Political venues....

So, has anyone else been really into the political debates, primaries, etc....

Ryan and I seem to spend most nights watching those, the analysts, etc--(something to do with the political race). I have to say that I have been amazed. Either I was completely oblivious 4, 8 & 12 years ago, or this has been quite the race (and media "coverage"). Last night Ryan was commenting that he felt like he was watching 2 middle schoolers go at it (Romney and McCain). I have had a lot of thoughts and opinions about the candidates over the last few months, but overall I just wish that ONE person would look inside, determine how they feel about certain issues (REALLY) and thensincerely think through possible opportunities, and MOST especially solutions--and then STICK to it. I do not understand the "strategic" games to win votes. I guess no one could win without playing them, but it sure seems ridiculous.

Anyway, just my two cents....any thoughts as you've been watching/talking?

One of our neighbors used to teach preschool and kindergarten (for 15 + years or so). She was giving me some great "winter" ideas for little kids and one of them was to fingerpaint....with cookie sheets and shaving cream (I used whipped cream for Robbie because everything ends up in his mouth). Aubrie's most creative idea was to use the shaving cream as a skating rink for her horses.

(pictures arent posting--I'll try later.)

Thank you for so many great ideas on how to breeze through the winter funk....can I contribute my lack of cold creativity to never having been a child in a cold place (i think the first time I remember seeing snow was when i was 17).

Yesterday we were reading the Dr Suess book "Are You My Mother?" and the baby bird thinks a big tractor is his mom. Aubrie laughed and said " that's silly! What a stinker!!". (That is Ryan's nickname for Robbie). Cracked me up.

Feeling a little stumped on this...

Winter, LOTS of snow and freezing + 2 young kids= mucho feelings of being cooped up.

My kids are too young to play outside for any great length of time (meaning over 15 minutes is the longest they last). Coloring, building towers and playing hide-n- seek have lost appeal after a month of doing them everyday. So, Aubrie ALWAYS has a "great idea" to watch a movie or cartoon. She would probably watch 2-3 movies straight if I let her.

So one of my struggles is the TV obviously. It is highly entertaining and always something different and so Aub loves it. Any great ideas on controlling TV watching so that it is not a fight and so that I don't have to feel guilty a fair amount of the time???

And, any great, creative ideas for the LONG (or to me---very long) winter that keep the kids active and that we dont have to go into debt to enjoy :)

Love to hear your ideas!!

Aubrie and her towers. she likes to get them as big as she can. I loved blocks when I was younger and love them as a toy for the kids. I am glad that they enjoy them as well. Aubrie makes stables for her animals, towers, guns (thank you Wes and Jack :)) and houses for her little cars and people. She can roll-play for a long time by herself and is quite content to just be in her room playing. She reminds me SOOO much of my littlest sister Cara.


Aubrie LOVES Mickey Mouse clubhouse. LOVES!!!! So, her favorite episode they show is Donald Duck and the beanstalk. If you can see this picture--you'll see her rendition (that I had nothing to do with--she came in and said, hey look mom) of the show. There is donald, mickey and goofy ready to climb the beanstalk, which is all the lines going up ("they are logs, mom") and then at the top is "BooBoo chicken" in one of the three houses she drew. you have to guess which one. The giant is there too. So creative! I actually videoed her telling me about it all but I think its a little large for the blog.



















New years eve football time. We got a flat screen (HDTV) for our room--Ryans present for Christmas, so dad, wes, jeff, wade and Ryan all piled in to watch football all day (while simultaneously blogging, fixing resumes and whatever else was needed on their 3 laptops) while we went shopping. The idea was to leave all the kids home, but somehow only one ended up staying and we took the other 4. Not sure how that happened.




woke up one day with classic bedhead. He is just a cute little man no matter what though. I cannot get tired of watching him. Constantly happy, always curious and getting very talkative. I dont even know how many things he says anymore. Everyday there are few more. I love when he says words that start with "l". very exaggerated. Whenever I yell for Aubrie he'll start up "AUUUUUBEEEEEE" "AUUUUBBBBEEEE" just smiling at himself and so pleased.








another great shot of the post-bath attire. Dont you want to just gobble them up when they get out of the bath so clean and cute.

Hey, gotta give a shout out to the new nieces...

Little Lilly Hatch was born last week and now miss Paige Doxey.... Two little bumpkins. Although, paige was REALLY liking the womb--took her another week after the due date to decide to come out...then with pitocin and whatever else they help you along with it still took another 20 hours.

both moms are doing well (from what I hear :)). I'll post picture of them both when I get some....ahem!!!

wahooooooooo

and she is HEALTHY and already a thumb sucker! it feels real now, for the first time since we found out we were pregnant. watching her move around, suck her thumb and knowing she's already a foot long--made me anxious to see her :)

oh, and Aubrie wants to name her "window"

Gotta love this girl...

Aubrie has said some treasures lately...

This morning as Ryan left he gave me a kiss and as Ryan said it was a "medium" kiss :)
Aubrie: "dad, sometimes when you kiss like that, people say "eewwwwww"


Then the other day in the car (side note: Robbie doesn't just ask for things normally or even grunt, he YELLS, loudly.) I was giving the kids some dried mangoes. Robbie starts screaming for another one.

Aubrie: "Robbie, just say please, you don't have to lell so loud. Just ask and mom will give you a manguin, don't lell!"

I was cracking up!!!

TARA HAYNIE

Happy Birthday to one of my most favorite people in the whole world :)

I am so grateful that you are my cousin and that we can still see each other fairly often.
You are thee GREATEST!

and just a few more fun ones....

oh Christmas tree...

This Christmas present was a hit. The only thing she wanted for Christmas was a dog. so, we got one that barks, walks and then got her a few leashes. She named him "piano" and she walks him on a frequent basis. :)



Waiting at the bus stopy--quite the scene in Queens.

Statue of Liberty from Battery Park. Aubrie told me "mom, this is the one that is in the Book of Mormon (the title of liberty). thats how we do it--always spiritual :)

Again, quite the show. Especially singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. Love it!

Oh Christmas tree....

Here's to a fantastic and unforgettable Christmas in Nueva York. It couldn't have been better (well maybe Robbie didn't need to be sick) and we did a lot with and without kids. Highlight for me was going to see Stomp. Ive wanted to go for so many years and it was even better than I imagined. cant even describe it--just unreal! We also went to see the Rockettes 75 anniversary Christmas Spectacular. What a show! It was like 2 hours of "wow" moments over and over. This was all of us right before the show.

Macy*s Santa Land....kids loved the walk through Winter wonderland--it was pretty impressive. Didnt love Santa--at all. he was the most authentic looking SC i've ever seen. He was the real deal .


Downtown at the Citigroup building. They set up a train exhibit that is free for anyone to come see. It was crazy. I wish I wouldve videoed it. There was a little carnival set up, a drive in movie (with a real old movie playing), people building homes (sawing and everything), trains coming in and out of the mountains, the north pole, etc)

Central Park at the castle. This park might be one of the coolest places to visit. a huge 6 mile radius, horse drawn carriages, and trees making you feel like you are in the middle of the country and your are in downtown Manhattan. Aubrie asked me "mom, is there going to be a princess at this castle"!


Visiting friends in CT. Robbie took to cooking!