Is Your Garage Half Full or Half Empty?

Ours is now more than full. Today, Clif brought home his 1973 Chevrolet Nova SS Hatchback. It is black (and rust) and has entertained us all day long. He bought this when I was pregnant with the triplets. I guess he thought this might be his distraction from his quickly changing life.

She has spent 3 glorious years with Clif's cousin in North Georgia getting a mechanical makeover. There is still lots to do, but the economy has kept the progress going at a snail's pace. So today, we brought her home. I call her "The Money Pit." She still needs lots of cosmetic surgery (inside and out) and a fuel injection makeover . The list is quite long and neither one of us really has the guts to add it all up.

I followed him home and took a few cell phone pictures, but the entertainment of the day came when he tried to get her into the garage in a somewhat permanent position. I say that, because I know my husband. He says that he'll drive her every couple of weeks. I say she may need another overhaul before she runs much more. I have also just lost a great deal of real estate in the garage.

Here are two videos. I might be slightly sarcastic in these. And as for the second one. I haven't laughed so hard in months. And the exhaust....Let's just say I can still smell it in the garage.

Enjoy!


The '73 Nova from Lynne on Vimeo.


Clif's Nova - Parking in the Garage from Lynne on Vimeo.

Snowlanta

Sorry Mr. Goldfish

Our house is filled with lots of imagination. We get at least two versions of every story.

When I was in the shower today, Clif came in the bathroom and said Austin took care of one of the goldfish (we had 3 when I got in the shower). I asked what in the world he was talking about. He said, "He flushed one of the goldfish!" Austin told Clif that he had flushed the fish because it was dead.

Two minutes later Clif returned with version 2 of the story. You aren't' going to believe this one. Austin took the fish upstairs and put it under Lauren's pillow! Clif found it still barely moving and put it in the toilet. The poor little goldfish started swimming around. Trying to save him, Clif went down for the net to scoop him out. As he walked down the stairs, he heard the flush. Tyler had decided that he needed to do the honors.

When I got out of the shower I asked Austin what he was thinking. He said that he wanted a fish in his room. And there you have it. Five year old logic.

New Year's Day

Clif is watching two football games at once on his laptop while the kids are playing Wii. Here's to a multi-tasking 2010! Just look at the smile on his face!

Girls, we have found the one thing men can multi-task.

And just 10 minutes later, the multi-tasking wears out his brain!

Chirstmas in KY

Rachel, Lauren, Micah
Austin, John, Andrew
Josh, Tyler

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the Night Before Christmas...
when all through the house
EVERY creature is stirring,
even the mouse!
(we found Zhu Zhu pets; and they're kind of fun).

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicolas would soon be there.

Children should be snuggled all nestled in bed.
Instead they are wrestling, laughing, and shrieking,
all to my dread.

And there is no kerchief, there is no cap.
Just loads and loads of those twisty things
that need untwisting before I nap.

Waiting for clatter...to see what is the matter.

Lawn loaded with 4 bags of reindeer food from all of our brood.

Hoping Santa isn't too heavy to fit down the pipe...
the treadmill has dusts of every type.

Pray for some sleep before midnight
as our little ones are likely to rise
with boundless energy way before light.

Off to the basement to take a last peek
to see if I can find all the stuff from last week!

Merry Christmas to all and to all parents....a good hour's sleep!!!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2009 from Lynne on Vimeo.

Elf Report Day 3

Our little Elf is still causing great excitement and some behavior modification. We're using the boring locations so that I can pull out the big guns when they start to get bored. I'm still looking for good suggestions!

I'm baking and cooking all day, so I don't have much time to look on the web. Hmmm..I wonder if the Elf cooks?

P.S. Say a little prayer for my Grammy Poe. She had to go to the hospital yesterday and will be spending Thanksgiving there. As my mom put it, she pulled a Clif. She's in atrial fibrillation and was having a hard time catching her breath. The doctor came in this morning and said that she is still out of rhythm, but is doing well and will be out of CCU into a room soon.

Elf on the Shelf

I found a new BFF today. I bought an Elf on the Shelf doll and book. He is my new friend because he is being really helpful with discipline during the begining of this crazy season.

If you have never seen the Elf, here is the story. . .

The Elf comes to your house. As soon as you name him, he has magical powers. Those powers allow him to magically visit Santa every night to update Santa on your kids' behavior. Brilliant! When they go to sleep he travels to the North Pole and returns by morning to a new spot in the house. They are to race to find him in the morning.

What is even more brilliant (until they catch on) is the tradition goes that Santa told him 1) not to talk to the kids, and 2) the kids aren't allowed to touch him. If the kids touch him, his magical powers go away and Santa will think the kids forgot about him just before Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, the Elf rides with Santa back to the North Pole where he stays until next year.

My kids have bought this hook, line, and sinker. They are so excited. Their imaginations are going wild. Now, the fun part begins. If I can remember to move this Elf every night, we'll have something good. He has also been known to get into some mischief, so any suggestions of where he might end up are aprreciated. So far, we've come up with various places in the kitchen (including the fridge or freezer), the car, and who knows where else.

I know some of my Facebook friends have these for their kids, so I'm hoping we can all share some ideas. The downside of bringing him out early is the length of time you have to change him up, but if they keep believing that he's Santa's informant it will be "oh, so worth it!" Tyler was standing on the couch this afternoon and I said, "Oh, No!! The Elf saw you!!!!" He IMMEDIATELY sat down.

Ours is named Weekie. Which had to be drawn out of a hat of 2 choices.

To get one or learn more, visit the Elf on the Shelf web site.

4 Year Old Comedy

Kids are funny. They get funny around 2 and age 4 can be downright hilarious. Multiply that by 3 kids currently 4 in my house and call me entertained much of the time.

Here's a story from today.

We were on our way to preschool. I sometimes practice counting or do other memory things on the way to school. Today we were practicing phone numbers. We went through saying the home phone a few times, then my cell, then daddy's cell. The following conversation ensued:

John: "Mommy, I want a number. When am I going to have a number?"

Me: "Well, John. Some day you'll have a number. When you get older, you'll get a cell phone and then you'll have a number. We haven't decided when that will be yet. Maybe when you are 10 or 12."
John: "How about 10?"

Lauren: "No 12!!"

Tyler" "No!! 13!!!"

Me: [laughing at them arguing over a concept that they obviously don't get yet]

Lauren: "Mommy? Are you 12?"

Me: "No, Lauren. I'm 41."

Lauren: "I want to be 41 like you Mommy!"

John: "I want to be 65 like Daddy!"

Me: [laughing so hard my sides hurt (Daddy's about 20 years away from 65)]

John: "What's so funny?"

Me: "Daddy isn't 65 silly! He's 45!"

Tyler: "Mommy!!! Daddy's not 45! He's 46!!!"

Me: "Oh yeah! You're right Tyler."

N.e.e.d. M.o.r.e. C.o.f.f.e.e.

And now for a random picture:
Preschool Tumbling

From 2009-11-07