Today is the day...

...that AJ has been waiting for for months now. Seriously. We leave for vacation today! We are so excited. So when the blog is quiet for a week (like it's been so active lately anyway), you will not worry, but pray we are having a safe, relaxing, and much needed break from the real world.

By the way, while packing up yesterday, AJ packed up his little backpack with some toys then wore it around all day. He was ready!

Have a great week!

Sad Day...

Today our neighbors and good friends are moving away. I am sad to see my friend, Amy, go. But I think it's more sad to see Andrew lose his best friend, Gabe, who was his classmate and playmate everyday for the past year. I pray they get themselves established in their new home quickly and comfortably. They will be missed.

My Generation Grew Up on Michael...

I wonder if several years from now, people will sit around and ask each other where they were when they heard that Michael Jackson died. I know he got a little strange recently and I know I mostly now listen to conservative Christian music....

but c'mon... it's Michael!

I distinctly remember being at my Grandma's house (the coolest house e.v.e.r) and sitting upstairs in my cousin Lyndi's room.... who I just about idolized. We listened to a Michael Jackson record. And if Lyndi liked it, then so did I.

I also remember watching the Thriller video at an entirely too young age (I might have even sneaked downstairs to watch it) and then being terrified for several days after that my floor was going to burst right open at any given moment and zombies were going to climb out.

Billy Jean, Thriller, Smooth Criminal, the MoonWalk and so much more. A very surprising and sad day for fans of the King of Pop.

"This is the moment when Generation X realizes they’re grown up"

Quote by Gary Giovannetti

Very.Busy.Week.

• I am babysitting my other boys three days this week.
• I am trying to get everything bought and packed for our vacation since we leave this Saturday morning.
• We are trying to spend as much time as possible with our neighbors (Andrew's BFF) who is moving out of town this weekend. (*sniff*)
• And Marc is working his tale off.

That's my excuse for lack of blog content and housework around here.... although I did sneak the boys to the Gardens for a super quick trip to the Great Lakes yesterday afternoon.

Stinky.

Andrew has picked up enough of his surroundings to ask now and then about smoking. And, of course, we tell him how bad it is and all the negative things about smoking.

So the other day as we were coming out of the grocery store and we see a truck driving by with the driver holding a cigarette out of the window.

Andrew yells: Look Mom! There's a cigaretter cigaretting!

Happy Father's Day!

Nothing but the best wrapping for my hubby, who's a GREAT father!

In case you're wondering, it's a battery charger with rechargable batteries, and his two watches (that have been dead for a while) with new batteries in it.

These boys need an education!

This evening we ran a few errands and picked up a few things we needed to get for our vacation. On the way home, Marc asked the boys if they would like to watch "Space Jam" when they get home. They have never seen it and was asking about it. Marc told them it was a basketball movie with Bugs Bunny.

Boys: "Whose Bugs Bunny?"

WHAT??!!

Marc then went on to say that Micheal Jordan is in it.

Boys: "Who's Micheal Jordan?"

WHAT??!!

My how he's grown...

...or just keeping up the pace. My son, my five year old who out-eats me almost every meal, went to the doctor today for his 5 year checkup. He got the big thumbs up.

He is 52.6 lbs and 4 ft tall. The average height and weight of a seven year old. A SEVEN YEAR OLD! He was the average height and weight of a five year old when he was three... so I guess he's consistent. BMI = 16, BP = 88/48, Hearing = Normal, Vision = 20/30 in both eyes.

I asked about the eyes and they said that it is still considered normal and almost every child they test with pictures (they didn't do a letter chart) comes up 20/30, so they actually think it just might be the chart itself. They don't even consider recommending a visit to an optometrist until it's 20/40.

I thought he was going to have to have 5 separate shots. That's what they told me last year and I thought I even confirmed it when I scheduled this appt. However, when I got there, we were told there were only 4 shots that he needed. Later in the appt., I asked what the shots were and found out that one was his second Chicken Pox booster. The poor kid actually got chicken pox in the winter of '07. I had called them, but there records weren't updated. That knocked another poke off the list.

