tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64109507025979224372024-03-13T04:26:01.038-07:00AnnieMightBlogAnnie might blog. We're making no promises here.Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-56966709016012998192012-03-30T07:28:00.002-07:002012-03-30T07:31:11.435-07:00Xanderism: Thanks, Buddy.Leaving the department store:<br /><br />X: "Mom, do you want the rest of my treat? My tummy is too small to fit it all."<br /><br />M: "What?"<br /><br />X: "<span style="font-style: italic;">YOU</span> can eat it. Your tummy is HUGE!"<br /><br />M: "...Thanks, Buddy."Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-69687884127241236732012-03-21T19:54:00.002-07:002012-03-21T20:31:55.102-07:00Who are YOU?!Hello, Folks! I'm baaaaaack! After taking quite a long break, I have returned (hopefully) to my blog! It's been a difficult year and my family (and my head) needed every bit of space and energy I had. Things are definitely returning to our new normal and I'm happy to return to playful writing, which I love...and I know you love it too.<br />"What have you been up to for a full year, Annie?" I know you must be wondering.<br />"A bunch of stuff, which I will leak out to you slowly and in good time,"I would reply.<br /><br />Kid update:<br /><br />Skyler is doing great in fourth grade. He's very smart and has also turned into quite the social kid. He has friends calling him all the time to play Minecraft (his latest obsession) or to hang out. He's taken almost complete control of his academics, which was hard for me to let go of, but has been wonderful for his growth. He's grown up a lot this year. It makes me happy and sad and proud. He's taken to wiping my kisses off his cheek, but he tries not to when I'm around. It's like torture, as I stick around watching him as long as possible. He just laughs and says, "Gaaaarrrhhh! Mom!!" His dimples showing as he can't help but smile. I adore him. (I'm also not allowed to kiss him on the head or anywhere else when his friends are around, but sometimes he'll come up to me when I'm volunteering in his classroom because he "just needs a hug").<br /><br />Aria is now taller than Skyler and is doing great in second grade. Her teacher just raves about what a great student she is (100s on nearly every paper and test) and how she's every teacher's dream! I laugh because, though mostly wonderful at home, she has an angry streak!! I'm sure glad she lets it out at home and not in the classroom ;) She has lots of friends and has a real flare for the dramatic. She was asked to be in the advanced dance class at D for Danze and does a great job. She also loves doing musicals and is very serious about her acting. The girl is invested and it shows on stage! Also, once a week, she mentions how desperately she wants brown hair and once a week, I rave about how gorgeous her almost white-blonde hair is! We dance in the kitchen and are fantastic shopping buddies :)<br /><br />Xander has lost his baby fat and is now a big boy! He reads like it's his job. He is currently on book 29 of The Magic Treehouse chapter book series. He's read every one except 12, because he claims that polar bears "bore" him. He loves to take his latest book to show and tell on Thursdays at preschool, where his teachers watch in awe as he reads to his classmates. He is interested in whatever Skyler is interested in: most recently BeyBlades, which are like Battle Tops. Xander is VERY particular about his foods. It's no small miracle that his body still functions properly. We do everything we can to introduce new foods, but he literally gags at the thought, and frankly, it's not worth the results (which we know from experience). So bring on the apples, red grapes, cereal, cheese, milk, pretzles, and any kind of cheddar-flavored carbohydrate. Mmmmm-mmmm! He is one minute the cutest, most cuddly guy you've ever seen, and the next, crazy cranky angry guy. We LOVE when cute, cuddly guy is around. He's just SO dang cute...and cuddly :)<br /><br />Updates on Shelby and me later, but we're doing really great. He takes good care of all of us :)Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-37548916259462433292011-08-26T21:28:00.000-07:002011-08-26T21:32:44.493-07:00Xanderism: Sense of SmellIn the grocery store parking lot:
<br />M (sniffing his nose playfully like a puppy)
<br />X: "What does my nose smell like?"
<br />M: "Like you...PERFECTION!"
<br />X: "I'm gonna sniff your nose."(starts sniffing)
<br />M: "What does <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> nose smell like?"
<br />X: (giggling) "Boogies!!"
