AliBlog

Still learning the lesson here

Moe: If you can't say nice, don't say at all.

Robey (in his superior big brother voice): That's not how you say it. If you cant say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all.

Moe (louder): That's what I said, Robey: If you can't nice, don't say it at all.

Robey (brattier): No, that's not what Daddy said. If you cant say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all.

Moe (screaming): I know, Robey. IF YOU CAN'T SAY NICE, DON'T SAY AT ALL.

Robey (screaming back): Daddy says, IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!

Moe (top of lungs): THAT'S WHAT I SAID! IF YOU CAN'T SAY NICE, DON'T SAY AT ALL!

Robey (top of lungs): NO YOU DIDN'T. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY, IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!

Robey's recess

On Wednesday Robey had Kindergarten fun day. Pirates were the theme, so he walked the plank, wore a hat, made binoculars and so on. He also came home with a bag of snacks, silver coins and trinkets. 

Today the bag is still on the dining room table, where Zanna found it.

I'm doing the dishes and Moe's standing behind me trying to get my attention. "Mommy. Mommy! Mom," he says. "Zanna's getting into Robey's recess."

Our kids, last weekend

Lots more in Mike's flickr stream.

Moe's butterfly dream

I chased the butterfly and then it was in the barn. And then I chased it.

It was a map. The butterfly was a map, and then I chased it - the butterfly map. Then I put it in my bed, and then it was gone. And then I looked in my eye, and then it was outside. And then I looked on my bed. Then I did sleep in my bed last night. Remember, I sleeped in my bed last night, Mommy? I was a big boy? See? My teeth are brushed.

I ripped the butterfly up in the barn and then I chased it.

Just humming along with Mich

How to wish your favorite nerd a happy birthday

All at once, my co-workers attacked me with early birthday wishes today via IM, Twitter, Facebook, Yammer, blogs and YouTube. I say, that's better than cake any day. But I'm a bit of a social media nerd.

You're not going to believe this

Robey's been asking a lot of questions about Santa Claus and making remarks about the insight Santa displayed in his gift giving this year. You can tell he's been thinking a lot about the guy in the red suit over the last month, so we've had a lot of conversations like this one.

Robey (quizzical): Is Rudolph real?

Me (inhaling): He's as real as Santa.

Robey (incredulous): But he has a red nose! Nobody has a red nose that lights up!

A week later, on Christmas Eve, as we were gearing up to go see Santa at the mall, Robey approached Moe excitedly and said, "Moe, do you want to know something? You're not going to believe it. I'm going to tell you this, but you're not going to believe it. Rudolph is REAL!"

I guess, for now, the kid still believes.

Some favorite images from Christmas Eve

Zanna, Claire and Dave. Click the images to see more.

The elves really steal the show here

She's expecting cake every day for the rest of her life