Glad I Don't Have a Parrot

My mother-in-law & sister-in-law both passed this video along today...
I guess I know what I'm in for in the next couple of months :)

Okay... so I tried and I'm not figuring out how to get a You Tube video to display - so... to see why you should "Never Raise a Parrot with a Baby" click HERE.

P.S. Anyone who knows how to add a You Tube link to a blog let me know. Thanks!

Morning Funnies

This morning at breakfast Bubba asked, "Do you know what day it is?" "Of course I do... it's party day!" I said. He's been so excited for his friend's party! Next he verified the time. "It's right after school," I said. "As soon as you get off the bus, we'll make sure you're cleaned up and ready to go and I'll run you across the street for the party." He looked at me completely straight faced, "How are YOU going to RUN across the street?" Poor kid hasn't seen me move fast in 8 months.

Quack, Quack, Waddle, Waddle

On Sunday as I came walking out of church I had a very noticeable "waddle."

(I think it's safe to say, benches and chairs found in church buildings were not designed for pregnancy.)

Handsome Hubby quickly lined-up the boys behind me & told them to start quacking... apparently I am now a mother duck.

It is now the joke that never ends... I'll get you Handsome Hubby - better start sleeping with one-eye-open!

Newest Toy

After MONTHS of neglect (not his fault... sick wife... coaching soccer... and busy life in general) Handsome Hubby finally found time to start working in the garden again.

Here he is with his favorite gift from Santa... his very own tiller!

Christmas morning a fly on our wall would've seen:

OTG Boy & the Professor building a robot.

Bubba playing with a remote controlled ATV.

and Handsome Hubby happily assembling the tiller in the middle of the living room.

Idaho Grandpa's Birthday!

This is our Idaho Grandpa and he had a Birthday this week!

The kids love to play with Grandpa and see if they can wrestle him to the ground.

They also love to visit Grandpa's Farm!

(not every kid can say that - and for a family of boys life doesn't get much better than going to the farm - infact, they always say, "we can't wait to visit Grandma & Grandpa's House so we can help with the chores..." I wish they'd say that around here!)

OTG Boy's favorite thing to do - drive tractors with Grandpa!

The Professor & Bubba - they like to play, but helping feed the calves is a lot of fun too!

Hope you've had a Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

We love you!

Small Person Big Leader

For Christmas our Idaho Grandma sent some Jalapeno Jelly. The boys were a little bit (okay very) nervous about trying it - so as an incentive Handsome Hubby offered the largest orange roll (a dearly beloved treat at our house) to anyone who would try some Jalapeno Jelly. Bubba immediately said, "I'll try it!" His brothers watched for facial reaction and after the first bite, it was a thumbs-up from Bubba. The Professor and OTG Boy, respectively, decided to give the jelly a try... thus earning an orange roll. But Bubba will tell you - he got the biggest one! Bubba did a great job leading those older brothers down a good path!

Thanks for the jelly! Handsome Hubby loved it! I ate some, too... I have to go easy with the spicy stuff, but it was yummy!

More Reasons

We're starting the year off right with more speech homework...

And we're working on reasons, again, this week. I have to say, trying to teach by example is hard - I'm not the best communicator and as a Mom I'm not the best at always giving a reason why. So when I'm saying, "please shut the door..." I'm really hoping I remember to add, "because it's cold outside."

I think the Professor learns from his homework faster than I do sometimes, but I'll keep trying.

Just Counting the Days

Handsome Hubby insisted on a profile shot - am I getting my picture taken, or headed off to prison? I'm in the final stretch, I started weekly visits a few weeks ago, which include non-stress tests - they've actually been great - I sit in a comfy recliner, in a quiet dark room, the nurses pop in and ask if I'd like a drink and all I have to do is lay there pushing a button - it's the most relaxing 30 minutes of my week!

At today's visit the doctor asked how my contractions have been (I've been dealing with them on and off for a couple of months now) - he told me to hold on just 10 more days and after that we wouldn't worry about getting them to stop. So I guess the countdown has begun - we'll see when this little guy arrives!

Cheese Ball Recipe

I had a few people ask for this so here it is...

Cheese Ball

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cups grated Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon dried chives
2 teaspoons dry ranch dressing mix
½ cup chopped pecans

Mix all ingredients together (except pecans). Form into a ball and roll in chopped pecans. Serve with assorted crackers.

I'd pass along the bean-dip recipe, too - except Handsome Hubby never makes it the same way twice. It always starts out with refried beans but after that - it's whatever tastes good while he's putting it together. So, for this one-of-a-kind treat you'll just have to hope he makes it for you sometime!

"More Good Lucks Please!"

My mom was raised in the South - so we carry over a few of those Southern traditions in our family, too. One being eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day - they bring good luck if you do.

When we started dishing up the food Bubba said, "Just one, please." I said, "more than one... you need to eat a couple to have good luck." He said, "Okay, two then."

Then when we were almost done with dinner he suddenly said, "More good lucks please!" Turns out he likes black-eyed peas and ate a whole bunch - now as he says, "I'll have a million good lucks this year!"

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from HaHa's House!

Here's OTG Boy, The Professor & Bubba...

and for those of you who called us "cheaters!" for not putting a picture of the parents on our Christmas Card... here we are:)

HaHa & Handsome Hubby

(We had one of the kids taking our picture & try as he might we could not get one that wasn't fuzzy - oh well - I feel kind of fuzzy right now anyway!)

Hope you all enjoyed your New Year's Eve Parties...
ours went something like this...
We ate a lot of chips, guacamole, Handsome Hubby's special bean dip blend, veggies & dip and of course a delicious cheese ball and crackers! Yummy!

9:30pm Handsome Hubby started "resting his eyes" on the couch
9:45pm Bubba was fast asleep on the floor
10:00pm HaHa just went to bed
(The rest is hear-say I was asleep)
11:30pm The Professor goes missing
11:50pm The Professor is found in his own bed fast asleep
Midnight - Celebrated by OTG Boy and Handsome Hubby (who luckily woke-up so OTG Boy didn't have to celebrate alone)

OTG Boy is the official Party Animal of 2009!

Hope you all have a wonderful 2009!

Love HaHa's House