That Virtual Veronica is Very Verbose

Responsibity – Take Some!

2009-10-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have been disturbed lately by this whole media firestorm known as the “Jon & Kate Plus 8 Scandal” or “Jon Hates Kate Debacle” or “Kate Makes Waste Mess” – whatever you call it, it’s freaking annoying. I think what bothers me the most, outside of their 8 children being thrust into the media without their consent, is the fact that these two bozos seems to have no concept of personal responsibility.

They have been making the talk show rounds as of late, seemingly intent on blaming the other person for their needing to appear on TV or be interviewed for a magazine. SHE’S only on the “Today Show” to ‘respond’ to him. HE’S on "Larry King" trying to defend his character.

Spare me. All this does is further my opinion that these are two people who may have started out their show to document the lives of their multiples, but have instead, been sucked into the vortex of celebrity for celebrity’s sake. And in the process, their marriage as ended.

Both of them have acknowledged that they believe that the marriage was probably going to end with or without their family being on a hit TLC show. I give them props for admitting this and I do believe that is probably true. However, the way that they are conducting themselves now is nothing short of horrifying. I am not sure why they haven’t gotten the hint that maybe instead of running around doing talk shows (WTF with Kate on “The View” Seriously? There was so much tension at that table you could have cut it with her spiky hair!), traveling on speaking engagements, running to New York to be interviewed for yet another cover story on “People” magazine maybe, just maybe, they should ~~shut up~~ lay low and focus on figuring how to co-parent and repair the damage already done to those kids.

But really, the reason why this story has resonated so deeply with me and stayed with me is that it’s not a new one. It’s a very familiar story just being played out in the glare of the national media. And there are thousands upon thousands of children who have been affected by divorce and the emotional, physical, and financial fallout from it.

Before I go on, I should throw in a disclaimer here. My parents are still happily married. They will be celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary this month. I am not a child of divorce. However, I have been married and divorced (almost 11 years but with no children) and my husband has been married and divorced and has a 17-year-old child from his previous relationship. Believe me – I have lived through and seen first hand the devastation and destruction that divorce can cause and continue to cause even years after the fact.

In my opinion, children deserve a lot from their parents. They deserve unconditional love, safety, security and for their basic needs to be met. Children of divorce deserve all that and perhaps more.

They deserve to not be thrust into the middle of feuding parents. They deserve a chance at being a kid and not worrying about all kinds of adult issues that they cannot and should not have to process. They deserve to feel safe and secure in the fact that the demise of the marriage is not their fault and that they are loved. By BOTH parents.

Any child of divorce that does not get the emotional support that they deserve is getting the short end of the stick. Parents need to make sure that their children are “allowed” to love the other parent. Extended family also carry the burden of reassuring these children that both parents love them and will always love them – regardless of whether or not they remain married. And in a healthy divorce (and trust me – there can be healthy divorces and there are divorces that would scare Satan himself) the parents should be able to come to an understanding of how their children will be raised.

Anything less is unacceptable and quite honestly, child abuse.

Which brings me back to the Gosselin kids – what on Earth are their parents thinking airing all of their dirty laundry on TV? In this age of YouTube and the Interwebs (and yes, I know that’s the wrong word…I just love using it) their words will live on forever. And trust me – when their 9 year old daughters turn 14 in 5 years, I firmly believe that they will be Goggling dear old mom and dad to get some answers. And how horrible for them to have to hear all of the nonsense that has been going on. How awful for them to have to witness first hand the acrimonious and vengeful nature with which their parents are treating each other, and as a result, them.

It is my hope that these two ~~train wrecks~~ people figure out that it’s time for them to take responsibility for their actions. They need to man up and accept that their marriage has ended, yet their children still need to be raised by both parents. They need to shut their mouths, stop badmouthing each other in public and on record, and get focused on what’s really important – the children.

And that, my friend, is all I have to say about that.

New and Improved...I Hope.

2009-10-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hello there faithful blog readers! Oh wait...there probably aren't any of you left since I have not been blogging in quite some time. OK then - Welcome new and improved blog readers!!

I have been struggling for quite some time with how to change the direction of my blog. In the beginning, my blog started out as a way to update extended family and faraway friends with the antics of our kids, family outings, and in general fun stuff that I thought people would find interesting. Riveting stuff, huh? Well, not anymore.

Although my blog will still have certain little stories and anecdotes about our kids and our life together, I am going to shift the focus a bit. To me. All about me. I am giddy with excitement.

You see, it's not that I don't enjoy spinning a good yarn about my little rugrats. Or sharing pictures and video of the happenings in our lives. But I need more than that. I have lots to say and I need a place to say it. I am going to join the millions of other ~~narccassistic~~ creative people out there in blog land and get my 2 cents in.

You may not always agree with me (I can't imagine why - my perfection and intellect have long been the stuff of legends). My hope is that somewhere along the way you will gain a different perspective from having been invited into the inner workings of my mind. Or not. I'm going to be putting it out there on the "interwebs" whether you want to read it or not.
Which begs the question - can you handle it? I hope so.
Much love and here's to a happy week,

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T13:22:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-29T15:09:00.001-07:00

Kneipp Family Victory Garden - Update, July, 2009

2009-07-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale

I am pleased to note that we are quickly approaching the harvest portion of our gardening chores. However, there were a few missteps in planning the garden that have lead to some unanticipated results.

First of all, I forgot to plant any zucchini. Flat out forgot. And we love zucchini bread so much around here - now we are going to have to get ours from the produce market. Lame.

Second of all, I didn't give a lot of thought to how aggressive the cucumbers that we planted were going to be! They have started snaking their way up the sweet pea stakes and have all but eaten one of my green pepper plants. Not good...I still have one green pepper plant that is holding on for dear life and has 3-4 little peppers budded out. If the cucumber will keep it's distance a little bit, we may be eating stuffed peppers from our own garden yet!!

Thirdly, I gave thought to the fact that we needed to plant corn in rows, so that they could cross-pollinate, but I did not spend a lot of time in thinking about the fact that the growth of their neighbors, our tomato plants, would block almost all of their sunlight. Oops. We may or may not get any corn cobs out of the deal...but definitely learned a lesson or two on that one.

Finally, we have a ton of tomatoes on all 3 kinds of plants, Brandywine, Cherry & Roma...however, just 2 little individualist cherry tomatoes are showing any signs of ripening. I do hope that it's not a repeat of last year when we had to eat fried green tomatoes just to feel like we hadn't failed miserably.

