We're Fine. We're All Fine Here Now, Thank You. How Are You?

I am in the middle of a discussion with my procrastinating 8 year old about his Halloween Costume.
(I totally allowed it since his Costume Designing Mother (CDM) is a procrastinator too.)
We have suspended the conversation so he could go downstairs and get ready for school...and possibly so the CDM could cool down.

See Nate had the awesome idea of being the Pied Piper about 2 months ago. It came because he was learning to play the recorder at school and since the CDM (or the DWHBLOHSFESRSM in this part of the story.... the Doesn't Want Her Brains Leaking Out of Her Skull From the Ear Splitting Recorder Sounds Mother) wouldn't allow him to play the recorder in the house as much as he wanted, he brilliantly thought of the Halloween Loophole.

CDM jumped on the idea! It was so creative, so fun to make! AND, how about we get rats and mice that we tie to fishing twine and they follow the Pied Piper Nate around! Brilliant!

But then Nate changed his mind. "What if people don't know what it is?" "What if people laugh at me?" We were off on a new costume hunt.

But then we got distracted and forgot or didn't have good ideas. Now it is Friday before Halloween and today is THE LAST DAY that CDM will be shopping for Halloween Costume Pieces.

Then it hits her: Han Solo! Nathan would make a GREAT Han Solo! He's got the scruffy hair ("Whos 'scruffy-lookin?'") and the costume requires things CDM can easily pick up at Target. Winner winner Chicken Dinner!

We discuss it, he is intrigued. Then he asks about Luke Skywalker, could he be Luke? What about Qui Gon Jinn? We Google Images some costumes and he sees that even the Amazing CDM can't pull that off with only a few hours to go. And CDM asks,

"What's wrong with being HAN SOLO?"

And Nathan answers....

"Eh......."

Did he just "Eh" HAN SOLO?!

CDM is trying to hold herself together.

He stands up and goes downstairs to eat his breakfast and I call out after him, "Don't you know that Han Solo is the COOLEST?!"

No response from the 8 year old who clearly hit his head and is suffering from a concussion or something mind altering.

"Can YOU make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?!"

By then I think he was downstairs.




You know, he might not like Slurpees (seriously?) or any drink with carbonation (I mean, c'mon!) but I don't know if I can allow this Han Solo Complacency to remain unchecked in my home. It might turn into an epidemic.

Sampson

I have wonderful people who are willing to not only watch my kids but they also tell me the funny things they say when I come home. Our wonderful neighbor Kim had the following to report recently.....

Kim: Nate, your hair is getting so long! It's time to get it cut!

Nate: *gasps* I can't cut my hair!

Kim: Why not?

Nate: (with a straight face) Because...........it's part of my CHARACTER!

Great Shot Kid, That Was One in a Million!

Grown ups are in the kitchen making dinner.

Girls at the table coloring.

Nate in the living room: Star Wars is on.

Sitting about a foot from the screen he is perfectly still. The mission to blow up the Death Star is being explained, plotted and prepared for.

Luke and his team get into position.

So does my son.

And as Luke's X-Wing fighter lowers to fire those oh-so-important shots, my son's x-wing is raised.

Back and forth, side to side, Nathan and Luke in perfect synchronization and then, using The Force of course, they make the shot that sets off a chain reaction resulting in the destruction of the Death Star.

If Queen Amidala had been alive, I think she would have been just as proud as I was.

I'll Keep My Legs Crossed While You Take a Nap

**In celebration of the Birthday of Nate the Great, we are replaying Nate's birth story which is adequately also titled: "The One Where Nate's Daddy Wants to Sleep In" **

He is my firstborn-the one I "practiced" on.

The one who made all other babies look like a waste of time--after all, no other baby was as wonderful as him!

He had elfin shaped ears the first few months of his life and the top of his hair grew into one tall swirl that could be pulled up to look like a giant Shirley Temple ringlet. He would get fussy in the evenings but a bath cheered him right up. And he loved his Daddy so deeply from the very start.

And when it was time for him to be with us, Daddy is the one who wanted to go back to sleep!!

