Giant!

I feel like a giant. My laptop finally bit the dust. I was hoping for another two weeks with it before I took it in for a good fixin' but it had other ideas and died on me. I knew I was addicted to my laptop and occasionaly even try to put it away and out of sight. However, I now realize that I am seriously addicted to the computer. I have all my favorite places on the web bookmarked and all the new blogs I love to read of other people (most I don't know) I have learned some great stuff. Now, I do not have those links and it is driving me crazy. My computer fix in the morning can probably be equated to someone's morning coffee that they just have to have. I don't drink caffeine but I get a rush from reading the news, weather, blogs, and finance journals every morning. Now, I am left with getting on the kids computer upstairs and at a kid sized computer desk. I feel like a giant sitting here plus there is not any back support. I am awful whiny about it as well. It has been 4 days and I can't take it any longer. We were going to buy a new laptop in February but I convinced hubby to let me go ahead and get it yesterday. I ordered it and was looking for it to be delivered Friday or Monday so I was really excited to find out it is on the UPS truck RIGHT NOW! for delivery TODAY!! I have been thinking about driving the neighborhood and stalking the UPS truck or trying to come up with a dire emergency that I could call UPS with and say I have to have that package NOW! Ridiculous, I know. Jon wanted to know why I just didn't get it yesterday as he was laughing at my urgency?!? Well, I would have but they did not have in stock at any Best Buy within a 50 mile radius (my computer wouldn't search further out or I might have thought about it). He thought this was really funny. Hmph! I need a laptop!!!! and one with my settings on it!!! When I asked how long to fix my old one I thought I would faint when they said 4-6 weeks. Are you kidding me?????

God's House

Conversation after church today:

All 3 kids yelling and screaming at each other getting into the car. Fighting, big time!

Mom: hey, we are still at God's house so why are you all acting like this? It is unacceptable! (mostly worried about all the people around me seeing my kids act like heathens at church)

gets quiet

Austin: if this is God's house does he brush his teeth here?
Mattie: uh, duh, Austin and he takes a shower here too
Austin: there isn't a shower here
Mattie: Austin you don't know anything because you are a boy and there is a shower in the big girl's bathroom. Uh you are a baby boy, ha ha ha
Alison: Yeah, Austin there is really a shower in the bathroom by the outlet.
Austin: oh, well where does he cook
Alison: oh (mildly irritated) duh Austin you picked me up in the cafeteria from church today in the kitchen
Austin: I didn't know that was a kitchen!
Alison: (more irritated) what do you think the ovens were?
Austin: Where God sends everyone to the devil! They are hot!

I thought you were in heaven!

Austin has been full of wonder about heaven, God, death, angels, and so forth for quite a while now. It kind of went a way and now it has come back. He has been concerned about when exactly Jesus died as well. Anyway, his best friend Mitchell has been really sick with strep and the flu this week so he hasn't been at school or on the bus. Austin came home today very worried about Mitchell and asked me "Mom, did Mitchell die and go to heaven?" Uh no, Austin why do you ask? Austin, "he hasn't been on the bus for a long time" Oh, "Mitchell is sick buddy and has been at home" Austin seem relieved by this. Several hours later Mitchell called Austin and I handed him the phone and it goes something like this. (mind you we haven't mentioned the heaven thing to him again)

Mitchell says something about Austin being worried about him.
Austin, "Yes, I thought you were in heaven." no pause "I am watching the bionicle movie and the blue guy is beating up the red guy and ........"

That was it for Austin and he was back in friend and little boy mode! I am sure glad he isn't worried about this any longer.

Home Alone!

