MANism Monday

MANism#01112010
Gryphyn was mad a Vahn and his big threat if Vahn didn't leave him alone????
"I'm going to mess up your hair"

MANism#01112010-2
I was sorting laundry and Vahn saw his penguin jammies (he got them for Christmas & wants to wear them every night)
"These my penguin jammies? I miss them all night!"

MANism#01122010
Gryphyn started preschool today and when we dropped him off, the kids were just sitting down to snack. His teacher asked if he wanted to join them and Gryphyn said "No thanks - I don't need any energy!"


Gryphyn outside of his new school

MANism#01122010-2
G ~ Mommy I'm not very happy with you!
M ~ Why?
G ~ Cuz you made me carry my blanket in (from the car)
M ~ Thats ok, you can be mad at me.

MANism#01132010
G ~ "Mom why don't penguins have hands?"
M ~ "Because God didn't give them any when he made them"
G ~ "But they need them, cuz if they have kids and the kids have lots of toys how are they going to put them away?"

MANism#01132010-2
G ~ "Mom, Papa is making me SO Sad!"
M ~ " Why"
G ~ "Cuz he is watching a grown up show and "I" want to watch t.v.!"

MANism#01142010
G ~ "Mommy when I grow up I'm going to marry you!"

MANism#01142010-2
Vahn ~ "Me have an owie"
Nana ~ "I" "have an owie"
Vahn ~ "I have an owie , me okay!"


We had dinner at Golden Corral and there was a guy making things out of balloons - here is Vahn anticipating his turn! (he got a fishing pole with a fish on the end and G got a hat and then went back and asked for a green sword)

MANism#01142010-3
You guys are crazy - can I have some of your energy?
G ~ NO Mommy, You have to get your own!

MANism#01162010
I was reprimanding Gryphyn yet again and Vahn looks over at him and says... "Just say Yes Ma'am, Gryphyn!"

MANism#01162010-2
G~ "Daddy you can't eat things when they fall on the sidewalk because they have yucky, tiny germs on them - thats why I like sticks!"

MANism#01162010-3
G~ "Daddy you always get me the good stuff all the time. Thats why I love you all the time!"

MANism#01172010
Vahn was sick and had to stay home from church and he was trying to ask me if the reason he was throwing up was because he was little. It took quite awhile to figure out what he was saying. I got about one or two words per sentence - so I repeat back what I thought he says and he looks at me frustrated and says....
V~ Mommy you know what me talking about?
M~ No not really - sorry honey!

Project 365 - Days 6-11

January 6th - Day 6
Me trying to pick up the wireless signal on the lap top. Most of the time, it works great but occasionally, you have to search high and low for the signal. (Gryphyn took this picture)



January 7th - Day 7
The American flag flying outside of the gym. The men just recently learned what an "American" flag is and love it when it is blowing in the wind!


January 8th - Day 8
Gryphyn and Mommy - Vahn took this photo of us. I love how G is making faces instead of smiling - it is VERY Gryphyn!


January 9th - Day 9
Family day! The men went swimming at the gym while I was working out and then we went to Applebys for lunch - The Men fell asleep on the way home so Zac and I took advantage of the quiet and napped as well. When we woke up, Zac went and got some movies from Red Box. Here we are all sitting on the couch waiting for our movie (Night at the Museum 2) to start.


January 10th - Day 10
Our poor snow man! This is the one that was peed on (bottom right) and NOW, he is standing right where the sun shines so half of him as melted away!


January 11th - Day 11
Gryphyn had a drs appt for a preschool check up - so on the way there, we stopped at McDonalds for his favorite - Chicken & Fries!

MANism Monday

Vahn playing games on my iphone - I'm pretty sure he can use it better than I can!

MANism #01032010
When Vahn got out of the bath his fingers were all wrinkled and he looked at them and said "I have old fingers!"

MANism #01042010
Gryphyn- "Mom you better see this, its very awesome" (he was rolling a ball down slide on one of his toys)

MANism #01042010 -2
Zac was in the shower and Gryphyn banged on the door and yelled "Daddy be quiet , Papa is sleeping" (the bathroom door is right next door to Papas room)

MANism #01042010-3
Gryphyn "When I get big like you daddy, I'm going to like beer!"

MANism #01052010
Gryphyn to Vahn ....
"Aaack doesn't mean words - what are you trying to say Vahn?"

MANism #01052010-2
Gryphyn what do you want to be when you grow up?
"ummmm............. A Jedi Knight!"

