16 out of 16

So, I got my first paper back. I am thrilled. Apparently I have not lost all of my communication skills. I got full credit and a glowing review from my professor. She actually had no negative comments and said it was one of the best papers she had ever received for this class. WOW! So, I know what I am thankful for this year!

Grandpa Keith

My kids love their Grandpa Keith! In fact, Gabe calls Grandma Kerry...Grandma Keith. My dad decided last Tues that he was going to come for a long weekend (and in the process, saved Rob from a weekend alone with the boys). The kids were in heaven. They woke up on Friday and Grandpa Keith was there...what a treat. I don't think Gabe ever left his arms...at least not willingly or without the bribery of food.

Thanks for coming to visit Dad!

Time Away

So I spent last weekend at Port Gamble with some other moms. We had a really nice time. We spent the day wandering in and out of shops and the night drinking and playing party games. Best of all, there was no one asking "mommy, mommy, mommy!"

Port Gamble is a tiny, one horse town that was built to be a replica of a town in Massachusettes. The buildings you see are the entire commercial section of the town.

The Bad Mom

So, the past two days I have been the bad mom. The one whose kids are huddled in front of the TV. The one whose kids are eating hot dogs and pizza for every meal.

I had a paper due today and Rob is gone. He is in the field firing missiles and having a blast. And I really needed him here. The laundry is piled up. The dishes cover the counter. I am so tired I can hardly move. I want to be mad at him, but this is the first thing he has gotten to do that really excited him since we moved from Alaska. But it came at the worst possible time.

Now my kids are whiney and kicking and make me want to send them to bed 2 hours early...ahhhh

Daddy's Little Helpers

This is just the best picture of Anthony! We were making silly faces for the camera.

Rob was doing some yard work on Sun, and the boys thought they would help. I am not sure that Rob saw it that way, but he was a good sport about having to re-rake the leaf piles 3 times.

Today, Rob left for the field. This is a rare occurrence for him since he is driving a desk right now. he was so excited...like a kid at Christmas as he packed up all his little gadgets and toys. The boys thought they would help with this too. As he got ready to leave, the boys asked if they could go to the field too and ride the tractors and sleep in a tent. How can you not love that? This is Gabe playing Army...I think he might still have a little bit of growing to do.

What did you do today?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.

Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.In the front room the TV was on loudly with the cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day? ''Yes,' was his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

Fruit

Gabe has never really been a fruit kid. He'll eat applesauce or any thing like that, but not just a piece of fruit. We always put it on his plate...then he promptly says no and moves it off his plate. But yesterday he ate 2 bananas, and a piece of watermelon. He called them Popsicles, but who cares. I didn't take a picture for fear he would stop.

Big Back log...sorry

I love this picture of Rob and Anthony! They both almost have a smile :-)

I am swamped with school work. I have two papers due plus my regular work. I am a little stressed...and up at 5a every morning right now. My mom left about a week ago...I am still very sad. I told Anthony once that I wish she would come back, and now he says it all the time. Even Gabe is saying Grama back when he is sad.

Rob is travelling...again. This time he is in Reno...poor thing. But we do have a 4 day weekend this weekend for Veterans day. I am hoping to finish my bathroom completely! We are also going to take the boys to see Madagascar 2. This will be there first movie that is not a free movie. We will do real popcorn and everything.

Here are some pics. Before my mom left, we went to the pumpkin patch. Rob and the kids also carved a pumpkin and we even toasted the pumpkin seeds. Anthony did not like the pumpkin seed texture...but at least he tried it. And we did go trick or treating.

Oh, and I put the boys in the same room. Works great for night time, not so good for naps :-)