The best picture of Chloe, ever!
Our first try at photographing Spark, Ben's new hamster. He's having 'playtime in the tub'.
A very good picture of Chase!Tuesday, December 30, 2008
New Camera
The best picture of Chloe, ever! Our first try at photographing Spark, Ben's new hamster. He's having 'playtime in the tub'. A very good picture of Chase!
Reviews
That's pretty cool ... I bought some Christmas toys from eToys.com, and they asked me for reviews of the items. When I wrote the reviews, they had an option to post them to my blog, so you'll see them in the blogs below. It worked really smoothly ... technology is amazing!
My Review of Cube World: Series 4 - Slugger & Kicks
Play with one or stick two or more cubes together to build an interactive world. They'll play, pester and protect each other. As you stack, they'll interact and visit one another's cubes. Each cube has motion sensors and action buttons let you play games and interact with your stick ...
Cool toy
By Mom of 2 from Raleigh, NC on 12/30/2008
Age: 8 Year Old
Gift: No
Pros: Engaging
Best Uses: Older Children
Describe Yourself: Parent Of Multiples (Twins etc)
My kids are fascinated with this toy - they specifically asked for it and find it fun. You can link the cubes together and the people inside can move from block-to-block. I thought they might not like it, since it's black and white stick people, but they've found it easy to play with and enjoy it.
(legalese)
My Review of Football Passing Machine and Football Replacement Value Pack
Deluxe Mr. Quarterback Football Passing Machine: Practice running catch and pass patterns with this football-passing machine. Adjust it to throw anywhere from five to 30 yards. Patented design tosses a perfect spiral. Includes football, playbook and two 6V batteries with charger. Measures 25"L...
Football Fun
By Mom of 2 from Raleigh, NC on 12/30/2008
Age: 8 Year Old
Gift: No
Pros: Sturdy, Hours of Fun, Easy Assembly, Durable, Weather Resistant, Attractive Design
Cons: Long time to charge
Best Uses: Individual Play
Describe Yourself: Parent Of Multiples (Twins etc)
This football machines shoots the ball really far, and my son can do it by himself, practicing his catches, or with a friend running plays. The football is smaller than a normal one, and nerf-like, but still a lot of fun. It took a while to charge up the first time we used it, but we learned to recharge it right after we're done so it's ready to go the next day.
(legalese)
My Review of Creepy Crawler Goop Refills: Multi-Color 3-Pack
Keep those Creepy Crawler critters and characters coming! This Refill Pack gives you three multi-colored packs of goop to play with.
Colors included: Pack 1 - Green Pantone, Brown Pantone, Purple Pantone; Pack 2 - Light Green Pantone, Yellow and Red Pantone; Pack 3 - Light Blue Pantone, B...
Great Creepy Crawlies
By Mom of 2 from Raleigh, NC on 12/30/2008
Age: 8 Year Old
Gift: No
Pros: Colorful easy to make
Best Uses: Art
Describe Yourself: Parent
Primary use: Personal
My kids love to make Creepy Crawlies, so every year we order more goo for the Creepy Crawly machine. We love it and it keeps the kids occupied for hours.
(legalese)
My Review of Slamma Jamma Basketball Set
Take basketball to new heights with this inflatable Slamma Jamma unit that attaches to a trampoline, sold separately. Comes with a pump and a 5" basketball. Stands 9 feet tall when inflated. Must be used with and enclosure, not included. When shipped, packaging reveals contents.
Super FUN
By Mom of 2 from Raleigh, NC on 12/30/2008
Age: 8 Year Old
Gift: No
Pros: Attractive Design, Sturdy, Hours of Fun
Best Uses: Individual Play
Describe Yourself: Parent Of Multiples (Twins etc)
We put it up yesterday and it's big, but easy to inflate and attach to the trampoline. They kids LOVE it and want to be on it every day. Can't wait to have friends over to play.
(legalese)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Fly Slama-Jamma
This may be the coolest gift of Christmas ... an inflatable basketball hoop for the trampoline! Santa did well ...
