It’s just  ’spilt coffee’  here by my side

I  found it out just in time

I should have taken a picture of it, but I thought of it after the fact.  I had just sent Owen on his way to the playroom with a snack this morning and as he was sitting in his beanbag he says to me, “Mommy, what are we going to do about that taco?”  Taco??  What taco?  We had tacos yesterday for lunch…but what is he talking about?  So I ask, “What taco?”  His response?  ”The one behind the picture on that table” pointing to the very large picture on the glass table.  I take a quick look and see nothing.  Curious to know what exactly he’s talking about, I pick up the frame.  It is then that I find a half eaten, hard as a rock, soft taco from Taco Bell.  Thanks, Owen.

You're keeping me up all night

(and day and night – mmmmm caffine!!)

Good news update: Owen has a rescue!

take that and chinky

Who knew that the “sniff test” before a diaper change could be so funny?

Owen received his first Christmas gift today.  As promised, a little elf came last night and left a gift for him for being a good boy and not throwing a tantrum yesterday.  When we explained to him that he was getting this early gift from Santa because he was good, he said, “And I’m also a bad boy because I pooped in my pants.”  Glad we cleared that up!  Since he’ll be getting some books for this next week, we thought he should know what it was all about first.  I think Leap Frog’s Tag Reading System is one of the best things we’ve ever bought!  As you know, Owen is not a child that sits still, but he’s been playing with this pen for over an hour now!  He’s even repeating the sentences back as it reads them.  I’m amazed!

Santa’s elves don’t leave gifts under the tree…they hide them under the tv stand.

They’ve got imaginations, that for sure…

They got bundled up

And threw snowballs

tried to catch them

and of course ate some snow!

all in the dining room

I decided that Owen was doing just fine feeding himself, and gave him his own little plate of Thanksgiving food.  I gave him some mashed turkey, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes.  Then I served myself and put him in his little seat with a tray and let him eat in peace (while keeping a very close eye on him at all times ).  I didn’t hear a peep out of him during the entire dinner.  He was having a blast! Plus, I was able to eat a little myself without having little hands stealing food off of my plate.   Here are some pictures of Owen with his very own Thanksgiving dinner.

Even though it was a little chilly today, it was a perfect day to go out to the boardwalk at Johnson Park in Collierville and meet up with Owen’s playgroup friends.  We had never been out there before and it was beautiful!  We even saw deer.  If the kids hadn’t been enjoying themselves and screaming their cute little faces off, we could have reached out and touched them.  The sun was shining through the almost bare trees and made perfect lighting for pictures.  Enjoy!

We were on a color scavenger hunt.  Owen really just scribbled all over the page with a Halloween pencil that he found particularly interesting…

The light was gorgeous…the trees were gorgeous…perfect little place we didn’t know about.

And you may not be able to see this because the pictures are small but this is the deer.  There were two!

And I’ll leave you with just a few of Owen’s pouty faces that appeared when I said it was time to leave.  BUT he did NOT throw a tantrum…I love using Santa against him.

I also may have bribed him with the promise of some chicken and “dunklings” (dumplings, of course.)

01 – New Leaves
02 – Good Friends, Bad Habits
03 – A Trenchant Critique
04 – Never Been Born
05 – Amnesia And Me
06 – Brown Hair In A Bird’s Nest
07 – Too Scared To Move
08 – The Only Child Of Aergia
09 – Ugly On The Inside
10 – Curtain Call

Download: Depositfiles

Me: “Owen, you look so handsome with your new haircut! I bet when Hannah sees you she’s gonna give you a big kiss….probably on the lips!”

Owen: “And then I’m going to puke.”

Me: “Are you supposed to puke after kissing little girls?”

Owen: “I do!”

Owen, Noah, Aaron, Rylen, Bruce, Holden, Parker, Matthew, Spencer, Dawson, Brandon, Trey, Tucker, Nathan, Kain, Jacob, Alexander, Collin, Benjamin, Nicholas, Austin, Joshua, Evan, Jack, Neco, Cooper, Elijah, Kyle, Oscar, Keegan, Malcolm, Mason, Bregan, Madden, Myles, Caeden, Brenden, Pryor, Maurice, Nicky.

