Gift Ideas

So I (Mike) was talking to Andy about what we could get Cheri for Christmas. Here's his brainstorming session:
A: "If she lost her ring, we could buy her a new shiny ring"
-"Ok"
A: "If she lost her hand, we could buy her a shiny hook"
-"Oh,"
A: "Because Captain hook has one ..."
-"True enough"
A: "She doesn't like our vacuum, so maybe we could buy her a new one ... but made out of gold."
-"Huh, umm"
A: "But I don't think they even make vacuums like that, so ..."

Good ideas all, but I don't know that we can rely on Cheri losing her ring or her hand in time for Christmas. And solid gold vacuums are only for NBA wives, right? Or Liberace or Elton John or something.

Thankful Heart

I am sitting in my room listening to Jacob talk on the phone with his Granny. They are talking about life in elementary school, Thanksgiving, and how surprisingly fast the mail service was in getting a card to us....having a long,sweet conversation. I just overheard Andrew in the kitchen. He is watching Mike make the apple pies for today and he commented in a thoughtful voice, "those are really pretty decorations, Dad." Amelia is taking her nap.

Such harmony in the home. This is what it is all about. My heart is full. I love this little family of mine. What a joy they all are. I am so grateful for the privilege I have of raising these three wonderful spirits, and the opportunity to learn from and work with Mike as we both progress in life.

And of course, I am filled with awe at the blessings that surround me. The country we live in, the beauty all around, the family who raised me, the knowledge I have of my Savior's plan for me, and all those who influence my family.

A wonderful season is upon us, and for this time of year I give thanks.

Surrounded By Crazies

Last night the boys and Mike decided it was high time they perfected the art of tripods and headstands.


And they're up!


Andrew seemed to be a lost cause.


We were all laughing about it, good-naturedly (not sure if that is spelled correctly) and Mike did his best to support the jello man, but later on Andrew was found upstairs sobbing uncontrollably because he wasn't able to do it. Mike had a good soothing talk with him, and let him know that practice was the key.


First thing this morning Andrew announced he was ready to walk on his hands!

When I showed Andy this picture right after taking it, he said (quickly assuming a karate stance and tough guy voice), "Oh yeah...I'm like - you want a piece 'o me?! And they're like - yeah, if you're a pizza." (still tough guy face for a few more moments to prove himself to his imaginary audience..)

And just for more kicks and giggles, I decided to throw a picture in of our family bike ride today. We stopped at a playground and while Andy, Amelia, and I amused ourselves, Dad and Jacob did some high adventure ravine riding. Watch out now.

It's Saturday!

Just a couple of photos from today. This morning started out with Amelia squished into the sink, doing her hair, admiring herself, and babbling into the faucet handle (microphone fashion).

We worked a ton today cleaning out the garage, arranging furniture that still did not have a place, doing yardwork, and organizing closets AGAIN! The boys pitched in most of the day as well, and we all just took a much needed break. We read a couple more chapters from the book we are reading as a family (Laura Ingalls Wilder: Farmer Boy), and had plain doughnuts and eggnog to go with it. Almanzo loves these things and the boys have been wanting to try them. Surprisingly they both loved the eggnog.

Fall is here! Beautiful colors, falling leaves, a welcome bite to the air, and even some frosty mornings. Apple pies to be baked tomorrow. Mmmmm.......

Boring post - exciting news...

Is that possible?

I just can't get over gasoline being$1.83!! It's fun going out to drive, simply for the pleasure of driving past the gas station and seeing the numbers dropping so rapidly. I know, I know.....the economy is sagging....but still. Ahhhh......

Happy Campers

Jake runs away (again), but is soon distracted by something better to do with his time. Andrew and Amelia soon join in.

After a bit he comes in and says, "Mom, will you come out and look at our campsite contest? Just let us know if they are both equally good, what we could do better, or if there's just a personal winner."

I was greeted by this sign:

Here are the results, Andrew's being the one with the "slippy" tucked safely inside for a restful puppy sleep, and Jake's having the rifle with arm's reach.





(camp Jacob: visitors not allowed)-remnant from running away stint

I told them they were "both equally good" and then they ran off to protect their handiwork from the little Amelia girl.

Goulash

Here are some random items from the past few days:

#1: We had some of the boys friends come over for a night hike on Friday evening. Tons of fun. The weather was perfect, the moon was out, and the sandwiches and brownies tasted delicious. Something like "hunger is the best sauce"....

#2: Some background for this one - Jacob has/had a habit of eating everything. He's done this since the time he could coordinate his arms and hands enough to get things to his mouth. When I say eats everything I am talking wood (including his bunk bed), any plastic toy, cups (all the plastic ones have been completely gnawed around the rims), shirts (he sometimes would come home from school with little holes gnawed from the collar to the belly button - and soaking wet), pants (a brand new pair of church slacks had a 1/2 inch hole chewed through the knee in the first hour of wearing them), all the buttons off his shirts, snaps off his jackets, I think you get the picture. For a time I viewed clothing as disposable - a one use item, if you will. We accepted hand-me-downs from as many sources as were offered, and he probably ate his way through 30 t-shirts, 3 pairs of church pants, and probably 4 different button down shirts were always sitting on top of my mending pile. Luckily he seems to have by in large curbed this habit. (Unfortunately his fingernails now bear the brunt of the incessant chewing. We offer carrots constantly as a substitute - but, whatever... hopefully he'll grow out of it.)

