Without Any Further Ado…

The date was February 25th, 2011. The place was Calvary Christian School’s Student Center.  The event was the Annual Talent Show.  And our boys were the stars :)… well, they were a couple of the stars (that was for all the other parents that happen to stumble across this post, LOL).

So, full disclosure on the video quality.  I took them with a pocket recorder as I was also trying to snap still shots with the other hand (which was pointless as I was way to far away for those to turn out anyway).  There were also a couple of hand-offs from me to Nena…  Overall, it was not a great effort, but I think you can still get the idea.

Joseph worked so hard on this performance.  His quartet spent their lunch hours meeting with the music teacher for weeks.  They were the only Middle School group in the MS/HS category and I was so stinkin’ proud I could not begin to express it.

And then there was Jacob.  He, too, was in a group.  It was more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, let’s-sing-a-song-we-know and hope-for-the-best kind of act.  And it stole the elementary portion of the show (at least in this mother’s eyes).  And in fact, they won the prize for the best overall in that division!  Another super proud moment.

64 Year Old Mom, but not Mine :)

So, my mom’s birthday was February 25th and I thought I posted this then!  Apparently, it was lost in my Drafts folder so… better late than never!

I love you, Mom.  And for anyone wondering… this story is not about her, hehe.

In honor of  Jane Groman Roberts’ birthday ;), I thought I’d share this recent news story I came across.

With all the new technology regarding fertility recently, a 64-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth.
When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.
‘May I see the new baby?’ I asked
‘Not yet,’ She said ‘I’ll make coffee and we can visit for a while first.’
Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked, ‘May I see the new baby now?’
‘No, not yet,’ She said.
After another few minutes had elapsed, I asked again, ‘May I see the baby now?’
‘No, not yet,’ replied my friend.
Growing very impatient, I asked, ‘Well, when can I see the baby?’

‘When he cries!’ she told me.

‘WHEN HE CRIES?’ I demanded.

‘Why do I have to wait until he CRIES?’

‘BECAUSE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, O.K.?!!!!’

A Farmer?

Abe, playing with one of his current favorite toys:  I love my John Deer tractor.

Mommy:  Are you going to be a farmer when you grow up?

Abe:  I think so.

Abe again, after a bit of reflection:  Or maybe a Transformer.

Dream big, little man!

U Gotta Love It

1. Up
2. Unicorn
3. Undecided
4. Us! Mom and Bella.
5. United
6. Underwear – I can post this now that by baby boy is wearing them, hehe.
7. Ugly day
8. Uno
9. Urinalysis.  OK, so admittedly gross, but come on, 25 “U”s!
10. Uvula – as modeled by Abe.
11. Upload – my cardreader is my 3rd arm.
12. Uniform
13. U.S.A.
14. “U” key
15. Untouchables – A poster in my office.
16. Ultraviolet lights
17. Unkept bathtub hair – thank heavens this was the one day a week my poor child is bathed ;).
18. UPS
19. Umbrella – because of the forementioned Ugly Day.
20. Upside down
21. Ulna (sort of) – well, the bone is in there somewhere.
22. Underwater Barbie – again, courtesy of bathtime.
23. UK
24. Undercover
25. Unconventional bracelet (Christmas ornament)

Photos taken on March 10, 2010

It’s Done

Two SOLID hours of crying, screaming, pleading and generally overreacting to the whole thing on Friday afternoon.  Check.

Eight pair of slightly damp to moderately soaked cartoon characters.  Check.

Gnashing of teeth while in a seated position with mom holding your little boy parts down to avoid spillage.  Check.

Sweet sleep in a diaper.  Check.

Thirty minutes of wailing on Saturday morning.  Check.

Two accidents before 10 am.  Check.

18 hours later, completely Potty Trained, including at nap and night time.  Check.

Bye, Bye Changing Table…

Hello, Big Boy!

 

Let’s Talk T

So, remember back in February and March 2010 when the kids and I did a “Letter a Day” project? Well… I know you have not been able to sleep at night since our alphabet was never completed on this blog.  So, instead of Unisom tonight, you can rest easy in the knowledge that the remaining few, but critical letters are forthcoming!

1. Tyrannosaurus Rex – the coolest of all dinosaurs.
2. Trolley – Downtown Columbus.
3. Telephone – This on was at my office, not my home.
4. Tea party – I’m sure that Abe instigated this, don’t you think?
5. Transformer – Yet anothert totally awesome Toy beginning with this Terrific letter.
6. Temptation – This is the Ice Cream freezer! (I’m not telling if I gave in… mainly because I can’t remember)
7. Trains & Tracks – Thomas, in fact 🙂
8. Tank – A big one in our waiting room.
9. Tasha (Backyardigan)
10. Ten
11. Tongue blades
12. Tinkerbell
13. Teddy bear
14. Tortillas (handmade) – not by me, sadly.  Made by Martha.
15. Time cards – I suppose it’s obvious I worked on this day, huh?
16. Ticklish
17. T-shirts
18. Tree Trunk
19. Toast
20. Tractor – just a random one on th side of the road.
21. Tiger
22. Thorns
23. Triceratops – wow, 2 dinos in one day!
24. Treasure Hunter – a stretch, perhaps?
25. Thumbs Up – The alphabet. must. end. soon.

