Happy Father's Day!

Blog post coming....  I finally got some photos off the camera and went through them.  But now it's late.  Thought I'd better at least get two up or they'd take the site down due to lack of activity. 

Tomorrow...  I practically promise....  don't hold me to it.... stop whining, you need a link to another blog?  hehehe...  I got lots of links.... 

Happy Easter!

If anyone likes hardboiled eggs - we have 2 dozen ready and waiting.  Apparently the people in our house only like to decorate them.  Last time I made hardboiled eggs, they went like hotcakes.  This time, they are only stinking up the refrigerator.

Speaking of hotcakes - that's the word you'll want to use at McDonald's if you are looking for pancakes.  I never use the word "hotcake" so when I didn't see "pancake" on the menu, I ordered "McGriddles."  Apparnetly McGriddles are NOT the right codeword for people looking for pancakes.  McGriddles are pancake like things  they use them for the breakfast sandwiches (which is why the guy asked me three times "just plain?  just plain? just plain?" ) Kids didn't know the difference but hotcakes come on a plate with butter and syrup.  McGriddles come wrapped in paper like a hamburger and it takes multiple trips back to the counter to get butter and syrup (nevermind the plate - just use the paper) and the people behind the counter wonder what in the world you are up to.  They are the ones coming up with the crazy language.  Some of us are still working on Venti and Grande.  At least they could have a McPancake - I could handle McPancake.

Here are the cuties all dressed up.

Looking good.

Making there very best Easter faces.

Mr. Handsome rockin' his $9 suit (see, it does pay to wait to the last minute and go shopping the Saturday before Easter - suit included the shirt, vest and clip on tie!)

Easter Bunny does not deliver front teeth.

And here is our newest Spring resident.  Crazy birds built there nest in our watering can.  It's the funniest thing.  They are LOUD too - tweeting and chirping and banging about.  Kenn was able to peek in and says that the nest is more like a giant mattress.  I can't figure out how they plan to get the baby birds out - can't really push baby birds out of a watering can.

Shaeleigh and I went and got our nails done for Easter.  When we got home she decided to hook her brother up. 

Little goober just loves the attention.  Nails AND toes!!!  Banner day.

And then he paid her back in kind and did her toenails. 

And every well rounded Salon has a masseuse.  Pea-Eye is clearly enjoying it. 

Shaeleigh is reading the letter from the Easter Bunny providing specifics about the egg hunt.  She is clearly taking this seriously.

And keeping with our theme - Chance is signing his name to the note he wanted me to leave for Kenn one morning.  He had wanted to eat chips for breakfast - I told him he could have them after school.  He was so funny, he asked me to write a note to Kenn which said:  "Dear Daddy, please bring some of these on the way back from bringing me home.  Love, Chance"  and then we stuck in under the chip bag.  (in case you didn't de-code that, he wanted Kenn to bring the chips with him when he picked him up from school).

Chancie and his new bike!  He LOVES it.  It looks just like Kenn's dirtbike.  He's a real ham - rides up and down the street with one leg out.  He also discovered that if he puts his tires just right in the manhole cover, he can pedal without moving.  Hahaha - he thinks that's hysterical.

We took the training wheels off of Shaeleigh's bike.  She could ride if she just had the confidence - she's had a few good runs but for the most part she can't commit.  She also doesn't like an audience while she is learning so I think we've decided I'll need to take her to a parking lot somewhere by herself (sans a little brother whizzing by every two minutes).  She's close.

Shaeleigh requested a "journal" to write in like she has at school.  Lest you think she was going to fill it with wisdom.....   nope, she's documenting the lives of the ponies from "My Little Pony."  Note - this would be "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic" - not the "Old" My Little Ponies.  Hasbro has really created some severe continuity errors.  Pre-"Friendship is Magic", Rainbow Dash did NOT have wings and Rarity is pink, not white.  I could go on and on but really they kept all the names and just mixed the ponies all up and it's very confusing in Ponyville.

He's an earth tone kind of guy.