<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-46952164029369893172011-06-07T20:45:00.000-07:002011-06-07T21:02:08.560-07:00Xanderism: What?Outside working in the garden. Xander by the tree swing. Just got back from seeing Megamind at the theater.<br /><br />X: "Mom! Mom! I found Jesus' weakness!!"<br /><br />M: "WHAT?!"<br /><br />X: "I did it! I found Jesus' weakness!!"<br /><br />M: "Oh, dear. What is it?"<br /><br />Xander runs over and shows me a small, orange, pie-shaped piece of broken plastic in the palm of his hand.<br /><br />M: "Wow, buddy. That's really cool, but I'm pretty sure Jesus doesn't have a weakness."<br /><br />X: "Mom, EVERYONE has a weakness."<br /><br />M: "Yes. Everyone, except Jesus."<br /><br />Xander walks off, confused. I'm thinking we need to be more careful about our superhero movies :)Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-65568869285286845432010-10-13T09:14:00.000-07:002010-10-13T10:30:08.312-07:00They're Playing our Song<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi7nsYR9I/AAAAAAAAAPc/4fLkSyyoPFY/s1600/40417_433224808392_606263392_4825002_1138144_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi7nsYR9I/AAAAAAAAAPc/4fLkSyyoPFY/s320/40417_433224808392_606263392_4825002_1138144_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527573631562434514" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi7yHwArI/AAAAAAAAAPk/6D6qyLtppd4/s1600/Business+cards.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi7yHwArI/AAAAAAAAAPk/6D6qyLtppd4/s320/Business+cards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527573634361590450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Shelby and I had the amazing opportunity to play Vernon and Sonia in Neil Simon's show, They're Playing our Song at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi8FvizeI/AAAAAAAAAPs/sjJQA6bfFVU/s1600/DSCF9772.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi8FvizeI/AAAAAAAAAPs/sjJQA6bfFVU/s320/DSCF9772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527573639628770786" border="0" /></a>Dennis directed it, Emily choreographed it, Piannie did the musical direction, Jacci Florence did costumes, with Andrea Scanlon on wigs, and Tara Payne was the assistant to the director.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi8QyYioI/AAAAAAAAAP0/k2jwbnSUbac/s1600/DSCF9792.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXi8QyYioI/AAAAAAAAAP0/k2jwbnSUbac/s320/DSCF9792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527573642593471106" border="0" /></a><br />What a ride! I've never had a role which demanded more from me both physically and emotionally. Shelby and I were onstage for the WHOLE show! Once in a while, I'd leave so he could sing a song, or he would while I did a song, but backstage we were racing to make fast costume changes and grab props.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmFm_EU8I/AAAAAAAAAP8/2ND_ssPPhSs/s1600/DSCF9798.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmFm_EU8I/AAAAAAAAAP8/2ND_ssPPhSs/s320/DSCF9798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527577101705958338" border="0" /></a> It was unbelievable. Our characters pretty much ran the gamut of human emotion and I sang in a completely different style than I am used to. What a learning experience!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmGAkBY_I/AAAAAAAAAQE/UYPCI6NERYE/s1600/DSCF9813.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmGAkBY_I/AAAAAAAAAQE/UYPCI6NERYE/s320/DSCF9813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527577108571841522" border="0" /></a><br />It was so much fun for us to do this show together, as well as with some of our very best friends; Ashley Davis, Andrea Scanlon, Emily Checketts, Jordanne Burgess, Dave Clegg, Brent Taft, and Quinn Kapetanov-a totally awesome and funny cast, who also happen to all be enormously talented!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmGox5IiI/AAAAAAAAAQM/YdKWl8w5R8w/s1600/DSCF9854.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmGox5IiI/AAAAAAAAAQM/YdKWl8w5R8w/s320/DSCF9854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527577119367438882" border="0" /></a>I will always have fond memories of drinking gatorade and eating vitamin sports beans to keep my energy up, and doing a show with some of my favorite people, but not really, because we never saw eachother during the show! I will cherish the memory of this show as the one that really stretched me the most.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmHBGWqzI/AAAAAAAAAQU/SR2loq1ns_k/s1600/DSCF9862.