Saturday, December 7, 2013

Josh and the 23rd Psalm

Daddy was working REALLY hard with Josh.

He wanted Josh to start memorizing Bible verses.

So he starts with the easists of them all.....the 23rd Psalm!

Josh knows it, but he's super shy.  

So I videoed him in front of the Christmas tree saying it.



Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Best Time of the Year My Butt.....

Everyone knows that famous Christmas song by Burl Ives.

You know the one.

"Have a holly, jolly Christmas.  It's the best time of the year!"

I'm callin' horse crap on that.

Today, restraint was practiced by the adults in the house .......


Did you know that you cannot shop-vac saw dust out of a little girls' hair? (Yes, I really did vacuum her hair.)

Did you know that it creates rats?  (Lots of them.)

Did you know that child abuse is ILLEGAL?

Did ya?!

Did you  also know that it's IMPOSSIBLE to shop-vac every piece of saw dust strung from here to eternity? 

Did ya?!

Did ya, huh?!?!??!


Ya see.....we're trying to finish our basement and the hubby has been framing the downstairs.

Framing involves wood.  

Wood makes dust.

Josh takes dust from 30 gallon trash can (was about 1/4-1/2 full of said saw dust) and decides that his innocent little sister reading a book on the couch is a great target.

Saw dust from here (and everywhere) to there.

Crying little girl.

Punished little boy.

Baffled parents.

Best time of the year my big wide, white butt!

Shove it, Burl!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, Chad has the pleasure of working on the 2 major holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas.

So.......

We take our party to the station.

But first, we had to make pies.

I love making pies.

I decided to try the Pioneer Woman's pie crust recipe.  (Cuz my last one using butter turned out HORRIBLE!)

And it wasn't too bad!  It was very soft and hard to work with, but it tasted fine.

And Josh thought so too!



I'll be honked if that kid doesn't like raw pie dough.  He won't touch anything new without a decree from congress, but he'll swipe raw pie dough.

Go figure.


All of the sudden I'll have rolled out the dough, put it in the pie tin, be ready to form the crust, turn around....

and WHAMMO!

Pie crust swiper took a chuck out of it.

But....I got to use Granny Heffel's pumpkin pie dish (with lid) and that made me happy.

I also tried to make Pecan Pie (used the PW's recipe) and it turned out great!  

(Or that's what I hear.  I didn't even get a piece of it!!)

We had so much fun at the Fire Station.  

And I think a large part of it was my attitude.

Before you go all "DUH Shell" on me, know that is hard for me.

I was missing out on my family's big celebration in Oklahoma and missing the family, with only 2 children to talk to.  I really tried to make the most of it and celebrate with a happy heart.  

And wouldn't ya know....it worked!

Anyway, back to the station.....

It's got 5 men there that all dress the same (like Daddy) and poor Macey walked up to at least 2 of them while they were turned around and called them Daddy.  Then they turned around to face her and she turned white a ghost.  

And sometimes, okay ALL THE TIME, at the station, you have to make your own fun.

Like.....running on the treadmill, playing basketball inside, seeing the trucks, rowing the rescue boat, wheely chair races (like office chairs), etc.

Here are some pics from the races:




Macey never really did ride in a chair.  She just ran and chased them.



 And then Daddy started to really win, Josh didn't like that, and tried to hold him back. 












Dads-always there to bring ya down to reality....

And Josh ran into that door a couple of times.


We finally had to shut it.  Then he just hit the trucks.  

Then in the station that Chad is at now, there's an upper floor too.  







And then there was also entertainment outside!

At first, we thought it was a trick.  



Doesn't it look fake?

But then look at it's hind leg.  It's broke.  It hobbled back in to the drain.



Then the kids (big one too) sat on the fire truck and roared at it.


I made sure that the kids (at least Josh) ran on the treadmill before we left to burn some energy.



And of course there was lots of Daddy time.





And we played a little basketball.






Well, 2 of them did while the third one jumped down the row on the floor drain.




But that's the name of the game:

"Make your own fun or go home."

We had a great day!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Checkin' Off My List

So......it's November 19.......

AND MY CHRISTMAS TREE IS UP!!

Say Whaaaaa?!?!?

That's right.  It's November.  In the teens even.  

AND MY TREE IS UP!

No, no.  Don't be jealous.  Really.  You see, here's how it went down.