So, there you have it. I would think we're at the mid-way point for the Garden of 2009. Once again, I have learned a lot of great lessons, the greatest one being: I have no flipping clue what I am doing in the garden and if I EVER hope to feed this family of 5 with home-grown produce, I better get some books and read up over the off-season. There's always room for improvement, right?

Tanner in the Kiddie Pool - Finally!!

2009-07-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

Tanner's Walking!!

2009-07-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

Anniversary Pics!

2009-07-11T12:25:00.001-07:00

A good friend of ours, Dale Chumbley, agreed to take some anniversary pics for us this year. Unfortunately, we had no way of knowing that the day we chose to meet and get it done would be the hottest day of the year so far. It was closer to (if not over) 100 degrees that day. And further "planning genius" led to us meeting at 2pm.

I still think I got a touch of heat stroke after walking around taking pics for an hour or so. Poor Mitch, who wasn't "loving" taking pictures anyway, and was trying "not to sweat", but he wasn't very successful.

Even though it wasn't the best of circumstances, we had a fun time and managed to get some good pictures out of the deal. Here are just a few of the shots that we got - we are looking forward to many more years of anniversaries, but the next time we take pictures, I think there will have to be an understanding that it won't be in the middle of a heat wave. :-)

Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.

Author Unknown

4th of July and 7th Anniversary!!

2009-07-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

We did it! We made it through another year of marital bliss...or at least that's how I would classify it!! We did some of our usual traditions - pictures at the park, breakfast at my parents, BBQ at our place.

Our photo shoot was not on of the better ones we have had. Tanner was tired and crabby and really hardly smiled at all for any of the posed pictures, and in fact, screamed his head off for most of them. It is what it is and the kids had a blast making funny faces and then playing on the play structure when we were done. All in all, we had a good time and that's what's important, right?

There were also some "firsts" for the holiday. I grilled for the first time in my life! We had Poblano-Avacado Salsa Shrimp Tacos - YUMMY! I realized at one point that we were basically having a "Cinco de Mayo" meal for the 4th, but oh well - it was good!

My parents headed home before the fireworks and we got our blanket all spread out on the front lawn and watched the fireworks in our neighborhood for almost 2 hours. The kids were every excited in the beginning, but I think we were both pretty shocked when Tucker fell asleep in my lap and Lexi followed soon after. It was very sweet.

All in all, it was a good anniversary and I think we'll go ahead and shoot for 8!! I think we have a pretty darn good thing going here...

No Title Necessary

2009-07-04T15:15:00.001-07:00

My Bucket List

2009-07-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I had one too many epiphanies and need to put "pen to paper", so to speak, and create my bucket list! It's a rough list for now, but hopefully I can add to it as time goes on - and delete from it as well!

1) Visit Alaska, both in the summer & the winter
2) Learn how to operate the grill - I have never done this before and feel like it may be the "final frontier" of my cooking skills.
3) Learn how to use Adobe Photoshop properly

4) Actually do something with the thousands of digital photo files that I have

5) Read "Don Quixote" in it's entirety

6) Visit Washington D.C.

7) Make my own soap

8) Learn how to sew

9) Live on some acreage that would lend itself to raising some small farm animals

10) Drive across America on the classic "Family Road Trip" (picture National Lampoon's "Vacation")

I challenge you to think about your own list - and get to livin'!! Who knows...maybe I'll get to cross one of mine off before the end of the weekend...you never know! :-)

Tanner Rocking Out on Thomas the Train!

2009-07-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Thomas the Train

2009-07-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

We had our annual trip to see Thomas the Train in Hood River, Oregon this past weekend. We have been going for the last 3 years and it has been so much fun! We usually try to get tickets for the first train out at 9am, which makes for an early day, but we also usually beat the heat and the crowds that way! This year was no exception and the kids had no problem being ready to get picked up at 7am! Mitch and I might have struggled a little bit more with that. :-)

Here's Tucker in all of his Thomas gear (including Thomas underpants!) waiting to get picked up:

The other thing I always forget about is that to the kids, the bus ride from the parking lot to the train station is just as big of an event as the train ride itself! Since I am a paranoid mom and don't let them ride the bus to school, the novelty hasn't worn off one bit!

Here's Lexi enjoying her bus ride:

And once we're on the train, they can hardly contain themselves! It's a quick ride - 15 minutes out and then a turnaround to come back, but it's right by the river and so pretty! They pretty much have their heads at the window the entire time!

Here's my three little engineers!

Tanner was with us last year, but he was so little I don't even think he realized he was on a train. This year he was very excited and danced along to the music and LOVED the ride!

And finally, we had our picture taken with the big man himself, Thomas!! Peep, peep!! (And miracle of miracles...EVERYONE was looking at the camera!!)

Until next year!! :-)

Old Friends, New Friends

2009-06-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity last week to have a "mini-reunion" of sorts with a couple of my friends from high school. When I signed up for Facebook several months ago, I reconnected with many, many old friends, not thinking for a second that I would actually ever get to see any other them face to face - and certainly not so soon!

Bob Kraft ('Robert' if you met him post-1992 or so) and I had gone to school together from 1982 (eek!) through 1988. We both were big into the basketball and although we traveled in different circles, he was a constant throughout my years at the gym - I sort of fit school in around basketball at the time!

Kim Snowden and I were friends from '86 -'88. Although we can't remember why, or when, or how, we became friends! There were a couple of classes that we may or may not have had together - and some birthday memories. Whatever the case may be, what's important is that we remembered we dug each other's company!

The best thing of all...they married each other and are now Bob & Kim Kraft! A 2 for 1 deal!

Last week Bob ran in the Rock & Roll Marathon in Seattle...on their way up, they stopped into the 'Shoug for some family fun. They have 2 daughters, 10 and 4. We planned dinner at our house one night and a trip to the Oregon Zoo the next day.

To say that we had a good time would be the understatement of the century. I didn't think that it would be possible to like someone even MORE than you did in high school. Although we have all grown and changed, much of our visit felt to me like I had finally "come home" after being away for a very, very long time. The kids got along famously and Mitch loved them all as much as I did! And if you've been married for a while, you know how hard it can be to find couples that you both like equally!! We've been blessed lately with an overabundance of such couples!! We're so lucky!

Anyway - if you are ever hesitant or doubtful about reconnecting with people from you past, I say go for it! Could it be a terrible experience that leaves you asking "Why on EARTH did we do that?"...sure. But you never know - you could make some "new" friends who only add to the joy of your life and your families.

