11/27 Random Acts of Cuteness: Sibling Rivalry Edition

Things I have overheard today coming from the other room...

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David: Your butt smells like a potato.
Sam: Mommy! David said my butt smells like tatoes!!!!!!!!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!

15 minutes later:
David: (singing) "Oh, you got a potato butt! Potato butt! Potato butt!"
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David: (Sneeze)
Sam: Stop!!!!!!! I don't like your germs!

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Have a good week everybody!

Gobble gobble...and let the season begin!

Wow, Thanksgiving came and went in a blink! How does this keep happening?

The festivities got started on Tuesday when David had his special Thanksgiving Feast at school. I went to help out, which made it possible for me to also see their cute little performance. He has such adorable little classmates. They are all so sweet and happy. I think their teacher is to thank for that though. She is really kind and gentle with a great sense of humor. When they do something well, she says, "Kiss your brain!" She's just really a warm person, and David loves her! I am so happy that David's first year of school has been so positive. I have been getting great feedback on his performance both academically and socially, and it warmed my heart on Tuesday when I introduced myself to another mom and she said, "Oh, David! My son talks about him all the time!" (I assume she meant in a good way! LOL!) Seriously though, David is great at making friends, and I am just so happy that he is so happy.

Here is a picture of him up on stage with the other chiefs and pilgrims.



and here is the little cutie that David has a major crush on! He is such a little romancer! She looks more like she should be a California Girl....maybe that's why he likes her so much! He comes home and has something to say about her every day. He even made her a little heart ring out of Floam!


Thursday we had a nice dinner at Aunt Lynn's and just hung out...

Friday we went shopping.
Let the season begin now! Here they are with Santa Claus already!!!


Yep...December is breathing down our necks already! When we drove up after shopping, David squealed with delight. While we were gone, Daddy was busy, and we returned to the wonderful surprise of our house lit up with color. That made me so happy because I just can't describe how excited David and Sam were to see the sparkling lights of our house!



Have a good weekend!

This is for...

You....and you know I'm right! Why? Because there is a little white and nerdy person inside of us all, right? I can think of at least one thing that applies to each of you! ha ha ha (And me too, of course! Do I like Kirk, or do I like Picard? And how many times did we go to Renn Faire?

Eat your heart out!

My Sambina...can't help but show her off. Sorry!

11/17 Random Acts of Cuteness

Riding in the car:

Samantha: "Mommy! I want to hear Love Shark!"
(You know, that popular song by the B- 52's, "Love Shark, Baby!"

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At BJ's (like Costco) membership service desk the kids were waiting there when along came this cute little boy that looked like David when he was little. I also thought he looked like my in-laws's neighbor Quentin. He was hugging Samantha when I heard his dad say, "Say hello to David and Samantha!" It was Quentin!!! He is the spitting image of David! Too funny! Later as we walked away Samantha said,
"I like Quentin, but he is having a bad hair day! His hair is not good today!"

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David spent some birthday cash at Target and we promised Samantha something too. For 9.99 she got this little baby doll with all kinds of accessories. Later at home, she is talking about how she is going to be a good mommy. Its little hat came off and Samantha asked for help. I said, "If you are going to be the baby's mommy, you will have to take care of this yourself." She said, "Yeah, but I'm just a little mommy!"

Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd!!!!!!

I just wanted to wish all the best to a distant family that I am so fond of...

Congratulations Martine and Ruben on your new little son!! Welcome Midas!!!!



(I love this photo, so I hope they don't mind that I linked to it!)

The Big Birthday Weekend

David turned 6 on Friday the 10th, and the whole weekend was non-stop party! That's the way to do it, right?

Friday he got this hat from his teacher and he wore it all day!

After school he went over to my in-laws to open presents and have cake.

Later that evening we went to see Princess Wishes (Or something like that. It happened to be what was in town this time, and we thought Samantha would enjoy it.) Though she did enjoy it, David had his eyes glued to it the whole time! So it wasn't lost on him. He had fun too!




We had dinner at Red Robin where David got a yummy birthday sundae. Then we went back to my in-laws' house for more candles, cake and visiting.

Samantha was in charge of putting the candles on, but yes, David is only six.

Saturday was more playing and a couple more surprises for David...leading up to

Sunday and his party!!!
This was the invitation that we sent out...


It was a rainy day, but all of the invited guest arrived with smiles on. We started out at the movie theater enjoying "Flushed Away"! It was hilarious and cute! A wonderful way to spend a rainy day -- laughing and eating popcorn with friends. We then hopped across the street to a local pizza buffet where we had pizza, cake, and presents.


