Cream Puffs and a Hound!

The Kern kids had two highlights at Thanksgiving this year. Auntie Kathy's cream puffs and a basset hound named "Jake". No ill will to the fruit pies and extended family-- but those chocolate topped puffs and compelling droopy eyes won the Kern kids affection. I'm guessing neither puffs nor dog made it to the first Thanksgiving, but they were a welcome addition to 2007!

Sleepovers

The Kern kids love to have sleep-overs! Not the kind where a friend is invited and we have extra kids for a night. Instead, it's simply a "sleep-over" with each other. They plan their opportunities wisely and look forward to them. One kid joins the other in their room along with all their bedtime stuffed friends. Karly makes up jokes, and Kyle encourages her. Kyle offers silly endings to stories, and animals dance in the night light shadows. There is little end to the silliness until well past 9:00 and some nights even later. Kent and I get a kick out of their camaraderie with each other.

Recently one of Kyle's friends heard the kids asking me for a sleep-over. The friend instantly said that he couldn't sleep over that night. To the friends dismay, he wasn't the desired guest. The kids quickly let him know they wanted a sleep over by themselves. The subject has come up a few times with this friend since then and he just doesn't get how you could have a sleep-over--as siblings. Karly and Kyle just smile. Kent and I do as well, knowing the treasure it is--for this time in their lives--to be such a team!

Back in Black

I don't even have the words. After three weeks and a check-up--I'm BACK and IN BLACK for another three weeks. That's all I can say for today! I'm pouting for now.

Signs That I'm Getting Old...okay, Older?

Last nights conversation over dinner between Kyle and a friend:

Friend: Some people say that if you swallow a black watermelon seed, it will grow in your stomach.

Kyle: Huh?

Friend: Yeah, silly huh?

Kyle: What's a black seed?

So it occurred to me that my children are not familiar with spitting black seeds like generations before them. Today's child has the privilege of (genetically altered) watermelons without black seeds). I might be getting old....

............Then last night we played Monopoly as a family. Kent started telling stories of playing board games with neighbor kids when he was young (he carefully told me later about the fist fights over them) so today we purchased "Life" and "Payday" as well. The kids wanted to know all about the games before we even got home and opened the box. "Mommy hasn't played these games in 20 years", I said-- "We'll need to look at the directions". Gulp--20 years? Am I old enough to say that? So after my text happy daughter read over the directions, the games began. The kids and I played Life for two hours today, and tonight is the big Payday debut. The kids wanted a Monopoly rematch as well (no surprise Daddy was the Donald Trump of last evening) but Kent was quick to let the kids know that three games in one day was not likely going to happen. Game overload might destroy all patience cells left.

I love it, but it is kinda weird. My kids are growing up, living in a different world, and having a blast doing so. All the while I am pondering, not quite in a rocker yet, but my computer chair swivels from side to side!

Keeping with the "TEAM" Theme!

Without planning it purposefully, the Kern team kept the "team" concept with their Halloween costumes. With Grammy's sewing helps, Karly was proud to cheer through the neighborhood on behalf of her Cincinnati Bengals. This little girl is a crack up with her devotion to a team with some serious current season challenges. She won't let anyone bring her down about her Bengals.
Kyle, representing the west coast as a San Diego Charger, spent the entire afternoon and evening enjoying the feel of true football pads and gear on loan from Mommy's hairdresser. He got a kick out of peeking through the helmet bars and "hut,hutting" all over the house. He was in full boy effect. Never-mind the candy, he had "real" gear on! Let's play ball!

Other evening highlights included:

-Pizza dinner with friends.

-Admiring the costumes of school friends throughout the neighborhood.

-Gilligan strolling about the neighborhood in a football jersey and getting loves around every corner.

-Grandparents stopping by with treats and hugs.

-Sorting and trading favorite candies (You'll see Karly's favorite are Twix and Kyle loves the Peanut Butter Cups!).

-Staying up late on a school night--always fun--for the kids that is.