Christmas 2011

At Botanica to see the lights...and Santa.

At Union Station. Our annual trek to see the trains. And eat at Fritz.

With their new electronic toys.

No coats in December! (unlike this year) At Grammy and Grandpa's house.

Not recommended for anyone over 12 years of age. You'll wind up with a black eye.

See?

It's called a soccer ball...you kick it with your feet.

Related:
Christmas 2010
Christmas 2009: part 1,  part 2, part 3, part 4 (I guess I had a lot to say that year)

Christmas 2008: part 1 (not sure why the video does not work), part 2, part 3
Christmas 2007

2011 Year in Review

Not much has changed in the last year.

Wait, one thing did. The boys now wear glasses. And we did go to the beach this summer.

Adam is in 3rd grade. His favorite subject in school is Math (and not just math, hard math).

Zach is in 2nd grade. His favorite subjects are recess and lunch.

Related: First Day of School

Our house is still full of Legos. We like Star Wars, and we still play soccer (Scott is going on five years as coach.)

Related: Life of a Soccer Mom

Scott is still an investigator for the Department of Defense.

I still do PR for the Kansas Credit Union Association.

We went skiing again this year [video 2:22]. We still had to carry massive amounts of awkward equipment weighing approximately 127 pounds.

Zach got stuck in a bush, and Adam plowed into me [video 0:22].

Related: Boys: Please Ski Responsibly

Lifestyles of the rich and famous

We became part of the rich and famous as we rode around in a limo looking at Christmas lights.

Now, the rich and famous probably do not take pictures by the limousine, because, well, riding in a limo is an everyday activity for them.

 

  

There were 10 of us, and this was the first time in a limo for many, including my 99 year old grandmother. My nine year old informed everyone this was his SECOND time riding in such luxury.

I could get used to it.

Baking by the numbers

49 sugar cookies in various shapes including wreath, gingerbread man, Christmas tree, candy cane, bell, star  and mitten.

48 peppermint brownie bites

44 chocolate dipped vanilla wafer caramel sandwiches

42 peppermint kisses

30 pieces of toffee crisp

22 chocolate dipped pretzels with sprinkles

24 toffee bars

6 mini loaves of holiday pumpkin apple bread

1 large loaf of holiday pumpkin apple bread

3 trips to the grocery store 

3 items borrowed from 2 different neighbors (apple juice, Crisco shortening, green food coloring) 

2 number of times brown sugar and butter overflowed onto stove making a sticky mess

1 lesson learned: if you mix red and a drop of blue food coloring you get a 1984 mauve color

Related:

2010 Baking by the numbers

Why don't boys understand clothes?

In the last two days, I have had these conversations with the males in my house.

Conversation with my 8 year old:

Me: "Try these new clothes I bought you."

8 yo: "Do I have to? I don't need any new clothes."

Me: "Honey, you don't have enough clothes, and we don't wear dirty clothes."

He agrees after more grumbling, except then says things like this:

"These pants are too loud."

"These pants are too long and get caught in my shoes."

"These pants are too short and go up my bottom."

"These pants are too loose and go up and down when I run."

"This shirt's sleeves are too short. See how when I raise my arms above my head the sleeves go down my arms?"

"I don't like the stripe on here."

"This tag really sticks me."

Me: "Fine. I don't care what you wear to school as long as it doesn't stink and does not have stains on it...so just pick something out."

Conversation with my 9 year old:

Me: "Did you get that shirt out of the dirty clothes?"

9 yo: "Yes."

Me: "Why don't you wear a clean shirt?"
9 yo: "I don't have any. They are all short sleeved."

Me, after looking in his closet and finding five very cute striped long sleeved t-shirts, four of which would match his grey athletic pants very nicely: "You have five long sleeved CLEAN t-shirts in your closet."

9 yo: "Those are NICE shirts...they don't have anything 'cool' on them."

Me: "Fine. I don't care what you wear to school as long as it doesn't stink and does not have stains on it...so just pick something out."

Conversation with my husband:

Him: "Does this jacket go with these pants?"

Me, eyeing the garment in question: "How long have you had that?"

Him: "I haven't worn it in probably five years..."

Me: "No. How long have you HAD it?"
Him: "Oh, at least 10 years...but does it go? What?"

Me: "It doesn't look right...does it even still fit?"

Him, turning in the mirror: "Well, yeah...see?"
Me: "Um...no. What do you usually wear with those pants?"

Him: "They have a jacket that goes with them."

Me, bewildered: "Why don't you just wear that?"

Him: "I don't know, I think the jacket is at work. So no to this jacket?"
Me: "You are not wearing that."

Him, sighing: "Well, can I still wear this tie?"

Me: "No."

Him, big sigh. "Well then you have to pick out a tie!"

Then after a brief pause..."so this (holding the jacket from which I think is from the early '90s) goes in the give-a-way pile?"

Related:

January 28, 2010: Pick Your Battles

Wild animals

We always forget what fun it is to herd wild animals around during the holidays. 

Our original plan was to go to the zoo. We decided against it.

Better to let them run loose so they can dig, jump, climb, and play in the water.

 

 

One person in this photo doesn't need to "get her wiggles out."

We are thankful for: trash cans, Apple products, carrots and more.

Every Thanksgiving, guests at our Thanksgiving meal write down what they are thankful for. 

At the end of the meal we read them out loud and try and guess who wrote them.

This year, we are thankful for...