I think it's worth taking the risk!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Pictures From Our Disneyland Trip

2009-05-19T09:42:00.001-07:00

These are out of order - Sorry! If you start at the bottom and go up then they will be in order. Enjoy! :-)

Disneyland Surprise!!

2009-05-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-08T10:17:00.001-07:00

No Excuses

2009-03-31T14:29:00.001-07:00

My blog performance as of late has been nothing short of pathetic. While making some changes today I noticed that I only had 4 archived posts for the month of March. Sad. I even missed a couple of "Wordless Wednesday's", which are one of my favorite things! No writing involved! There are many reasons why I have been remiss at keeping the blog up to date. They include, but are not limited to:

* We had a virus that wiped out our hard drive at the beginning of the month. I am still missing a ton of software and have yet to re-enter all of my Outlook contacts. Ick.

* I was really sick for a week...the week that included 3 out of our 5 family member's birthdays! Double ick.

* In the midst of it all, we also switched Internet providers (yeah Verizon!) and lost a bunch of bookmarks, etc. Oh, and by the way, changed our email address. Which was a big deal! We've had the same one for over 7 years...since we first got together! I don't even want to think about all of the emails I am not getting. Triple ick.

* Tanner is crawling now! Yeah, but uh oh too! What do you mean I can't set him on the floor and walk away? Or type away, as the case may be! I was ready for this step and at the same time, so NOT ready! He has me running and it's been a few years since I did this stage with a baby...from what I remember, there's parts of it that aren't my favorite.

Anyway - there you have it. I am really going to make a concerted effort to update and post more often from this point forward. I feel as though I am at a turning point and need to get a better handle on what the purpose of this blog is.

To keep family and friends informed of the kids progress through life? Well, sure. To share my unique opinions and spin on things in the world? Why the h*ll not? To present a clear and present glimpse into the life of a stay-at-home Mom in the present times? I am one after-all...at least I'm qualified.

Hopefully everyone who has followed before will continue to follow. And who knows - maybe if I can really get my act together, even more people will jump on the Krazy Kneipp train and keep checking the site out. I'll try to make it worth your while.

Until then, I'll just keep livin' the dream...

Lexi Turns 6!!

2009-03-21T13:34:00.001-07:00

On March 12th, our little Lexi celebrated her 6th Birthday! And what a year it has been! We can't believe how fast our baby girl is growing up - it seems like only yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital.

Lexi has had a great year. She finished up pre-school last year and started Kindergarten this past fall. She loves school and is doing well with reading and writing. What she is apparently NOT fond of is discussing her "feelings".

She has told us repeatedly that she does not like it when Miss Julie comes to class and they talk about feelings. We don't have the full story yet (conferences are next week) but from what we can gather, Miss Julie comes in and the kids discuss different scenarios and how to handle them. This past Monday they covered "sad", "mad" and "frust-er-ated" according to Lexi. She did not at all approve and wanted to know WHY she had to sit and listen to Miss Julie for "5 hours" on Mondays. Considering that she's only in school for less than 3 hours, I am not sure how that works, but whatever.

Bottom line - reading & writing OK in Lexi's book. Talking about feelings, not so much.

She continues to surprise me with her understanding of all things adult. I need to work on censoring myself more. Recently on the way to school in the morning, I had a not-so-pleasant mirror put in my face. Mitch had borrowed my car and readjusted and seats, mirrors, cup holders, floor mats, etc. (You get the picture - he completely jacked up my ride!) I was fiddling with everything trying to get it fixed. I apparently exhibited some "fruster-a-tion" and all of a sudden from Lexi in the backseat I hear, "Oh that Mitchell!" in the same exasperated tone that I so often use.

It was pretty funny, but also reminded me that I am indeed having some impact on how she sees the world. And I better make darn sure she's learning the lessons I want her to, and not the ones she sneaks on her own.

I hope that this year will be as fun and funny for her as the last year was. She is a sweet little girl with a heart of gold. She can also be a drama queen with rage that knows no bounds. Whatever she is, or ends up being, she will always be our little girl and we love her to the moon and back!!

Happy Birthday Lexi Noodle!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Tanner!!!

2009-03-07T19:03:00.001-08:00

Tanner's 1st Birthday Playdate Doughnut Extravaganza

2009-03-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-04T10:50:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday (A Double Since I Missed Last Week)

2009-02-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

Happy President's Day 2009

2009-02-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Abraham Lincoln

Second Inaugural Address

Saturday, March 4, 1865

Weeks of wet weather preceding Lincoln's second inauguration had caused Pennsylvania Avenue to become a sea of mud and standing water. Thousands of spectators stood in thick mud at the Capitol grounds to hear the President. As he stood on the East Portico to take the executive oath, the completed Capitol dome over the President's head was a physical reminder of the resolve of his Administration throughout the years of civil war. Chief Justice Salmon Chase administered the oath of office. In little more than a month, the President would be assassinated.

Fellow-Countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, urgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.

One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

7 Years Ago...

2009-02-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Two crazy "kids" feel in love and decided to start a life together. We are so glad that we did!! Here's to the next 70 years!! :-)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-04T10:56:00.001-08:00

Mother-of-the-Year 2009

2009-01-31T08:23:00.000-08:00

I often joke about being nominated “Mother-of-the-Year”. Usually, it’s for a negative reason – being a “mean, mean Mama”, breaking the baby’s leg (hey wait – that was “Father-of-the-Year”, not me), or in general screwing up my kids. Well, if there was a REAL mother of the year contest, I have a feeling that it would involve an essay of some kind to enter. You know…a “Why My Kids Love Me Best” essay. Or “Doing it All for Less: Keeping your Kids Healthy and Entertained on a Budget”.

Behold, my imaginary entry into the fake contest for “Mother of the Year 2009”. (and yes, I do know it’s only January…I think that my essay will show that although there are 11 months to go, I am so much of a front-runner the contest should just be called now)

The Circle of Life
By

Veronica Dianne Torgensen Kneipp

Mother to
Beautiful Alexandria Aged 5 ¾
Adorable Tucker Aged 4 and a “wittle bit”
Kissable Tanner Aged 10 months and 23 days (give or take)

This past Christmas we bought the children chore charts as one of their gifts. They each have one chore to do per day according to how old they are. For the past month, they have been diligently doing their chores and enjoying the awesomeness that is allowance every Sunday. Since things had been going so well, I, as their wonderful mother, decided that we should surprise them with a bigger reward.

