Idle Hands Make Evil

What did we do today? Hmmm....

Joel went to work and then came home and took a nap.

Mo watched Aidan and Theo. Aidan did not go to school because he has pink eye.

Theo physically harassed Aidan.

I went to work and then came home and made dinner.

Aidan sat quietly in the attic for a long time. When Joel went to check on him. We have a bookshelf in the attic that has four shelves loaded with books. There is one major flaw with this bookshelf. It does not have a backside. That means that if you are 3, you might be tempted to push every book out the back of every shelf for no particular reason. If you are 3, you might also be tempted to write all over yourself, your pants and socks for no particular reason.

Don't bother asking "Why". And, yes. It is my fault that Aidan got a hold of a permanent marker in the first place.

Hopping on the Bandwagon

So everyone is writing a blog update. I guess I'll have to, too. I have a new job...or at least I will be offered a new job tomorrow. I am switching gears and will be a cancer genetic counselor. The hospital I work for is creating a new cancer genetics program and I will be helping to launch it. In preparation for my new job, I have been taking a cancer genetics course through City of Hope, which happens to be within spitting distance of Aunt Nita and Uncle Harry. I have to go to City of Hope for a class in March and I am making arrangements for a little visit with them while I'm there. The last time I saw Aunt Nita and Uncle Harry in CA, I was interviewing at UC-Irvine's genetic counseling program. I was so poor I had to con a lady at a bank into cashing a bad check so that I could catch a bus to the airport. The good 'ol days of intense poverty. Thank goodness it all worked out.

To Marissa

Dear Marissa,

Joel wants you to know that his nose has been vindicated. Sam's Club sent us a letter in the mail announcing that their Member's Mark baby wipes indeed "smell like bunghole". Joel is going back to name brand wipes in little plastic containers.

Theo misses you. It took a fews days before it set in that you are still not here. It is difficult for him to be in your room, so we avoid it. Since you've been gone, he has been very ill. 103.5 degree fevers. He had to give blood again and didn't cry...again. He is better now, but has been clearly depressed that you are gone. Just yesterday he finally perked up and started smiling more and acting like himself. He was naughty and tore down a Christmas tree at Taco Bell.

People have been raving about your beautifully wrapped presents. I didn't forget the tags. Joel has been working on a "craft" for my Christmas gift. This has been unsupervised. I am very curious about it.

I have decided to purchase a heat gun for our home improvement pleasure.

We hope that you are having a wonderful Christmas with your family!

Love,
Us

Ma Ma

I have reason to believe that Theo's first word is Mama. Just so you know, he says "ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma" all the time. Today was different though. He looked at me when I came home from work and simply said, "mama". It was done in a loving, kind of relieved way. "Mama...I'm so glad you're home! You would not believe what I had to put up with from that Other Guy. And where in the heck is Auntie Mo?" Just kidding, Joel. Other than Joel's failed attempt to drop Theo off at the YMCA day care, it sounds like their day together was fun.

Fiestaware

Yesterday, we drove to Logan, OH--the transfer point where Marissa would be released to her parents in exchange for Christmas gifts. The exchange went well. But the point of this little blog update is not about our sadness over losing Marissa for 3 weeks. I can't bear to write about it. Instead, I wish to alert you to a very special discovery made on this trip. Two discoveries actually.

1. Logan, OH is home to a Glassware Outlet that features VERY discounted Fiestaware. You can buy flawed pieces there too for an even greater discount.

2. Fiestaware makes countertop canisters for your flour, sugar, etc. YAY!! I need this. Neeners bought me my original canisters several years ago (6? 7?). My children have confiscated the little wooden scoops that came with the canisters so that they can run around the house and hit each other over the head with them. Great fun. Worse, one of the canisters has broken and another has lost its plastic seal.

So why not buy some Fiestaware canisters, you ask? Well, the Glassware Outlet only carries select pieces in select colors. I stumbled upon the canisters at the West Virginia Welcome Center. The canisters come in large, medium and small. The medium canister was priced at a whopping $49.00. Need I say more?

We will be returning to Logan in January with the great hope that Marissa will be there to meet us. I will check the Glassware Outlet for more Fiestaware. Just maybe, I will leave with some canisters.

We Miss You Already!

Bebo was a hit all around Roanoke. Joel announced today that people were asking about him at the Y. Also, Joel's general regard for Melanie (which was already high) was bumped up a few notches higher due to her association with Mr. Bebo. Aidan sings songs about Bebo. Theo can say "Bebo". It was nice to see Auntie Melanie, too. We have a lovely picture of the celebrity couple posing for Chuck E. Cheese. I think that I will frame it and set it on our nightstand so that Joel can fall asleep dreaming about future b-ball games with Bebo and wake up to Bebo's smile. Maybe that will improve Joel's overall mood in the morning. It is worth a shot.

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Last weekend, I took a business trip to Nashville. I stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. It was absolutely amazing. NINE acres of gardens, waterfalls, fountains, restaurants, shopping and ballrooms under one roof. They were dressing it up for Christmas while I was there. You should take a look:

Gaylord Photo Gallery

Here is our tentative Thanksgiving menu:
Turkey with stuffing
Mashed potatoes with homemade gravy
Sweet potatoes with marshmellows on top
My cranberry-mandarin orange goop
Roasted green beans
Roasted pears
Creamed corn with sausage
Pumpkin pie

I hope that Bebo likes to eat.