Happy Birthday

Today is Connor, Addison and Harrison's birthday. 4 years old! Hard to believe. You can talk about them all together (which one has a tendency to do since they are triplets); however, they are very individual and unique. Separate, their little personalities evolve. Together, they are a force of nature like a tornado that picks up energy as it goes along. So much fun to be around! I Love you sooooo much guys! Have a wonderful birthday! I can't wait to see you.

Not The Worst Thing You Could Eat

I am not a bad Grandma! I would never do anything dangerous or unhealthy to or around my grandchildren (If you don't count the time Bryan and I let Julian be the first to try out the go cart and he ran into the wire fence.) Actually since Bryan was there it was technically his call and therefore his fault (I'm just saying).

This brings me to recent events involving dog food and Jaxon. First of all I did not offer Jax the dog food. I'm not even sure why he thought to try it in the first place. I think he may have been watching Ellie eat and figured maybe he would try it too. I saw him take a piece and chew it. I figured that would be the end of it. Not so, next thing I knew he had a handful and was eating it like popcorn. I asked him if it was good and he enthusiastically says: "YEAH!"

Now, I understand that most people would take the dog food away from him and tell him not to eat it. We have already established that I am not like most people, so I was weighing my options. It's not like he's eating glass. The dog food is healthier than most food kids generally eat. Plus it was Science Diet small bite dog food so he wouldn't be likely to choke on the pieces. Then I had to think about what if he goes to some one's house and sees the dog food bowl and says: "Oooh that looks like Science Diet mind if I have some?" That could be embarrassing for Amanda and Brad (but incredibly funny). Then there is the possibility that he tells everyone that Nanu lets him eat dog food. It could ruin my reputation. Wait...who am I kidding, reputation be damned, that would be hilarious. There was only one real downside to his eating the dog food. He would have to contend with Ellie.

Sure enough, I'm in the other room and I hear Ellie growl and Jax say: "ouch!" What followed was a conversation that I never thought I would be having.... "What happened?" "Ellie bit me!" "Were you eating her food?" "yeah". "dogs don't like it when you bother them while they are eating." "I was eating it and she just bit me". "It's her bowl, I'll get you a bowl of your own." "Yah!" I made up the last sentence I didn't really get him his own bowl. I just let him eat out of the dog food container. No, I didn't do that either but I wanted to. Actually maybe I did, maybe I didn't. I'm not saying.

As far as I can tell he suffered no ill effects from eating the dog food; however, when I called the other day I could hear him howling in the background. Amanda said he was pretending he was a coyote. I swear I never fed him a live animal so I am not responsible for the coyote tendencies.

Just to put every one's mind at ease I copied the dog food ingredients directly from the Science Diet website. Compare that to the ingredients on the fruit snacks label and see which one is worse.


Chicken
Brown Rice
Whole Grain Wheat
Cracked Pearled Barley
Soybean Meal
Chicken Meal
Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid)
Dried Egg Product
Natural Flavor
Whole Grain Oats

Remaining Ingredients
Apples, Cranberries, Soybean Oil, Peas, Carrots, Dried Beet Pulp, Iodized Salt, Flaxseed, Broccoli, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract

What Did I Do Now?

Julian and Nicholas were over yesterday and they wanted to hear a specific Christmas song. I didn't have the song they requested. Being the ever attentive Nanu that I am, after they left I decided to download the song from ITunes and email it to them. They loved it. Nicholas was impressed and thought I was magic for being able to send it to their house. So.....today Joe and I are packing for Florida. I decided to fill up my ipod with music and listen to it while I pack. Upbeat music always gives me more energy. I tryed to download songs; however, there is now only one song in my library. WTF????? I have no idea what I did, and I'm not sure how to fix it. Listen to my one and only song left in my iTunes library.

Do You Know The Shepawitz?