And now, I leave you with one final story.  As I've noted before, Chance is not much of an eater.  He runs on air and the occassional fist full of pepperoni.  About 4 weeks ago, he started chewing his nails.  He is driving us crazy as he has chomped them all down to nothing. 

At anyrate, one of mom's of a girl in his class told me last week that her daughter came home reporting the following:  "Chance eats nothing but fingernails.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner."

Ouch.  The truth hurts.

Help! 

We're running out of teeth around here!

I mean we are seriously running out!

But no matter, Spring is in the air!  Playgrounds...

Benches.....

Flowers....

Strange birds.....

And 'gators.  Chance got that at the library.  I remembered why I stopped taking the kids to the library.  (Chance come here please.  Chance use your walking feet.  Chance come here please.  Chance you have to talk quietly.  No, quietly.  Quietly.  No, like a whisper.  Chance come here please.  Chance don't run.  Chance come here.  Chance, Chance, CHANCE!) 

Then we come across the face painter in the middle of the children's section.  She covers his hand with paint, looks at him and says, "Okay but remember, it will rub off so don't touch any of the books." 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Me:  "What are you building Chance?  The Great Wall of China?"

Chance:  "No.  Shaeleigh is China.  I'm Vietnam."

Hahaha - you are right.  What was I thinking?!

Shaeleigh the scientist!  She won 2nd place in the science fair.  Fiona took 1st.  Kenn said that Fiona's mom and I did a good job.  Hardy har har.  But we were proud of her.  The science fair is voluntary until 4th grade so I'm glad that she's been willing to do it.  She had to stand in front of her exhibit while some of the 5th-8th grade judges came around and asked questions.  She was happy (she loooooooooooooves herself a ribbon.)

The Project:

Shaeleigh made a rainbow density column.  It was pretty cool.  From bottom to top she had honey, corn syrup (green), water (red), dish soap, and vegetable oil.

She also demonstrated that eggs do not float in water.

But then added salt until the density was enough to make the egg float.

Then, used her rainbow to test a hypothesis (everything below the salt water would float the egg; everything above the salt water would not.).  Here's an egg floating in honey.

An egg floating in corn syrup.

An egg sinking in dish soap.

Lab assistant.  Future mad scientist.

Or pastry chef.  Hard to say.

Mostly just been enjoying the few warm days we've had, when we've had them.

Sara sent us the coolest ethnic (Khazak) costumes which I've promised photos of.  I have not managed to get those yet.  She also sent one of those little airline toiletry kits.  I did get pics of that.

Those are blue airline socks that he's put on and stuffed his pants into.  And nothing like airplane toothpaste.

And now for a good night's sleep...... 

Wow, hard to believe our little Chancie Pants turned four.  He is getting so full of thoughts.  Lately he has been sharing his dreams which are wild and scary (poor kid).  Tonight he told me that he dreamed, "Shaeleigh's white cat was in the water and it was floating away and then the shark came and ate him and then there was no more Mr. Dave but I held my Nike (stuffed horse) really, really tight and my Rainbow Dash (plastic pony) so that I wouldn't lose them)."  Yikes, I think we need to invest in a new dream catcher because the on he made in school is not doing a very good job! 

But that's no way to start a blog post.

Happy Birthday Chance:

Here he is getting a birthday squeeze from his big sister.  I really need to remember to make sure "Mr. Chance No Pants" has some on when I'm taking photos of special occasions.  I guess we are so used to seeing him in his underwear that I forget that I will need to crop everything. 

Kenn made an AWESOME Dinosaur Train cake.   This is a great show (PBS) about a Pteranodon Family with one son who is a T-Rex.  They take the train all over different time periods to meet different dinosaurs.  I've actually learned a lot watching it. 

That's Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon sitting in a next of chocolate and coconut with an egg that you soak in water and a baby Buddy (the T-Rex) pops out.

Chance soooooooooooooooo excited about getting a Rainbow Dash.  Shaeleigh has totally brainwashed him into loving My Little Ponys (a show that really hasn't taught me anything but is at least non-offensive).