David has such sweet little friends...all very nice and cute. We had a great time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID!!!!!

The Cookie Protection Program

Have a fantastic day!

Halloween Pics!

Well, it took me a little time, but here they are!

Hope everybody had a great Halloween!!!




"Vrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!!!"


"Quack Quack Waddle Waddle all day long! Quack Quack Waddle Waddle, sing the duck song!"


This year's pumpkin crew




Bwwwwaaaahhahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We are excited about tonight! Lots of pumpkins to carve and candy to beg for!

Remember any of these Halloween pics?

Blustery days...

Brrrrrrr! The wind has been blowing -- leaves are swirling. In fact, it was so windy that a section of our new fence blew out, and I had to go outside several times to put it back together. Keith is out there now with the drill trying to keep the problematic section in place. So how windy is it? I looked up at the sky at one point and swore I saw the Wicked Witch on her broom cackling, "And your little dog, too!"

But yet I made the kids go up to Rocky Ridge yesterday to take some photos. It was gorgeous there! (A little scary though because apparently some hunting is allowed there too.) The kids smiled pretty, and I let them play for a while...it wasn't long though before they had enough of the cold and we piled back into the van, just three frozen bean burritos!



My girlie on the slide! Found another awesome Thumper shirt! It says, "Hip Hop, and ya don't stop!" (Can't live without Thumper!!)


and me and my Super David...


Halloween is coming!!!!! Be on the lookout for the usual pumpkin pictures and munchkins in costumes. I'll post them as soon as I can! Happy Halloween!

10-24 Random Acts of Cuteness

Just one today...

Samantha, confused about her holidays, is singing:

"Jingle Bells, smell my feet! Jingle! Jingle! Smell my feet! Jingle Bells!"

Let's try that again!

Well for some reason Rock You didn't like the slide show I tried to make last week to show what a nice day out we had. That's okay though because I sat down and created a REAL slide show with music and everything. Please scroll down to the original post to view it through You Tube. This meant I could use more pictures too!

Hope you like it, and I apologize to anyone who got locked up over
the last fiasco! GRRRR!!!!

Autumn is here!

Sunday found us with friends to the west. We scooped up Jennifer, Paden, and her friend Emily and headed out to the Land of Little Horses in Gettysburg. We weren't going there for the little horses this time, but for their pumpkin patch. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but they did have beautiful bright orange pumpkins! From there we headed to the north a little for the Apple Harvest Festival in Arendtsville. That's always a fun time of crafts and apple food twists. We like the apple pizza the best. They also have apple sausage, apple pancakes, tons of apple cider of course, and naturally caramel apples. Paden lost his very first tooth while eating an apple on a stick...unfortunately we think he spit it out with the peel. We tried to search for it, but couldn't find it. The day finished up in Hanover eating pizza and playing games. It was a nice fall day, and we really enjoyed the "foliage"! (Inside joke!)

ROFLMAO!

Sorry... I usually just chuckle to myself after browsing Stuff on My Cat, but this one had me cracking up! Just had to share it.

Autumn perspective...

It's not too apparent down here in York, but up in Elysburg -- the hills around Knoebels -- Autumn is radiating and dancing in the sunlight...



As the sun was setting, you couldn't help but look up and be taken by the dappled light as it danced through the golden yellow and fire red leaves. It gave me such a warm, peaceful feeling as the day was coming to an end.

This morning I drove far into territory I had never been. Had the events of last week and the Amish tragedy not occurred, today's drive would not have been that remarkable. Somehow though the cosmos put a deposition in my lap that took me to Oxford, PA today. As I printed out my driving directions, I felt a strange tingle. They had me driving right through Bart and Nickel Mines...the little town where the shooting occurred. I passed by many buggies and Amish working with their horses, walking in their fields, even some older children were playing a game that kind of looked like tag. Many sign boards of businesses and churches spelled out sweet messages to the community such as, "Thank you for praying for our neighbors," and the like. It was a little surreal. What impacted me the most was this... all the wash lines were full of freshly laundered Amish clothes...and as I would gaze over at the farms, somehow seeing the little Amish girl dresses flapping in the breeze struck me. They were wonderful little pink, magenta, green, and blue little dress in between black pants, black socks, black aprons... with each house I passed I wondered to myself, "Does this house have one less girl to wash for, or is this house glad that it still has many little dresses flapping on the clothesline?" Then near the end of this town I passed a little house whose laundry was closer to the side of the road... but there were no colorful little dresses hanging... just adult-sized jet black women's dresses next to black pants and black socks. To me it just kind of pinched me inside. Life carries on there... a strength I doubt I would ever have if I were in their shoes. My world would stop turning if I ever had less little items of clothing to wash.

