Dressing for the job you want..........

Captain Awesome said that if Rooster finds out that you can have a job dressing up like a pirate. She will drop out of school in the second grade:O

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMXv0__CYSU

Today's Activities

We did a little work with our Dorsey flashcard games. Rooster enjoyed this activity.

We played with water. The kids did not want to learn how to use all the syringes to move water. But, I did get them to use the sponges to move water. Big Dog loved using the spray bottle.

The other day I took Big Dog to a thrift store with me. He was upset and didn't want to be there. Until he saw this alphabet toy. His eyes locked on it. And well I caved. It cost $1.95 and well it was worth the cost to have him stop screaming. I know...I'm teaching him some great values. Anyway, I bought ANOTHER alphabet toy for the boy. Not that he needed another. Now you are probably saying "You paid a whole $2 for that thing? It's ancient. What a waste of money." But, it wasn't a waste of money. Most alphabet toys are in capital/upper case letters. This one is in lowercase letters. Big Dog doesn't know all of his lower case letters. So hopefully it will help him.

Rooster keeps bringing me a Mass card with Pope Benedict XVI. Saying "The Pope, the Pope." So I took her to our poster of Popes. I explained that when Jesus died Peter became the first Pope of the Catholic Church. Then I showed her how many Popes followed until we got to the current Pope. She was very impressed and kept running her finger back and forth across the poster.

Saturday Seven

Seven things that happened this week
1) I laughed my tooshie off while watching the news. I saw Obama mistake a window to the Oval office for a door. Remember when Bush did something like that? It replayed over and over and over and over and over. But, I only saw Obama's mistake on Fox. Interesting. Good thing Obama has the liberal media in his pocket. I guess when you threaten to suppress the media (like that small Florida tv station) you can get away with a lot.
2) Big Dog folded his hands and prayed with us one day. This never happens.
3) Big Dog and I got hair cuts. When we got there he looked around, ran to the door and said "Want to go." I thought things were going to improve when the lady asked his name. He didn't respond so I said "His name is Brett." Then he corrected me saying he was "Big Dog." The beautician was really cool about it and used his nickname the whole time. "Oh Big Dog you are a handsome boy," "Big Dog you are doing so well." He loved this. But, eventually he grew tired of the flattery and accusingly cried and said "Hurt me." Which she did not do:)
4) Captain Awesome told me "The kids torture me when you leave." I then asked Rooster, "Do you torment daddy when I leave?" She replied "Sure do."
5) I've really been spending a lot of time with my art. I hope everyone has been enjoying my sketches:)
6) We got our taxes done. I love not having to worry about them.
7) Most important is that Captain Awesome is feeling a lot better.

The Big Joe Polka Show- Happy music for happy Roosters

I'm loving my DVR more and more everyday. One of the things I have DVRed is The Big Joe Polka Show. I don't watch the full hour or anything. Just 10-15 minutes of it. That's about all the polka music I can tolerate anymore. I listened to a lot of The Big Joe Polka Show when I was growing up. Anyway, the first time we watched it, Rooster grabbed me and said "Let's dance." Tonight's response to Big Joe was "I want Noggin, Noggin, Noggin." (Noggin is a preschool tv channel) Being the great mother I am, I told her "You aren't a very good Czech." She looked at me and said "Because I watch Noggin?"

Our life in sketches

I noticed that Big Dog is in every sketch I've made.

A bunny needs to eat......

Yummy!

GH

GH is 43 weeks old today

Activities

Big Dog is still super impressed that he has two "t"s in his name. But, the novelty of his name puzzle is wearing thin. So his name puzzle has been expanded to his first and last name. He seems a bit overwhelmed with it. I imagine eventually it will become boring as well. But, I guess if that happens we will make another one. Thank goodness we gave the boy two middle names:D



GH was super bored with the activities. But, he did enjoy watching his reflection in a small mirror.

The High Life

http://www.1secondad.com/

Our life in sketches

Support Our Troops

If you have some DVD's you would like to donate to our soldiers check out this site.
http://www.operationdvd.net/index.php

Operation DVD
31337 Huron Street
Temecula, CA 92592

Mouse Cookie Treasury

Don't you love it when your child's favorite book has the word "Treasury" in the title?