Two days ago, I meantion to Hubby of the Year (for the moment anyway) that I would like to put up the tree before Thanksgiving.

Since we're in a new house, I wanted to bounce ideas off of him on where to put it.  (Not that I'm not going to put it wherever I want, but still.)

We discussed some places, then moved furniture to make the tree easily visible from the kitchen and the living room, but not so visible that it is a target to get knocked over everyday.

Then the next day, I come home from driving to the big city to take Josh to preschool and shop with Macey (which has become our thang)........

And POOF!  Tree has appeared and is assembled.

Dang!  Now I really have to get it done.  

Cuz......who wants to look at a fake, bare, yucky tree.

And the kids whinin' and a beggin'.  That'll make ya get 'er done!  Just to make them happy!  (And quiet.)

So......

I try to save some things that I need to accomplish (that don't take much effort or sanity) for when Chad's not home to help pass the time, which made today Tree Decorating Day!

I fluffed the tree.  You know.....pulled the fake, itchy branches into somewhat of a reasonably realistic manner.  

Am I the only one who sneezes and itches after dinkin' with a fake tree?

I think I'm allergic to putting up the tree.  I'll have to hire it done from now on.

Then I had bought some new ribbon for the tree at Michaels the other day.  I was so stinkin' excited to put that up, that I did.  

Without lights.

I remember the darn lights after all the ribbon was on and looked purty.

Damn it.

Take the ribbon back off. 

Put stupid lights on.  They're white lights.

Or they're supposed to be.  

Some are old and they glow yellow.  But, hey, it fits.

Then by this time, I forgot to mention that the tree may be up, with lights, but MY PATIENCE IS GONE!

I swear to you......no matter where I am....those 2 munchkins follow me around like St. Bernard Ticks.  

They're big.  Sometimes drool.  And are constantly knocking things over.

We decided to put our tree between the couch and the chair.  If you drew a box around the tree about 3 foot square........

All three of us (2 kids and me) were in that small area.  

By a tree that I had to level out with a Dinosaur Train book. 

Cuz said Hubby of the Year broke my tree stand. 

He says he didn't, but it wasn't that way last year when I left it!

And there was a branch missing.

Oh, I didn't mention those things....missing branch, leaning tree, and kids in small area!

Yep.  It was fun.  I just wanted to yell, "Darn it kids.  I'm trying to make you memories here.  Back up and let Mommy do!"

So Mimi arrived and brought dinner.  We took a dinner break and I was refreshed to finish decorating the tree.

At first, Josh was the only one who wanted to help.  But like most things in the Duerksen family, Macey wants to do whatever Josh does.  And better.






































We set up a system because both kids wanted to help.  




Macey took the EXTREMELY FRAGILE ornaments out of the tub and R-A-N to hand them to Josh who was waiting at the tree.  






































Then he placed them appropriately.

It worked out fairly well.  No broken ornaments. 











































































This is a close up as to how they were spaced.  He started off sooooo good!  They were perfectly spaced!  Then, right as I told Mimi to look at that, whamo.....


After we did the tree, we got out our Nativity.  Although, Josh calls it our 'activity'.  


It was so neat to see how this year Josh was SUPER excited about getting it out.  He's been old enough to remember it for about 2 years now.

You could see his pure joy when he got them all out of the boxes.





































And of course anything Josh can do, Macey can do it better and faster!

She liked seeing them too. 

If only because Josh did.

Our Christmas season is off to a good start.




Saturday, November 9, 2013

A Great Day

I was so thankful for the nice weather outside today.

Less windy than yesterday (we had a high wind gust of about 50) and warmer.

So.....

the Duerksen kids (big and small) went outside.
































An that's pretty much how it was-Daddy in the lead, Josh next, and Macey picking up the rear.

And she liked it that way!  She was happy to just be.

Then Josh took a tumble:



























Then they made a 'base'.  (You can tell what they play at recess at preschool some days.)



































And then the running stopped.  Josh's cough caught up with him.

So Macey got the ball!




































And then she took a break.



































And then the sun went down and we all went inside.

But it was sooooo good to be out!

Gramma Evie Rocks!

Macey loves any kind of carb.

She will NEVER be on an Adkin's Diet.

She loves bread, noodles, etc.

But her FAVORITE is Gramma Evie Noodle Casserole.

I put in a request for some, since Macey had been asking for it and got this:


















A HUGE 9x12 pan that is probably 3 inches deep of casserole.

