Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas Recap 2011

Santa left lots of goodies
A great Hyzy Christmas yet again.  It was just us, which is the way we like it,  There are lots of rules... I mean traditions... that we follow on Christmas.  For instance.. the kids are not allowed to wake us up before 7am.  Then we all go down together, get coffee and tea made and the kids get ready to open stockings.
We open stockings, one gift at a time with everyone oohing and aahhinng over everything.
Once stockings are done we take a break eat some real breakfast so that then I don't have to worry about all the junk that will be consumed.  Then the kids take turns playing Santa and we open the gifts under the tree.  Again, one at a time, with everyone watching and exclaiming in delight!

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 This was a great year for gifts for everyone.  Highlights - Brenna....
Iphone 4, Harry Potter Page to Screen book and movie.
Zack... 3 Xbox game - Skyrim, Skate 3, and something else involving gratuitous violence, some cool hoodies.
John - racquetball racquet, hockey shin guards and my personal favorite - a desk organizer complete with all his own office supplies so he'll STAY OUT of MINE!
Me - Star Trek 40 years vault book, Wizard of Oz dolls, water floss pic, and a bracelet that says "Love you more" <3.  It was a wonderful Christmas... very quiet... very calm and relaxing.
About 5 we went over to the neighbors and had an embarrassing huge dinner.  Ham, 2 turkeys, numerous sides and desserts!
And we finished the evening off with Wii - Just Dance, the perfect dose of humble and humiliation!  Especially when the neighbors 2 year old can rack up a better score than you can!

You can never have too much Harry Potter
We are so blessed and so lucky.  We have wonderful friends, wonderful family and a wonderful life.  I am looking forward to seeing what 2012 has in store for us!

I got everything I asked for!

Lots of goodies
No more little boy shinguards for Johnny

Cul-de-sac dinner

Just Dance

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve


Traditional Christmas Eve PJ's are opened and on... pictures are taken.  Gonna watch a movie and then hope my children got to bed before Santa collapses and doesn't remember to visit our house!  It's tough once the kids can outlast the adults.  

Let the celebration begin...in a minute..

Happy Christmas Eve!  We are celebrating in rare style... Zack is in the bathtub, John is watching football, I'm "resting" in my room with the pups and Brenna is at work.  Hopefully we'll all rendezvous at 9pm when Brenna gets home, the kids will open their "Christmas Elf" packages and then we'll all snuggle and watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  If that doesn't say Christmas I don't' know what does! :o)

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Letter 2011


Here's our Christmas letter that I tried to get out in a timely manner, but was less than successful.  So here it is instead...
Goodbye 2011 – Hello 2012

         Happy whatever holiday is closest to the time you receive this letter.  At this point all bets are off and I’m not even going to predict.  Just know the Hyzys hope you enjoy it to the fullest.
            It’s been a big year in the Hyzy House.  The Wonder Child graduated from high school this year and has transitioned very successfully into her freshman year at college.  She is happily ensconced down at Radford University in southern Virginia.  She loves her roommate, loves the area and loves most of her classes.  Chemistry…not so much, but let’s be honest who really loves Chemistry.  We’re getting used to the house being a little quieter and a little lonelier.  We text daily, call a couple times a week and Facetime at least once a week – so there is still plenty of contact.  She was one of only a couple freshmen accepted into a Tropical Biology Study Abroad Program and will be spending her Spring Break “studying” in the Virgin Islands!  I know, it’s tough to be a college student.  My mother always told me (during the dark years) I just had to be patient and eventually we’d like each other again.  It’s true – she has become an amazing, funny, delightful young woman and we are so proud of her.  I think her new moniker The Wonder Young Woman is very fitting.
            The Zackman has hit his stride and is going full force through 8th grade.  While I don’t want to jinx myself, he seems to be coming out of the “obnoxious middle school boy” stage and we see glimpses of the entertaining young man he’ll become.  His voice is starting to change and I swear you can see him growing daily.  He’s taller than me and the pants I postponed buying until Sept are already too short.  He’s doing great in school including taking 2 classes for high school credit. For the most part we are enjoying him – when we can pry him off the Xbox.
            John and I are doing fine.  He’s working harder than any human should and still having to contend with his hellish commute.  He breaks it up with forays into the wilderness.  2 deer so far this season and he’s deep in the planning of a 10-day adventure back to Alaska.
            I continue to sub at the elementary school, vainly trying to help fund all my family’s exciting adventures.  I spend more cumulative hours at the high school than most people who actually work there and have taken on additional responsibilities with the Crew Team.  Maybe the biggest change… I’ve been caffeine and soda free for 5 months!  I know! Right!?
We are wishing you all a happy and healthy 2012!
                                               

