The Best Thanksgiving Ever

Matt's three brothers came to our place for Thanksgiving this year. We had a great time - the kids were in heaven, I haven't laughed so much in a long time, and Matt got to see his brothers that he hasn't seen in quite awhile.
The four brothers spent wednesday seeing some sights around St. Louis. They went on a tour of the Budweiser brewery, checked out Vintage Vinyl on the Loop, and ate at Fitz's.

This is Matt and Logan at the Budweiser Brewery:

Thanksgiving morning Matt, Logan and Josh got up early to play in a Turkey Bowl (Ty had an injury and decided to sit it out). From what I hear, rarely has a nose bled as much as Logan's did when he got hit in the face during the game.

The rest of Thanksgiving day was spent playing games, watching football, and eating.
This is us playing Pictionary Man:

After dinner, Josh and Logan put up our Christmas lights

Friday morning they went to the Arch and Cahokia Mounds. This photo was taken inside one of the tiny pods that take you to the top of the arch.

I love this picture of sleepy Cade and Uncle TyHad to get a picture of the brothers before they left for the airport friday afternoon.Like I said - best Thanksgiving ever!

Why I love kids

Our little friend Julia is sleeping over tonight and these are just a few of the direct quotes I have overheard tonight in the course of their normal conversations (none of these elicited the slightest reaction that anything was out of the ordinary):

Julia, during a moment of silence and out of the blue: "I don’t think I’ve been on a see-saw for a long time, but if I did I think I would like it."

Blake and Julia discussing what Julia would name a baby sister:
Blake: "Why don’t you name her Flower?"
Julia: "If she looked like a flower I would"

Amy wanted to show something to Blake in her room:
Amy "Blake! Come here!"
Blake: "Awww (annoyed) I’m painting my toenails!"

GUMEYE BALL

I was reading to the boys tonight and I came across my all time favorite poem.
I'm a big Shel Silverstein fan!

GUMEYE BALL
There's an eyeball in the gumball machine,
Right there between the red and the green,
Lookin' at me as if to say,
"You don't need any more gum today."

I think it's funny that Cade is just as creeped out by the black and white photos of Shel Silverstein on the back covers of his books as I was when I was little. (ok, still am a little creeped out by them). If anyone is wondering what to get me for Christmas, I still don't have his ABC book and have always wanted it. . . psst, Matt.

How To Move A Cat

So we are finding out that it is going to be a lot of work to move our cat to the U.K. First she needs to be microchipped, then she has to have a rabies vaccination. About a month after her vaccination she has to have her blood drawn and sent to one of two U.K. approved labs in the U.S. to test the blood and make sure the vaccination has worked. Next we have to get an official certificate that has to be sent to our state capital to get the right authorization. She will then be allowed into the country 6 months from the day her blood is drawn, provided she has been treated for parasites no more than 48 hours before checking into our flight. If we don't follow all of the proceedures she will be put into quarantine once we get to the U.K.

Amy overheard Matt and I talking about how complicated it is going to be to get our cat into England, so she took matters into her own hands. She has no idea that there are all of these steps we have to take and rules we have to follow - and just assuming she has incompetent parents she made a big map for us which she hung on the wall.

A Little Alone Time

I wasn't feeling very well yesterday, so while Cade was napping and Blake was doing his computer time, I sat down on the couch and ended up falling asleep. I found out later that Blake had a great time being unsupervised. He helped himself to a bowl of icecream and then froze some of his toys into a block of ice.

Blimey

Well it's official. The Holmans are moving to England! I got a job offer yesterday to go over there for three years and after a little thought we decided we just can't pass up an offer this sweet. If anyone wants to come see us we plan on being there by June 2009.

For My Mom:

Cadertot and Grandma Bear.

Yet Another Motherhood First

In my 7 years of being a mother, today was the first time I've had to try to retrieve something that had been shoved up a nose. I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, and of course it would be Cade to actually try it. He was eating m&m's and somehow managed to get one stuck up his left nostril. It became a melty chocolatey mess but we finally got it out. Now every time I had him something to eat I have to say "don't stick it up your nose."