I froze most of it into smaller portions, but Macey still ate on it.  






































In fact, we got it last Sunday, and she's had it for at least one meal everyday.






































One day she even woke up and wanted it for breakfast!

Girl loves her some Gramma Evie Noodle Casserole!

Thanks Gramma Evie!

And Mom of the Year Goes To.....

Today we had a birthday party to go to.

Or at least I thought.

We were all dressed nicely, in the car, with said birthday present and......

I checked my text from the mom and......

it's the next week.

Kids screaming.

Kids unhappy.

Husband confused.

"Who wants candy?!"

That fixed it.

Except for the husband.

Mom of the Year.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Things That Make You Go.......WHAAAA?????

I must just be running out of patience with society.

I know that we live in a free country, but some people take that WAY too far.

I've been running across thing that just plain make me say, "What the world?"

Here are a few:


























Do you EVER in this LIFETIME see Chad wearing PJs like that?!?!









And do you ever see me being the type of mom to allow that?!  

Encouraging gaming or electronics on the potty?  

Oh where to start?!?!  Peeing on the screen (even though it has a screen protector), peeing everywhere because you're watching something, never getting off the potty, abusing the potty so you can have screen time, etc.

NO!!!


Then I was looking for more inspiration for decorating my kitchen (coffee themes) and ran across this:

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/COFFEE%20ENEMA.HTM

That's right.  He wants to put coffee in the nether regends and retain it for about 20 minutes.  WTW?  

I'll drink mine Dr. Wilson.


I could post more things that are weird, but where to stop?!?!?


Saturday, November 2, 2013

Friday, November 1, 2013

Trick or Treating 2013

This year was SOOOOO much fun trick or treating!  Macey was well enough (and the nite air was good for her) and both kids were old enough to truly enjoy the time.

It started of with our traditional dinner at Mimi's.

Mimi went all out with fun festive food for the kids.  Peanut butter cracker sandwiches with arms and eyes, google eyes glued onto plates (non-edible we had to remind the kids), dirt 'n' worms for dessert, etc.  

However, if you know Josh and Macey.....you know they don't like anything new!!!!!

However, by the end, Josh did try a gummy worm and liked it.  We made a SUPER big deal out of it.  (The trying something new and liking it thing...)

Then we started to get dressed in our costumes.

I swear......even as the adult......it didn't get dark fast enough!

I knew the kids would enjoy trick or treating.

I knew they were old enough to 'get it.'

And that blankity-blank sun wouldn't go D-O-W-N!!!

It finally did and we started to get our costumes on.

This is how Macey wanted to go.


























It took quite some convincing to get her to actually put on her costume.

Then we started to trick or treat.

But first.....you know the drill.....

PICTURES!!!!












Originally, I was not planning on Macey wearing her dress up shoes.  

I should've known better.

But, she worn those darn things all night!  She even ran in them!

Before any body could blink, the kids saw other kids trick or treating in the neighborhood and were IMMEDIATELY begging to start.  

And start we did.











































After about the first nine houses, we had to carry Macey to each next house.    We'd let her down in the driveways.  I figure.....if you're going to be taking part in the candy takings, you can walk like a big girl!  

This next picture is my favorite.






































Josh was the doorbell ringer.  We had to keep reminding him to only ring once.  

But....

He was so stinkin' excited, he kept peeking in the windows to see when they were coming!

Imagine...

Being a kid, having limited candy by mean ol' parents, then one night out of the year you get to go say a phrase and people GIVE you FREE candy!  You didn't have to do something nice or keep you pants dry.  They just give it to you!

We did stop by Uncle Ross and Aunt Cheryl's house.  Baby Tanner was dressed up like Harry Potter.

Here's a couple pics:
































At one house after Uncle Ross's, Macey tripped and a little candy spilled out of her bucket.  But what'd'ya know.....so did candy wrappers.  Guess Daddy wasn't just HOLDING the bucket!

Caught!

And by the end, Josh was able to tell me the rules:

"I know, I know Mom.  Only go to houses with lights on, let them put the candy in your bucket, only take one if they let you get it, say thank you, and pick up my tail."   (His tail kept dragging in the water from the rain the night before.)  He was so mature!  

He knew the rules.

Didn't sneak any candy.

Was super patient and kind and generous with his sister.

It was a GREAT night had by all.

Even the parents got some candy......after the dinosaur and the princess went to bed!