Give the Boy a Bone

Our carnivore in action:

He snagged a rib off my plate and another from Doug and then refused to let go of the bones.

After walking around the kitchen with his treasures for awhile, we were able to persuade him to throw them in the trash and get in the tub.

Fido's New Trick

(I could not figure out how to flip the image...sorry).

Mug O' Doug

Sadly his picture was cut from the online version, but here is the excerpt from yesterday's paper:

Hamill becomes law firm partner

Douglas S. Hamill has become a partner in the law firm of Burnette, Dobson & Pinchak.

He is a native of Mississippi and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2003. He clerked for Hamilton County Chancery Court before joining the Burnette law firm in August 2004. His practice concentrates in the areas of employment discrimination and workers’ compensation.

He and his wife, Julie, have three sons and live in Chattanooga.

Harry F. Burnette, Steven F. Dobson, Frank P. Pinchak and Donna J. Mikel are also partners in the firm.

Looks like he has been doing more at the office than "eating cookies and playing with toy vehicles." Unfortunately he missed the deadline for snagging the back of the phone book, but he is trying to negotiate to have his picture painted on the side of the building.

Congratulations, Doug!

A Memorable Birthday

Andrew has given me permission to be 30 another year!

I was greeted with a cup of coffee in bed this morning and even managed to down a few sips before the children barged in to greet me. They cheerfully brought me all my gifts and helped me with the arduous chore of unwrapping.

I enjoyed a conversation with my mom (Happy Anniversary!) and endured Andrew's screams as Stephen chased him with a hacksaw.

We went to a local bookstore to hear stories and meet a real, live, 3-legged possum. The kids were most interested in the fact that it releases a green substance from its bottom when it feels threaten or scared. I should have thought with the crowd of toddlers & preschoolers in attendance it would have at least lived up to its name.

Matthew passed out before we got home so I gingerly placed him in bed. Deedle deedle dumpling, my son John, went to bed with his stockings on.

One shoe off, one shoe on. Deedle, deedle dumpling, my son John.

My dad (Happy Anniversary!) called at noon, and I was able to have a pleasant and peaceful conversation as the boys devoured their lunches.

We usually have a "rest time" after lunch, if only for the sake of my sanity. Lately the boys have been listening to a book on tape to while away the time. Today I offered a library copy of Charlotte's Web but they declared it "too scary" and chose our own story of Winnie-the-Pooh. A fortunate choice since here lies the remainder of (ironically) "Eeyore Has a Birthday."

I called my in-laws to thank them for a beautiful flower arrangement they sent and tried to ignore Andrew's shrieks as Stephen chased him around the yard.

The boys built a road with scrap lumber outside and Matthew roamed collecting sticks.

I made a batch of wheat/egg/milk/soy/nut free brownies with peppermint as celebratory sweet.

I enjoyed well-wishes from my niece and a nephew. While talking to my sister I refereed a disturbance between my two eldest children. Seems one (who shall remain nameless) was a using a stick to beat the other.

Doug finally returned home just after 6 to a lovely, birthday-girl-prepared meal of Mad-Pasta with Shrimp which he devoured and then removed all the children outdoors while I cleaned the kitchen.

Now I think I shall watch my newly acquired copy of The Princess Bride.

Remedy for Unrulyness

Things have been a little out of hand lately. There's been an inordinate amount of grumbling and complaining, whining and fighting, mostly on the part of the children. Disobedience seems to rise directly in relation to the lack of time spent outdoors. A remedy was in order.

Much to the dismay of the children (really, no sarcasm this time),

we took a break from "school" yesterday and I sent Andrew and Stephen outside. Stephen planted "apple trees"

and they built a garage with scrap lumber. No action shots of Andrew as he seemed to spend his time running and roaming all over the yard, constantly playing out "Sticker and his friends meet the Rats of NIMH."

Matthew and I came and went as chores dictated.

He seems to have an unhealthy interest in our ditches which makes outdoor time less than pleasant for me.

All told, they were out almost 5 hours. We all needed it.

Lessons

Everyone has been learning lately.

Doug instructed Matthew on the proper techniques for using a remote control,

including:

1. Under only the rarest of circumstances is a female allowed to touch the remote.


2. When other viewers grow interested in the program, change the channel.


3. Tune out anything not directly related to tv viewing.

Meanwhile, Andrew & Stephen helped out in the kitchen by dicing potatoes, carrots, and celery for "C3PO Soup" (chicken, corn, celery, potato, but no onions).