Rooster loves this book. We read it at least a half dozen times a day. I think she can relate to the characters in the book. The book contains four stories with three different characters: a mouse, a moose, and a pig. Each is an endearing character. And they all share one common trait. They are all endless pits of need. This is something every four year old can relate too. They need this, then they need that, then they need something else. Rooster gets so excited as the animals run their people counterparts through the paces.

With books like these who needs an enemy?:)

GH is the face of senseless aggression

He may look all sweet and innocent but this little guy is a bully.

The boys were playing in the kitchen when a scuffle ensued. Big Dog was whining something I couldn't understand and GH started squealing with delight. Big Dog came out of the kitchen. Between whimpers I made out "He took it." I went into the kitchen and found that GH had taken one of Big Dog's Letter Factory letter magnets, and was happily chewing on it.

Big Dog may not be aware that he is bigger than GH and could take it from him. But, I will chalk this whole thing up to the following. Big Dog wouldn't stoop to physical brutality. He came to an adult for help.

Wow!!! I'm such a great mom!!!!!:D

Happy New Year Rory

the low standard is high for me

Not that any of my readers expect quality work from me. But from now on, I really shouldn't blog when I'm tired.

Saturday's Activities

I've been really lazy about getting activities done with the kids since Captain Awesome has been sick. I don't know what I have been doing. I imagine the kids have been watching too much tv. But, I do put the kids at the table to do already assembled activities. Which are basically things that I have organized and can just pull down. I don't have to assist the kids with these activities. So basically they are my lazy activities. (Coloring, fishing, shapes etc)

Rooster worked on our new magnet sheets. We have a beach scene, horses, and circus. I think she liked the circus the most. She really enjoyed putting everything away.

Saturday Seven

Seven things that happened this week
1) Big Dog has been smearing some interesting things into his hair. Including but not limited to syrup, cheese, milk, play dough, and glue.
2) Liz dropped by and left us some cupcakes. Rooster said that "These are the most delicious cupcakes ever". First of all, that is a big sentence for her so she must mean it. Secondly, that must mean I don't make the best cupcakes:D
3) I've been trying to do some small home improvements. I'm really really bad at that sort of stuff. So I'm not mentioning what I did. That way no one comes over to check out my workmanship.
4) Captain Awesome's surgery was cancelled because he isn't well. He was put on some anti-biotics. He should be ready for surgery on Feb 12 th.
5) GH has a double ear infection and a slight allergy to his meds. Great!:(
6) I organized my kitchen cabinets. Now Captain Awesome won't have to dodge avalanches when he opens the cabinet doors.
7) GH turned 42 weeks old. He signed the word "more" for me once this week. But, he doesn't know what the word "stop" means. If he's crawling towards the staircase and we tell him "stop." He laughs and crawls faster.

GH is 42 weeks old

Candy cigs....a hard habit to break

I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up some antibiotics. GH has a nasty ear infection. While I was there I saw packs of candy cigarettes for 15 cents each. So I picked up a few.

Don't get all politically correct on me. I don't plan on smoking them around the kids. I just got them because they are classic Americana. When I was a kid my dad use to buy these for me at Dittmer's Liquor. (My mom says that my dad probably paid for the college tuition of all the Dittmer kids. ) I know this isn't a "sweet" childhood memory. But, I loved going there. The owner had guns, a tv that always seemed to be on professional wrestling or monster truck rallies, and sometimes the owners dog was there. That place was cool!

Anyway, I am suspicious as to why a pharmacy would sell candy cigarettes. But, I won't get all conspiracy theory on you....not tonight anyway:)

Product Endorsement

When we aren't out saving animals in danger, we like to kick back and enjoy delicious Dole celery.

Rick's surgery

This morning we received a call from Rick's surgeon. Rick hasn't been feeling well. So we have to postpone the surgery until he is feeling better.

Totally unrelated things

This is our new treadmill. Captain Awesome and I put it together last night. I think the kids were a little agitated because they were not the focus of our attention. At one point Rooster came up to me and said "Baby Henry is not very happy".

My friend Stephanie is a good mom. She does word families and all kinds of other stuff with her kids. My kids aren't really ready for reading or site words yet. But I thought I would use it for repeating and rhyming. I was really surprised at how well Big Dog did.