When I was pregnant with Nate the Great, we were coming up on our due date and I wasn't working. Read that: I was bored out of my mind. I had folded every onesie. I had washed every blanket. I had arranged and rearranged the baby's room. Two days before my due date, I picked my sister up from work so we could have lunch with our mom. While at Taco Bell, I found a piece of plastic of some kind in my taco and got a card worth 10 free tacos! Later that evening, we went to our friends' house for movie night. It was during the movie that we thought we had some contractions. Wrote down a few things but ultimately didn't have much to report.

I did discover something worthy of reporting when I woke up in the middle of the night thinking I'd peed my bed. Wait. that's not what that was.

"David, my water broke, call the hospital and ask them what we should do."

The reply: "Groooooooannn."

I went to the bathroom for a little while and then came back in my bedroom to a sleeping husband.

"David" I shook him harder than before, "my water broke, call the hospital."

"Grooooooannnn. Zzzz."

Back to the bathroom. And then back to a sleeping husband...again.

I went and got the phone. I placed it next to his snoring body and said, "DAVID. My. Water. Broke. Call. The Hospital. And Ask. What We. Are Su-ppos-ed. To. Do."

I returned to the bathroom.

My husband walked in and leaned on the frame of the door.

"They said take a shower, eat something and then come on in." His head hung low.

"Well, what did you think they were going to say?"

"I was hoping they'd say 'Go back to sleep and come in first thing in the morning.'"

Nate Lays Down the Law

A Rant by Nathan as told to Daddy
Transcribed by Mommy based on Daddy’s memory of the conversation

When I am a grown up* I am going to read stories to my kids every night. Until midnight.
And then Lexi will come upstairs and say, “What the heck are you doing? It is 10 minutes to midnight and you have to go to bed. If you don’t stop this you can’t go to dinner with us tomorrow!”
But I WILL go to dinner with them tomorrow.

I will not just read stories, I will TELL them stories and I will tell them about the Tickle Monster and tickle them if they are 2 boys and want to be tickled…..

…or maybe I will have two girls. Or maybe one boy and one girl.

(long pause. much thought.)

OR

Maybe I will have one and one set of MULTIPLES!


The end.

*=This is his new thing when we make a decision he doesn’t agree with. He has also told us that he will never spank his kids, only tickle them when they have been bad. I told him good luck with that one.

Because He's a Boy

Nate's Friday Folder brought this home....and when I sent a picture of it to his father, David replied, "That's awesome."



And, well, I guess it kinda is!

Making Up

I'm sorry.
Can we be okay again? I will go back to the writing the happy and sometimes funny and occasionally inspiring things and you can go back to the reading and the commenting and the loving me again?

Find someone to hug you. Because if you were here with me, we would not only be watching 30 Rock from last week and eating candy pumpkins but I would also hug you. Because I am a hugger and I give exceptional hugs. (It's all my squishy padding.)

So, are we cool?
Good.
I feel so much better.

So.....I am totally doing this again.

I know what you are thinking: Really Bethany? Even though lately you aren't.....so much with the words?
But, I have always done it and I am one of those people who LOVE traditions and I want to stick with this one.

If you are looking for time to kill, you can see my offerings for NaBloPoMo 2008 and NaBloPoMo 2007

Now, before I go, I leave you with this set of images...its Nathan and Ella riding on a tricycle and it is super duper cute.

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.

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."

How to Survive a Sleepover Without Really Trying

It was Belated Birthday Party Time for Nephew Nicholas this weekend. We picked out the cake he wanted: Strawberry cake with red icing ("So it will still look like a boy cake.") And the dinner menu was planned: quesadillas without beans (he doesn't like that I put refried beans in the flat burritos I often make and since it's his birthday, he called the shots) and a watermelon that Nick insisted we buy.

The fun started after Sunday Afternoon's nap with a movie of Nick's choosing and then we all trekked down to the pool for a swim. (This was key in the plan of success!)

It was quickly followed by dinner (picnic style) and cupcakes ("tup-takes" as Nick calls them) and the announcement that we would be SLEEPING DOWNSTAIRS!! There was much rejoicing. And then a photo shoot of epic proportion....