When I arrive home from work today, with little or no prior discussion with my husband, I announce that we were going somewhere for a big surprise! The children were excited and enthused! (Not Tanner…he really doesn’t get much yet…don’t know what that’s about). Anyway – I digress.

We hop into the car and head down the hill. The excitement is palpable. Shouts of joy and anticipation are coming from the backseat. Soon, they are taking guesses as to WHERE we might be going. Lexi guessed the zoo. Hey – good for her. If you’re gonna go, why not go big. Tucker had much more reasonable expectations. “We goin’ to the store, Mama?” What kind of store we asked him…he didn’t know. Then when we made a sudden turn to stop along the way he shouted excitedly, “Wexi! We’s going to get gas!”

Apparently he’s not the big dreamer of the house.

Back on the road we made out way to the secret location…the PetSmart. To buy fish. A fish for each of them!! Fine rewards for being such good kids for the last month. Give or take 10-15 naughty corners apiece. And there was that one “I HATE YOU” incident with Lexi. And just recently the Tucker going to bed until his Daddy gets home because I am so offensive to his sensibilities. Again, I digress.

Many hours are spent in PetSmart picking the right tank, food, accoutrement, and fish. An orange and white one for Lexi, a black one for Tucker and a spotted one for Tanner. We paid for our new family and excitedly headed back to home base. Naming fish along the way – Fluffy is Lexi’s, Raider is Tucker’s and Gill is Tanner’s. Answering fish type questions…”How do they sleep Mama?” “What do they eat Daddy?” “Why are trees good for the Earf?” (Whoops…that was a different topic altogether)

We get home and lo and behold…not all of the fish are doing swimmingly…as we had hoped. Raider, the black fish of the group, was looking a little slow. For the next hour, while Mitch and I worked to get the tank together and ready, Raider sort of started to look more and more peaked. There were several very meaningful glances between husband and wife…a call to the PetSmart Goldfish Hotline…and a lot of shoulder shrugging as we watched Raider listlessly roam around the temporary bowl.

Finally, the moment of truth. We went to put the fishy family into the tank and it became crystal clear that Raider was no longer of this Earth. More hidden glances…eye rolling…shoulder shrugging. Then we just laid it out there.

We told the kids that Raider had passed away. I told Mitch that there should be a ceremony in the bathroom to say proper goodbyes. In an unprecedented move, Mitch took the dead little fish in his hand (EWWWW – I almost lost it at that point!) and took the kids in to do the final flushing.

They seemed to be taking it well. Tucker looked a little sad, but he held it together. Lexi just kept saying “Why’s Raider sick? What was wrong with him? Why’d Tucker’s fish died?” etc. They went to look at the tank and watch the surviving fish swim around and enjoy their new home.

When all of a sudden it happened. It’s like watching an accident about to happen…everything slowed down and I seemed to be watching the scene through a fine piece of gauze…as Tucker’s bottom lip began the quiver to end all quivers…and then the wailing started…and the crocodile tears. He wasn’t even coherent anymore…he just kept rubbing his eyes closed and saying “I need to go to bed and lay down!”

Suddenly I notice the girl was missing. I heard sniffling over near the landing of the stairs. Mitch called out, “What’s wrong honey”? And all of a sudden she wailed, “I don’t knooooooooooooow!” And burst into tears herself.

It was all downhill from there. They both were practically inconsolable. One would get calmed down and then the other one would start in. They sat on our laps and tried to eat their dinner. It was horrible. More glancing and shoulder shrugging ensued.

They finally finished dinner, washed up, and went over to the tank one last time to say goodnight to Fluffy and Gill. Tucker’s lip held it together, just barely, upon the promise that in the morning we would be going to get him a replacement fish.

Having succeeded in taking my children through the full range of emotions over the span of 3 hours, my work was done. Thrilling surprise, check. Fun times bonding and learning with Mom and Dad, check. Vicious example of the “Circle of Life” up close and personal, check. Pushing your middle son to the brink of a complete emotional breakdown, check.

I really don’t know what more I could do, as a mother. I laid it all out on the line today. I secured my children’s future in therapy in one fail swoop. In other words, I mothered the H*LL out of those kids today.

My work here is done, and I thank you very much for your consideration in the Mother of the Year 2009 competition. I think it’s been broughten.

RIP
Raider Thomas Leslie Kneipp

(all of our kids have 4 names…why shouldn’t the fish?)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

Tanner got his cast off!!!

2009-01-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

Our poor little Tanner baby!! He has had quite a ride into 2009. Mitch fell while carrying him down the stairs on December 30. Luckily Mitch wasn't hurt, but Tanner broke his femur just above his knee. He was in his "Baby Smurf" cast for 4 weeks. Less than the 6-8 weeks they told us in the ER...and for that we are so grateful!!

He got the cast off on Thursday and seems to be doing ok. He's weak still and has a hard time sitting up straight for too, too long. He also doesn't seem to want to put any weight on his leg yet. We will be keeping an eye on him and hopefully he'll get stronger with every passing day.

His leg didn't actually look all that bad for being in the cast that long...what the video doesn't portray is how bad he STUNK!!! It was horrible!!

Anyway - the poor little dude didn't even make it to 1 year without a broken bone...this may not bode well for our parenting future. At least I waited until 6th grade for my first cast and crutches!

First full bath in 4 weeks! He was SO HAPPY!!

He's bringin' sexy back....

He's back and better than ever!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-21T06:48:00.001-08:00

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

2009-01-19T08:26:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

This just never gets old...

2009-01-11T22:57:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA PONGON!!!

2009-01-11T16:26:00.000-08:00

Who's the idiot now, Aunt Vicki???

;-)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-07T15:56:00.000-08:00

2009

2009-01-01T23:16:00.000-08:00

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.

~Henry Ward Beecher

Wordless Wednesday ;-(

2008-12-31T16:53:00.000-08:00

The First Annual Kneipp Family Christmas Newsletter

2008-12-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

I have always operated well under pressure.

Scratch that. I have always operated well under the pressure of a writing deadline.

In school, I always had every intention of starting my papers early, but it never quite worked out that way. I still remember the time I wrote over 350 pages total for the end of a semester at WSU and managed to do it all over the course of about 2 weeks. Obviously since that was almost 10 years ago and I haven’t forgotten it. It was quite traumatic.

Yet, here I sit. At the computer on Christmas Eve, writing the first annual “Kneipp Family Christmas Newsletter/Yearly Family Update”.

It’s not that I haven’t thought about it. In fact, I have been pondering and wondering in my mind for several weeks what I should write.

