Valentines Day Part 1

It is after 10PM- I just finished decorating the table for breakfast and I have to ask myself, why do I over-do every holiday? I love . decorating, surprising, and making traditions with the kids. Tomorrow, they will wake up to heart shaped banana muffins (which look a little sad), and a surprise in their mailbox. After school they will get off the bus and go on a big scavenger hunt for special treasures. Ben was trying to give me "suggestions" about the hunt as we sat together tonight. I LOVE my family. Sometimes (a lot lately) I complain- but really, I LOVE my life.

Night at The Museum

The big boys are back!! They had a great night "camping" at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Their group got to sleep in the storm exhibit room. Ben loved that room, which surprised me a little. I am glad they are home safe.

19 HAPPY YEARS/GUEST POST

This post is from Livia and Camila-
Dearest Dad and Mom,
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad- Love you bunches!!! Mrs Kahl is taking good care of us- we have only had 25 cookies a piece!!!!!!
Love-
Your Darling Daughters!!

Happy Video

THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!!

Last night Gabe declared the day, "the best day EVER" Kevin and Ben were at the winter camp out so Gabe and I had a special day of our own. We met our friends at Build-A-Bear (something which Gabe has NEVER done!), followed by Michaels Craft Store (OK that was more for me but he did get something to paint later), Subway for lunch, painting, a movie of HIS choosing- including popcorn AND he got to sleep in Mom and Dad's room. We had a lot of fun!!!!!!

Random Quotes From Ben

"If I have your right brain and Dad's left brain, who gave me my middle brain?

"I like being a dog owner, we are important people."

We have a room in our house that we call the Chill Room, it is a TV room that we spend 95% of our time in. Over Christmas break, we swapped Ben's room(large) with the Chill room(small) so we could have more room to CHILL. Ben said,

The new chill room will have to be named the CHEN room (chill+Ben) and my new room will have to be called the Bill room (Ben+Chill) Do you think people will be confused?"

"Mom- do your Mom thing with Bruiser today.You know rock, feed, walk,don't yell you know, the usual."

"Mom, since my teachers give me homework, I think you should ask them to come here and maybe do some dishes or some laundry."

On his way out the door for his winter camp out- "If you miss me too much, go smell my pillow, it will have my scent on it."

Snow DAYS

The kids finally went back to school today after 2 days off and one 2 hour delay. NORMALLY I love snow days, BUT Kevin was in Detroit-STUCK- and a host of other previous events (That is a whole different post, I need to save until I have much more time to type) made these snow days very difficult. By Wednesday afternoon I said Yes to everything. Wii-YES, DSi-YES, cookies-YES, eating lunch with the largest spoon you can find- YES (By the way, Gabe won that challenge!) stay in your pajamas, the same ones for 2 days-YES! Make hundreds of paper snowflakes and leave the mess-YES- I was kind of hoping Bruiser would discover he loves paper but NO he still loves UNDERWEAR and prefers to chew on those, especially Gabes- Hmmmm! Kevin returned after the worst of the storm, but still had a white knuckle trip from Detroit. I will be glad to not see that type of storm for a long time or ever again!