Every Picture Tells A Story

We got some funny and some special pictures, start with an ever watchful Harry on the train

and on the tour bus

Jack had a pensive moment while touring
and did not really want me documenting it

Harry was not in the mood to pose anymore while visiting mummies

Did Jack's efforts really pay off?

It looks like Jack may be getting to that age

I realized after looking back at these pix that I have the exact same shot of me with them when they were about a month old - each of us holding the other in a circle :wub:

Jack taking a picture of Harry taking a picture of us at Jefferson Mem

This one looks nice,

but ended up like this - so tired of posing (hugging)!

Jack trying to be as tall as Dean outside FDR

Love this photo at MLK

Harry had been copying all the mask expressions at NA Museum, the spear was a fluke

They tried to think of a way they could do something as big as The Wright Brothers

Harry decided to take on the train at American History

Rod Stewart

He's a high-tech redneck

It's been all jokes, all the time around here lately. Not sure they have completely mastered the concepts yet, but here's Jack's effort yesterday morning

J: How do country boys roll, Harry? They MAN UP!

I texted it to Dean, who LOL'ed in a room of Marines, who highly approved Jack's joke. It was so sweet listening to J tell his Dad how excited he was to have their approval....he said over and over how he'd never made a whole room laugh like that before.

Harry has been singing that song "That's how country boys roll" (bleh) constantly, and saying how "we country boys" do this and that....pretty sweet little men!

George Jones

Mama said knock you out!

So, Harry has been experimenting with assertiveness of late, especially with Jack....he had always deferred to Jack and would probably cut off an arm if Jack would just ask. So, today when Jack was annoying him, Harry asked him to stop, Jack didn't, Harry told him: stop or I'll stop you, Jack looked at me and said he wanted to see what would happen.....Harry punched him right in the face! This is a total first, and if we hadn't worked so hard to have him be more assertive and Jack hadn't been being such a brat, I probably wouldn't have thought it was such progress ;-) It was a pretty good right jab.

Then they ran into a bully in the playarea and apparently no one has learned anything we've tried to teach them ....alas, the parenting continues.

Later,
Harry: Jack, you just jumped into my conversation with Mommy, and I am MAD at you!
(no real response from Jack)

Even later:
Jack: God must have really studied for a long time to make all the words in the whole world!

LL Cool J

I Love Everybody, especially you

Have I mentioned that they are a *little* enthusiastic? Lately the enthusiasm has been a lot more consistent than the drama, for which I am thankful.

This has been a long week, and Dean's been gone, and the days always drag ... tomorrow is the end, tho, and it's Field Day!

This morning was all snuggly and somehow we made it out the door with pleasant voices. Maybe it was Harry making us laugh when he told Jack "You're being so loud it disturbs the ENTIRE United State of America, EVEN Hawaii and Alaska!"

It's nice to get reminders of how lucky we are - a friend at the bus stop mentioned that she loves to watch them get on the bus because their feet just fly in an excited bounding thing. This morning, I was watching them and their friends happily greet Mrs. G and thinking about how lucky I was when I heard Alan Jackson's Sissy's Song and my heart squeezed a few tears.

Thanx to Sarah for being a wonderful hostess today and sharing her whole family with us - we're going to have a great adventure soon :-) Thanx to Christina and Brayden for sharing a great mid-morning. Did I mention that I'm one lucky mommy?

Happy week-ending everyone!

Lyle Lovett

Ho, ho, ho, it's magic, you know

:wub:
It came, just the same

Look at those faces!

Does it look like he can't believe Santa brought coal?!

Daddy's little helper

Sign of things to come? Notice what's above his sign....

ELO

Halelluja, everybody say cheese

I needed a white trash song for the days we've had lately, so Dean's favorite Robert Earl Keen tune seems to work.

Friends were chatting after the bus yesterday, kids were playing when we noticed the boys putting their hands down into the culvert after they were playing in the woods and asked them to stop. They both piped up "We have to wash our hands because we just peed in the woods." Great. Nothing like hygiene in the country, eh?? (Names omitted to protect the innocent)

A little target practice at the hunting store tonite. We are red, arent' we?? Hope your holidays are bright!