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Hark! Herald the Hippo Sings...

Nothing and I mean NOTHING says Christmas like....

Herald my Christmas Hippo!  I love him beyond all imagining.  And the BEST part... his hat and scarf are removable so Herald NEVER has to go away.  He can be the New Year's Hippo, the Valentines Hippo, Easter Hippo, Veteran's Hippo and on, and on, and on.... I can't wait!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree Where for art thou?



Another successful tree hunting year.  We finally have this thing down to a science.  First and foremost we ALWAYS get a real tree.  For years we were all about the "family bonding,"  the "let's make memories."  Until we smartened up.  We have searched out our trees in every way possible.  We've gone out into the woods and hunted and cut down our own tree, while dragging children in snowsuits and sleds.  We've gone to Tree farms and tramped around the semi- wilderness, still cutting them down ourselves - with children fighting over who gets to use the sharp pointy weapon.  We've visited many a tree lot, some good, some shady.  One year I even sent John out with the children on his own while I stayed home and manned the home front.  By the way, that is the one and only time I've ever seen John so angry he lost his temper, yelled and slammed a door!  Just like most "family outings," during our Christmas Tree outings,  someone always cried, someone always got mad and someone always ended up sulking...until we moved to Woodbridge and discovered our little nursery.  Now, we troop 5 minutes up the road to the nursery, mom stands by the bonfire or in the gift shop, John and the kids roam, narrow the trees down to the top 2, call mom, we all vote.  BAM! DONE! Home in 30 minutes!  It's worked for 5 years and it worked again this year.  We had to wait to get the tree until Brenna got home so it was a little last minute.    This year Brenna took over the tree lighting.  For years John and I have decorated the tree separately - it just works better that way.  John always did the lights, and the kids and I did the decorating.  But this year, Brenna did the lights and then the kids did the decorating all on their own and it turned out beautifully if I do say so myself.              



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

She's here....almost

Brenna gets home today for Christmas break and will have her first semester of college successfully under her belt!
Tonight is Fear Factor Family Night, because nothing says good family bonding like a night watching the NEW Fear Factor with totally list-worthy Joe Rogan!
Then tomorrow, the traditional tree picking out and our holidays will begin in earnest!  It will be nice to have all my chicks back in the Christmas nest!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Rice Crispy Treats, the new Crack!

In one day I have single handedly wiped out any good I did with my cleanse.  I took dinner to some friends tonight.  Yesterday I decided to make rice crispy treats for their dessert and since I was making one batch I might as well make two batches since I didn't want any of the rice crispy cereal to go to waste.  I am trying to be a good citizen and not wasteful.

Now...I can't stop eating those freaking things.  I had some for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, after dinner snack and just because.  I will eat them until I throw up and then because my stomach will be empty I will eat some more!  I am now at the "might as well finish the entire pan and then they'll be gone and won't tempt me anymore" stage.  I need help... I need a rice crispy treat Intervention!

Monday, December 5, 2011

I made it... I did it... Pizza here I come...not really...but something here I come...