Okay, not really but 1/2 way alone and not sure what to do with myself. I have lots of things I need to do but nothing I want to do! The kids received the Home Alone movie for Christmas from a friend so Austin and Mattie are getting ready to watch it. Alison is away for the night. She is having a night at the museum with her Brownie Troop. They arrive about 7 pm tonight and do different things until 11 p.m. at the Museum of Natural Science. Then they all get to sleep among the exhibits, I think the gem room is their room but she is hoping for the dinosaurs so they can all be scared all night. I am just glad they didn't need any more moms to volunteer for this occasion. I would put in overtime elsewhere to get out of going to this and sleeping on a hard floor, in my clothes. Heck, I wouldn't have made it to 9:30 pm let alone after 11 pm. She will return tomorrow about 10 a.m. and promptly have to go cheer at a basketball game 11-12 and they called a dance practice from 12:15-2:15. They are getting ready for a dance at the Houston Rockets so it is a mandatory practice. I think I will let Jon get her around everywhere because she is highly likely to be tired and cranky! Austin has a basketball game from 9-10 and a birthday party he is being picked up for at 12:20 so it gives me another place to be. Yippee! Jon is out with the boys at the Verizon Theatre. They went to see Larry the Cable Guy. I don't get the draw of the event BUT I guess that is why I am not a guy. There are 6 of them going so they should have fun. It is cold and rainy so I am glad I am not going out of my house! Austin's friend James was just picked up from their playdate so I am off to convince them to get in pj's early and bed to watch a movie. Then I will be sort of alone!

Visualization

Had another interesting conversation with Austin the other day....

Austin: Mom, I know how to spell cart!
Mom: Wow, Austin that is great can you tell me?
Austin: C-A-T
Mom: I think you are missing a letter what makes the rrrr sound
Austin: Oh yes, I forgot the R - C-A-R-T
Austin: Mom, I know how to spell mart
Mom: Let me here it
Austin: M-A-R-T
Mom: Good job!
Austin: But I have a problem!!! (with excitement in his voice) I don't know how to spell visualization!
Mom: Uh! do what
Austin: visualization, how do I spell it
Mom: v-i-s-u-a-l-i-z-a-t-i-o-n -- where did you hear that word?
Austin: At school I am supposed to visualizing the pictures in my book but I don't so I need to learn to spell visualization to do it!
Mom: stunned and left without comment, still trying to figure out he even learned to say it let alone spell it.
Austin: mom, when do I become an angel?
Mom: still too stunned to speak and not ready for another round of angel conversations. Luckily we had pulled into the parking lot at speech! :-)

Photos - Playing Around

As you probably noticed, I have been playing around and trying to find an easy and quick way to upload photos to my blog. It is a work in progress right now so please bear with me.

Daddy's Nail Salon

Daddy's Nail Salon,
originally uploaded by Weird Wacky Wine's.

Jon would do anything Mattie asked but I never thought he would "willingly" paint her toes and fingernails! Oh, Daddy!

Is my throat red?

Is my throat red?,
originally uploaded by Weird Wacky Wine's.

Mattie has huge tonsils and her throat is always bothering her. Today she bypassed some steps and brought in the flashlight and said "Look, my throat is red again!"

Eye - Fi

I think this has got to be the best invention ever made. I take thousands of photos a year. I have over 30,000 on my hard drive alone. Uploading is a pain and I usually wait until I have hundreds of photos to sort through and it becomes overwhelming. Oh, how I would love to have this card, I'll it to my wish list! Ha! that list is simply for me to go drool over things every now and then and maybe to whisper into hubby's ear every now and again. Anyway, thought it worth a post. Check it out. This is a wireless uploading digital memory card. Woohoo!

http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/eye-fi-wifi-memory/

p.s. yes, I realize I might get the nerd of the week award for this post but this is wonderful!
p.s.s. at least it is the little things that get me excited!

Only a mom would know...

Sitting a gymnastics this morning ever so thankful that I am finally "the mom" the mom that sits there not chasing toddlers, mabye actually watching her child, reading a magazine, a book, or paying bills. Who cares what the point is I am FINALLY just sitting there without other little ones driving me crazy. I secretly giggle at all the other mommies with little ones and love my new found position, it only took 4 years. Anyway, as I was reading I heard this conversation...

Little curly haired boy to another little boy (both under two): dat my car
Other little boy: laughs and runs
Mom of other little boy: yes that is your car....come back here and give him back his car. boy doesn't come back she chases him and hands the car to the curly haired boy, he is now happy to her son (he is not happy): here is lightning, no, okay how about ramone, no okay, how about Sally, yes Sally, Mator, green ramone, red ramone, yellow ramone, no, okay how about blue lightning, yellow lightning, doc?????

I started laughing to myself because only a mom would know all the names of those cars and sadly, I knew what she was talking about.

My Wish List!

