Let's see how long this lasts

I'm absolutely nuts for trying to compose a blog. My little ones usually leave me very little time and that little space is usually filled with a thousand things that never get done. Well, here's another thing to add to that unfinished list. At the moment, the weenies are counting the change in their piggy banks. I don't know why. I don't want to know why. I am grateful for the peace and quiet. I will take this opportunity to write about... well... stuff.

If you're wondering about the whole Weenie Hut thing, it's a Spongebob Squarepants reference. Clyde is the Extra-Long Weenie-- tall, skinny, and smart as a whip. Heidi is the Red-Hot Weenie-- lots of fun and extra spicy. Jack is the Corn Dog-- just a little guy, but full of personality (often corny as well). Eric is the Vienna Sausage-- a wee bite o' mystery (we're just now getting to know him as he learns to communicate). Ron & I are the proprietors. Business is booming.

Since I don't know how much longer I have (the money is being replaced in the banks as I type this), let me just write a bunch of random quick picks from our household. Think of them as the fries with your weenies.

Clyde was telling Heidi about his broken arm last night. He was very serious and about it. He's always been a dramatic story teller. Picture his dark eyebrows like a fuzzy caterpillar, zig-zagging across his forehead with the intensity of his tale... "There I was, just playing like a normal kid. I jumped off the smoke stack and it broke my arm. It was this arm-- my putting-under-the-pillow-arm!" (he holds his arm up with his elbow in a 90 degree bend to show how it rests under his pillow at night). Funny stuff.

Heidi answered my phone while I was putting Eric down for a nap last night. It was Grandpa Stewart, who called to ask her what she wanted for her birthday present. After she chatted with him for a while (watching TV during the conversation), she brought me the phone. Dad said she had suggested puzzles as a good gift for her. This surprised me, as she hasn't mentioned this idea to anyone else yet. When I questioned her about it later, she not only didn't remember saying anything about puzzles, but she also didn't remember being asked about a birthday present in the first place! Guess it was a good TV show.

Jack has discovered the knock knock joke. His first was to Ron: "Knock Knock" "Who's there?" "ME!". He's quite proud of himself. He has also discovered the wish list phenomenon. He goes through a catalog or magazine, and points to things that he would like. Sesame Street DVD, "Mine". Ice cream in the Schwan's catalog, "Mine". What a concept!

Eric has a new trick. When he quickly brings his palms together, it makes a funny slapping sound and people laugh and smile! Look at Mommy, she's doing it too and being goofy. It's fun to make Mom look silly! Uh oh, here comes that weird midget kid again. I hope he isn't going to try to bite me. Mom? Are you watching this? I'd better make a high pitched but very quiet squeaking sound to alert her. Oh good, she's looking over here. Wait, she's looking at me?! I'd better hurry and start doing that clapping bit again. Man, I'm good at that! Makes me look cool, too. Yeah!

For those of you who haven't heard this one yet, I have a cute Eric story that I've been trying to tell everyone. I slathered on sunless tanning lotion one night before bed, threw on some little shorts and curled up with Eric for the night. In the morning, I slid sweatpants on over my shorts and got the family up and running. When I was changing Eric's diaper, I noticed that his toes had a nice dark tan. I laughed about it, thinking he must have had some sunless tanning lotion rub off on him during the night. The day went on and I finally had a chance to get out of my pajamas sometime later that afternoon. When I pulled off the sweatpants I found a tiny white footprint high on my left thigh. Each itty bitty toe was perfectly formed above the arching shape of his foot. It looked like he'd placed a sunblock covered foot on me before I layed out in the sun. I told a bunch of people about it. My life is pretty slow, and stuff like this is my entertainment. Anyway, a few days later I refreshed my tan the same way. This time both Eric's feet came out bronzed and I have multiple prints on my legs. He must've had one of those 'rabbit chasing' dreams like the puppy that he is. I'm sleeping in pajama pants next time I try tanning again.

Today was a heavy back and chest day for me. I did lower body yesterday and can barely make it up my stairs! All I need now is to run five miles on my elliptical trainer and I can finally get out of my workout clothes. Egg whites and oatmeal with berries for breakfast again, mostly-egg-white salad on homemade whole wheat flatbread for lunch with some veggies (crunchy sugar snap peas in the pod), and a snack of low calorie vanilla yogurt too. This is much easier than I thought! I actually like eating like this. As long as I don't get sick of eggs, this should go well. I have to eat the darned things almost every morning.

Well, the kids have given me a much longer break than I'd expected. I hope I have time to write again sometime so this isn't the only post on here. Oh, I dropped off two rolls of film at Wal-Mart today and ordered CDs of the pictures because my scanner is temporarily unavailable. I'll put pictures of the kids on here once I get them back from the store. That's it for now. Eric is now sitting in my lap, trying to remove my lower lip by pulling on it while I struggle to type one-handed.