First Day of School AND Happy Birthday David!

While this blog is often used to entertain and provoke you, today we are taking care of a little family business. We had the first day of school as well as David's birthday!

The day started with the classic photo shoot.



Which included some classic Nate faces....



Smile with your bottom teeth!



Who said he's allowed to look so grown up?



Here is what Nathan looks like as a First Grader in action...



As has it has become the tradition, we headed to Original Pancake House for carbs and (gluten free for Mommy) pancakes. This time we had David with us! We enjoyed hanging out, contemplating which of the many pancakes to order and trying to keep the very vocal baby entertained. It was a lovely morning. And a great way to celebrate a birthday!*




*= The photographer in me has to mention that when we stopped at home before breakfast, we switched the camera from the 5D to the Rebel. I just had to say it.

We've Decided to Call it the Nasal Douche

People, I have been sick. And it has been gross. Coughing. Sniffling. Snot everywhere. (Yes, I'm done. Well, mostly.) I reluctantly picked up some cold medicine because I really had to power through a few events that weekend and couldn't do it on my good looks alone. I also, after receiving wise counsel from my friends on Facebook, picked up.........a Neti Pot.

Let's speak frankly here people: It's gross. Possibly grosser than the snot everywhere. But its also, um, kind of addicting. You feel so good after using it! Even if you can't really look yourself in the mirror because you know you didn't look as cute as the smiling girl on Oprah.

Well, David was kind of facinated by the process so I shouldn't have been surprised when I excused myself one day to go use my neti pot, he wanted to watch.

"You can't WATCH me use it! No way!"

"I don't see the problem here."

"It's gross and embarassing and there will be water running out of my nose!"

"Honey, I have seen you give birth to 3 children-this can't be any different."

"Yes, but after those 3 births, I handed you a sweet wonderful and cuddly baby. After I use the neti...........well, that would be something entirely different I would be handing you."

In Appreciation of Statler and Waldorf

"You never know when something funny's gonna happen on this blog."

"Did something funny happen?"

"Yep."

"You'd never know it!"


We are in a very Muppet place in the House of Zab. We've got a CD in the car and we have been watching my DVD's of the show and movies. I don't think there is anything that makes my heart swell as when I get to share something I love (and I mean LOVE) with my kiddos. Lucy is a big Miss Piggy fan. We are reminding her that she can't "hi-yah!" karate chop her brother or sister. Nathan loves the jokes and the songs and reminding us EVERY MOMENT of the show that we are watching puppets.

"Mommy, see how Fozzie is laying down? There's a man under him making him talk."

"See that Lucy? The puppets are swimming in the water. Mom, do you think the guys making the puppets talk are getting wet too?"

"Nate, that man sitting right there is Jim Henson. He's the creator of the Muppets and the man who does Kermit's voice."
"Oh wow! So he took Kermit off his hand so he could run over to that part of the stage and sit at that table?"
cricket, cricket
"Yes Nate. Sure. that's what he did."

Yeah, That's the Awesome Wife I Am.

"I told Kristy we were just going to the taco shop for dinner tonight. That's okay, right?"

"What? I thought you were cooking me dinner!"

"Oh yes, that's right. I am. A four course meal."

"Really? What is it?"

"Well, I'm starting with a cucumber based gazpacho with a hint of mint. Then I am serving a cranberry and walnut salad covered in a homemade cranberry vinaigrette. For the main course, I was planning on roquefort cheese hamburgers*. You take the burger and sink the cheese in the center and grill it up. It's delicious."

"Oh wow, do you need me to fire up the grill?"

"No, I've got it taken care of. For dessert I was just thinking a basic crème brule."

"Can I fire the top?"

"Sure!"

"Wow, that sounds amazing! I'd think that if you were making something like that, you'd have to be in the kitchen cooking up a storm."

"Oh I know, right?"

"Well, I can't wait. It sounds good."

"It IS good. It might look like a carne asada burrito to you, but it really will be a four course meal."

*= thank you Top Chef Masters for making me look goooood.

P.S. Vacation Bible School is over, school is almost beginning. We are thisclose to returning to your regularly scheduled blogs.