Labor of Love

I'm all for Child Labor. Okay, let me re-phrase that. I'm all for my own child's labor.  What better excuse to have kids than have them shovel snow off your driveway or cook mac n cheese from scratch.  Kid A is a winner!

The best $1 ever spent.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese from scratch!

Merry Christmas!

Yes, Virginia. There is an Edward Cullen.

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be mortal's or vampire's, are little. 

Yes, Virginia, there is an Edward Cullen.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there was no Edward Cullen! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Edward Cullen! You might as well not believe in werewolves.  The most real things in the world are those that neither mortal nor vampires can see. Did you ever see werewolves dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart a mountain lion and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest vampire, nor even the united strength of all the strongest mortals that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Edward Cullen?Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of many.

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

I should really pay more attention to the old adage - "Be careful what you ask for."  I complained to P last week that the weather people liked to mess with us (Seattle) eastsiders.  Their promise of snow never showed up....until last Wednesday!  And boy did it make a grand entrance.

    A sledding down our neighborhood hill

 

     So pretty, so white, so cold, so much!

Although, after being snowed in for 3 days straight, I'm beginning to think they're over staying.  

Zombies have been unleashed!

After much ado about everything, L4D is open for business!  So, as tribute to this milestone, here's my list of Top Four (In no particular order).

Top 4 Movies:

1.Before Sunrise

2.Moulin Rouge

3.Notting Hill

4. Juno

Top 4 Bands:

1. Cardigans

2. Travis

3. Sundays

4. Highwire

Top 4 Books:

1. Anne of Green Gables

2. Harry Potter Series

3. Stardust

4. Twilight Saga

Top 4 Eats:

1. Lechon

2. Dried Fish/Buwad

3. Bacon

4. Boba

Top 4 People:

1. My uber talented and super sexy P.

2. My brilliant first born.

3. My charismatic second born.

4. You.

Change

I'm glad we're not poor.

I had a craving to bake.  So bake I did.  A chocolate sheet cake that has enough calories for 99 people.  My first attempt at this wasn't so much to my liking.  So, I wanted another chance to love this cake because just about everyone that's made it has.

The second time wasn't a charm.  Although the family loved it, I guess I'm just not going to be its biggest fan.  A enjoyed it so much.  His gratitude went something like this:

Me:  I don't think this is going to taste like before or if it will even taste better.

A:  I'm sure it's going to be good.  Everything you make tastes good.  

(A taking his first bite)

A: Oh my gosh, Mama!  This is the best!  I think it's even better than last time.

Me: Aw, Thanks! (My heart does the happy dance.)

(A takes more bites)

A: I'm glad we're not poor.

Me: What made you say that?

A:  I was just thinking about this book I read that had some sisters that were poor.  I can't remember the title. They couldn't afford anything.

Me: What's the rest of the story about then?

A: (Proceeds to tell me the story which sounds like Little Women)

Me: Aw, that's a sad and happy story. (My brain has come up with a brilliant beyond brilliant idea to make the most out of the situation.)

Me: I want our family or just you and me to do more charity work for the holidays.  Tell me what you think of this one idea.  How about you make your Christmas wishlist and from that list pick one item that you'd like to donate instead of receiving.  Will you do it?

A: Sure!  I can list down Barbie doll house and pick the Barbie doll house to donate.  (Cracking himself up.)

    

I am a proud mom.  I should bake more often.

In memoriam.

Eating the best chocolate cake tastes Heavenly.

Getting a back massage feels Heavenly.

A vacation is Heavenly.

We all associate the pleasures in life with a celestial feeling.  Yet, we can never agree that Heaven exists. Personally, I want to believe it does.  I want to believe that it has this huge population of all the lovely people I knew that have passed.  There they eat whatever they want without gaining weight.   They have parties to celebrate each other. Every. Single. Day.  They have intellectual discussions, never arguments, about politics, race and well, religion.  There they treat each other like a king or a queen or a president or a rock star.  It is always a vacation there.  And they, quite possibly,  may have the best chocolate cake. 

What is your Heaven like?

*Karen, you've been missed... 

Them kids

Why so sad Wall-e?

 I think I miss Eve.  I think I...what the..?!

Ack!  Where'd my pinky go?

             Hey, Gnome.  You seen a finger around here?

Not here.

