Pardon Me While I Ramble

Here is a post about a whole lot of nothing.  Consider it a blogger version of a Seinfeld episode, good for a few laughs but hard to explain later. Truth is, I really want to get to the posts about Christmas Crafts and Activities but I feel like I cannot move ahead until I share a little bit about what has been happening in our house the last couple of months. First, Scott and I dressed up for a costume party  on Dia de los Muertos.  Unfortunately, we went all out and nobody else did.  Slightly, embarrassing.

We had fun anyway.  We were in the company of several diplomats and an ambassador.  The very same weekend Atley spent Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights) with his friend.  I began the week thinking how cultured my children were.  How fantastic I was at exposing them to different traditions, languages and people.  It didn't take long for me to be humbled, as is generally the case.  I realized that perhaps I was missing something in their education because when they were asked what town they lived in by a tour guide later that week both boys immediately said Maryland, which is neither a town nor the state in which we live.  Atley couldn't tell his wrestling coach whether he was left or right handed and then at Sunday dinner, none of my children seemed capable of eating with their utensils as they shoveled mashed potatoes into their mouths with their hands.  This might not have bothered me too much until I looked out the window and discovered that even a mother squirrel is better at teaching her children table manners and the proper use of a fork than I am. Needless, to say we are going back to the basics at our house.

Speaking of wrestling, the boys started wrestling in early November.  It is adorable and frightening and wonderful for them.  Atley and Nash are in the same weight class which is interesting to say the least.  They get their singlets this week and I cannot wait to take pictures of them.  It is going to be awesome.

Atley competed in the Space Derby at Cub Scouts. His modified Boeing-747 was one of the only rockets that flew successfully.  He loved every minute of it, being an aspiring pilot and all! Atley is next to me at the moment. He really wants me to write about how he went on a field trip to Jamestown a few weeks ago. 

Before we could get the Christmas stuff out and head out of town for Thanksgiving we had to participate in our traditional destruction of the fall pumpkins.  Yes, some barely missed sister's head.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving we loaded up the truck and drove to Florida.  Atley had an especially enjoyable 13 hour trip. We had a great Thanksgiving feast and a good visit with my dad. We went to the movies, played with Hoss the German Shepherd, did a lot of karaoke and the best part was Harley and Grandpa were in charge of dishes.

 The boys were surprised by a new motorcycle from their Grandpa.  We got it running, rode it, crashed it a few times, got it running again and  eventually got a visit from the police.  Apparently, the neighbors didn't appreciate the noise.  You know what they say, "It ain't a party if nobody calls the cops!"

 

After a few days in Florida we headed to Georgia to spend some time with Grandpa and Grandma Butler and the Donaldson cousins. No trip would be complete without a visit to The Varsity, (where they messed up my order and gave me two of everything) SCORE!! We went and saw Santa Claus on Peachtree City's main mode of transportation the golf cart, played a little dress up and caught a magic show where a silver dollar was put up Nash's nose never to be seen again.  Yeah, he is still examining his bowel movements for something shiny just in case.

 

We are home again and I cannot wait until Christmas break.  I have so many fun things planned but we never have time to do anything but homework, endless homework.  Ugh! I am so sick of school. But, that is a rant for another day. 

Trooper Travelers

TAKING A REST ON THE FLOOR OF DFW AIRPORT & FLASHING THE PASSING AIRPLANES

 

Let me take this moment to brag about my children.  We had a bit of a stressful traveling experience on our way to Colorado last week and they handled it exceptionally well. From everything to being late to the airport and being forced to run through the terminal, having our luggage held hostage by a skycap,  being trapped inside an airplane for almost 3 hours before actually taking off making our total time in an airplane for the day nearly 9 hours, a tight connection where more terminal running was required, even dealing with their mother's air sickness and vomit, plus a four hour car ride once we finally landed, throughout it all they never complained, wish I could say the same for myself. They carried their own bags and walked/ran great distances from gate to gate. They were happy and patient and I keep wondering where in the world they learned such behavior. Here's hoping to a better return trip and more good children.