MANism#0182010
G~ "why do we have to go to the gym all the time?"
M~ "because mommy wants to get in shape and not be so fat so that I have more energy and can play with you more"
G~ "I want you to be fat Mommy - cuz I just want to play with Daddy"

MANism #01082010-2
G~ "What do big cranes do?"
M~ "They move heavy things and help build tall things"
G~ "Maybe they are building a really big playground!"



MANism #01092010
Zac was crawling around on the floor playing with Vahn and Vahn wanted him to turn on the tv. Zac reached for the remote (on top of the shelf) and said "ohhh I can't reach it"
Vahn replied, "Stand on your feet Daddy"

MANism#01092010-2
We were talking to Gryphyn about how his name ended with the letter N and told Vahn that his name did too - after spelling Gryphyns name with him, we spelled out Vahn's name with him repeating each letter after us:
Me~" V " Vahn~ "V"
Me~"A" Vahn~"A"
Me~"H" Vahn~"H"
Me~"N" Vahn~"N - Gryphyn"




MANism #01092010-3
The whole family took a nap and when Vahn woke up he crawled into our bed with us. Thinking it was night time,and he couldn't get up, he was tossing and turning - I whispered to him "what's wrong?" and he loudly replied "WHAT" - he was super exited that he was able to get up and hopped down said "Me have an idea" and ran out the door when he came back in, he had a drum.
Going into his room to get it, had woke up Gryphyn who yelled "NO" when Vahn left the room again. Gryphyn is very anti nap and was quite upset that he had been asleep!

MANism #01092010-4
Vahn found $5 on the table, he held it up excited and said "a lucky ticket!"

MANism # 01102010
Gryphyn " Mommy I want to go see the Chick-munk movie"

MANism#01102010-2
Gryphyn was trying to explain to Zac that he had a "can" of orange juice and said "It was like a diet coke"

Project 365 - Week 1

In all my recent blog stalking, I have come across several mentions of the concept of Project 365 - of course NOW I can't find any of them to reference or quote so I'm on my own. Thats okay - this will be MY version of it anyway.

So, my understanding of Project 365 is that you take at least 1 picture each day. Then compile those photos into a memory of the past year.

I am pretty good about photographing the BIG events in our lives but we tend to forget all the little day to day things. All the moments that pass too quickly and you wish you could remember.

So that is my goal for this project to notice the little things. To be able to look back next year and see what was really important. The have a memory of the expressions and crazy things my men do.

So with out further ado, here are the first 5 photos of 2010!


Jan 1st - photo #1
The Pirate snowman that Gryphyn and I built


Jan 2nd - photo #2
Vahn cuddling after his nap - someday he won't nap anymore and snuggling up on Mommys lap will be the LAST thing he wants to do.


Jan 3rd - photo #3
Vahn playing a game while we wait for a table at Ruby River for lunch after church
(this one was taken with my phone and there for not the best - but the best one I got that day)


Jan 4th - photo #4
Mandy, Mom & I went out for dinner and then to see the Sherlock Holmes movie. I saw this Chipmunk display as we were headed to buy our tickets and remembered I hadn't taken a photo yet (hey I"m still new to this concept) So I had Mom take a few of Mandy and I


Jan 5th - photo #5
Gryphyn & Daddy - Not many people get to see this side of Gryphyn - we try to post the smiling happy photos of him. But this photo is VERY MUCH Gryphyn.
He had wet his pants and threw a huge fit about cleaning up, taking, a bath etc.... I had had it with the whining and sent him to bed. When Daddy came home a few minutes later, I let him get up and say Hi to Daddy. In this photo, they were talking about the choices Gryphyn had made. I love his expression and the innocence of it - but it makes me sad at the same time.

MANism Monday

Vahn watching movies on Daddy's phone- I guess all the good seats were already taken.

MANism #122909
Gryphyn doesn't really get the concept of telling jokes but that doesn't stop him from making up his own:
"Mom, what do trees bite with?" I don't know. What? "Spoons - Spoon mouths - HA HA HA"

MANism #122909-2
Vahn - I told him to take his toys upstairs to his room and he sat down on the stairs with a pouty face and said
"Me not happy with you Mom"

MANism #123009
Vahn - "I don't want to do dat" Well, would you like to have a spankin' or clean up?
"Would like to clean up"

MANism #123009-2
Vahn was poking holes in a piece of paper with a pen and stabbed his finger. I got him calmed down and put a band-aide on it. Gryphyn started grabbing the box and insisting that he needed one as well. I told him NO! and he said
"I'm going to stab myself - so I can have a band-aide"
GRRR - "You may NOT have a band-aide if you stab yourself on purpose!"

