I think I'm in....

The other day Grayson handed me a little cut out paper heart that said "will you be my valentine mom- from Grayson." I said yes, of course. That night when Paul got home Grayson informed him that he was going to have to find a new valentine because I'd already decided to be Grayson's this year.

"Fancy"

Yesterday while the kids were home from school due to a "teacher work day" they were hankering for some craft time. I rummaged through my supplies, and decided it was time to introduce them to the wonders of Mod Podge. We dug some empty glass jars out of the recycling, cut up some valentine themed tissue paper, and got to work.
Voila! Festive Valentine candle holders.

The boys were excited to eat by candle light last night. Rowan thought we were being SO "fancy". He's easily impressed.

Celebrations

This weekend we hosted a family dinner to celebrate some January birthdays, my mom's, my dad's, and my sister in laws. Red velvet cake was eaten. We sang loudly and embellished with lots of Cha-cha-chas. We loved on Grandma and Grandpa.

And we introduced Uncle Jim to the highly addictive world of Guitar Hero.
This is why I love living near family!

Best Wishes President Obama

Yesterday morning I sat glued to my TV watching President Obama be sworn in. I can't recall that I have ever before watched an inauguration, but I felt very compelled to watch this one. I had a great feeling of watching history unfold. It was amazing to see the vast numbers of people that were in attendance, and to hear President Obama speak with such hope and determination at a time when things in our country are not looking so good. I sincerely hope and pray that he will have the wisdom and foresight to lead us in the right direction. I had recorded all of the inauguration coverage so that we could watch it as a family, and share in that historic moment. Unfortunately Fuller and Grayson said they had watched it all at school, and it was boring. I guess they're still just too young to understand the significance of yesterday's events.

Watching all of the coverage of Washington DC made me think of my own "visit" to the White House(just as a tourist of course). The year was 1980, and Carter was still in office. I remember hoping to see Amy Carter. She and I are kind of close in age, (and in fact have the same birthday) and in the back of my head I think I thought that we would be great friends if we ever met. Carter is the first President that I really remember, and it's odd to think that Obama is probably the first President that my kids will remember. I'm glad that he has young kids, it gives me extra comfort that he feels the same way I do about wanting to leave my children with a stronger, more stable country.


Heather, Jim and I at the White House- 1980.


Also, did anyone else catch Tom Brokaw referring to Vice-President Cheney as Dr Strangelove? I can't remember when I've laughed so hard.

What they're teaching in school these days...

The other day in the car Rowan struck up a conversation with me about soon to be President Obama. It went something like this:
R: Mom, do you know how many bathrooms Obama gets to have?
Me: No, I have no idea. Probably a lot.
R: 35!!!(He really emphasized that)
Me: Wow, that's a lot of bathrooms.
R: Mom, guess how many rooms his house will have.
Me: I don't know, maybe 100.
R: Like a hundred thirty or something!!!!!
Me: Wow.
R: And did you know he gets to have a special room, called like "the square room" or something?
Me: Do you mean "the Oval Office"?
R: Mom, how do you know so much?!?!?


When we got home I googled the White House to check Rowan's facts. There are 35 bathrooms, and 132 rooms. That kindergartner's got a pretty good memory!

Yeah Fuller!!!!

In the past couple of years Fuller has played on some pretty "down on their luck" sports teams. Last year his basketball team didn't win a single game all season, and his soccer team only won one. This morning Fuller had his first two games of the season. They won both of them! I was really impressed with how well Fuller was playing. I guess playing basketball every morning before school is really paying off. He scored several points in each game, and made some great passes that helped others score. My parents were able to come and watch him play, which was great. My dad commented about Fuller being "scrappy" which was so true. He really gave it his all. I beamed with pride when I heard the opposing coach yell that someone better cover "20". Of course basketball can be kind of a rough sport, Fuller is nursing a sore wrist and elbow from when he was fouled and tripped.
Here he is, happy and exhausted:

Fuller's team only had one sub for their second game, so he ended up playing the entire game. I'm really excited for Fuller that he finally got to start a sport season off on a positive note.

Life's little rewards

This morning, the last thing I wanted to do was drive Fuller to school. I was tired. It was cold outside(26 degrees). Rowan just wanted to stay home and watch Looney Tunes, all snuggled up in his blankets. And I wanted to join him. But we forged ahead, and took Fuller to school. And I was rewarded for doing so. No, I didn't get a nice heart felt goodbye from a certain 11 year old. But I did get to see a beautiful, fog layered sunrise over the river. Watching the sun come up over the river has been one of my favorite things this year. I love that Fuller's school is only a block from the water, and that there is a park right there on the river's edge where Rowan and I can go sit and watch the sun come up. Definitely worth leaving the house for.