2008 B.P.

B.P. = Before the Plague

Before the plague enveloped our house, we spent time playing in the snow. Two of the boys, Brogan and Braden, spent a couple of hours outside. They filled squirt bottles with water and food coloring and tie-dyed the yard.

Then they raided the costume box and created this guy:

He was supposed to be a snow penguin, but he ended up to be taller than your average penguin. I'm still not sure how the Zorro mask and the cowboy hat fit in.....

Mira! El Zorro!

"Two bits, four bits, six bits, a peso! All for Zorro, stand up and say so!"

I loved this movie when I was a kid. M. and I rented it a few months ago, because he'd said he'd never seen it. (I know! How did he miss "Zorro - The Gay Blade?!?!?!") Anyway, the movie was, not surprisingly, more than a bit campy. But overall it held up really well over the past 25+ years. We both liked it.



Why am I writing about Zorro?

Oh, that's right. The boys' penguin reminded me of El Zorro.

Well, a Zorro without a tan. He's probably more like Bunny Wigglesworth masquerading as Zorro, actually.

I've Got A Fever. And the Only Prescription Is.....

rest, sleep, and lots of Tylenol.


You thought I was going to say "More cowbell," didn't you?


Nope. Tylenol, sleep, and more sleep. That's it.

The bug hit our house last week: a virus that mimics influenza is circulating in our area. It's not influenza, thankfully, and doesn't last nearly as long. But it hit hard!

I'm calling it: the "In-feaux-enza." Say it aloud. It kind of works, doesn't it?

Braden and Colson got it last Thursday. I knew they were sick when they put themselves to bed after lunch and asked if they could skip the Valentine's Day party so they could sleep. Brogan went down with it on Saturday, and I finally succumbed on Monday.

Poor M. has been holding down the fort and keeping things running. Today, the boys are almost well again, and I felt well enough to check my e-mail. (That's sayin' something - me not checking my e-mail for days!)

Anyway, I'm going back to bed. Feel free to enjoy some cowbell in my absence. :)

More Cowbell

In the Interest of Full Disclosure.....

Consider yourselves informed.


28%

Hat tip to Ramblin Educat.

Virtual Piano Recital!

It's a poor substitute for inviting family to an actual recital, but one must make do......

All three boys are piano students now. Colson has been practicing piano for about a month now. He's still playing strictly on the black keys, but has learned about quarter notes and knows how to count them. We're working on keeping a steady beat.

Here he is playing "Tick! Tock! The Old Clock."


Brogan has been practicing for about a year. He's almost finished with the primer level book. He is learning to read notes on the staff, and is just beginning to play songs where the left and right hand are playing different things simultaneously. (i.e. left hand plays a whole note, right hand plays four quarter notes, etc.)

Brogan is playing "Allegro."


Braden has been taking piano lessons for about 4 years. His teacher has a monthly challenge song for his students to learn. Last month it was the theme from "The Office." It's a challenge for Braden - that left-hand part is pretty tricky - but he can play it fairly well now.

Braden Playing the theme from "The Office."

Happy Valentine's Day!
(From me and a houseful of boys who love everything Star Wars!)


















Hat Tip to www.SomethingAwful.com

Snow Day!

We were hit with 5-6 inches of snow, with drifts in our yard up to my knees in some places!

A couple of my Snow Angels.



Boys making more snow angels.


Braden and I shoveled the driveway. Now,I need a nap. And a reeeeeaaalllllyyy big Coke.

And Let That Be A Lesson To You....

M. and I love to mock the PSAs we see on television. (The More You Know....etc.) But this one (the one I've posted below) actually seems to have some scientific backing to it.

It kind of plays like a Nature Channel video, but it's very interesting. Enjoy!

"Spiders On Drugs"

Have I posted this before? I can't remember.

At any rate, this is a clip from "Flight of the Conchords" that makes us laugh every time we watch it.

No one here speaks French, but we can understand enough to follow the song. :) I love how it parodies older French movies. :)