I don't Mean to Brag, but...

Why has Janine done all the posting lately you ask? Because she has been hogging the computer while I'm around! That's why! I've managed to commandeer it while she is taking care of Danica.

Now I don't mean to brag, but Danica is very possibly the most beautiful little girl on the planet. She is at least several (7 to be exact) standard deviations above the mean for cuteness. And, as if that weren't enough, she is charming too. Best of all, she is a daddy's girl. She rarely fails to smile at or talk to me, and loves to fall asleep in my arms. I only mention all this because I don't want anyone thinking, because I blogged all the time for the boys, that I love them more. Not true. Dani is a welcome addition to our world run by little men.

(Side note: Right now the boys are putting little plastic "golf bags" on their arms and charging at each other as though jousting. Yes. That is an injury in the making. Yes. Like most fathers, I am just watching.)

Just a few funny things the boys have said lately that I wanted to post.

1. Reid calls apple crisp..."apple Christmas," which I think captures the true essence of apple crisp anyway.

2. Gage really loves Buzz Lightyear from the movie Toy Story 2. Anyway, he was holding a toy car and a toy man, and this was the conversation he made between the toys (approximately...he mumbled some of it):
Man: Come play by me.
Car: I don't want to.
Man: But I'm your father.
Car: Noooooo!

3. Reid also made a "sword" out of blocks recently, with which he came to shoot me saying, "Daddy, I beep you." No. "Beep" is not a removal of some dirty word. He really pointed his sword--which he had built suspiciously like a gun--and "beeped" me.

Now on to pictures and videos (in no particular order).

Doesn't Gage look a lot like Paul? (The Skousen variety.)















Gage and Reid "being nice."















Tanae and Danica.















Sierra trying to keep me from taking her picture.















I caught her by surprise, and the picture came out really nice. :)















Gage got his hand on some stickers and decorated himself.



















You see! Seven standard deviations.















Dani working on her giggle.

Danica's Blessing...and other news.

Danica was blessed on Sunday. It was so beautiful, and a big thanks to all who came! Especially to Joel & Brittany, Tanae, and everyone else I put to work helping me get things ready. It all came off without a hitch.

A HUGE thanks to Suzy, who made Danica's beautiful, amazing, perfect blessing dress. An heirloom for sure. She looked like an angel.

Sunday was also our Anniversary, and although it got a bit overlooked, it was still a good time to remember how much we love each other. Although, at 5:30 this morning when a mouse ran under the bed Nick looked up at me and announced, "I'm afraid of mice." To which I replied something along the lines of too bad mister, I'm the girl. I like gender stereotypes when they work in my favor.

Yeah, so Danica woke me up at 5:30 this morning, and just as I was drifting off I heard a rustling--you know, the kind of rustling that's just wrong. Ta-da, meet our new friend germy the mouse. Nice of him to chew up the back of my wicker nightstand. Why no, it doesn't make me feel violated and nauseated to have a mouse just a few feet from my head. I just prefer sleeping on the couch.

So far in our cleaning we haven't found any other signs of mice. Which maybe says he'll get caught in one of the traps because I left the motherload of crumbs on the kitchen counter last night. Maybe he's not so bright? We're steel-wooling up the holes and trying to "think like a mouse." I just hope it's a country mouse, because one of the websites I read said that country mice are easier to catch--not as sophisticated as those city ones. That was my favorite bit of advice.

Pray I get rid of this mouse! It may seem little, but I'm channeling all my stress into the little guy. He, and any friends he might have, must go.

All these pics are from others (Thanks Tina & Aunt Lani) because we haven't gotten the pictures out of the camera yet. I've got some fun ones of the boys coming soon. They get funnier all the time.

A Lesson in Economics

I was determined to get outside today. The sun was shining, the air crisp, and I had a plan. I'd take the kids to Target during Danica's long nap time and buy them a few cold-weather clothing items.
Everytime I thought Danica was ready to fall asleep, someone (who shall remain unnamed. You pick one. you're probably right.) would yell something at the top of his lungs.

By the time we got out the door, none of us having eaten lunch (except Danica, of course) it was almost 2 pm. A quick stop at McDonald's and we were off.

Target has new carts. The baskets in said carts are too small to hold two large toddlers comfortably. Yes, they have nice new carts you can strap two kids in the front of. I think they ordered two. And pretty much every family of young kids in the county decided to shop at said Target this afternoon.

The thought occured to me that maybe this expedition was doomed. But, I perservered.

Danica, exhausted, lets out a few half-hearted squawks and passes out. Maybe this will be fine. We proceed to the clothing and find several cute things, inluding a top gun shirt we buy solely for the F-16 on the front. Was it $3 extra because it said "Top Gun"? Yes! Does it say "Daddy's Wing-man" which makes it sound like Nick is using the twins to hit on women? Yes! DID WE BUY IT ANYWAY BECAUSE IT HAD AN F-16 ON IT? YES!

So far, so good. We head to the most dangerous of all areas:toys. The boys have been promised some new Play-doh. No big, costs like $1.80 for four colors. A deal! Except, they don't have any singles & the only four pack has 2 pinks, a purple & a blue. So I scout around & find a little case with some toys included for $5.50. Cool. We head to groceries.

A few little things later, we're ready to check out. The play-doh case has been removed to the bottom of the cart, where the boys can stare at it longingly but not fight over it. Danica's awake, and threatening a storm. The lines are ridiculous. But, efficient Targeters open new lanes and we're speeding throught the check-out. Danica starts to scream. The boys are smooshing the groceries. I am hungry, having not eaten my hamburger.

Out the door, into the car. Good grief that was expensive. I glance at the receipt. WHAT!? THE PLAY-DOH WAS $15.50! ARGHHHH.

Now, having verified online, after stalling the boys with a popsicle, that it really was $15, I have a dilemma. I would never have put that play-doh in my cart knowing the real price. No fits, the boys would've been happy with their $1.69 4 pack. but now they've been staring excitedly at it for the better part of an hour. We're home. It will, in fact, do its job of keeping them happily occupied.

Which is how, in the course of a few hours, an item I was only willing to pay $5 for became worth $15.

(except, you realize I'll be swearing at myself everytime they play with it--no matter how often it is--foreveer)