I apologize in advance...

You have to love Cub Scouts.

For some reason my boys have never picked up on the idea that they can answer the phone. I think it's because you have to push "talk" to answer our cordless phones. I don't know. But today Squish and I were working on a Cub Scout requirement that was all about answering the phone, and what you would say if you were home alone.

First off, how many of us leave 8 year olds home alone?

Secondly, if you call us while Squish is learning, then I apologize in advance for whatever is said!

Those comments aside, this is how the discussion went:

Me: Okay. The phone rings, what do you say?
S: hello?
Me: Good. Now what if (trying to think of some scenario where I would leave him home by himself....) I said that I was going to be down the street talking to someone and that you should stay home by yourself, and the phone rings. The person asks "Is your Mom home?" What do you say?
S: I tell them "None of your beeswax" and hang up quick.
Me:"No, honey, that would be rude. You say "May I ask who is calling?"
S: "and then hang up quick?"
Me: "No, you find out who it is, and you remember the name."
S: "I HAVE TO REMEMBER THE NAME?"
Me: "yes, and be nice." "Offer to take a message."
S: I say "May I take a message? and hang up quick."
Me: "No, you offer to take a message and then you write down what they say."
S: "I have to write it down?"
Me: "Yes, and ask them to spell any hard words."
S: "How about if I just hand you the phone?"
Me: "Yes, perfect, but if I'm not home, that's what you do."
S: "And then I hang up quick."

I tried to teach him to be polite in asking "May I ask who is calling?" before just answering questions and to not give out his name if he didn't know who it was that was calling. We were practicing answering the "who is this?" question from an unknown caller...

Me: ring!
S: Hello?
Me: "Hi! Who's this?"
S: "I'm sorry, may I ask who's calling?" (good boy!)
Me: "Um, It's Ted!"
S: "Ted who?"
Me: "Ted Jones, I work with your dad." (We don't know a Ted Jones)
S: "Uh, I don't know who you are so you're going to have to talk to my Mom."

It was said with so much skepticism in his voice, like - "riiiight, your name is Ted Jones! Mr. Bad Guy!" I can't wait until he says that to someone."Um, *insert the name of a family member or dear friend* I don't know who you are, but you're going to have to talk to my Mom or Dad." Which is probably why they were calling in the first place. *grin*

A little Disney Christmas Magic

Last night we made our annual family trip to the happiest place on earth. Wen's mom-in-law is sweet and signs in our folks and we take the kids to Pizza Planet for dinner, then go on Small World - Christmas style and the Haunted Mansion - All dressed up for "Nightmare Before Christmas" and the Pirate ride. It may sound silly, but it's one of those traditions that we really look forward to and book months in advance so we can all go together.

My favorite parts last night? In line for the Haunted Mansion, the lines were incredibly long. My boys were worried about going on the ride, as I was at their ages. It was about 9ish at night, and it was really dark. The line wound back and forth curving on itself. At one point Wen jumped out at Squish, yelled "boo" and kind of grabbed his arm as he walked past her. He almost went to his knees. It's not that I'm a mean Mom, it's just that he really likes to try to scare people all the time so it was kind of a poetic justice moment for me.

Another highlight was riding Small World next to Wen. I was videotaping and she was...a little hyper (as we all were.) We had a great time being silly and I am really hoping that our comments are not preserved on the video I made while we rode. *grin* Disneyland just re-opened Small World. I wasn't sure how it would be different. Overall it's the same, but the children in the ride got new yarn hair and the boat's seats, while still bench style, now are plastic and have a grab bar in the head rest of the seat in front of you for all the waterfall drops and rapids section. (Just Kidding!)

I loved watching my nephew hold either of my boys hand's as they walked. It was cute seeing my niece say that she didn't like boys and didn't want to be in a picture with any boys. (Then to hear Squish ask her - "well, why are you related to boys if you don't like boys?") She just looked at him. Yes, 2nd grade logic cannot be argued with.

I wish we lived closer to more family, but I am grateful that we are close to some, and that we can do things like this together. Merry Christmas!

Ahhh...Orange Julius

I don't know about you, but about this time of year I start trying to think of ways to cram a bit of extra vitamin C into my family. (I know many of you are in snow so this idea may be weird to you, but it's not all that cold here. But yeah, I acknowledge this is usually more of a summer thing.) All that aside *grin*, one way I get the vitamin C in is by making homemade Orange Julius drinks. We love them, and I wanted to share the recipe in case anyone wanted to try one. If you click on the following link you can see the "Top Secret Recipe's" version of 3 different Orange Julius drinks or you can try the one we make below that I got from someplace in 2000.

Homemade Orange Julius

Into a blender, place:
6 ounces O.J. Concentrate, (defrosted is easier to measure, but frozen is ok. I just dump in half of a can from Costco and save the other half for the next batch)
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
8 ice cubes
blend and enjoy! It makes about 4 cups. YUMMMMM!

Up late and feeling Christmasy!

Okay. The boys were supposed to be in bed, asleep. Mike went in to check on them and lo and behold, not only were both the boys awake, but Squish had created a nativity scene on his bed with his stuffed "friends." The part that made us laugh hysterically was when he showed me that he had taken his guinea pig stuffed animal , shoved in his head, and "created the star." Woody is the sheperd, and the beanie baby is Mary. Baby Jesus is the gingerbread man that I made. The "Three wise dudes" are the otter, Tigger, and a monkey. Oh, we laughed and laughed. Kids are the best! We took a video, I hope you watch it. (Click on the link or scroll down below to my youtube movies - it should be there!) Mom, this one is for you - I know how much you love nativity scenes!!!!!!

Hoop It Up!

Last week Mr. Wonderful got to participate in a Special Olympics Basketball Tournament. He played for his middle school against other local middle school teams. Before the game he and other team members practiced with Ms. L who is just one of the nicest gals you could meet. There were two teams from our school. Mr. W's team won both games - they played 2 back to back games and boy, it was tough. I can't say that Mr. W made any of the baskets, or that he really touched the ball for more than a few seconds, but he did so well. I had no idea how good his team was. Before all the games started he wanted a picture of him and I so I held the camera out and shot one of us. For some reason it delighted him to no end that it came out with both of our heads and everytime he sees it he gives me a huge grin. I am so pleased with how hard he tried - he's growing up so fast! Great job sweetheart!