Funny Friday #9

Who knows how long that has been on there...

So, technically it's two minutes till midnight, BUT it is still Friday in Texas and California, thus I'm going to continue to write this post. I would have blogged earlier, but I was busy being responsible. Okay, maybe a little of that and a little practicing for hours on the embroidery machine.

Either way, we were walking through the mall this week and Nation [insert attitude with the following] says,

"Ohhhh...NO WAY are we taking the kids in there" 

----> points to Abercrombie & Fitch I have no idea where that came from, honestly, I don't. I've never said that to my knowledge, but he's wise for a 4 year old, what can I say?

What kind of person stops at CVS on the way to a wine tasting?

Buys a test.

And takes a test in their bathroom?

Me.

You know me.

Let's just say, The results...

I spent the evening swirling, sniffing, & savoring French wines.

[it's really all very fascinating, I should have put:
Become Wine Snob on my 2011 resolutions]

and finally---

For the "real" followers [and or...for the grandparents atleast...]

--what we do on cold, rainy days to get the wiggles out--

You?

Funny Friday #3

This happen a few years ago, but since house hunting has stolen time from picture taking. Have a good laugh at the time [Charles was watching them] when Nation covered Solomon with every toy we owned and somehow it relaxed him so much

...he fell asleep.

***

Me: "Nation what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Nation: [thinks a long time] "Can I be God?"

I'm going to take that as...he adores Him so much he desires to be "like" Him and not actually take His place, ha.

***

What funny thing happen to you this week?

Black & White Wordless [#10]

A snapshot from our travels from GA to TX

I know what this looks like.

It looks like my 4 year old in the back of the car 

with his head covered by a trash bag.

Looks can be deceiving...

...but in this case, they aren't.

This is Nation's reaction to me saying...

 "Okay, fine, you can play with your bag of Tinker Toys  in the car, but don't make a huge mess with them...play with them in the bag."

Let's just say...he took me literally by playing with them in the bag.
I guess I should have said "over the bag."

Oh, and the stickers? I can't tell you how many times I've judged "those vans" with "those people" who let "those kids" cover their car with stickers. Let me just say, I figured out how it happens...your kids do it, you don't notice, then you notice, and think...great, now I have to go buy that glue-be-gone stuff and peel all those off. 

"I'll get to that in my spare time"

[which we know moms...is never]

So...I'm officially "one of those moms"

***

This photo is apart of photo challenges for:

The Long Road to China

Supermom

***


Click once to vote for me instead of calling Child Services

2010: Ten Toys for Little Boys

I have three boys. Enough said.

If you have boys, you know what I mean...they are rowdy, active, and full of endless energy. Freezing winter and rain are cruel to them. Boys should live on a planet where it's always warm and never dark, that way they would never have an excuse for not getting all their wiggles out.

I miss Summer. Enough said.

Over the last few months I've reevaluated the types of toys I want my boys to play with [...for the most part]. I haven't gotten rid of many, but I'm being more careful about the ones I'm buying. Not only did the Georgi boys go to The School for Destruction and Demolition [majoring in Product Testing], but they've got a license in "Show me a toy and I'll show you I can break it". Nation did actually tell me that this week, he's proud, he's [unfortunately] prideful about his [and his brothers] ability to make us break the bank with things like...um, our 6th baby gate in 4 months.

I know what you're thinking, YOU NEED TO DISCIPLINE THEM MORE, oh believe me I do, I do, but this brings me to my next thought...

I miss my backyard. Enough said.

Since, for the most part, we're to be confined inside most days during this season I'm trying to get creative and make the most of our playtime. Several pounds of Moon Sand arrived today, more on that later. So, "Why?" you ask, am I choosing the toys I've chosen below?

a. we don't have a lot of room for large non-educational toys

b. we already have some hand-me-down toys from older brother Nation

c. we're homeschooling [if Pre-K counts] so I want playtime to always be equaling learning time too

d. I believe that using creativity & building is equally as important [if not more] than drilling facts and figures

Without further ado, here is my list of The 2010 Ten Toys for Little Boys. I'm of course skipping some of the obvious things you might already have like legos, trains, balls, and hot wheels, etc.

Oh and for those of you...most of you...who are already done shopping, good for you, I haven't started yet, but I might after making this list. So, maybe you can use this next year for buying for a little boys birthday instead.

