Holiday hoopla

It's that time of year when things run a bit amok and get away on you.  (And thus, I apologize for the delay between posts).

All is well here at the homestead.  The boys have been generally healthy and happy.  You know, the epidemic school-age perma-snot-nose is in effect, but that usually lasts until about June.  Chris is busy with an overload of work (real work, not house work, alas) and Kismet has some kind of itchy, scratchy allergy thing going that causes her back leg to thump-thump-thump on the floor 22 out of 24 hours.  (She's now on steroids and I expect her to be uber-buff in no time).

You know, the usual.

Funny Charley update:  When I picked him up from school one day last week, he announced that he had a new best friend.  I was so excited that my Aspergian child had finally "discovered" his peers.  A real friend?!  Of his choosing?!  With bated breath, I bent down and said "REALLY!? Who is it?".  He replied "It's a rock!!".  The teacher sighed and produced the rock which has now joined us for countless meals and bedtimes.  Whatever... it might be a human friend one of these days, right?

(While I was typing this he has been singing a very serious, professor-ish rendition of the LMFAO song "I'm sexy and I know it".  Imagine that, folks.  It's pretty great).

Okay, so what have you missed?

We went to see the CP Holiday Train go by last week.  We waited upwards of an hour for it to pass and the kids just got more and more insane as they waited.  I think it was an appropriate way to start off the mayhem-filled-season.

Woo hoo!  Here it comes!  We told the kids that it was Santa's sleigh, filled with toys and headed to the North Pole.  With Santa driving.  And elves in the passenger car.  Their heads almost exploded.

 The beauty of non-flash night time shots.  Groooovy traiiiiin.

 Success.  The mad posse is appeased.

 We celebrated Chris' birthday, and Charley lurked in the background, clutching a knife.  Good times.

 And we did round #1 of gingerbread house decorating.  I made the houses myself and discovered the pure, satanic evil of melted sugar glue.  Like lava, but hotter.  On the plus side, Haley appears to be delighted with her icing bag.

Note to self:  The decoration 'buffet' is not the best idea.  Perhaps single servings in the future?  Controlled portions?  The sugar consumption was truly epic.  It made my teeth hurt.

And, for a finale shot, here's Charley's best friend, Rock.  My kid is SO much cooler than yours.  
Nerd power forever!!  hahahaaaa

Okay.  I think you're all caught up now.  One can only imagine what the week ahead will bring:  Christmas tree farm visit, the legendary Millbrook parade and more! 

Stay tuned.

Golden Raspberries!

No, I'm not saluting the worst Hollywood has to offer... I actually have golden raspberries!  In my garden!  Here I was waiting patiently for the suckers to turn red and realized that they were ripe and falling off the canes.  Oops!  Now I know.  I picked as many as I could and made some jam.  Mmm.

I took a few photos before I boiled them into a pulp.  The pictures really don't do the colour justice.  They are equal parts yellow, pale pink and coral.  Must take some up to the former owners... they must be missing them this year.

And, I know that by posting pictures of fruit from my garden (and doing so enthusiastically) I am risking being called a nerd by those who thought I couldn't sink any farther into nerd-dom, but I'm willing to take that chance, (Phil).

Sam, the nerd

Sam walked into the bathroom and put Chris' glasses on today.  Not sure what possessed him, but I gasped because he looked so much like his father.  And, also, like a nerd.

The only conclusion?: Chris is a nerd.

Also, this child is a maniac.  We decided today that the word that sums him up best is 'exuberant'.  Lucky, lucky us.

Note:  He is not suffering from a rare, inflammatory mouth condition:  He had just ingested a red popsicle.  'Cuz that's what you do in early March...

Brotherly conversation

Scene:

Two brothers build a quite outstanding tower out of cardboard blocks.

Older brother: That's quite a good tower, Sammy.

Younger brother: Yes it is, Charley.

Older brother: Let's sit here and admire it for a while.

Younger brother: Okay Charley.

They sit in silence and admire the tower. 

Yes, this all happened. Such is the ongoing life drama that is my world.

(Fin)