Saturdays. WHEW!

OK.  No pictures of today, but our Saturday was a WHIRLWIND, and I have a feeling that this is what life is going to be like on a daily basis in the not-so-distant future.  We started our day early, leaving the house right after breakfast for karate.  It was the boys' first time, and they LOVED it.  Now to convince Dad that adding one more activity to our schedule is beneficial.  Hmmmmm.  We came home just long enough for a quick lunch, then drove the 45 minutes up north for Ski Tigers, where the family skiied 2.2 km.  A quick trip to McDonald's to combat low-blood sugars, then off to church, where the boys were participants in the Children's Mass.  There was no time at all for Reagan to have a nap, so she went to bed as soon as we got home at 5:30.  The rest of us had a movie night to close out the day.  All of this wouldn't have seemed quite so... overwhelming... if we didn't live so far out of town.  How many times can we drive the 25 minutes to and from town in a single day???? As we were late for karate this morning, Quinn voiced the thoughts that I was having at the exact same moment.  "Mom, why don't we just move closer to town, so we're not so far away from everything?"  You are brilliant, my son. 

Welcoming Committee

Sammy always loves to greet the boys right as they come home off the school bus.

Twilight Sledding

Cub scouts hit the sledding hill this evening!  Not a huge turn out (Quinn was home sick, and I think the idea of sledding in the near-dark may have scared some off!) but it was great.  The boys had glow-sticks to light their way, and the evening temps were just about perfect. 

Random Thought For The Day

If I had a kazillion dollars, the very first thing I would do... the nanosecond after receiving the check... would be to hire a live-in maid.  Just sayin'.

Pinewood Derby

Well, it was the boys' first Pinewood Derby with the Cub Scouts. 

 Rob The boys worked very hard on their little cars, with exciting results!  Colby won first place in his den, and Quinn won third.  The boys tied for third place overall in the pack.  This means that Colby moves on to districts in April... if we're around that week (big trip planned in April!!!  I'm practicing my hula).  Quinn's car initially lost every race, until it was discovered that it was "dragging metal".  A delay of game ensued while modifications were made.  After the tune-up, things turned around for the red car, and he was lightning fast.  Lots of fun for boys of all ages.  Shoulda seen those dad's prepping their little wooden cars before hand.  Drills, graphite, metal weights.... all to get 35 cars ready to roll.  Lightning McQueen would've been proud.

Colby coaching his car.  "Go fast, straight down".  What else to say?

The tongue helps with speed.  Somehow.

Reagan took a break from cheerleading to visit some nearby fish.

Reagan was born for speed.  She kept watching those cars and saying "GO! GO! GO!"

 Pit stop alley, where dad had to delay the race to modify Quinn's car.  The weights were dragging, so they moved them to the top!

Look close.  The red and blue blurs are the closest I could get to catching the boys' cars on film.  Obviously they are faster than a camera's shutter speed!!

Note: The paprazzi was relentless during this event, as you can probably tell.  We had THREE (yes, three) cameras going between Rob and myself.  Wouldn't want to miss anything important, you know ;).  We may be a tad excessive with our documentation, but...well... it's fun.  And it's the only way YOU all get to be there, since the majority of you live so darn far away!

My Automatic Floor Scrubbers

I HATE mopping. Of all the household chores, it's got to be my least favorite.  Don't get me wrong.  I love having clean floors.  It's just a pointless exercise, mopping, because the kitchen floor is CONSTANTLY filthy.  It never stays clean for more than about 30 minutes.  I have the messiest family known to man.  Really.  At one time, I had a Scooba - a little robot designed to mop my floors.  It worked for a short time, but was very finicky, and I eventually got tired of it's tempermental ways.  Lately, I've found a new technique for floor scrubbing... harnessing the frantic, pent-up energy of two six year old boys.  I have them put on swim suits, fill the sink with water and Pine-Sol, and let them have their way.  It's ugly while it's happening, but I must admit.... my floor has NEVER been so clean.  As long as I can stand the craziness while it's happening...the after-effects are heavenly.  CLEAN FLOORS!

A Saturday In the Great White North

In case you didn't know, this here is snow country.  We're the 3rd snowiest city in the Con-tea-nental Yoo-Nited States.  In my head, all of the above was said with a southern twang, which is not the dialect they speak up here.  We're more of a Scandanavian/Canadian twist.  Regardless.  We've got the white stuff.  And if you're gonna live here, you had just better ENJOY the snow, because the alternative is to go all "Jack Nicholson" in the Shining.  As such, we spent our Saturday enjoying one winter activity after another. 

First, the boys took both dogs for a winter wonderland walk.  I found it funny that they used leashes, because Sammy is so small he can barely walk in the snow, and Morgan has arthritis so bad, she can barely walk PERIOD.  I suppose it gives the boys a sense of power over another creature, though, to use a leash.  Given that the only other person they ever get to boss around is their mother, I let them have their fun. 

Then it was OFF to Ski Tigers - our first of the 2011 Ski Season.  My boys seem to feel that everything they do is a competition.  One fellow parent noted the "jets" on Colby's skis, as Colby was intent on "winning" the skiing class.    Every time he'd fall, he'd say "HURRY MOM!  THEY'RE CATCHING UP!!!".  It's not a race, Colby.  It's a Learn to Ski class for small children.  Sheesh.  Reagan tooled along with the rest of us, as I pulled her on a sled.  She loved it, that little girl.  I think she's almost ready for skis!

