Talk of romance

The kids sat down to dinner last night, and the conversation turned to marriage.

Gabi: I'm going to marry Hayden, and we're going to kiss on the lips!

Dad: I'll do everything in my power to prevent that from happening.

Gabi: And then we're going to lay down in the grass ...

(This is where Dad tensed up.)

Gabi: ... and watch the clouds!

(Whew! Crisis averted ... right?)

Little Will: You'd better not take off your bra!

(He got a timeout for that one.)

Caulk Fight!

There's a half-inch of snow on the ground, so of course the local school called it a snow day.

Mom took all the kids to Theisen's, one of their favorite stores (free popcorn!), for painting supplies. The boys found caulk guns and proceeded with a conversation that included these gems:

"No, that's my caulk!"

"This is my caulk; that's your caulk. Leave my caulk alone!"

"Don't touch my caulk!"

This went on--OUT LOUD--for longer than three minutes.

We've never had seats this close before ...

... and assuming the Hawkeye men's team shapes up and attracts crowds once more, we doubt it'll happen again. At least, we hope not.

Brandon and Dad spent Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, watching the men's team (currently 3-5) beat Prairie View A&M.

We started in row 33. By halftime, we moved to row 10, then row 3. Here was our view by the fourth quarter:

After the game, we congratulated the Hawks on their win.

Brandon even stepped foot on the boards. He wants to play there one day.

We're thankful the Hawks won, but their current record worked out for us. Best seats in the house.

Intensity in Tent City!

Four-day weekends sound good, but they can get tiresome ... unless you have our imagination. And parents willing to put up with the mess.

Thanksgiving weekend was chilly, so we had extra blankets lying around. That gave us the idea to make tents throughout the house. And yep, they stayed up through the whole weekend. And we got to sleep in them!

The planning sessions were pretty intense ...

The raw materials plentiful ...

We had to work together, obviously.

It was hard work, but we had fun along the way.

You have to find strong materials as "mortar." That's why clothespins are a lifesaver.

Brandon was the self-appointed Keeper of Clothespins.

The contents of any efficient tent: food, drink, and firearms made of Legos. You know, for hunting.

And finally, the finished products. The "girls' tent" ...

The "boys' tent" ...

Then, the last night, Mom helped out and made a Super Ultra Mega Tent for all four kids. It took up the whole den.

Who said you need TV to have fun?

Summer flashback: Hardacre Film Festival

Mom and Dad ran the film festival at our hometown theater this summer. It took about eight months to plan and execute ... and took up most of their free time. But it was all worth it when they got a crowd like this.

At 12 years, it's Iowa's longest-running film festival. Dad has been a volunteer for the past five years, but this was his debut as Festival Director.

After the festival, we had a wrap party at the brand-new coffee shop, A Place to Land. (We love that place.)

Summer flashback: Hoppin' fun

Uncle Adam graduated from college this summer, and we found a family of toads at his grad party.

We were braver than some of the adults. Especially since they told us we'd get warts from touching them.

No warts yet. We'll keep you updated.

Summer flashback: Easy-E

Uncle Brian and Aunt Jenny - mostly Aunt Jenny - gave us another nephew/cousin this past August. His name is Ethan James.

Mom and Dad kinda like him.

We look forward to spoiling him rotten, like with this cool shirt Mom got from Etsy.

We could give you a million excuses ...

... like our new puppy ...

... or the film festival Mom and Dad organized ...

... or building a new deck onto the house ...

... or all the birthday parties to plan.

But the truth is, we just haven't made time to update the blog this summer/fall. Hopefully, that changes today. We hope you enjoy our updates.

Medical Terminology

Diar-ebes

Brandon was playing snake wrangler. He had the snake cornered, behind the treadmill and the baby cradle.

This snake was no match for Wrangler B-Man.

After viewing his capture through the Kaliedescope, he proclamied:
"That snake has DIAREBES"

"What?"

"He has DIAREBES...I mean Diabetes."

A diabetic snake with diarrhea?
What has the world come to??

Computer

We only have ONE computer in our house. I know, ONE! Hard to believe.
Well there is ONE person who frequents the computer quite often. And there are little munchkins that love to play computer as well, but they have to use the computer when not in use (usually between 2-6 AM). They beg, they barter, they plead...and sometimes they get their way.
When I finally gifted a certain 5 year old, she couldn't get to the computer fast enough. She knows what to do: The games to find! How to log in to BrainPop Jr. She likes Safari browser, I prefer Firefox. You know...the basics! Stuff I knew when I was 5- I am sure!
So she was given her time, and about 10 minutes later: "SNACK TIME" was announced. She arrived promptly at the table. (My girl loves food!)
I saw my opportunity, after passing out snack--to just check my email real quick...
I snuck out of the kitchen, and as I sat down at the desk, I heard from the kitchen:
"MOM...Don't get on THAT computer!!!"

