too much tv?

so - we really try not to let the kids watch too much TV. at least - I think we try. It is hard to tell sometimes how much we try and how much we don't. Ever since we got a digital converter box for the big bad switch to digital we get a new channel that is all kids shows all the time. The funny thing is that the commercials are ONLY infomercials and they are effective! It is good thing we don't have a phone in the basement or I would probably own a shamwow or some wonder hangers or something. I'm such a sucker. I think I may have actually said "wow" out loud at least once recently just after the TV said...."but wait there's more!"

Tonight when I was putting the kids to bed we went through one of our normal rituals. As soon as Lainey realizes that everything is done and that I'm going to leave the room she always DESPERATELY tries to come up with something to talk about. Tonight the conversation went something like this.....

Laine: Uh Dad....uh....I was just wondering....um (really trying hard to think of something)...oh...did you know there is a topsy turvey thing that you can use to plant your tomatoes? yeah - you don't even have to lift a finger dad, really.

me: okay Laine that sounds interesting, good night.

Laine: no Dad, you see the tomatoes hang down and then you can use them to make the best bruschetta!

me: really? Do you know what bruschetta is?

Laine: I think it is some kind of special sauce for bread.

Rom chimes in with: Yeah dad - they make really good tomatoes.

me: okay great -(closing the door as I go) good night love you......

As I was leaving the room I heard her yelling something about some glass globes so we don't have to water our plants anymore. I think we are going to have cut back on that station for a little while.

Kingfish Birthday Fun!

Wow - suddenly it has been a long time since we have updated our faithful blog readers (sorry mom) on the adventure that is our life. Honestly about about 2 weeks ago I almost wrote a very short post that "nothing interesting has happened." I'm sure it was not true. Something interesting MUST have happened but we got busy with life and we apparently failed to notice it. Shame on us. Actually, we probably haven't posted because we have been focusing all spare energy on Romney going potty. Which he is FINALLY doing great at. He decided that if he went potty all the time he wanted to earn a guitar. I love that Romney is a rocker. He always asks for me to turn on some rockin' tunes in the car and the kid has some seriously good moves. Eat your heart out James Brown.....




To redeem ourselves, however, we did finally do something fun and interesting last week. It was the Kingfish's birthday and my wife has been DYING to go...somewhere. and do...something. Preferably something with skis on her feet. She convinced everyone that the only way to celebrate would be to go to Bryce Canyon and go cross country skiing.

Tangent: She may not admit to being the cause of this trip and she may also claim that it was for her dad's birthday but we all know that it was really for her. If there were more snow what she really wanted to do was rent a condo and ski the whole weekend. Actually that is pretty much the only thing she ever wants to do in the winter. She is very focused on this goal and eventually I'm sure she will make it happen. I realized this little trip that this was really just part of her master "all I want to do is ski" plan.

Different tangent: We went skiing yesterday and it was epic. Wow. Happy Valentine's Day to us. The snow was deep, the hills were steep, the thrills were cheap. It was AMAZING. Sorry to have to rub it in. (We owe Sachie BIG TIME for taking our kids. Sachie - here is a coupon for something BIG. I don't know what but maybe a car or a pony or something.)

Okay - so cross country skiing. It was really fun. We decided to take the kids with us. Well - we decided to take one of the kids with us and then the other one heard that the hotel had an indoor pool and then he let us know that he was coming too. So off we went!

My kids are pretty cute. As long as I don't have to talk to them. As you can see the colors were great and the kids were happy, cooperative, enjoyable, never complained and were a bright and wonderful joy to be around the whole time. I told Lainey she couldn't go swimming if she didn't stop trying to kick me and smile for this picture. She immediately flashed a grin. Romney just tried to hide the fact that he has a head at all. He went completely limp. We never had a chance.

Oh, I almost forgot. Awesome Grandma got the kids a camera for Christmas for occasions just like this. It was more fun to take pictures of them taking pictures than it was to see their pictures. I love Rom's outfit. It did eventually become very difficult to get him to STOP taking pictures.

Below you will find pictures of the following: The whole crew (did I tell you that even Peter came! that was a serious highlight. You can see him there in the baby bjorn) Cath's first album cover (or maybe book cover in her case,) David and Becky's first album cover (it will be an album of classical music played on harmonica and telephone keypad sounds. )




























(posted by jim- not marie - just logged in wrong and wouldn't want her to be blamed for anything I say)

Down with boogers and the BCS

okay - seriously people. We have a problem. What has happened to the nice polite young people of the next generation? Yesterday evening I came home and discovered that SOMEONE had decided that my bathroom towel looked more appealing than a kleenex. Big. Huge. Booger. Huge and gross. I'm not sure what we have done wrong but anytime our kids have anything on their hands they come looking for our clothes, hands outstretched. Something needs to change people. I need change. I'm going to write the president.....and my congressman.

daily affirmations

when I was pregnant and preparing for hypno-birthing, I would spend time each day listening to a set of daily affirmations. mostly they were along the lines of "your body knows what to do" which is good for your mind to know when you're going into something like natural childbirth and hoping for the best.

ANYWAY. today Romney came up with his own affirmation, and I'll tell you right now that I would LOVE to hear him say it every day. it would mean very good things were happening in my house - specifically, my bathroom.

"Mom, I am the greatest pooper boy ever!"