Oh Say Can You Seeeeeeeeeeeee

Ever since the kids' Veteran's Day assembly (7 excrucuating days ago) they have been bound and determined to learn "The Star Spangled Banner".

At first it was sweet.  I would sing a line and they would try it out.  Then as they felt confident (though maybe falsely) in their lyrics, they would beg to sing it alone.  Which went a little something like this

Abby: oh see can you seeeeee

Both: by the dawns early 

Abby: Ben.  Every time you sing with me I am going to start over.  Oh see can you

Both: seeeeeeeee

Abby:  Ben!!!!  Oh see can you....

This went on for a long time .  Like days.

So now we have most of the words.... Or at least the general gist.   "And the rocekts red blare the bombs bursting through air through and through the night somethingthatistillcan'tunderstand still there."

And this goes on like a track on repeat.  Every. Single. Car ride.   For the past 7 days.

Long story short?  I'm really starting to miss Taylor Swift.

Outtakes

I have taken over 8,000 photos so far this year.  And it's not even the holidays yet!!!  I think I might have a problem.  Maybe.

 

Most of the time I just take pictures of the things we are doing, but every once in awhile, I just want a good picture of my kids.  This time, I was aiming for a Christmas card.

 

 

My kids are goofy and crazy on a good day and pictures are no exception so you can probably imagine that it doesn't bring out the best of my parenting skills.  I might have threatened that for every time they didn't listen I would pick one toy to give away.  I know.  Terrible.  But seriously.  Why spend all day doing something that could be done in 5 minutes??

 

Without further ado, I give you some pictures that will most likely not be showing up in your mailbox next month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (This one is probably my fave.  It is so telling of both of their personalities...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They kept begging to do a funny picture and at the end when I finally gave them the go ahead,without skipping a beat, this is what I got:

 

Something tells me there was a little conspiracy behind that.

 

I will keep these pictures forever as a reminder of how much fun my kids are and how much they love each other.  And boy, oh boy do I love those goofballs!

 

 

And for the record, they were great.  And I didn't get to give away any toys...

Happy Birthday, McKenna!

Yesterday was the day that Abby has been waiting for.  McKenna's birthday!  As you may remember, McKenna is Abby's American Girl.  And as far as I can tell, she must have arrived on our doorstep last year on November 12th because Abby has had that in her head as McKenna's birthday.  So yesterday, with an extra day in our weekend, we celebrated.

 

The preparations began early with cupcake baking.  McKenna helped.  (I had the best picture of Abby helping McKenna pour the cake mix into the bowl but somehow it didn't make it onto the computer and of course yesterday was the day I finally emptied the memory card...)

 

 

But here is a picture of McKenna holding the special star sprinkles for her cupcake.  Could her Momma be any happier?

 

The kids spent the morning decorating cupcakes

 

 

 and decorating the house

 so that by the time my mom showed up (oh yes, there were guests) we were ready to jump right into presents.

 

Now keep in mind that Abby picked out all of McKenna's presents in August when we went to the American Girl Doll store.  And she wrapped all of them the day before.  But each present was like an exciting surprise as she opened it.

 

 

 

 

 After presents, it was time for lunch.  McKenna wanted peanut butter and honey, which was fine by me.  Lunch was followed by singing and cake.

 

We had a great day celebrating McKenna's birthday.  I'm afraid that my little party planner already has something in the works for November 12, 2014.

 

Happy Birthday, McKenna!!

 

 

Witches and Ninjas and Candy, Oh My!

Yeah, I know I'm kinda late.  But here are the details of our very exciting Halloween.

 

 

The kids woke up to their spooky breakfast of ghosts (frosting covered bananas and string cheese with faces) and ghost poop (mini marshmallows).  Terrible, I know but I figure the day is kind of shot, nutrition wise  so we may as well have a little fun!

 

 

 

 

I had a dentist appointment first thing in the morning...because there is only one thing less appealing than going to the dentist on Halloween...and that is teaching kindergarten on Halloween.  Robbie was home too so after that we (and by we I mean Santa) did a little bit of shopping.  Don't look at me like that.  I like to plan ahead.

 

We got to spend the afternoon at the kids' school in their Halloween parties.  We tag teamed from one class to the other.  It is such a different and relaxing experience to be in the classroom as a parent.

 

 

Then it was home for dinner of brains, eyeballs and blood.  Otherwise known as spaghetti and meatballs.

 

 

 

After dinner it was into costumes and trick or treating with friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 One trip around the neighborhood left us with enough candy to ensure Type II Diabetes for the entire family...

 

 

The kids had a blast and I sure loved spending the day with them (and eating their candy after they went to bed!)