Do I want to try and make it a humorous look at the failures and foibles of our family?

Do I want to have some sort of catchy hook? Like the year LP wrote a Christmas letter in the form of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”? Maybe a poem?

Do I want to put out a traditional, chronological “Brag Fest” in which I wax eloquent on how beautiful and gifted all of our kids are? And how wonderful Mitch and I are too? I mean, it would be true and everything, but is it something people would enjoy reading?

And then it hit me.

Sometime in the late evening last night, as I was trying to get to sleep, it came to me. Like a gift from the “A Christmas Story” movie Gods:

I will write a THEME! A good, old fashioned Elementary School classic writing assignment. I may have hated them during my days at Walt Disney Elementary School, but I think it will fit the bill.

Please take a moment, grab a warm drink, settle in and prepare to be dazzled.

“What I Learned Since Last Christmas”
By
Veronica D. Kneipp

Since last Christmas, December 25, 2007, I have learned many things.

I have learned that no matter how bad things seem, they can always get worse.

My pregnancy with Tanner taught me this. I threw up every day from August 5th, 2007 until March 7th, 2008. Many times I thought to myself, “I have never been this sick in my life. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I might die. No, seriously, I am seeing the white light.”

Then on March 7th, Tanner shot into this world after an 8-hour drug-free labor.

I have learned that children are resilient.

The pregnancy was hard on Lexi and Tucker too. I was out of commission for so long that I grew concerned that they would develop resentment towards me and the new baby. They didn’t.

Just hours after giving birth, Lexi came to the hospital to meet her new baby brother. In a moment of complete honestly and sincerity that only a 5 year-old can muster she looked at me and exclaimed: “Mama! Now that you aren’t sick anymore you can cook us good food!!”

Good to know that I was missed.

I have learned that we can all be doing more towards living a “green” lifestyle.

Little things do add up. Diligent recycling, changing out your light bulbs, conserving fuel, using reusable shopping bags, etc.

What didn’t add up for me was our garden. Little did I know that you have to plant more than a 4’ x 8’ plot of vegetables to be able to feed a family of 5 for any length of time whatsoever.

I learned that Mitch and I are bad a** lip syncers.

For evidence of this fact, our videos can be seen both on this blog and on YouTube. Just search “mvkneipp”.

I learned that you never know who is reading what you put out on the Internet.

What I haven’t learned is how to get people to subscribe to my blog so that they know when I have updated. Oh well – there’s always next year.

I learned that although it’s nice to wish for a “White Christmas”, you better be careful what you wish for!

Last, but not least, I learned how truly blessed we are.

We have great kids, a great family, wonderful neighbors and many special friends, both online and in real life.

I am grateful for all of the lessons that I learned this year, and I look forward to what the next year brings!

To all of you and yours,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from the

Krazy Kneipp Klan.

Whoops.

I just signed off the Christmas Newsletter from the “KKK”.

We’ll have to work on that.

Enjoy some pics from the year below:

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-24T08:21:00.000-08:00

Slice of Life...

2008-12-22T15:53:00.001-08:00

Garden Then vs. Now

2008-12-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

Pictures from the blizzard...

2008-12-21T10:55:00.001-08:00

Washougal, Washington

ARCTIC BLAST 2008!!!

ARCTIC BLAST 2008

2008-12-21T10:22:00.001-08:00

It's official. We're in a blizzard out here in the 'Shoug. I braved below freezing windchill and frozen snow drifts to bring you this coverage.

I smell a Peabody.

Early Christmas with the Kneipp's

2008-12-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

I forgot!! It's Wordless Wednesday...oops!

2008-12-17T10:24:00.001-08:00

Prepare yourselves...

2008-12-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

I have had an epiphany which has led to the marrying of several different software programs that I have and I think I may finally be onto something.

Sit back and enjoy this blast from the past...(OK - so it was only a couple of months ago - so sue me!! ;-)

WASHOUGAL BLIZZARD 2008

2008-12-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

Winter has arrived, people!! It is a cold one here in the 'Shoug. I snapped some pics outside our house, but it really doesn't give justice to how bitterly cold and windy it is here today. When I got up this morning our outside temp was 15...and that's not counting the wind chill.

Good news is that school is closed - and it would appear that they will be all week. Since my little tots were sick last week, it is conceivable that they will return to school in January having not been there for a month. I hope they don't forget everything they've learned so far! ;-)

The other thing I have noticed about this unusually early winter storm is that I am out of the practice of dealing with harsh winter weather here. Suddenly I have turned into a "weather freak". I feel that I MUST check the news periodically just to be sure there hasn't been a "significant change" of any kind...I have been sucked into the madness that is our "Winter Weather Coverage" here in the PNW.

For example, my station of choice, KGW News, is touting this as the "ARCTIC BLAST" - complete with terrifying sound effects and graphics. You would think the Earth was coming to an end and we were all going to freeze to death just by thinking about the storm!

And then my favorite part of all...the beat reporters that they send out to stand in the most ridiculous of places, freezing their hineys off...there really should be a drinking game for it.

Every time the station anchor mentions that they can "hear the wind" out in the field - drink. Every time a field reporter bangs on the street with their mic to show how icy the roads are - drink. Every time they interview some "man on the street" who hasn't seen the inside of a dentist office in his entire lifetime - drink. (I'm not being mean...it's just how it is!!)

You'd be hammered in about 11 minutes.

For any one who was concerned about us Krazy Kneipps, we are doing OK. We're hunkered down in the house staying warm. We've got enough peanut butter, jam and bread to keep the kids alive for months, and so far our Dish TV is still coming in just fine.

Speaking of which, I better check the news again...it's been 20 minutes and there's no telling WHAT could have happened by now.

Stay classy, Washougal. Stay classy.

Celebrity Status

2008-12-14T12:58:00.000-08:00

When we went to see Santa last weekend in the 'Shoug Mitch and Tanner were MOBBED by the paparazzi!

Please click the link below, and check out the 3rd picture in on the "Christmas Tree Lighting" slideshow.

Sometimes we wish we could just have our privacy...but that's just not how we roll. ;-)

http://washougal.biz/cow/index.htm

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-10T08:25:00.001-08:00

Last but not Least

2008-12-07T15:32:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

An Oldie but a Goody...

2008-12-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It Just Keeps Getting Better

2008-12-07T15:27:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Holiday Fun

2008-12-07T15:24:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Another milestone...

2008-12-07T14:45:00.001-08:00

Our Budding Artist

2008-12-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

Normally I try to abstain from shameless bragging about the greatness of my children. I know I am extremely biased. However, I thought I would share the latest creation from our little Lexi.

