Jelly Belly

Happy New Year!

Eventually we will work at getting everyone to stay up until midnight to watch the actual ball drop, but for now we settle for some random time at night when we all go outside to hoot, holler, and bang a few pots and pans. 

 

Tonight was just like the last 5 years (maybe 4)...until...someones glasses were askew.  Poor thing became too miffed by the position of her '2011' glasses that it ruined her entire whoopin' and a hollerin'.  Sadly this all happened in a span of 30 seconds and by the time we finished annoying the neighbors with our sound we realized that this was the problem for Ms. JB.  Since I couldn't see squat in the dark, my camera flash sure did capture the moment. Here is the progression:

 

Happy New Years ya' all!  For old times sake!

 

I swear we do use manners!  Yes...we belch, snort, toot, and occasionally eat without utensils at the table, but albeit...we eat at the table EVERY meal.  I did not grow up in a house where we ate at the table as a family.  1, 2, maybe even 3 of us managed to sit at the table at the Mama Jelly Belly household, but truthfully...we all ate as a family...watching TV.  With the merging of Daddy JB and myself; we have compromised our family eating arrangements with our own kids..  We eat at the table and 2/3 of the time the TV is on.  How is that for carrying over my childhood experiences?  Tonight was "kung-foo" noodles (the kiddos have named this meal after the movie, Kung-Fu Panda) as per Ms. JB's dinner request.  I tried to teach Ms. JB how to politely separate her noodles so that she didn't have to eat them all in one bite, but as you can see...that lesson didn't work out too well!

A first!  Mommy Movie Date!  Scrambling to get out of pajamas and to the movies by 1:20 in the AFTERNOON, we managed to make it in time for the showing of Tangled.  What a great movie!  Ms. JB has been to a number of movies and she has always been able to sit through the entire movie without the need to climb all over the place or walk up and down the stairs endlessly.  Her brother on the other hand has never been able to sit through an entire movie.  (and yes...that is a big task for most every child, let alone adults)  We tend to always have a family movie date so that either myself of Daddy JB can tend to Buddy and his needs.  Buddy JB was a dream!  He bounced from the movie seat to my lap, but no need to peruse the entire theater!  Yeah! 

We ended our Mommy Movie Date with hot cocoa and a doughnut at the nearby coffee shop!  How fun!

 

Afterwards I was able to have a 'drag-queen' make up session at the nearby MAC counter.  I had a great time with my sister-in-law, learned about and purchased some great new makeup and ended the evening with a yummy dinner and great conversation.

December 28, 2010

A date with my gang!  Jon heads back to work on Wednesday and being the last minute folks we are...we ventured to run a ton of errands both near and far.  Fry's, Costco, Best Buy, Dinner out (which means I don't have to cook AGAIN!)

By the time we ended our evening with dinner, the kids were both beyond hyper!!!  I am pretty sure we disrupted all of our neighboring tables with our giggling fits over these hilariously funny photos!  ::sorry Sweet Tomatoes customers!::

December 27, 2010

We ventured home from Christmas at Grandma's on Monday the 27th.  Knowing that I was coming home to a house that was empty of almost all food...I really didn't want to come back home and HAVE to cook dinner.  (yeah...story of my life!)  Needless to say I did propose that we stop off along the drive home and find something to eat...'for the kids.'  I figured DQ in Manning would be the stop.  Maybe a Wendy's in Hillsboro.  My last minute thought went to the McMemanin's Grand Lodge in Forest Grove.  What a great place.  Service was archaically slow, but overall it was the perfect 'stop-off' destination for the Vail gang.  Kids could run around the hotel.  Food for hungry tummies.  ...and I didn't have to cook!

A New Camera....A New Purpose

Just maybe this will be the inspiration...the inspiration to return to this blog and capture the moments in my children's eyes.  My dear husband gave me this SWEET camera for Christmas.  We have been tied to the the BIG OLE' Canon digital and sadly I find that I neglect to take the camera with me...due to size...and lack of remembering!  So...no excuses.  Now I have a 'cute' little camera that is always with me in tow. 

So the goal is to capture my kiddos each and every day.  Most often apart, but just maybe a few will be together.

December 26th:  Out of the house and bound for the local Starbucks!