Robert Earl Keen's Merry Christmas From The Family

A mans good word and a hand shake are all you need

This week has been a good one for us on a lot of levels, largely because things like this happened:

The other morning, Harry woke before Jack and before I was ready for him to ;-) He hadn't done his screen-time chores but I told him I'd let him watch while I showered and Jack slept if he promised to do them asap. He looked me in the eye and shook "deal" - with no prompting or reminders, he got himself dressed and made his bed as soon as Jack woke up. I found two dressed, beds-made boys....which started a very pleasant day for us!

A slightly shocking one because of things like this:

Jack: Mommy, guess what?

M: What?

Jack: I'm going to marry K, and she's going to marry me!

M: Really? What makes you want to marry her?

Jack: She's my best friend.
(a little aside, both Dean and I responded to him separately that was the reason M&D married :wub:)

A funny week because of things like this:

Miss Lisa: Jack & K, are we bothering you with our music lesson?

J: No thank you, we can hear just fine



Alabama's Down Home

Discipline can make me stronger - Tricky Tuesday

I'm not sure if I posted this before, but Jack put Lightning in TO for some unclear reason and then came up with a whole scenario about how he needed some quiet time to think about what he'd done.....the tables are turning, mostly for the good, but sometimes it makes my head hurt!

Yesterday:
They are constantly dawdling instead of dressing, so I upped the ante - whoever was dressed first got the Lightning computer first in the van of awesomeness. To get Harry to hurry, I added Leapster (his favorite) into the mix - if they tied, they could have the Leapster in the car .... in about a nanosecond, Jack slowed down so that they could tie and I think I saw Harry wink at him. Man, they wear me out!

And that's not the only way they have to play us...it was rainy yesterday, and Jack says "It's a nice day for a nap....I've always wanted to do that!" The enthusiasm he can muster for a nap really suits us ;-)

Jack also received his fourth 'yellow banana' today at school - his teacher has a green, yellow, red discipline technique; since their theme is jungle and monkeys, she moves their banana for misbehavior. He's got a good friend that he is constantly getting into trouble with - they just get silly and don't listen...at least it hasn't gone much past that, as far as I know. We talked a lot about how they can stay out of trouble...it probably *is* working, considering this is only the fourth time, but still....

(And if you're wondering, Harry barely speaks at school, at least so far!)


Joe Jackson

Say it all

Jack: 3/5 Maybe these hurting things just *don't like* medicine (he has some eczema patches that are healing)
3/4 It's an ice-melting day
3/5 It's an even drippier day!
3/5 J: I'm so sad because I miss my Grammy Sue.
M: Do you want a proxy hug?
J: No, I want a REAL hug next time I see her! Fair warning, mom!

Harry: 3/5 I'm gonna give you a hug and a kiss!
3/4 Mommy, what does F***ing mean? M: Argh
3/5 I have a walkie-talkie so I can walk with it and TALK too!
3/5 Get in the car, we're going to Hawaii! (yay! Carol, here we come!)

There was a story about St. Louis on the tv the other day, and here's how the three of us processed it:

• I thought about my funny bloggy friend, HP! I heart her!
• Jack said "it's just like the state on my puzzle (thanx, Grandma S!) - it's supposed to have an arch...(a new picture) it DOES!!" (Do you remember when such small things made you so giddy?!)
• Harry said "They're building like I build!" when he saw the bridge-building project they were reporting

Some random photos, Jack hamming it up at a party in December

I thought this Halloween picture was cool - it looked like his light saber was lit up!

Happy Harry at a party in January

The two of them hamming it up one nite after talking to Dean, who was on a trip
Telling Daddy they love him!

Nelly Furtado's Say It Right

Blinded By The Light - Random Tuesday Thoughts

As I was loading the wet clothes into the dryer, I wondered how many engineers have tried to figure out a combo washer/dryer that eliminates this step?? Seems like those stacked units have the best chance....the spin cycle could just fling the clothes into the dryer, right?

radio, as we're getting into the van: wrapped up like a duce another runner in the night.
Jack: Mommy, he said 'drop a deuce!' :gigglesnickergiggle:
Me, thinking: thanx, honey!

I wonder how often other people apologize in a day?

Sesame Street's Count said dos for 2, so Harry started counting and stopped after quatro,
Me: what comes after quatro? Harry: por favor! I wonder if that's a sign that we eat at the mexican restaurant too often?!?