Not a threat

We were out shopping for a new pair of flip flops for Gabi, since her new ones this season, have already broken. Will asked if he could get a new pair of flip flops, but I reminded him that he already had a pair--on his feet--that were new(ish). "But" I said and now regret, "I was going to look for a new pair of "crocs" for you, since your other ones have a hole in the bottom of them." He instantly lights up, and starts scanning the aisles. I start scanning too, wondering WHY I spoke before I checked out the selection.
They only had 1 type of croc and it was Spiderman
(HOUSE RULE #1,287, No Character Shoes). "Mom, I can just have these..." "What is our rule buddy?" ~Groans~ "But mom, I NEED new crocs, and I can just have these!!" "Will, I will look at the other stores later this week, but I am not buying those crocs!" "Well, can we go to Wal Mart when we get home, and if they don't have them, then can we go to grandma's Wal-Mart?" **THIS is why I shouldn't have said ANYTHING!**I now remember**

"Um, no, we will not be able to go to our Wal-Mart, or grandma's Wal-Mart...not today."
"But MOM I NEED new crocs, maybe we could just go there really quick, we will run in, it will take us 3 minutes, and then we will get the shoes!"
"Well, not today buddy"
"BUT MOM, we NEED to."
****Remember that I brought this on myself, I opened my mouth to suggest that he is getting something new, without checking out the situation******

"Will, it is not going to work for us today! But I will keep looking for crocs for you. Now, you need to let it go. Is this going to be a problem?
Is this ALL I am going to hear about for the rest of the day??"

"NO! Not if you let me get the shoes."

(That sounded kinda like a threat).

A cold one.

One morning as we were running late, a certain child was throwing a HUGE fit over a toy, and I was trying to finish up breakfast for the three others, Isa said, "Mom, can I have a drink?"

Brandon pipes up, "Yeah, I am thirsty, too!"

Me:"You know, I am thirsty, TOO. I could go for something nice and cold, too--maybe over ice! That sounds good RIGHT now!"

I turn to deal with the other child, who is still upset and throwing a fit. When I turn back around, Brandon is getting into the freezer, and Isa is pouring me cold water from a pitcher.

"WHAT are you guys doing??" I had pretty much forgotten what I had requested earlier.

"Getting you something cold, with ICE!"

Subtle Sweetheart

Gabi was coloring and coloring, and wouldn't let me see.
GABI: Mom, I am just coloring a picture for daddy's birthday (in September)!

MOM: Oh, that is sweet!

GABI: How do you spell "Mother's Day"?

Sasser-Frasser

11/19/95-4/9/09

Your story with our family started 10 1/2 years ago.

You were a gift to my husband-to-be. We had talked about getting a dog, and so I searched. I found you at the Humane Society in Muscatine. (Grammy was along, to see Daddy's reaction!) Three barks in my direction was all it took. You were ours.

I'm not getting down off this futon. Sit somewhere else.

Daddy was not quite thrilled the first time he saw you, sitting in my parents' living room. Here's how it went:

Daddy: What is that?
Mommy: It's a dog!
Daddy: I know it's a dog. Whose dog is it?
Mommy: It's your dog!
Daddy: ... No, it's not.

But you worked him over well. And since then, you have been the other woman in his life, and I have been fine with that.

You were such a loyal, SMART, sassy, funny, pushy, caring, stubborn dog, with a unique personality. And you were OURS--you made our family.

People always fell in love with you. If you wanted attention, you would walk up and flick an empty hand. If you wanted water or food, you would flip your food bowl until someone finally responded. If we started running a bath or even mentioned the word, you would hide. You would knock over the garbage can, and Tucker usually got the blame. You would drool for grapefruit. Only perform tricks for a treat.

Chase the cat. Let Tucker take your bed away in the middle of the night. Unmake Isabelle's bed during the day and lay in it. You knew if we were going on vacation or leaving the house without you. You loved to go on car rides, and stick your head all the way out the window.

Sweet Sassy.

Not a name I would have chosen, but a dog that I wouldn't have traded for the world.

Rest in peace, sweet girl. You've got a lot of love to spread around up there, and a lot of hands waiting to pet you.

Sibling Love

I could label about 1,000 posts with the words "Sibling Rivalry." So, I thought I would post a couple photos of Sibling Love! Please note that these photos were on two separate occasions!

In the photo above, the kids had earned popsicles because they worked together to pick up! Then Will offered to read to Gabi! AAAWWW....

Granted, this photo was taken at a birthday party (for Grandpa Valet) at Pizza Ranch, and they are probably euphoric on twist ice cream and dessert pizza. But the photo was captured nonetheless.

These two have come a long way in their relationship, and I think it will only get better. This fall will be a hard test when Gabi is off to kindergarten. We just might capture more moments like this one! :)

Foolin' around

Last year, it was the sushi made of Fruit Roll-Ups, Rice Krispie bars and candy. This year, it was fish sticks and cupcakes. But which was dessert and which was the meal?

April Fool's!

Mom found a recipe for a fun April Fool's meal at FamilyFun.com. It consisted of:

Meatloaf cupcakes (with dyed mashed potato "frosting") ...


... "fish sticks" made of wafer cookies, peanut butter and corn flakes, along with "peas and carrots" made of Runts lime candy and orange Tootsie Rolls (cut up) ...


... "mashed potatoes" made of vanilla ice cream and "gravy" made of butterscotch topping ...


... and "juice" (actually, Jell-O).



Here's how we made it ... and the kids' reaction.





We started April Fool's Day early by switching the kids around while they slept, putting them in each other's rooms. It would've worked had Gabi not woken up. ("Mom, I want MY bed!")

You're never safe if you live at our house.