7.5

I think I heard the "new post" button let out a little sigh of relief when I clicked it. It must have been thinking it would soon be out of a job for all the use its been getting lately.

You haven't heard from me in a while because we've been busy. And lazy.

Mostly lazy.

Hmmm. Where to start?...

Ethan

Ethan is thinking he might like to be a chef. He is helping out in the kitchen more and more. He and I like to watch Chopped together. He is certain he could do better than the professionals with the ostrich egg if he were on the show. Because it is just an egg, you know. Gotta love that 2-grade overconfidence!

To pass time while he waits for a call from the Food Network, Ethan is playing basketball. By playing I mean trying to look up while dribbling. That's our number one goal. Baby steps.

He is also trying to reach the goal of reading 100 books. A trip to the Great Wolf Lodge will be his reward. To tell you the truth its not going as well as I hoped. Don't get me wrong, he's a great reader. His slowness has more to do with his announcement to me the other day that, "reading just isn't my thing, Mom" than his ability. I have faith when he finds the right book he'll be hooked. I think How to Train Your Dragon is the closest we've come to finding it so far. I'm open to suggestions.

(A really poor shot, but ironic that it has the book in it.)

This week Ethan starts piano lessons. He has been asking to learn for weeks now. Did I mention we got a nice, used piano for Christmas? Oh yah, I haven't posted on anything these days. Sorry.

Anyway, he was to start lessons last week, but lessons are canceled on snow days. And apparently 2 inches warrants a snow day. That still baffles this Utah girl who trudged to school, uphill, in 2 feet of snow when I was his age...both ways.

And lastly, it was recently brought to my attention that Ethan and spaghetti are no longer friends. In fact, Ethan has declared spaghetti to be his nemesis. I would have laughed out loud if I wasn't so annoyed about him not eating his dinner at the time. It's too bad, really. Ethan is so cute when he eats spaghetti. Or at least he was...

That's him in a nutshell. I love him very very very much, but pray for the day he figures out he doesn't actually know more than I do. Now that will be a good day.

So. Adelaide?

Tomorrow.

Merry Christmas

We did manage to send out a small handful of Christmas cards which may, or may not have made in time. If it didn't make it then here is a belated Christmas wish from our family to yours. We hope you had a very, merry Christmas. We sure did.

One Thing Down--1000 More to Go

Yes, it's a cheap loveseat from Ikea. But one we paid good money for nonetheless. So when it got dirty during all the renovating (not to mention an accident from a then potty-training, little girl I know) I thought I had the time to do this:

Actual color: caramel. We really need a new camera.

I've never recovered anything before. I figured being put-together, Ikea furniture this would be a good place to start. I really thought I had the time to do it. Then life got busy and this thing was strewn across my house for nearly two weeks--just in time for the RS president to make an impromptu visit.

It's done now. I've gotten over the embarrassing visit. And the threads on every floor surface--including the bathroom--have been cleaned up. So life can get back to normal.

Plus, now Ethan has a good place in his room to read.

More likely it will be the new video game spot.

That's Twice

Yesterday we made a mad dash for church knowing we needed to be a little early with the Sacrament bread. It was only when we found the parking lot near empty that it occurred to us...

If you're thinking this sounds a bit familiar, well, you'd be right. Click here to refresh your memory.

We're moving to Arizona where this will never happen again.

31st

Once I outgrew trick-or-treating I never thought much of Halloween...until these two little munchkins came along:

Although I am a little disappointed they didn't bring home more chocolate for me this year. I have no use for Skittles and Laffy Taffy.

Ethan's nod to Harry Potter. He honestly thought people would not recognize him because of the glasses and black hair (which is not washing out very well for family pictures tomorrow).

Adelaide refused to be Hermione. A pink princess is all she wanted to be. A pretty, pink princess to be more specific.

Even Randal was not able to escape. That's what he gets for being married to a member of the ward activities committee who needed a skeleton for a game.

Here's hoping you all had a happy Halloween!

PS--Why didn't the skeleton cross the road?





Because he didn't have the guts!

Naked

Last spring a tree in our front yard died. A tall tree. A very tall tree.

Its death sparked a 6-month, marital debate. Randal, itching to use his new chain saw, wanted to cut the tree down himself. I didn't want it falling on my house. Hence the debate.

I called professional tree cutters for quotes.

Randal called in the neighbor for reinforcement.

Randal won.

He and Glen did a great job. The house is fine. The street lamp, however--not so much. We were going to replace it anyway.

They didn't stop with just the one. Five others came down too.

Now we're left feeling a little bare and vulnerable around here.

I'd be sadder at the loss than I am if it weren't for all the d@*# leaves we have to rake right now. I kinda wish they'd cut them all down.

Back in Business

Many of you have posted 1st day of school pictures.

Well, these are 4th day of school pictures.

Dead batteries in the camera.

That's just how we roll around here...late.

Preschool

2nd Grade

My sentimental heart is still trying to get used to seeing both kids go off to school.

And I'm sure those of you in Utah/Idaho with whom we spent most of August are wondering where's the post. It's coming. I'm just trying to figure out how to wrap a month I wished would never end with the right words. Soon. Very soon.