Thursday, October 28, 2010
Halloween 2010
Alvin, Simon...
Theodore!
And, of course, The Chipettes (Brittney, Jeanette, and Eleanor)!
And, we can't forget Dave!This year, Drew decided he wanted us to be Alvin and the Chipmunks! And, actually, it made sense. The choices were pretty obvious...Drew was Alvin, Dax was Simon, and Drake was a perfect Theodore. For the girls, Dawsyn insisted that she be Brittney, Delaney was a wonderful Eleanor, so that left Mommy to be Jeanette.
We decided Shawn would be Dave, but in the midst of trying to make sure I had everyone's costumes, I didn't really think about his. So, this morning, in the middle of the rush to get out the door, Shawn says, "Hey! What am I going to wear tonight?" I was less then friendly when I said that I had done all the work for all the other costumes and I was kind of hoping he could at least dress himself! In my defense, my arms were full, I had just baked 4 dozen cookies, gotten 5 kids up, dressed, and ready for the day, packed lunches, studied spelling words, math facts, played a quick Halloween word game, laid out all the costumes, plus got a 45 minute workout in and it wasn't even 6:30 AM!!!! He looked kind of wounded and just said, "OK". I was feeling badly about it later at work until he sent me an email that said, "I think I can handle this!" with an attachment of a picture he had found of the old cartoon-Dave Seville. When I opened the picture all I could think was, "(GASP) I married Dave from Alvin and the Chipmunks! (see picture above!)
We had a good time even though it was extremely cold and I did get a little tired of hearing 4 kids in the back of the van singing, "Me, I want a HOOOOOla- Hoooop!" :)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
More Pumpkin Show!
We had an exhausting, but fun week at Pumpkin Show again this year. The girls were in almost every parade on the Amanda Firefighter's Festival Float--it took 2nd place in the float competition! The boys also had the chance to ride on the float for our church. The kids entered artwork and decorated pumpkins into the arts and crafts contest. Dawsyn's mermaid pumpkin took first place for her age group and Daxton's Porcupine pumpkin took first place for his age group. Delaney entered an apple pumpkin and Drew created Hedwig from Harry Potter out of his pumpkin. I must say the highlight of the week was working our church's Apple Cider Slush booth. We decided to take the whole family and work the booth. We thought it would be great for the kids to experience service to others, making change, taking orders, etc. We started out pretty well. Drew was taking money, Dax passed out straws, Dawsyn made the cold slushies, and Delaney helped Shawn make the hot ones. Drake sat nicely in his stroller and just watched the action. It was smooth like "butta
" .... for about 10 minutes! Then Drew decided he didn't feel well and didn't want to take the money anymore. Dawsyn decided that she wanted Delaney's job and Dax thought that the whole "straw gig" was not important enough. This started a huge cycle of switching jobs every 5-10 minutes. At one point, the three year old was taking money, complete with wearing the money belt, Dawsyn was making cold slushies, while eating an apple that we were supposed to be selling, Drake decided there wasn't enough entertainment and began to cry, Drew developed a horrible cough and moved towards the back to sit on a box and look like death warmed over, and Delaney invented a new job-bending way over out the window of the booth and screaming "Apple Cider Slushies! Get Your Apple Cider Slushies Here!" In the meantime, Shawn and I were just trying to keep our heads from spinning and looking like the next episode of Nanny 911! When what to our wondering eyes should appear? Ah--enter Pickaway County Health Inspector!!!! There was knock on the back door of our trailer and in walks the health inspector. I try not to panic at this point as I realize what the scene must look like: Dawsyn's long hair in the slush mix, while eating an apple and serving people, Drew coughing like Typhoid Mary in the back of the trailer, the baby crying and sneezing, Dax, clearly capable of economic ventures at the ripe old age of 3, digging in the money bag and asking if a $20 bill was the change a customer needed, and (possibly the biggest violation yet) Delaney bending way over with her crack hanging out good enough to rival any plumber!