• my family and that I live in the U.S.
• this Thanksgiving day...this moment...for this time today.
• warm hearts and homes, and for family - those before and now.
• the new head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs next year.
• family, traditions and...I guess...Larry.
• Legos, mashed potatoes with gravy, Buddy the cat, mom and dad, oma and papa, the Wii, my cosons (cousins) and food.
• boys that keep me entertained, even if all they talk about is soccer and Jedi Knights.
• my family, for modern conveniences (like indoor toilets) and for coffee.
• time spent with friends and family.
• trash cans, toilets, toilet paper and my beautiful lovely wife.
• Star Wars, tomatotes (tomatoes), carrots, glassas (glasses) and my life.
• a paycheck, family, Apple "products," TBD (to be determined).

Related:

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving 2007

2nd Grade Music Program

"On With The Show" featured tunes from favorites musicals like The Sound of Music, The Muppet Movie, Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun and more.

In the first segment, Zach is the first one speaking. His friend Cooper is the other 2nd grader.

On the stage, Zach is standing on the first row, second from the right.

During the crocodile song, Zach is the second boy from the right in the front row.

Please excuse the amateur quality of this video.

Halloween 2011

A Jedi and Jango Fett.

Related:

Halloween 2010
Halloween 2009
Halloween 2008 (also includes pictures from Halloween 1998 and 2003)
Halloween 2007

Walter's Pumpkin Patch

[Related post from our visit to Walter's Pumpkin Patch in 2009. Even though it was just two years ago, the boys look so little!]

Some of our favorite activities this year:

Who doesn't love a bag swing?

 "Sledding" down the hill and through the tunnel.

Scott and the boys (yes, even Scott sled down the hill.)

 Pumpkin slingshots.

 It's hard to peddle, so let's enlist the help of my little brother.

Corn maze.

Mining for gold.

Zach.

Adam.

Me and my boys.

Adam's Life so Far

Adam reflects on his life, his family and future goals. He said he had to present this to his class.

Life of a soccer mom

Saturday

6:00 am: Get up. Soccer uniforms, shinguards, socks, cleats, water, snacks, umbrella, chairs, blankets, portable grill and coffee.

7:00 am: Scott and Adam leave.

7:30 am: Mom picks up Zach and I.

8:00 am: Adam's first game (one of four today, one of eight this weekend). It's a bit chilly and I did not dress appropriately. High today said 85. Although sunny, at least for part of the game, it's not 85. It's windy too. While taking pictures, my chair blows over, spilling my coffee. Not a good start to the day.

Pictures below of Adam's team, U-9 Wheathawks (in black).

  

 

 

9:25 am: Zach's first game (two of four). Pictures below of Zach's team, U-8 Wheathawks (in black).

I snapped the cute picture below after Zach scored a goal. 

Coach Scott addressing the team.

11:00 am: Tailgate party with the U-9 and U-8 Wheathawks teams. Sky looks dark.

12:15 pm: Game #2 - Adam (three of four). I think it starts to rain. I did not bring jackets for the boys, so Zach is wearing mine and I borrowed one from Pam.

1:40 pm: Game #2 - Zach (four of four today, four of eight this weekend). Still raining. Everyone and everything is wet.

3:30 pm: Home.

Laundry.

Sunday

6:00 am: Get up. Soccer uniforms, shinguards, socks, cleats, water, snacks, jackets, umbrella, chairs, blankets, portable grill and coffee. This time I take jackets and dress with more layers. High of 65 today, and rain.

7:00 am: Scott and Adam leave.

7:30 am: Pam, Wayne, Zach and I leave.

8:00 am: Adam's game (one of four today, five of eight this weekend). It's raining. The ground is muddy, slooshy and soggy. This time I have a jacket and somewhat waterproof pants. Doesn't help much. Zach is told many times to leave the umbrella open or closed, do not open it around people, and please watch where you are going when holding it.

9:15 am: Pam, Adam and I head home. (Scott, Wayne and Zach stay to hang out in the car.) Put dirty, smelly soccer socks, shirts and shorts in the dryer. No time to wash AND dry. (Note to self: if you put stinky, damp socks in the dyer, your dryer will end up smelling like stinky HOT socks). Adam changes into dry pants and long sleeve shirt. Newspapers in cleats to soak up the water. I change socks and dig out my winter boots, the only waterproof ones I have.

10:15 am: Back to the soccer fields.

10:50 am: Zach's game (two of four). It's raining.

11:45 am: It's raining. Fire up the grill for burgers and dogs. Try and keep everything dry. Help Zach change into dry pants and shirt. Hang out in the car and amuse ourselves for two hours.

1:40 pm: Adam's game-Championship (game three of four). Rain seems to have let up. It's a nail biter, and goes into overtime. The U-9 Wheathawks defeated 2-1, take second place in the tournament.

3:30 pm: Arrive home. More drying of uniforms and fans pointed at wet shoes. I change my socks (again.) And Adam changes into dry clothes (again). More laundry.

5:20 pm: Zach's game (four of four today, eight of eight this weekend). Steady rain and chilly, but the boys don't seem to mind. The U-8 Wheathawks take second place in the tournament (no championship game for this age group).

6:30 pm: Home.

I need a weekend to recover from the weekend.

Eight

Zach turned eight today.

I took cookies to class, blue and yellow cookies with sprinkles and CapriSun.

For dinner, he wanted hamburgers and fries. I added apples and a salad. Yellow cake with blue frosting and cookie dough ice cream was dessert.

Favorite gifts were the movie Rio, money and a Target gift card.

School pictures: now and then

2nd Grade, Fall 2011

3rd Grade (?), Fall 1982

3rd Grade, Fall 2011

2nd Grade, Fall 1980

Can you see any resemblances?