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Getting to know Alek
Getting to Know Alek
1. What is your favorite color? Green
2. What is your favorite TV show? Popeye the Sailor
3. What is your favorite sport? Baseball & Football
4. What is your favorite animal? Golden Retriever dog
5. What is your favorite book? Captain Underpants
6. What is your favorite subject in school? Science
7. What is your hobby? Playing football with my dad
8. Where is your favorite place to be? at a Miami Dolphins game
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? a football player
10. Where is one place you want to go that you have never been? Miami Dolphins football game
1. What is your favorite color? Green
2. What is your favorite TV show? Popeye the Sailor
3. What is your favorite sport? Baseball & Football
4. What is your favorite animal? Golden Retriever dog
5. What is your favorite book? Captain Underpants
6. What is your favorite subject in school? Science
7. What is your hobby? Playing football with my dad
8. Where is your favorite place to be? at a Miami Dolphins game
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? a football player
10. Where is one place you want to go that you have never been? Miami Dolphins football game
Christmas
Even though Gary got a new camera for Christmas, we only have 5 pictures from the day ... needless to say, it was a fun and exciting family day.
Above, Ben and I play his new game, Quirkle. It was a lot more fun than I was expecting; each time you put down a piece, you count up a new score, so it forces some strategy behind where you put your pieces. The recommended age was 8 and up, so I figured it had to be more than just a color/shape matching game. It was a lot of fun.
Alek had the camera, so above we are again playing Quirkle.
I took this one ... it's of Chase and his new Nylabone. We got him the puppy one, since he likes to chew so much and is under a year old. This was a mistake - he ate the whole bone in about 30 minutes. Puppy ones are a lot softer than the regular ones! But, he was happy on Christmas!
Two things to notice in the picture above: first, Alek in his new robe from Grandma Carlson. Both he and Ben got one, and they love them. They both slept in them last night. Strange, I know, but then it's holiday time. Second, is one of the sleeper gifts of Christmas. Gary is opening one of Alek's World of Warcraft figurines. You know, the three boys in the family are all addicted to World of Warcraft, and I found these figurines at Toys R Us. They were expensive for figurines, which basically sit on a shelf, but they are so detailed, they are really beautiful. The boys were blown away by them; so excited and have them sitting on their desks now. I'll have to get Alek to take some pictures of the figures so you can see them. In this picture you can also see Gary's new TV trays ... for some strange reason, he has always wanted TV trays (we have end tables by every couch & chair you know!). With the Linens & Things 'going out of business' sale, I got a really good deal on these!
And finally, above is Chase happily rolling on his back, begging for a belly rub. At least he wasn't rushing the camera! (which is what he does when he's on his feet and we try to take a picture!) He's so much like Percy that way!!
Above, Ben and I play his new game, Quirkle. It was a lot more fun than I was expecting; each time you put down a piece, you count up a new score, so it forces some strategy behind where you put your pieces. The recommended age was 8 and up, so I figured it had to be more than just a color/shape matching game. It was a lot of fun.
Alek had the camera, so above we are again playing Quirkle.
I took this one ... it's of Chase and his new Nylabone. We got him the puppy one, since he likes to chew so much and is under a year old. This was a mistake - he ate the whole bone in about 30 minutes. Puppy ones are a lot softer than the regular ones! But, he was happy on Christmas!
Two things to notice in the picture above: first, Alek in his new robe from Grandma Carlson. Both he and Ben got one, and they love them. They both slept in them last night. Strange, I know, but then it's holiday time. Second, is one of the sleeper gifts of Christmas. Gary is opening one of Alek's World of Warcraft figurines. You know, the three boys in the family are all addicted to World of Warcraft, and I found these figurines at Toys R Us. They were expensive for figurines, which basically sit on a shelf, but they are so detailed, they are really beautiful. The boys were blown away by them; so excited and have them sitting on their desks now. I'll have to get Alek to take some pictures of the figures so you can see them. In this picture you can also see Gary's new TV trays ... for some strange reason, he has always wanted TV trays (we have end tables by every couch & chair you know!). With the Linens & Things 'going out of business' sale, I got a really good deal on these! 
And finally, above is Chase happily rolling on his back, begging for a belly rub. At least he wasn't rushing the camera! (which is what he does when he's on his feet and we try to take a picture!) He's so much like Percy that way!!Hope your Christmas was wonderful. We're still digging out ... Santa came to the playroom this year, which was really handy so we could shut the dogs OUT. And it's given us several days to go through things and put them away without me going nuts about the mess.
I was going to interview Alek, since there have been so many requests for it, but now he and Ben have disappeared with their new Nerf Vulcan Blasters ... I'll have to go search for them!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Cub Scout Holiday Dinner
This is the poinsetta we got from the Cub Scout dinner last night ... very unusual.
