1:21

I wish our show was airing on a more regular schedule, but summer is busy in general, and with my family bouncing around, it's hard to find the time to broadcast. But I hope that by having more sporatic shows, our audience is all the more excited about a new episode :)

Dan is officially back from Vegas! He has been working this week from his mom's, where we are currently staying. I'm so thankful for *technology* allowing him to work from pretty much anywhere. He's only working a half day tomorrow (Wednesday) and then we are heading to his family's cabin Eagle River for a few days.

We went shopping yesterday for life vests, so the boys can go in the boat on the lakes up North. The shopping trip included a few tantrums (a rocky night's sleep PLUS no blue or orange vests in Noah's size EQUALED more than a few tears) but in the end we came home with matching Lighting McQueen ones that the boys wore pretty much all day. They are calling them pirate vests. Noah told a long story about how he was going to wear his pirate vest in the boat with a sail and a flag and bring his sword and maybe sometimes a fishing rod and would watch out for Captain Hook. It was very cute and I know they're both going to have a blast going out on the water.

Just now Xander woke up crying - he needed to go potty and also complained his leg was hurting. Daddy went to get some pink medicine (Sera's on ammoxiclin for an ear infection, so I told Dan to mix some cherry juice in with the dye free motrin). While we were waiting for the meds, Xander told me he was hungry, so I asked what kind of snack he wanted. Umm, Umm... I suggested a cracker or a cookie and then he says, "I want a carrot". So I suppressed my giggles and came down and got him some baby carrots. I sat with him while he ate them and I had one too. I said I liked carrots and he says "Yeah, I like carrots too, and so do bunnies". Fun, fun fun.

We had a fun day today - we had a playdate at the home of one of Dan's high school friends. There were a ton of kids and they all had a blast. There were 5 three year old boys, 2 one year old boys and of course, princess Sera for all the boys to fawn over. My camera is still at my sister's house, full of Europe pictures, but I'm sure with all the fun we had today, there will be more playdates with the Tettings and Kons' this summer, which will afford plenty of photo ops :)

1:17

Wow, Friday was a crazy day for both of us. Libby had to take Maddi to an eye appointment, since at her kindergarten screening they said she might need glasses. She does indeed need glasses, which she got to pick out today. Stay tuned for pictures soon!

I was busy planning my trip to Minneapolis, inside of which I also planned a last minute trip to Las Vegas. Libby is going to keep all 3 of my kids while I go to a Wheel of Fortune audition in Vegas. I went to a Wheel Mobile event about a month ago - I didn't get up on stage, but I filled out a form, and I got chosen for the 'final' auditions. I don't know how many people will be there, or for how many slots, but being the huge WOF fan that I am, everyone seems to think I should not pass the opportunity up and have the 'what-ifs' hanging over my head. So I leave Wednesday evening, have the audition Thursday morning, and fly home Friday morning.

What a roller coaster - I'm anxious and excited about the game show, psyched to see Dan, and nervous about leaving my babies, especially since I've just been away from the boys and have never left Sera before. But they all love their Auntie Libby, and I'm sure the time will fly for everyone.

The kids and I made it to Libby's around 6 last night. The kids are getting along really well. The boys are getting a little mixed up about all the aunties... sometimes they call libby auntie pam or auntie tracy, so we correct them, so they just started calling her "Maddi Mae's Mom".



Last night we had a jam session with Ryan's Guitar Hero World Tour. The kids are grooving to No Doubt's "Spiderweb" - which Noah and Xander are fittingly dressed for. I shall let the video say the rest...

1:15

For as long as I can remember, Wednesday in my mom's day care home is PANCAKE DAY! Often times my mom would make mine with chocolate chips, but this morning we had left over blueberry compote from last night's crepes, and it was so yummy.

Pancake Day almost feels like a holiday - everyone gets into the spirit of pancake day. We talk about it the night before, a little Tuesday night Pancake Eve celebration. And during the feast, everyone is happy and jolly. This morning after I gave Sera half a pancake, and Grandma said, "Don't drop your pancake Sera, the doggies will eat it up." Then Noah came up to drive the point home, standing at her high chair he rattled off, "Yeah, Sera, hold on to your pancake, don't drop it, if you drop the doggies will come REALLY FAST and eat it up REALLY FAST and then your pancake will be all gone and you won't have your pancake ANYMORE." It was so cute.

Later, Xander came to help me change Sera's diaper. To entertain her, he told this joke:
X: Knock, Knock
M: Who's there?
X: Aproughs
M: Apples Who?
X: No, EYEBROWS, me saying!
M: Oh, sorry, Eyebrows who?
X: Pancakes!! (followed by lots of giggles)

I don't know what it is about my mom's pancakes that's so great. They're *just* bisquick pancakes, but when I make them, it's just not the same. Maybe it's the heavy stovetop griddle she uses. Maybe it's the half of stick of butter she uses to grease that griddle. But probably it's just the Mom factor, the love and the memories of many a Pancake Day past and the anticipation of all the Pancake Days to come that make every Wednesday morning here so special.

1:2

When I first suggested the name of our show to Libby, it was over gmail chat.  I wrote it all as one word, since I knew that's how it would look in url address.  Libby called later to tell me she had created the blog, and had decided to keep the title all in lower case.  We're very ee cummings, she says. and we laughed. After our premiere, we were on back gmail chat and had the following exchange:

me: remember the other day when you said we were very 'ee cummings'

Libby: yes
me: well we're kinda random with the capitalization, which is actually more Emily Dickenson...or as Buffy would say, Emily Dickens 

Libby: lol how do we work that in

me: we can save it, see if anyone comments on our writing style

Well readers, we didn't have to wait long at all! Libby's dear English Teacher sister-in-law, Becky, called us on our grammar.  We're not worried about grammar.  Yes, I'll proofread libby's posts, but we're not going for a pulitzer, just some laughs and "yes, that's how I feel!" moments. We'll write conversationally, anecdotally and sometimes talk-show monologue-y.

I was going to wrap up there, but thought I should share what kept the boys busy while I wrote this.  There was a pile of hardware from the desk (screws, shelf holder-uppers, etc). Also, there were the tubes that go to the vacuum.  So they are playing cannons, "1, 2, 3 Fire!" and then the hardware comes pouring out of the tube. Guess they don't mind all their toys already being packed up!