No blood was shed, and the mismatched shapes and sizes were well worth the loss of a few bites here and there.

Favorites

Lately Andrew and Stephen have been into naming their favorite people. For some unknown reason, I was crossed off Stephen's list today.

"I like God (pause) and I like the Holy Spirit (pause), and, um, is there another one?"

I gently reminded him of Jesus who was added to the list along with Daddy.

10 Reasons

In celebration of reaching the 10 week mark, I present 10 Reasons to Have Another Baby:

1. I will not be complete or find satisfaction in life without a daughter (or so everybody tells me).
2. We are trying to fill our 8-passenger van.
3. I am fond of the natural (if only temporary) changes to my hair and bust.
4. "Mom-nesia" makes a great excuse for my forgetfulness.
5. I enjoy the chance to sit by myself and read random magazines every month (then two weeks, then every week).
6. Three is an odd number.
7. We like the child tax credit.
8. There’s something so attractive about paneled-jeans and nursing bras.
9. Eventually we'll figure out how this keeps happening.
10. The pressure of flat-abs for summer was just too much.

Ninety-nine Matchbox cars in the tub, 99 Matchbox cars,

Take one down,

Zoom it around,

98 Matchbox cars in the tub.

Temptation

I've done a really good job at resisting temptation for nearly a year. Pizza? Sorry. Ice cream? Can't do it. Chocolate cake? Gotta pass. Tonight I gave in.

Five Flavor Cake was more than I could bear (warning: don't look on recipezaar- it actually calculates the nutritional information).

This always reminds me of my grandmother (though we use vanilla, lemon, orange, almond, and coconut extracts), and there is just something tantalizing about the combination of butter, eggs, and flavorings. I did resist the urge to completely eat the bottom of the cake (the crunchy part) straight out of the oven; but after smelling and looking at it for days on in, I caved.

I am fully aware that the combined contents of the cake could probably kill my offspring so I sit here typing to appease my guilt, a confessional if you will, knowing full well that I will pay tomorrow though not as dearly as my poor son. "The sins of the [mother] will be visited upon the sons."

New Mercies

As I took some soiled clothing to our outdoor laundry room this morning, I was startled to hear the birds singing loudly; then I remembered: "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come." Now officially, spring doesn't come for another two weeks, but my heart and the birds are not restricted to a calendar.

It's amazing the changes that a couple of Tylenol PM and more-than-a-few hours of uninterrupted sleep can bring to a sick body. I awoke a changed woman.

Not to that I have it all together. We managed a grocery trip (I think it had been at least two weeks and the fridge was empty) but ran by Target first. I was so proud of myself for snagging some cheap inflatable beach balls for the Christmas shoeboxes as well as some notebooks and other school supplies.

Then I got ready to pay, and the machine would not take my debit card. I tried it again thinking I had not entered the pin correctly. I was denied. (This is extremely embarrassing considering I know perfectly well there's enough money). Thankfully I don't subscribe to Dave Ramsey and pulled out my VISA. All the while I'm thinking, "I have to call Doug. He's got to go to the bank. What is going on?"

And then it happens. As we walked to the van, I have this vague memory of receiving a new card in the mail that had to be activated. I didn't have the time or a free hand at the moment and stuck it in a "safe place." Apparently my card expired in February.

But the weather! What a beautiful day! We dug in the garden, discovering a potato from last year's crop and numerous earthworms. We played with a stray dog, and the boys fed it frozen hot dog buns. We went to the pond and fed the ducks and fish the remaining hot dog buns while Andrew talked to me of nimbus clouds.

His mercies are new every morning.

Can I Call in Sick?

We are all in our pajamas.

The boys are beating on empty boxes with rhythm sticks.

Toys are strewn everywhere.

They've eaten still-frozen waffles and dry cereal.

We've watched two movies this morning.

I'm not going to think about it.

Andrew came down with a stomach bug Sunday night, and it seems that I am the next victim. Doug convinced me to go to be at 8:30 last night only to find me hugging the toilet at 11. Mercifully, the worst of things lasted only about 8 hours, but it has left me weak and tired. I have found myself alternately counting the hours until naptime and until Doug can come home. But it's all okay. We will muddle through and deal with the fallout later.