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmHBGWqzI/AAAAAAAAAQU/SR2loq1ns_k/s320/DSCF9862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527577125895711538" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmHs9l0aI/AAAAAAAAAQc/9vzE-KVdd3M/s1600/DSCF9903.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXmHs9l0aI/AAAAAAAAAQc/9vzE-KVdd3M/s320/DSCF9903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527577137670115746" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpd0C1KuI/AAAAAAAAAQk/sa8hnTobxOc/s1600/DSCF9955.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpd0C1KuI/AAAAAAAAAQk/sa8hnTobxOc/s320/DSCF9955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580816063146722" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpeGIXJBI/AAAAAAAAAQs/2rQ85teXq_8/s1600/DSCF9983.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpeGIXJBI/AAAAAAAAAQs/2rQ85teXq_8/s320/DSCF9983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580820918182930" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpeoKQWRI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/zR4SZlLhHNY/s1600/DSCF9993.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpeoKQWRI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/zR4SZlLhHNY/s320/DSCF9993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580830052931858" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpe7tmufI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/8QtE2SJBGJ8/s1600/ESCF0012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpe7tmufI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/8QtE2SJBGJ8/s320/ESCF0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580835301472754" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpfZkq2YI/AAAAAAAAARE/NNiFxtNkEEo/s1600/ESCF0036.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXpfZkq2YI/AAAAAAAAARE/NNiFxtNkEEo/s320/ESCF0036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527580843317057922" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXp4jFdWYI/AAAAAAAAARM/9BUpfjA2Bic/s1600/ESCF0045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXp4jFdWYI/AAAAAAAAARM/9BUpfjA2Bic/s320/ESCF0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527581275367233922" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXp49cph2I/AAAAAAAAARU/1jyr8Xcu4qw/s1600/ESCF0046.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TLXp49cph2I/AAAAAAAAARU/1jyr8Xcu4qw/s320/ESCF0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527581282443822946" border="0" /></a>A huge thank you to my family and friends who supported us, especially Cydney who did most of our babysitting, Barbara, who made that possible, and our kids, who think that parents doing shows together is completely normal. We love you!!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-38005958246993572912010-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:002010-10-13T08:55:12.119-07:00Re-Cap attempts for 2010Hey Y'alls! SO, let's just say, 2010 has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Things have been stressful and wonderful and everything in between. Through considerable effort on both our parts, we have finally, gratefully, begun to slow down. We have new resolve to not over-commit ourselves; a resolve we're not sure will last forever, but we are so relieved to have a tiny bit of room to breathe, that it just might.<br />I'll make an effort to summarize events for the year as I simply did not have the time or energy to do it until now! So, if you see summer-looking or spring-looking pictures in the fall or wintertime, that's the reason why!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-51687576543488531402010-10-13T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-13T08:30:34.007-07:00Ariaism: Strength of GeneticsDriving on our way to see The Scarlet Pimpernel at Terrace Plaza Playhouse. Girls' Night with Aria. Radio on.<br /><br />A, "...Mom?"<br /><br />M, "Yeah, babe?"<br /><br />A, "Are there any songs besides SHOW songs?"<br /><br />M, (giggling quietly), "Yes, honey. There are other songs besides show songs. "<br /><br />A, "Really?"<br /><br />M, "Yup! Sometimes people will just write a song, either to listen to on the radio, or to sell, or because they're feeling something they want to express through music. Some people write songs JUST to write songs!"<br /><br />A, "...Why?...WHY, when you could put it in a SHOW?!!"<br /><br />M, (laughing) "I know, honey. I soo know. I feel EXACTLY the same way :)"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-4116448938744293252010-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:002010-10-13T08:19:48.908-07:00Xanderism: What's in a name?Aria, filling out a form for school:<br /><br />A, "Aria Rose Ferrin."<br /><br />X, "Nooo! It's Aria LILY Ferrin!"