This is silly but I have seen it on other blogs and thought I would just go with it. Alot of them were awesome and complete with pictures and notes but I am not going that far. I added My Wish List to the right hand, bottom side of the blog. I never know what I want to receive for gifts and things when I am asked although I know I have things in my head twirling around somewhere. I have been asked many times (alot by hubby) to keep a list sooooo, when I see or think of things I would like to have, see, or do I will just post it on here for reference. Should have lots of ideas over time. Use it or not, don't care but I will have it to remind myself when I am just itching to get something new! :-) I personally wish all friends and family came with a list.

Austin's First Basketball Game

Austin wanted to play basketball really bad this year. Which surprised us! We signed him up at the church for the Upward league. It is a kinder, friendlier, everyone plays the same amount type of league which is just what he needs. He was excited to have his first game today and did a great job of getting out there. He received a star after the game for best defensive player on the team. YEAH! He did a great job on defense now we need to work on the offense! hmmm.

Colbie Calliet

I really like this new artist and her song Bubbly. Click on the player at the bottom of the blog to listen in. Reminds me of my time with my friend, Courtney (other than the holding and kissing part) but I guess I'll take that too! :-)

Beth Moore

I just love Beth Moore bible studies. She is very moving and funny too, just take a look at this blog post by her about her new shoes! http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/

Austin Lost His First Tooth!

'Ol Austin cracks me up yet again. He went to spend the night with Mitchell Peiffer on January 1st. I went to pick him up today and Julie asked me when he lost a tooth. Well, I didn't know he did. Sometime between when I left him there and when I picked him up he lost a tooth and didn't tell anyone. He said, "Mom, I didn't even cry." When did you lose your tooth Austin? "on December 31st" again, Austin when did you lose your tooth? "on January 1st" Okay, Austin where were you when you lost your tooth? "at Julie's house" Where at in Julie's house? "in bed" Okay, where is your tooth? "I put it under my pillow and the tooth fairy didn't come!" Okay, where is your tooth now? "I don't know!" Wow, the conversation was like pulling teeth! I sure hope the tooth fairy shows up for Austin tonight, now that he is back home and toothless.

Only Austin wouldn't feel the need to tell anyone he lost a tooth. God love him!

Digital Scrapbooking!

I love it! I don't have time to scrapbook the old fashioned way nor am I organized enough to even begin a paper page. Therefore, I thought I would work on digitally scrapbooking. I love this. I have been collecting elements for quite a while now so I am hoping to find time to put them to good use. The WVU vs OU Tostitos Bowl is not quite going my way right now so I am keeping my hands and brain busy while half ignoring the game in the background. Urgh! Anyway, here is a page.

Happy New Year!!

Uncle Tim and Aunt Karen (amy's uncle) came to visit with their little ones, Will and Jonathan. We went to the Rainforest Cafe for a kid style New Year's Eve along with the Peiffers and Julie Peiffer's sister, Jennifer's family. We had a wonderful time although quite loud. The party is from 6 pm to 8pm. The kids have a child-sized buffet with all the food they can eat and ending with cookie decorating and a sundae bar. YUM! Parents ordered from the menu and we completed it with the chocolate VOLCANO! Horns and hats were passed out to the children along with sparkling cider in little champagne glasses (Austin saved his glass). Then amid the horn tooting we prepared for the balloon drop and countdown at 8 pm. The kids had a great time and I think the parents were ready to go to sleep and take tylenol. Hee hee, okay, I did have a lot of fun too. We came back home and shot off some fireworks. Jon and I made it to the 11 pm ball drop in New York and was fast asleep by 11:03 pm in Houston. Pitiful, I know. Here are some pictures of the festive evening.


Austin Ringing in the New Year! Alison and Mattie!

Becca & Reese Jackson

Jon, Mattie, and Amy Julie and Baby Ali

Todd & Mitchell Peiffer Becca and Jennifer

Tim & Jonathan Denker Tim & Will Denker

Christmas Eve at Church!

Here is our family picture from Christmas Eve services at our church, the Foundry United Methodist. Mattie and Austin enjoyed going up for story time and then they went to a Birthday Party for Jesus! Then Alison went up to join in the sermon portion of the service. We definitely went to the kid friendly Children's service.

You can now receive updates via email!

A couple of people have asked me to receive these updates via email. See the subscribe section on the right. Hopefully, this works! Hope we don't bore you to death.