Random holiday thoughts

The test pilot has been working hard at earning lego money. He has become quite the chimney sweep. This works out well for all of us. His father loves to have roaring fires many times a week. The mother doesn't particularly enjoy cleaning out the fireplace. The kid wants to earn money. Now we are all happy.

It was pajama day in 1st grade today. He was so excited about this. Of course, Crash wanted in on this too. He spent all day in his pajamas. I, on the other hand, am not a all-day pajama kind of gal.

You know you have been baking a lot when you are excited that a recipe calls for almond extract instead of vanilla extract. Seriously, vanilla extract is in everything.

I love baking. I would rather bake than cook any day. However, I think I am getting to my limit. I can't tell you all the cookies, cakes, brownie-type dishes, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, and candies that I have made in the past few weeks. I have a separate baking calendar/schedule. Half of it is for pure enjoyment, the other half has been for various school, work, and church functions for the holidays.

We have colored lights on our tree this year. We have had white lights for as long as we have been the Apple family. The children requested colored lights this year. I am not in love with it. It's messing with my decorating scheme. However, it makes little boys quite happy. I guess it's going to grow on me.

I am not really sure what you would call our current decorating scheme. I used to have lots of sparkly, pretty looking (i.e. breakable) ornaments. This year's Christmas tree is primarily decorated with Jimmy Johnson race cars, Star Wars ornaments, and train ornaments. I don't think we are going to make it into the Southern Living Christmas book anytime soon, unless of course there is a NASCAR edition.

Here's hoping.

They start so young

When my dad gets a new cell phone, he passes the old one down to my kids. They have always loved playing with old cell phones. The Wingman has recently discovered the phone.

He grabs his cell phone, flips it open, and says, "Hi!" There's a lot of gibbering and then he says, "Bye, bye!" He's got all the basics covered.

Occasionally, he gets a hold of mommy's cell phone. So if you ever get a phone call from me and there's just a baby telling you "hi" over and over you will know what's going on.

Snuggle puppy

We are a big fan of Sandra Boynton books in our house. They are silly. They rhyme. They have animals. The boys love them.

"Snuggle Puppy" has become a new nightly reading favorite. Crash and Daddy read it to the Wingman who is just delighted. Crash yells at daddy as he frantically gets his pajamas on, "Wait for me, Dad!" He doesn't want to miss the fun.

There's lots of loving and kissing in the book. Wingman actually loves it. The picture caught him mid-expression but he usually has a big grin.

Thanks to Sandra Boynton. Keep writing your silly stuff.

Raking leaves

We are travelling to be with my in-laws for Christmas. We have been told that they have a LEGO store there. The test pilot can not wait to go see a store that only has legos. His parents, anticipating that there would be a need to buy something there, have instructed the boy he needs to get a job to pay for his lego needs.

He has regular chores that he has to do for no monetary gain just because he is part of the Apple family, but we have come up some extra ones to earn money. Raking leaves is one of them.

So I go and buy him a junior size rake and put him to work. Shortly, Crash is asking to rake. I give the junior rake to Crash and a large rake to the test pilot. Then I realize that Wingman has thrown himself on the ground crying because he doesn't have a rake. I am all out of rakes.

I called the neighbors and ask to borrow a rake because my boys are upset if they can't rake leaves. They just sounds funny to say.

Thankfully everyone had a rake and was able to work. They did a good job and actually enjoyed themselves.

Handsome boys

Here's a shot of my very handsome boys. Of course, I am not biased at all.

Thanks Nana for the Christmas outfits.

These boys look sweet and cute, but don't let them fool you. Yesterday, I had to tell them to get the football out of the Christmas tree 3 times. (That's something I never thought I would say.)

Life with boys...

Christmas tree 2009

Well, we went to our local Wal-mart to buy our Christmas tree. Can I say that sounds a bit odd, but that's what we do. We are those people.

Here's the Captain sizing up the trees.

Here's our 3 little elves who have been so excited all day to go get some Christmas as Crash would say.

This is a picture from the archives of how we used to do the tree thing before kids. The Captain and I would head down to the tree lot. We'd pick out the perfect tree and load it up in the mustang. Driving around town, with the top down (in the freezing cold) , and a tree hanging out of the back of your car definitely gets you some looks.

Now we are the family with the tree on top of the mini-van. Not quite as hip, but that's where we are in life.

Sweaters

I am wading through the mounds of laundry that were created by our latest excursion. Since NM is quite a bit cooler, we got to wear sweaters. Our sweaters don't get much use around our next of the woods. We were all excited to break out the sweaters.

Now I have to clean the sweaters. Why is it that ALL the men's sweaters and my boys' sweaters can be machine washed and dry, but my sweaters have an entirely different cleaning process? My sweaters have to dry cleaned or gentle wash/ lay flat to dry or (my personal favorite) hand wash/ lay flat to dry. Why? I hate to hand wash!!!!!!

Their sweaters will be back in their drawers shortly while two of mine will take 2 days to lay flat to dry and one will be off at the dry cleaners for a couple of days. Why do they do this? Not to mention, I have to find room for the sweaters to lay flat to dry. Agh!!!

Is it a plan to make me buy more sweaters because there is no way you can wash and wear them more than once in a week? Is is just cruelty to women?

Well, some day I will give "them" a piece of my mind. Until then, I will be hand washing sweaters.