Amazon two day free shipping for moms makes it too tempting to delay.

***

2010 
Ten Toys for Little Boys

Yookidoo Flow "N" Fill Spout

Because bath time has never been so fun! [or less on your water bill]

Tinkertoy Classic Jumbo Set

Nation has played with this set the most this year,
not to mention created the most amazing contraptions. 

Automoblox Mini Pack

They are non-toxic, high quality wooden mix and match + build your own cars. Fun to trade and collect with all their other sets. It's like the Dinosaur Train Show theory, combining two of boys loves in one. This combine cars+construction.

Kid-O Bilibo

If anything out there fosters endless imaginations it's this. I know what you're thinking...what does that do. Well, just about anything. It's not limited to being able to be sat on or in. It can be filled, float, worn, and used with other toys. If you buy two, double the fun. Click here to watch a video. And, bonus, they make Bilibo minis now.

Globonz

Again, here we have two of boys loves, dinosaurs and construction. Shh, Don't tell them they are learning science too. But do tell them they glow in the dark.

Melissa & Doug 

60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks

It's not so much that I'm a "green" parent, as it is that I love wooden toys. I just feel like in the last [almost] 5 years they have held up better than our plastic toys. Especially with the "Destruction Graduates". This, next to the Tinker Toys is probably Nation's second favorite toy he's played with this year. As I've said before, Amazon, easily, has these $15 less than most stores, plus grab that free shipping! They weight 20 lbs so it's always their loss...not yours.

Remo Kids Drum

This drum has won awards for it's quality...I'm prepared to give it a try at our house. I don't love loud noise, but I do love to encourage music and I'm pretty sure I've already got at least one future drummer. This, just doesn't even begin to compare to plastic drums that sing songs.

Zolo Zolo-a-Go-Go

Now, this is plastic, but it's so creative I'm willing to try it. My boys have played with this once before and I've thought about it ever since. I can't wait to see what they create.

Train Conductor Costume

This is pricey [but I've seen it for half this price or less at Toysrus], plus it isn't just the outfit...it come with lots of accessories. It's not just girls that play "dress up", part of creative learning is role playing. How better to play pretend train conductor than dress like him? My boys love to wear costumes and dress up.

Melissa & Doug Grill Set

I didn't mean to have two Melissa & Doug products, but frankly, I could have made all 10 on my list by them. I-JUST-LOVE-THEM. Their stuff is high quality, educational, well priced, and my kids always really enjoy everything by them. Again, girls aren't the only ones who play with pretend food. They play with their products like blocks [stacking and sorting] as well as pretend to cook for themselves and me. Knife cutting is great eye-hand coordination practice too. I also like that I can find items like this, a little boys own grill set, at TJ Max for $5-10. Not a week goes by they don't carry random M&D products. 

Keep your eye out! 

***

I hope you enjoyed this post, if you did...

don't be too shy to click once below and vote for me!

***

Before parting, please don't be persuaded that boys need all trendy and expensive toys. By all means they can learn with right-in-your-house kinda stuff or make it yourself things made out of items like...

cardboard boxes, mason jars, and branches.

Merry Christmas.

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten [#14]

Thankful This Week For:

1- Nationisms

"I love you so much my heart breaks" What Nation told me while we were making muffins together. Followed by his usual, "you're the bestest mommie in the whole wide world" speech.

2- Kettel Corn

My small group leader, Elizabeth, made me homemade kettle corn "for the drive back", but I pretty much ate the whole bag before we left for OH.

3- Besties

Seeing both my best friends, April & Sarah, [who currently both live in two different states than me] in the same weekend.

4- P90X

Well, really I'm more thankful that Charles & I are working out together. It's always been a bummer to have cut into "our time" for him to go to the gym and then for me to go to the gym. Now we are just working out in the living room together at-the-same-time. Sure, we'll mix it up sometimes, but in general we're hoping to stick to working out together in our home. This has become the only option with a busy work schedule & three kids. Plus, it's intense [him] & adaptive [me] enough for both of us. We are on week 1...stay tuned.

5- Chocolate Milk

Apparently new studies show it's a great reward replenisher after intense workouts. Healthier & cheaper than zillion ingredient protein shakes. [Don't tell me if it's not true, I don't want to know.]

