not your typical red carpet walker

Nate pointed me to this story.  Pretty cool.

edumacation is fun

Took the kids to the MN History Center last weekend 'cuz Nate got a good deal on membership from Groupon.  It was packed with people seeing some 1960's exhibit and/or movie.  Baby boomers were everywhere.  Some of them were still wearing their clothes from '68.  We didn't bring the kids to the museum to see smelly old hippies, so we didn't stay long.  Their Minnesota's Greatest Generation exhibit was kind of cool.  Saw some WWII stuff, including some grenades in a glass case.  Adrienne wanted to know what they were.  After I explained, she said, "Ooooh, now I get the song Grenade."  You know, that Bruno Mars one where he sings about all the freaky morbid ways he'd die for his girl and can't figure out why she's creeped out.  Anyway, this is A with Zach in the Grainland play area-

Speaking of educational activities and family togetherness, I recently finished reading Horton Halfpott to the kids.  We tried to figure out what to read next and I suggested Old Yeller.  Adrienne thought that was a boring horrible idea.  She said, "What's next, are you going to read the dictionary?"  She was being more funny than snarky, so it's okay.  And it turns out Old Yeller fell apart and went missing a long time ago.  'Prolly will go with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory soon, but maybe will find something Lent-y first.

slow poke

Some b-day pics a bit late.  Nate's cake was good!

Adrienne was in a cool 5th grade African Drum presentation at school last week.  A man from Ghana had spent several hours teaching each class.  No pics or video of that, though, 'cuz I forgot the darn cameras.  I do, however, have a picture of this giant chocolate fish I got for my b-day.

And a weird cat in a box.

yea or nay?

The Giants won.  Yea?  I 'spose.  Weren't gonna cheer for them cheatin' Pats anyway.  The kids had looked forward to the Super Bowl for weeks 'cuz we planned a junk food party.  They couldn't remember which sport was going to be glorified, but dangit, they'd get to drink pop.  Had to quit watching at halftime though, for kiddo bath time and then Downton Abbey.

Lovin' this wimpy winter. Yea.

Nate's in the kitchen baking me a chocolate b-day cake.  Yea!

Guess I don't have a nay yet.  Maybe Adrienne's despair at today's commencement of a 2 week square dancing unit at school.  She wasn't pleased to be partnered with the boy in her class who talks about alien abduction obsessively.

a child of the age

"What?  How do you send a video through the mail?"

The kids were watching America's Funniest Home Videos last night.  You know how they ask for your videos in every episode?  These days most people upload them from whatever, but it seems they still give a snail mail address for the more techno-challenged types.  So Michael was a bit confused when they got to the part about "or, you can mail your video to (xyz address)."  I explained to him how back in the stone age when the show first came out, you had to send them VHS tapes through the mail!  At least he knows what VHS tapes are, but it was another Oy, I Feel Old moment.

1st 3D movie

Nate and I saw Beauty and the Beast in 3D last weekend to celebrate our anniversary.  It was kinda cool, but now I'm ready to see a movie shot for 3D instead of one done retroactively.

Trombone master Michael was in another honor band on Saturday in Rochester...

And I was just watching Sesame Street with Zach (rough gig, I know).  Caught a cool spoof on Iron Chef.  Here's a condensed version...

when good reading is a must

"Hey.  Hello.  Over here.  Everyone?  Look at the camera!  Look happy!"

It didn't work...

oh blimey...nerd alert!

Saw this on Mark Shea's blog a few weeks ago.  Bwhaha.  I was reminded of it by a news story this a.m. - somebody in France thinks this looks appetizing:

The Dark Vador Burger.  It's being offered to coincide with the 3D release of Phantom Menace.  Looks pretty hideous to me, but I guess they eat snails and junk over there.

12 years and 9 months straight

I was thinking...that's how long we've had at least one kid in diapers and/or pull-ups, but we're getting close to bidding the pull-ups goodbye.  Finally!  Jiggity jigging.  Zach also doesn't want to go in the nursery at church anymore so we get to enjoy his company at mass.  If he isn't sitting nicely with daddy, he's been known to lay on his back and scoot along the pew, knocking coats off.

dirty blonde Christmas

Well, we had that brown Christmas they predicted.  Except I don't think brown is really the color of the dead grass we have to look at when there's no snow on it.  But it was nice anyway.  We have great kids and parents and siblings (in-law too) and nieces & nephews to celebrate with.  Blessings galore!