The 10 Commandments

My parents gave Jack a little board book for Christmas that talks about the 10 Commandments and gives easy ways to help kids memorize them using their fingers. I started reading it every morning as we eat breakfast and now the kids ask to learn their commandments. Anna-Kate remembers them pretty well. Here they are, according to her:

1. There is only ONE God, and you shall have nooooooo other ones.
2. Don't bow down to other gods.
3. Don't take the name of your father and mother. (I then insert "the Lord your God" and she says, "oh yes, in vain!")
4. Remember the "Sabbat" day to keep it HOLY!
5. (always gets stuck here--the books' "trick" is to high-five your parent, that helps her remember) Honor your fodder and your mudder.
6. Don't kill anybody
7. Mommies and Daddies don't commit odurtlery (adultery, so far described as "mommies and daddies are only to love each other" and she adds, "but they can love other people who are their kids and friends too, they just love each other the most.")
8. Don't steal
9. (the hand motion here is to use 9 fingers and the hand with only four to say "I'm really five" and she gets a big kick out of this). Don't lie.
10. (the hand motion for this is for both hands to grab and she adds, "gimme, gimme!!"). Don't covet!

I'm pretty impressed with how well she has learned these, it's only been about 5 days. We are talking about what some of these words really mean (idols, that murder can also mean hating people etc).

***

When Anna-Kate gets stuck on one she says, "I'm gonna let Ryan answer this one" (such a dear, she is). When we got to the fifth commandment this morning Ryan said, "I know, I know! You shall have only 5 gods before me!" It's a work in progress.

Ryan, don't hate me in 13 years

He fell asleep playing trains again. This one was too good to pass up.

Adios!

Tradin' in the hot chocolate for a bikini (who am I kidding, that ship has sailed) tankini with a skirt. Chris and I decided to celebrate our 30th birthdays by taking a cruise! My parents graciously offered agreed to take the kids {yes, all 3 of them! Aren't they great?} as we traipse off to various Caribbean destinations. If you think of me, I'll be the one lounging by water, reading a book and sipping a drink with an umbrella in it.

I'm near giddy.

{But don't worry, I have posts coming all week. It's your consolation prize for not getting to come. Sorry. Though, if it makes you feel any better, with my luck, it'll rain the whole time...}

Really? Why?

Nearing the end of the sane part of my afternoon quiet play time I decided to read a magazine for a few minutes. I heard a slight rustling noise, but thought it was maybe melting ice outside or something (ya, wishful thinking). The noise continued so I walked into my office to see Ryan, holding 3 lollipops sans wrappers. He looked up, smiled and handed them to me like a bouquet and said, "here go Mommy!". He got the full three names as he hurried his little hiney up the stairs to his room.

Then, I did what any self-respecting mommy blogger would do. I stopped to take a picture. {See, a picture really is worth 1,000 words}



Ryan was most sad to hear they would all be thrown away and there would be no lollipops in our house anymore. Although I can't for the life of me figure out why this occurred to him, I am choosing to look at the positives: he clearly has good dexterity and fine motor skills as proven by his stealth quickness in removing all 16wrappers.

The creed

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail is supposed to keep the mail from coming, right? Well, that is certainly not the case here! As mail doesn't come on Sundays, this is now day 4 of no mail for me. I feel so out of the loop. My junk mail isn't gonna read itself, you see.

Trying to stifle my irritation at having put on shoes and ice skated, walked gracefully barely made it to the mailbox to see nothing, I got curious (OK, bored, it's been a slow week) and looked into the "postal carriers motto". (Here's the history geek coming out in me--you are forewarned.) The original saying was actually "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" and was said by (the Greek historian) Herodotus. The USPO has no official motto and the reason the afore mentioned is generally identified with the USPO is that in 1896-97 when the New York City General Post Office was being designed, Mitchell Kendal, of the architectural firm in charge, McKim, Mead and White, suggested engraving Herodotus' saying on the outside of the building. From that time on the saying has been associated with U.S. postal carriers.*

So, there you have it. You might not be able to send your kids off to school today, but now we can all say that we learned something new today. :) (and, you're welcome, Leigh-Ann. See, history is fun! LOL.)

