Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Early Bird


I'm playing with the idea of going to bed by 9:00 every night so I can get up at 5:00.  I know it sounds crazy, but I just think an hour to myself before the kids wake up would change my world.  Ideally my kids would wake up at 7 and I could wake up at 6:00, but that just doesn't seem to be in the cards, so do I go for it, or no?  Thoughts?  Testaments?  Concerns?

Friday, September 5, 2008

First Day


Here's Max on his first day of preschool.  I got him all prepared, telling him I would stay with him as long as he wanted and when he was ready for me to leave he could tell me, but I wouldn't leave until then.  We were there for maybe ten minutes, surrounded by kids clinging to their parents like white on rice when he glanced back at me and said, "Mama, you leave now."  Well all righty then.  I'm trying not to be offended but instead grateful that he's ready for some action away from me.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Hooray for Visitors!

We had a great Labor Day weekend with lots of visitors.  The Hales drove up from Virginia and Travis and Garrett flew in from Utah.  Shawn and Lisa had a full house too with Steve and Debbie (Lisa's sister and bro-in-law) and Shawn's old roommate Mark.  

Max and Nikolai were so excited to see each other.  Whenever Mary mentioned leaving Nikolai would say something to the effect of, "But I'm going to miss Max so much."  When Max woke up this morning he said, "My friends still here?"  And then in an impossibly pitiful voice, "I don't want my friends to leave."  Break my heart.  I miss my friends too.  

Aviva and Luke also got a kick out of each other.  They mostly just followed each other around babbling back and forth. 

This weekend was the Michigan/Utah game, so the first thing we did when the Hales got here was take them downtown to buy some appropriate Michigan gear.



That afternoon all the boys went to the game.  The traitor in the middle is Shawn's old roommate Mark who went to the U.  

That night we went out to eat and then back to the house to hang out with everyone. 

Sunday was nice and relaxing except for dealing with Max and Nikolai who didn't go to bed until 10:00 the night before because we told them they could have a sleep over in the same room.  Big mistake.  We came home to them jumping the bed together.


Monday we played a little basketball, a little football, and had a cookout.  Abram got to use his smoker and made Italian sausages and I made beef brisket.  We just wanted to make sure everyone had their share of unhealthy meat.   

That night we took Steve and Mary down to campus.  Here they are in the Law Quad.

We told the babysitter to put the boys down in separate rooms, but apparently a major fit was thrown and we came home to this:

I live for weekends like this.  We're going to miss everyone so much.  Thanks for coming to visit!  

Friday, August 29, 2008

Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger

Blimpy Burger: "Cheaper Than Food since 1953"

I just wanted to declare to the world that I love Blimpy Burger.    I went with Garrett today and I had a double cheeseburger (don't judge me, they have quadruple burgers in that place) with bacon, onions and banana peppers.  Sigh.  It was so good.  Granted, I can only go there twice a year if I don't want to suffer the consequences.  Garrett said the only time in his life he has had a gut was the year he lived down the street from Blimpy's.  So that's it.  Krazy Jim, whoever you are, I love you.  

Tools

One of Max's very favorite activities is putting things together with his daddy.  He could (and sometimes does) do it for hours.  So nothing gets him more excited than seeing us bring home something from Ikea.  This is how they spent yesterday morning.  

Playing Together


Just this past week Max and Aviva have started playing together.  The first time we were in the living room and Max crawled over to Aviva and put his head in her lap.  She giggled and pushed it off and crawled away.  He did the same thing again and she started laughing and responded the same way.  The did it 4 or 5 times and I was so pleased to see them interact.  

Previous to this week, the most interaction they've had is in the car if Max is in a bad mood.  Aviva will squeal and Max will yell, "STOP YELLING, AWEEWA (Aviva)."  She thinks it's a game, laughs, and does it again.  He of course screams at her again and this goes on and on.  

Yesterday they started playing chase and hide and seek together.  It doesn't last long, and it usually consists of hiding on the other side of the door, but they both love it and I couldn't be happier.