It's done, it's over and I'm glad.  I really didn't mind it.  I was amazingly only passingly hungry during most of the time.  My main problem.... yesterday was boredom!  I was SICK to death of drinking stuff.  I didn't particularly want to eat something, but I thought if I had to make another smoothies or juice another batch of juice I would poke my eyes out!
I don't think I'll put the blender and juicer away just yet.  Probably not a bad idea to incorporate more of those into my regular diet, but going to take a couple days off first.
I don't know that I feel particularly "cleansed" but I know I must be?  Maybe I wasn't very dirty?
About 830pm... I made the decision and I ended the fast with a Subway veggie sub. It wasn't that I was crazy hungry, like I said I just couldn't bear to drink anything else.  I will say the sub was very tasty!
Today, back to my new normal ( I hope), going to try and make better food choices and move forward. Yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch and we'll see about dinner!
Glad to say I did it, glad to have it over.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

We're all still in the land of the living...

Day 2 completed with a minimum of pain.  I was definitely hungrier yesterday than the first day, but still not terribly so.  Maybe around 7pm when I was sitting and watching TV I got a little cranky as that is my prime "munching" time.  But I persevered and made it through just fine. Athough watching Chopped and Top Chef was probably not my best choice.  Never before have I been tempted by squid ink pasta or a sardine salad with spinach and rice cakes!  I'm not really missing the eating part, as a matter of fact it's sorta nice not eating - not having to figure out what to eat and then make it, not having to cook, but I am totally BORED with drinking... and with the peeing every 30 minutes... and with the cleaning of the juicer and blender 6 times a day.
Here's my menu for Day 2:

730a - Water with lemon
830a - Greens with apple juice
1130a- Blueberry/pineapple rice milk smoothie
230p - Pineapple/raspberry/mint rice milk smoothie
6p - Spinach/blueberry/apple/lemon juice
9pm- Strawberry/mango rice milk smoothie

I was supposed to be drinking nut milk - made with ground up cashews, coconut oil, water and vanilla...but that shit was disgusting!!!  It sorta smelled like you were trying to drink suntan lotion, but I with chunks.  Frankly I think I would have preferred suntan lotion.  So no nut milk in this house, I just saved my last smoothie for before bed.

 I will say my stomach is definitely flatter after 2 days of not eating, but I'm sure that's short lived. :o)  I do feel like after this it will be easier to start eating healthier, although I'm not sure I'll ever be able to restrain myself totally when a tasty gummy bear dances in front of me...oh and that Papa John's double layer pepperoni pizza...  I'm definitely getting me some of that....

Friday, December 2, 2011

No one is dead yet!

No one is dead, no one is injured, no one is mad and no one is even crying yet! 14 hours into my cleanse and it's going fine.  Here's how it's gone...

600am - hot water with lemon
930-11am - 1st green juice - blueberry, apple, lemon and spinach
130-3pm - 1st fruit juice - Mango Strawbery with rice milk 
5-630pm - 2nd fruit juice - Mango Cherry with rice milk
800pm - 2nd green juice - Greens with apple

It hasn't been bad at all.  The fruit juices are more like smoothies so I quite enjoy those.  I actually have one more fruit juice and a nut milk I'm suppose to drink before bed and I don't think I'm going to be able to do both.  You have to wait at least an hour between drinking.
I actually haven't been horrifically hungry at all today.  It's amazing to me.  I have had some twinges of hunger, but then it's time to drink another drink and I can go a little longer.
I will say - I don't think anyone realizes how many FREAKING commercials about food there are until you aren't eating!  It's crazy and of course everything looks stunningly tasty. :o)
Overall, very successful day.  I'm a little more nervous about tomorrow because I plan to stay home and work on Christmas decorations so there won't be as many distractions as there were today so it might get a little more difficult.  But we'll see.
I must say I'm a little impressed with myself.  I don't think I've ever gone a full day without eating - minus food poisoning or the flu... so yeah for me!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Hangry or not, here I come...

I went to Trader Joes today and stocked up on things like rice milk, organic coconut oil, raw cashews, kale, spinach and all sorts of organic fruits and veggies.  Now I've spent so much money that I have no choice but to cleanse away.  I feel like I should be enjoying my last meal tonight.  I kinda want to run through the house stuffing everything I shouldn't be eating into my mouth, but I know that defeats the purpose so I am trying to be mature and adult... but I don't like it very much.

