I am firmly blaming the Whitmer Cousins....

I am firmly blaming the Whitmer cousins - Mike and Doug.  For as long as I can remember, they dip everything in ketchup, especially turkey.  I guess it's like thier every-day-gravy.

Josh was having dinner with me, Chad was off working in the garage, and he stopped eating his 'chicky nuggets.'  I asked him if he would like to dip his chicky nuggest in ketchup.  (We usually only do this with french fries at resturaunts to keep him quiet and busy.)

Of course he said yes.  Then I look over after doing something at the kitchen sink to see this:

Licking just the ketchup as fast as he can.  Then he proceedes to put the bowl up to his mouth and lick it.  I wish I could've got a picture of that. 

 But how can you be made at a face like this????

Fire Station Humor

Chad sent me this in an email.  This isn't his station, but it just goes to show you that these guys make do and the humor that they have.

"Station 36 is auctioning our front storm door.  Just in time for Christmas you too can have one of very few storm doors like this on the planet.  You will be a hero if you bring this door home to your wife.  Works really well, summer and winter.  The settings are printed on the door and are easily understood.  The auction will begin now and will end at 7:00 P.M. on 12-15-2010."

Before I opened it, I was thinking "I've wanted a storm door for our front door for years!  You've told me no and now you want to bid on one?!  Aggghh!!!"

But then I opened it and chilled. 

Christmas Humor

 The future Duerksen Family Tree Outing

Why I don't do popcorn garland...

I'd like to do this to a few kids....

Our tree is the exact opposite...

Watch Your Mouth.....

Things NEVER E-V-E-R to say to a pregnant woman, especially your wife:

1. "You've been eating for an hour and a half.  Aren't you full yet?"
2. "You're the only person I know who can eat like that!"
3. NEVER EVER laugh at your wife when she tells you what she had to eat.

If you do, be prepared to go to Sonic at 8:30 at night to make a run for mozzarella cheese sticks to make up for it.

How Does Flour Taste?

Next time you see Josh....ask him how flour tastes.

We were making these yummy pumpkin spice donut muffins and before I could get any other ingredients in the bowl, Josh reached in while I wasn't looking and took a big handful of flour and ate it. 

Boy, you should have seen his reaction. "What is this and why are we putting it in our food?"

On a brighter note, the muffins turned out delicious.  Hey, they were rolled in melted butter and cinnamon and sugar.  How could that be yucky?

Christmas Lights and Santa

Last year, we went to see Christmas lights and found the best display ever.  It's called "Lights on St. Paul" and it's sponsored by an organization who "serves the needs of over 7,000 local individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities."  It's really cool. 


After we drove thru the lights, which Josh got to get out of his carseat and sit in the front with us (too cool BTW), we asked if he wanted to see Santa.  At first he said yes.  Then we got out of the car and his tune started to change.  He wasn't really sure.  So we asked if he wanted to go sit with Santa and we got an immediate "NO" that never changed.  His answer never wavered. 


But.....we're evil parents and made him anyway. 


While we were standing in line, we tried to talk about all the other little boys and girls who were sitting with Santa. 

Thank goodness there were no screaming kids ahead of us.  The kids made it look so easy.  


Those dang kids must have wanted the entire toy department at Wal-Mart they took so long.  There were only 3 kids in front of us but it took a good 10 minutes to tell Santa their wishes.  So we had to entertain. 

Daddy's always up for a good ride.  This lasted all of 3 minutes.  But finally, it was our turn.  While we were trying to coax Josh into doing it, Chad and I were working out our game plan. 

"OK.  You put Josh on Santa's lap and run, but don't do it before my camera's on and ready and in position."  You would've thought it was a stealth CIA mission.

Here are the results of one mean Mommy and Daddy working together.

Then Mommy had to step in.  I guess I was the Saving Angel of Mercy.  So I was the buffer between Santa and Josh.  And we STILL got a picture like this:

Ah memories.  And don't I look my best.  I didn't think we'd get out of the car, let alone get my picture taken. 


And look at Santa VERY closely.  He's special.  He must be one of the 7,000 The Arc helps.  He was so sweet to Josh.  As we started to leave, he called Chad over to him and said, "You can tell him I'm a real person.  My name is Don."  He wanted to make sure that Josh knew he was real and was okay.  It was priceless.  The $5 donation was well worth it.  I hope Don has wonderful memories of playing Santa.

Stupid hormones....now I'm crying.......

Boy or Girl?

I've been trying to pin down Chad on what he thinks we're having.  I don't know, but I do know that this pregnancy is WAY different from Josh's in every way.

• With Josh I was so sick, Chad said I probably survived on less than 400 calories a day.  Now, I eat 400 calories as a snack!  I can't get enough food!  Back it up boys!  The pregnant lady's H-U-N-G-R-Y!!!!
• With Josh, I didn't start showing until about the 6th month or after.  Now, I'm showing and I'm hardly 3 months along!

Chad said he thinks it's a girl, and I'm inclined to agree seeings how this is so different.  So, I took a test on the internet to see what I'm having.  (And we all know that EVERYTHING on the internet is true, right?!)

Here's the test.  It's based off of old wives' tales. 

Q: How are you carrying? 

High
Low

Q: What do you crave? 

Salty
Sweet

Q: My baby's heart rate is:  (Above - it was 163 at our last appt.)

Above 140 beats per minute
Below 140 beats per minute

Q: The color of my urine is:  (TMI)

Dull Yellow
Bright Yellow

Q: Which direction does your pillow face:

South
North

Q: Was the month of your conception:

Even
Odd

Q: Are your feet:

Not colder than before.
Colder than before.

Q: Does the hair on your legs grow:  (TMI)

The same as before pregnancy.
Faster

Q: Do you eat the heel of a loaf of bread?

No way!
Love it!



According to the Old Wives it's a girl!