A toaster is not a toy.

I was trying to get Benjamin down for his nap this afternoon when I smelled a strong, smokey scent. I was in my bedroom which is upstairs, way down the hallway. The smell was so strong, and along with the hazy smoke in the air I believed that something was indeed on fire. I interrupted Benjamin who was nearly asleep and ran to the hallway, "What is on fire?!?" I asked as a million thoughts flew through my mind. "Nothing. Jackson is burning toast on purpose," said Chloe.

True, Jackson was re-entering a piece of bread over and over again to see how burnt he could make it. The entire house was filled with smoke and the smell was intense. He was opening all the windows and had a pretty smelling candle lit trying to freshen the air. I wasn't happy. Benjamin wasn't happy. Jackson had a good talkin' to and was given a crabby baby to play with and entertain for his punishment. I thought it fit the crime well.

A nice lady? You decide.....

Grocery shopping with Benjamin isn't easy. Today I was trying to unload my cart contents onto the counter and a kind lady saw me struggling to reach the bottom of the cart while holding Benjamin. "May I help you get your things out?" she asked. "Why yes, that would be NICE!" I replied. She then made the following comment: "Oh, I know what it is like being PREGNANT."

Oh. She thought I was pregnant.

Now, I was awkwardly bending backwards while carrying a rather large baby which may have caused my post pregnancy belly to perhaps pooch out more than normal.....and I do have 10 pounds left to get to my pre-benjamin weight, but PREGNANT?

Well, it was nice to have the extra help. The comment didn't stop me from ripping open a bag of mini snicker bars for trick or treaters and take out 4.

However, I will be certain to keep my running appt. with Carla this week, and I may start up some crunches!

in the land of regulations...

Each town tells people what day and times you can go trick or treating.
Some trick or treat on Oct. 25, some Nov1. We are lucky this year and get to trick or treat on halloween since it is on a friday.
I guess you have to look at this website to see when your town "schedules" trick or treating.

Really, why did things have tobe made so complicated? Roy overheard some moms at his office making plans on which neighborhoods to hit on what day so their kids could get triple the loot. Now, here is ONE instance where over-regulation actually benefits the kids. However, this means that the distribution of candy could be a much higher quantity...so again the average pennsylvanian pays a higher price. I better stock up on at least double my usual candy stash. I'll make sure to get lots of little twix and snickers bars just incase I over buy. This way, there will be no waste. yum.

Here is a glimpse

Of October here where we live. We have now been here for all seasons: Winter, spring, summer, fall....I can't believe we have lived here for 10 months already. By far, fall is the most beautiful here. Minnesota also has some beautiful places in fall, but I don't have to drive quite as long to see some amazing senery. Here are a couple pictures I really like~

Sometimes this is how monday goes

After a busy week with the folks and a busy weekend with hockey, errands, housework and such, we enter our MONDAY.

Unprepared for the week ahead, I decided we would do math, reading, science and a field trip to Hawk Mountian.

I should have known....when I came into the kitchen around 8:30am to find Jackson and Audrey playing with Benjamin's new Little Tykes Tool Bench (garage sale $5.00!) fixing some sort of imagined water leak that this was a day to just leave a lone. But after our scheduled week vacation last week, I felt compelled that school today must go on.

And so the day goes.....

Math had to be cancelled, as our computer decided NOT to work. This computer (not the one I'm using right now but the Dell computer) is a nemisis. For those who do not speak greek, a nemisis is the greek goddess of retributive justice...but often the word is used to depict a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent. Well, for those of you who know my relationship with my Dell computer, you'd agree that he/she is definately meeting this description. So, I'll call it so in front of the kids and there will be vocabulary and review of ancient greek history for the day.

Hawk Mountain was cancelled, because Chloe woke up with a headache, sore throat, and felt dizzy. Not a good day for a hawk migratory trail hike. Bummer. Here we have an opportunity to practice our character study trait for the month: hospitality. Everyone can now stay home and show care toward Chloe.