Alek earned a Coleman 0 degree mummy sleeping bag for his popcorn sales, so the boys had a sleepover in the playroom last night in their sleeping bags:
Each scout brought a wrapped book to the Christmas dinner last night and they played a game to exchange the books. The scout master read a poem, and each time the word 'right or left' was in the poem, the boys had to pass the book to the right or left. It was very funny! Alek is the scout in blue, just to the right of the five scouts in brown; he's holding a green-wrapped book.
Another picture of the game ...
Alek earned a Coleman 0 degree mummy sleeping bag for his popcorn sales, so the boys had a sleepover in the playroom last night in their sleeping bags:
Each scout brought a wrapped book to the Christmas dinner last night and they played a game to exchange the books. The scout master read a poem, and each time the word 'right or left' was in the poem, the boys had to pass the book to the right or left. It was very funny! Alek is the scout in blue, just to the right of the five scouts in brown; he's holding a green-wrapped book.
Another picture of the game ...
Monday, December 22, 2008
Just hanging out
My friend Reggie has over 16 inches of snow at her home in Maine and my kids are yelling 'it's not fair! it's not fair!' HA They would love snow for Christmas (ha ha, they THINK they would)
It's cold here today - high is around 38 degrees, but it's to be 70 by Christmas. Yes, I do love Christmas in the south ... it's very different from my holidays growing up in Illinois, where it snows a LOT, but oh well. The boys get snow when we visit Grandma in NY.
Alek and I did grocery shopping today ... got lots of 'stay at home' lunch treats like corn dogs, chips and cheese steaks. I did make it to water aerobics today so I'm feeling good ... my cough is lessening.
Have you ever gone to one of those 'make your own meals' places like Girlfriends Kitchen, or Dream Dinners? We have a locally owned one here in Apex called Dinner Savvy, and I love it. Their menus are different from what I would normally cook, and my kids eat everything that comes from there. I go tomorrow morning to make 12 meals, and that should get us through the rest of the holiday. Chicken Bruschetta bake, crab cakes, zesty meatballs, bloody mary flank steak, and a chipotle spice pork tenderloin ... and some others I can't remember. They are also selling Heavenly Hams this year, and that's my favorite ham ... so we got a 9 pounder ... WOW, that's a lotta ham! My kids eat ham sandwiches, or scrambled eggs with ham almost every day though. It's so nice not to have to think about dinner every night!
Tonight is the cub scout Christmas party so we'll have baked ziti and salad at the church tonight. That will be fun. We'll probably go see Despereaux at the movies this afternoon ... Gary is still working, even though he was supposed to be on vacation since last Thursday ... maybe tomorrow he'll spend time with us!
It's cold here today - high is around 38 degrees, but it's to be 70 by Christmas. Yes, I do love Christmas in the south ... it's very different from my holidays growing up in Illinois, where it snows a LOT, but oh well. The boys get snow when we visit Grandma in NY.
Alek and I did grocery shopping today ... got lots of 'stay at home' lunch treats like corn dogs, chips and cheese steaks. I did make it to water aerobics today so I'm feeling good ... my cough is lessening.
Have you ever gone to one of those 'make your own meals' places like Girlfriends Kitchen, or Dream Dinners? We have a locally owned one here in Apex called Dinner Savvy, and I love it. Their menus are different from what I would normally cook, and my kids eat everything that comes from there. I go tomorrow morning to make 12 meals, and that should get us through the rest of the holiday. Chicken Bruschetta bake, crab cakes, zesty meatballs, bloody mary flank steak, and a chipotle spice pork tenderloin ... and some others I can't remember. They are also selling Heavenly Hams this year, and that's my favorite ham ... so we got a 9 pounder ... WOW, that's a lotta ham! My kids eat ham sandwiches, or scrambled eggs with ham almost every day though. It's so nice not to have to think about dinner every night!
Tonight is the cub scout Christmas party so we'll have baked ziti and salad at the church tonight. That will be fun. We'll probably go see Despereaux at the movies this afternoon ... Gary is still working, even though he was supposed to be on vacation since last Thursday ... maybe tomorrow he'll spend time with us!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Something cool that Xerox is doing
Something cool that Xerox is doing
If you go to this web site, www.letssaythanks.com , you can pick out a thank you card and
Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq .
You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!
This is a great site. Please send a card.
It is FREE and it only takes a second.
