Christmas Flashback...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Almost March!

Now that I'm 37 and have had two kids, I can definitely see that how I used to eat doesn't work for me anymore.  I'm kind of disgusted with myself this morning, after seeing some pics of myself from last week. Can I lose the weight? I better. I don't like what I'm seeing in the mirror.

Enjoying my new ride. It's an older model mom van, but I'm tickled at the stuff I'm discovering about it (fold down table thing between the two boys, for example) that makes my life easier.

Got my tag/title at DMV yesterday.  Have to go back next month (!) to renew my new tag. Joy.  At least I'm 100 percent legal! :)

Jake is still calling me Maw Maw and has switched from hitting people to trying to spit at them. Nice.
Luke is getting better at reading every day and amazes me with his thought process all the time...still obsessed with Star Wars legos....
Looking forward to spring break in 2 weeks...maybe I can make my fat ass move some.

Hoping for a quiet weekend...

Cheesy Goodness

When I used to visit my Aunt Shirl and her family, I used to love listening to cousin Tammy's records. This was one of them that I loved.

Tales from Maw Maw

What a berserko week it's been. By berserko, I mean just "a lot of stuff--both good and bad" happened.  Thursday I had a professional development day so that is always weird---having lunch outside of school, being around adults all day. After my PD, I had to go to the dentist to get my crown "whittled down"---oh yeahhh...that was hysterical. Then Thursday night, Papa Vandersloot dies, which made Chris and I perk up, thinking maybe something good will come out of this---in the NH case...

Then I go back to school on Friday to see what all happened while I was gone to PD, and the kids were all atwitter, thinking that it might snow. On I marched with my modifier lesson (exciting!) and an optional "make a Valentine card from one Great Expectations character to another" activity (that, my friends, was high entertainment...I'll share soon) and then it started to snow. And snow and snow...So we are all released at noon and it was cool---haha--cool.  It seemed like everyone in town was on 31 trying to get home to enjoy the snow with their families. The boys were so thrilled and sincerely, the snow day on Friday was like a gift from God. "Here, take this Alabama. Y'all deserve a break."  "Why, thank you God!" Jake really enjoyed his first snow. Last year when it snowed, he was so little I didn't get him out in it, but he had a blast this time.  When it started falling on his head, he was so confused---"Rain, Maw Maw?" (For some reason he is calling me Maw Maw lately. Fun.) The whole "guy who died on the luge thing" creeped me out. Chris made his comforting stew/soup Friday night and I enjoyed watching the opening ceremonies with him while the boys destroyed the house. That is, I enjoyed watching the ceremonies until it put me to sleep, my stomach full of warm stew/soup.
*******
Saturday was a family day---had Chris's parents (and an always exuberant Dylan)  over to celebrate Nanny's bday. More stew/soup, then rich chocolate cake, then Olympics...then I fell asleep on the couch again...Later Chris "was allowed" haha out of the house to have some guy time with his cousin Dave while the boys and I popped some popcorn the old fashioned way (y'all know what I mean--the trusty popcorn popper!) and cuddled on the couch under a blanket while we watched Cars.  Well, until Jake started jumping from the ottoman to all the other chairs. Saturday was also memorable because Tanner proposed to Amber.

Then Valentine's Day, Chris, the boys, and I went to IHOP (boy that was an adventure) then had a Valentine's Shopping Trip 4 Jen experience. :)  Good times.  However, the sad news was that we found out that Lilly, Casey and Meg's bulldog died AND they had plumbing issues.. Sending good vibes your way, guys.

And now, today, I'm sick. I finally got the stuff that's been going around.

More on the Alligator

Luke talked to Mom and Dad tonight on the phone.
Luke:  You know what happens when an alligator eats you?
M&D: What?
Luke: You turn into POOP and then you go with Jesus.

He's been asking me a lot of questions about death/God/Jesus lately. It's been interesting.  We passed a cemetery today and he had a boatload of questions about that...

Jen the Ninja

Chris and I passed a sign that read "NINJA TRAINING" outside a karate place.
"I wish I could take that class," I told him.
"Ha."
"I really do. I wish I had the time, energy, and money to take Ninja Training. I'd like to learn...what larks that would be."
"You realize how clumsy you are, right?" Chris asked.
"Well, yeah, that's why it would be useful. I'd become stealthy and non clumsy. Plus I could wear that suit."
We started laughing and pictured my first day---showing up in a Halloween Ninja outfit with nun chucks and a star.
"You'd be jumping in and out of bushes..." Chris added.

This is marriage. Talking about ninjas while you drive home from work and smell poop from your child's diaper as it wafts from the backseat.

Disjointed Ramble

February. Cold.  Coffee.  Watching movies, DVRed Toddlers and Tiaras, etc.
Luke lost his second tooth right next to the other one he lost a while back.  Tooth fairy came last night. Left him a baggie of dimes. Heh.

Don't like opening the blinds--nothing but dead trees/lawn/gray skies out.

Teaching Great Expectations and discovering more about it every day.  Also teaching Animal Farm for the billionth time to my regular class.

Back has been killing me.

Trying to unhoard the closets.

Luke has started really impressing me with his reading skills---I'm so proud.
Jake likes sitting in my lap and having me read books to him. Such a cuddly bunny.

Saw this in a local shopping center (below).  Buddha Jesus?

Feel sluggish, creaky.  I'm ready for spring.