At this point, all I could think is that the youth of our parish will not be able to go on their mission trip because that "Adams Family" got the booth shut down!!! The health inspector looked around at all of us and asked to see our license. At this point, my husband decides to speak up--this should end well--he always handles stressful situations well--I remember! He immediately startes stammering and doing quick little jerky movements (think Elaine's dancing on Seinfield!). I finally step in and tell him to call the lady in charge of the booth whose number is posted by the door. He calls her and she says not to worry to tell the inspector that we have a letter that says we are exempt from inspections because we aren't actually producing anything ourselves. Shawn begins to frantically look for said letter. At this point, Drew begins to realize this isn't a great situation. He quietly makes his way over to where I am standing and says, "Mom, I know what to do--remember that episode of SpongeBob where the health inspector comes?" Thankfully that is one of the few episodes I have seen and I respond with , "Isn't that the episode where SpongeBob and Patrick think they have killed the health inspector and try to hide his body?" Drew just kind of raises his eyebrows at me as he nods his head towards the health inspector. I ponder this for a brief second, then catch myself and say, "Drew!" He says, "I'm just sayin'" then goes back to sit down and resume his coughing right next to the health inspector. This ended up being the solution. The guy looks at Drew, the crying baby, Dawsyn and Dax fighting over the money bag, and Delaney still "hanging" out the window, looks back at me and Shawn and just says, "I'll come back later". We agreed that might be a good idea and thanked him for taking pity on us. Our shift ended an hour later and we could not get out of their fast enough. The good news is, we noticed that the booth was still open two days later, so obviously, we weren't that offensive! Only us!
" .... for about 10 minutes! Then Drew decided he didn't feel well and didn't want to take the money anymore. Dawsyn decided that she wanted Delaney's job and Dax thought that the whole "straw gig" was not important enough. This started a huge cycle of switching jobs every 5-10 minutes. At one point, the three year old was taking money, complete with wearing the money belt, Dawsyn was making cold slushies, while eating an apple that we were supposed to be selling, Drake decided there wasn't enough entertainment and began to cry, Drew developed a horrible cough and moved towards the back to sit on a box and look like death warmed over, and Delaney invented a new job-bending way over out the window of the booth and screaming "Apple Cider Slushies! Get Your Apple Cider Slushies Here!" In the meantime, Shawn and I were just trying to keep our heads from spinning and looking like the next episode of Nanny 911! When what to our wondering eyes should appear? Ah--enter Pickaway County Health Inspector!!!! There was knock on the back door of our trailer and in walks the health inspector. I try not to panic at this point as I realize what the scene must look like: Dawsyn's long hair in the slush mix, while eating an apple and serving people, Drew coughing like Typhoid Mary in the back of the trailer, the baby crying and sneezing, Dax, clearly capable of economic ventures at the ripe old age of 3, digging in the money bag and asking if a $20 bill was the change a customer needed, and (possibly the biggest violation yet) Delaney bending way over with her crack hanging out good enough to rival any plumber!At this point, all I could think is that the youth of our parish will not be able to go on their mission trip because that "Adams Family" got the booth shut down!!! The health inspector looked around at all of us and asked to see our license. At this point, my husband decides to speak up--this should end well--he always handles stressful situations well--I remember! He immediately startes stammering and doing quick little jerky movements (think Elaine's dancing on Seinfield!). I finally step in and tell him to call the lady in charge of the booth whose number is posted by the door. He calls her and she says not to worry to tell the inspector that we have a letter that says we are exempt from inspections because we aren't actually producing anything ourselves. Shawn begins to frantically look for said letter. At this point, Drew begins to realize this isn't a great situation. He quietly makes his way over to where I am standing and says, "Mom, I know what to do--remember that episode of SpongeBob where the health inspector comes?" Thankfully that is one of the few episodes I have seen and I respond with , "Isn't that the episode where SpongeBob and Patrick think they have killed the health inspector and try to hide his body?" Drew just kind of raises his eyebrows at me as he nods his head towards the health inspector. I ponder this for a brief second, then catch myself and say, "Drew!" He says, "I'm just sayin'" then goes back to sit down and resume his coughing right next to the health inspector. This ended up being the solution. The guy looks at Drew, the crying baby, Dawsyn and Dax fighting over the money bag, and Delaney still "hanging" out the window, looks back at me and Shawn and just says, "I'll come back later". We agreed that might be a good idea and thanked him for taking pity on us. Our shift ended an hour later and we could not get out of their fast enough. The good news is, we noticed that the booth was still open two days later, so obviously, we weren't that offensive! Only us!