Her class publishes books of their artwork on a fairly regular basis and then the books are sent home overnight for the kids to share with their families. We always enjoy seeing all of the kiddies artwork. It's fun to see how they are all so different.

Anyway - enjoy!!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-03T07:32:00.001-08:00

Traditions

2008-11-30T13:35:00.000-08:00

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!! We are all into the full swing of things now. The holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving seems like a distant memory already as we gear up for Christmas.

I have always been a sucker for tradition. I am not sure why. I know that we had a lot of family traditions when I was growing up, but there was also quite a bit of variety. There were years when we went to visit family for the holidays and years when we stayed home with just us. It was always fun no matter what we did.

At this point in my life, some might say I am turning into the "Tradition Nazi". Ready to throw a fit at a moments notice if something changes.

Take, for example, the Kneipp Family Tradition of matching PJ's on Christmas. We have always gotten them from Old Navy. This year, in their infinite wisdom, Old Navy IS NOT CARRYING them!! I about had a total meltdown.

Thankfully we have found replacement PJ's and all will be right with the world.

I think as time goes by, the kids grow up, and things change (as they inevitably must) that I have to stay focused on what is most important about these traditions...that we are all together. It's not about the pajamas. It's about creating memories that the kids will remember fondly. To stay in the moments...for they will be gone before we know it.

That is what I wish for everyone this holiday season. At least one moment in time where there's peace in your heart and a memory is made that will carry you through all the days of your life. I know I have already had several and it's not even December yet!

In light of this talk of tradition, I will leave you with a photographic retrospective:

The Kneipp's Annual Trip to Thorton's Tree Farm Through the Years

Happy Thanksgiving Pic

2008-11-28T18:31:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-26T12:01:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-19T08:50:00.001-08:00

A Week of Tucker

2008-11-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

It all started 4 long years ago...

The past week has been a birthday bonanza the likes of which I would like to say we have never seen...but we have. In keeping with the Kneipp family tradition of birthday celebrations that just don't ever quit, this has been the "Week of Tucker"!!

This past Saturday we did our annual "Red Robin Birthday Lunch" with Grammy and Papa. A good time was had by all and then we came home for presents and cake.

Tuesday was Tucker's actual 4th birthday. Mitch and Tucker were both under the weather, so we just hung out at home. We did have donuts and there were more presents.

Thursday, Tucker took in treats for his class - more donuts! There were no presents on this day, but he did get a spiffy birthday hat. He also helped with the preparations for his party.

Said party was today. More presents. More cake. Are we sensing a theme? His little friends all seemed to have a good time and once Tucker got over his initial shyness, he had a blast. (For the first 15 minutes he sat in the bathroom on the floor. He told me that "he needed some quiet time. All those people were talkin' at him!") Thank goodness he warmed up!

So, as this week draws to a close, I am so grateful that all of the birthday madness is over for now.

Now I just have to get geared up for March when 3/5 of our family have birthdays within 10 days of each other. Who planned that anyway? ;-)

We love you Tucker!!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

8 Months Already....

2008-11-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe our littlest peanut is 8 months old today!! He is so sweet and lovable! He is sitting up, but not making any real effort to crawl yet. He eats Cheerios like they are going out of style and can't get enough applesauce either!

Mostly he just smiles and sleeps. Both of which he just couldn't be any cuter doing.

And those other rugrats of ours aren't so bad either! Maybe we'll keep them all after all...

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-05T07:52:00.001-08:00

What a feeling! Halloween 2008 Wrap-up

2008-11-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

A good time was had by all in the Kneipp house on Halloween!! We went as a "Rock Band" - the only bummer was that little Tanner couldn't make it up long enough for Trick-or-Treating! He was in bed, out like a light by 6:00pm. Good news is the doorbell didn't wake him up!

We met up with some neighborhood folks to cruise around...I have to say, it was a great night to be out! The rain stayed away and it was actually warm. Much better than freezing our butts off in the Washougal wind chill!!

I worry somewhat that we have set the bar too high for our family Halloweens. It may be hard to come up with themes and costumes that get better and better each year. By we are going to try!

On a side note - if Mitch ever loses his job, I am not worried anymore. Apparently we have tremendous talent in both performance and video production! HA!

Hope you all had a safe, Happy Halloween!!

Halloween Fun with The Kneipp's!

2008-10-31T23:46:00.000-07:00

There is something to be said for finding a man who shares your passion for Rock and Roll and has a penchant for performance.

I give you our version of "Headbanger's Ball" - Halloween style...enjoy.

Boo!

2008-10-31T10:12:00.001-07:00

HAVE A SAFE AND SPOOKY

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Wordy Wednesday - Worth it, I Promise!

2008-10-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

Most Wednesdays I am content to just share a funny picture or two. Today, however, I need to shake things up a bit.

The following video is one that I saw on "Oprah" recently. It really moved me and got me thinking about life, love and priorities.

Imagine for a moment what our world would be like if each and every one of us got up everyday with the single purpose and goal of making life better for every person we came in contact with.

Everyone - our spouse or a teacher. Our children or a grocery store clerk. Our parents or an angry co-worker. Our neighbor or a stranger. If we met everyone with kindness and empathy, would we make the world a better place? It seems to me that we would.

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. It is amazing what one little boy could do - with no words.

Blogging the Old-Fashioned Way

2008-10-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

The definition of a blog is as follows:

Blog: an online diary, a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

When I started writing my blog, the purpose was to share our life with friends and family who live far away from us. I never really gave a whole lot of thought to any other purpose. It has worked well in that regard.

My blog has also become a place where I can “vent out” some of my thoughts and feelings on such items as current events, politics, personal growth, etc. I recently read a little article online entitled “Blog Etiquette” and realized maybe I should be re-thinking those aspects of my blog.

The article pointed out that what goes out onto the Internet is here to stay. Forever. With printers and scanners, what you say in 2008 could very well follow you until 2088. And that can be scary.

However, I try my hardest to “think before I post”. And lucky for me, I have the added check of knowing, if nothing else, my Mother reads this blog. (Or at least the first few lines of each post) She serves as a sort of “built-in censor”. Because if I don’t want my Mother reading it, chances are it shouldn’t be in my blog.

I have read many a blog that violate this simple rule. There’s an entire underground blogging community out there of stay-at-home mom’s who blog every last detail of their lives. I have learned way more than I needed to about random SAHM’s sex lives, in-laws, exes, brushes with the law, etc. I cringe when I think of the information that they are putting out there falling into the wrong hands.

