Date with Laughter

For my parent's anniversary Tim, Natalie, Bryan and I got them tickets to see a comedian, Larry Reeb. My parents, Bryan and I saw him almost 9 years ago when I was pregnant with Matthew. We always said we'd go back to see him.

He didn't disappoint. He was hysterical.

My Turkeys

There are days when these two drive me completely INSANE.

There are days when these two make me laugh HYSTERICALLY.

There are days when these two make me CRY.

There are days when these two make me feel like I am the LUCKIEST mom around.

There are days I NEVER want them to GROW UP.

There are days I wished they'd GROW UP FAST.

There are days when I don't think I could LOVE them more.

Every day I remember how lucky I am.

Every day I know I am blessed.

Every day I thank God for my two little turkeys!

Today was that day when I was irritated with them, laughed hysterically at them, and loved on them...all because when I tried to take Thanksgiving pictures of them, they chose to make themselves look like they had turkey necks. Ahhh. What goofy kids!

Like I said, I love 'em!

My Popcorn Turkey

I'm not original, but I can copy pretty darn good. This little turkey was for the kid's Thanksgiving table. The body was filled with the 'white meat,' also known as white popcorn. The legs were 'dark meat,' of course, which was cheese popcorn. I didn't use a paper grocery bag for the body, only because I knew three little boys couldn't possibly consume that much popcorn. If you'd like directions, you can find them here.

This turkey was a HIT...and the leftovers were great during the movie after dinner!

Disclaimer: I don't have countless hours of the day to devote to fun ideas. But...when a person chooses to do something fun over cleaning, the possibilities are endless. P.S. After Thanksgiving I chose cleaning instead of shopping...so there!

Thankful.

I am thankful for a wonderful family. From grandparents, to parents and inlaws, husband and kids…I am blessed. This Thanksgiving was spent eating delicious food, around a very pretty table and sharing lots of laughs with *most* of the wonderful people in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My mom's cute centerpieceThis was my turkey. My mom's turkey was already carved by time we showed up! I think my Dad was craving some potatoes!The 'big' kids gathered around the popcorn turkey! It was a hit!!

I tried.

There are days I adore being the mom of BOYS. There are other days, however, when I wish for extra estrogen in the house. Thursday was no exception. I banned all Nintendo DS games, Wii games, movies with shooting, fighting or swords. I told them the only thing allowed on television was the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade.

I'll be honest, they didn't get too excited. Ethan was thrilled with the giant Buzz Lightyear balloon, but that was pretty much the highlight for him.

Matthew was quite taken by The Rockettes. Yes. Typical boy. I noticed Matthew's mouth was hanging open as he watched them dance and kick all exactly the same. He was definitely intrigued. Ethan?? Not so much.

This is their conversation as they sat and watched:

Matthew: "Look at the thousand legs hooked together!"

Ethan: "Dey are gwoss. Dey hab weeds in deir eaws. I hate dem guwls."

Translation: They are gross. They have weeds (holly berries) in their ears. I hate those girls.

Maybe next year they will enjoy it more. For now, they are back to shooting and fighting each other on the Wii. Like I said, I need some estrogen in this house. Anyone want to loan me a daughter?!

Work it!

I have glimpses of Matthew as a teenager. Every so often he surprises me and does something totally out of the norm and I realize he's closer to being a teenager than he is a baby. What a sad thought!

Every school night, Matthew takes a shower, cleans his room and reads. Usually while he's doing that, I'm picking up the house or getting Ethan ready for bed. As I walked down the hallway to check on him, I found him like this...

Obviously not cleaning his room! {Note the old pajamas and underwear!}
Busted!

(Don't adjust your computer. Yes. It's a blurry picture)

So I grabbed a front row seat to the show and interrogated, err, I mean, asked him about his new workout regimen. Guess what I got!?

Yep.

He's trying to work out so he can 'look better' for a girl.

Save me.

He's in second grade!

Teenage years aren't going to be pleasant for me.

Sing Loud. Sing Proud.

Ethan is notorious for hijacking iPhones, He rearranges icons, changes ringtones, loads games and takes hundreds of pictures and videos. Usually I get annoyed when I have to sit and delete all of his blurry closeup pictures of his nose, however, the last time he had my phone, he left this video on my phone. It truly is one of my favorites of all time. I'm not sure if I love the slurpping, the yelling or that he really just doesn't know the song.