6- God's safety

With three boys...every week is full of bruises, bumps, cuts, falls, & near-death-experiences. Solomon swallowed a penny yesterday [so I'm having my first go at searching thru poops]. Then, I thought I ran over Nation at one point. Thankfully he was just hiding in the back of the car eating Halloween candy that had fallen on the floor. I however, did throw the car into park and jump down on my knees on to the concrete to check under the car. 

7- Our Trip Home

The drive there and back were fast & safe. Being home was...magical. To smell my house. Let the kids go crazy in the backyard. Use my large capacity washer. Spread out on my king size bed. Walk on my hard wood floors. Experience the clutter of 1,000 sq ft and 5 people [plus toys].

8- Costumes

I'm so thankful that the kids' costumes all came in from eBay & Amazon on time and that Charles & I were able to sew glue our costumes together. I love themes and it was really fun to dress up with my whole family. My thankful 8.5 would be that Charles & I now have matching cowboy boots!!!

9- Leaves

Fall around here is just so gorgeous and I'm starting to think this is the prettiest season of all. The boys enjoyed playing in the leaves so much yesterday, Solomon [who always looses shoes & drops forks] lost his $30 pair of Crocs in a hill of leaves. I spent about 15 minutes searching for them while all the kids were in their car seats. Nation, who, disobediently got out of his car seat, came over, prayed that Jesus would help him find the last shoe, and voila, he did. I'm so thankful for childlike faith [that would be my 9.5].

10- The 13 gals [and 1 special guy] who joined my first ever blog hop last week and shared their "thankfuls". I hope all of them will be back this week! Thanks...

Sarah, Jennifer, Lindsey, Chrissi, Monica, Mel, Noellen, Melanie, Natalyn, Janell, Sarah Grace, April, and Amy.

***

Every Thursday, I'm inviting you to join me in being thankful. 

You can do this one of two ways.

1-If you don't have a blog:
Just comment below in comment section [anonymous or blogger user] with your 10

or

2-If you have a blog:

...write a post about things you're thankful for this week*

...mention this blog & hyperlink back to this post

...use Mr. Linky below by clicking on "Click here to enter"

*You don't have to do it on Thursdays, you can do it any day of the week. 

*Call it whatever you want

*Get creative, you can use words, pictures, poems, vblogs, anything!

*Come back throughout the week and read others lists & make friends!

*Tell others to join

He is the Art of My Heart

Nation [my oldest] is 4.5 years old. He keeps me laughing.

You might have previously read about his necklace to get out of trouble, this week he said some pretty hilarious things too, including:

Me: "Nation you can get out of timeout"

Him: "But I'm not sorry still"

Me: "Okay, then I guess stay in time out" 

[??????]

That was Tuesday. Today, after he shoved his brothers face into the carpet [sigh], I sent him to timeout [which we use with other forms of punishment, but he hates to not be playing like everyone else, it's worse than any thing else we've tried...for him, but only since he's gotten older. Timeout did not work for him as an infant/toddler.

So, he's screaming in time out, I start to walk away and he points to our scripture verse on the wall [the one we read when we fight with our brother] and says screams...

"Mom read me what the bible says"

ha ha

He is such a sweetheart too. He wakes Solomon up so gently from his naps and brings him water and a snack. He speaks softly and kindly to him. 

Today he looked at the flowers his dad gave me and drew this picture for me. I suppose it's his first still art sketch. I am still having these moments were I go "Wow, is my kid nearing 5? He can actually draw a flower?" I feel like just yesterday I was trying to teach him to draw something that resembled a circle.

It's got grass and everything. Obviously, as his mom, I'm more enthralled-amazed-excited than you are, but I thought I'd share just a bit of my Nation with you.

Has your kid done or said anything lately that made you laugh or take a step back?

The Best $10 You'll Ever Spend

Another title for this post:
Amateur Lego Photographer [how did it come to this?]

I saw these in the grocery store last night and thought I would the kids would have so much fun playing with those...and if they don't, I'll make them flower vases or drinking cups. Even though I own a pressure cooker, y'all know I haven't canned before.

$10 for 10 wide mouth Ball glass containers with lids

Yes, they are glass, and yes it was less than an hour before we broke our first one, but still, under supervision they are great for filling, stacking, or just for general blog photography.

I know Nation is my son because when I said let's just practice counting he insisted we first "oranize" [organize] them. 

I smiled so big.