The funny thing about the Internet is that it mirrors real life in so many ways. Although it may feel like an anonymous, shielded environment, it isn’t.

Have you ever been sitting in a restaurant and started to gossip…only to check yourself before you get too far and do the “whisper-talk, peek over our shoulder and check out the other booths to make sure no one who knows anyone who knows anyone is nearby” move? (Don’t lie. You’ve all done it.)

Well, the Internet doesn’t have such a feature. It’s all in your mind. The connections between people are murky and you can never be aware everyone who may read your words. Who may be hurt or influenced by your decisions of what pictures to post, what details to share, what attitudes and beliefs may offend. You just don’t know.

On the other hand, I refuse to have my on-line life dictated by what other people may do, say or feel. I usually am a very open-minded person and I hope that I have developed an ability to listen to various opinions and thoughts and give them careful consideration if they are presented in a rational manner.

And yes, that’s a back-handed jab at Sarah Palin supporters. ;-)

Which brings me to my final point. When the personality of a blogger tends to be sarcastic or caustic, a lot can get lost in translation. This is my official, one-time-only apology for anyone I may offend with a misinterpreted phrase, comment or out right joke. If you ever question my real intent, just ask me. Chances are I can set the record straight and clear things up.

In the meantime, I am going to continue on my merry way. Blogging when and how I want to. But always keeping in mind, if I have anything nasty to say, say it near the end of the blog. Chances are by then my Mother has grown bored and moved on.

Crazy Hair Day!!

2008-10-23T08:12:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday Times Three

2008-10-22T08:09:00.001-07:00

Random Sunday Thoughts

2008-10-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

I have been having a hard time getting started on a new blog post because I am all over the board on topics I would like to cover. In the interest of getting some thoughts out of my noggin' and shaking out the interesting things, I am going to share some random thoughts.

(Please note: All pictures included in the follow post will be random as well)

Enjoy and Happy Sunday!

1) I LOVE playing with new software for my computer.

2) I can't wait to see Sarah Palin on SNL tonight. (We have it on our DVR)

3) Fall is my favorite season.

4) Why is it that when we all have the opportunity to sleep in, the kids are up and the crack of dawn (or before), yet when we have to get on the road early, the kids sleep and sleep and sleep?

5) Would it really make a difference in production methods if everyone stopped buying regular eggs and switched to "cage free" eggs?

6) The Washington State Cougar football team is an embarrassment this year.

7) I am going to be 38 in less than a month. I have hit my peak looks wise and there's really no point in trying to achieve greatness anymore.

8) I am lucky I scored Mitchell when I did. (See Item #7)

9) Halloween cannot get here soon enough! I believe we are more excited than the kids are!

10) Why does time go by soooo slowly during the week and speeds up 10-fold on the weekends?

11) Will my Mom and Dad still be reading this list at this point, or have they become bored already and moved on?

12) Who the h*ll is reading my blog in the Czech Republic?

13) I hope the scumbags who stole our credit card info and charged over $600 for education software get what they have coming to them.

14) I love my new-to-me Jeep!!

15) Internet stalking is just another way to say, "I love you."

16) There's only 6 days until I leave for the "Girl's Getaway Beach Trip"! Woohoo!!

17) I hope I am not going to the "Girl's Getaway Beach Trip" with my arm in a sling because of my shoulder injury.

18) My shoulder hurts.

19) It doesn't matter how many times we go through it, I can still never figure out how to seat everyone at our table so we all get our wishes...Mitch by me, Lexi "opposite" me, Tucker by Daddy, etc., etc., etc.

20) Overall, I have a very blessed life and I am grateful for all my friends and family who care enough to READ TO THE BOTTOM OF MY POSTS!!

Love to you all - Veronica

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

Anniversary Video - Almost 4 Months Later!!

2008-10-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

Super Silly Sunday

2008-10-12T13:10:00.001-07:00

It's amazing to me how much of our personality is developed at an early age.

Pumpkin Patch 2008

2008-10-11T21:48:00.000-07:00

Another Fall Family Tradition is in the books - "Pumpkin Patch 2008" was a rousing success!! The kids had a blast, as did my parents and Mitch and I. We went to Joe's Place Farm in Vancouver, where we have been going since Lexi was 7 months old. In some ways, today felt like we had gone full circle.

Here's a timeline and some little memories from the last 6 years - hope you enjoy!!

The First Time

October, 2003

Lexi Noodle was just a baby! She was so cute and we were so excited to get to be doing some of the fun stuff - with a kid!! It was the inaugural year of the "Wheelbarrow Shot"!

Lexi & Mommy and Lexi & Daddy

Year 2

October, 2004

Ah yes....year 2. The year I was pregnant with Tucker, just off of bed rest for long enough to walk the pumpkin patch for about 15 minutes. I remember having some BIG contractions while we wandered around. Yuck. Plus, I was the size of a small Orca whale.

Good times...good times.

Year 3

October, 2005

We had twice the fun this year!! Tucker had joined the fray and it was good times all around!

Year 4

October, 2006

Another good year. Not a whole lot new to report. Both kids were really into things this year. The only other item of note would be that it was our first Halloween in Washougal.

Oh yeah. And we didn't get a "Family Shot" because Tucker kept running off. Little menace.

Year 5

October, 2007

Barf.

No. Really. That's all I remember is how nauseated I was. I think I was only out of the hospital a few days before we went. The corn maze just about did me in.

It would only be a few short weeks until I broke my ankle. Tanner may be the cutest baby in the whole wide world, but he was in fact, trying to kill me. Pumpkin Patch 2007 was a dark, dark day. :-(

Year 6

October, 2008

And that, my friends, brings us full circle. No big huge pregnant belly, no toddler who won't sit still, no nausea...just cute kids, good clean family fun and a wonderful memory that we all will cherish for years to come.

I have said it before and I'll say it again - I CANNOT WAIT for the year when they are 16, 14 and 11 and I make them jam themselves into a wheelbarrow so that I can get my picture!

Now that will be a moment to capture!! ;-)

In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit.
- Marge Kennedy

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

We can't believe he's 7 months old!

2008-10-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

But, we're not as shocked as he is!!