And here's the big four year old in his new sleeping bag (space theme) and Stegasaurus pillow.  He's also wearing his "Spy" watch.  He almost looks like he is about to suck his thumb but I'm sure that's not the case.  He told Kenn he was not going to suck his thumb after he turned four.

This is just a case of bed head that cracks me up. 

Chance's teacher has been obsession over his  lack of eating.  He really does do a horrid job of eating but he mostly doesn't seem to need it.   We'll tell him, "this is it for tonight, if you get down there's nothing else."  Chance says, "Okay!" and runs off and then he rarely asks for anything else.  It's like he gets energy from the air or something. 

My favorite note from his teacher:  "Chance ate one meatball.  He ate it very, very slowly.  But he still had a lot of energy."  Ha!  Exactly!

The good news is, he is growing.  He had his 4 year appointment and he moved up to the 15th % in height (from 5th).  He only weighed in at 29 pounds but his weight is following a steady curve so he's doing alright. 

Chance was mad at me the other morning for something and he looked at me and said, "You are not my friend, I don't love you, and you are not going to be my Thanksgiving!" 

He is so stinkin' cute.  Shaeleigh was sitting nearby and looked at him and said, "uh....  I think you mean Valentine."

Shaeleigh also had her well visit recently and weighed in at 41 pounds.  She had mentioned a number of times now about being the smallest in her class.  Apparently one of the boys made a few comments.  Luckily I'm not the tallest tree in the forest either so I'm teaching her the ways of the broomstick.  I was particularly impressive yesterday when I got a single kitchen sponge out of a half opened bag (Costco size) from a high shelf on the first try and without knocking anything else off the shelf.  I am that good!

And now....  I am off to bed.  Time change and all.  Hopefully I will do better with the blogging in future weeks.

Ah yes, I have not forgotten the blog.  Been busy. Nine birthday parties in about that many week.  Note the nine do NOT include our own dear Chance who is soon to be four - his party is only planned in the abstract (guess I'd better get that on the list of things to move into realism). 

And there's been other things which we shall blog about shortly (hint located in the title of our blog).  But I must admit, when I loaded up some photos it was rather alarming to see that the weather has changed three times since I last wrote but no matter, here's what we got:

Suzanne gave Shaeleigh a New Zealand cookbook for Christmas and Shaels made us a delicious chicken dinner!  We made some tasty oatmeal as well (although the book never mentioned cooking the oats which made for some chewy oatmeal and caused a few raised eyebrows but I don't know....   maybe the oats in New Zealand are different?  I ended up nuking mine but Shaeleigh plowed on through her bowl of raw oats without hestation).

The book also mentioned using a fish slice while making pancakes.  Luckily, after flipping through the book, I was able to gather that fish slice means spatula.  I was pretty sure that fish with pancakes wasn't going to be a family favorite.

Speaking of foods from other countries - I always enjoy trying out new sweets for the Lunar New Year.  This year I bought what I thought (best guess from the label) was going to be a tower of cookies.  It was all wrapped up in red paper with a nice bow.

Hm...  looks like I forgot to upload the photo but when we unwrapped it, it turned out to be one giant cookie - shaped like a tower.  It had very beautifully carved designed all around it and it was pure white.  We couldn't figure out how you were supposed to eat it as it was really hard but also very crumbly.  So....  we told Chance to just take a bite off the top.

"Can I spit it out?"

Yeah, not too tasty.  Very sandy and not too sweet.  But it was pretty.

Shaeleigh decides to feast instead on sugar covered coconut curls.  Those were good!

For the past 10 years, this has been our entertainment center.  No, I don't mean Kenn would act out little performances - I mean we used the ol' puppet stage as a tv stand.  It was awesome!  So hard to part with.  When we got married, did I come with good furniture or what?!  Hee hee.  But finally I conceeded.  It was taking up valuable space and the odds of us ever using it for putting on family puppet shows a la Sound of Music was pretty darn slim (Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo....).  Ah, so sad.