I just lost my virginity.... my juicing virginity that is!

I just made and consumed my first official Jack Lalanne juicer juice!  I thought I better do a practice run before the big kick-off tomorrow!  I made Spinach-Blueberry-Apple-Lemon juice.  It was actually pretty tasty, pretty tart but that's okay for me because I love sour - a normal person might find it a little daunting. It sure smells healthy and tastes pretty fresh.  Not sure how 3 days of these juices will go, but I'm going to give it the old college try.  I'm a little worried considering the time between my yogurt breakfast and my salad lunch was only 4 hours and I was about ready to eat my sweatshirt.  You know it's bad when the Yam Sticks you bought for the dogs Christmas stockings are calling your name out of the back seat.   I'm not making any promises, but I really feel like I need to jumpstart myself out of the "2 pieces of apple pie aren't so bad especially if you only have one scoop of ice cream" or "taquitos make a great breakfast, they have CHEESE in them!" mentality.  So, tonight is my last hurrah before I jump on the healthy bandwagon.  I sure hope they play a lot of rocking' music on that bandwagon, cause I'm pretty sure I'm going to be cranky as hell! :o)

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

To cleanse or not to cleanse...

I've been toying with the idea for months of doing some sort of cleanse.  I just feel like my eating has gotten a little out of control.  Not so much the amount, although who in the world wouldn't like to lose 5-10 lbs, but mainly what I'm eating.  Just junk lately,  whatever is easiest to grab and eat, whatever takes the least amount of effort.  I would like to just hit restart and start over.  But... there is no way I can do any sort of lemon juice, cayenne pepper thing.  It has to be something reasonable not torturous.  Not eating is going to be bad enough, not to mention having to choke down some god awful concoction.  As a woman who is famous for getting cranky if she misses a meal... a cleanse seems a little daunting.  I am the one that the work "Hangry" was invented for. When the kids were little... John would say... "don't talk to mommy until we get her some food."   If I seem a little touchy or cranky, the first thing everyone askes is "Have you eaten?"  I admit that not eating for 3 days seems a little bit like asking for trouble.  But I need something to wake me up and snap me out of this bad food choice hell I'm living in.  So... I found a book called 3 Day Cleanse.  It seems to be a very reasonable approach to the idea of cleansing.  You drink lots of fruit juices and smoothies.  Herbal teas, nut milks and if you absolutely get DESPERATE ( or more likely your family gets desperate) and before the police are called.... you can eat some cucumber, celery or even a bit of avocado.  I envision my family standing in the bedroom doorway and just lobbing cucumbers and celery sticks at me.  Just knowing that I can eat something if I have to, makes me feel like I can do it.
I even used my credit card points to buy a Jack Lalanne juicer in preparation.  I have given up caffeine and soda.  I am ready to go.  Let's see if I can actually follow through... D-day is Friday....

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving Recap

Once again a day late and a dollar short.  The day after Thanksgiving I came down with some sort of bizarro cold that sucked all the energy out of me.  On the other hand, maybe it was a food coma! :o)  We had a great Thanksgiving, very quiet which is just the way we like it.  Our girl came home from Radford and slid back pretty seamlessly into the house routine.  Art and Karen came down for the holiday and we all kept it pretty low key.
Even the pups enjoyed dinner
I am so thankful for so many things.  I am thankful for children who seem to be growing up into wonderful, kind, thoughtful and fun young adults despite all the incredible parenting errors that were made along the way.  It's a good thing children are so resilient!  I'm thankful for a husband who puts up with me.  I'm thankful that I have wonderful In-laws, that we all get along and enjoy each other's company.  I am so appreciative of all that we have, because we have so much.
I am thankful for a Thanksgiving that only requires me to put a nice shirt on for the pictures and allows me to keep my jammie pants on all day.

