A Chip off the Old Block...

Cullen has been creating/making things out of wood this year.

Today he made Goldilocks...

Looks just like her!

Zooming-in

So after the holidays my sister Megan was zooming in on pictures she took Christmas Eve and found this... Geremu was captured chubby-wubbying her daughter Meredith. I tried denying the fact that it was my child but I think his curly hair gave him away.

So yesterday when I was looking at the picture of my "Balancing Geniuses" I noticed something hanging in the background. I've zoomed in so you can see what I saw, do you know what this is?

It may look like a lantern with a top hanging from it don't be fooled, it's actually a leprechaun trap. The boys are STILL trying to catch the leprechauns that visited our house last St. Patrick's Day.

I should note this is one of several traps and the latest version using the lantern. When the boys go to bed I try to put them away/take them apart but the traps just keep showing up.

Who is Watching these Kids?

I can't believe that I'm even posting this picture since I'd really like another kid or two in a BIG bad way. But look at the picture I found on my camera, there is NOTHING safe about this...

The peg Geremu is pulling out of the door is our "lock", clearly this is an escape attempt of some sorts.

I not sure where I was when this picture was taken but I know it was from this morning since my kids are wearing what they wore to bed last night. So I'm going to blame the lack of supervision on Nick since I'm pretty sure they don't know how to set the camera up for "auto picture" yet.

*EDIT-Nick just came in and told me his version after I asked what was going on. According to him he did stop them, "STOP RIGHT THERE, I'm going to go and get the camera." Nick told me he was surprised at how quickly the kids set this up, some of the supplies they used came from the basement. Cullen even showed him how he crawled right up the back of the chair like a ladder- yikes!

Would now be a good time to admit that this summer I found Geremu standing on top of his bike seat, while the bike was balancing on top of our wagon, trying to reach something in the tree?

Yeah, There's A Party in the USA...

Cullen likes to listen to music and dance, he prefers music with a good beat. His favorite songs are currently; Pink- So What, Miley Cyrus- Party in the USA, Rihanna- Disturbia and Lady Gaga- Just Dance. Today he was up on the counter in the kitchen dancing and singing to his play list. I think he gets his moves from his father.

Geremu on the other hand prefers kids songs. His all time favorite song is Good Bless My Underwear- Hans Mayer. He also likes to dance but I think he gets his moves from me- his mother.

In the picture above take note of the "yellow brick road" flooring in our kitchen. When we bought our house almost 7 years ago I swore that was the first thing I was tearing out. Clearly I was wrong, it's the only flooring we have yet to replace. It's days are numbered but I have to admit, it really has grown on me. The color of the floor makes it almost impossible to see dirt.

If you ever come to our house and we offer you a pickle, you might want to think twice. Anytime a pickle jar is left on the counter open this is what happens...

Doesn't matter if the jar is full of pickles our completely out, Geremu loves the juice and it grosses me out.

"Twins" Day

For the holidays Cullen gave his teachers charity: water/Water for Christmas shirts that he helped make; aka take off the dryers conveyor belt and pile on top of each other. I got a note last week that his teachers would like a picture with Cullen this Friday wearing the shirt.

Cullen has been looking forward to today since the note came home. We layed out his outfit last night to build up the anticipation. Then I put a camera in his backpack before he went to school and wrote a note asking Cullen's teacher to take a few pictures with our camera as well. Cullen thinks the world of his teachers and had so much to tell us today when he got home from school.

One of Cullen's teachers printed out a packet of some pictures of them together and added a copy of a page from Cullen's journal. I don't think you can read the writing on the picture below but the people are labeled as Cullen and his teachers as well as a camera. Today was a day I don't think Cullen will forget anytime soon. Cullen was smiling all day and was so proud to be a part of the "twins" day as he called it.

I'm putting together a video for a presentation I'm doing with a friend for Global Awareness Week at one of the local high schools. At the end of the video I'm adding pictures of different people wearing the Water for Christmas/charity: water shirts we printed in all different colors. It won't be done for about 2 weeks but as I was flipping through the pictures quickly tonight I was pretty pleased with how cool it looks. Here is one of my favorite pictures, perhaps because it has my favorite 3 people in it.

For those of you looking for a shirt update, sales are still going pretty well, I plan to sell through the Global Awarness Week (middle of Febuary). The high school recently printed up 200 "limited edition" shirts, in black and white and those are a hit. Changing up the shirt and ink color and printing a limited amount seems to have increased sales again.

Tonight we went to a high school basketball game, my kids like to sit in the nose bleed section all by themselves.

New Years Resolution and What Not

So I haven't exactly been a good blogger since the new year began. I've made my usual new years resolution to give up working out at the gym for the first few weeks of the year to avoid the crowds. I'm not against running outside as long as the ground isn't too icy- my reflexes aren't what they use to be:) So while everyone else is busy getting in shape, I'm busy getting out of shape.

My boys are keeping me busy, as you see they are as charming as ever.

Cullen has perfected his map drawing skills, he likes to reference his electronic GPS (Yahtzee game) while drawing the maps.

Geremu has been perfecting his hammering skills, it's constant. He is now moving items that were hanging on the walls to pound the nails all the way into the wall. So we actually have less hanging since he started, perfect.

I will now be leaving you with one last shot of cuteness and it's all MINE!

The Never Ending Parent/Tot Swimming Class

Geremu still hasn't passed the parent/tot swim class. He is a good swimmer (we go often) and is as fearless in the water as he is on land. His skills in the water are well beyond the class he is in but he is having a bit of an issue with listening. Thus the reason they won't pass him onto the next class where he wouldn't be in the water with us. When the teacher talks Geremu swims underwater, so he doesn't have to listen. I don't think this is funny but I have a feeling this is one of those things I will look back on and laugh at some day... If he isn't still in this class at age 18. When I register Geremu for the class I got a *reminder that he needs to be in a swimmer diaper. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that is not necessary when he has been potty trained for a LONG time.

Our babysitter (who is now taking Geremu to class to see if having her in the water helps him to show off less- LOVE her) thinks he is getting a little sick of singing the songs and twirling around in the water when he can actually swim underwater, hence his lack of following directions/listening. I'm imagine our sitter is in the water doing the motions to "The Wheels on the Bus" while Geremu is swimming around.

I think we might have to take a swimming lessons hiatus next session (if he doesn't pass again) and just attend open swim once a week. This way we can work on his swimming skills instead of his singing and dancing skills.