesn't actually want to touch them.  Bless God.  And he keeps voluntarily telling me, "I won't eat him mom." Double bless God.  This beauty  was found in the corner of my bathroom, and is the size of a Shetland pony.  You can't see it here, but a small child could saddle and ride it for sure.  Marshal is convinced it is not only cool, but also his best friend, affectionately named "Darch".  We think that's the closest he can say to "roach" - who knows.  The first night it was caught he wanted to sleep with it.  Absolutely not! I have my limits.  But I did offer to make it its OWN bed out of a washcloth, on the other side of the bedroom.  He took it to his babysitter's house yesterday.  And wants to take it to his class at church tonight.  It's been relentlessly shaken.  It's been left in a Tupperware stall in a 100 degree minivan.  I think the pony might just outlive us all. 

Please note this horse's stall has no air holes.  

Not an accident.  

Please also note it's been alive now for 3 days. 

And it poops.  Gross.   

Blue Moccasins

Wednesdays are just plain chaos.  They start off all nice and relaxing, then somehow by the end of the day all the wheels fall off.  Of course they are fun, fruitful, life-changing... just wheel-less.

SO, this particular Wednesday I was running behind (gasp, I know).  I was trying to feed the children dinner, (which they maybe ate a quarter of), grab all the important things from the house I'd promised not to forget, stock the diaper bag, load everyone into the rocket-ship (minivan), find my phone, make sure I have the church keys, brush my teeth (possibly for the first time of the day) - and get to church in time to get the babies to their classes and still get to the Youth service in time to hug some necks.

As I get to church and start unloading the boys, I realize Marshal has on no shoes or socks.  Barefoot.  Perfect.  At this point there are NO minutes to go home, so I carry my Mason to nursery and my cute- bare -legged Marshal to Kingdom Kids.  I ask our children's pastor, with slight embarrassment, if it's okay if my son participate tonight barefoot.  Of course she did, she's sweet like that.  I joked that I didn't see a "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" sign anywhere... haha, I'm so funny I know.

FAST FORWARD to the end of services.  I go to pick up my happy boy - and alas! He's wearing shoes! Now - I don't know if I can fully describe how funny the situation was, or if the picture gives it justice.  BUT - my little son was donned in blue, suede, at least 4 sizes too big, zip up, girl's moccasins.  Fringe included.  Stuffed with paper towels to keep them on his dirty feet.  The details of where these beauties came from are still a little vague.  But as I'm DYING laughing at my own inabililty to bring my child in shoes, IN ADDITION to the blue suede substitutes, Marshal is grinning from ear to ear saying "Mama! Look at my shoes!" And as they are falling off as he runs, he stops - bends down, puts the paper towels back in, and says, "I love them!"

Oh am I the worst mom ever? No. At least I didn't forget any children.  Yet.

Woah! Lots of Firsts! (View at your own risk...)

So.  We came home from a wonderful Thanksgiving vacation.  And my boys must have grown on the plane!

Because the VERY NEXT DAY, Mason decides he wants to walk! Just like that! He had been taking a few steps here and there, but on December 3, 2010 - he took off! Started walking! In one night! He is so excited.  Now if we can just keep Marshal from "accidentally" bumping him over.

The NEXT, NEXT, DAY, Marshal comes up to me and asks, "Mama, can I go potty in big-boy potty?" He actually asked! I hadn't been planning on potty-training him yet, and hadn't been working with him at all recently.  Needless to say, I decided to run with it! And he's doing great! He's consistently in big-boy unders (except for at nap-time and bed-time).  He tells us when he needs to go pee, and even got to pee in a car lot parking lot.  He hadn't gone #2 in the potty yet... and then... TODAY.

Yes. Be alarmed.  Be very alarmed. I was out of the room for nearly half a second, and he'd disrobed, squatted, and tirdded on the floor.  Never wanting to miss a learning opportunity, we talked about how tirds don't go on the floor, but in the potty.  (Don't worry all you clean freaks... hands and carpet were all washed/disinfected appropriately.)  THEN later today - SUCCESS!!!

Sorry for the graphic images.  It's all about memories here on the 'ol blog.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Traditions

I love traditions!  I love hearing other people's traditions!  And I want to do the tradition that I read about here and here!  (Also, note the WAY cool crowns and decorations.) The problem is that my kids are 2, and 9 months.  They won't be starting school for like - ever. ( And I'm very happy about this fact... and I already know what you're thinking, "It'll be here in a blink of an eye..." Yes. I know.) And when that blink of an eye happens, can you help me remember that I want to do this tradition? Thanks!

Most Expensive Date Night EVER!

A date night sounds like a good idea, right? Fun, relaxing.
A double date with great friends? Even better!
A cute, clean, romantic comedy - perfect! 
Wonderful babysitter.  Happy children.

Fun driving-home conversation and laughs. But wait, what is this? Where is our babysitter's car?  Uh-oh.  Not good.  Not good at all.  Apparently they weren't kidding when they posted those signs about not parking on the street.  Even in front of your own house.  Even your sweet babysitter while you're at the movies.

$190 later her car was back.  Street scoundrels! You should be ashamed of yourself!  Lurking around looking for innocent new neighbors who don't fully understand the rules... and... who, uh... can't read the posted signs...