A friend in college called me Julie Cruise Director because I was always planning fun stuff for us to do...I just thought of that even tho a bunch of us have been organizing things for the kiddies to do for several years.

We had a fun time running errands, touring Krispy Kreme, eating donuts, doing crafts, running around the gym, and having a friend over for a lunch playdate which was a real treat for me.... I'm herding them into the bath and an early dinner and bed so I can rest....whew!

If you want to participate in RTT, or just want to read some other randomness, head on over to Keely's

Manfred Mann's Earth Band

'cause I'm a country boy

We were riding into town today, listening to the radio. They were both excited to hear Alan Jackson after the 24/7 Christmas carols of late. Humming and singing along, all's well, until:

J: Mommy, I've never let anyone get in my bed, and I took 'em for a ride, yet
M: (laughing, crying, eyes popping) That's true, sweetie.

Pile in my bed, I can take ya for a ride

Tiny HASAY update: 3 gyms last week, a couple of pounds despite being terrible. Back on the wagon tomorrow.

Alan Jackson's Country Boy

Oh what joy and what surprise

We got together with some dear friends for dinner and gift exchanging

You can't beat a Matchbox car for bringing on the joy

well, maybe watching someone open your present to them!
Harry loves the maze on the back of his new Curious George book

And this is the coolest thing - it's called a Glitter Ball (we think) - it's a big bouncy ball with glitter and blue dye inside...a sort of mix of a Super Ball and a snow globe that is totally cool!

And the kitchen toy was a big hit, maybe with the boys more than Kaylee ;-)

Thank you Amberger, Aunt Jackie, and Miss Sandy for being such wonderful friends and spoiling them so!

Jack's funniest carols moment - a few days ago we were listening to the radio and Mariah Carey was singing "All I want for Christmas is you." I was trying to explain it to him as she wanted her love more than presents when he pipes up: 'Maybe she wants ME!' Ah, the confidence....step aside, Mr. Cannon

Gayla Peevey's I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas

Built a snowman in the GYM

The boys made snowmen at their art class today

Did I mention behavioral temptations? Do you SEE Jack's face??

They actually did well with the project, but that's the look ;-)

They are waving to Daddy, who they miss very much

Telling Daddy jokes

and Harry sending him some love!

There was a balloon artist at Kids' Nite....Jack gets his Santa on!

Their homework this week is to learn a joke to share with the class - we'll see how it goes, but they have practiced a lot. Here are their favorites: 12/09/08 Jack: What do elves learn at school? The ELFabet! Harry: What do monkeys sing at Christmastime? Jungle Bells!

Randy Travis's White Christmas Makes Me Blue

Merry and bright

Two groovy dudes giving "Jimmys" - they saw the cover of a Jimmy Buffett album about the same time they figured out how to give thumbs up, and it stuck!

These tie-dyes are their own creations, they made them last week in their wonderful Red Gym art time. Harry corrected me the other day when I called them t-shirts "No, Mommy, they're t-d shirts!" Smart, silly boy!

White Christmas

All I Want For Christmas

Can you guess what made this elf laugh like this??

Santa to Jack: Have you been a good boy this year?

Jack: Well, I was just a little bit good in November, but now that it's December, I'm being good every day so that you'll come to my house with presents for Christmas!

Let There Be Peace On Earth

and let it begin with them ;-)

It was picture day today, and Yes, Friends, there is a Santa Claus! So I am at peace and ready to enjoy the holidays - you'll see why in the next post ;-)

The Harry Shuffle

I'm going thru my 'blog pix' file and here's what Harry's been up to lately:

When he curls up like this I sometimes lose him among the animalsPracticing his pouty look


Experimenting with new flavors
Lemon much?

He insisted that I get a picture with his 'face red' from the amazing Firefly toothbrush - they decided yesterday that they wanted to brush in the morning like I do, so they 'don't have bad breath' Goof balls. Do you think the combination of above pouty expression and the desire to have minty fresh breath mean trouble for the girls in our area??

And this toy catalog has basically been glued to his hot little hands for the past week or so. He is pointing out the one dollhouse that is NOT for girls ;-) The boy loves him some houses!

Steve Wariner - instrumental