Lizards & Spiders

The Family Pets

2009-03-04T23:03:00.002-07:00

I posted these pics on facebook and was surprised at all the comments. To me, they don't arouse such a visceral reaction, but I guess to other people, they do. These are the inspiration for our blog title. We love reptiles and arachnids!

Here we go, Steelers, here we go!!

2009-02-02T10:23:00.004-07:00

We had a fun superbowl party with Lynne and Targ, complete with l'il smokies, chips & dip and fancy cream soda. We didn't have Primanti Bros sandwiches, but we did have some yummy food. (A lot of recreational eating going on!) And a big thanks to Grandma Child for the Steelers coasters. The kids watched about 2 minutes worth of the game, and of course the 3-D commercials. And me, being the hostess with the mostest, evidently missed the most exciting part of the game...I fell asleep at the beginning of the 4th quarter. You'd think all the yelling would have aroused me, but no. I even woke up to a clean house...Lynne, you're the greatest! Congrats, Pittsburgh!

Blogging Ettiquette

2009-01-19T09:43:00.003-07:00

So I was talking to my aunt, Traci, about this this past weekend: I wanted to post a video clip of the They Might Be Giants song, "QU". I wanted to do this because McCade's spelling list included 'qu' words last week and it made me think of that song. I also wanted to sing the praises of They Might Be Giants when it comes to teaching kids about letters and reading, etc. (For those of you with small kids, this album and/or video is great!)

Anyway, I couldn't find it on you-tube. Instead, I found a homemade video of someone else's kids lip-syncing to QU. It was done quite well, actually. However, I felt really creepy about posting someone else's kids on my blog! Isn't there some unwritten rule about NOT posting others' kids on your blog without their permission? So, I decided not to post it after all. One: the creepy factor. Two: I'm too cheap to go to i-tunes and download it from there. And three: I decided it would be too long anyway. I decided to keep video posts to under a minute, if possible, because I have found my ADD doesn't allow for me to hang in there much longer than that. I also assume that in this fast-paced world, if my attention doesn't last longer than a minute, neither does anyone else's.

Maybe in my 'spare time' I'll create a 1-minute video of my own kids lip-syncing to QU. But don't hold your breath waiting for it.

Back to School

2009-01-11T14:12:00.006-07:00

I really should have posted this in the fall, but it works now too. This past week, the kids went back to school but I didn't. It was possibly the most lazy, unproductive week of my life! Now it's my turn to go back. Last semester was great and I'm looking forward to this one. Beware Weber State Fundamentals of Maternity Nursing students....here I come with my lunch packed up and my boots tied tight!

This song reminded me of my preceptor because she is almost done with her tenure track. Don't get me wrong, she is actually a fabulous teacher who, I'm sure, deserves to get tenured. And she definitely doesn't fit the steryotype that is presented in this clever little jingle. I'm really excited to work with her. I think it's going to be a great semester. One down, three to go! Maybe in about another 10 years, I'll be singing this song.

I Need A Hero!

2009-01-06T11:35:00.003-07:00

Another thing that has kept us entertained is our Wii we got for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Child. We had the Child family over for a little rock-a-thon. Notice how people are either smiling or concentrating, there really is no in-between. However, once you have mastered a song, you move from concentrating to smiling. And maybe a leg kick gets thrown in here or there. I was impressed by the variety of song options on "World Tour" (thanks to the cheat knowledge of my clever i-phone carrying cousin, Hannah) but I'm really looking forward to an 80's version. Give me a little Tears for Fears, Cyndi Lauper, or Erasure! ...Wait, I'm not sure Erasure even used guitars.

Christmas Morn

2009-01-06T11:25:00.003-07:00

The typical "sit by your pile and I'll take your picture" pictures. I worked that morning from 3am-7am and couldn't be much more creative than that. Thanks, Santa, for all the Legos! They kept us entertained for hours and hours! And a huge thank you to everyone else who was so generous to us this year. Our greatest blessings aren't pictured here: our family and friends.

Give me some sugar!

2009-01-06T11:09:00.002-07:00

One of the activities we did over Christmas break was decorating sugar cookies with our best friends, the Sills. Somehow, I actually got the frosting to go red instead of pink (but that amount of food coloring surely can't be healthy!). The picture of Taygan (the one with her middle finger up) was NOT staged, the one of Targ licking the bowl, however, was.
....I'll have a little cookie with my sprinkles, thanks.

Make a wish!

2009-01-06T11:04:00.002-07:00

This pic should have been included with the twins' b-day pics. I like it because they are in full-blown blow mode.

Effeminate

2009-01-05T11:45:00.005-07:00

I know, I know, the pink and brown is probably a little effeminate for a blog titled, "lizards and spiders" that showcases a family with all boys (other than myself, of course)! For once, I'm including a little pink in my life.

We had a great Christmas break, and of course, we all got spoiled! We are so blessed to have such great family and friends. When I get around to downloading my pictures for December, I'll post some of our Holiday adventures. Oh yeah, and by the way, Santa pulled through-I got a new camera!

Happy 9th!

2008-12-23T10:37:00.007-07:00

It's hard to believe that these two arrived almost a decade ago! They had a fun birthday and were totally spoiled by family and friends. A tradition I have started with my kids is on their birthdays, I bring Chinese food to school and have lunch with them and their friends. It's really fun and every year, we have more and more friends that want to "try" the Chinese food. Hopefully, it's as memorable for the kids as it is for me! Happy Birthday, Hayes and Bridger!

Handsome Boys

2008-12-11T13:37:00.005-07:00

We went up into the mountains to take some family photos. I guess I shouldn't complain about my camera because it did take some pretty good pics. Of course, it helps to have such handsome boys!

A new camera for Christmas?

2008-12-11T12:35:00.005-07:00

Last month, in November's pack meeting, Bridger and Hayes both received their Wolf Badges. When they get presented, they usually have the parents come forward also. I got my camera out and quickly handed it to the mom sitting in front of me (without working out the camera's quirks first!). These are the best three pictures that came of it. I keep nagging John for a new camera, but if you smack mine a couple of times, it works just fine! Maybe Santa will come through! Oh yeah, congratulations, Bridger and Hayes!

Halloweeeeeeen!

2008-11-21T19:13:00.004-07:00

We always have a blast on Halloween! This year everyone dressed up as Mamma Mia. We had tons of food, family and friends, complete with a hot karaoke jam! Don't ask where the hair on John's chest came from (it didn't come from the chest)! By the way, that isn't Wayne and Sandy!

A Halloween Tradition

2008-11-21T19:04:00.003-07:00

The nakedness isn't so much a tradition as is the carving pumpkins, but maybe from now on, it will be! We always have fun carving the large gourds with our cuzzies. It's just a bunch of boys and goo. (the story of my life) And yes, they all had pants on.

Go Caders!

2008-11-20T12:56:00.004-07:00

This fall was McCade's first experience with organized sports. He wasn't the star player, but he wasn't the one out picking dandelions, either.