<br /><br />D, "Well, Lily is a name Aria really likes, but ROSE is her middle name."<br /><br />X, "I have a next name too!"<br /><br />D, "Yes, you do! What's you're middle name?"<br /><br />X, "My next name is BERRY. STRAWBERRY. Xander STRAWBERRY Ferrin."Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-90509252594925960482010-10-10T19:26:00.000-07:002010-10-10T19:30:49.688-07:00Xanderism: Dreamin'Over breakfast:<br /><br />X, "I had a dream last night that I didn't have Mommy anymore."<br /><br />M, "Oh, honey! Wait, was it a bad dream or a good dream?"<br /><br />X, "It was a good dream!" (Me, slightly hurt....)<br /><br />D, "Xander, why did you not have Mommy anymore?"<br /><br />X, "Hmmm...maybe it's because I was a jelly sandwich!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-19942601946694569092010-10-10T19:15:00.000-07:002010-10-10T19:21:32.140-07:00Skylerism: Do your jobAfter a bit of a stressful evening....<br /><br />M,"Ok, kiddos, you have four minutes to get your pjs the rest of the way on, get your teeth brushed, go potty, and be in the boys' room for scripture and prayer."<br /><br />S, Matter-of-factly, "Or what?!"<br /><br />M, "Orrr...Daddy will eat you."<br /><br />S, "No really. Or what?!"<br /><br />D, "Or you go one day without electronics."<br /><br />S, "That's the spirit!...The spirit of punishment!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-72779332316414867932010-09-27T17:41:00.000-07:002010-09-27T17:55:37.855-07:00Skylerism : Social SaavySo last night after dinner we had a mini social skills lesson. We taught the kids about how we can show our friends that we care and are listening to them by using our body language and by asking questions about things their friends are talking about. We role-played different scenarios and then involved them in our role-playing so they could practice.<br />This morning, the cute third grade girl we carpool with was telling Skyler about the movie she went to see with her family.<br /><br />"We went to see this really dumb movie called Twilight. We wanted to see Toy Story, but it had already started. I mean it was already like twenty minutes into it, so we had to see something else, so we saw Twilight. There was this ugly guy named Edward and he had weird hairs on his chest and it was just disgusting. And Bella was totally in love with him, which was gross, especially because there was this other guy who was really cute and his name was Jacob. He was seriously like way cuter and Edward was like, "Oh, I love you, Bella!" Anyway, it was just a really dumb movie."<br /><br />M, "Skyler, are there any questions you might like to ask about her trip to the movie?"<br /><br />S,"....Nope. I think I have <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> the information I need."Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-70053612602149384352010-09-22T11:12:00.000-07:002010-09-22T11:21:30.501-07:00Show damage<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Soooo</span>, did any of you see our most recent show, They're Playing our Song? Our daughter did. She knew the script well...too well.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpIQRsGe-I/AAAAAAAAAPM/0PECQslPKeM/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpIQRsGe-I/AAAAAAAAAPM/0PECQslPKeM/s320/IMG_0757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519803737759448034" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpIerc6GxI/AAAAAAAAAPU/grbFvMD_lzU/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpIerc6GxI/AAAAAAAAAPU/grbFvMD_lzU/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519803985193212690" border="0" /></a><br />Maybe we should stop doing shows for a while....Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-59430502239757106032010-09-22T10:52:00.000-07:002010-09-22T11:09:01.587-07:00Fly-ie, day #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpF6uaaOZI/AAAAAAAAAO8/WtttG7UXzj0/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpF6uaaOZI/AAAAAAAAAO8/WtttG7UXzj0/s320/IMG_0762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519801168489494930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpF6P6J_lI/AAAAAAAAAO0/9I5LE2wu0l4/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJpF6P6J_lI/AAAAAAAAAO0/9I5LE2wu0l4/s320/IMG_0761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519801160301149778" border="0" /></a><br />Fly-ie yet lives. He joined Xander and me in the kitchen today during snack time. I suppose I'm glad he's here. He kept X entertained for quite a while while I did dishes. "Fly-ie's on my hair!" and "Fly-ie's on my neck!" He giggled with delight each time Fly-ie changed locations. I actually panicked a little when Fly-ie almost escaped on a routine trip to take the garbage out. Whew! THAT was close.Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-50880172653991283062010-09-21T21:07:00.000-07:002010-09-21T22:19:57.407-07:00Lord of the Flies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJmRs3y9dnI/AAAAAAAAAOs/lvZal49nmaA/s1600/housefly.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 247px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/TJmRs3y9dnI/AAAAAAAAAOs/lvZal49nmaA/s320/housefly.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519603018397218418" border="0" /></a><br />Today the children became quickly enamored with a housefly that they spotted during dinnertime. We were having chicken noodle soup sans the chicken...which is a whole other story.... and they spotted the rather bumbly fly buzzing behind the blinds of the window directly overlooking our dinnertable. Xander claimed him as a pet and immediately named him "Fly-ie." Aria instantly decided that she wanted to name the fly "Beautiful Fly", which upset Xander to no end. I found myself explaining to Aria that Xander had dibs on naming the fly and that our new "pet's" name stood as Fly-ie. I also found myself wondering if I ought to be committed. I was then conned into cleaning up some spiderwebs on the blinds because the kids were so seriously and incredibly worried that a spider would eat Fly-ie that they couldn't focus on eating their dinner. They were literally standing on their chairs everytime Fly-ie bumbled remotely close to the web, hollering and holding their fingers to their lips in fear. Once or twice he snagged a wing on the web, which led to further freaking out and begging me to free him. He wrassled his way out upon which victories my children would cheer loudly. Skyler spotted the spider and suggested that I stab a sharp knife down the crevice to take care of Fly-ie's predator once and for all; a suggestion that made some sense, except that at this point, nothing made sense and I was not about to spider-yucky-up one of my good steak knives. I told Skyler that maybe if the fl- I mean, Fly-ie smartened up a bit and stopped paying the spiderweb visits, we could all just go back to our dinner and not worry about it. He looked at me, frustrated and upset, as if I were some heartless fool and explained as patiently as he could muster, "Mom. Flies only have a memory of about three seconds. He can't help it."<br />So...for now, Fly-ie lives, lucky thing. Mom:0, Kids:1Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-13006466117552910882010-07-09T21:23:00.000-07:002010-07-09T21:33:54.530-07:00Lake FearWe are, for the first time ever, taking our kids swimming in something that does not contain chlorine. We have planned a trip to Bear Lake next weekend. The kids are beside themselves with excitement about going to "the beach." Though we have explained that it is in fact, Bear LAKE and not Bear OCEAN, they are as excited and bewildered with anticipation as they would be if we were actually going to the Pacific coast. When the reality of our vacation hit, however, they suddenly became very cautious.<br /><br />S: "Are there SHARKS in Bear Lake?"<br /><br />M: "No, honey, there are no sharks."<br /><br />A: "Jellyfish? What about Jellyfish?!" (the fear shining behind her eyes)<br /><br />M: "No, babe. No Jellyfish either. Don't worry! You guys are going to be fine."<br /><br />S: "Piranhas? Are there any piranhas in the lake?!"<br /><br />M: (laughing) "No! There are none of those things in Bear Lake. It's a LAKE!"<br /><br />S: "....How about electric eels?"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-61127449717046040342010-07-09T16:19:00.000-07:002010-07-09T16:19:00.267-07:00Xanderism: MusicX, plunking on our new piano: "Look, Daddy! There's <span style="font-style: italic;">music</span> in that piano!!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-12275053077562387672010-07-08T16:01:00.000-07:002010-07-08T16:19:36.585-07:00Skylerism: TornadoI'm making lunch and Skyler comes into the kitchen from doing his outside chores.<br /><br />S: "Mom, do you think it's possible that there's ever been a tornado in the history of America?"<br /><br />M: "Yes, Skyler, there have been tornadoes in America. I'm sure of it."<br /><br />S: "Oh. Well, I know that you can't go around looking for your favorite things to save and take with you, you have to just go down under."<br /><br />M: "True. Very true. I'm glad you know that."<br /><br />S: "But if you have your favorite things already in your hands, then it's okay to just take them with you. You don't have to put them back first."<br /><br />M: "Yes. You're right. You can take them with you."