Snow Day Fun!

The DC area was hit by the shopper stopper blizzard 12 days ago. We were able to enjoy the snow for a week before the Christmas Day rain washed it all away. We did a lot of sledding and the kids got their first experience snowboarding.

Snow Angel Tank!


Fallen Monkey!


Queen of the Hill!


Here's Tank in his first attempt snowboarding!

The Shopper Stopper Storm of 2009...

Oh, boy, have we been hit by a snowstorm!

Last night we lost power in our home around 9:30p. Thankfully, we have gas heat so we were all warm through the night. The power came back on around 3a. I took this picture then. Please notice the car in front of our home.


This is that car NOW 15 hours later.


And, guess what??? The trunk of that car contains many Christmas presents that need to be wrapped and placed under the tree in 5 nights.

Pickles!!! (to be explained in a later post)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

We had our first significant (6") snowfall two weeks ago. It all melted within 2-3 days as we had some mild weather. Tank and Mr. O did manage to build a snowman though...They built it on Sunday; and it was gone by Wednesday.

Our area is about to be hit by another snowfall tonight and tomorrow that can put that snowfall to shame. Forecasters are predicting 12-15". Brrr!!! Not to worry, though, we are fully stocked up all the essentials. I think this will be a good weekend to make some chili, do some baking, and wrap those presents.

Wordless Wednesday

Cute Hats...

My Auntie just moved up to our neck of the woods last week. She's super-loving and quite creative too. A few months ago, she sent the kids hats to celebrate the Fall season. I'm looking forward to see what she has in store for us in the holidays to come!!!

Pumpkin-head Banana!!!


Strawberry Shortcake KK!!!


OKAY, she definitely didn't make this one, but it's funny nonetheless!!!

Place mats...

My sister's mother-in-law bought me three of these Thanksgiving place mats last year because she thought these pilgrims looked like my children. What do you think?

Wii play...but I think I'm too old!

Today was not a great day for me...

...I tried to make it fun for the kiddees.

They had a blast kicking my butt on the Wii...

but, I think I blew out my knees!!!

Pitiful, I know!

Wordless Wednesday

Tooth Fairy

Poor Tank and Banana!!! They are 6yo and are the 3rd & 4th oldest children in their Kindergarten class. They are also one of the last children to have lost any of their baby teeth. Every morning they both swear to me that their teeth are wiggling. Our pediatrician told us when they were babies that they would probably lose their teeth later than average because their first baby teeth didn't come in until later than average at 9mo. Banana's first tooth came in July 3rd, 2004, and Tank's first tooth came in July 5th, 2004...or was it the other way around??? (I'll have to check their baby books, but the dates are right.)

For their sakes, I sure hope each loses her/his first tooth before they turn 7. A friend of mine's 7yo just lost another tooth. The Tooth Fairy found this note last night: "You are not REAL, but here is the tooth anyway."

Well done, Vikings! Well done, Tank!

Can you see what I see???

No? I can't see anything either with a direct-on photo. However, here's what I saw when I walked out of our powder room.

This picture isn't doing it any justice, but I can see a self-portrait made by my sneaky Monkey. If you click on the picture, you can see it more clearly. This is what happens when a 4yo monkey takes a brown crayon and writes on brown walls.

Anyone have any good ideas on how to rub crayon markings off the wall without doing damage to the paint???

The O Line!

One of the greatest perks in living close to our nation's capital city is The National Zoo. And, the best thing about Our Country's Zoo, admittance is free!!!

Tomorrow will be the 15th of November, and our forecast calls for a SUNNY (we haven't seen the sun in a while) and a WARM (70 degrees) day. I think we are going to head to the Zoo for the 4th time this year.

We've made many trips to our Zoo since we've had kids. Our last trip was the first time we actually saw the Orangutans on the O-Line. We saw this O scamping above us...If he fell, he would have landed 15 feet from our picnic blanket.

Can you see what I see???

Yep, another sure sign that football season is over for the neighborhood kids!!!

Kindergarten...

Banana & Tank started Kindergarten this year. Our county's policy is very multiple-friendly. They will typically separate multiples unless requested by the parents to keep them together. When I registered them back in May, I requested that they be placed in the same class. I was very surprised when the official doing their paperwork balked at my request. I finally had to say, "Listen to me, I'm the mom, and here is how it's going to go." A week later I had the opportunity to speak with the principal. He was bothered I was given a hard time, and mentioned that keeping multiples in the classroom at the younger grades was more the norm at our school, as long as each child thrives and as long as they are not competing with each other.

So...Banana & Tank started Kindergarten this year placed in the same class. Here they are on the first day of school.

...waiting for the bus.

They never looked back...


Oh, how I cried that morning after they left!!! Where did my babies go?

The just LOVE Kindergarten, and they are EXCITED about school even now in November. I hear it each morning when they ask me how much longer will the bus be here at least 20 times. (They are in PM Kindergarten...the bus picks them up at 11:20a.) They are THRIVING. I see it by how much they are learning and reading. While in the same class, they are on different teams. They support each other when needed. Yes, they fight often like siblings do at home, but never at school. The feedback I've received from their teachers at their parent-teacher conference was amazing. I wasn't so sure they were talking about my children.

Yesterday, the kids brought home their very first report cards. I see it there as well; they exceed or meet every standard evaluated as of 1st quarter, Kindergarten.

