Happy Birthday, Thomas and Nicholas

Happy third birthday, Thomas and Nicholas!  We wish that we could be there to celebrate with you. 

Ever since our visit in March Mackenzie and Isaac have been asking when we are going back to see you again, so we will have to plan a visit soon.  Hopefully soon we will have a new house for you to visit as well.

Until then, a long distance wish that today is a great day for you and that you enjoy the beads that are on the way!

Love,
Aunt Denise

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  Grandma Linda and I took the kids to Bass Pro Shop tonight to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny.  Mackenzie is wearing quite the outfit because at daycare today they went outside and she jumped in a huge puddle and got her shoes, socks and pants soaked, so they put on the extras that I provided for her.  Of course, the extras that I provide are whatever I can find quickly in my hassle to get out the door in the morning, so they never coordinate and they don't always fit.

This was Isaac's first time visiting the Easter Bunny.  Last Easter was the weekend of Brian and Isaac's birthdays, so in the craziness of getting ready for a first birthday party and getting ready for guests for the party, we never got around to visiting the Easter bunny.  The year before that, Easter was on Isaac's 9th day in the world, and I definitely wasn't ready to search out an Easter bunny that year. 

So, when the Easter bunny came out (we had to wait in line to see him) everyone made a big todo about "he's coming".  Isaac took one look at the huge bunny and started saying "rabbit go home, rabbit go home".  He was definitely not sitting on the Easter Bunny's lap, and he was not really interested in sitting next to him on his sister's lap.  In the end, Mackenzie sat next to the Easter Bunny, I sat next to her, and Isaac sat on my lap.  He still wasn't super happy.  He did give the Easter Bunny a high-five after he gave him some jelly beans though.

Later tonight, after I got Isaac to bed, Mackenzie was laying down on the couch by Grandma because she was tired.  As I was carrying her upstairs for some cuddle time she asked me, "When is Grandma Kathy going to die?"  I told her that we all hoped that was a long, long way away and asked what made her think about that.  This isn't our first conversation about death, so I wasn't totally shocked by the question, but usually there is a reason why she is thinking about it.  She told me that at school they talked about how people nailed Jesus to the cross and he died and that she didn't want anyone to nail Grandma Kathy to the cross.  I told her that people don't do that anymore.  She asked, "They learned their lesson?"  I told her that "Yes, they learned their lesson."

I hope everyone has a joyous Easter!

Metallica Anyone?

When I was in high school and college I liked listening to "heavy metal".  I started listening to it because my boyfriend at the time was listening to it.  It wasn't a terribly difficult transition from Guns N Roses and Skid Row, which I was already listening to.  I found it freeing to be able to stop being the nerdy, good girl I had always been and to start listening to loud music about things that I would never do.  I tended to stick to bands that seemed to have lyrics that meant something, but it was still a little bit of a revolt.  Anyway, I haven't listened to much of that lately.  The DJ did play Eminem at my wedding (not heavy metal, but still not good girl music) and Brian and I still listen to Eminem in the car when we get to go out alone.  I guess now we are revolting against being responsible parents.  But my point is, now that I am in Ohio, I hear Metallica on the radio almost every day.  I didn't realize that I missed my little rebellious self until now.  Our CDs are all packed up right now but I have decided that once we unpack I am going to get my Megadeath CDs out and put them on my iPod.  Who knows, I may even listed to it at work . . .

Okay, so I had to update this post.  I get emails everyday that have a section at the end describing events that happened on that day in the past.  Here is an item that was on the list today: "In 2000, Metallica filed suit against Napster, the University of Southern California, Yale University, and Indiana University for copyright infringement, unlawful use of a digital audio interface device, and violations of the Racketeering Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)."  I have to chuckle at the coincidental timing.

Happy Second Birthday, Isaac!

Isaac turned two today.  I can't believe that it has been two years since that crazy morning. 

We had his party yesterday.  My parents drove down and brought Lexie with them, and the Rogers family joined us, along with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Butch, who graciously allowed us to take over their house.  We had a couple come over who do face painting and balloon animals for the kids.  The kids kept them busy for the whole time they were here and even a few of the adults got some painting done.  Here are a few pictures:

You can see a little bit of one of our Dum-Dum balls in the picture above.  Basically, along with being one of Isaac's favorite treats, I thought it would keep Mackenzie busy the morning of the party to have her stick Dum-Dum suckers into styrofome (I originally wanted a cone, but Meijer's only had balls, so I got a package of 3).  She had a ball doing it and I had to let her start the night before and then I had to go get more Dum-Dums the next day.  Isaac even helped some.  Anyway, they were a hit and the kids have way too many Dum-Dums now. 

Mackenzie got to go home with Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Mike and Lexie (thank you Grandma and Grandpa).  She was super excited, but it has been a while since she went to a sleep over, so she needed to take something of Mom's, something of Dad's and something of Isaac's "to remember us by".  Isaac was not so happy that Grandpa Mike left with Mackenzie and not him.  Maybe next year he'll get his chance.
Later that evening we were in Papa's van on the way to dinner and Isaac asked for a Dum-Dum. Evidently Grandpa keeps some in the van for the kids. Grandpa told Isaac that he couldn't have Dum-Dums in the car when Grandma was in the car. Isaac's solution to that problem was to respond, "Grandma, out!" Perhaps we should limit Isaac's Dum-Dum intake.