Why oh why, Anie?

(Anie's my nickname for Ana. Just in case you were confused.) :-)

I would like to know WHY Ana is SO serious during our "serious" conversations and yet ends up getting our entire family to laugh hysterically.

Just now Ana comes up to me with a picture she colored and I remark about her lady's purple skin. She replies with, (and totally serious), "She drank too much grape juice."

Last night when we were putting up ornaments we put up a special ornament with a story so we all sat down to listen to the story. The story talked some about how Jesus was born to die and Ana speaks up and says, " I hate dying! I like dying in bed rather than like.. dying some other way." At this point all of us have lost it as she talks like she has died several times and she's comparing them. Mom could not stop laughing. I am serious. But since Ana was so serious about it all, she became very upset that Mom was laughing at her, (Earlier that day she had mentioned that she was never marrying a man that laughed at her.), so she started getting upset. Mom really could not get herself together and all of the rest of us were having a difficult time not laughing ourselves at Mom and still Ana's comments. Once Mom had controlled herself partly, she covered her face to hide from Ana and Ana continued with, "Because like, a sword goes through your belly and it really hurts, and like guns go in your nostrils and that really hurts...".


So yeah we had an interesting night last night. Ana's too cute and curious. She thinks so deeply and funny sometimes!

Minte's Reaction to Snow!

Today, December 1st, we have had our first real snow! It's cold outside. Actually it's freezing outside. And the snow is actually sticking!

When we had some snow falling a few days ago, Minte went out to play in it with the kids. It was very cute as he didn't like it when the snow hit his face and made it cold! He kept saying he was having fun though!

Today when we woke up there was actually snow on the ground so everyone wanted to show Min right away. Mom told Minte it was snow as he looked out the window at all the snow but his reaction was, "No! Ergh! MESS!" When asked later about who would clean up the mess he pointed to himself and said, "Me!". It was adorable!

About an hour ago Ana opened the door so that Min could pick up some snow. His reaction to the snow on his hand- lots of shaking and wiping!

In a little bit Minte is going to go OUT in the snow! It should be interesting to see if he plays, screams, runs inside, OR cleans it up!

Thanksgiving Post

So..what are you doing for Thanksgiving? Visiting family? Having family over? Doing your own Thanksgiving? Creating a Thanksgiving dinner for others?

So, although I can't say that it's starting  to smell like Thanksgiving, (partly because it's not even Thursday yet and partly because we won't be making the Turkey at our house), it does have the Thanksgiving air around the house. Right now I'm typing on Mom's laptop, (that makes cool clicking noises when you type fast!!) about Thanksgiving, Luke's finishing homework in anticipation of a hunting weekend with Papa, Dad and Mom are trying to relax before the rush to get things together to go in the morning, the kids are giggling excitedly in their room, and my apple pie's juice is burning on the bottom of the oven.  The night before Thanksgiving!

Today Mom and I went to the store and saw people with their lists grabbing turkeys, pie filling, and stuffing mixes! Then in the evening I went to the store and it was PACKED with shoppers. All doing last minute Thanksgiving shopping.

Thanks...giving... Thanking God for what he's given us... and giving? Being thankful for the giving? Giving good attention to the food? Giving? What's that part in there for? Hmmm...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Mr. Attitude

 I hope this video turns out. It's so cute. I know Minte is being naughty and a stinker, but he's SO cute while he does it.

Mom and Dad say they've never seen a two year old with such an attitude or who pretends so much to be depressed. He rolls his eyes, sighs, throws his hips around, puts his hands on his hips, gives a "really?" look, and is just such a stinker. But this video makes me laugh everytime because I love the part when he sticks out his lip and pretends to hit me. Naughty!

(Notice how very quietly at the end, Minte says "cheese." just to get me to leave him alone. I love winning!)  :-)

"Bow Away!"

This is one of the cutest phrases Minte says. I love it! He can't go outside in the wind because he might ...

To make you laugh...

For your entertainment, may I present Mr. Ethan Vander Hart's story. Written by him, and imagined by him. Enjoy.

Amy and Anthony
By Ethan Vander Hart

A couple was leaning over a crib. It was made of wooden boards that were possibly the most well cleaned boards ever made.
In the bed were two bundles so soft, you would want to cuddle them and never put them down again! But the couple had already cuddled them for a while.

The husband was thinking of names for the babies like Carlos or Maggie. The wife looked thoutfully at the bundles. "My names Amy, and your's is Anthony. Let's name them after us!" the woman decided.

The man named Anthony hesitated. "well I guess so. But how will you ask me something if Anthony's around? I mean he might think you're talking to him."

Just then Amy the baby started making noises that interrupted there conversation. Amy said, "She is going to be a pain." Anthony said, "of course she is. That's our last name." Mrs. Pane sighed. "Anyways, they will grow fast." And they did.

When the twins were three, they were 3'1''. When they were six, they were 4'0''. They were always getting into trouble. Today for instance, they pulled down the curtains and made a tent!

There was more to the story, but it kind of turned into a name calling game that wasn't too nice.

Here is a second story. This is one not made up, and it has to do with my driving which can be usually found entertaining.

So a while back my math class was canceled so I got to spend most of the afternoon at home instead of our tutoring place. However I did have to drive back to pick up Lucas and someone else from their classes. So I was driving along on the highway when this big truck pulls next to me and the guy is grinning and pointing to the van. After a while he drove off laughing and I settled back thinking what a weirdo he was. (I had glanced in the side mirror though to see if my gas door thingy was open, but did it very subtly so that he wouldn't think I had fallen for his trick.). Suddenly though it dawned on me that the kids had been playing outside and oh my goodness... I quickly pulled to the side of the road and got out. Sure enough, the kids had hooked the handle of an umbrella to the trailer hitch and I had been dragging that thing everywhere!!! Meanwhile, as I pull off the umbrella, an entertained semi driver blows his horn to show his amusement and makes me jump. Oh wow! What an experience. The poor umbrella had quite the experience too. It won't be used anymore for keeping the rain OUT!

This isn't the second time I've dragged something on the trailer hitch. About a year ago I went to piano and made Ethan sit in the van with me because the strange guy mowing his yard next door stopped and was staring at our van as if waiting for us to come out. We waited for a long time and then finally I let us get out. He yelled something and when I looked behind me I found Ana's pink coat dangling from the trailer hitch by the hood. I was going 55 some of the time, so I have no idea how the coat managed to still hang on!

From now on I will be checking the trailer hitch AND not thinking all other drivers of big trucks or mowers are out of their mind. Well... not usually.

Finish up these COLD pictures

In anticipation, (yeah, right.) of coming winter, I must finish with these pictures of the end of our summer. So, here goes.

 His first time in a big lake of water. He wasn't too sure at first, but a little bit later he loved it!!

 Luke loves the fishing boat and gave our cousin, Alli, a ride.

Tubing behind the pontoon. Nothing like behind Uncle Tony's book. I love tubing!

 Helping Ethan float.

 While we were with some friends skiing, (or me trying to), Dad and Mom took everyone else to the beach. Sure...  It was Minte's first time at such a HUGE lake, (Lake Michigan), and he wasn't scared a bit.

 I guess he kept pumping his legs to get deeper but Mom  would only let him in so far.

The kids had a lot of fun! And I think Minte is going to be the swimmer of the family.