SO... Anyway, as we were driving to our night hike I overhear this exchange between Jake and Simon:

(Simon is an accomplished whistler - I am not exaggerating...and he's 8 years old. He had been whistling and I think Jake was feeling some pressure to show off some of his stuff as well.)
Jake: "There are a lot of things I can do too, that you probably don't even know about."

Simon: "Can you chew through a telephone wire?" (In a challenging voice)

Jake: "Well, yeah, probably. I mean - it might get a little shocky as I got to the electricity, but I could do it."

Simon: (you could hear him shaking his head) "Dude, you're a hamster."


#3: Andrew woke up with a fever early Sunday morning. As the day wore on, his stomach ached. At one point he bounded down the stairs and said, "Mom! I said a prayer to God to not let me throw up, because it hurts my throat so much, and now I don't have to throw up anymore!!" So darling. He even told Jacob last night about his experience and told Jacob that "he could pray when he was sick and Heavenly Father would help [him] too."
Fast forward to this morning. He wakes up feeling worse. He tells me he has said "three..what comes after three? (I answer) Four prayers this morning and i still feel yucky. Then a few minutes later, as he is puking____ "God"....barf..."didn't"...barf..."listen to"....barf..."my prayers!"...sobbing.
Oh my goodness. What do you say? It broke my heart, and I told him that maybe Heavenly Father knew there was stuff inside that needed to come out. Poor, sweet, Andy Roo.

Scrumpdiddlyumptious!

Our first ripe orange of the season! The boys are vying for the chance to be the one to pluck it in all it's glory.

As we were driving home from preschool - bringing a friend home with us - it was the first thing Andrew told his friend about. "Guess what. You're not gonna believe this. We have an orange tree in our backyard and there is a RIPE ORANGE on it!! You're gonna LOVE our house."

Simple pleasures.

 

Which reminds me....Jake gave the Family Home Evening lesson on Monday night and it was on simple pleasures. He did a great job. Afterward we each took a turn saying something simple that makes us happy. Jake said flowers, and then expanded it to include "all of nature - it's beautiful." Andy said, "Can I say 'when Jacob plays with me?'" And of course I don't remember what Mike and I said. We're not as cute as them.

Adventures of Andy Roo

Andrew was busying himself with fighting the Cavendish Gang (for all you Lone Ranger fans) this morning. He happened upon a seed in the grass and came running in to show me. He planted it by himself and watered it (PLENTY), and then made a sign.

 

 

As I was taking a picture he said, "Planting a seed is MUCH more important than playing cowboy."

And this is where he spent about an hour a couple of days ago. Road work - exciting stuff folks! He said hello to the guy on the machine and was so happy that he heard him and said hello back. I love boys!

 

watch it, mister

Yesterday Jacob warned Andrew:

"Um Andrew? I wouldn't really call mom silly if I were you, you might end up appearing before a court before you are 18."

Big eyes from Andy.

Happy Halloween!

 

Jacob is a Paratrooper and Andrew is a skeleton

 

The princess/queen/pretty girl/angel...

 

Lady Love and her entourage

 

We had so much fun!! What a great way to end an incredibly full and stressful week. We drove around and hit some special friends that are not right on our usual trick or treating route, and then met up with our friends Leah, Hailey, and Cameron, that we trick or treat with every year. The kids all did so great this year. Amelia was so excited to be out with all the others. She thinks every costume is funny and really seems to like getting dressed up. She never likes to wear headbands anymore, but when she saw Andrew and Jacob put costumes on, she didn't make one complaint when all her stuff went on. The weather was gorgeous and I had a lot of fun visiting with my friends as we walked along.





Jacob, in a nice turnaround this year, sprinted from house to house, rather than spending 5 minutes visiting with each person at each house. It definitely moved things along! All the rest just attempted to keep up with him.

This morning we sat down to sort through the mother load. Jacob ended up with 172 pieces with Whoppers, Tootsies, and Laffy Taffy's coming out on top as his favorites. (When asked, he replied, "It's hard to choose between so many scrumptious looking goodies!)


Andrew came in as our family winner with 213 pieces of candy. When he finished sorting he sang in a made up sort of tune..."duh- dah - duh - da...I'm Captain Candy...Captain Candy....Captain Candy!" Yes he was. Favorites were Smarties, "chocolick" eyeballs, and "explosion things" (atomic fireballs). Not to mention the probably 40 lollipops he squirreled away.


Amelia walked probably a quarter of the time and loved walking with her two adoring fans, Miss Hannah Montana and Miss Ballerina. Finally at one house she actually got herself a piece of candy. It was hilarious. She came running back to me with a big grin, jabbering away and then sat right where she was and first tried to open the package, and then to just eat right through it.





Here is the candy bag I made for Jacob's paratrooper costume. He requested a man jumping out of a burning plane. (My camera was on some funny mode and a lot of our pictures were blurry.)