I also see it upfront when I volunteer in the classroom. Today was my second time volunteering. The first time I met each student one-on-one outside the classroom testing them on patterns and coin recognition. Today, I worked inside the classroom putting workbooks together for the teachers. I got to sit there doing mundane, but important, work for the kids all while observing my children interact with their classmates. They forgot I was there after 5 minutes (...until I interrupted them to take their pictures).



Volunteering is awesome!!! I can't wait to get back there again. Much thanks to my sister for watching my little Monkey so I can get this special class time.

Veterans Day

To all our service men and women today and yesterday, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!

I remember the Fear...

In October 2002, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo terrorized the Washington DC area...21 days of sheer terror!!! Nine people were shot dead, some, just innocently pumping gas at a gas station.

I remember purposefully NOT going out and running errands/shopping and only stopping to get gas when I absolutely had to. I remember sitting in gridlock on the beltway when law enforcement shut it down after a shooting. I remember the fear.

Tonight, John Allen Muhammad is being executed for all those sad and senseless killings.

I hope some justice is now brought to the families of all the victims. Please say a prayer for all those who were murdered and their families who have gone on without them.

Spotlight on Banana

Tonight we are going to a pizza party at a local restaurant to celebrate Banana and her Super Stars soccer teammates. They had a good season, and it was great to see how much Banana improved and how much she loves playing! This is Banana's fifth season playing, and it's been her BREAKOUT season. She always has the love and support of her family & friends cheering her on, but she finally got a coach that she totally clicked with.

Congrats Super Stars!!! We're looking forward to the celebration tonight and to your final game on Saturday.

We ARE....

...the Fall 2009 CHAMPS!!!



Congrats to the Vikings and my main man, Tank!!!

The game was a nailbiter. We were down 6-0 at halftime, then tied up at 12-12. The amazing Eagles won the OT coin toss, and were finally stopped at the 10-yard line. Somehow, our amazing team managed to get the win. I wish I had my video camera trained on Tank after all the game-ending formalities. He ran, CRYING tears and all, across the field into his dad's arms, screaming, "We won, we won, we won."

Tank and the Vikings advance to the Semis...

Do you think we are excited about our Vikings team advancing to the semi-finals tomorrow morning???




The whole team played exceptionally well this morning. And, Tank scored on a 90-yard touchdown!!! Check him out...I cringed around the 50-yard line when I saw this HUGE kid try to mow down my boy.




Tank outran them all!!!

Fall Season is almost over!!!

Saturdays used to be spent running errands with the kids under tow...Now our Saturdays are spent schlepping all 3 children to each of her/his soccer games and also to Tank's flag football game. My kids have been playing soccer for two years already, but flag football is the new sport this Fall....And, Tank loves it! We lucked out that we didn't have many conflicts between his soccer and football games...but we had many conflicts where two children were playing at the same time and in different places. Mr. O and I just had to split up.

Tank's team is the Vikings, and they finished the season UNDEFEATED!!! Tank scored two touchdowns and also proved to be a worthy defensive player...Way to go, Tank!

This weekend is the championship tournament. They play one game tomorrow, and hopefully, two games on Sunday. No matter how it turns out, it will be a fun weekend!

Go Vikings....and Go Tank!

New House, Same Destiny!

The New York Yankees are the 2009 World Series champions. The new Yankee Stadium was officially christened last night with its 27th World Series Title 86 years after Babe Ruth and company won the first of 26 championships in the old Yankee Stadium. A sign in the stands read "New Home, Same Destiny". How fitting!!!

Congratulations to the 2009 New York Yankees and to all Yankee fans everywhere!


P.S. I really ♥ Derek Jeter!!! :)

Photography: 201

Back in April, I wrote about what happens when you give a monkey a camera. Please note that I did not give her MY camera...she stole it. Well, anyway, her skills have certainly improved in 6 months.

A lovely self-portrait!!!


Her princess snowglobe!


Her brother's K'Nex tractor!


And all the baskets of CLEAN laundry that still needs to be folded...Thanks, little monkey!!!

It's starting to look like Christmas...Part II

My children love to draw...They also love to display their art. While I am thrilled to showcase some of their artwork in our kitchen, they would prefer to showcase almost all of it. For instance, just check out the door to Banana & Tank's bedroom...


Yesterday I wrote how my little monkey is enamored by all the holiday catalogs/circulars coming in the mail and daily newspaper. Well, today, when I went to put get some clothes from her room, I noticed that most of her artwork was down from her door. In place, I found this...

If you zoom in, here's what you'll see...


Do you think she is trying to tell me something? My monkey is only FOUR...I swear she's been here before!!!

It's starting to look like Christmas!!!

The catalogs are pouring in. Today, my little monkey spent almost an hour enamored by this weeks ToyRUs circular. :) I remember my older brother and I doing the same thing when we were younger...only then, the JCPenney catalog was as large as a dictionary!

Halloween Parade

Our neighborhood Circle (1/3 mile around) hosts an annual Halloween parade and Chili cook-off the Sunday before Halloween. The parade is led by the local Fire Department. :)


My monkey dressed as a HSM cheerleader. :)

Banana was Superwoman. :)

and Tank was a Star Wars Clone Trooper. :)