I kept the little yellow swirl on the front to hang on a wall somewhere.

This is for Sara.  Sojourn is doing well - I cleaned the fish tank last night and as I was cleaning I put Sojourn into a coffee mug.  She told me it brought back fond memories but that she was appeciative of her larger home just the same.

Shaeleigh loved the sand art horses.  Thanks Sara and Mr. John.

This is Chance putting his Valentine's together.  He seems to have grasped the various nuances of the holiday.  He found putting his cards together (8 kids in his class mind you) "too boring."  He LOVED getting a bag of candy however.  And today, when he got mad at me for something he said, "I'm not going to be your Valentine!"

Aw, such a cute little Valentine he is though.  He has told Kenn that he is going to stop sucking his thumb when he turns four.  I don't think it will be that easy.  When he's tired - he loves him some thumb.

It snowed a few weeks back.  Hopefully that's the end of it but it's still February so hope is about all I can do.

Today it was pretty nice and warm!  Chance is not really wearing shorts - he just pushed his pants up to the knees.  We went to a science birthday party today and came home with instructions on how to make an erupting volcano on our beakers.

Didn't quite "erupt" but it was fun.

Let's do two at once.  And let us LOTS of baking soda and LOTS of vinegar.  We want Mt. Vesuvius.

So there you go, that's really all I have for now.  I'm sure there are stories but they are not in my brain at the moment.  I must hit the sack, jack.  TTFN.

Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới

Happy Lunar New Year

Year of the Rabbit/Cat

(Due, quite possibly, to a translation error, the Vietnamese are celebrating the Year of the Cat while the Chinese and many other Asian countries are celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.  I  find this quite comforting!  Had I been left to translate the Chinese Zodiac, we'd be celebrating all kinds of interesting years!)

Well, today we decided to do nothing.  It's the final day of the holiday and while I had thought we might squeeze in one more adventure (a visit to a family festival called "Frostiville" at the Convention Center) yesterday wore us out.  School and work starts back tomorrow so rest is good.  Yesterday was Shaeleigh's birthday - she had more planned than we managed to accomplish so a few things will spill into the upcoming weeks but first....  the holiday in review:

Chance wishing you a Merry Christmas.  Note, he is wearing the same pants as last year - they fit much better.  I also remembered to buy him a pair of shoes so for the first time he is not wearing tennis shoes with his Christmas outfit.

The best shot I got of the two together all dressed up. Shaeleigh picked out a pair of shoes with little skimpy straps and heels.  Hanna Montana shoes.  She doesn't really know who Hanna Montana but couldn't resist the big fake jewels on the toes.  I was afraid she was going to trip about all holiday but she seems to walk just fine in them.  Of course she does.  Oh how the fates are laughing at me.

A big thanks to the cousins for picking out this most excellent cowboy outfit! 

It even has a pair of fringed chaps but I didn't get any decent photos - and by "decent" I am referring to the fact that Cowboy Chance preferred not to wear pants under his chaps.

Cowboy Chance?  Or the Masked Retriever?

Nothing like a Christmas picnic.  This one was hosted by Big Batman (although he didn't make the photo).  The guest list included Robin, Joker, 2 Little Batmans, Sweetie Bell, Fluffy the Horse, 5 Playmobile Firefighters, 2 Zuzu pets and assorted Bella Sara horses and a Bakugon dragon.  Batman was serving up a cup of marbles and a Japanese eraser dinner.

The kitchen table is probably the best $100 Kenn and I ever spent.  It gets a lot of use.  Here we have Shaeleigh building a foam gingerbread house on one side.

And Chance playing with his new Batcave on the other.

We could use a bigger table.  I couldn't convince either kid that there was plenty of room on the floor and/or in the family room two feet away. 

The Peanut got a canister of tennis balls for Christmas.  They were white and there was a little snowman painted on the outside.  He chewed them up in about 20 minutes.  Enjoyed every minute of it.

We'll be sure to bring this photo back out during Chance's high school years.  They're playing "parlor" with Shaeleigh's new nail polish. 