It was a busy weekend. The Shepawitz came to visit. "Who are the Shepawitz?" you ask. The Shepawitz aka the triplets. Nicholas still has a hard time with his "T's". Very funny and cute. Nicholas says Addy is his girlfriend. We're not sure how that will pan out. Technically she could be his girlfriend since they are not "blood" related, but both Julie and I think that we will try and discourage that relationship. Auntie Lorrie was here too! We had a good time just chillin. Our big outing for the weekend was going to Target. We all watched more than our share of Dora The Explorer. I'm a bad Nanu because when they asked for more Dora I told them she went on vacation. I didn't care what other cartoon we watched as long as it wasn't Dora. Again we were limited in our TV choices because guess what??????? Our Dish DVR wasn't working. We are now on DVR receiver #4. When the guys came out today they actually did some work outside on the lines which I think has been the problem the entire time. He supposedly upgraded our DVR with a different model. He said the one we had was a piece of junk. How reassuring. So far it's working. I'm a little bit happier too because I called and got a month's credit on my bill. I figured that was the least they could do.

Everything is quiet here now. I'm not sure what to do with myself. Julie is on the road back home. I hope the kids are cooperating for her. They were a little out of sorts when they left. I know how they feel though. It's always hard to travel and be away from your own bed.

I'm looking forward to going to Zumba, my pj's, a few glasses of wine and relaxing in front of the TV. The only thing that will be missing is the Shepawitz all sitting on my lap!

My Family Needs To Slow Down

On the 11th I posted a blog regarding speeding tickets. Well....today Bryan calls me and says he just got stopped for speeding. Nicholas was in the car. Apparently the cop started to walk back to his car when Nicholas asked the cop: "Are you a nice guy?" The cop stated that he was. Bryan got off with a warning. See, you just need a kid in the car with you at all times.

Everybody just slow down!

How To Get Out Of A Speeding Ticket

I forgot two important incidences that occured last weekend. Kyle got pulled over on his way here and received 2 tickets from Indiana's finest. One for speeding and one for an expired license. The latter is bogus since he has a military ID. Apparently the Indiana cop didn't know the law. I am assuming that that ticket will get thrown out. Then.....on the way home, Julie got pulled over for speeding. Children screaming and crying can tend to make one's foot a little heavy on the gas pedal. However, it can be a blessing in disguise. Apparently the cop was as frustrated as Julie trying to talk over the kids screaming that he just let her go. Perfect! Next time I'm with Joe in the car and we get pulled over I'm just going to start crying and see if it works. Next time Kyle you'll know what to do.

Biology 101

Julian and Nicholas caught some tiny toads in my yard today. They put them in containers with grass and sticks. I'm gonna call Nicholas; "Lenny", you know, Of Mice And Men fame. He dropped his toad one too many times and gave it some tight squeezes. "Nanu my frog won't move, is he sleeping?" "Oh dear, why don't you let him go in the flower bed and maybe he'll wake up."

I recieved a science lesson from Julian. He asked me if his toad was a boy or a girl. I told him I had no idea how you tell. He turns the toad upside down and pulled it's little legs apart. (This toad was no bigger than a quarter.) He says: "I know how you tell. If it has a black penis then it's a boy and if it has a pink penis it's a girl." "Really? I never knew that." For all I know he could be right.

Kids Say The Darndest Things

I have to share these quips of Jax's because the kid is hilarious. These statements were made within a 24 hour period. The kid is on a roll.

Amanda said that Jax just got up and says: "I just gotta take a deep breath." Then he breaths in through his nose and pushed is lips way out. I think he got that from me; yoga stuff.

Amanda had fed him breakfast then brought him a piece of bacon. "Mommy, I just love a tasty treat." He probably got that from Joe. Joe loves his tasty treats.

Jax saw a picture of a model on a Victoria Secret catalog and says: "Oh I love the naked girl!" I'm sure he got that from Brad.

Considering he's only 2 I think he's amazing. Not that I'm partial or anything.

