Language Assistance

My dad and his wife, Ir, came to visit and see our new home.  

Ir is Mexican.  

I showed her the Spanish workbooks that I bought for the boys and I to work on over the summer.  

She was pleased.  Frankly, we really should be learning a second language and considering my family ties and where we live, Spanish should be second nature for us.  But it is not.  So we are going to practice.

Before my dad and Ir left, she made little signs on everything with the Spanish vocab word so we could get started.   

I thought it was adorable.  

I'm sure the boys can't wait for school to end!

Warm House

We had a housewarming to celebrate the end of construction.

An old friend (the best of the best) brought a pineapple as a housewarming gift and a new friend (who makes incredible lasagna) cut it for the party.  

Some of my family came and also lots of friends, new and old.  

And now this place truly feels like home.

Castle Enhancements

Riley has been studying fairytales at school.  And all the kids made a castle.  The teacher said there could be no weapons or blood on the castles because fairytales aren't scary.

Uhhhh...the Grimms might disagree.

Anyway, when he got to bring his castle home, I told him he could do anything he wanted.

He added an army complete with weapons and blood spilling down the sides of the castle.

Even the red headed princess is packing.

All of them.

I love how creative this kid is.  And how accurate.  Real castles were probably bathed in blood over the centuries.  And there is no way you can convince me that the women were completely demure and never picked up a weapon when necessary.  Bravo Riley.

Open House

Slinky the Skink

Yogurt Extravaganza

So here is my question, Ev, uh...did any of the yogurt actually make it into your mouth?

This was the day we got two showers in one afternoon.  Yes.  It was that kind of day.

Doesn't seems like he minds at all.

Sick House

My boys have been sick.  

Again. 

Husband got sick on his business trip and came home dragging.  Normally an illness puts him down for oh...forty-five minutes or so.  This time...it's been five days and counting.  

Welcome to the real world. 

Riley went down with this particular bout first on Saturday afternoon.  Starts with a vicious headache.  Turns into a fever and stomach pain.  

On Sunday afternoon Sterling was hit upside the head.

Riley asked for my homemade chicken noodle soup.

Asked.  Repeatedly.

Normally they act like I am trying to kill them if I offer them some of my amazing soup.  I can't even spell S-O-U-P without them falling to the ground dramatically.  

This must be serious.

I headed off to sprouts for the finest organic ingredients.  (I left out the basil for this batch because I didn't want to hear boys complaining about floating green things.)

"That smells good," Riley complimented as it simmered.  

Who is this child?!

Well, when it was done, I offered to get Riley some.  Sterling was still behind in the illness and I wasn't sure his stomach could handle it.

Riley wanted a full bowl.  

Which he ate.

And Sterling wanted some as well.  He ate the whole bowl and told me it was amazing.  

Who are these imposters?!

And how long can I keep them?