Then they brought in two nurses, so that at least two of the shots would be simultaneous. I held his hands and his eyes got huge after the first round. He was able to hold back tears until the third shot was completed. However, he quickly recovered when they brought out a special toy box that they save for kids in just this situation. So he got to pick out a little toy (that everyone gets), plus a 'bigger' toy. I then treated him to a milkshake afterward... because I remember my mom treating me to milkshakes after my dr. appts.

We kept tonight low key. First of all, because it's raining and not much we can do outside. But mostly, because we didn't know how the shots were going to treat Andrew. In the past, Andrew has reacted to the slightest change in his system with a high fever. That's just how he rolls. I even went to the store this morning to buy some Children's Tylenol for him. But so far, so good. We grilled hotdogs tonight (where he out-ate me again) and watched W.A.L.L.E.

Now the boys are in bed and Marc and I are listening to an awesome storm roll through... just waiting for the big boom that sends those boys scurrying back downstairs. It's been a busy and stressful week. We also ended week 2 of Bible School today. Hopefully tomorrow is a nice laid back, do a whole lot of nothing day. Have a great weekend.

That ain't new, baby!

I know this is old... but I still think it's hilarious and I laugh e.v.e.r.y time.

Have a great week.

Book Report: Uglies

Again, upon the recommendation of Amie, this afternoon I finished "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld. It's part of a series and I can't wait to get my hands upon the next book. In fact, immediately after I finished it, I put the Book II on hold from the library, but highly considered heading to the bookstore just to buy it. If it doesn't come in by vacation, I just my do that anyway.

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action and adventure, enough sci-fi to keep it interesting but not overwhelming, and I really loved the characters. Westerfeld does a great job with description... I feel like I can truly picture each 'scene'.

I may hold off reviewing the each additional book in the series (4 books)until read the whole lot.... (insert sarcastic voice here) since my reviews are usually so completely thorough anyway.

"Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?"

This week went where?

I haven't forgotten that I have a blog. Really, I haven't. This week has flown by. I'll sum it up in bullet points (boring, I know).

• Saturday, Andrew had his friend/neighbor over for a sleepover. His buddy will be moving out of town here in a few weeks, so we are trying to make the most of it while he's still here.
• Sunday, we all (friend included) went to church in the morning. Then during nap time for the boys, I went out with a friend for coffee and a movie back at her place (the first Night at the Museum). That evening, Andrew went out on the boat with Marc and Ryan.
• Monday started a week of VBS in the mornings for Andrew (and neighbor friend). So our mornings have been busy. I drop the boys off, then take advantage of having only AJ and run errands, go grocery shopping, etc...
• Tuesday evening, we had our neighbor watch the boys while Marc and I had a date night. We really only window shopped for a while before having a nice dinner... just the two of us.
• Wednesday evening we headed out on the boat with friends and played until the sun went down. Surprisingly, we got back in the car that evening to find out the sun doesn't go down until almost 10pm. Ooops. Late night for the kiddos.
• Thursday and today, I am watching my other boys also. And we had dinner with their parents last night. I also had to watch the episodes of So You Think You Can Dance from this week, while Marc was off watching the NBA Finals.
• I'm not sure what we have planned for tonight. It's a beautiful day (it rained most of the day yesterday) but truthfully, I am kinda hoping for a quiet evening at home. Maybe a walk or something simple. I've already got pizza dough in the works.

A fun week, but not an exciting post. Have a great weekend.

Book Report: Ender's Game

Upon the recommendation of my Cuz and his Mrs., I recently finished reading the "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. I'm thankful that he mentioned to disregard the cover art, because I would have never ever picked this book off a shelf.

That being said, I'm thankful that I took his recommendation and read the book. It was very good and not overwhelmingly sci-fi, as that is not usually my thing (but then again, I've recently read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and I'm currently reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.... so maybe it is my thing).

Very interesting book. It's well written in that it describes things enough for you to get it, but leaves plenty to the imagination. I loved the general ending, but I had to ponder the last page or so for a while afterward. At first I didn't like how Mr. Card left things, but I'm coming around.

Overall, I'm glad I read it. I'm not sure if I would pick up another book from the same author again on my own unless, like this one, it was highly recommended. But then again... I may just get too curious and want to know what happens in the next book.

Scott: Thanks, Third, for introducing me to Andrew Wiggin.

Totally Tubular! (pathetic title, I know.)

oh,
so

much

FUN!