Luckily, I had the last appointment of the day and having seen the people before me, knew to request only a half inch of polish unlike the customary full inch which takes 3 days to dry.

I said, "Chance, let me take a picture of your new shirt."  He said, "Take my back" giggle giggle.

"Okay, Mommy...."

And here she is................  SEVEN YEARS OLD!!!!

The past 6 birthdays, Kenn has made a spectacular cake for Shaeleigh's birthday.  This year he decided to take her to the bakery and have her decorate her own cake!  She LOVED it.

Just starting out.

She has such focused (when she wants to). 

Working that icing bag.

She put these little snowflakes on one by one.

For the top, Kenn showed her how to scan a photo and print it out on the edible icing.  Here she's icing the back of it to put on.

Ta Da!

"Dad!  It's getting heavy!"

That's better.

A close up of her work.  She did this all by herself!  Watch out Cake Boss!

The top - That's Bella the horse and Sara her rider.  It's been a Bella Sara year.

Blowing out the candles.

And so there you go.  Have a wonderful 2011!  And no, there have been no resolutions to update the blog with any greater frequency.  They come when they come.

Ho ho ho!

No posts in a month.  Two in one day.

We took our annual trip to Snickers Gap two weeks ago to get our tree.  Chance singing on the way up:

Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way...  Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way...  Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way... Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way... Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way...  Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way...  Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way... Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way...

PAUSE

Then he says to no-one in particular:

Phew, that's enough of that.  That song is boring.

Ha, maybe if you sang more than the first line 50 times in a row.

We start our journey with a stop at Dunkin Donuts.  Mmm....   we used to go later in the day and start with McDonalds but Snickers Gap has become very popular the past few years so now we go early to beat the crowds.  Also, we have become more health conscious.  I've been told McDonalds has a lot of fat.

Dunkin Donuts has a mighty festive display going on.  HoHoHo Donut Holes are mighty tasty!

Ah, the umbrella tree.  Kenn and I thought it would be really funny to get a tree like this - put the stand way at the bottom of the tall bare trunk and have the ornaments start 3 feet up.  Hahahaha.  Shaeleigh wasn't having it.  Such a traditionalist.

Then again.  She was busy trying to sell me on a "tree for the table."  She didn't grasp/didn't care that all trees 7 feet and under were the same price. 

This year's winner.  And not to worry, the gap at the top is properly decorated with ornaments and not the least bit noticeable.

Note Chance's head.  He'd been telling us the whole week that his job was to cut the tree down.  He conceded to getting a little help from Kenn.

Pull!

Shaeleigh said her job was to haul it in.  She did an excellent job!

Sites around the farm.

Where I'd love to live.  In a big ol' cabin at the edge of a Christmas Tree Farm. 

Oh - we saw our official first snowflakes driving down to get our tree.  This week though was our first accumulation.  Not much but the kids headed out in the backyard with their shovels.  I stayed inside and watched through the back door. 

Chance has appropriated my favorite earmuffs (which he calls his ear phones).  I'm hoping he gets tired of them quick.

Shaeleigh and Mr. Dave - still best friends. 

Shaeleigh was a sheep in the Christmas pageant this year. She loved every minute of it.  Already has her eyes on the "Mary" role.

She was letting us know where to sit and telling us that she was on the left side and was the last one in.  One of us just said something like, "you're the last one in?" and she says with a tone of complete annoyance, "Well, I'm the SMALLEST!"  Poor thing. 

And finally - the fat man in the suit.  The local Fire Station had the best set-up.  We signed up for a 15 minute slot and got lots of photos taken.  We were the only family there and it gave the kids plenty of time to warm up to ol' St. Nick.  Really nice people there.  Ho ho ho.  They even got to climb on the fire truck afterwards.  Can't beat that.

The season is upon us.  I've decided that "being ready" is overrated.  I'll get ready another year.  This year, bring it on!

