Spinach Anyone?

So my Dad has been on this health kick for about the past 60-some odd years (allegedly he wore the first all-organic cotton diapers!) and has recently become pretty passionate about this blender called Blendtec. It's pretty crazy what this blender can do (type "will it blend" in the search engine on the youtube.com website and you'll see some insane things. We're talking ipods, iphones, baseballs - you know 'cause who doesn't like baseball soup?). For those of you who are VitaMixers, it's sorta like that, only about 172,456 times better. My dad is a big advocate of these blenders and like to make spinach smoothies (since it is more abundant than baseballs and lacks the certain leather aftertaste) every morning and thinks he could live to be older than Adam if he finds the right proportions of ingredients. We've been trying it on the kids (Phillip knows them as "ice cream drinks"-- somewhat catchier than "those smoothies with the spinach in them that keeps Grandpa regular") with decent success.

Falling off the face of the earth

I can't believe how long it's been since my last post. Time is going by way too fast. Before I know it I'll be planning Sophie's wedding and shipping Phillip off on his mission. I think this blog is a good way for me to sit down and review and reflect on my life and goings on and enjoy them a little bit more, now if I would only just do that....

It's hard to believe it's been a month since I went out to Utah to visit my brand new niece:

That is Livvy Jane Haroldsen. Isn't she cute? I do have a bone to pick with my sister though. She is not allowed to look cuter than me after just giving birth. Some people....

It was a lot of fun being with my mom and dad and sister and her family. She has such a great family. I loved getting to be the fun aunt that plays with them and does their hair and tucks them in and does all the fun things I don't usually get to do when I'm juggling my own kiddos.

I almost felt guilty for leaving my kids for close to a week, but knew they were in good hands. A little frazzled hands after 1 week, but still good ones. It was like an out of body experience getting to board the plane with only my purse as my carry-on instead of the usual arsenal of coloring books, crayons, diapers, wipes, snacks, electronics, etc., etc. I actually got to read the magazine I bought for myself from cover to cover and I did the crossword puzzle. Not only that, but there was no spilled chocolate milk on it, or me throughout the entire flight. Who knew flying could be so enjoyable?

We also celebrated Maddie's birthday earlier this month (December 10). I can't believe she is 9 years old now!

We have a tradition of waking up the birthday boy or girl with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday to you" as we bring them breakfast in bed. We out did ourselves this year by making a tower of pancakes with a yummy strawberry sauce surrounded by whipped cream. As you can tell, Maddie thoroughly enjoyed it. O.K. so maybe you can't tell by the look on her face in this picture, but trust me.

You gotta love the dollar store.

What can I say about you, Maddie? I love you to pieces. You are a great kid. You have been sweet since the day you were born. You have always been a pretty mellow kid. You have recently become very interested in crafting and more specifically sewing. You love to use my sewing machine and make your own creations. You got a big bed for your birthday this year and you have started to make your bed and clean up your room WITHOUT EVEN BEING ASKED. Why didn't we get you a queen-sized bed when you were 2? You are also very sweet to frequently let your younger brother, Ryan sleep in your room with you. He still doesn't like to sleep in his own room and you are very sweet to let him be with you. We're so lucky to have you in our family! Thanks for being you. We love you, babe!

Catharsis

While you would be safe to NOT call me a neat freak, I'm no pack rat either. Just recently I went through the whole house and unloaded anything and everything that we no longer use or that has been in my "well this might come in handy someday" pile. I cannot tell you the rush that I got filling these bags and freeing myself and my home from all of this "stuff". This is merely a sampling of the bags that we took to goodwill. Now, if Dave would just let me go through his college books and CD's.....

Ah, Fall!!!

There's nothing quite like playing in a pile of leaves in the fall. Of course I can say this because I'm not the one who raked them all up only to see them re-scattered all over the lawn. I got to enjoy the whole process while sipping hot chocolate from the comfort of my heated home. Dave might not be so enchanted.

Alarming Trends

So, the stock market has been going haywire, until recently gas prices have been through the roof, banks are in trouble, and as a whole the economy is in jeopardy. But I think that this is the most alarming trend of all:Lately when we put Phillip down for a nap or to bed at night, we'll go in later to check on him and find him completely buck naked. No diaper, nothin'. Very alarming in deed!!!! We're hoping the colder weather might deter him in the near future. He must get this from his dad....

Happy Halloween

O.k. so I know it's the middle of November, and I'm a little late here, but I figured I'd finally get around to posting some Halloween pics. We went as the Scooby Doo gang this year.

Scooby Doo (a.k.a Phillip) - "Ruh Ro"

Shaggy (a.k.a. Ryan) - "Zoinks"

Velma (a.k.a. Maddie) - "Jinkies"

And of course what would the Scooby Doo gang be without their villain? Here's the most menacing Candy Corn Witch I've ever seen (a.k.a. Sophie)

Here's one of all of us at the Halloween party at church. Dave went as "Fred" and I'm "Daphne".

A Touch of Fall

Got to visit with Gramma Joan and Papa Doug this weekend. We took a ferry ride over to Illinois to pick out some pumpkins. The pumpkin patches over there were WAY more reasonable than the one we visited last weekend where they practically charge you to look at their pumpkins. The weather was amazing and it was great to be with family.

Here we are on the ferry ride. It was so scenic and pretty.

Pickin' out pumpkins

Carvin' pumpkins

Even though they're all dressed up for church, Ryan still has a flare for the festive

(look at his socks)