Australia

Australia for dinner tonight! We really wanted to have some fresh Kangaroo meat, but we weren't sure we could sneak it out of the zoo without getting caught. Then I wanted to try Vegemite( didn't know where to find it)--I'm really curious, even though I'm quite certain I won't like it. So when I fell upon a recipe for "Jolly Jumbuck in a Tucker Bag" I was really excited. Then I called Colonel Mustard and he said it sounded like a bunch of bad words and they just forgot the F.

So.........we resorted to some simpler Aussie food. Meat pies, sweet potato sticks, shrimp on the barbie (had to have something on the barbie or we wouldn't be proper Americans!) and Anzac biscuits.

 As usual, Andrew out ate everyone...and Ethan snickered at his veggies (they weren't Australian enough for him.)

Our Anzac biscuits were a little strugglin'--guess I need some work on metric conversions--but they tasted great- like biscoff cookies!

So there's what we had for our Australian dinner, and as the boys would say, "Nick Off!"


Next week's pick? India.

Japan

I meant to post this last week, but I'm slow as usual.

Andrew is a fact obsessed child. He'd rather read an atlas than a novel. Consequently, he feels the need to get out of bed to share useless facts with us instead of going to sleep every night. Anyway...for Christmas he got this cool interactive globe (Santa is awesome). A few weeks before school got out he was playing on his globe and started asking about what kind of foods they ate in different countries. We talked and decided that we would try new food from a different country every week. His first pick was Japan.

So here is Japan.

Yakatori Chicken and Vegetables (Yummy!)

Sushi (not so yummy)

Trying out the chopsticks

After eating his first Sushi roll, Andrew decided he much preferred it without the roasted seaweed. (Can't blame him- the stuff is nasty. I was stifling my gag reflex so as not to discourage my kids adventurous appetites.)

And here's Ava with some vegetables-- at least she got to try something (and no, that is not all we fed her!)

We're already behind this week, but Australia is next on the menu!

Chain of Events

Ava doesn't get a nap today.
Ava drinks too much juice after dinner.
Ava falls asleep early.
Mom takes the step stool out of the bathroom to turn on a light.
Mom forgets to put the step stool back.
Ava wakes up crying 1 hour later.
Mom is making cupcakes.
Mom ignores Ava hoping she'll fall back asleep.
Ava gets up and heads for the bathroom.
Mom hears her and decides she will go get her as soon as the last of the cupcake batter is in the pan.
There is no stool in the bathroom for Ava.
Ava cannot reach the potty.
Ava goes back to her room, but Mom took her little potty out of her room.
Ava heads for the kitchen.
Mom heads for Ava.
Ava doesn't make it.
Mom spends her Saturday night scrubbing the floor...

and gets a priceless picture of pee-pee footprints in the carpet.

Maybe Mom will pay better attention next time!

Hot Dogs in the Freezer

When Byron and I first got married, a good friend I worked with got married 1 week later. His beautiful wife, was quite the opposite from me when it came to kitchen domestic issues. One day at lunch time I was eating leftovers from dinner. My friend commented how he wished he had leftovers to eat. I asked what he had for dinner and he related the following to me.

Well last night, I came home from work and  my wife was sitting on the couch with a bag of chips watching TV. I said "Hi Honey, what's for dinner?" She said, "Hot dogs are in the freezer." So, I had hot dogs for dinner.

In her defense, let me say no woman is required to fix dinner for her husband every night. However, Colonel Mustard and I still get a good laugh out of that story.

But yesterday was Father's Day, and that story has absolutely nothing to do with Father's Day. So in honor of my wonderful husband for Father's Day I'd just like to say, thank you, Honey. Thank you for being a wonderful husband and a great Father. Thank you for playing hide and seek with our kids over and over and over and over. ( It happens a lot). Thank you for always working so hard to make sure we never want for anything in life. Thank you for being so kind-hearted that you melt 10 minutes after the kids get in Big trouble. Thank you for always being there and putting the wants of your family before your own wants and needs. It never goes unnoticed and I'm grateful for you every day.

And since I showed you yesterday how grateful I was by making you grilled shrimp kebabs and filet mignon for dinner, I'd just like to say that tonight, Babe.............

Hot dogs are in the freezer!

Intellectual Conversation

Last night reading scriptures we had to pause many times for "intellectual conversation."

"Hey, did you know that if you sniff and you have snot you'll swallow it."

Not sure what that has to do with Captain Moroni??--but it is proof that boys can do two things at once-- at least we know they can read while still coming up with disgusting bodily functions to discuss.

Almost 2- year old prayer

Ava is not a big talker. We have been saying prayers for her for many months. She folds her arms so nicely, but has never repeated a word. Last night she tried to repeat me for the first time, and left us all laughing hysterically afterward.

Mom: Dear Heavenly Father,

Ava: Potty

Mom: Thank thee for this day.

Ava: Potty

Mom: Thankful we could have a fun day.

Ava: Potty

Mom: Help me to be like Jesus.

Ava: Potty

Mom: Say these things,

Ava: Potty

Mom: Name of Jesus Christ,

Ava Potty

Mom: Amen.

Ava: Done!

Disappeared

I disappeared.
I really didn't want to come back.
I didn't miss home--at all.
I think it's a sign.
I should move to Florida.
Or somewhere...anywhere...I've been here waaaaay too long.
How about China? Anyone lived there?
Excuse me....I've got to go start learning Chinese.

How Many Baid-Aids?

How Many band-aids does it take to to fix an "owie?"

Well that depends.

If you're a boy-- it takes one. One to fix the initial pain and hurt feelings. It may actually take more to heal the wound, but Mom will have to strap you down to secure another bandage, and then replace it every four hours when you rip it off because it is impeding your ability to play.

If you're a girl??---At least an entire box. One to fix the initial pain and hurt feelings. One to admire, next to the "owie." A new one every time the band-aid gets wet, dirty, or otherwise imperfect in any way. One every time you see the mark where the "owie" has healed, even if the mark is barely visible it must be bandaged again. One every time you are reminded you once had an "owie" there. One whenever some else gets a new "owie" and you still remember your old one. And one when you are reminded there are still bandaids in the house and you do not not currently have one on your person---to cover your pretend "owie." UNTIL....all the band-aids are gone.....And then.....you scream for a new box of band-aids!

4 Year Old Wisdom

Ethan, upon finding his Dad's razor in the drawer, takes it out and begins playing with it. Older brother, being soooo wise and helpful, recognizes the danger and proceeds to rip the razor out of his brother's hand. Ethan is screaming, a chunk of his skin is lying on the counter, and there is blood, lots of blood, everywhere.

This morning while changing the bandage on his finger Ethan informs me, "I had a talk with myself last night and decided it is not a good idea to play with Mom and Dad's stuff. They have things in there that can hurt you and just break off your skin. It's not a good idea."

We'll see how long he remembers his own advice!