Phlog V:2.0

Back in June, I did a blog called "A Phlog (photo blog)". I figure that once in a while I should post a new Phlog up so I can catch up on my photo posting. So here is a compilation of some new photos of the monkeys and such for your viewing pleasure...

"Is Daddy home yet?"

Mmmmm....IBC Rootbeer. I serve my kids only the finest!

When the kids get bored...

Alex's play-doh time!

Abby's play-doh time too!

What are they thinkin' do ya think?

Abby wasn't as thrilled as Alex to be in the tree, but it's a cute photo op.

AND...a too cute video of monkeys bein' monkeys.

Old Faithful

Back around the time when Abby was just a wee little thing is when Alex decided to fall in love with one lone movie. George of the Jungle. He watched that movie more times than I can remember and it was the only one that he ever wanted to see. I was fine with that. I mean, all kids have obsessions with one thing or another throughout their lives. So why fight it, right? Since then, he grew to enjoy many movies. Cartoons were never high on his list, but he has become attached to a few Pixar movies (The Incredibles and Toy Story to be exact). He doesn't have nap time and so gets to pick his 'quiet-time' movie for the day. Quiet-time is good for him. He sits on the couch and gets to rest for a good one to two hours during the day. I used to give him George of the Jungle as an option for the longest time and one day he just decided that he didn't want to watch it anymore. For a brief time, he enjoyed George of the Jungle 2...yes...they made a second one. It doesn't have Brendan Fraser in it but it is very funny and entertaining. Anyhow, after a good month of watching that one, he quit George and his crazy antics cold turkey. Last week he came up to me and asked me, "Mommy, can I watch George of the Jungle for quiet time today?" (awww...full sentences...my boy's growin' up!) I was happy to oblige and he has been watching his old faithful movie for going on two weeks now. It is cute to see how he has changed since his original obsession with it. He laughs at different scenes now and can understand much more of the movie. He pretends he is a monkey and makes jungle calls like George/Tarzan all the time. I think that he will probably give up on ol' George again in the next week or two, but it's cute to see him enjoy an old favorite again. Ahhh...memories.

Potter Report

For starters, let me grace you with my official report of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was great! They followed the book really close in this one. There were only a few added scenes that they changed up a bit and the end was different in it's own way. I love, love, LOVE the way they portrayed Snape in this one. But I'm a Snape fan to the end. He's one of my favorite characters. But it also helps when he is played by an amazing actor. (Alan Rickman is so fantastic) You go to this movie and the first two hours were just awesome! Best Potter flick by far. Then the end comes and it kind of...well...was anti-climatic. Don't worry. I won't disclose anything major for all of you that have yet to read the books or see the movies. Though, if you haven't read them or seen the movies yet and are over the age of ten, then chances are that you never will. I am a firm believer in not ruining movies/books for people. But it was well worth the visit to the movie theater. It was filled with really wonderful character development and quite a few funny scenes. The kids have really grown into their characters. I'm pumped to see the next movie. It was great to get out again and spend some quality time with Josh. In fact, the kids had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa that Alex has been asking to go back again. Woo-hoo!! I'll be taking much advantage of this phase. I am desperately needing another viewing of Transformers 2 in the next two weeks. And by the way, I still stand by my movie advice for everyone. Seriously, if you are going to only see one movie in the theater this year then see Transformers 2. You can see Harry Potter on your own TV and not lose the effect, but you can NOT see Transformers for the first time on a TV. You just won't understand the grand super-wonderfulness of it all. (Was that too geeky again? Oh well.)

Next, we had an incredibly productive weekend for a change. Usually, our weekends just float by with nothing to report of interest. Though I don't suppose much of it is really that interesting, it is still more so than my normal weekends.

We spent the rest of the weekend doing some things to improve the old house. We hope to sell it in the next year or two and move on up to another house with at least three bedrooms. How much longer can I house a boy and girl in the same room? I don't know when it becomes socially unacceptable. I have been attempting to get the siding on one side of the house replaced where it molded and rotted through. Turns out we have termites too. Greeeaaat. Guess I'll be buying termite killer in the next week as well. Yuck. Stupid worthless bugs...grumble grumble. I'll also be spending my weekends painting the house and deck. I decided to change our accent color from maroon to hunter green. I got a good chunk of the deck painted and did some landscaping too (thanks for the wood chips Sean and Mandy!). Free landscape material is AWESOME! I got limestone rocks from my Mom who has loads of them from years ago when they dug the lagoon and free wood chips from my friends who own a super wood chipper. Can't go wrong with free, right?