Our little pumpkin is 7 months old today! Hard to believe that it's been that long since I was in so much incredible pain...which I will remind him of every chance I get!! OK...not really. I'm just not "that type" of mom. ;-)

Tanner is doing great. He is sitting up by himself and trying to attempt to roll over every now and again. He is loving hearing himself "talk" and has taken to randomly screeching as loud as he can - scaring me in the process! He is eating lots of baby food, but after a rough go at the Cheerios, we laid off and gave him a break on the solids. Hopefully it won't be too long until he gets the hang of it!

He still naps twice a day and continues to be a champion sleeper at night - usually in bed by 6pm (shut up Pongon's!) and up again around 7 or 7:30am. We are SO LUCKY in the sleep department. (Unlike the pregnancy department...I think we all would agree we TOTALLY SUCK at that! And again, by "we", I mean me! ;-)

Well, that's all the bragging I have for the little guy today! He continues to be the light of our lives and we firmly believe that he may indeed have hung the moon. Someday he'll talk and all that will go out the window, but for now, he's our perfect little dude. :-)

Applefest 2008 - Hood River, Oregon

2008-10-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

We added a new fall tradition to the line up this year - apple picking in Hood River, Oregon. We loaded up all the kids and went for an hour and a half drive to get the same apples that we could have gotten at the Camas Produce Market.

Why? Because, as Tucker would say, "it's a babenture"!

The weather was dicey in beginning, but we hit the orchard for picking at just the right time - between rain storms! We even got to see a couple of rainbows - We picked a couple of bags of Honeycrisp apples and then pulled the rest from the already picked bins outside of the market.
We ended up with 80 pounds of apples...which I thought would be more than enough to make our applesauce for the year. However, upon canning them all up today, we only ended up with 21 quarts and 1 big batch of apple butter. Next year we will have to remember that we will need 160 pounds!! Oh my...
I highly recommend this "babenture" for anybody who enjoys apples and beautiful fall weather. :-)

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

We can't decide...

2008-09-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

Between "Twinkle Toes Tucker" or "Talkative Tucker"!!

He's the only boy in class...and talked the ENTIRE time!!

Enjoy!

Kudos to Lexi-Noodle!!

2008-09-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

Lexi participated in her school "Sport-A-Thon" on Friday. It is one of only 2 fundraisers for her school for the year and they raised $21,000!! She had to run the track (she made it 3 times!) jump rope and kick soccer goals.

She also won a DVD player in a raffle - we may never see her again! :-)

We're so proud of her for how she did!! Yeah Lexi!!

Almost 2 years to the day later...

2008-09-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

We finally fixed the front yard!! And by "we", I mean Mitch and Tucker! It was a long hard road, but it's taking shape now. Some plants, rocks and flowers and we will no longer be the nastiest yard in the neighborhood!! Woohoo!!

A little short video of Tucker and Mitch working and then some final parting shots...enjoy!

I think the evidence is clear...

2008-09-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

I really don't think anything more needs to be said...

Tanner's First Cheerios

2008-09-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

Not exactly a hit -

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS!!!

2008-09-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

This just in:

T.T.L.K. sits up on his own!! Repeat, baby is stationery and sitting up!!

Way to go, Little Dude!!

Sunday Funny

2008-09-21T12:54:00.001-07:00

Mitch can SO relate!

Self-Portrait by Miss Lexi

2008-09-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

One thing's for sure...the legs ARE drawn to scale!

A Trio Full of Trouble

2008-09-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Tanner...in Tan

2008-09-18T16:57:00.001-07:00

Build me a son, whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget to weep, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

Author Unknown

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our Nation...

2008-09-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Recently while watching TV on ABC I caught a glimpse of a bump into and out of a show preview which declared next week "National Stay at Home Week". I thought it a little odd, having never heard of such an animal before, so I took it upon myself to research it further.

Turns out that ABC has decided to make up said observance. It has nothing to do with the nation and our well-being. Rather it has to do with ABC putting it out there as a concept to "stay home" for your entertainment. On their website they state that they have declared the holiday because, "Times are tough! Stay at home and watch ABC television!"

I am so glad that ABC is thinking about little ole' me and my struggles with the increasing costs of day to day living.

Gas prices got you down? Stay in to catch "Dancing with the Stars!"

Soaring food prices stretching your family budget? Eat at home, then do little couch time watching ABC...maybe "Grey's Anatomy."

Call me cynical, but a major network declaring a "National Week" of any kind seems presumptuous. To do so during the first week of the new fall TV season just seems contrived and insulting to my intelligence.

I think I'll stick to observances that really are proclaimed by our President. Real stuff that means something in the grand scheme of it all.

And with that, I give you "Constitution Week", September 17th through the 23rd. Enjoy it and reflect on one of the greatest documents ever written. (Next to this blog, of course)

Lest you doubt me, here's the actual proclamation:

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access[wais.access.gpo.gov]

[Laws in effect as of January 3, 2006][CITE: 36USC108]

TITLE 36--PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS

Subtitle I--Patriotic and National Observances and Ceremonies

Part A--Observances and Ceremonies

CHAPTER 1--PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES Sec. 108. Constitution Week

The President is requested to issue each year a proclamation--

(1) designating September 17 through September 23 as Constitution Week; and

(2) inviting the people of the United States to observe Constitution Week, in schools, churches, and other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

(Pub. L. 105-225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1256.)

Historical and Revision Notes---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------108................................... 36:159. Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 875, 70 Stat. 932.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-17T10:44:00.001-07:00

Joke of the Day

2008-09-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

She really isn't making progress on her skills as fast as one would think. And, yes, the blur going back and forth would be her helpful little brother.

Joke of the Day:

Why don't seagulls live at the bay?

Because if they did, they'd be BAGELS!!

Home from the Beach...

2008-09-14T21:30:00.001-07:00

Out of the Rolling Ocean the Crowd
by Walt Whitman(1819-1892)

Out of the rolling ocean the crowd came a drop gently to me,

Whispering I love you, before long I die,

I have travel'd a long way merely to look on you to touch you,

For I could not die till I once look'd on you,

For I fear'd I might afterward lose you.

Now we have met, we have look'd, we are safe,

Return in peace to the ocean my love,

I too am part of that ocean my love, we are not so much separated,

Behold the great rondure, the cohesion of all, how perfect!

But as for me, for you, the irresistible sea is to separate us,

As for an hour carrying us diverse, yet cannot carry us diverse forever;

Be not impatient--a little space--know you I salute the air, the ocean and the land,

Every day at sundown for your dear sake my love.

Joke of the Day - Seaside Style

2008-09-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001

2008-09-11T17:06:00.001-07:00

Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country;

emotionally I know she is better than every other country.

- Sinclair Lewis