Playgroup fun

I know I said I wasn't going to be blogging a lot because we've been busy. I guess saying that makes me want to blog more......


Princess J and GH playing with the bead tracks. I always forget to get a picture of Timmy:(

My parents live in fear

Big Dog has us trained. When he wakes up from a nap he usually gets a snack. Juice and popcorn is his favorite.

A bloggin slow down

You may have noticed that I haven't been blogging as much. Captain Awesome has been having some health issues and will be having surgery this Friday. I don't think I am going to have much time to blog until some time next week. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes.

American Idol

We aren't big American Idol fans. We just watch the first few episodes of every season so we can laugh at all the strange auditions. Rooster watched happily trying to sing along. Big Dog just laughed at the contestants. He even laughed at the people who were talented. He's a little Simon in training. Where would he have picked this up? Then at the end of the show the answer to this question came. There was a blind contestant auditioning. And I told Captain Awesome, "This is a gimmick....he's faking" Well I guess he's not faking blindness. I'm just a jerk.

Big Dog

Big Dog fell asleep looking at books.

GH

41 weeks old

Playgroup fun

Mr T, Princess J and Tiny Tim came over to visit GH and Big Dog yesterday. I think GH really enjoys having babies around.

"Ladies and Gentlemen..................."

Rooster absolutely loves the toy microphone Santa left her. Isn't it great how kids can be entertained with such a simple and cheap toy? Best dollar Santa ever spent if you want my opinion.

I guess I'm her microphone/sound crew because when Rooster says "Ladies and Gentlemen" that is my cue to have a huge introduction or explanation of her next song. I try to tell her what to sing for her next song and she sings it. She loves every moment of being in the "spot light".

One time Rooster forgot the words to a song. So I told her if she ever forgets the words while she's on stage, that she is suppose to extend the microphone out to the crowd. I told her the crowd would eat that up:D

I think my favorite part is when she bows after her performances.

Some random pictures

We had a few pages left in a large coloring book. So I let the kids paint on them.
Bathtime is always fun. But, Big Dog didn't stay in the tub long. For a boy who believes he doesn't have to wear clothes anymore....he sure wanted out of the bath quickly.

How cute!!!

Archiving--From 2007

I saw this one night before going to bed. I had to get a picture of this. I mean, how often do you see anything quite like this? It had been an exceptionally rough day. And when I looked up and saw the look on Larry's face, I considered the possibility that Larry may have had a worse day than I did:D

Whatever shall I do?

A few moments ago I found a small load of towels and clothing in my washing machine. I noticed that on the dryer there was an open bottle of detergent. Someone dumped a full bottle of liquid soap into the washing machine. The first thing I thought was "I know GH did this" :D Haha. The second thought was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhs7eCliAHA

What should I do? I could rinse the laundry out in the bathtub. I could just throw the laundry away. But, will there still be tons of soap in the basin of the washer? Should I run a little water into the basin then drain it...repeating this about a million times;) I seriously am clueless on what I should do. HELP PLEASE!!!

What we've been up to

I've been doing a lot of cleaning. I must be talking about cleaning a lot too. The other night Big Dog grabbed the broom and dust pan and was running around saying "clean, clean, clean".

Big Dog is really into zippers right now. He loves to play with coat zippers and the zippers on his pajamas. He also loves to play with GH's pj zipper. Saying "ZZZZZZip" as he runs the zipper up and down. I actually saw Big Dog flip GH over with his foot then go after GH's zipper. I don't know who was more surprised GH or myself. My friend Stephanie gave me a bunch of glow in the dark letters and numbers. She said she thought I might be able to think of something to do with them. My first activity wasn't really clever. We just sorted the numbers to the left and letters to the right.

At the beginning of the month Roosters preschool sends home a list of activities you can do at home. These are ideas from the preschool and other parents of her classmates. I like looking it over and seeing what the other parents are doing with their kids. It's a great way to generate ideas. Anyway, I saw something we hadn't done in a while so I thought we would draw in salt. Rooster wasn't really into writing her name. She loved making faces and Big Dog enjoyed making a mess:D

Dinosaur dinner