This and that

Life is fairly uneventful on the plantation right now, but I felt I still owed you a quick hello and update. Friday night we were fortunate enough to secure a babysitter to have some actual adult conversation out on the town which was great! And would you believe I am hard pressed to find a recent photo of Rob and I together to post? I even took my camera with us on our date but forgot to take a picture. Stay tuned for that....

We saw The Blind Side at the movie theatre, which was very good. It seems hard to still find "feel good" movies anymore but this was one of them. Then we hit the local casino which Rob has frequented a few times but I hadn't seen yet, which was very nice. We were also able to stop by Pier One quickly so I could get my Mother's Day present. You read it right folks, my Mother's Day present. You see, we are in one of those necessary but evil "crack down, no frivolous spending, pay off debts" sort of modes which don't allow you luxuries such as home decorations, new clothing, or extravagent dinners. However, I found this which I really wanted so I was able to finagle it as a future gift. Thanks honey! It matches our room and new bedding PERFECTLY! Sometimes it's easy to become paralyzed with the overwhelming task of making a room just how you want it and you find yourself not being able to make a decision on anything, so it was refreshing to see something, love it, and know just where you want it to go.


Tonight we took the kids to a nearby town which has a non-profit $.99 theatre and saw Planet 51. It was alright, but I didn't think it was necessary to have a scene involving a brain almost being removed via a saw, and all of the shooting. Is it just me, or is it hard to find even an animated movie anymore that isn't somewhat violent? Cars was the ultimate kid movie. Great message, no violence or bad guys. Enough already— listen up Hollywood!

I've included a picture of Jack— he has been especially helpful lately and loves to help me cook. As much as his dear brother is a staunch advocate against anything you tell him he's going to do (go to school, grow up and become bigger— try fighting this one), Jack is the complete opposite. He is a pleaser and will give me twice as many kisses if he sees his brother refusing me them. He is working hard now to earn stars on his chore chart each week in hopes of receiving that weekly allowance and getting himself closer to a Nintendo DS. Everyone else has one and it's been killing him to be the only one without. I have been hesitant to grant this wish on the grounds that it will be another electronic that he'll be begging to play each day which then equals less time actually using his imagination and playing. So, our solution has been for him to save his money and earn it himself. This should also accomplish a goal we are working towards which is respecting and appreciating things, and hopefully through the long process of earning it himself, this will come.

I'll close with a picture of Pierre, a young French gentleman I met recently who bears a strikingly strong resemblance to my young tyke Luke.

Have a good Sunday!