Cookie Monster

I've made a few New Year's resolutions. I've tryed to keep it to 2 goals, because I'm hoping to make it past January. They are: Exercise regularly, and stop eating high fat sugar items that are actually keeping me warm from the extra insulation, but that needs to come off so I can squeeze into my levis. I started my exercise 2 days ago, yes I know, a little late, but going for a walk outside can be hazardous to your health or your tail bone around here depending on where you land when you slip...

But the dog has been climbing the walls and chewing up my new spatulas (which, by the way, are kept in a drawer with kiddie locks. He knows how to open them), so before I pull out the old scout trebuchet and launch him into the next neighborhood, I thought it would be good for both of us to get some fresh air. It was a lovely day, one of the first days of sunshine in a long time and Benny was prancing along with his ears flapping. He was so happy, you'd think he won the dog bone lottery. It's about a 3 mile trek up the hill and back where we live and by the time we got back, I needed a nap and Benny was still prancing.

I haven't exactly started the other resolution yet. Every time I get my will power up and my resolve set, the cookie monster shows and makes cookies. Yummy, gooey chocolate chip coooookies. Bless his heart. In my desire to be a supportive and helpful mother, I provide him with everything he needs and offer to taste test each batch, you know, to make sure they are suitable for the rest of the family. I have even pointed at interesting things through the window with one hand while I grab a handful of cookies with the other. He knows something is going on, because the pile of cookies diminishes, but he usually blames his brother, boy #5. I guess he hasn't noticed the cookie tire I'm sporting around my middle. The neighbors have though. The wheels are turning in their heads, "so how far along do you think she is??... could she really be pregnant at her age?!" Yes, yes, it's true. I'm going to have a 10 pound chocolate chip!

Two Snowmen

Hi there,
This is a pic of our house about a month ago with two snowmen in the front yard. It still looks the same except there are long icicles hanging from the roof now.

As you can see, the space available from the driveway to the large pile of snow left by the snow plows leaves the mail nazi very little room to manuever, and since he will not get out of his truck for any reason, it's "no mail for you, no mail for you!"

A few years back, boy #3 launched a barrage of snowballs at the mailman from behind the house. The mailman thought it was boy #2 and company, because he was outside in the neighbors yard behind the camera view. The nazi gave boy #2 and company a rip snortin' lecture and drove off. Boy #3 was laughing himself silly since he managed to double his delight by having pelted the mailman repeatedly, and then watched his brother get blamed for it.

Speaking of boy #2, we FINALLY got 2 letters from him yesterday. It looks like one of them was lost for a while because it was postmarked Jan 2. It's a good thing, because I was mapping out my trip to Brooklyn to smack him up side the head. "Don't you neglect yo mamma, Elder!"

Dan made the pronouncement yesterday, "The dog needs a bath!" So he grabbed a towel, doggie shampoo and rounded up the mutt. He stuck him in the kitchen sink, and breathed out threats if Benny even thought about trying to escape, or shake off in the process. I retreated into another room. There were only a few outbursts of "No!" "Don't even think about it!" before it was over and the dog was sparkling clean and shivering all over. -That reminds me. The last time Dan decided to bathe the dog, he spaced out a meeting at the church that he planned and he was in charge of and reminded all the leaders to not forget... I was the one who picked up the phone when his secretary called to ask where he was. There was a moment of silence after I told him what he was doing and then uproarious laughter. I still don't think he's lived that down yet.

Today, Benny was outside digging a tunnel through the snow until he hit "paydirt" and then continuing digging until he could place his entire head inside the hole. When boy #4 called to him, he lifted up his head and was covered in dirt...

Whatever you do, don't tell Dan!