Out Of The Mouth Of Julian

Julian can tell a story like no one I've seen before (kid or adult). He can make up the biggest lie and make it totally believable. Joe, Julian, Nicholas and I were sitting on the patio just chillin......

"Nanu, I saw Papa Joe at the grocery store the other day."
Joe says: "Yes you did!"
"He was with another woman."
"Really?" I say.
Joe just chuckles.
"Were they holding hands?"
"Yup"
"Did he kiss her?"
"Only on the cheek."
"What were they saying?"
"I don't know, they were too far away to hear."
"Come on Papa Joe, tell Nanu!"
Joe still chuckling.
"Yeah Joe, who was she?"
"Come on Papa Joe, just tell her."

I'm not sure where that skill will get him in life. Maybe he will be a politician. I hope he turns out to be Democrat. Sarah would be pissed. There is always the possibility that he's telling the truth. Joe's chuckling did sound a little nervous. This story however, is from the same kid that said: "I'm hiding from God." "Why?" "I kissed another man's wife!" What a piece of work.

Fun On Wheels

Joe and I have to quit going to charity auctions. Everytime we go, we come home with some kind of power wheel or motor bike thing. One year we bought a Peg Pergo 4 wheeler. At the time, Julian was only 3 months old. That thing sat in our basement for over a year waiting for him to get big enough to ride it. It's still running though. I had to replace a wheel on it, but that is all. Then we went to an auction where Joe decided he would bid on a 49cc moped/scooter. I'm not sure if that was for him or me. We ended up getting that which led to me eventually getting a motorcycle. Last night we went to an MDA auction and they had a Peg Pergo Vespa scooter. Of course we had to get it. Our grand kids are so spoiled. I worry though that they won't know how to ride a regular bike. They'll be looking for the gas pedal. Actually Julian now rides a gas powered dirt bike. I wonder if they realize how lucky they are? Maybe not now, but when they get older they will have a lot of fun memories from Papa Joe and Nanu's house. Now we just have to get the triplets closer and we'll have enough for a basketball team.

I'm Hot Like A Bubble

I have often wished that I had a head cam so that I could videotape some of the funny predicaments that I get myself into. I have no problem laughing at myself. I do it quite often actually. Having a video cam around when kids are present is even better. Kids are comedic geniuses and they don't even know it. That is why most of the videos that win on America's Funniest Videos are of kids. Bryan could be $10,000 richer today if only he had taken a video camera with him when he took Julian to the dentist. Julian had to have a couple of cavities filled. They use Nitrous Oxide, aka laughing gas to give a little pain relief and anesthetic for the procedure. According to Bryan, Julian was sitting in the chair with the little mask on when he started to repeatedly thrust up from the hips as high as he could. Bryan didn't know what to think and he was about to tell him to stop when Julian blurted out: "I'm Hot like a Bubble!" Then he proceeded to lick his lips inside and out like an old man with no teeth. Bryan said he lost it! He laughed so hard he cried. Bryan had asked the nurse before they started if anyone had ever said anything really funny while under the effects of the gas. She said not really. Well they have now! My question is: Does he mean hot as in good lookin or hot as in temperature??? Most kids I would think that they meant hot as in temperature, but since it's Bryan's kid I'm pretty sure it's the good lookin reference. That could be the new catch phrase for the 5-9 age group. Instead of saying: "You are on fire!" You can say: "You are hot like a bubble!" Say it out loud. It's kinda catchy. Out of the mouths of babes.

Tofuey

Joe was so excited yesterday when I told him we were having tofu and bean sprouts for dinner he could hardly contain himself. I recently purchased a bean sprouter and have already harvested my first crop. Yummy! I made Asian inspired rice noodles and tofu and sprinkled fresh bean sprouts on top. Joe loved it, he has his with a side order of pork. Actually it was pretty good. Today, Joe made a trip to Michigan to see the triplets so he didn't get to have any leftovers. Too bad for him! I had Jax here with me and he saw me eating the bean sprouts, so I gave him some. He chewed them for a little bit, then took them out of his mouth. "What is that Nanu?" "It's bean sprouts." "YUCK!" That's coming from a kid that drinks bath water. There's no accounting for taste.

