Ten for Tuesday 2.17.09

I'm baaaack. I know you've been waiting. Unfortunately I've still got pretty bad blogger's block, so I can't promise much today.

1. The biggest news this week is that I started to snip Blake's binky. Very traumatic. I feel so mean taking away his binky, but I just could not take it anymore. Blake's binky habit was completely out of control. He wanted it all the time, and it no longer even made him stop screaming. He was darn good at holding it in his teeth and wailing at the same time. Plus, he has been waking up several times a night screaming because he couldn't find it. Maddening. So, it had to go, but I just couldn't bear to take it away cold turkey. The first time I snipped it, Blake twisted it around and around and kept pulling it out of his mouth and looking at it in confusion. Anyway, a week later he is only slightly less attached to it. Hopefully soon he won't even want it anymore.

Not a good picture, but you get the idea.

2. I have a confession. My little brother Ryan is my favorite person in the whole world, sorry Reed.

(That last part was added by my brother Ryan, who just came to visit!)

Actually, Reed is my favorite person in the whole world (sorry Ryan). What a sweet Valentine. He took me dancing again, and learned how to do the Tango and West Coast Swing. Very fun. Lucky for him, the Standard Examiner and the Tribune were there to document it all. There was a guy with a video camera going around the room, and Reed kept turning his back every time he came close. Then, one of the reporters came over to us and asked for an interview. I pretty much had to twist Reed's arm to even get him to talk to her. Oh. And he almost lied to her about our names. Honestly! He was mortified to think that he might be featured in the paper in a story about ballroom dancing. Poor guy. The price you pay for love. Oh. And he bought me Arby's and some more iTunes. He knows what I like!

I bought the candy. Surprise.

I also got to volunteer in Michael's class for his Valentines party. Fun stuff!

3. Let me tell you how much I like 4-day weekends. A lot!!!! Reed was home from work on Monday, and we all enjoyed having him around. We took the boys sledding. This is so much easier and so much more fun with two adults instead of one.

Look. I actually made it into a picture! Doesn't happen often, seeing as how I'm the family photographer. So glad I have no makeup on. Woof. (Anna, I think it's time I joined the Ugly Mom's Club.)

4. Last week I got a notice from the city saying that my utility bill is going down $30. Sweet! That doesn't happen often. Did this happen to everyone else? Just wondering if this is a city-wide thing, or if my compact fluorescent lighting is finally starting to pay off.

5. I'm finally starting to see the return of some of Michael's lost creativity. He actually broke out the Legos last week! Yesterday Reed was cleaning out some space in the basement and he found some old notepads, and some papers from when he was in school. I guess he found a little cartoon comic book that he had made and showed it to Michael who thought it was so cool. Michael has made about 15 of these little books since last night. He writes about the things that are most important to him. . . soccer, Batman, Scooby Doo. You know, boy stuff.

Another show of creativity (yes, there is life after the Wii). Ty got to go to a very fun birthday party, and he brought home a bunch of glow sticks in his goodie bag. The boys took them in the dark bathroom and pretended they were light sabers. They wanted me to come take their picture. They all took glow sticks to bed with them that night, which made it considerably harder to fall asleep, but hey, you're only a kid once, right? Ty also brought home bubble gum from his party---which is currently ground into my family room carpet---but I'll spare you the picture.

6. Michael is loving his karate class. It's pretty hysterical to watch these kids try to do a back roll. When they can't quite make it, they start kicking their feet in the air. Luckily the class has

thinned out quite a bit since the first week.

7. Aren't these cute?

My friend Lacey made me these cute oven mitts. She's a knitting maniac. Every time I see her she's working on a new project. I wish I were more like that! It would be lovely to actually finish a project I've started. I'm still plugging away at my arm warmers, but I have a feeling they will be done this week! Also, the pillow project is coming along. . . slowly, but surely. Hopefully soon I'll have a finished product to show off!

8. Michael, Ty and I all had dentist appointments today, and no cavities! Anyone who knows my history with the dentist knows this is quite an accomplishment. Still, I'm a little bit worried. I was 100% convinced that I had a cavity. Something has not been feeling quite right, but the dentist couldn't see anything amiss. So, if things start feeling worse I'll have to go back in so the dentist can dig around a bit. I am so looking forward to that. . .

9. Actually, what I am looking forward to is our trip to D.C. Reed booked a flight for the two of us to go out and visit Krysta, Adam, Natalie, and the new baby (and do a little bit of sightseeing while we're there). Wahoo! 10 whole days. . . Is it May yet?

10. Ty was so tired tonight that he decided to put himself to bed before the rest of us were even finished with dinner. I wish they all did that! BTW, good news! Ty's leg rash that he's had forever and a day is finally gone! Hip Hip Hooray!

Thanks for reading! Off to watch AI and do some knitting! I love it when the kids go to bed! I think I just used way too many exclamation marks!!! How annoying!!!