So anyways, the siding is done and the painting has commenced. It's starting to come together. I am hoping that it will help us with the selling of the house in the end. I look forward to having a bigger place one day. The kids had a blast helping outside. Alex helped me spread the wood chips and Abby helped by eating some. Naturally. I hope to post some pictures tomorrow. I would have done weekly winners but I don't think I pulled my camera out but once the entire week. Bad photo mama!

It's Potter Time!

This Saturday, I will finally be able to view the long awaited and highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Woo-hoo! Not only will I be enjoying the wonderfulness that is Harry Potter, but I will be getting my daily recommended dose of Mama-me-time. Ahhh...getting out of the house is so wonderful. But now that I have come to enjoy my out-of-the-house-away-from-the-kids-time, I think that I would not appreciate it as much if I were to do this too often. Nevertheless, it is fun to get out and spend some quality time with the hubby. I think it will be healthier for us in the end.

So Harry Potter time has come (finally...sheesh). The money-hungry movie studios decided to push the movie back so that they could enjoy the monetary benefits of a summer blockbuster. Annoying...yes. I mean, come on! The movie has been done since last year! Oh well...it'll be fun to watch even if it is almost a year later than anticipated. I'll be sure to let you all know how wonderful the movie is come Saturday. The next movie I am wanting to head to the theater to watch won't be coming until November. (see Mama Monkey's Movie Countdown on the sidebar
---->) But to fill the long time between this weekend and that faraway date, I will be going to see Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen once more. If truth be told, I'm actually more excited to see that a second time than I am to see Harry Potter. Why? I don't know. Cuz I'm a total geek, I guess. Unfortunately, Josh will be dragged with me. He isn't thrilled, but he'll deal. :-) Anyhoodle...In case I don't blog before Saturday, I hope everyone has a magical weekend. I know I will!

Weekly Winners

Okay...So I'm a bit late on the weekly winners this week, but I don't have a mass load of time to blog today seeing as how Abby took an early nap, sooo....here ya'll go!

Penny...our one-eyed kitty.

Isn't my corn huge!? It's like 8 feet tall now...amazing.

You just wonder what he is thinking, don't you?

Wild Wild West birthday party at Wesley's house.

Alex in the garden...a popular hangout in the backyard.

Diaper boxes: Better than real toys any day of the week.

Birthday cake...mmmm...Abby's favorite.

Happy Birthday Blog

This weekend comes with multiple birthdays so I shall send a big Happy Birthday shout out to all those who are celebrating the day of their birth. I hope you all have wonderful birthdays. First up,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT RITA!!

Today is my Aunt Rita's birthday. Thanks to facebook, I actually get to keep better track of birthdays then I used to. It's kind of nice. So Happy Birthday Aunt Rita! I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful aunt in my life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE & LINDA!!

Next up, tomorrow are my twin niece and nephew's birthday. Eight year's old! Wow...how time flies. Happy birthday to you two! We hope it's an awesome birthday for you and that you have a super-duper blast doing whatever you are doing to celebrate the big day! Alex say's Happy Birthday too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WESLEY!!

And on Sunday, my friends little boy, Wesley, is turning two! Holy cow! Two years went too fast. It just makes me think that it means I only have three months until Alex is three. We are so excited to go to the big Wild Wild West birthday party tomorrow. Alex is pumped to wear his cowboy boots. We hope you have an awesome Wild Wild West birthday Wesley!

Josh is going to get home from another week of working out of town so I'm sure blogging won't be happening this weekend. So happy birthday to all and I hope you all have a really great weekend.

It's Always Better on a Beater

You remember being a kid, right? Mom is in the kitchen whipping up something tasty with her trusty old mixer. The sound of the beaters draw you into the kitchen. Perhaps you stand by the counter, eagerly awaiting the taste of cake batter. Suddenly Mom hands you the sticky, dripping beater to lick clean. Yes...I believe we all have those memories. I think it might be engraved in a child's brain that if it is on a beater, then it will inevitably taste better. Actually, you can come very close to comparing it to Pavlov's Dog theory. I can actually spot the drool escaping their mouths when I fire up the ol' mixer. Mashed potatoes were a winner for the longest time with Alex and Abby, but in the last few months, it's all I can do to get them to even look at the plate without turning their noses up in disgust. I make some dang good potatoes, too! So bring on the picky eaters! I decided to give them the beaters and they gobble up the potatoes like it's some special treat concocted specially for them. I thought Abby might not be interested in the joy-joy goodness of beaters, but I was mistaken. She was just as happy to nom-nom-nom the beater clean. They even ask for more and I just dip the beaters back into the bowl until they have had their fill. In fact, they enjoy eating from them so much, that I might just try whipping up a few other side dishes. What do you think about whipped green beans and broccoli? Too much? Ah well...at least I can gaurantee they'll eat potatoes.