I love it all.

Sick.

Every year, from December until April, Ethan gets sick. He's had two visits to the hospital, even one with an ambulance ride, in his three years. Ethan and I spend countless hours either at the pediatrician or the local urgent care trying to figure out why he gets fevers, a terrible cough and an endless runny nose.

Last month, I took Ethan to the urgent care for hives, swollen lips and eyes. Shortly after, we had to go back to the pediatrician with more hives and the DREADED COUGH. Thank goodness we went...we were finally given some medications to try AND a referral to an allergist.

On Monday, Ethan, my mom and I went to have Ethan tested for possible reasons for his cough and breathing issues.

He waited like a trooper...but the Nintendo probably helped.

This is his back after the first round. The second round consisted of shots in his arm. Not pleasant.

And this.

This is the face of a miserable little boy with LOTS of itches.
But...

It turns out he DOES have allergies. To the DOG! And to MOLD.
When the doctor told him that he was *mildly* allergic to Guinness, he replied, "It's all Guinn's fault."

Anyhow, for now he's on some different medications and the freeze seems to have helped a little. Turns out jumping in the moldy fall leaves won't be a favorite Ward Family activity.

At least he'll be healthy...and not so itchy!

My Thursdays...

I love Thursday nights. I always have. For as long as I can remember, Thursday nights were the best TV nights. When I was a teenager, I would babysit and I couldn't wait for the kids to go to bed so I could watch L.A. Law. As an adult, I am still excited about Thursday nights. Lights are off. Kids in bed. And me?? I am curled up on the couch under a favorite fuzzy, yellow blanket with a big glass of ice water and my most comfy flannel pants. Even if my house isn't put together perfectly, it looks good with the lights off! Besides, good TV on Thursdays beats house cleaning any day!!

So, tonight at 9, I'm curled up on the couch, watching Private Practice and linking up to one of my FAVORITE websites, eighteen25.

I hope your Thursdays are as cozy as mine!

Surprise!

In an attempt to do something fun and different, I made an April Fools dinner in the middle of October. I found the recipe here one day while perusing the Internet on my lunch break. Who cares if it's not April Fools...I am that mom that is always on the search to avoid housework, err, I mean do something fun for the kids!!

In case you can't tell...the cupcakes were meatloaf and mashed potato frosting. The mashed potatoes was a disguise for the dessert, cake with frosting, a Starburst and caramel sauce. The veggies were just that...VEGGIES.

Yep. There is always one in the group.

Boycotting dinner again.

Babop = LAUGHS

These pictures are kind of old, but I couldn't help but post them. My boys love to laugh. They love to wrestle. They love their Babop. Can't you tell?!

What's a mom to do?!

With Christmas just around the corner and an 8 year old's wish list only consisting of Legos...what am I going to do?!

This is the scene I see every time I walk into his room.

It really bugs me.

Bad.

But he's proud of them...

So I won't complain.

Yes. Please.

Dear Darling Husband,

I know you are DONE with my infatuation of polka dots, however, I have one request for Christmas. Admit it. You like it. Isn't it me?! Isn't it WAY CUTER than the Otterbox you told me I just had to have?!

Just saying.

Love you!
ME

XOXOX

Trick-or-Treat 2010

For a mere $20, I created the cutest costumes EVER! I'll admit, it wasn't an original. My parents made the same costume for my brother and I many, many years ago. If I ever find the picture (hint, Mom!) I will post it here! Our Halloween was a LONG day and included lots of walking and lots of driving!

We stopped at my mom and dad's house...Yes, that's my dad under that ugly mask!! We stopped at my Grandma's house...of course.

We went to my Aunt Lori and Uncle John's house...

...and we went to my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Ted's house. As soon as we got there and Ethan saw Sam, he hid inside his costume. We had to sneak Sam behind him to get the picture!

The best stop of the day...McDonald's!! Yes, the kids got free Happy Meals. It made their day. I think Ethan liked that better than any candy he got that night!!

After our Dundee tour, we drove to my Tim and Natalie's house for more trick or treating. By time we got there, it was COLD.

Who cares about cold when you have a hat with fake hair and beer!? :)

What a duo!! What a night cap! :)

The Loot

Every year I take a picture in front of the mantel with the kids in their costume and all of their candy dumped on the floor. This year, Leighanne, Steve and Guinness also got to get in on the action! What a night! What a lot of candy!!