And from this photo shoot, an even MORE epic photo shoot commenced (how is that is even possible?!)



The evening ended with kids slowly and surely rolling over and falling asleep. We only had 2 wake ups in the middle of the night (not counting the one where Nate got up and woke up Daddy instead of me) and I was pleased to call the event a success when this morning Nick walked over to the computer to see the pictures and smiled at me when he said, "That was so much fun last night."

Ahhhhhh.

And Then I Told Him Superman Was Dead

The song "Rainbow Connection" plays and the singer pauses to converse with some over sized puppets about how we ALL can find the Rainbow Connection, not just him. The singer and the band reflectively tag the end of the song and continue to play when Nathan turns to me and dreamily says, "Mommy, will we EVER find the Rainbow Connection?"

I turn to him and reply................
"No Nathan, the Rainbow Connection is not a real place. Now go upstairs and get dressed."




Mommy: Keeper of Dreams and Encourager of Imagination

The 10 Year Plan of a 6 Year Old

"Mommy, when I grow up, know what kind of car I'm gonna have? The fastest car in. the. world."

"Wow Nathan, that is going to cost a lot of money."

"I know Mommy, but I have a plan. "

"Oh yeah?"

"I am going to open a lemonade stand and people will pay $10 for lemonade. But I'm only going to have it one day a week because I have other things I need to do."

"Uhhhh......."

"And then I'm going to take the money I make and save it in my bank with the lid that tells me how much money I have and when I my bank is full, I am going to get a big cardboard box and spill all of my money into the box."


I started to ask why Nathan wasn't interested in putting the money in the bank but decided that it would be ill advised to question a plan that was so clearly well thought out.

Liar, Liar, 4.7

It had been one of those nights where it seems the kids had some sort of springs in their beds. They'd gotten up for glasses of water, claimed they hadn't brushed their teeth, that they were hungry, etc. So when Nathan came out AGAIN, he barely got to state his case...

"Mommy?"

"Nate. Get back in bed."

"But Mommy, my bed is shaking. It's really really true!"

Daddy walked halfway up the stairs to take over.

"Nathan, it's because you keep jumping in and out of your bed. Stay in bed."


The door creaks. Lucy is now up as well.

"Daddy, my bed is shaking."

Daddy is fed up: "Lucy get in bed. Nathan get in bed."

Mommy is fed up as well: "Both of you get your bottoms back in your beds!"


*ching a ling a ling* I get a text message from my mom. Oh!

I go running upstairs to David who is thisclose to handing out some spankings.

"Uhhh, David. Apparently there was an earthquake. They probably DID feel their beds shaking."

Lucy says, with a smile: "I thought there was a crocodile under my bed but it was just an earthquake!"
And she hopped back into bed with a smile.


This stay of execution has been brought to you by The Grandma Sisi Foundation: Using text messaging technology to save the heinies of cute and snuggly grandchildren everywhere.

Mind Thy Cup

 Reason Number #347 that I adore Nathan:

"Hey Daddy! After we get home, lets get some baseballs and you can throw them at my new cup!"

Blogger Water Torture

Okay, Okay, I know. I am the stinkiest Blogger of all the Blogs.

You may virtually punish me by making me drink warm milk, play a board game with Lucy who makes up the rules as she goes along and listen to someone with a stuffy nose recite Col. Jessep's closing monologue from "A Few Good Men."

So here is the link you have been waiting for....

Nathan's Birthday Party at Chuck E Cheese.
This wasn't so bad. It wasn't torture and it was so much less work than I expected. I am-quite loudly-not a fan of The Rat and his Germy Palace of Pizza and Games but the 6 year old wanted his party here so badly, I couldn't say no. We had a great turn out and a lot of fun. Plus we got some super cute pictures of Nathan and his betrothed, Alexis.

Oh, and David and Damon spending all the extra tokens hunting for deer or something.

Today is Wii Friday and that means We Wii till our brains run out our ears! I am off in search of the Ark of the Covenant with my Indiana Nathan and I promise that posting will be more regular in the future.

