Monday, December 31, 2012

Best Photos of 2012

March:  Jump Rope (at Disney)

I decided to join in and post my 12 favorite photos of Dylan from 2012.  (Link up here to participate). Wow, talk about tough!  I take a LOT of pictures.  What's your favorite?

October:  Green Eyes (Some of these are out of order, because my computer won't cooperate).


February:  Moustache Man:  This isn't the one we used for his Valentines, but it is my favorite because I can not look at it without laughing.


March:  Disney Joy





May:  Round Hill Farm




June: Picking Strawberries (Triple B Farm)


July: At The Pool


October:  Oh Those Cheeks!






July:   I Can Fly : I love this shot, because it captures the fact that at least at this age, he has no fear.

November:  Christmas Card Photo Shoot #1 (This is the one we used).

November:  Christmas Card Photo Shoot #2 (Boyce Park)

December:  Christmas Morning


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas Memories 2012


There is one thing I am pretty sure we will remember from Christmas 2012... the fact that firemen were almost in attendance!  We were sitting at the table enjoying the all the delicious food, when I looked up and exclaimed, "SOMETHING IS ON FIRE IN THE OVEN!!"  Some food was left in the oven, and caught on fire.  Thank goodness Jim knew what to do and was able to put it out. (We will be buying my mother in law a fire extinguisher as soon as possible!  Do YOU have one?  If not, please get one!)
The house was full of smoke, and we had to open all the doors and windows for a while.  The kitchen drapes are ruined, but otherwise we were very lucky.  Plus, we have a story I'm sure we'll be telling for years... "the Christmas fire of 2012"!

Some other things I need to write down to remember...

Like how my sweet little six year old was so into giving this year, busily making us all gifts.

That this was the first year he picked out and bought us all gifts (at school).  (That sparkly black and silver bracelet is mine).

Dylan singing "Feliz Navidad" in the school program, being an evergreen tree, and doing a reading in church.

The Christmas Eve church service at my parent's church, and Dylan almost falling asleep.

Dylan and I making Christmas cookies for the teachers cookie exchange while Jim fought with the Christmas lights.  

How excited Dylan was that we let him go up in the attic for the first time, to "help" Jim with the Christmas decorations.

Playing the Christmas game we play every year, and everyone trying to get rid of their gifts that they didn't want!

Enjoying spending quality time with family.  

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I'm looking forward to 2013!






Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Note and The Baby Spoon

(On the ride home from school last week...)

Dylan:  "Mom, I couldn't eat all my lunch today, because some kids were bothering me".

Me:  "What do you mean, bothering you?"

D:  "They kept saying stuff to me".

Me:  "What kind of stuff were they saying?"

D:  "Well, they read your note about Christmas, and they said it was wrong.  They didn't like the note".

Me:  "How was it wrong?"

D:  "You said it was only 18 more days until Christmas, and they said it is 20.  Are they right?"

Me:  "Well, maybe... Did you show them the note?"

D:  "No, they just took it, and wouldn't give it back.  One threw it in the garbage".

Me:  "Well, they shouldn't have done that!  It was your note.  Not theirs.  Next time, tell them not to touch your note, okay?"

D:  "Okay.  They said my spoon is a "baby spoon" too".

Me:  " It's not a baby spoon!"

D:  "I know!  I told them that.  I just tried to eat my lunch and ignore them".

Me:  "Actually, it's not even for kids!  It's for adults!  Who were these kids?"

D:  "I don't know them.  They're first graders".

Me:  "Did they bother you before?"

D:  "No".

Me:  "Well, I would sit by someone nice and avoid them".

D:  "I wasn't sitting by them, but they still bothered me!"

Me:  "Oh... Okay, honey.  Well, it sounds like you handled it well.  Next time, just tell them not to take your note".

D:  "Mom?  Is this tattling?"

Me:  "No, Dylan!  You can tell Daddy and I anything!  You should always tell us if you're having a problem, or if someone is being mean to you.  It's our job to help you figure out what to do.  Never be afraid to tell us anything, okay?"

