More Bits

Today I continue the stream of randomness.

It's been pointed out to me that my love for Henry and Maude is a bit odd, as certain perceive these owls as "scary". For these people I feel sorry. The owls are cute.

Today I am trying a new workout class. I'm scared.

Two weekends ago had a South African "braai" at Nana and Oupa's. In American that means "cook-out", but  a very specific type of cookout. Must have obscene amounts of meat, no gas grills allowed, and the menfolk must all stand around the fire staring at the glowing goals. This braai was in honor of Oupa's second cousin (or something like that visiting). They are the only South African family we can claim as ours in the US.

Nana and Omi, which is short for Naomi.

If you were worried that the boys would be at the braai with no brand new toys to enjoy, fret not. Nana had some type of hamster that rolled and spun and squeaked to entertain them.

At home we're trying a sticker reward approach to solving a new potty training issue. Here was my mid-day crafting session a few weeks ago. I was, and still am, concerned that the boys are just not cognitively ready for a long-term reward concept, but at this point I'll try anything. And if posting this means the 4 of you that read this see us failing at a reward effort, then so be it. May you learn from my bravery. 

The items below were made into charts, and because I feel like you all are at least moderately intelligent I won't explain the purpose of the charts or the stickers. 

The stickers are so fun. Represented are all the things little boys love. Firetrucks, dinosaurs, wadybugs and dolsins! Yes, we love ladybugs. We're open-minded like that.

We are having moderate success with the sticker rewards for one half of the fearless duo. The other half...hmmm...verdict still out there.

I can't lie. I sometimes dreaded afternoons with the boys after I pick them up from school. I was tired from work, and they were tired from school. And cranky. CRANKY. But we're sort of turning a corner and are turning into really pleasant little people. Turns out $3 worth of writing supplies, notebooks and a little cute storage container goes a long way in toddler happiness.

Before any of you get as excited as Keith does about the prospect of having a left-handed hitter, he still uses both hands, this one.

Some of the adults in the house still love a good self-portrait with the camera and it makes me chuckle everytime I download the camera's pictures and I find one.

I have a new baking recipe book and my goal is to bake my way through it. You may recall I was going that with another book, but that book's recipes turned out to be ...eh...just OK. Now we're on to this book. This weekend we went to see Karen et al, and I made my first cake from the book. Karen requested a caramel cake, and who am I to say no? Henry looked on and we baked. I botched the first go at the icing, so the cake did not turn out exactly as it should. Now if you're thinking "oh, that's too bad, I bet she really wanted to eat some cake", then don't worry, we still ate the hell out of the cake. And it was still soooo good.

Other things happening around here is prep for Thanksgiving. We're baking, cleaning the guest bedroom, preparing for babysitting another set of twins, making casseroles and getting out our eatin' pants.

One thing I'll not be doing Thanksgiving morning is running the Gobble Jog. I've done it the last two years and intended to do it again this year, but decided to spare myself the 45 minute drive each way and the entry fee. Instead I'll get up and do this route myself. Join me if you want. Or come stand along the route yelling "go legs!" as I shuffle by. If you give me enough notice, I can find a sharpie and an old shirt and I'll make you a Not A Real Gobble Jog 2010 shirt.

One hour till new workout class. Must go hydrate. See you soon with pictures from our trip to Karen's.