Homemade Cookies

I was in the mood for chocolate chip cookies today. So, I went to my cupboard, got out the sugar, flour, chocolate chips, etc. and started mixing up the dough. NOT!!!! A few weeks ago I had bought a big tub of cookie dough mix from a fundraiser and it has been sitting in my refrigerator. Today it was calling out to me, "Bake me, eat me, I'm delicious". So, I thought it would be unhealthy for me to eat raw cookie dough (although it is quite delicious) and decided to do some baking. Is it sad to call taking a tub out, putting spoonsful on a cookie sheet and turning on the oven, actually baking? Well, no matter. I think they turn out about the same in the oven (maybe even better!). Anyone for some Peanut Butter chocolate chunk cookies? Let me know!

Don't you just love my new double oven stove? It makes cooking a little nicer.

Christian's New Pet

Well, we got a second pet on Saturday but it didn't last long. We have had a big problem with our hedges being invested with spiderwebs. So, Steve went on got this solution from Home Depot that you attach to your water hose and spray down the hedges. As he was spraying them down, he noticed a preying mantis and called for Christian. Well, of course, Christian wanted to keep it. So, they brought him inside and Steve actually went out and got a little glass aquarium with rocks and plants in it for him and put the preying mantis in there. Christian even found a few bugs around the house for him to eat. If anyone knows Christian, they would know that this is a major big deal. Christian absolutely hates bugs (but he made Steve carry them to the mantis). Unfortunately (we believe) that Steve accidentally sprayed him with the strong solution he bought (called Seven) and the next morning when Christian went to check on him, he was dead. He wants to look for more preying mantis now to keep them as a pet. Here is a picture.

Christian's Tender Moment

I just wanted to share a moment that Christian had that I thought was very sweet. I think it was Thursday (with me working nights I really screw up my weekdays) that Christian told me that I didn't do that right. I was wondering what he was talking about and then he went over to the mantel and did something. I didn't bother to look until later but he had moved my two willow tree baby figures over to the father and son figure. Now, for those of you who don't know me that well, I have had two almost to term stillborns. Christian has always known about them and will occasionally bring their names up (Noah and Samuel). He really misses them, especially the one we lost just last year. He had always wanted a brother and was sad when it didn't happen. Last year my mom had gotten me a twin set of babies from Willow Tree and they are supposed to represent my two that I have lost. They were sitting over on the other side of the mantel and the father and son figure was on the other side. Well, when Christian went over there he moved the two babies over to the father and son so now this is what it looks like. I guess he thought that the father should be talking to all three of them. I just love it when he shows this softer side of himself. I hardly ever see that anymore.

Christian's Biopoem

One of Christian's writing assignments was to write a biopoem. Here is what he wrote (a biopoem is a poem about yourself)

Christian Andrew
Funny, playful (was supposed to come up with 4 but he could only come up with 2)
Son of Stephen and Jennifer, cousin of Hunter and Camden, Grandson of Sarah, Andrew, Edwinna and Winton (he was going to write "son of Mom and Dad)
Lover of video games, bakugan (thank you Aline!), Spongebob
Who feels sad (because he has to go to school), happy, proud
Who needs water, mom and dad, house
Who fears the dark, spiders (unlike the Phui boys, who loves them enough to hold them by their little legs), and bees
Who gives Bakugans, love and help (This is one he had a really hard time with. I think he realized that he didn't give a whole lot)
Who would like to see Nick (Centrone), Kevin, and Haleigh (yes, his arch enemy from Harrisburg. He needs her help in Sly.)
Resident of Knoxville, TN
Yoder

As you can imagine, we had a lot of fun doing this! :)

Chinese Food Episode

So, the other day we were eating Chinese food (and Aline, not because we are Chinese, because we are NOT) and Christian was enjoying his favorite plate of Lo Mein noodles and sesame chicken. Well, I had put the food away before he was finished with his food. When done he asked where all the food went because he was done and wanted some more. I told him that I had given him enough (it was a huge plate) and that he didn't need to eat anymore. Steve said that if he was still hungry he could eat an apple or some vegetables. Well, he was not happy. His next comment was "Do you want me to die in the middle of the night?". We were very shocked by this question and said "Of course not". Well, he responded with "Then I need more chinese food or I can die while I am sleeping because I didn't eat enough noodles". So, your body will just perish later if you don't enough now. Where in the world did he get that from? I have no idea. So in case you guys are wondering, if you don't eat enough chinese food at dinner time, you can die in the middle of the night. This is life's fact according to Christian!!!

The newest addition to our family

I wanted introduce everyone to our dog, Jackson. He is 5 months old and is a beagle. We had a difficult time naming him. Christian wanted to name him Underdog but Steve and I absolutely refused that name (I would not have minded Shoestring). We finally agreed on Jackson (Christian's suggestion also, much better than Underdog). He is a very high maintenance dog (just like everyone else in the family) and requires a lot of attention. He is very hyper (I wonder where he got that from!) and energetic. We have had a difficult time house training him but I believe we have it down now. He is a great dog and we all love him very much (well, most of the time anyways because sometimes I can just murder him).

Christian's First Day of School

I just wanted to show some pictures of Christian's first day of Third grade. It was a very hectic morning and even after a week of school he is still trying to adjust to the early schedule. Just yesterday morning, Steve went to his room to get him started and Christian was crying, "but, I didn't get any sleep, it can't be time to get up. I just went to bed". HA! I know how that feels!!On a sad note, this was the first time that Christian has had a first day of school without his best bud, Nicholas. As you can see on the previous pictures, Janet and I had always taken a picture of them together. Christian misses Nicholas very much and wishes to back in Harrisburg. Enjoy the pictures.

Christian's First Day of 3rd Grade

















Christian and Nicholas on the First Day of 2nd Grade


Christian and Nicholas first day of 1st Grade

Christian, Matthew and Nicholas Preschool September 2004

Christian, Nicholas, and Matthew first day of 3 year old Preschool (Sept 2003)

Christian and Nicholas in March 2002
Christian and Nicholas in Gymboree together in 2001

P.S. I couldn't find their second year of preschool and I don't think we got them together for their kindergarten picture (Janet and I can't remember why but it was probably because I was late for the bus or something).