I used them to practice counting to 20 with Nation. Although Solomon said most of them along with us, he is catching on quick. There were about 400 legos and we separated them into 7 colors. You do the math, it was a lot of 1 to 20's. 

I love lines.

But I also love flowers. 

Nation knows. 

So does Charles...

I got two more bouquets of these this week...

It was a productive Monday. A sleepy one, but a productive one. I took an few hours this evening to organize my photos and feel a little bit above the water now. Until I think about how I'm a year behind on scrapbooking [darn you blog!].

I'll leave you with a funny. While in time out [for hiding in the closet instead of finishing his dinner], Nation told us "I didn't know what to do, I had a decision to make: to be naughty or to obey, I didn't know which one I should do." I guess I need to note that the funniest is part was his pronunciation of "decision." It sounded like a combination between desecration and decide and decision, something like "descidcation."

---

This entry was entered in Paper Camera's "View from Above" Challenge.

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten [#12]

Thankful This Week For:

1-Our friends driving 10 hours [with their 5 kids] to see us

2-Kid's Shop Free deal from Old Navy

[I took my $100 of clothes I bought myself back & re-bought them so I could buy $100 worth of kids clothes for free...4 pants, 1 jacket, two pairs of socks & hat. Similar to a price adjustment. Although ironically enough, I found out I'd not paid for a $30 sweater, ha.]

3-Flowers this week "just because" not once, but twice

4-My boys making me laugh all-the-time

Guess who likes taking pictures & who doesn't?

Nation walked right into the cart

They do this all-the-time, it's not posed

5-Getting asked to photograph a family [of 9!]

6-Conversations in the dark that light up my heart

7-Knowing this time next week I'll be driving home to visit

8-Realizing that I can walk on the treadmill & do my Beth Moore bible study [Couch to 5K is on hold via knees]

9-"Chicken Lay" [Chick-fil-A] Why who else would feed us when we're on the go?

10-Introducing Charles' Dad to our 3 sons

Charles Robert Georgi III & Charles Robert Georgi IV

[All but this last photo were taken with my iPhone, so please excuse the photography, and simply enjoy the moment captured]

What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten [#11]

Thankful This Week For:

1- The things Nation says:

"Where does the pee inside my body stay?"

"I'm thinking about my sin"

"I'm trying to think of something I can make you, so I can get out of trouble"

2-The things Nation makes me [after he's been in trouble]:

...and things that he just makes

3- That The Lord has been teaching me about pride. I never considered myself a prideful person. To me, pride was a guy thing, or someone who thought they were really awesome at sports. I'm now finding it's in thoughts, attitudes, judgements, words, and actions of mine that I never realized before. Good bye Pride, Hello Freedom.

4-Little boys hair that is all shaggy & cute. They are all in the "growing out" stage, but I'm hopeful they will all soon have adorable little hair flips under their winter hats.

5-Chilean Miners Rescued [it was amazing to watch]

6-A husband who will watch a girly romantic comedy with me every now & then.

7-My oldest childhood friend, Ryan, who is now "with child". It's exciting to watch first time moms endure enjoy pregnancy. There is no other experience like it. I'm thankful for the three I've had the privilege of having. Although extremely tough at times, didn't compare to those flip flops I could feel them doing in my belly.

8-A month full of visitors. My mom & bros earlier this month, a best friend today, another best friend [and family] this weekend, and Charles'  dad [& family] next weekend.

9-A walk alone outside, well I suppose I wasn't alone, amazing sunset & changing leaves for company.

10-A day with April. My beloved spiritual sister. Concluded by a real girls night out. That didn't include anyone crying, throwing a fit, throwing something, spilling something, needing something, falling apart, or not eating. Oh, it was just pure bliss to have a real adult dinner with someone I could talk to for hours [and did] about nothing and everything.

Someday I will write more about this friendship, but I will leave this preview with you today. 8 years ago this week---

random college roommates

enemies

miraculous redemption

roommates again

introduced me to my husband

maid of honor

birthing coach [2 almost 3 times]

always there for me [even if she got married! & moved away]

one of my most favorite people in-the-world

Let me tell you, friendship isn't easy to find, keep or stick with, but oh the wealth I have in good friends I've stuck with [and have stuck with me]. There is nothing more precious than people who really love you, pray for you, encourage you, cheer for you, weep with you, and are just...with you...through life.