Should also add, I was highly annoyed to not receive my mail today until a friend told me she saw our mail lady unable to get up the hill. I guess I'll give her an "e" for effort.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service_creed
*http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/post-office-motto.html

Perfection

Today is day two of the "ice-apocalypse 2011" of the south. We still have yet to venture beyond our driveway (and that was yesterday, but whatev's).

We had friends drop by (out for a walk--really??) today and other than that we drank a lot of coffee, I cleaned like a mad woman, Chris took a shovel to the driveway (to get the 1"+ ice off) then got some work in, and the kids played together. I'd call it a lovely winter day. So thankful I didn't have to get out in the ice.

Any-hoo. Chris grilled some steaks for us, we found boxes worth of crap and toys under the kids' beds cleaned the kids rooms, had our family devotion time and then I decided to indulge my sweet tooth.

Mmmm, perfection.



In my observation, there are many types of marshmallow eaters out there. The "catch it on fire so I can eat it in 7 seconds flat" type. The "I don't want any brown on it, just soft in the middle" type. And then there are those who demand perfection from their marshmallow eating experience {like moi'}. I like my marshmallows dark brown at the edges and just browned across, but completely melted throughout. I can't stand it when they catch on fire, (because they are charred and not melted in the middle.) I'm dedicated to achieving the perfect roasted marshmallow.

What kind of a marshmallow toaster are you?

Snowpocolypse 2011

Alternate title: Jammie Monday on steroids!

Sad, really that I'm getting these up before the rest of my Christmas blogs (including a white Christmas). Sigh.

It's been doomsday from the weather people around here (you know, down south a flurry can send a city into a panic). We stopped at Publix yesterday after church to get a gallon of milk. My friend said there was a run on milk and not much left so I decided to get an extra in case. In addition to not much milk, there were about 6 loaves of bread left and zero bottled water. My friend made a good point--why a run on bread and milk? Why not a run on brownies and wine? I know which I would prefer...

Anyway, Chris and I were watching a movie last night when I got up to get a glass of water. I looked up from the sink and thought, "hmm, looks like there is a little bit of snow on the ground". Indeed. I opened the door and we had 3 inches in less than 2 hours (since bedtime). This is about unprecedented y'all. It is being reported that our area got between 5 and 6 inches! It was sleeting a good part of the night and morning though, so the top inch is ice. It's pretty icky, but the snow packs really well for a snowman/snowballs. :)

Since the city closed down, Chris was home from work. We had a yummy strawberry, cinnamon roll and eggs breakfast and then got ready to go play outside! Poor Jack, by the time I had us all bundled up he began crying (after he toppled over from layers--think "Christmas Story"). I realized it was past his naptime, so he did not get to enjoy the fun! Chris tried sledding (on our recycling lid--we are so redneck) and it was a hilarious fail on his part. Anna-Kate made a snow angel, we all made a giant snowman snowblob (who needs perfectly rounded body part anyway?) we made a mini snow fort, threw snowballs and then Ryan and I snuggled up to watch the fun. We were finally all chilled and came in for hot chocolate in front of the fire. Such a fun Monday!

Snow makes everything so pretty!



It was really deep and Anna-Kate was SO excited to get out in it to play!



Anna-Kate sharing her "popsicle" with Ryan.



Epic fail on sledding



Take two, gotta love the persistence.



Not to be outdone...



Me and my (bigger) boy!



The girls!



Rainboots have been our saving grace these past couple of snows!



Some neighbors were walking by as we completed our snowman (Chris made his bagel mouth sad. I'm sure he's truly happy though...).



Love that she is 1/2 the size of the shovel--and loved it!



Geesh, we are really a very pale family. Ryan and I snuggling in our lawn chair watching the snow.



Anna-Kate wanted to swing so Chris thought he would flip the swing upside down for her so it would be dry. It cracked into three pieces.



Warming ourselves by the fire with hot chocolate and marshmallows!



I took a bunch trying to get a good one....Ryan absolutely could not be bothered to stop drinking and take a picture. So, I post the "true to real life" version. :)