Table Manners

Mom "Okay, before we eat let's review some of our table manners."
Gavin "Put your napkins in your lap!"
Mom "Good."
Asher "Mom, I'm not really a put your napkin in your lap kind of guy."

I didn't even ask what kind of napkin guy he was because I might have got "I'm the napkin up my nose kind of guy." One comment like that and it's craziness all through dinner. There's no turning back for the twins after a comment like that.

The Race

All the children who entered the race tie-dyed a t-shirt for the race. The only athletic pants we had were blue with orange stripes and were 4 inches too short. The only shoes we had were his hiking/school shoes we got at Rei. So his running outfit leaves much to be desired. Good thing he's only six and didn't notice or care.

The Big 4!

Our littlest man, Corbin, the Corbster, Jamers, Baby Corn, Corn Chip turned four on September 13th. What a day! Here's a rundown of the events.

It all started with blue pancakes because Corbin chose blue for the color of his birthday. He wanted blueberry cupcakes with blue frosting and blue wrapping paper and I thought hey! why not blue pancakes.


Corbin asked me about two months ago if he could try ice skating. I told him we would go on his birthday.
Here are the boys outside ice rink.

Jamers getting ready to hit the ice!

All the boys laced up and ready to go.
The ice rink had metal contraptions they called chairs to help kids learn how to skate. Here is a sequence of Corbin with "the chair."






Asher ice skating.



Gavin ice skating.



Corbin already graduating from the chair.

Our next event was cupcakes and presents.
Birthday Boy at his table.
Birthday Boy blowing out four whole candles.

And then presents, of course.

He got a singing, talking book.
He LOVES big balls but everytime we get him one it pops. So this time we got an exercise ball, for play of course.
Corbin loves puzzels. Here's a book full of puzzels.
Here's a big floor puzzel.
And the biggie! A brand new bike!

For days after his birthday Corbin kept saying, "Mom, I loved my birthday."
Just what a mommie wants to hear.

Thai Kitchen

Jared took our family out to the Thai Kitchen for a cultural experience.

We had:
Pad Thai Noodles which is shrimp and chicken in peanut sauce with noodles, bean sprouts, eggs, and rice

Spicy Mint Noodles with pork, chilis, and broccoli

Pad Vun Sen is fried glass noodles (they are really see through!) with pork and eggs. This one tasted a little bit like black licorice.

So I have to admit I did not think I would like it but it was delicious! The kids loved it too. Really, that's the true test. And we all ate our entire meal with chopsticks, even Corbin. Corbin said, "I know why they call them chopsticks! Because they chop and they're sticks!"
Nothing gets by you Corb, nothing.

Corbin Playing in the Rain

Bubble Blowing 101

For Family Home Evening last week we taught our kids Bubble Blowing 101.
Asher got it down the best. He was blowing bubbles left and right.
Gavin was cracking me up with all of his drooling and concerted efforts. He blew 5 or 6 really good ones.

Corbin accomplished one great bubble which I wasn't able to catch on camera.


We had a blast. Here's a video of the exciting action.

It's Coming!!!!!!

Last night we went to bed and woke up to snow dusting the tops of the mountains. In Alaska this is called Termination Dust. When you see that dust it means summer is being terminated. Cue the dramatic music.
It's coming.
Slowly down the mountain.
It will take over.
For six months of your life.
Scream if you must, but it's coming.