What's For Dinner?

Another One Bites the Dust

You just have to love that Illinois' claim to fame is having the most corrupt government in the country

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-09-blagojevich-arrest_N.htm

The Weather Outside Is Frightful....

So we'll stay inside and build forts!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Playing In the Snow

These pictures were NOT taken at 7 a.m.!

Snow Day!

The first snowfall of the season and the kids wanted to go outside and play in it at 7 this morning!

Well Duh...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081125/ap_on_go_pr_wh/fact_check_obama_taxes

What? The economy is so bad right now that you may actually delay taking the tax breaks away from the wealthy? Why on earth would you consider that? Oh, I don't know, maybe because the wealthy - you know that crazy class of people who own all of our businesses (restaurants, retail stores, grocery stores, manufacturing plants, independently owned health care facilities...and the list goes on) are actually the people who are employing the majority of us in this country. Gosh Obama, do you think that maybe adding on extra taxes to all of these businesses- who are already being overtaxed, I might add- just might possibly affect people's jobs as well as increase the costs of the products and services that people are purchasing? I mean it's great that you want to hand out free money to the middle-class and all, but will you be able to hand out enough money to make up for them losing their jobs and enough money to make up for the rising costs of products and services that will occur if you tax businesses even more? Overall, I guess it's a fair trade-off: more money at tax time, but no job. Didn't your parents ever teach you that nothing in life is free?

Chris Is Just A Kid At Heart

The other day Alec and Julia were each having a friend come over to play after lunch. When Chris came home that day to eat lunch, Alec said to him: "Hey dad, mommy is watching four kids today. If you stay home she will be watching five."

Kids- they are just too darn smart!

VOTE!!!!

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY!

I don't make a habit of discussing politics with my 3 and 5 yr. old, so I had to laugh this morning when I walked into the living room to hear Alec say: "Hey Julia who do you think we should vote for? I think we should vote for McCain because he might give us candy canes."

Beautiful Weather

The weather is beautiful! It's hard to believe that it is November. Today we visited a new park surrounded by bright colored trees.

Our Little Goblins

Indiana Jones Alec and Julia the Cat

Pumpkin Decorating

Monsters!

No, I'm not talking about the kids! Gram C. sent us some monster craft kits, and the kids had a great time creating their monsters last night.

Chuck E. Cheese Pics

It's That Time of Year Again

It's that time of year again. Should you or shouldn't you get a flu shot? Before you decide, watch this short hilarious video about flu shot ingredients.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWfCnjnShnM

At the Pumpkin Patch

Curtis Orchard Field Trips

The kids had fun at their school field trips to Curtis Orchard this week.

Julia and Sundae

Swim Lessons

Julia (left) is patiently listening to her new teacher

I Can Get Ready For School All By Myself!

Chris's Class Reunion

Last night we enjoyed Chris's 15 year class reunion. It was nice talking to friends and taking a break from the kids. Alec and Julia had an even better time with their Auntie- eating pizza and breadsticks "picnic style" in the family room and ice cream for dessert! Thanks for our night out Auntie M!

First Day of School

Today was the first day of preschool for both Alec and Julia. We decided to wait one more year before sending Alec to Kindergarten, so he and Julia are attending the same school (different classes) this year.

Happy Labor Day!

We hope everyone had a relaxing Labor Day weekend - we sure did! We visited some friends in Chicago on Saturday (the above picture is of all the kids enjoying their pancake breakfast out on our friends' patio). Then on Sunday we headed a little down the road to meet up and visit with my Mom and Dad. We all had a great time visiting, swimming, and going out to dinner together. Auntie M. even joined us at the hotel for a swim!

Thanks P. Pa for a very nice visit! (Meet Skyler dog - the newest addition to the family!)

What Big Ears You Have!

I took this picture several weeks ago and it makes me laugh every time I see it. Julia is constantly dressing up Sundae with play jewelry - and in this picture, artwork. The "ears" on Sundae's head are actually the wings of an art project butterfly. Julia turned the butterfly upside down and used its pipe cleaner antennae as a headband for Sundae's head! I think Sundae looks fabulous! What do you think?

Injured!

Yesterday, while Alec was building a child play tent, he poked himself in the eye with a plastic pipe that builds the frame of the tent. Later in the day, his eye looked so bad that we ended up in the Pediatrician's office and then the Ophthalmologist's office as well. Four hours later Alec was patched and recovering at home! He has a pretty bad eye abrasion, but it should be better by tomorrow. I was amazed- he was able to build all of his legos and put together puzzles with just one eye today! We even went and had a picnic in the park. He met a new friend that he played with for part of the afternoon, and tonight at dinner he told us that he had played pirates with the other little boy!

So I Guess I Should Encourage This Lego Thing!

Man Earns six figures playing with Legos
http://www.portfolio.com/careers/job-of-the-week/2008/08/17/Lego-Builder-Nathan-Sawaya

I want to be a Lego Builder When I Grow Up

What exactly is a Lego Builder, you ask? According to Alec, "it is a person who builds all of the Lego kits each day." I'm not going to fret because I remind myself that it was not too long ago that Alec had high aspirations of becoming Buzz Lightyear when he grew up. I admit, I may have contributed to the Buzz Lightyear thing - just ask Melinda the next time you see her. I think it was something about eating all of your broccoli at dinner if you want to grow up to be Buzz Lightyear. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

Hanging out at the Park

Julia and her friends taking a break from playing...and Alec too!

Visiting Grandma Siebrecht

Julia playing with Phoebe
Alec building Indiana Jones Legos

J & A

Mermaids

"If I was a fish, I would swim around the ocean until I found a Mermaid."

-Julia age 3

(enjoys playing with her mermaid and seahorse dolls in Gram C.'s fountain and refuses to believe that mermaids do not really exist - thanks Disney!)

More Florida Pictures

Look what we found swimming in the pool!

Daily duck feeding from Gram C.'s patio

Lazy Florida Days