Thursday, December 22, 2016

Happy Holidays 2016

From our family to yours: We wish you a very Merry Christmas!

As is tradition, please enjoy some memorable quotes from our trio!

December 2015 - We head to a family baptism and Sam, thinking the word is BATH-tism, asks, "is it like a pool or something?"

December 2015 - We decided to switch around the boys' bedrooms and paint both rooms.  The whole Worst Family came over to help paint.  Crazily, we gave all 6 kids an opportunity to help.  We did it in pairs from oldest to youngest.  When it was finally Isaac's turn, he entered the room and looked around at the paintbrushes and other tools.  He looked right at Uncle Stan and said, determinedly, "I choose hammer!"

December 2015 - In the flurry of opening presents on Christmas morning, Noah helped open a PS4 I had purchased for all the boys.  Not more than 5 minutes later, he opened a Minecraft game for the PS4 from grandma.  He politely turned to my mom and said, "Thanks, but unfortunately, we don't have a PS4."

January 2016 - Sam's serious question of the day: "Do we have a minivan or is it a mickey van?"

January 2016 - At the library, Bampa (my dad) asks Isaac if he wants help with his mitten.  He replies, "Yes please, I'm just a kid!"

January 2016 - We just started reading Harry Potter aloud as a family.  Mike stops just before Hagrid arrives to get Harry.  The chapter ends with an unknown figure knocking on the door.  Mike asks the boys, "who do you think is banging on the door?"  Without missing a beat, Sam suggests, "GODZILLA!"

March - We have been enjoying the 21 Pilots song "Heathens."  We discover after months of singing it that Noah has been saying "Heeeevens."

April 2016 - Sam's reflections in being 5 years old: "These are the best years of my life!"

April 2016 - On a recent trip through the bank ATM with Bampa, Sam is asked if he needs any money for more stuff.  Sam declares: "What do I need more stuff for?  I already have new shoes!"

April 2016 - Isaac and I were reviewing some of his personal facts like his name and his age.  I asked him if he had any sisters, he answered, "no sisters, sisters are boring!"

May 2016 - Isaac has been fascinated by body parts lately, asking questions about lungs and kidneys, etc.  He walks up to me, points to my hip and states, "That's your big giant hippo bone!"

June 2016 - At our annual Mud Day we add the mentos and diet coke explosion activity, much to everyone's delight.  Isaac retells the events to Mike saying, "You have to take the tentacles (mentos) and put them in the soda holes, then you gotta scootch outta the way!"

June 2016 - The older two boys attend a tennis camp every day for a couple weeks.  One day, Uncle Josh comes to watch.  As we walk over to the courts, Josh asks Sam who is favorite tennis player is.  Sam responds, "John Cena."

June 2016 - Over dinner, we discuss healthy choices and I mention that I want to eat well so I can live a long life.  Noah says, "I think you got maybe 30 years left in you mom."

June 2016 - Isaac's version of the 2nd verse of Farmer in the Dell (which should be 'The farmer takes a wife') is: "The farmer takes a wipe."

July 2016 - I compliment Sam on his good memory.  He tells me, "I have a remerable brain."

July 2016 - All the boys are about to start swim lessons again for the summer.  Noah nervously shares that he "is feeling kind nervous, I think I forgot how to levitate in water."  You mean... float.

July 2016 - As we eat lunch, I play some music for us to enjoy.  The boys ask the song title and I joke, "I think it's called 'mom is awesome!'"  Noah rolls his eyes.  Sam adds, "yea, I think it was written by a guy named Sam back in the nineties."  Noah further adds, "yea, but then he went to jail."

September 2016 - Isaac's adorable pronunciation of rodeo is "row-tee-oh" and hotel is "show n tell."

September 2016 - After an intense wrestling match with Uncle Josh, Sam yells out, "You squeezed my brain, now I can't do math!"

November 2016 - Bamma (my mom) asks Sam what's on his Christmas list.  He tells her, "I don't really have a list.  All my Christmas presents have been so awesome, I don't need one!"

December 2016 - Noah's pressing question of the day: "Mom, is it Mark the Herald Angels sing or Hark the Herald?"