If you go to this web site, www.letssaythanks.com , you can pick out a thank you card and
Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq .
You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!
This is a great site. Please send a card.
It is FREE and it only takes a second.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Getting to Know Ben
Gary, Ben & Alek at Breakfast this morning: Pancakes, sausage, orange juice & clementines - notice the new countertop!
Gary loading the dishwasher, Alek & Ben checking out Chloe the crumb catcher - yes, she sits there at every meal we eat at the bar!
Chloe under the bar in the kitchen
Chase, looking very handsome tonight - this is the first good picture I've gotten of him!
Alek & Chase after school todayGetting to Know Ben
1. What is your favorite color? Yellow
2. What is your favorite TV show? SpongeBob Square Pants
3. What is your favorite sport? Tennis
4. What is your favorite animal? Bunny Rabbit
5. What is your favorite book? Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows
6. What is your favorite subject in school? Math
7. What is your hobby? Playing Nintendo DS - New Super Mario Bros
8. Where is your favorite place to be? Disney World
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Geologist
10. Where is one place you want to go that you have never been? Alaska
2. What is your favorite TV show? SpongeBob Square Pants
3. What is your favorite sport? Tennis
4. What is your favorite animal? Bunny Rabbit
5. What is your favorite book? Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows
6. What is your favorite subject in school? Math
7. What is your hobby? Playing Nintendo DS - New Super Mario Bros
8. Where is your favorite place to be? Disney World
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Geologist
10. Where is one place you want to go that you have never been? Alaska
Chloe & Chase: Friday's adventure
Friday Chloe and Chase were invited to visit Alek's classroom and play with the kids. I took them there about 2:45, and we stayed until about 3:20. The dogs and the kids both had a blast! Of course, I forgot my camera on the way out the door (it's always exciting to leave the house with two dogs on a leash)! But the dogs (and the kids) were so good we were invited back. I'll try to remember my camera next time! Both Chloe & Chase LOVED the petting!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Busy Saturday
Chloe on the left, Chase on the right: they've become really good friends, and always look so cute lying together. Of course, when I went to take a picture, they started screwing around and I couldn't get a good one. Chase has a lot of Percy (our prior male golden) in him ... he charged the camera each time I tried to take a picture!
Well, I think Santa and I are done Christmas shopping - that's a relief! However, we've done NO decorating yet. I can't believe it - we've never let it go this long. We're the only dark house on our street! Every day seems to be consumed with everyday things ... walking the dogs, bathing the dogs, mopping the floor of mud from the dogs ... hmmm, who said two dogs wouldn't be any more work than one dog? I've spent 3 weeks now doing load after load of towels, because it's been raining here and the dogs' feet get muddy and have to be wiped, and the dogs go outside and wrestle and then need a bathl. Oh, and sometimes the muddy dogs walk on the thick bathroom rugs, and then they need washed too! Good news on the laundry front, though: yesterday I nearly had a breakdown over the volume of laundry, so I set the kids to the task of hanging up their own clean laundry - and they did it! It was a miraculous breakthrough. That will save me an hour each week if I can get them to hang their own clothes!
Yesterday the boys raked leaves again for a couple hours ... I think they've about all fallen and been dragged to the road. Now we just need the lawn to dry out. We added new mulch to the play area in the back yard a couple months ago and it looks great, but now we need to add mulch to the gardens and the back of the yard (where the grass doesn't grow). Can I get away with setting my kids to manual labor over the Christmas break??? I don't know ... but I may try, IF I can get someone to deliver mulch between Christmas and New Years!
Gary cooked a fabulous breakfast this morning, but now it's nearly time for lunch. Looks like leftovers.
I haven't been blogging as much, because I joined Facebook over Thanksgiving and there are so many ways to waste time there ... it took me 30 minutes just to receive all the gifts/requests/information/etc this morning. I need to get quicker, or put more limits on myself.
I need to be reading ... I just finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (and really enjoyed it) and now I've got 556 pages of fine print in The Secret History to get through before bookclub Thursday night. I think I'll try to make some progress today ... and I'll try to blog more often Reggie!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Ben Climbing Chimney Rock 1
This video, plus the two which follow below, make up the 11 minute ascent and descent of Ben's rock climb at Chimney Rock, NC over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Ben Climbing Chimney Rock 3
This is the last part of Ben's climb, and his descent. (Watch videos in this order: 1, 2,3)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
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