And if not, I will make it up to you by letting you take me to the movies and tell me what is about to happen-loudly. It just might kill me.

I now have ....


A 6 year old.



A 4 year old.



And a 1 year old!



Birthday Season is over and my kids are older. Taller. I think they might be growing and, frankly, that is totally against the rules! This week will be a pictorial salute to Birthday Season. Enjoy!

How Did I Do This Again?

Hi! How are you? Happy 2009 Already!

I know, it has been weeks since I blogged but I have happily been busy. Doing the Family thing. The Friends thing. The Photographer thing. The Drama Director thing. The Facebook thing. (Facebook has become such a part of my life, it gets its own "thing" status.)

Now, were I your average blogger, I would recant all of these things for you. I'd include some amazing pictures in the snow as well as cute Christmas anecdotes. The cockles of your heart would be warned to such an extent, you would think it was Christmas all over again. You would tear up at the preciousness of my kids, laugh at the hilarity of myself and cheer for the non-doghouse Christmas present my hubby gave this year.

But, dear readers, I am not your average blogger.
Instead, I will stay true with the unofficial theme of my blog which would be: self deprecating humor. Ready? Okay!

The baby was up last night after falling asleep at 4:00pm and staying asleep well into bedtime. She's had a high fever and we just left her alone. But, of course, she didn't stay asleep because somehow she knew that Mommy was looking for a decent bedtime for the first time all year. No worries, at least she's cute. We played, tired her out and were back in bed at 1:30. We won't talk about her other times of being awake that night (3! THREE other times!) instead we will simply state the following: Mommy was tired.

We woke up in time for school, we dropped off, we ran errands, we consumed Venti Soy Green Tea Lattes (and enjoy the new "recipe") and came home for morning naptime for Ella. As soon as she was down and Lucy had a plate of lunch in front of her and a movie on, I took my favorite position on the couch: with my old bedspread my mom made me my sophomore year in high school and one of the big purple floor pillows...and I was horizontal. Ahhhh.

At some point, Lucy turned off the TV and climbed on the couch to snuggle with me. And then at some point, my consciousness went for a walk or something because it was about THREE HOURS LATER that I woke up to blink at the clock and realize that the time for leaving to get Nathan had passed. In fact the time for Nathan to walk out of his classroom had ALSO passed. And I was now 10 minutes late! I woke up Lucy, called the school, stumbled around a little and woke up the sleeping baby. We got to school only 15 minutes late and Nathan was in the office. He didn't seem to care but I think my post nap appearance startled the kind assistant in the office who didn't really want to hand my kid over to this sleepy, disheveled lady. I don't blame you, lady. I wouldn't do it either.

So I guess I have to go looking for another school again?

There you go. Happy New Year.
Want to know something great? That isn't even my most embarrassing moment of 2009 so far! THAT one will be coming soon. I will use it to break up the monotony of Christmas stories and sledding in Reno pictures.

I think stories like this will be given their own category: are you not entertained?

A Collection of Orange Food...

It is Christmas Eve and time to lay out the spread for the Big Guy...


What you see pictured here is Egg Nog (Santa's favorite,) pumpkin pie and Cheetos. Yes, Cheetos. Lucy insisted. I stopped her short of putting the them IN the pie "like birthday Cheetos." We also have carrots for the reindeer and the biggest carrot saved in a special, separate bowl for Rudolph who is now Nathan's favorite reindeer as referenced in the letter pictured.



Let's take a closer look at that letter....


Whaaaat? This is news to ME! And when Mommy-I mean Santa-looks up wooden sleds online, (s)he finds they cost about $100 which is a little steep when we go to the snow for exactly 4 hours each year. Boy Santa is going to be bumming out one 5 year old this year. Geez, Santa.

Merry Christmas Nathan.


Merry Christmas, Lucy.

Merry Christmas to all of you from the Zablet Three!!

They Meet in the Back Room of a Dentist's Office

Nathan informed me yesterday that he is going to form a "Lost Tooth Club."

