The Day The Earth Stood Still...

That was my dad's favorite movie. Not the fancy new version with Keanu. The old black and white one.

Layton got this robot at U.G.White's in downtown.

Every time I look at it, I think of that movie!

Why So Serious?...

Ella's face is so expressive. She has her Dad's serious face. She looks so contemplative and concerned most of the time. When she talks, she chews the words. Her whole body wriggles with excitement when she talks. Every curve of her face changes with each expression that slips past her mouth.

She is only serious in between conversations.

Traffic...

Do any of you track the stats for your blog? It's one of those features that blogger added a while back. I set it up several months ago and decided to check it earlier. I was shocked! It tells you what countries your page views come from, how many site visits, other sites that reference your blog, and more. It's worth checking into...

The Faces of the Flu...

The flu pandemic has continued. All three children have fever. It is not pretty at my house. Stay far, far away unless you own a hazmat suit.

Yes, Layton's name or initials are on 95% of his belongings. Quit ragging me about it. :) If his name weren't on everything, the poor child would have nothing. He leaves his things all over town. Thank goodness people know me and call me to come pick it up. I guess I will keep putting his name on everything until he keeps up with his things better.

Hadley has spent a good bit of time on her netbook curled up with her pillow pet.

Ella has lounged with her pillow pet too.

She has also lived up to her reputation for being dramatic and put on quite the show of pitiful faces.

Mmmmmm, How Do I Love Thee...

How did I get to be past 30 before this...

...came to my hometown? So glad we have one now!!!

Crabs....Gross, Not That Kind, You Pervert...

I love crabs. No, not the gross sexually transmitted kind. Seriously, my readers constantly have their minds in the gutter. Ok, that was a pretty lame attempt at humor. I have accepted it, which is the first step to healing and recovering from poor joke addiction. The other 11 steps are not quite as fun.

I do love crab though. When dipped in drawn butter, it makes me say, "Yummmmmmmmm." I love crab cakes. Crab dip. Fried crab claws. California rolls. Gees, have I mentioned that I love crab?

Several years ago, Jay and I started buying it at the fresh fish market and steaming it at home. It doesn't take long to cook and it is positively divine while watching a football game. Jay's parents have gotten in on the crab cooking too! We all gathered at their house not too long ago for a crab and shrimp boil.

Talk about yum!

This Man Is Wicked Smart...

This is Chris. He is super smart. Before I captured this image on my phone, I might have mentioned that we joke that his body is a life support system for his brain. Maybe that was rude.

A Box for My Valentine Girl...

Ella had to make a box for her Valentine's at school. This is what she ended up with...

She worked hard for several hours on the box and the cards for her friends.

I helped her wrap the box with paper, spray it with adhesive, sprinkle it with sugar, and stick on fancy designs.

Her favorite part was sticking foam letters to a heart to spell her name.

I remember when it was okay to take a grocery sack to school for your Valentine's. Not anymore. There is so much pressure to have the best of everything. Children feel it far more now than I think I ever did as a child. True, I was floating in my own sea of oblivion until I was about 28.

When You've Got It, Flaunt It...AKA...Ella's Creed...

The camera loving, old soul, sassy mouthed, posing, smiling, middle child is at it again...

She was at a "Celebrate Women Sunday" committee meeting with me when the following took place.

Jaina: Glad you could come Ella.

Ella: Susan B. Anthony should be here. She was all about Women's Rights.

Me: Ella, please be quiet while we meet. You have to behave.

Ella: Susan B. Anthony didn't behave.

Jaina: (while trying not to laugh) You're right. Well behaved women never brought about change.

Confirmation...

The flu test was positive this morning.

Seven Year Old Girls...

D-Rama.

Also known as seven year old girls.

The drama never ends. The demands and wants are borderline absurd.

Seven year old girls.

I do not recommend it for the faint hearted.

It takes an iron will to raise girls.

Or maybe it's just my girls and their friends....

Hmmmm...

Note to self: ask around and see if other seven year old girls are as dramatic as these two...

The Flu Pancemic of the Enabling Household...

Layton isn't feeling well. He woke up with fever. Since it was a Friday morning, I decided to go ahead and cough up the copay that day because he might get worse over the weekend. I didn't want to wind up sitting in an urgent care facility or the ER on Sunday because I didn't take him, and things got worse.

The doctor was 99% positive he has got the flu, but the test was negative. Apparently, you have to have had fever for more than 24 hours for the test to be accurate.

Even with Tylenol his temp is hovering at 102.1. He can't have Motrin because it has corn syrup in it, but the chewable Tylenol doesn't. He has to avoid all corn and corn by-products because of his genetic condition.


This is what he looked like around 9:00 last night.

This is what he looked like around 9:00 AM that same day.

Fever but still happy.

Why Are These Cases Empty?...

Ella has two pairs of glasses. When we found out she needed glasses, we got her a lovely pink pair. Part way through the school year, the glasses had to be shipped off for repair. It was at this point that I realized she needed a spare pair.

So we went to the optometrist's office and ordered a second pair. It worked lovely. Every time one pair would get demolished in P.E., she had another pair to wear while the other was being repaired.

A few night's ago Ella came to see me and said, "Mommy, I can't find my glasses." Hmmm. I have made her repeat the phrase....If they're not on your face, they're in the case...over and over again.

Yet...

Both cases were empty, and the glasses were no where in sight. Eventually one pair was found. They were on the ironing board with my starch and wrinkle release. Yeah, it didn't seem like an obvious spot for glasses to me either. The other pair is still M.I.A.

I hope the pink ones turn up soon. Otherwise I will have to go buy another pair of glasses and keep them in the safe out of her reach. It's a good thing our optometrist offers such affordable frames and discounts on children's glasses. Once you've purchased one pair, all subsequent frames are 20% off! Gees, I love Dr. Morris!

Playing Games...

My children love their Nintendos. Ella and Layton both have the DSI-XL. Whatever that means. They are bigger than a regular DS from what I can tell.

These things are all over my house all the time. They leave them on the sofa and coffee table. On the kitchen table and the bar. The games are stuck in bags and cases. Everywhere I say.

Are your children obsessed with games?

My Lacey and I...

My little niece Lacey loves me best. Ok, probably not really, but I can lie and say she loves me best. :)

She looked so sweet at the farm the other day in her warm, footed pajamas. Seriously, is there anything cuter than a baby in footed pj's?

What Was Ella Doing?

Taking video...

Warm Woolen Mittens...

One of my favorite things is this contraption...

It's a Cuisinart brand Keuring approved device. Oh, how I love it!

Foil?....