Photos taken March 9, 2010

Warning *Gross Alert*

Some basic childhood conversations are quite simply a little gross & this is one of them.  If you don’t enjoy hearing about nose gunk or if you are currently eating raisins or oatmeal, I’d suggest you stop reading now.

Here’s the scene… We were in the car coming home from church today and Arabella asked me what Boogers really were.  How were they made and what was their purpose?  You know, your average inquisition.  I gave her a pretty detailed physiologic explanation of our bodies immune system and the barrier defense our nasal hairs provide.  She concluded that the stuff that boogers consisted of was indeed nasty.  I concurred.

Then Abraham chimed in.  “I eat my boogers”.  Ahhh….

Arabella: “I used to eat mine, but not anymore”.

Abe: “They taste good.  Like juice”.

I am dying as I drive!  I explained that picking our dried nasal mucous was OK in private as a last resort, blowing was the preferred method of removal and ingestion was really not acceptable.

I think I made an impact, because at the lunch table 45 minutes later, this sweet 3 year old told his Daddy “I don’t eat my Boogers anymore”.  Yay, Abe!  My baby’s growing up.

And by the way…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas Day

Christmas Day!  My favorite day of the year.  Yay!

First of all, I will start by saying that I fully realize how blessed I am.  I also realize how unworthy I am of these blessings.  I give God all of the Glory for allowing me the simple pleasure of relishing in my family on this celebration of his son’s birth.  The bigger picture of this holiday is not lost on me, and the joy of it fills my heart with gratitude for my salvation and my life.

In case you were wondering, Santa did manage to find us at our new home this year.  The kids were relieved.  I just love the magic in their eyes as they go to bed with visions of the morning dancing in their heads and wake to the wonder that it is all tangible.  I really, really love it.

After the flurry of the morning was complete, the festivities at Monni-Moo’s house began.  My family means so very much to me and the fact that my children have the opportunity to spend time with their extended family on these special days is a blessing.  I do, however, wish that Brad’s family lived closer.  We miss them terribly on Christmas but were able to enjoy some awesome time with Grandpa and Grandy when they visited earlier this month.

Anyway, at my beautiful grandmother’s house, we ate and chatted and enjoyed lovely dinner conversation with my cousin’s 7 year old son, Davis. We opened more gifts and some of us even napped.  It was a lovely time.

The rest of the day was even more magical, at least for mommy.  Very little fighting, preoccupation with new toys, and special family time.  We played new board games and ignored the dreadful mess in the house.

And how could we end a perfectly wonderful day?  With SNOW!  For the 1st time in over 120 years!  Now, I will admit that it was after dark, only fell for about 40 minutes and was washed away quickly by the rain that followed it.  But still,  White Christmas Night!  I’ll take it.

Joseph said it best… “This is officially the best Christmas ever”.

Christmas Eve Recap

• Groggy family wakening from sweet dreams of Christmas Eve Eve spent with my family eating steaks, opening too many gifts (psst…I’m not complaining), and enjoying one another.

• Living room furniture moved against the walls to give Santa more room to work tonight.
• Toys everywhere – new one thanks to Nena & G-Pop, old ones ready to give away (I know I’m late).
• Four children in a Nerf War… 1 in PJs and a wet diaper, one in Jeans and an undershirt, one in gym shorts only, and one in a Princess Dress (holding a gun in one hand and a barbie in the other).

• Mommy (also in PJs) trying in vain to clean up and taking a break to share this with you all while avoiding styrofoam bullets.  I also drank coffee all day.  YAY for coffee.

• Marco’s Pizza – ordered after I discovered that the kids had cleaned out our lunch stash while out from school this week.  Yikes!

• Sugar Cookies… remade.  The cute, hand rolled cookies cut in Christmas shapes prepared a few days ago are long gone.  Santa was NOT going without at the Evangelista house, so Hello Slice ‘n Bakes!

• Laughter (at the moment) from little ones and a full heart owned by me.
• CrossPointe Church to celebrate the reason for this Holiday.  The birth of our Savior.

• After the beautiful candlelight service that my children managed to get through without setting anything on fire *whew*, we did the Cookies & Milk for Santa thing, the obligatory photo, and the Gotta-Get-To-Bed Dance.

• I just love Christmas.

It’s Snowing

At least on my blog!  Which tells me it is December and Christmas is FAST approaching.  Yikes!  I’d better get with it.

I love this time of year more than any other.  The tree is up (has been since Thanksgiving night) and the stockings are hung.

And most importantly, the ceramic Santa is filled with M&Ms… we are getting ready!

Enjoy some Apple Cider and Christmas tunes today!