Culinary Adventure...

Mack's Ice Cream has dreamt up another one!

Discover your family.

My cousin Sara has been living in Virginia Beach this past year, a sudden move all the way from Monterey, California. The weather was nice and schedules finally aligned so that we could visit with her! She drove five long hours to come up and say hello...and what did we do? We drug her another two hours north to go to Knoebels! Poor thing! We did have a lovely time though, and the kids really love her. (Wouldn't stay still for this picture though!!!ARRGH!)

Did you know...

That Columbas was a pirate?

Not a dumb question at all...

Satrina posed a good question... Why do people with heart defects need to take antibiotic pre-medication before visiting the dentist? The reason is bacterial endocarditis. I took this quote from The American Heart Association's website that could put it more eloquently than I can:

"Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the heart's inner lining (endocardium) or the heart valves. This can damage or even destroy your heart valves.

How does it occur?

Bacterial endocarditis occurs when bacteria in the bloodstream (bacteremia) lodge on abnormal heart valves or other damaged heart tissue. Certain bacteria normally live on parts of your body, such as the mouth and upper respiratory system, the intestinal and urinary tracts, and the skin. Some surgical and dental procedures cause a brief bacteremia. Bacteremia is common after many invasive procedures, but only certain bacteria commonly cause endocarditis.

Who is at risk?

Endocarditis rarely occurs in people with normal hearts. However, if you have certain preexisting heart conditions, you're at risk when a bacteremia occurs. Some of these conditions include having...

an artificial (prosthetic) heart valve
a history of previous endocarditis
heart valves damaged (scarred) by conditions such as rheumatic fever
congenital heart or heart valve defects
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hi"per-TRO'fik kar"de-o-mi-OP'ah-the)

Some congenital heart defects, including a ventricular septal defect, an atrial septal defect, or a patent ductus arteriosus, can be successfully repaired surgically. After this you'll no longer be at increased risk for endocarditis. "

Just for the record, David had an atrial septal defect, which was successfully repaired, thus he no longer needs meds for the dentist. Samantha has a ventricular septal defect..well, actully she has two holes there, but not too large...where David had one big one that was making his right ventricle dangerously enlarged.

Thanks for asking! It was not a dumb question at all!

Samantha's Boo-boo heart

Samantha visited her cardiologist this week! She was so good at remaining nice and still for her echo and her EKG. She is doing very well. One of the two holes is getting smaller! The other hole does not seem to be causing any issues, so she will remain on conservative watch. Her only restriction is pre-medication before visiting the dentist! This is great! She doesn't even need to go back for two years!

There is still innocence...

And wonder...and excitement... in they eyes of my child. He is curious and thrilled to be learning new things and making new friends.




His school has begun a program called "Kid Writing". It is a method of getting kids to write on their own without piling old conventions onto them that are difficult to understand. They emphasize phonetics. First the kids think of what they want to depict and draw their picture. Next an assistant helps them create the sentence they want to write. The child then puts down the letters they believe make up the words they want to write! The assistant will then put the "adult writing" underneath the kid writing to show them how an adult would write the sentence. It is not a session where the kid is told they haven't done it right...they are encouraged about anything they can put down on the paper and reassured that it is a step towards adult writing. I think the results are amazing!

Here is David's kid writing from 10-5. I know I'm prone to be amazed by my own child...but really, I am very impressed with him. He is fascinating to me.

Send healing thoughts...

For our Amish neighbors and the terrible tragedy in their community today... especially for the girls that are in critical condition and being treated in hospitals right now.

No matter how many times you hear about it on television all over the world...you still feel that numb shock inside of you whenever you hear about someone disturbed enough to take the lives of innocent little children. It's impossible to digest, and I am deeply saddened by it.

I wish you all peace this evening.

For the story click here.

The First Scratcher Winner!

Here is the Frog Hopper picture! It was found three times by sillyduckie! Congratulations, sillyduckie, I have a little frog-related prize for you!


And here is the picture!



I have replaced it with a couple older pictures from my files! Thanks for playing!

9/30 Random Acts of Cuteness

Sammie jumps in bed to snuggle:

Sammie: "Good morning, Mommy."
Me: "Good morning! Awwww, your my sweet little girl!"
Sammie: (Pats my shoulder with her head resting on me) "I like you because I had a booger in my nose."