Science went ok, but Benjamin's excema broke out all over his neck and chest (I contribute it to major drool...I suppose it is time for the 5th tooth) and he was cranky and crying. I couldn't get Jackson to focus as most of his thoughts kept going back to what a bummer it is to not have $77.00 to buy a Ripstik. He did do math thoughout science as he kept figuring out how many jobs at what cost were needed to get his current $42.00 to grow to the needed amount. He figures that in 2 weeks and me contributing $2.00 he can get the ripstik. I think he is dreaming.

We learned about the sun and how it really contains all the colors of the rainbow, and that light travels in straight lines, but colors have different length waves in them and the light that bounces to our eyes is what color objects are and when Jackson asked me if things would still be the color they are if no one was there to look at them and I didn't have an answer....I decided that this Monday would have to go into the vault of Mondays to Forget.

The folks

The folks have been here since early Sunday morning. I really have not been spending as much time lounging at the computer so my posting has been sparse. I guess I never really lounged at the computer, unless you count the irresponsible times I've spent here from around 11:00pm till 1:00am. Basically, I kill time here till Benjamin wakes up, which usually is around 1:00am.
However, with the arrival of tooth #4, the last couple nights he sleeps till around 4:00am. This is great, and I'll have to adapt my sleep schedule accordingly.
I'll be posting after my parents leave, and hopefully will have something more interesting to post than this post I'm posting today. If you read this, and leave a comment, it could mean that either you love me even when I'm boring and dissapointing...or it could mean that you are bored enough or just like to waste time.
Either way, I appreciate you and your friendship~

Shameful!

Imposter!
I almost believed it till I saw the fuzzy thing on her lap.
Sarah Palin would NeVEr own a foo foo dog....never.

I may take my show to vegas

Random

My sister tagged me. I am participating out of love for her...and out of respect for my elders.

Here are the 6 random things to know about me:

1. I can perfectly impersonate the entire twiddle bug family (think Sesame Street the early years).

2. In the late 80's I had so much hair...which I spiral permed...that I couldn't comb it even with a pick so my secret was I never ever combed my hair...ever.

3. While this is not even close to the fame my older sister earned, my picture was published twice in a teen devotional book, and I was a background singer in one song in a recording for a band that I think is still out there somewhere.

4. My nerd qualities: I like the old star trek the best, and second I like Star Trek the Next Generation, I play ancient civilization war simulation games on my computer, and I really like learning about birds.

5. I am a podcast sermon junkie. My favorites are: John Piper, James McDonald, Alistar Begg and Way of the Master Radio.

6. I can spot quite a few constellations in the sky..the only thing I really remember from any of my college courses.

the homeland of Felix the Cat, Dave the Wendy's founder, and Martha Stewart

Tomorrow morning at 7:30 am we are heading to Atlantic City, New Jersey for a hockey game. Since it is a 2.5 hour drive, we will stay around and see what kind of fun we can have on the jersey shore in October.

Common Ground

Tonight we had a group of kids over to play some yard games. The fun began at 4:30 with soccer, backyard soccer (this got kinda brutal), a break for supper, flag football, capture the flag, charades, and then night tag. Breaks were taken to play a game of cards inside, or play with the cute baby on a blanket

The guest list: one 5 year old, one six year old, one 7 year old, two 8 year olds, one 9 year old, two 10 year olds, three 11 year olds, one 12 year old, one 13 year old. All the kids ran around and played capture the flag in the dark and had a great time.

Many people would suspect that having kids ages 5-13, boys and girls, playing games is a recipe for disaster! However, these kids found enough common ground to have a great time together for 4 1/2 hours....and all went home tired and happy. I love it when kids get together and behave so counter culture.

My one and only political post

Ads, debates, discussions, specualtions, polls, retoric, promises. I simply will post one quote.

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams"



http://www.constitutionparty.com/