We finished the day off with ice skating lessons at Michigan Tech.  Those boys can SPEED, let me tell ya!  They're getting pretty good on skates.  Not so good at listening to the coach's instructions, but... pretty good on skates.  And we all had a great time on the ice ;).

A New Addition

Maybe it's Rob's attempt to quell the biological clock that keeps telling me "C'mon... what's one more baby? You're running out of time, and they're so cute!" All my friends are having babies.  I got to hold one for an hour this afternoon.  I wouldn't mind another one.  Really.  Rob is smart, and knows this about me.  He's SO SMART, in fact, that he has brought THIS adorable thing into our lives. 

Introducing the newest Aho, Little Black Sambo (AKA "Sammy")!

Actually, Rob just told me that getting Sammy  had nothing to do with my maternal urges, and everything to do with how much Reagan LOVES doggies.  She does. Adores them.  I'm afraid she might love this particular doggie to death, if we don't watch her closely enough.  She's been chasing him around the house, laughing maniacally, since they first met. 

Rob found Sammy on Craig's List for the ridiculously low price of FREE.  He just had to drive to Wisconsin in a snow storm to get him.  Mom was a tad nervous about that, but everyone's home safe and sound, so it's all good.  He's an incredibly mellow, snuggly thing, who is curled up on my lap as I write this (the dog, not Rob ;)).  .  He is already 90% house-trained, which I LOVE.  Simply take him outside, and he pees on cue.  He hasn't even snipped at Reagan, even though she has tugged at his fur, screamed in his ear, and tried to pick him up and carry him.  Morgan isn't quite a fan yet, but she'll come around.  It's her job to be his mentor, and teach him how to be the same kind of awesome dog that she is.

Welcome to the family, Sammy.  Hopefully our nuttiness won't rub off on you!

A Doggie Scare

Miss Morgan, our beloved black lab, is getting old.  She has terrible arthritis, wheezes with every breath, and has a gray beard (I feel for you, sister).  We don't know exactly HOW old she is, given that we adopted her from the local pound five years ago, but the above-mentioned clues make us suspect that she is "up there" in doggie age.  Well, soon after the New Year started, we noticed that she was missing.  It's January, and she has arthritis so bad that she limps with every step.  We knew she didn't just "wander away".... unless it was to find someplace private to "go to sleep". It's not like she's chasing deer anymore or anything.   I didn't initially think to check the Humane Society, because she doesn't wander anymore, so why would anyone turn her into jail?  But Colby suggested we check, and I did call.  They were closed, but I left a message.  In the meantime, I prepared the kids for the liklihood that Morgan was no longer with us.  Even posted her obituary on Facebook.  I cried.   Reagan kept pointing out the window and saying "-og -og!".  WELL.... as it turned out, the Humane Society returned my call yesterday afternoon.  They thought they had our dog!  WHAT?  I loaded the kids up in the car, and we went to go check.  At first, the black lab they showed me looked much to.... glossy.... to be our outside dog, and I told them "NO.  She's not ours".  Then she took a step, winced with pain, and I knew that... low and behold.... this beautiful, freshly bathed and brushed dog WAS our Morgan!  She's alive!

I asked who had brought Morgan in and why.  They would only tell me that a "private citizen" found her "sitting on the road".  When I asked the location, they told me, and it was IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE.   Come on.  This dog waits for us to get home from work EVERY DAY, sitting on the side of the road.    She doesn't chase cars.  She just sits there, waiting.  WHY in the world would someone take a dog to the pound that obviously wasn't LOST?  I was really irritated.  I mean, I told the kids that the dog was DEAD.  Who would do such a thing??? 

I have a sneaking suspicion on who did such a thing.  There is a lady who drives a mini van who has "returned" our lost dog to us at least 2 or 3 times in the past, claiming she  "didn't want her to get hurt, because she was in the road".  Yes.  On the side of the road.  Sitting.  I had observed this woman, last summer, drive very slowly by our house (Morgan was sitting next to me in the yard while I was weeding) and then stop just beyond the stand of trees past our lot.  When Morgan went to go see why she stopped, she turned around, brought Morgan back to me, and then said she was in the road, and she was worried about her.  I SAW the whole thing.  The lady didn't know I was out front weeding, watching.  Drives me crazy.  We hadn't heard from her in awhile, so I thought it was all done, but.... Morgan ended up at the pound, so.... UGH.  Come ON.  We live in the country, and I refuse to tie my dog up and not allow her freedom, because some self-righteous dog "advocate" thinks she should be.  And now she's essentially DOGNAPPING my dog. From in front of my house. Good Grief. 

Morgan was SO HAPPY to get home.  She hasn't stopped wagging her tail, and just rolled and rolled in the snow as soon as she got out of the car.  And, even though she HATES being inside, she DID come inside and spend the evening with us last night.  Probably afraid she would be whisked away again by some stranger if she stayed outside.  Poor dog.  We're so glad she's home!!!!

Ginger Bread Houses

As per our tradition, the kids gorged themselves on made gingerbread houses recently.  We always wait until AFTER Christmas, when the kits are 75% off, because quite frankly... my kids don't care if things are rock-hard and stale, as long as they're full of sugar.  I was a tad doubtful that they would turn out, and was just about ready to give up (the walls would NOT stick together!), but the boys rallied Mom on during construction phase, and those houses eventually stood up.  I think they ended up adorable!  Good job little men.  Reagan.... high five for the colossal sugar high from eating all the "construction materials" ;).