Dropping A Deuce

I been preoccupied with getting back into my Ft. Wayne life I have neglected my blog. I figured I at least better change the background. I am happy to report that Quiche is doing quite well. She actually ventured out of the coop the other day. She just hops around on one foot and lays down a lot. In the mornings I have to take the chickens to a temporary pen so that they are out of the way of the workers residing our barn. They follow me like I'm the pied piper, but I have to carry Quiche. I think they finally remembered who I am, or at least who has the food.

Steve and Robbie visited last weekend. Julian took a liking to Uncle Robbie and Uncle George as he called them. Nicholas was kind of partial to Steve. Nicholas doesn't buddy up to too many people, so Steve should feel special. At one point, Nicholas came up from the basement where he and Steve and Julian were playing a video game. Nicholas came up to me and says: "Nanu! Uncle Steve dropped a deuce in the basement." "Really?" I say. "Because there isn't a bathroom in the basement." "It was an air deuce." says Steve. Nicholas adds: "Yeah it was a big one!" Gee, I wonder where Nicholas gets that verbiage from????

Back Home Again....Reality Sets In

WE MADE IT! I was very excited to get home. Joe, not so much. Mainly because he has to go to work tomorrow. No time like the present to get back in the swing of things. We were home probably two hours when the troops decended on us. Bryan and his family and Amanda and hers. Jax acted like he didn't know me. He was more interested in Ellie, as usual. Julian and Nicholas seemed excited to see me for about 2 seconds. Chaos ensued for the next few hours and then it was quiet again. Phew! I'm ready to go back to Florida now. Not really, I'm glad to be back in the middle of the chaos!

Usually when we go away to Florida there is some kind of crisis that happens at home or we get bad news of some kind. This trip had no drama until the very end. Nicholas fell in the bathtub and had to get stitches about a week before we were set to come home and one of the chickens got injured about two days before we came home. Bryan thought it had a broken leg, but he didn't know how it happened. We both assumed that one of the workers that are residing our barn did something to her. Well, when I got home today I checked on the chicken and sure enough she has a broken leg. She doesn't appear to be in pain, but she can't get around very well. This could be bad for her, but I am going to do what I can to nurse her back to health. I figured that we would never know what actually happened to her, but low and behold my favorite neighbor came to our door (you remember, the one that I threathened to shoot their dog). Anyway, he said that the chickens were over in his yard and his dogs were out. One of the dogs went for the chicken and the guy knew it was hurt because it was having trouble moving and kept flailing her wing. He told Joe that he thought that the wing was hurt. Joe told the guy that the dog broke the chicken's leg. I wasn't there for the conversation, but I can't believe that the guy came over and admitted that it was his dog that hurt her. It never occured to me that it could have been the dogs. I can't really be mad because the chickens were on his property. Since I had the confrontation with his wife I haven't seen the dogs in our yard, so they have been doing their part. I had been planning on putting up a fence to keep the chickens contained because I want to plant a garden and I'd also like to keep the chicken poop in a confined area.
I'm too late for poor Quiche.

Baby Dolls, Prune Juice and Veggie Hot Dogs

I love being a Grandmother! I can entertain my grandkids while torturing my kids at the same time. I bought a new toy today to add to the playroom that I have set up for the grandkids. I got a cute, cuddly, pink clothed baby doll that coos and giggles and sucks a pacifier. It came with a pink and brown polka dot stroller. I intentionally got it for the boys. At Christmas I got a baby for Addy and the boys played with it probably more than she did. It was a good purchase because Nicholas and Jax played with it today, and they loved it! Jax would take it and cuddle it and say "come here, your fine." Nicholas was more interested in the purse that I gave him to use as a diaper bag. Bryan came to pick up Nicholas and saw the doll and immediately started poking it and shaking it to make it talk. "Daddy, don't shake the baby." Even Nicholas knows how not to treat a baby. Bryan and Brad will thank me one day when their boys grow up to be loving nurturing fathers.

