The week in pictures

Steaming cookies at that :)

Have you licked your snowman today?



Umm, what did you say the weight limit is on these things?


I'm done with this Dad.

Scurvy Pirate

If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the highway, that's the best.

GQ Fireman

This is the life

Tonight we turned on the gas fireplace after the kids were out of the bath and came downstairs to have a snack before bedtime. Parker requested bread and butter and went and sat with Greg by the fire. Parker then lounged back and said happily "There is nothing better than this (pointing to the buttered bread) and that (pointing to the fireplace.)

Ahhhh...the content life of an almost 5 year old. :)

Zombie Zoo

After the evening bed time story:

Parker: Dad, all of my teachers at school are turning into Zombies

Greg: Parker, there is no such thing as a Zombie. Zombies aren't real.

Parker: What are Zombies? What do they look like?



The other day, catching Meadow in a mood:

Mom: I love you Meadow

Meadow: Don't say that Mom.

Mom: Why Not!? I do love you.

Meadow: Mom! Talk nice!

The Snowy Day

Everyone should try this at least once :)

This is my Dad's favorite thing ever next to Coca Cola Classic. I Love it too. I think you will if you like fruit and cream and tart and sweet all rolled together in one little bowl!

Raspberries
Evaporated Milk
2-3 T sugar or to taste

Mmmmm!

Silly Willies

"Mom, will you take a picture of General Grievous?"

"I'm a monster, raaaaaah!"

Where Parker's underwear landed when he thew them over the upstairs balcony. Thankfully there were not out of reach of the broom from the stairs and they did not catch on fire :)

Nothing like a good cousin!

Clone Troopers

"The planet Naboo."

2 1/2 going on 13

Today I caught a glimpse of the future when Meadow walked past me brushing her pig tails and chewing juicy fruit gum while she practiced saying the phrase "oh my gosh."

Assembling the Jib

The new "toy/filming necessity." The kids had a great time helping Greg assemble the new jib for the camera. They also had fun pretending to film after it was finished (Sans camera of course.) Greg tried to teach Parker to follow him with the jib by moving it side to side while he ran back and forth across the yard. I wonder what the neighbors were thinking :)

Yummy chewy chocolate cookie

1/2 c shortening
1 2/3 c sugar
2 T vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 c cocoa
2 1/4 c flour
2 T baking powder
1/3 c milk
1/2 tsp salt

Roll balls into powdered sugar and bake 10 min. at 350. Usually look not quite done in the center but take them out anyway because they firm up a bit.

New Years Eve/Day Traditions

Here's a poll for everyone: Did you have any fun New Year's Eve/Day traditions in your family growing up or currently and what are they? This is besides of course the traditional goal setting and starting of the new fitness regime :)

I do have one small one that I can share that I started sort of on accident when Parker was 2. We'll call them "Love letters to the Children." They don't have to be only once a year of course but I always do try to write one for each child at the end of each year (and more often during the year whenever the mood strikes) telling them how much we love them and what we are proud of them for. Also their accomplishments, character traits, their likes and dislikes, favorites things, and little quirks and stories. The goal is to have a little binder for each child when they go off to college, mission, married etc. Journal entries also work great for this of course! I remember when I was 16 or 17 my mom read to me from her journal things she had written about us when we were babies and it was so fun to hear and it helped me feel grounded and gave me a peek back into my childhood and helped me learn a bit more about myself. I also remember wanting to hear more, so that is the inspiration behind this little tradition. Thanks Mom! :)

Also If anything were ever to happen to me/us they would have a special record to look back on and remember that their parents were over the moon for them!