A moment to remember

There are few things that are better than seeing your children get along. This morning as Remi left for schoool he started saying his good-bye's and love you's. Grant heard that and wanted to watch through the window as Remi left. Then I got to hear Grant pucker and blow as he and his brother repeatedly blew kisses to each other. It was one of those times you wish you had your camcorder going because I couldn't stage something that heart warming.

Basketball hoop

I have been waiting months to find a good deal on a childrens basketball hoop. Brand new they cost $45 for the Fisher-Price model! I was not willing to pay that much so I figured I had to wait this out and search on craigslist (which gets old after a couple of days) or find one at a yard sale (which I haven't been going to). Luckily, I did stopat a yard sale on the way home and found one for $10! It was such a good deal that I didn't even talk them down to $8. Anyway, Grant was shooting hoops off and on all day. And I am thrilled to have a kid that enjoys doing it without any prodding from me. He actually has pretty good form for a 3 yr old. Could he be my one? hee hee.

Ok, I was going to get a picture from the web for a nice visual, but I'm an impatient computer retard.

Boy, one thing about going back to school is you realize how much your kids have grown since the last time you had to buy pants or gym shoes. Porter turns 13 tomorrow and is now 5'9" with a 10 1/2 shoe size. Since he's my first one I don't have anything to compare him to, but I think he's a tall kid(with big feet). I know growing spurts happen at different times, but every morning I look at him in awe because I feel like he's grown overnight. The thing is I've been feeling this since last year. Now Remi has joined him. Both of them grew about 2 1/2 inches just over the summer. It's happening right before my eyes, but I still can't fathom growing that fast.

A funny thing happened on the way to the sink.

My brother-in-law and his family were visiting a few weeks ago. Their son, Liam, loves finding and carrying around animals so he was thrilled when he saw our chickens. In fact, he checked the chicken coop for eggs a few times a day and reporting back to us what he did or didn't find. Well, one day he came into the house proudly showing us the egg he was holding. Liam held up the egg and was telling us (my sil and I)how the egg was slippery (ewwww). (We were wondering if he had helped the hen in the birthing process.) Well, it must have been slippery because he dropped it and it splat on the floor. Calmly, I got some paper towels and when I turned around I saw Grant walking toward us and I swear the rest happened in slow motion. I started yelling , "No! No! Go away!" and he stepped right into the egg and up went his leg and down came his rear end in the middle of egg. Then, of course, he started crying and looking confused at what just happened. All you had to do was replace the egg for a banana peel and I swear it was a scene out of my Saturday morning cartoons when I was a kid.

Weight Watchers

Two days ago I joined the Weight Watchers ranks and I feel a half pound lighter already!

Well, 4 new posts. I should be good for a couple of months, right?

Double Digits

Natalie Merrell turns 10!

The birthday gang.

L-R bottom: Cory Watts, Stevie, Remi, Porter, Adam and Rachel McCiuistion

top: Jennifer Jones, Natalie, Kayleigh Rice, Katelyn McCuistion
(for some reason Adam and Jennifer look like they have purple lips, but they really didn't)

We had Natalie's birthday party today. She turned 10. We had "brownie pudding" and ice cream. I made brownies for the cake. When I pulled it out of the oven I noticed it swayed a little bit, but thought it would stiffen as it cooled. So we sang Happy Birthday and I cut into it. It was basically a brownie crust over cooked batter. The kids didn't mind at all. Who can resist brownie batter? I couldn't (and it cost me a meal worth of weight watcher points). One girl was excited to have some because her mom never lets her have batter. Natalie wanted to go to the hot springs for her party so we took her friends to John's Pool and they swam. It was nice not to have to entertain kids. I just had to drive them there and the trip went by surprisingly quick.

Do these look comfy or what?

Come on in the water's warm.

Party's in the hot tub- next to the hot pool :) makes sense, right?