Ooh, I wonder if this is it.

Better trade it in for some candy.

Goodbye October!

October has come and gone.  Did the entire family have busy fun?  You betcha! Ah, but November brings the Yule season closer and closer.  A spending we will go.  Oh, how I love the Holidays!  But, I think I'm jumping the gun here.  There were some fun happenings toward the end of October that's worth sharing. There were pancakes, zombies, new specs, 10 Million $ ads, pumpkins, dressing up and lots of candy!

Like a good book, here are pictures for a better read!

A's class had a pancake breakfast fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Ike and Gustav.   They raised a whopping $353! A big accomplishment from their small class.

A looking all scholarly and handsome in his first set of eyeglasses.  

Seattle participates in an annual Zombie Walk.  A had fun mingling with the undead.

10 Million dollars later, this sign (and more of it) is all you will see.  

The annual family pumpkin carving. 

(I like to take the pictures and give orders instead.)

Yippee Can Can Can!

It was "Spouse night" for me and the rest of the better halves at P's company on Saturday.   We rode in style on a partybus (complete with coolers of alcohol, 90's headache music and flashy neon lights!) that took us to see the Can Can.  You didn't need alcohol to awaken all your senses because the show was taking care of that.   Music was invigorating.  Dancing was hypnotic.  Characters were over the top stellar.  

It was obvious I wasn't the only one having a great time.  The Ladies were letting loose and were showing signs of  Maybe Manic (OR just bringing their sexy back!)  OOOhhh!

Can't wait for the next spouse event!

First Haircut and Pumpkin Patch Fun

A was off school yesterday and P took the day off from killing zombies.  So, we headed over to South 47 Farm to get ourselves some 'fat, fresh from the farm - not the supermarket -  support local produce' pumpkins.   

BUT, not before baby B got his first official haircut!  Oh, it was a bittersweet day.  All that lovely hair had to go so we can better see the gorgeous face that makes us smile.  My baby was officially a toddler.  I cried like a baby.  

On to the farm...

The weather was cold, but cloudless.  A perfect day to take some great pictures, feed some alpaca's, enjoy the corn maze and get all muddied up.  Fun times!

Wohoho! It's a Blustery Day!

Today was wet, windy and cold.  Gotta love the variety of Seattle weather. 

P worked some in the morning (and as of this writing is back at work).  After, we headed to Seattle Center for Brickon '08.  A loved it, B  enjoyed it, P liked it,  and I will stick to the lego store for my viewing and buying pleasure.  What can I say?  I'm either hard to impress or like my conventions organized.  Nuff said.

Today's Events:

P = Killing zombies (Apparently there's some fun to this).  Took his family to a brick laying convention because he loves them so.

A = Went to work with P and was freeloading on breakfast and Gatorade (Drink of choice for growing 8 year old boys).  Added more legos to his collection because the kid doesn't have enough!  Joined his Poomse Posse.

B = Got the raw end of the stick and went shopping with Me.  

Me = Contributed to the [dying] U.S economy.

L4D

After L4D is packed and sold,  I will fall asleep with a hug again.  I will cook dinner for 4 again.  I will watch re-runs of "I Dream of Jeannie" again.   

For now, I'm thankful P is busy working on something he loves.  He works hard to make a great product.  He works even harder to keep his family happy and loved. (Not to mention keeping his wifey satisfied with his schedule = no nagging from her!)   He is wonderful, this man!  I think I'll keep him.

Today's Events:

P= killing zombies, giving a free ride to a pair of pliers on the back of his trunk!

      (Pliers made the 7 mile trip to work and survived) 

A= ITB testing and Cloned his Wars on tv

B and Me = Lunching with some fun Moms and their offspring, pit stop at Godmother Abby's beehive for some lovin'

October

My, my is that October I see on my calendar?!  How time flies and all I've got to show for is the one previous entry.  That's a failing grade in the blogging world!

Well,  the month has started with nice weather.  A pleasant suprise in WA for this time of year.  

Today's events were:

P = Killing zombies.

A = Making the grade and bending it like Beckham.

B and Me = fun play date with sweet Sahara and her lovely mommy, Deann.

Aiming for a kiss

(All together now, awww!)

Caved

I once swore I would never blog.  How fickle I can be.

Welcome and enjoy the ride!