The cutest Crocs ever!!!

OK, I'm not normally a "shoe" person, to a great extent anyway. For example, I've had a friend provide, unsolicited advice on how to clean my son's shoes along with new shoestrings. Was it that bad? Well weather I should have taken action sooner or not, is not what I want to share today. Look at these new shoes. I had to have them.

Nonie and I each had to have a pair. They look even better on and are the most comfortable by far. The sales woman said they just unpacked them. We maybe the first in Florida to own a pair =:-)

And they said it was going to rain

It wasn't exactly the warmest day, but we could still dig on the beach. Reports said there could be waves as high as 40 feet, but we didn't see that. If you think we look uncomfortable in the wind, you should have seen the seagulls, they had trouble flying, it was more like they hovered in place.

Here are some more pictures.

JP's shirt says it all!

We've made it to Florida!

Tell me if you think they are happy to see Grandpa and Nonie.

Raingutter Regatta

Last night was troop 703's annually boat race. This is Johnny's first year, so he's a tiger scout.

How every (cute) well designed the boat looks, it didn't sail fast. We never trained him on how to race it. But then again what to we know. We were handed this kit and told to show up on such and such a night for "the boat race". So OK, he got started. The whole idea is that the kids place their boat in rain gutters filled with water and race down the pipe. It never occurred to us that they had to blow their boats down the track. We assumed gravity took over. Afterwards JP told his Dad that he guessed it wasn't sanded good enough, that's why it didn't sail faster.

(a corrected statement from earlier)

He lost every race, but took home 1st place for his design, naming it 'Old Glory'. Johnny picked and painted the design, a flag. It's a good thing I didn't help, I'd have suggested flowers or something pretty.

The Tortilla Curtain

The Tortilla Curtain

This was Columbia's One Read this summer. Every bookstore pushed it. The Library had 50 + copies, and even the University chose it as their Freshman Summer Read. (I think incoming freshman were supposed to read this novel). So seeing it was way past summer and there were plenty of copies on the library shelf, I picked one up. I don't know about you, but summer reading to me is like going to the pool. Something fun, light and relaxing. This book was anything but. Sure it started good enough, with a tragedy that kept me reading. Within the first 4 chapters, I caught myself already recommending this book. "What a great idea for a story" "Wonderful written" I wish everyone to read this and yet at the same time, need to warn them of how hard it is. No hard in the way you can't get past the language, but hard in a way that is depressing, emotionally gut-wrenching. There were times I had to call someone who's read it, before I could go on.

I didn't know the name Tortilla Curtain is a nickname for the Mexican border. I had no preconceived notions of the book, but will tell you it's a great social commentary of prejudice and has been touted as a modern day classic, similar to Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. (then again which publisher wouldn't want that said about their book :-)

Redecorating - Bikini Bottom Style

Over the weekend we reached our "Paint" phase of the playroom. This was an unfinished area of the house and Ryan has put up a wall to divide it from his new workshop, then drywalled (which takes more than you think).

What do you think? Do you like the color pallet? This took a lot for me to go here. I have a love/hate relationship with the yellow sponge. The boys love to watch him, Logan has even learned things, like how a person looks when lifting something heavy. ("Mom when you lift something heavy you do this ..uuuuuggggg") Now that is both educational and entertainment.

Our colors are Sandy Beaches for the bottom, Tiki Green for the seaweed, and Bubble Blue for the top 2/3's. While at Lowes they had a cart full of odd colors (just the same as the bus, the Krusty Krab and Spongbob's pineapple) that I bought to stencile with.

I'll post pictures from time to time as we progress. It's 2007, what a good year to get this done. (I hope it gets done this year) I leave you with the theme song sung by Avril Lavine, it's more rock than on the cartoon, but it's the only video I could find on YouTube.

Burr it's cold outside.

Burr it's cold out today. We went to Church and our numbers were so low, it was like free play in the classrooms. Normally we have quite a few kids and the routine and script are very important, but today....throw the scripts away and play with the kids. I caught myself wishing it were like this everyday, but seeing how we have a million dollar Kidcrest expansion we couldn't fund it without the all the support of many families.

We came home and built the Best Snowman Ever! props courtesy of Restoration Hardware. They were having a sale on the snowman kit after Christmas, and look how cute it make him. He's named Frosty of course.

Last but not least, do you see the lamp from Narnia? It lives right outside our front door. When I see it in the snow, it totally makes me think we are in a magical world.

Have I mentioned I love my new camera I got for Christmas? Thanks Mom! XOXO

Sleepovers and the Milkshake

Well last night was Friday night and you know what that means....it's the weekend and let the party begin.

The kids each had a sleepover, JP when to his friend Grant's house. All week he kept saying "You know what happens on Friday? I'm going to Grant's with Sammy, and Luke." For a 6 year old boy, a sleep over with your favorite lunch buddies is just about as good as it gets.

Luckly for LJ he had a sleep over to. He and his friend Griff played Ninja, Spiderman and Spongebob. Do you remember the Classic Life game where you get married and have children. At the end of the game, you count your money and the one with the most wins? Well lucky us ;-) We have the Spongebob version, while there are no children to "buy" you can get a job as a frycook and have pets. I overhead LJ ask, "Do you want to play Spongebob has a life?"

While the kids were away the parents played...no not what you think. We hung picutures and what Ryan wants me to mention most is the Fruit and Yogurt Milkshake that I picked up for us at Steak N Shake. He thought is was picture worthy, and praise worthy. Everyone should try one, but split it. We had raspberry just in case you were wondering.

Here is a picture that used to belong to my parents. When my Dad moved he gave it to me. Too bad it didn't fit into his house anymore. Thanks Dad.

Tai Chi - Little Gym Style

LJ has his Tai Chi performance at the Litle Gym. This is my attempt to take a video with my new digital camera. Shortly after it started filming, he noticed I had the camera. Not knowing I was filming a movie, he kept looking at me with the fakest smile. I quit filming so he could continue with his class. It starts so young.

OC for HP

OK so I am a bit OC over Harry Potter. The boys and I have spent the day watching the trailer for the new movie The Order of the Phoenix, otherwise known as OOTP in potterland. Part of the reason we've watched it so much is that we have "resolved" not to watch so much trash TV and have cancled our Dish Network. We are learning new ways to entertain ourselves. Is this better?

Well see, wish us luck.

Click here to see the OOTP trailer.

For those who don't know, it comes out July 13. Only 177 day until we can see the movie :=)

Making the video

JP and his friend HK were having their second band practice. What do you think? Does it remind you of the Doors? It does me just a bit and it freaks me out. LOL.

What a ride!

Welcome to my first Blog. I will try to update this everyday with a little something of the family for the family and friends.

The ice storm has left a thick glaze over everything. Two different cars driving in and out of our driveway have failed to crack the ice. It did make for a fun morning for the kids. Here are some pictures.


Aren't they cute?

Once I figure out how to put videos on, I'll do that.