Pumpkin Show!
Dax and his 1st place decorated pumpkin!!!
Dawsyn and her 3rd peice of pumpkin pie this week!
Mommy and the boys on the church float--one of the rare moments that Dax was actually awake on the float!
All of us working the church Apple Cider Slushie Booth.
Delaney being Little Miss Thing!Sunday, October 17, 2010
The ways we never thought we'd spend our days...
...Like spending every weekend traveling to every small town in Ohio for yet another parade..and not wanting to be anywhere else! Dawsyn and Delaney had their first float parade today and they won Overall Champion! It looked great and they were so proud to wave at the crowd!
...Like absolutely melting at the laugh of your 11 month old son while he was enjoying the Fall Fun Festival and hay ride! How could you not laugh right along with him?
...or like staying up late cleaning up the coconut-frosting mess that was left all over your kitchen so the kids could participate in the Family Cake Contest at their schools Literacy Night. And then, knowing it was all worth it when Dawsyn and Delaney's names were called as the grand prize winners and the smile on their faces brightened the entire room!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Thank you, Captain Obvious
The older Drew gets, the more I see myself and, more frighteningly, my personality, particularly my sense of humor, in him. We were driving home from his soccer game on Sunday and out of nowhere he announces that something has really been bothering him lately. SO, of course, we turn off the radio and sit up a little straighter in our seats and ask him what it is. He responds with this, "Mom, did you ever notice that whenever there is a group picture of a bunch of kids on a poster at school or in your textbook, one is always in a wheelchair?" "I mean, even if it's an advertisement for the swim team, it seems like one is in a wheelchair!" Shawn starts laughing and said, "look closer, bud, and you'll see that one is Chinese, one is black, and one has to be a girl!" I shot him a look because this obviously was not the most politically correct answer, but before I could say anything, Drew responds with, "you're right!" Awesome father-son moment that was!
As much as Drew reminds me of myself, Dax reminds me of my brother, CJ! How that is possible, I don't surely know, and, quite frankly, I don't feel I deserve it! :) Dax has now discovered that he has super powers. It seems these powers became evident when Shawn found a box in the basement with clothes from when Drew was little (they would have to be Drew's old clothes since Drake and Dax now wear practically the same size!) and in it was a pair of Superman pajamas--complete with cape, thank you very much! Needless to say, I have spent every evening since then washing said pajamas because he HAS to wear them every night, puts up a fight to take them off in the morning, and I find myself creeping in after he falls asleep to remove the cape, which apparantly is somehow tied to said super powers. He also feels that when cape is attached, he can no longer walk around the house, but must run with arms stretched out in front of him! I asked him the other day if he really thought he was Super Man. He disgustedly replied that he was NOT Super Man, but instead wanted to be Robin! Robin? Really? You want to be the sidekick to the one superhero that has absolutely no powers???? Just exactly how did CJ get one just like him????
As much as Drew reminds me of myself, Dax reminds me of my brother, CJ! How that is possible, I don't surely know, and, quite frankly, I don't feel I deserve it! :) Dax has now discovered that he has super powers. It seems these powers became evident when Shawn found a box in the basement with clothes from when Drew was little (they would have to be Drew's old clothes since Drake and Dax now wear practically the same size!) and in it was a pair of Superman pajamas--complete with cape, thank you very much! Needless to say, I have spent every evening since then washing said pajamas because he HAS to wear them every night, puts up a fight to take them off in the morning, and I find myself creeping in after he falls asleep to remove the cape, which apparantly is somehow tied to said super powers. He also feels that when cape is attached, he can no longer walk around the house, but must run with arms stretched out in front of him! I asked him the other day if he really thought he was Super Man. He disgustedly replied that he was NOT Super Man, but instead wanted to be Robin! Robin? Really? You want to be the sidekick to the one superhero that has absolutely no powers???? Just exactly how did CJ get one just like him????
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