<br /><br />S: "But be careful, because you'll be running so fast that you might drop them, and if you drop them, you can't stop to pick them up. You have to just keep going down under."<br /><br />M: "Right. That's very smart."<br /><br />S: "K. Thanks, Mom. I love you."<br /><br />M: "Love you too, Bud."Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-26693396152247526732010-05-26T10:17:00.000-07:002010-05-26T10:27:11.201-07:00Xanderism: step aside, Jane FondaDriving home from making a D.I. donation:<br /><br />X: "Mommy, do you want to see my new exercise?! It's really great! Do you want to see it?"<br /><br />M: "Sure, babe."<br /><br />X: "Are you looking?! Watch!"<br /><br />M: "Ok, I'm watching!"<br /><br />X: (curling his two pointer fingers up in front of his face) "Here it is! Watch!...."(SHOVES his fingers into his nostrils).<br /><br />M: (dumbfounded) "THAT's your exercise?"<br /><br />X: "Yeah!"<br /><br />M: "Are you getting a good work-out?"<br /><br />X: "Oh yeah, Momma!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-73165951278720830002010-05-26T10:12:00.000-07:002010-05-26T10:14:05.137-07:00Xanderism: smartX: "Mom, I wrote my name. See?!"<br /><br />M: "Oh honey! That's wonderful! Who's a smart boy?"<br /><br />X: "Grandpa."Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-8492244876208871022010-05-17T08:52:00.000-07:002010-05-17T08:52:00.173-07:00Ariaism: weighty mattersM: "Aria! It says on this Mothers' Day form card you made me that you think I weigh thirty pounds!"<br /><br />A: "I didn't know for sure how much you weigh so I just made my best guess. Am I close?!"<br /><br />M: "Yes! You're VERY close!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-1293511081870605592010-05-16T08:46:00.000-07:002010-05-16T08:52:08.077-07:00Xanderism: breadRiding home from Great Harvest Breads, eating our complimentary slices; mine with honey, his with butter.<br /><br />X: "Mommy, yours has honey and mine has butter! I like honey:)!"<br /><br />M: "I like honey too. I also like butter! But do you know why I like honey? It's because <span style="font-style: italic;">you're</span> my honey!"<br /><br />X: "Yeah, and Mommy?! You're my butter!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-91194249053801692682010-02-22T08:07:00.000-08:002010-02-22T08:10:59.145-08:00Naughty KittyNaughty kitties in our family get the same consequences as naughty children.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/S4KsT0wRCOI/AAAAAAAAAN4/HslPpI55wJA/s1600-h/Toffee+Time-out.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/S4KsT0wRCOI/AAAAAAAAAN4/HslPpI55wJA/s320/Toffee+Time-out.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441100756395559138" border="0" /></a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-7173344538815673272010-01-16T15:30:00.000-08:002010-01-16T16:14:37.237-08:00Happy Birthday, Xander!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/S1JWSO_UcsI/AAAAAAAAANw/IFFc4RvTy4E/s1600-h/P1030398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LvyCrZUwZmU/S1JWSO_UcsI/AAAAAAAAANw/IFFc4RvTy4E/s320/P1030398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427495372196180674" border="0" /></a><br />Today, my baby turns three! Xander is SO funny and we love him, love him, love him-so much it drives us crazy! So even though I can no longer go to the library, or the store, or anywhere easily because of his "energy", I simply don't care! I LOVE that boy :) Happy birthday, sweet little bear. You light up my life!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-62871460374118216702010-01-16T15:21:00.000-08:002010-01-16T15:29:48.156-08:00Ariaism: bedside mannerI'm getting my tonsils out on Monday. I am pretending to be very excited, hoping it will cure some of my sense of doom. My sweet, sweet Aria, sensing my nervousness, is trying very hard to soothe my anxiety. Her intentions are good, but her delivery needs work.<br /><br />A: "Mom, don't worry, because when you get your tonsils PULLED OUT, at least people will bring you things like ice cream!"<br /><br />or<br /><br />A: "Mom, I know your scared about having your surgery, but when you get your tonsils CUT OUT, you can just think about us and how much we love you!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410950702597922437.post-11540251958157645992010-01-16T15:11:00.000-08:002010-01-16T15:19:00.009-08:00Skylerism: cautionX: (looking under his bed nervously, as our frisky cat, Toffee, guards the area) "My ball! I want my ball! But, I can't because Toffee will get me!"<br /><br />M: "Be careful, bud."<br /><br />S: "Yeah, because Toffee IS a carnivore!"Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860267934092889803noreply@blogger.com0