MANism #123009-3
Aunt Mimi went to the gym with us and when it was time to go, Gryphyn ran off to play with the trains by the front door Mimi went after him and on the way back, had a talk with him about not running off- when they came back to the kids area where I was helping Vahn put his shoes on, Gryphyn said
"Mom can I run off?"

MANism #123109
Gryphyn and Vahn were fighting and I made them apologize and give each other hugs. Gryphyn said
"I don't like Vahn's yucky kisses, they aren't my favorite!"

MANism #123109-2
Gryphyn "When both the hands are at the top (of the clock) we have to say Happy New Year & eat cookies!"

MANism #01022010
Driving home today we passed someone pulled over on the side of the road. Gryphyn asked "Mom what is a police ticket?" Not wanting to get into the whole explanation just then, I said "I don't know" to which he replied
" Yes you do - you got one!"

MANism#01032010
Gryphyn - we were at church just before they took offering and G said
"I don't want to give my money to God, I want to buy toys!"

MANism#01032010-2
Gryphyn - we were at lunch and G was laying down on the seat - we told him to sit up and he said
"I need to scratch my belly"


Gryphyn and the snowball that hit the camera!

ONE WORD

After my last post, New Years Resolutions, I took my whole list of words, cut it up in little strips, folded up the little slips of paper and put them all in a hat. Then I closed my eyes and prayed that God would let me choose from the hat the ONE thing that I needed to focus on this coming year. I mixed them all up some more, then some more, and then even more--- slowly pulled one out and asked God to give me peace about what ever it was I was about to read on this paper!

I slowly open my eyes - (really nervous about what I was going to read)

Looking away, I slowly opened the paper.

Then stole a quick glance at the paper. That got my attention and I stared at the paper in disbelief!

WHAT - you have got to be kidding!



Me..... PATIENCE - Really?

"I" need to work on Patience??????

I consider myself to be a VERY patience person - its usually the one word that I use to describe myself!

I almost didn't even put it in the mix.

I was about to throw it away and pick again but then I started thinking about the past year all the challenges and all the unresolved issues I still am facing now.




I must admit - I am tired of not having any answers. Of waiting for things to happen. I want to go out and MAKE things happen - but my attempts have all failed.

So very much so, God is telling me to be PATIENT!

His ways are not our own and His timing is not our timing.

It has been a few days now since I opened that slip of paper. The shock has worn off and I am actually excited to see what God has planned for me in 2010.

I have a new peace about being Patient and waiting on God's timing on all my big questions. Okay I do Still want to have all the answers right now. But i'm okay with waiting.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

New Year Resolutions

It's that time of year again when people make there big lists of what they want to be different in the new year. I've never been real big on making a resolutions list. Occasionally, I'll think of a few things, but I've never really liked the idea of writing out a list of things to do in the coming year - which is really odd because I am SUCH a list maker!

I think the main reason is - I DON'T want to fail and a list like that "usually" doesn't get done:

Here are some fun Facts I stole (from here):

During this week, millions upon millions of people around the world will be formulating their New Years Resolutions.

Here's how things usually end up.

63% of people are still keeping their resolutions after the first two months.

67% of people actually make 3 or more resolutions.

The top resolutions usually involve promises to exercise more (37%), increasing the time devoted to study or work (23%), losing weight, stop smoking or drinking (alcohol and/or coffee), and eat healthier.

People make more resolutions to start a new habit (84%) , than to break an old one (16%).

65% of people made their resolutions between the 28th of December and New Year's Day. The rest usually take up until the end of January.

Of those who successfully achieved their top resolution, 40% of them did so on the first attempt. The rest made multiple tries, with 17% finally succeeding after more than six attempts.


So yeah, I totally fall into that group, my only thoughts for this coming year have been the usual weight loss, get in shape type goals. But then this morning as I was reading all the updates on my blog list, I came across and interesting concept:ONE LITTLE WORDand it struck home with me. I LOVE this concept!

But now the search begins to find a word???
As I look back on 2009 and ahead to 2010, what is the ONE thing I want to focus on to be different this year?

I started brainstorming and the first thing to come to mind were the fruits of the spirit:

LOVE
JOY
PEACE
PATIENCE ......

Yeah, thats as far as I got. I never can remember how that whole list goes - good thing I have resources to look it up :)

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Thats better!
Some of the other words I came up with were:

FIT
HEALTHY
STRONG or STRENGTH
FAMILY
LEARN
GROW
TRUST

But now to choose?


There are too many to choose ducks over (inside joke for the ladies at bible study)
I still have a few days till I have to decide so, i am going think, pray and most likely pick one from a hat!

So check back in a few days to see what my word for 2010 will be!