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David and Sammie sitting on recliner in living room:

Simultaneously: "We're watching NEMO and STITCH!!!"

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Same place on recliner as Disney Channel plays video for new version of "Kiss the Girl" from Little Mermaid

David: "Eewwwww! Don't kiss the girl!!!!!"

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After visiting cat in the living room one morning:

David: "Mommy! When I came in the front room, Stormy was sitting like people!"
(Apparently with her back against the couch)

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I have updated my job spreadsheet and see that I have 12 depositions to get out the door. So this blog will be quiet for a little while. Check in on me on Wednesday for the new Scratcher updates!

Have a good weekend!

Let's change scratcher day to Wednesday!

I thought it was Thursday, but no, it's just Wednesday! So here is the scratcher anyway!

Pictures previously found:
1. "Frozen Lemon Art ala Keith" - Found by sillyduckie
2. "Ashlander Caboose Kids" - Found by Satrina

Any same picture found three times is lucky. The person to find it the third time wins a little prize! I will post the picture here for all to see, and then remove it from the game. I have added some new pictures this week and a surprise. Have fun!


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Blending in...

and perhaps trying to sneak into the Amish community around here?






(click to enlarge)

Bad Boys and the Women that Love Them...

(Click to enlarge)

I'm so fawnd of you!

Or we could also call this, "When Bambina Meets Bambi". LOL!

(Okay, I'm cheesy! I don't care!)

We went to the York Fair yesterday for Pre-School Pals day. The ride arm bands were good until 4:00.... at 3:00 the sky opened up and disappointed hundreds of little kids. :(

We took refuge in the buildings...and later on in the deer feeding area. You can buy a cup of food for them or feed them with a bottle. They are so sweet! Friendly little things, they are soft and have such beautiful eyes with big eyelashes! Of course, they always have two tiny pigs that run around in there too for entertainment!

Here is Sammy with one of the cuties. I'll post more fair pictures soon. Since my camera got wet, I was having trouble with auto focus.

Happy Saturday!



(Click to enlarge)

We like to slide!

Playing at the park across from the Pioneer Tunnel.

Thursday is Scratcher Day!

How about this....every Thursday I'll update this scratcher. You get a random picture each time you scratch! If you'd like, comment on which picture you uncovered and what you think of it. Happy Thursday!

**The 9-14 Scratcher Moved to Wed 9-27**

Today is all about...

Progress
Perspective
Awareness
Comfort
Satisfaction

Today was all about me..
me driving in the car...
(yes, I took pictures of myself driving)
only because I wondered what other drivers saw when they looked over in my lane... did they see just another woman in a minivan? Did they see a professional person on her way to work? Did they see a crazy Mexican singing to Laura Pausini? Today I was realizing that driving to Baltimore is not just an action of transportation... it's my time to think without interruption. It's my time to look around and see what's around me. It's me on my way to another deposition...something I worked very hard to be able to do. I'm finally feeling as though I have some control over some of this craziness. I think I'm starting to live for myself too...


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I also took a picture of myself in the living room for no apparent reason but to be weird. You know what though, I can look at myself again the way I used to.

Enjoy your weekend!!!

UPDATED!! FIRST and SECOND DAY!!

This is the first day! Tomorrow I get bus pics!

(Updated 9/1/06: Updated the show to include the second day pics! David is loving school! Have to get him to do the thumb dance for you!)



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OMG!!!! I'M GOING TO MISS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This sucks a little but I'll be okay later....

I HAVE A DEPOSITION AT 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING!!!!!

You are thinking, "So what?"

I HAVE to leave for downtown Baltimore by like 7:45, 8:00 at the latest...

DAVID DOESN'T GET ON THE BUS UNTIL 8:19!!!!!!!!

My office manager tried so hard to find something for me that wouldn't start until at least 11:00 so that I could be here, but her hands were tied. She is giving me Friday off in exchange... so I'll have to get all the good "Getting on the Bus" footage on the 2nd day of school. Not as monumental as a FIRST, but it will be close enough. I'll be able to get him ready though and make him pose out in front of the house in his backpack though! he he he I'll post those tomorrow afternoon!

In the meantime....

DAVID STARTS SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ACK!!!!!!!!

I want to thank those of you who keep putting up with my mental disturbance this week and even offer me some comfort! Love you all! I'll try not to go crazy like this too often. Wait a minute...who am I kidding?? I'm always crazy like this!

*hugs*

Okay, I admit it, I caved!

