New Use for the Laundry Basket

Last weekend there was a new discovery for the laundry basket for the boys. I put them in the laundry basket and then they slid down the stairs. Griffin was fearless so he went first and then Gavin realized that it could be fun so he joined in. Both of the boys just laughed and laughed. They kept me busy going up and down for at least a half hour. Can you image how much fun they would have going down the big Timber Ridge hill on a sled? Hopefully this weekend...

Table and chairs

Papa Steeler hand made a table and chairs for the boys (about cut off his finger doing so) and painted it. It is going to last the boys FOREVER because it is so well built. Griffin's favorite part is to climb on top AND Gavin loves build something with his Legos on top of it. It is great to do fun activities on and later play games on. I have big plans for this table and chairs. Thank you so much Papa Steeler and Mama Dolphin. We all absolute love our table and chairs. It's in BEAUTIFUL!!

Papa 4 Wheelers Little Helpers

This weekend we discovered Menards had a sale on ceiling fans. We decided last minute to go down and buy two; one for Gavin's room and one for Griffin's room. Papa 4-Wheeler came in to help put the fans up. Gavin and Griffin were happy to help out all that they could. I now have a light in Griffin's room. I'm so excited. I love the fans and they are so nice because they move a lot of air and provide light. They also loved playing in the ceiling fan box with Mama Kathy. Why buy toys when you can have a box. Simple pleasures.

Excuse me...

Kerry has wanted to go to this comedy show in Bloomington on Feb. 14. He watches the guy on TV every chance he gets and laughs the entire time. So last night I told him just to buy the tickets and that will be a combination gift for Valentine's Day and our anniversary in March. The comic is so well liked that the show sold out in a couple of hours so they provided another show that same day but earlier. They are rather expensive tickets but I thought it would be a date for us for once. Kerry goes to buy the tickets and changes his mind second before hitting the button because they are too expensive for his liking. He turns to me and says, "I would rather buy myself something then spend the money to go see the guy." EXCUSE ME!! My response is you would rather buy yourself something than have a date with your wife. His response, "Yep!" He should have slept on the couch but I am too nice. He he he!!!!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Griffy isn't very good in the van sometimes coming from daycare to home or just in general traveling. It seems when I begin to sing he calms down. I know that it is a shocker that my horrible singing could do such a thing but it is true it does calm both of them at times. I usually sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" because I actually know all of the words to the song and I don't have to make them up. Last night for some reason Griffy was out of sorts on the way home and it was really bad. So I sang, off tone, and pretty loud so he would relax. It worked. Gavin sang with me but I'm afraid he has the same problem I have, he can't remember the words to songs. A few minutes before we got home, Griffy started to fuss again so Gavin sang to him just as I did, "Twinkle Twinkle, where you are? CALM DOWN GRIFFY", all the way home. Ahhh!!!

Brrrrr!! Cold

I am extremely thankful:

• a bed with covers and blankets to keep my family warm throughout the cold night and morning
• a warm home to wake up in with heat
• warm or hot water to take a bath or shower in
• a vehicle that has heat in it
• the ability to go out and start the van and leave it running so that it will heat up without worrying about someone coming to take it
• clothing that my entire family can layer on so we stay warm
• a coat, gloves, and hat for my entire family
• to work indoors instead of not indoors
• the heater that is under my desk
• hot chocolate and hot coffee to drink all day long if I wish to do so
• a warm meal to eat

I think of the people that don't have these things as I do and I feel so sorry for them especially during these extreme cold winter months. My family and I are so blessed not just because we have each other but because we have so much more than that.

No Shame

We all went to the mall this evening to return a couple of things and use a gift card Kerry received. Gavin had to all of the sudden use the "potty" while we were in Sears. When he says that he has to go, we better be inches away from a potty. So we ran to a potty right away. We got in there and I thought he only had to do #1, well I was wrong and he announced it to the whole restroom what he was doing. I tried to keep him a little quieter about it because there were other women in the bathroom but he was so proud he made it in time to go that he didn't stop talking about it. I guess it is better to have no shame and make it to the bathroom, then have shame and have messy pants.

YEAH!!!

Last night, I got home after the boys had been home for a couple of hours. Gavin and Griffin didn't hear me come in so when I walked past the hallway to see them, they still didn't notice I had come home. So I said, "Who is going to give me a hug?" Griffin heard my voice and yelled, "YEAH!!!" and then Gavin and Griffin came running for a huge hug. It was an awesome welcome home.

HAPPY 31ST BIRTHDAY DADDY (KERRY)

And Happy New Year. May your 2009 be blessed!