Food was good, dishes were done quickly and we all enjoyed each other and the holiday together.  Couldn't have asked for much more.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Oh the pressure...

Tom's gone in the oven... now it's all over but the waiting... Cook Tom! Cook!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

45... it's the new 25.. or 35.. oh who am I kidding it feels like the new 65!

Had my birthday yesterday.  45 years old... geez, how does that happen.  John has spent the last couple of days wandering around mumbling, "I can't believe  I'm sleeping with a 45 year old woman" and things like that.  I like to remind him that he's closer to 50 than me.   Geez, 45... that means if I'm lucky enough to live to 90, my life is half over!  Sort of a sobering thought, but I shan't dwell on that.
I had a very nice day.  It was quiet.  I walked the dogs,  I took a nap and generally putzed around.  My In-laws arrived mid-afternoon and we all went out for a nice dinner.  I opened presents when we got home.  I got lots of cool things, snow boots that look like tennis shoes, makeup bag, my favorite candy - among other things.  Even all my girlfriends remembered me.  Tons of people sent me messages on Facebook and that was very fun.  Friends from high school, from all over the country and many local friends.  It's amazing how good it makes you feel when you go on Facebook and there a tons of birthday messages waiting for you.  Just a simple Happy Birthday, can make you feel so treasured.  I guess you should never underestimate the power of letting someone know that you took a minute out of your day to think about them.

I tell the kids every year that all I want for my birthday is a handmade card.  I don't need gifts, I don't need anything special except a handmade card.  Those stinkers didn't let me down.  They both made me cards and they were MUSHY cards!  I almost cried...out loud...I definitely got teary-eyed.
All in all, a great day and I am very thankful for my family and friends who made me feel very valued and appreciated!  Getting old is not so bad when you have friends and family around you.

On a complete side note....
This is what happens when you can no longer out last your children and  you go to bed leaving them up and giggling together....  It's curling irons gone wild!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Who says hunting isn't romantic?

Yesterday was opening day for hunting season, which is actually a little confusing since John has spent the last 3-4 weekends in the woods with some sort of weapon.  Bow and arrow, muzzleloader, a big stick - pretty much anything he can propel at a furry creature.  Anyway,  yesterday was "Opening Day" for real guns, I guess.  On  a side note, our neighbors boys were suppose to go on a big Boy Scout camping trip, but it was cancelled because they didn't think it was a great idea to have scores of boy scouts and hunters all traipsing through the woods on the same day.  Ya think?
So, my intrepid huntsman got up at 345am to go out and hunt and gather for us.  He called home about 11am and said he'd already got a buck and a doe!  "Two?" I asked.  "Yes" he said.  "They were in love and I had to shoot both, so that one didn't have to live without the other!"

See romance is alive and well in the great outdoors!  Now when we eat our venison this year, I will have to remember that it is infused with love!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Reunited!

She's home - safe and sound!  She made it home with a new hamster, a car that had to be dropped off at the mechanics for an alignment, 25lbs of laundry, a cold and an empty bank account! :o)  But she's home!  We ate her favorite casserole for dinner, went to the pet store to by hamster supplies (see empty bank account), had family movie night and went to bed leaving the kids up together watching TV.  It's good in the Hyzy house.

On another note, on the way home she had to go to court for her first speeding ticket.  She was going 86mph which qualifies as reckless driving.  John drove down to give her moral support for court.  She ended up with 8-hour in residence driving school, 16 hours of community service, a second court appearance in April and what I hope is a healthy respect for listening when your mother screams "Slow down you are driving too fast!"  :o)

It's great to have her home, she can't wait to see all the neighbors, eat all our food and have me do her laundry.  Let's see how long it takes before everyone is ready to kill each other!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

