Happy Holidays - A very special time of crazy

Even more than the mentally unhinged holiday drivers, I enjoy some of the bizarre conversations between shoppers and store staff.

This afternoon I stopped at Home Depot to pick up a drill bit. Another gentleman, who seemed mostly normal but perhaps a bit socially challenged, was talking to an employee about power saws. I hadn't been paying much attention until the shopper's voiced got louder and quite exasperated.

"I just don't need a quality circular saw! My kids are still little and are very hard on stuff so it's just going to get broken when they use it anyway! Please just tell me which one is the best value for the money!"

The employee picked up the cheapest saw and through barely suppressed laughter/frustration said, "This one is inexpensive and will work well for the entire time it continues to operate."

Neighborhood Christmas Party

We went to a neighborhood Christmas party last night.

Items of note:

• Aimee's food assignment stress is inversely proportional to the size of the item. Rack of Lamb = No problem. Little appetizer = Stroke.


• The length of Ian's attention span is determined by the amount of physical activity involved. Socializing = Major Eye-Rolling. He headed home shortly after realizing we were not playing football. He did tackle his sister on the way out.


• Avyrlie's attention span can be measured in several ways depending on the environment. If there are children willing to bend to her will, it is indefinite. If there are stubborn children, it lasts until someone insults princesses or uses the phrase 'bossy just like my mommy'. If there are dogs or uncles present (yes, same category) it lasts as long as they are willing to be mauled. In the absence of children and animals/uncles, as was the case last night, her attention is captive only so long as Diet Coke is available to her. She explained in no uncertain terms that wassel is not an acceptable substitute. Back in the days of bottles and sippy-cups it was no problem because you can hide anything in there. Now the habit is harder to conceal and we occasionally have to excuse ourselves to get Aimee or Avyrlie their fix.


• Few of our neighbors are permanent. There are quite a few renters and older folks. While neither is inherently bad, it just means they might not be around long. It also means we can find plenty of extra yard work for Ian.


• Avyrlie loves fudge. She was very polite to ask before she took each of the MANY pieces she ate, and I counted no less than 8 'pleases' from her.
  

Hello Christmas

Hello Christmas, originally uploaded by eouio.

Avyrlie and I dropped Ian off at a friends house yesterday. It was late enough that it was beginning to get dark (5PM so sad) that some houses had turned on their Christmas lights and trees. Avyrlie declared that we should put up our tree and without really thinking about it I agreed.

(click below for more)

She took that to mean I had now moved Christmas Tree to the top of my most urgent ToDo list because for the next two hours she talked about it non-stop.

"Should we put the Tree over here?"
"I have to put the star on top to make it beautiful!"
"Does Ian know how to put up a Christmas Tree?"
"Can birds live in our Christmas Tree?"
"My school needs a Christmas Tree!"
"Santa is sad that we don't have a Tree."
"Does Dylan have a Christmas Tree?"
"Tomorrow is not the day to do the Christmas Tree!"
"Dogs can't put up a Christmas Tree. They only make messes."
"Dad, if you don't put up a Christmas Tree the reindeer will cry."
"Mom said yes that I can have a Christmas Tree!"

Our actual tree setup time is about 5 minutes. With Aimee out of town at the moment I cut that down to 2 because I can skip all the cleanup ;) We keep the tree fully assembled (yes, it's fake and pre-lit) in the basement, bundled in plastic wrap to keep it clean. Aimee gets the ornaments. I just provide labor.

Pumpkin Patch

Click the pic for the rest of the gallery and check the descriptions for photo details. My posts are way to short lately, but 4 year old princesses are an amazing time suck :p

Labor Day Canyon Trip

We drove up Big Cottonwood canyon just to see the sights this afternoon. Snapped a couple pix:


Started out with a delay waiting for Life Flight to take off. They were extracting someone with a broken leg and landed on the road temporarily.


We passed the time by hiking a bit along the river.



We spotted a moose. I didn't have a bigger lens with me so you'll have to squint ;)


Avyrlie froze. She is always cold.



And we all enjoyed tons of space in the new truck.

The end.

Wet and Wild at Salem Pond

(click the pic for the rest of the gallery)

Headed down to Salem Park for some Memorial weekend fun in the sun. Most everyone was there and the kids had a blast playing in the water.
Aimee started out the day taking the kids out to breakfast with her parents. I started the day at work. We met up at the batting cages where I got smoked by Ian's mad baseball smashing skilz. I usually school him pretty good, but wasn't on my game today.
Then we headed down to Salem. Stopped at Hickory Kist on the way to snag some sandwiches and fudge. Matt brought water blasters for the kids to battle with. Avyrlie does not have the warrior spirit and took all attacks personally, melting into a pile of tears each time droplets flew her way.
Jessica got in some training time in the pond swimming almost the full course. She didn't drown and only held on to ducks for support twice so I think she'll do well ;)

Fericious Football and Singing Sensations

We're talking about Easter of course!

(click on any pic for the rest of the gallery)

We spent Sunday destroying dinner rolls, hunting eggs, jumping on the trampoline, and playing ferocious football with the Hasaras.

Saturday we hung out with the Sutliffs playing American Idol which sounds even better now in the new and improved Richardson AV room.