December 2016 - In a recent FaceTime call with Bamma, Isaac mentions something about Frankenstein.  Bamma tries to get him to clarify by asking, "Where is Frankenstein?"  Isaac looks right at her and says, "He went to college."

December 2016 - Isaac's favorite joke is "What did the baseball glove say to the ball?  Catch you later!"  But now he just uses the punchline for everything.  A recent version of his: "What did the duck say to the duck?  Catch you later!"  And then he laughs himself silly!

December 2016 - While enjoying the lights at Morton Arboretum, Sam teaches us the version of Rudolph his music teacher shared with him.  In this version after the line "join in any reindeer games" where traditionally we add "like monopoly!" he now adds, "what does the fox say - ding ding ding!"  I can only imagine how funny this is with an entire kindergarten class singing it!

December 2016 - Our recent visit to Santa was amazing and resulted in the following picture, during which Santa was whispering to Sam, "You're the troublemaker aren't you?  Don't worry, I still love you!'

Wishing each and every one of you the best in 2017!!!

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Gearing up for the holidays!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving, complete with 3 handsome boys!
Isaac got a Biology book from Auntie Faith and spent some time reviewing his favorite subject, the human body!
Cousin love, Xavier was not feeling it!
This is how we dress for Black Friday, right?  Even if we don't go shopping anywhere!
Our good friend Erin ran the Schaumburg half marathon, so we prepped a sign and cheered her on!
 Sam's writing is really coming along!  Here are my favorite samples from the past few weeks.  "From Sam to Mom for being the best mom ever!" (No, I did NOT prompt him!)
"I love mom and dad very very much.  Love Sam.  To Mom and Dad."
Molly Philips got us another Bears hook up this year!  This time I was able to take Josh!
 Bacon Mac and Cheese Dog?  Yes sir!
 Cubs World trophy came to the game.
 We had an awesome time, it was cold but not bitter.  The Bears did lose, but it was still a good game!

 So, on to December!  Sam had the honors of topping the tree this year, he took it very seriously and even dressed in his nice clothes!

 We had our first snowfall of the season, so of course we had to go out!
 For being almost 11, she still keeps up with the rugrats (until she gets cold and hides in the garage)!
 Our short snowman!
 I got to go to the new Saved by the Bell restaurant on Sunday night.  Philie even pulled out the high school band dickey to wear!
 Ginger, Kelly, Philie, and I all dressed the part!
 Of course they have giant heads and of course we have to take ridiculous pictures!

 The menu was filled with ridiculously named items, but the food was actually very good!
 So much fun, even if it was near 11pm on a Sunday night!  We had a blast!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

November happenings

So, the time change has us all feeling like 6pm is bedtime!  Recently, Sam tried out a headlamp while we went for an evening walk.
 November means it's time for mom to crack out the matching Christmas jammies!  Noah put up with it for one photo, that's all I ask!
 Noah had his 3rd grade music concert and decided to wear his Harry Potter tie!
 The theme was Americana, complete with Neil Diamond's "America!"
 It was a packed house, Bamma and Bampa came too!
 Last weekend we celebrated Anya's 2nd birthday, cousin love!

 Dr. Cake did not disappoint!
 Uncle Mike for the win!
 She didn't quite know what to do about the candles, Sam offered up some coaching!
 A lapse in judgment in Target's dollar section and someone is the proud owner of a triangle!
 Hat day at school - Noah went fancy!
 Sam opted for a creature hat
 Isaac's school friend, Marcus, gave all his friends finger puppets, we love them!
 Thanksgiving feast for preschool!
 Puppy snuggles on the couch.
Noah had his first official belt test since starting in the "youth" section of karate.
Proudly receiving his green belt!
 Sam helped make some rice krispie turkey legs!
 Josh and Kjersten brought over some cool Star Wars legos for a fun Sunday afternoon.
 On Monday, the boys had a sleepover at Bamma and Bampa's house.  First time they tried a banana split!  Good stuff!
 Isaac stuck with a classic sundae.
 With the green belt comes sparring class, he had his first one this week!
 Now we begin the Thanksgiving potato prep!
 Everyone wants to get in on the karate fun!
 HIYA and a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!