Luray Caverns

We are in the crunch and rush of the last few weeks of school. I cannot wait for a break and the boys feel the same way.  Last week I chaperoned Atley's field trip to Luray Caverns.  It was a great day and I was pleasantly surprised that Atley actually wanted to hang out with me all day instead of his friends.  We made some great memories.

Hershey & The Bridges of Lancaster County

Saturday morning Scott woke up with the idea of going for a ride.  He decided he wanted to see some covered bridges.  Well, the day turned into more than just a ride when we wound up in Pennsylvania hunting for covered bridges using only latitude and longitude as our guide. 

They were lovely despite the boys' opinion that they all looked the same.  Since no trip to Pennsylvania is complete without chocolate we went to Hershey as well, where the children quickly volunteered to be day laborers in exchange for candy. They were rewarded with lots of chocolate, a tour of a house made entirely of candy, and a visit with St. Nick.

The BIG Apple

My kid's love New York City.  Atley has a huge photograph (courtesy of Ikea) above his bed of midtown Manhattan.  He knows the layout, he can identify all of the buildings and each of the Burroughs and we feel lucky to be only a 4 hour drive away from the most exciting city in the world.  Last weekend we took Granny on her first journey to Manhattan.  I am not sure if she has any desire to ever return. Scott reminded me that it is an acquired taste.  After dropping mom and the kids off at our hotel, I set out to find a reasonably priced parking spot.  An hour later after arguing with a rather unsavory looking fellow, I agreed on a price and parked my car with a prayer in my heart that it would actually still be there when I returned.  My mom later told me that she was convinced that I had been kidnapped and that she was going to be stuck alone with my three kids in this unfamiliar city. It all worked out and we set out on foot.

 

First stop...

Then some more walking to the cross roads of the world, Time's Square, where we ran into a familiar character and one of Harley's all-time favorite friends-Cookie Monster.

 

 

We caught a show on Broadway.  It was fantabulous!

 

 

 

It was cold and rainy but not too late to go to the Toys R Us or take a few more pictures before hailing a cab back to the hotel.

 

 

 

Check out the view we had from our hotel room.  Nothing like gazing at the lights of the Empire State Building while you fall asleep.

 

 

The following morning we hopped on a double-decker bus equipped with hot chocolate to see the sights. Quick story about the hot chocolate. At one of the bus stops we were parked right above a trash can. Of course, this is New York city and there were at least a thousand people by the said trash can as well. This fact didn't stop Nash from trying to drop his almost empty cup of hot chocolate into the trash can below.  Guess what? He missed and it hit a not so happy gentleman in the shoulder before splattering on the sidewalk.  We all ducked and then cracked up laughing all while hoping that the guy didn't have a gun.

 

 

Empire State By Day

 

 

Atley's Favorite-The Flat Iron Building

 

 

The new Freedom Tower on the World Trade Center Site. The building will be about 300 feet taller than the Empire State building when completed.

 

 

I  had the opportunity to see the World Trade Center before 9/11.  We went back with the boys when there was just a gaping hole and very little to memorialize what had happened.  This time we had a chance to visit the recently completed memorial.  The memorial is two 30 ft. deep fountains surrounded by the names of those who lost their lives.  The fountains are in the exact location where the tower's stood.  It was a special experience for all of us.

 

 

We had lunch at Battery Park and saw Lady Liberty.  One of the kids favorite things about the entire trip was chasing the pigeons. I am sure that there is a lesson about simplifying in there somewhere.

 

 

We ended our day with a trip to Rockefeller Center, where we visited the LEGO store. Somehow Nash became separated from my mom.  He tends to wander.  Well, after locking down the LEGO store and some terrified tears from my mom,  (I was with Atley and completely oblivious to what was happening), Nash was found. Finally, we took the elevator to the Top of the Rock.  The view was spectacular even on an overcast day.