You can join if you have a tooth you have lost, a tooth that is loose and that you can wiggle with your tongue or a grown up tooth coming in.

I commented that the requirements of membership sounded really strict, what would he say to the people who didn't meet any of those standards?

"Too bad, those are the rules!"

I didn't have the heart to tell him that he doesn't fall into ANY of the parameters.





But his mother does.
Maybe I will show him the club's secret handshake just to be nice.

Zuh, Zuh, Zuh

I am a day behind with my Thankfulness list but if you really know me then you know that late is how I roll.

I am lucky to have no problem coming up with my list of Z's. In fact, consider this post a small introduction to the people I know and love...since many of them are the letter Z!

(in no particular order...really Well, maybe a teeeeny bit but only the first part. )

10. Zabrosky, David-He's the whole reason I get to write a Z in my name. He is my sweet hubby who loves me no matter what and who is so so so hot! (Really.) He says hilarious things and has such an intense love for his children that it blows my mind. He is a man of God and the leader of our household and I can't imagine trusting anyone more. Plus, he's hot!

9. Zabrosky, Nathan-He wrote his own book yesterday and it had great pictures and funny jokes. He is growing about an inch a week and I love it when he tries to convince me of things like how his mouth hurts and it is okay for me to take him out of school so he can go to the dentist. Because school doesn't really matter.

8. Zabrosky, Nicholas-I didn't know I could love a child so much who I didn't carry around for 9 months. He taught me so much at his young age and I pray that he will always feel like he has a place in our home-no matter where he lives. Plus he is possibly the funniest kid I know. That's right, I said it. And for bonus points: He will hug anyone who asks for it. And it will possibly be the best hug you ever receive.

7. Zabrosky, Lucy Joy-You wear dresses. You play tea parties. You give hugs and hand kisses when we cross the street together. You play dress up with your friend Lindsay and you watch musicals with me over and over and over. You really are the best. Even when you aren't.

6. Zabrosky, Ella Anne-My baby who started patting me and calling me "mama, mama" this week. She has brought hope to people she barely knows but when they look at her they can't help themselves-they are glimpsing the beautiful work of God the Father. Even the kind Scottish priest at the doctor's office couldn't stop himself from reaching out and giving her a blessing. And she is so hilarious when she plays with that kid in the number 9 spot.

5. Zabrosky, Elizabeth-My niece. I haven't met her yet but I love her so much! She is so smiley in the pictures we receive and I know that she is going to be a wonderful woman since she is being raised by two of the most wonderful people ever. Which leads me to....

4. Zabrosky, Susannah-...one half of that awesome parent duo! Aunt Zunah! She was over at our house the day I found out I was pregnant with Lucy and it was so cool to have her share that with us. And when Nick first came to us, she was there almost every day helping me adjust to the suddenness of having 3 kids under the age of 4 in my home. She loves God. She loves her Man. And she loves her family. And I love her.

3. Zabrosky, Jonathan, Gabriel-The older of the younger brothers. I hear the most hilarious stories and escapades from David that these 3 used to get into. Stories like starting up big bulldozers on jobsites near their home, taking bamboo and making slides out of them, and general sneaking around and getting in trouble games. Best way for boys to grow up.

2. Zabrosky, Klaus-The youngest brother who, for awhile, was such a mini David, I glimpsed what it might be like if we had a son. We had him spend the night sometimes, took him to Sea World and other places. He was a funny kid who wanted to be just like David. Now he is a young man and when David and I think about his actual age, we wonder what happened to the last 10 years?

1. Zabrosky, Mom and Dad-they built a family together and raised the young man who is now my amazing husband. They didn't shoot down the 23 and 19 year olds who came to them with the "great idea" of getting married at such a young age and instead offered guidance and advice to them. And they love their grandkids. Which is apparent after spending time with either of them. I love you guys.

I am lucky to get to have the letter "Z" in my name. But I am even more blessed to that these last 10 as a part of my family.


The Thankfulness ABC's is starting back up again! Join my friends every Tuesday and remind yourself-and the world-that there is much to be thankful for! Head over to Beyond Black and White to see the other Z lists!