We Love Russell Crowe!

Sweet video of Russell Crowe after the Notre Dame game.

William Tell Overture for Moms

This is hilarious! She pretty much pegged it, I think she might have had a hidden microphone at my house.

Great Kids, Messy Rooms

One morning a few weeks ago, Andy and Jake got up really early. They got dressed and "cleaned their room" . They also got Estee from her bed so I could sleep in, what wonderful children they are. When I woke up I found Andy playing his guitar to Estee and she was dancing, it was so dang cute I had to take a picture.

I like how "clean and organized" all the toys under their beds are. Although I hate to point out any shortcomings in their work and efforts to clean their room (for fear of them not making this non-forced effort again) I must ask "who could possibly think this room is clean?"

Funniest Ebay post ever!

My friend Tiffany sent me this and I was laughing so hard. Hilarious!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675

Some of these grocery store experiences I have actually had. So Funny!

Back to School

It's the most wonderful time of the year, OK the second most wonderful time.

This year I have 1,2,3 kids back to school all day long. Estee and I have been enjoying down time in the mid-day. Although, as soon as they walk through the door after school the clean and peaceful quiet house is immediately gone and, in fact, it is hard to believe it was ever clean, quiet or peaceful.

Abby is "dumping all the naughties out" of Estee before she heads off for her first day of school.

That was thoughtful of her to help me out with Estee.

Abby informed me this color blue of her shirt here is the most popular color this year. EVERYBODY had this color on. Now you know the 5th grade fashion alert.

First day of first grade for this guy, he was sooooo tired after. I thought he would collapse on the way home--this picture was taken before school, when he seems to have more energy.

We made Andy stop for a picture on his way off for the bus--and he missed it! Oops.

The terrible age ones

I seem to have forgotten in the space between Jake and Estee, just how hard it is to care for a one year old. I'm struggling to keep up with this little ball of sticky, messy, very cute destruction. I had this crazy fantasy, I guess, that she would never learn how to open cabinets, drawers, books (with paper pages), toilet lids, boxes of cereal (and pull the bag inside out, and dump). Mealtimes are the worst. The best way to describe them--messy, messy, messy and loud! Oh, how I dread mealtimes. I am sure my neighbors wonder what sort of torture chamber I have set up in my kitchen as they hear the loud screeching that bursts from the windows and doors every mealtime as Estee lets us know, the only way she can, that she WANTS MORE FOOD. Good thing we only eat three times a day.
She is also beginning to develop her "toddler property rules" instinct. In case you're not familiar with these rules here they are:

Toddler Property Laws

1. If I like it, it’s mine.

2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.

5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6. If I’m doing or building something all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.

8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.

9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

10. If it’s broken, it’s yours (oh wait, the pieces are still mine).

I just have to get through the next year. I am sure life will be MUCH easier when she turns 2 ;).