Today, Jake turned six.  Sometimes, I feel like their lives are flying right by, because he was just born a couple of days ago (it seems). He was sick a lot when he was a baby and toddler, but now he’s easily the most active of our kids.  He never stops, and he’s always into something.  Sometimes, that gets him in trouble, but he’s always good for a hug if you feel bad, and he’s always happy to see you, no matter what kind of day he’s had.  He’s really smart, and he’ll talk your ear off about anything that crosses his mind.  He’s had some adjustments to make since he’s started kindergarten, because sometimes his ideas aren’t the same as the teacher’s ideas, and that can cause some friction.  Like Alex, he’s pretty extroverted, and sometimes that means that they’ll fight more than the other kids.  Deep down, they really love each other. (Sometimes you have to look really deep down, but I’m sure it’s in there.  somewhere)

He got some good presents, even Eric and Alex chipped in and got him stuff.  He got to pick out his very own cake too, so he chose the one with the most colors on it.  For his birthday dinner, he wanted hamburgers on the grill and butter noodles, which we made.  Grilling in the pouring rain was kind of a drag, but he was very specific about what he wanted.

Today we didn’t do a lot, because it’s been RAINING all day.  We went to the store and got a cake, and we spent a lot of time with the weather report, because we’re supposed to get THREE TO FIVE INCHES of snow tomorrow night.  It’s like Christmas is coming again, the kids are beside themselves.   They haven’t called school off yet, but I bet they do before tomorrow evening.

I hope everyone’s having a good weekend, and if you’re in the Charlotte area, make sure you GO TO THE STORE AND BUY MILK AND BREAD!!!  In our last neighborhood, I told my neighbors that I didn’t run out to buy all that stuff because I had a gun, and I’d just come and get their food if I got hungry.  Now you know why none of my neighbors liked me.  They like me in this neighborhood, because I haven't told them that I’m going to take their stuff in the event of an emergency; it will be our little secret!

I usually don’t post random video clips, but I like this one, and its my blog, so I can do whatever I want.

When I got her dressed, it was in real clothes, real underwear, etc.  At nap time, she decided to put on a pullup and get rid of everything else except for the beret.  Tonight was bath night, so all of the drawing she did on herself is gone now too.

I haven’t updated in a while, things here have been really hectic:  Jenny was out of town last week and the week before, and this weekend she’s been in Florida helping her parents and sister with an antique show.  I’m about kidded out, so I’m saving this picture to show Jenny what it would be like if I were a single parent.

Remember a few weeks ago when Izzy found a sharpie and decorated her walls?  It turns out she decorated her Mermaid Barbie too.  I think she’s going to be a Goth.

I had a nice lengthy post I was going to put up about this, but Jenny came home, so we have to talk some.  We’re considering our options for psychological counseling for Izzy.

Today’s winner of the “throw up on Daddy” contest is (drumroll please…) Izzy!  She’s pitiful.

I can tell she’s really sick (I mean, other than by picking the chunks out of my hair) because she’s just lying in bed next to the computer in the attic sleeping, and usually she’s running all over the place.  I hope she feels better soon, she can’t keep anything down, so I’m afraid she’ll get dehydrated..

This week Jenny’s been in Seattle, learning some stuff, and then joining her friend Robyn for her 38th birthday.  It’s good that she’s getting promotions and all that, but after a few days of her being gone, I miss her.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

At least it was 66 today, so I was able to open the windows and get some fresh air into the house.  I forced the kids to go outside and play for a while too, instead of just playing video games all day.  I’m SO MEAN.  Al’s buddy Lauren is spending the night, so they’re downstairs watching Hannah Montana and stuff like that.  I made them agree to stay away from the attic before I’d allow it.

This was my “picture of the day”.  It’s Jenny’s side of the bed.  It’s very empty.

Jenny doesn’t trust me to dress the children properly when she’s out of town.  I have no idea why, but now before she leaves, she gets clothes out for Jake and Isabel and puts them in little stacks.  Today, Jake’s clothes were a nice pair of pants and a turtleneck with a sweater to go over it (because it was NINETEEN DEGREES this morning, which is ridiculous).  Anyway, the whole ‘layers’ thing was kind of new to Jake, and sometimes new things confuse him.  I had to explain to him that you put the turtleneck shirt on first, and then the sweater over it, to keep you warm.  He thought that was backwards, and you should put the warmest thing on FIRST.  I told him to stop yapping and get dressed, so he could get on the bus.

When he got home this afternoon, I noticed that he didnt have his sweater.  I figured he put it into his backpack and didnt think too much of it, until I saw that he seemed kind of THICK.  (the boy weighs about 40 pounds, so he looked NORMAL).  I asked what he was wearing, and he showed me: 

He said he LIKES it that way.  I bet his teacher thinks we’re a bunch of idiots. 

(and this is the picture that my wife always refers to when I ask why she insists on laying clothes out for them.  I don’t know what she’s talking about, it’s not like we were going to church or something)

are the ones you didn’t know were coming!!

The kids are still asleep, but they’re going to flip out when they see this.  It doesn’t look like we got a whole lot, but they wont care…