Lunch time was fun as well. I thought I would try out the soy based hot dogs on the boys see if they could tell the difference. Put a little ketchup on em and you couldn't tell the difference. "I'm thirsty Nanu." "How about some juice?" (1/2 apple juice and 1/2 prune juice.) "Nanu, what is that?" "Oh, it's apple berry juice." "Ooooh." My only regret with the prune juice is that Sarah is out of town this weekend and so she won't see the fruits of my labor. Sorry Bryan, Brad and Amanda. No, you know what? I'm not sorry! I have your children's colon health to look after. When the boys have their first colonoscopy and it comes back clean, the doctor is going to say: "It must be from the prune juice that their grandmother gave them as children." Again, everyone will be thanking me.

What would I do without my grandbabies????

I'm feeling depressed again. It must just be this time of year, part of my Circadian Rhythm must be out of whack in the months of February and March. It's not a weather thing either. Last year I was in sunny Florida and it still happened. Since I'm home though, I at least have more things to occupy my time and force me to get out of bed in the morning. I have one or more grandchildren almost everyday. They don't let me be depressed. I'm either breaking up a fight or laughing so hard at their antics that I wish I had a camcorder strapped to my head at all times to catch the priceless moments. Julian and Nicholas are typical brothers, fighting one minute and being each others best friend the next. Julian is a carbon copy of Bryan. Not when Bryan was little, but now. He jokes and teases just like Bryan does and he can tell you a "story" like you wouldn't believe. He's picked up a few of Sarah's mannerisms too (impatience). We were sitting in the car the other day waiting in line at his school. We were sitting there less than 2 minutes and he says, "this is about as bad as getting a booster shot!" as he rolls his eyes and scoffs. "what is?" I ask. "Waiting in line all day just to go to school!" Nicholas says, "yah, go to school." They are so adorable, I just want to eat them up! The triplets will be here in a couple of weeks to celebrate their 3rd Birthday with their cousins. That should be a HOOT! I better charge up my camera batteries.

Rhinorrhea

My grand kids give me soooo much! They give me love, affection, joy and their colds. I usually do a good job of staying healthy even when everyone around me is sick, but when two of them are running around with a snotty nose one of their germs is bound to make it to my nose. Nicholas likes to wipe his own nose, and Jax won't let me wipe his unless I tell him I'm going to do it softly. Then I have to be really quick about it or he runs away. I only get the first layer and the rest just dries to a nice crust under his nose. I took some pictures of the boys the other day with my new camera. The pictures are so crystal clear, but so is the dried snot on their face. At what age to kids start to become snot aware??? It's pouring out of both nostrils like a faucet and they don't seem to mind. If it starts to run into their mouth, they either lick it or wipe it on the closest thing to them like their sleeve or my shoulder. I couldn't find the section in the baby book on the snotting phase. So, how long does it last and how am I supposed to handle it? Should I pretend like I don't notice? Isn't there a vaccine for this? I think Jax is starting to realize the nastiness of the runny nose. He looks at it on the kleenex and says: "eeeewwwww GROSS booger!" Ah, to be young again without a care in the world.

From Shrine Circus '09

Amanda, Brad,Jax and I went to the Shrine Circus, complements of JVZ. Jan is a Shriner so he hooked us up. Jan looked so cute in his little Fez. Go to the photo gallery to see all the photos. I used my new camera and I tried out some of the techniques I learned in a photography class I took. I still have a long way to go before I'm a pro like Steve and Roger (my brothers) but I can't let them have one up on me.