I had a whole slip of paper with funny things the kids said.  I don't know where that is.  Probably hanging out with some of the presents I've stashed away and likely won't find until the kids are grown.  But there is at least this one that I really can't forget. 

Chance's class had a Thanksgiving event - the parents were all invited to come and eat dessert with the kids.  There are 8 kids in his class - all born within 3 months of each other (the oldest turns four next week, Chance, who turns four March 6th, is the second youngest).  He has a great teacher and she places a great emphasis on manners.  She had been practicing with them little speeches on why they are thankful.  So while we are sitting around eating pie and cake and punch she asks each of the kids to say why they are thankful.  The first cutie says, "I am thankful for my Mom and Dad for buying me toys," and then the second says, "I am thankful for my Mom for reading me books."  Then we get to Chance, who according to the script, was supposed to say, "I am thankful for my Mom for cleaning my room," but instead, apparently feeling like he'd over rehearsed shouts (and I do mean SHOUTS):  I already told you, you WACKO KA-RAZY!

Ah, our Chance.  He is one of a kind.

And to provide some further insight into Mr. Wacko Ka-razy himself.  I tried to document what he wore last Saturday and I kid you not, this was just before nap:

Started out as a fireman.  "I want my short pants because I'm not going outside and I can wear my short pants because I want my short pants because it's not cold outside and I'm not cold...."

Proper attire for tree decorating - snow hat, bathing suit, one of Shaeleigh's tennis shoes and one of Shaeleigh school shoes from last year.  And a different shirt.  The other one was likely too itchy, too small, too big, or simply, "No, no, no, I don't want that shirt.  It's really boring."

This is his "Masked Retriever" outfit (that's an episode of "The Backyardigans").  Both of Shaeleigh's tennis shoes, short sleeved shirt because, as we've noted earlier, he's not going outside and he's really not cold, and his mask and safari hat.

Oh yeah, this is the outfit!

Maybe not, three ornaments later, he's decided that he really needs snowboots and a change of hats.

Well, the tree is done and the "Masked Retriever" needs another new look.  He decided that perhaps it is cold because he put on his "pants with the button" and his coat (and no, we weren't going anywhere).  Still wearing Shaeleigh's shoes and he's wearing his hat sidewise for no particular reason (and as I recall there was a massive meltdown just prior over the fact that the straps didn't reach to be able to velcro together - he has a small head side to side but vertically is another story).

This goes on and on.  Luckily, he's really good at dressing himself.  He doesn't ask for help - just every time you turn around, he's wearing something else.  It's exhausting.

Speaking of exhausting, I was busy decorating one end of the house and this is what became of the other:

Good thing the house only has two ends.

Happy Gotcha Day to Shaeleigh.  December 13th we celebrated the 6th anniversary of her adoption.  We are so lucky and so blessed to have you Shaels.  Hard to believe 6 years have flown by so quickly.

Here we have the two artists working on the annual Christmas Card:

And the final card (hopefully it's arrived in the mailboxes already):

 It's hard to see the details but we saved a bunch of orange juice cartons to decorate as a little Christmas village.  It was classic - Shaeleigh spent 45 minutes on 1 house and then declared herself finished (it was one fantastic house but she didn't pace herself for the other 6).  Chance spent 45 seconds and "finished" all 7 of his houses (button, button, button, done!)

Oh - Chancie is up from his nap.  I will post Part 2 later.

Ho ho ho....

The Yin and the Yang

The Yang and the Yin

It's hard to think of one dog without the other.  But we lost our Painty Paint last weekend.  Ol' Paint joined Kenn and I just after we got married.  He was our practice kid.  Stubborn, smart, a bit of a buffalo - got sent outside to "think about" during dog training class because he enjoyed baying (making noises like foxhounds are bred to do) but he really rarely barked at home.  He really wasn't much for getting out of the way but he never complained when he was stepped on.  He was a good ol' dog.  He got sick very fast and despite three trips to vet in so many days, including a doggie opthamolist, they were unable to figure out what was wrong. 

I like to think that Ol' Paint got called up to heaven, just so that he could annoy Babcia.