And joined in on the slide show making fun at www.rockyou.com

Enjoy!


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Keep your bottom on the bottom...

You have no idea how ready I was to burst into tears today as David and I sat side by side on a school bus hearing about the rules and getting ready for a sample ride. Luckily, after we got off the bus, I got to talking with another mom in our classroom, and she was ready to cry too!

Here is my big boy holding his school T-shirt!


We met David's teacher, where we did a few activities, got lots of paperwork, and looked around at all the wonderful things to do in class.

Next we took a short ride around the block on the bus, where we also learned Rule #1: "Keep your bottom on the bottom and your back on the back". David won't reapeat it with me though!

After the bus ride, we returned to the multi-purpose room where David got a T-shirt to wear for T-shirt day, and a snack. We got to know one of his classmates a little better there too.

He starts on Thursday! Yep, gets on a big yellow bus and no longer needs his mommy!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

I have lots of other things to blog about from the past week or so...be back soon!

8-25 Random Acts of Cuteness...

While at McDonald's in Maclean, VA:

Sammy: (Opening up her Sausage McMuffin with Egg) "Mommy!!! I've got an EGGBURGER!"
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At Harbor Freight:

Tired Sammy: Mommy my legs are tired!
Me: Just hang in there, we are only getting one thing.
Sammy: (trying to crawl under my shirt)
Me: What are you doing??!!!
Sammy: (in a frustrated tone) I'm going back in your tummy so I don't have to walk!
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Sometimes I don't always want to share something I'm drinking or eating with the kids (because I'm terribly unhealthy!) and so I use the word "caca" now and then. If you are not familiar, "caca" is kind of Mexican slang for poop.

David: Mommy, what's in that cup?
Me: Nothing
David: What's it taste like?
Me: Like Caca!
David: Mmmm, I like Caca!!!!!!! Caca tastes good! Can I have some?

Next time I should say it tastes like carrots.
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David: (Let's out a burp) Excuse me! Did you feel the burp, Baby?
Sam: Yes!

The Document Drama...

Friday I had received paperwork from David's school. In bold writing it said, "Birth Certificate - Any student who is registered and has not yet shown their birth certificate should bring the certficate. Note: Birth certificate must be presented before the first day or the child will not be permitted to attend school until proof of age is shown."

Well as of Friday, I was still waiting to receive a certified copy from California!!! Panic set in, and I even contemplated paying $50 to a service out there that could rush it, or ask my mom to drive four hours down to the Recorder's office to pick it up herself, being that only a parent, grandparent, or a court-ordered guardian can obtain it!

Boy was I relieved when I got home yesterday and that pretty blue certificate was in my mailbox! Whew!!! David almost had to miss T-shirt day!!

Only EIGHT more days, and I'm insane already!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you hear me??? EIGHT DAYS!!!!!
HELP!

Countdown to Heart Break...

Yep, folks....it's that time. Time to watch me fall apart. Let me count it down for you though....

10 Days until David goes to kindergarten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then our lives will change forever! With it comes evening meetings with teachers and schedules and assignments and my little boy growing up and finding himself. I'll have to get this boy to bed at a regular time and give him baths on a regular basis and plan out what he's wearing and try not to get angry when other little kids are mean to him and smile when he brings his first girlfriend home and...and...and... and.... breathe?

In a way it's fantastic...and in another way.... it's having to let go of a little piece of myself. I used to think this would be no big deal... but as the day approaches, it's really affecting me. I find myself looking at him and seeing someone new looking back. He's so full of excitement and wonder.

I have lots of things I want to blog about, but the deadlines are hanging over my head that I'm trying to meet, and it's been slow because I just don't feel good today. I'll be back soon with some stuff. Sorry to be melancholy and boring today!

**hugs**

Stop the world!!!!!! (I need to catch up!)

Why do I always feel like everything is going 1000 miles an hour, and I can barely hang on?

I just wish I could clap my hands and time would stop... I could take my time to catch up on something, and then go right back to the second I left off! If I could have a super power, that's what it would be!

On Sunday I had a plan for the week...and it totally got out of my control! I took a job on Tuesday, and they said they wanted it today, Wednesday...okay...no big deal... not a big wrinkle in my plan...but then I get a call... a job I took last week needs to be in by Friday morning!!! But I was working on the one I took before that one, which is now late! YIKES! Then there is the big bead show...which I knew about a year in advance, but have not made any beads for except what I showed. Oh well, at least I will get to hang out with good friends.

Do you ever feel like time is just beating you down?