The others...

Happy Holidays!

Ethan isn't my only child.

I have other children.

They are just as cute and equally entertaining.

Yes, he's gonna kill me for this someday.

But it made you smile:)

Shannon's 7.

I'm old.

The end.

A V-day to remember

Due to the fact that Valentines Day fell on a Sunday this year, it was the perfect excuse to stretch the holiday

AAALLLLLL WWWEEEEEEKKK LLLOOONNNGGG.

It started with activities that I forgot to bring my camera to, ie school parties, skating parties, Chick fil a play group, etc. Then, Mommy finally got her act together and charged the batteries for the camera just in time to capture:

Shannon and Adam's Guide to Decorating Valentines Day Cookies...

their philosophies are simple, yet uniquely their own.

Shannon's - attractive cookie, unattractive picture.Adam's - attractive picture, unattractive cookie.At first he tried to imitate his follow decorators, but then instinct took over and it was crush or be crushed. Smash

SMASH!

crushed and pulverized

Not only am I covered in cookie residue, but also the table, chair, and floor.

Mission accomplished.

Now, where is the knife with frosting that I was licking?

During our cookie outing, the first real snow of the year started to fall.

(note I didn't add the word storm, although I did hear a few southerners referring to it as the blizzard of 2010)

You might think by looking at this picture that Adam is ready to turn in for the night.

No, no my friends.

Adam has started bringing me his PJ's in the middle of the day. This is MY son, who understands the ultimate comfort of a good pair of footie pajamas. He also understands that it's the warmest thing he owns, so maybe it's more of a survival instinct than genetics kicking in.Shannon, on the other hand, grabbed her newest, high tech snow gear and built a fabulous snow man with her father (who came home early because the office had emptied out by noon and he was lonely). Shortly after this adorable and loving picture was taken, she kicked the living tar out of the snow man until it was nothing more than two sticks on top of a lump of snow.

Her reasoning...it was leaning funny.

Valentines morningWhen asked, Shannon said she wanted doughnuts more than anything else in the world for breakfast. So chocolate doughnuts and hot chocolate it was! Adam enjoyed a few bites, then got bored.

And tried the dunkin' doughnut approach.

Such a sweet success, that he had to drink every last remnant.

I would have thought this was extra cute, except for the fact that the night before he dipped his blueberry dessert bar into his bowl of lentil curry soup and ATE IT. Ewww.

Happy Valentines Day!

Who Doesn't LOVE...

Yea Yea. I'm alert and oriented. A&O x 3.

Yea Yea I know it's the middle of November.

BUT, I had to post some Halloween Happenings.

Partially at the insisting of Lindsey.

Partially for posterity's sakes.

Mostly because it's just too cute not to share.

What kid doesn't LOVE a mummy/pig in the blanket covered in blood/ketchup?

What little boy doesn't LOVE digging through orange, squishy pumpkin guts then flinging them on anything within 8 feet?

And what little girl doesn't LOVE getting her make up done by a professional make up artist (aka life saver Laura) to transform her into the Asian princess Mulan?

And what little boy doesn't LOVE a little extra junk in the trunk to pad a fall or two as he waddles from car to car sucking on his first dum dum?

And what parents doesn't LOVE pulling dum dum sticks off their little boy's stomach or taking a tax on their cute kids candy as payment for security provided while their children begged for candy from strangers (haven't I tried to teach them NOT to take candy from strangers)?

I don't know what you think, but we LOVE Halloween!

Adam's Gone Tribal

And he's not happy about it.But I wouldn't be too happy either if my sister inked me while my mom was trying to take a shower.

Thank you Shannon for the purplish black marks all over the house. Yes, the marker was washable and I appreciate that fact. However, Adam is a very slobbery little boy and wallows everywhere, thus leaving remnants of the marker EVERYWHERE.

She's lost her markers for a week.

When the livin' is easy

Although Shannon can't wait to return to school, I'd like to think she's had some fun this summer.

Eating S'mores. This summer the Hodgens' have identified 3 forms of S'mores. 1) Roasted, or the origionals as we call them. 2) Microwave, aka suburbs, and 3) S'more poptarts, aka city slickers. We have sampled all 3 and you can't beat the origional, but the others will do in a pinch.

Home improvement. Shannon's been a wonderful assistant, helping me give some old furniture a "couture" look.Swimming. Thank heavens our subdivision has a pool. Although its a mini production to get the kids there by myself, both kids now have a farmers tan as a result of their surfer bathing suits. It's so much easier than worrying about their shoulders and backs burning. Adam's arm rolls have a lovely white crease that draws attention from the ladies.I should have known that goggles would get Shannon to finally put her face in the water. She's amazed that there's a whole new world under the surface.Adam's not too impressed with the pool. Probably the frustration of , "Oh, whats that?" followed by a face plant into the water. He repeats it until he cries and we go home.Zoo. Acting like a flamingo at the zoo passes the hot summer days.Dance Class. Our talented friend, Sherilyn teaches a dance class once a week for the girls. Shannon then talks about it for the next 6 days.

I think I see a hint of potential. Or maybe I'm just a proud Mama.

She defiantly has my feet. Chillin' like a villain. Oh, the outfits that Shannon comes up with. AH! I need to beat some style into this girl. She's not lacking in the attitude division.
These sunglasses were a gift from the Jonas Brothers, whom she has no clue who they are mercifully.

Until Next Year...Au Revoir Summer.

Who needs more room?

While I was packing up Shannon and Adam's winter clothes (and silently cursing our lack of storage space), my two little PIC (partners in crime) showcased that all you really need is love.  Oh, and a little box doesn't hurt either.