1 More Day!

In 1 more day our girl will be home from college for Thanksgiving Break!
Yeah!  Hurrah!
She hasn't been home since August!
Tuesday I spent $322 at the commissary stocking up on all "her foods."  To include toaster strudel, bagels and cream cheese, laughing cow cheese, wheat thins and various other treats. Yesterday I put new flannel sheets on her bed. (Side note... I also purchased new flannel sheets for Zman's bed along with a new comforter and blanket, Lest anyone thinks we've forgotten we have another kid)  Today I will spend the day cooking all her favorite "real foods."  Like a yummy green chili mexican casserole that's only name is "Brenna's casserole,"  white chicken lasagna and zucchini bread and muffins.
Tomorrow I will spend the day with my face pressed to the window waiting for her to drive up...only kidding.  But we are excited here at the Hyzy House.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Leftover Night on a whole new level

Last night we had Leftover Night in the cul-de-sac.  We are making the most of the last few days of beautiful Fall weather before the cold, ice and snow drive us indoors.  I love Leftover Nights anytime because it means I can totally wash my hands of the whole dinner process!  No thinking about what we're going to eat, no shopping for the extra "critical" items I don't have even though I thought I did, no actual cooking which means I can squeeze a few extra games of Spider Solitaire in before the guilt becomes too much for me. No worrying about who is eating what and whether a Lego waffle counts as dinner.  On Leftover Night everyone is ON THEIR OWN!  Sometimes if I'm feeling particularly generous, I will take out the various leftovers and set them on the counter - so there is no confusion.  On a side note,  both John and now sadly Zack lack the ability to find anything (especially in the mysterious cold box) in the kitchen unless it has flashing lights and a sign with rhinestones on it!  They can stand in front of the open refrigerator door and insist with a perfectly straight and concerned face that there is absolutely No.Butter.In.This.Refrigerator!  Even my "hints" don't help... "Are you sure, it should be a brown container on the 2nd or 3rd shelf....MARKED BUTTER???"  "No, it's not here, I"m sure we're out... Now what am I going to put on my....?"   Until I get up and march over there and point to the brown container marked butter that is (maybe) partially behind the ketchup! EVERY.FREAKING.TIME.  But I digress....

Neighborhood Left Over night is even better... because it's not really leftover night at all.  You get to clean out your refrigerator AND eat something you didn't cook!  THE.BEST.EVER!  So last night we drug the tables out and the chairs and whatever we had to contribute.  There were ribs, chili, taco soup, chicken noodle soup, salad, baked beans, potato casserole and both Oreo and Chocolate Pie!  SCORE!!!

Even better it's another excuse for the cul-de-sac to gather like Leave it to Beaver and hang out.  The kids run around, the mom's chat and solve the world's problems and the guys got an impromptu poker game together.  Everyone's happy, well fed and the plates are paper so there's not even any dishes to do!

I'm not sure it can get much better than that!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

When is driving home from Radford like an episode of Twilight Zone or Groundhog Day?

When you stop at the halfway point in your trip - 2 1/2 hours into the trip home - and Zack says, "I'm going to start my homework."  As you get out of the car to walk the dogs, you think... "He's such a good boy."  Until.... you get back to the car and he then says, "Where's my backpack?"  WHAT DO YOU MEAN "where is my backpack?"  Turns out said backpack is still in the hotel room with his Spanish project (due Monday), his Language Arts homework and his Math extra credit!!!  WTF!?  If it had been anything but school work, I would have blown it off and had them mail it back to us.  But you can't mess with school work.  So we turned around and drove back to Radford, then turned around and drove home. 5 hour drive became 10 hour drive!  It's a good thing he's so damn cute, you can't stay mad for long!

The puppies go to college

Brenna has been doing great at college.  We had a wonderful time at Family Weekend, but all we heard all weekend long was... "I miss Cooper and Zoey."  "Do you think Copper and Zoey remember me?"  Blah, blah, blah.  Puppies this, puppies that.  So, Zack and I decided to road trip down to Radford with the puppies and we had a great time.  I'm not sure who was more excited to see who, the dogs with Brenna or Brenna with the dogs.  We hiked and hung out in Brenna's room.  Fortunately the  weather was beautiful so we were able to hang out on the Quad and just generally relax.  I think it was good for Brenna and for us as well.  We miss our girl.

