I'm still around... and soon I'll get around to a post!

I've had several things that I've meant to write about,

but I haven't had the motivation to get myself onto the computer to do it...

But now that the computer is more easily accessible
(i.e. its room not doubling as a bedroom for Blessing #5),

I don't have a whole lot of valid excuses!

How about: I'm still recupe'ing from sickness and Thanksgiving.

Yes, that sickness I was talking about in my last post.

*sigh*

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B#3 had his birthday on Wednesday. The big guy turned five. We saved most of the birthday festivities for Thursday night so the kids could go to Awana Wednesday night. At Awana, the Cubbies (B#3's & B#4's class) had their Thanksgiving "feast." They came home with turkeys- each decorated with four "thankful" feathers.

B#4's said that she was thankful for her dog, her cats, her sister, and her family.

Ahh... so sweet.

B#3, obviously still hungry after his feast... or with birthday on the mind, came home with a slightly different list.

"I am thankful for...
...apple pie
...pumpkin pie
...cake
...cupcakes."

Ahh... so sweet. Literally.

Last night we had a belated birthday celebration. B#3 wavered quite a bit in where he wanted to go. For a while, he didn't want to go anywhere. Though, that wasn't flying too high with me since I wasn't excited about the idea of having to cook and to do dishes! He finally chose Nothing but Noodles for dinner... mmm! I was happy with that choice. It was super-tasty!

We came home to a Superman cake and presents. He was up early this morning playing with his new toys. I've got his new clothes in the washer, so he'll have them to wear. He seemed to have had a happy birthday...

Now, hopefully my Survivor recorded during the all the partying, so I can have a happy Friday!

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As I'm pseudo-napping on the couch, fighting off a head cold and feeling quite miserable from the fever that I finally realized I had at 3pm this afternoon... after moaning and groaning all day long....

Blessing #3:

Hey, Moma. I'm going to draw your photograph. Open your eyes!

Now smile!

Oh wait. Open your eyes again. I forgot to draw them last time. Hmmm... I need to come closer and look at them. Huh... okay. They've got *swoosh, swoosh* back and forth on them.

Smile. You can smile however you want to, Mom.

Now wave!

Honestly, I think the likeness is uncanny. The boy has obviously got talent. He's only four, you know!

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I still haven't been very successful with the removal of Little Boy Blue from the downstairs' potty. Daddy wasn't too pleased with his presence there, so Moma started to scrub away. I'm making a little progress, but it was almost better before. Now I've just got a faded, gray boy... who looks more like dirty smudges. It's only on close inspection that you see the cute little guy that was once there.

Speaking of my little sprite's artwork...

If you weren't aware of the recommended uses for the Magic Eraser, they do not include Sharpie on pajamas.


Or toenails.

Or cheeks.

Or noses.

Or eyelids.

Or ears.

Unfortunately, I do not think that this new display of artwork will be gone before the Monkey Daddy is home from work.

Blessing #4 is spending an incredible amount of disciplinary time on the couch.

Blessing #5 is apparently clueless to his new look, as he seems completely unfazed by his freckly nose, black eyeliner, and happy cheeks.

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How can it be that the Magic Eraser so easily removes

Sharpie scribbles from the kitchen counter,

dried boogers from the bedroom wall,

dog face muck from the doorway,

crayon marks from the window,

cooked-on spills from the stovetop,

black shoe scuffs from the floor,

pencil marks from the table,

stick figures from the furniture,

smilies from the wooden barstools,

and jolly faces from the window sill...

But, yet, has

ABSOLUTELY NO EFFECT

on little boy blue still gracing the toilet lid?

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The Gallery

Blessing #4 has, in just the last few days, really started to draw people. I've found her smiling faces on quite a few things, particularly on every sheet of printer paper I have. But because drawing on paper isn't her preferred method of expression, Blessing #4 has taken to sneakily producing and proudly displaying her artwork all over the house. Just this afternoon alone, here is what I've found...




...on the bedroom furniture...
















...on the kitchen barstool...


















...on the front window sill...







...on the toilet lid.

















...under her shirt.

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