D:  "Okay... thanks Mom".

Me:  "You're welcome.  Oh, Dylan, there's always going to be people who are mean.  The trick is knowing how to handle them.  School is hard sometimes, huh?"

D:  "Yea... sometimes".

He was quiet then, lost in thought, while looking out the car window.  I was lost in thought also, wondering , Did I say the right thing?  Did I say enough?  Too much?  Does this have to start so young?  How are we going to survive the school years?  Who are these little shits?

At dinner, I let Jim know what had happened.  I told him it seemed that Dylan handled it well.  I noticed that Dylan was listening very carefully.  I said...

Me:  "When someone isn't nice, they usually do it to get a reaction.  They like it when you get upset.  So you have to try and stay calm and act like they don't bother you.  Here, I'll show you, Dylan.  I'll pretend to be you, and you pretend to be them.  This is what to do".

D: (In a sing-songy voice)  "You have a baby spoon!  You have a baby spoon!"

Me:  (In a very calm, disinterested voice) "Actually, it's not".

D:  "You have a baby spoon!"

Me:  "Whatever". (Turning away)  "See?"

D:  (Laughing) "Yea!  Let's do it again!!"

Me:  "Okay, this time I'll show you what NOT to do".

D:  "You have a baby spoon!  You have a baby spoon!" (loving this game)

Me:  "NO I DON'T!  STOP IT!  WAH!" (pretending to cry)

D:  (Laughing...) "Again!"

Later that night, I asked him...

Me:  "Dylan, do you like the notes I put in your lunch, or would you like me to stop doing that?"

D:  "I like them!  But, Mom, you forgot to write "I Love You" today.  Can you write that each time?"

Me:  (Smiling from the inside... out)  "I sure can".

On the way to school the next day he announced that he thought it was going to be a great day.  Later, he told me those mean kids left him alone.  It WAS a great day.  I think he's got things under control.

If not, we can just do what Jim suggested and I modified a bit...

Write this on the next sticky note...

"If you're reading this and your name is not Dylan, I am watching you and I know where you little shits live".

Monday, December 3, 2012

Time Warp Tuesday: 2008 Christmas Newsletter

It's Time Warp Tuesday!  I still cannot upload any photos to my blog, and I still have no solutions that take more than the 10 minutes or so that I have, so I'm cheating this week.  Still a blast from the past... just no photos!  We got our first Christmas card on December 1st this year!  Nuts.  Don't people know they are just making me look bad?!  Here is the letter we sent out back in 2008.


I am writing this letter, to send you Christmas cheer,
and to let you all know what we've been up to this year.

What can I say about the year 2008?
Well, it wasn't just good, it was really top rate.

In January, we took a family vacation.
We took a month long cruise to many exotic locations.

In February, Dylan wrote his first symphony.
He's become quite the little composer, you see.

In March, we won the lottery, and quit our jobs,
Why am I talking to you? We're now snobs.

In April, my first book hit the best seller list,
Then came the movie deal that was too hard to resist.

In May, Oprah called, begging to have Dylan on her show,
I explained he was booked, what with Couric and Leno.

In June, we moved into our giant abode,
With a chef, a pool boy, and a marble commode.

In July, I started my own clothing line,
I call it "Your Arms Simply Can't Be Longer Than Mine".

In August, Armani sent Dylan his own suit,
On the red carpet, girls asked for his digits, and screamed "CUTE!!"

In September, I told Letterman that he is a fool,
That his jokes suck, and his interview questions aren't cool.

In October, Jim's invention hit all the best stores,
Luckily, no one was trampled, when crowds broke down the doors.

In November, he bought himself a Lamborghini, his dream car,
No one else is allowed to drive it, but we can look from afar.

In December, we bought ourselves a really big boat.
You realize I didn't write this letter to gloat.

I simply wanted to let you know what was new.
This wasn't intended to make you feel blue.

Okay, so none of it's true, as I'm sure you could guess,
But, what's Christmas, without a little holiday B.S.?