Hiking in the woods
Hanging on the Quad

Brenna's room

Together again!

College Boy
College Girl
Only proof Mom was actually here


She loves her pup


She missed her Bro too!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

They dress up in college too!

Super girl
Pirate girl

Apparently Brenna had at least 3 different Halloweens at college!  I must say after perusing, some would say creeping, on all the pictures posted on Facebook - I am so proud of my girl.  She looked totally cute and fun and hip and cool.  And while there were short skirts and fish net - she never looked trampy or slutty or dressed in anything that would make her mother cringe.  Now she may be totally sandbagging me, but she seems to be making good decisions and standing firm to her beliefs and her sense of what is right for her no matter what others around her are doing.  She is so much stronger and more self-confident than I was at the same age.  I am so proud of her.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Halloween ReCap




I've always said that if it isn't late, it isn't from me! So, here's my Halloween recap only a week or two late.  I always have the best of intentions, but the worst of follow through.  This was a different Halloween.  Brenna was gone, and Zack is at that funky age where he's really too old to trick or treat with his family, but still too young for me to just let him go off by himself with friends I don't know.  He's in some sort of limbo land.  He made a "lame-o" costume (because I won't let him go out without a costume) and went out for about 15 minutes and then came back and hung out with the grown ups and ate all our candy.
Lame-O costume

 
Chili table
 While the actual Halloween maybe have been a little lame.  We had a fabulous Pre-Halloween Mt. Burnside BBQ and Chili Cook-off!  We had six different kinds of chili, there were secret ballots and PRIZES!  We had pumpkin carving, painting - glitter and feathers! I know I've said it before, but it bears saying again.  I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD!  It's like a Leave it to Beaver neighborhood. I don't think there are many places in the world that you can throw
6 or 7 houses together and have all the husbands, wives and children get along.  We ate chili, carved pumpkins and just had a great time hanging out together.

Candy Haul
 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Baby Boy Milestone 5,678

Our baby boy has reached an significant milestone.  He's always been our long, skinny string bean boy!  The kid is almost 5'4"and weighs 89lbs.  And we were ecstatic about that!  Well this weekend it happened.... the boy can sit in the front seat of the van and turn the airbag ON...all by himself... without a backpack or a friend to help him!  Our little boy is growing up!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

When is inappropriate always appropriate?

 When it's GRANDPA BUD!  My dad is the funniest, naughtiest, most inappropriate Grandpa ever!  But that's why my kids love him so much.  My dad doesn't do "kids", by that I mean he was never the grandpa that played Barbies or trains or talked baby talk.  He always treats my kids like mini adults.  He's the grandpa that sent pocket knives and BB guns when they were toddlers!  Many of his presents were sooo cool, but had to be put on a "safe" shelf until the kids could be trusted not to kill or injure themselves or each other with their presents.
He's the Grandpa that includes curse words and foul language in every birthday card.  He's the grandpa that stores his loaded gun on the top of the refrigerator because "the kids can't reach up there."
 When Grandpa Bud's in town there's always vodka on the counter, cigarettes in the ashtrays and weapons at the ready.  He's the Grandpa we want to go live with when the Zombie Apocalypse hits!  This week he sent Zack a vintage T-shirt.  This t-shirt has been around since 1975 and now it's been bequeathed to Zack and he loves it.  Of course he wanted to wear it to school the very next day....Ummm....NO!   Don't think today's "kinder, gentler" schools would appreciate a machine gun shirt...professing Big Mac Attack!  I know Zack can wear that shirt to school and Grandpa Bud can visit wearing his "Kill 'em all let God sort them out!" shirt!  I can bet you my name would be hot in the PTA circles! :o)
I love that my kids can appreciate the "naughtiness" of Grandpa Bud.  I spend a lot of time telling them not to repeat or listen to anything Grandpa Bud says and that just makes them laugh even harder.  It's always good to have a rebel on your side!