Gabriella, Jillian, Lillian, Audrey, Ruby May, Erin, Bianca, Jade, Rylee, Aili, Trynity, Meghan, Olivia, Elise, Quinn, Ariana, Charlotte, Beatrix, Abigail, Layla, Kenley, Caoimhe, Cailyn, Ava, Carolina, Mia, Ailey, Alena.

I got a last minute tip that the Germantown tree lighting was happening tonight so we quickly packed up and headed out there to see what it was about.  There were carolers, candlelight, reindeer and marshmallow roasting.  We even heard Santa was around but we didn’t wait in line to find out.  We’ll be taking the boys out another time for that.  Just thought I’d share some photos of the little event.  I had a great evening with my boys.

The tree was not quite what we were expecting…but it got us out of the house.

The countdown…

Its Dad and tonight you monkeys really cracked me up. As amazing as this will sound in 20 years, you love to do tasks.. major ones.. together. Tonight, we cleaned one room and by we I mean you three. I simply point you in a direction and you love to just bang out work. After the room was spotless, you cleaned the basement. After that, you picked up all the fall decorations in the house. After this, you cleaned the movie room which was pretty trashed.

Hows this work? How can this possibly be?

Dad simply calls you together and lets you know what the opportunity is. Tonight, you wanted to take out the Christmas ornaments and decorations. I helped you realize that we couldn’t do that until the house was clean and the fall decorations put away. After this, you really start to execute. Alec just starts working. Alec is quick to point out how hard he is working, but also helps out his brothers and sisters. Alec is such a fantastic role model for his brother and sister. Owen grabs the highest, the heaviest, the oddest shaped things. He frequently will go through super bursts cleaning up really fast. This usually creates more of a mess than helps, but he is a good worker. Zoe is steady Eddie. She will work consistently for a while .. but slowly.. ever so slowly.. she will start to lose interest. This yields dilly-dally, then avoidance, then she disappears. This will usually re-engage the foreman. Alec will either have a stern talk with her, threaten her, or tell on her. Tonight it was a threat. After I asked him to calm down I informed Zoe she didnt have to work, but she would not get snacks and popcorn for the movie  later. Seemed like an easy choice for Zoe.

Within 1 hour, the entire house is clean. While you diligently work to surprise Mom and to set up for the fun of opening Christmas gifts, I work in other areas. The net result always amazes me. After our session tonight, we all sat down and talked about teamwork and family and then we all went to watch a movie. I am pretty sure the boys shared their snacks and popcorn with their snackless sister!!!  I’m not sure if the realize that this encourages Zoe to be lazy. A better question is if Zoe is lazy knowing she can manipulate her brothers later!?

I love you Team Martell and sometimes you really act like a fantastic TEAM!

….to our cruise ship this year.  That’s right.  In 3 weeks, we are heading for a tropical vacation and will be celebrating Christmas on a “ship boat” as Ryan likes to call it. We’ll see how I do with the whole non-traditional Christmas, but I am most certainly looking forward to this trip.  Aaaaahhhh…. I can’t wait.  I do have plans to bring Christmas with us so that will be a fun little way to celebrate on the “ship boat”.  If you’ve been reading my posts for awhile now you will know I am all about traditions and waking up in our own home on the holidays (like here and here).  This will definitely be different for me this year.  And I have to admit, I couldn’t get away from the traditional Christmas completely so the week we get back from our cruise I am pretending it’s Christmas morning and we’re doing the whole traditional celebration with Santa and a big breakfast and playing with new toys and the whole turkey/ham dinner and everything.

Today we spent the ENTIRE day decorating for Christmas and getting the house ready for the holidays.  We put up the Christmas tree and decorated it.  Well we decorated the middle portion of it anyway.  The tree is 8 feet tall or something crazy so mommy couldn’t reach the top to put decorations up that high and since we have two little mischievous monkeys running around, we couldn’t decorate the bottom portion either.  So the middle of the tree… wow!  It looks awesome!  And yes, it is a fake Christmas tree.  We had real trees for years and I loved it, but then when we moved to Atlanta and went to cut down a tree none of them met my “up north” standards.  They were basically all cedar trees and not your traditional looking pine tree like they have in MN, WI or CO.  So after not liking our newly found “cedar” Christmas tree I bought a super tall fake one after Christmas when it was 70% off and I love it.  It’s our 2nd year with it up and I love it more this year than I did last year.

Christmas Tree

O-wee Putting Jingle Bells On The Tree

Ryan Decorating the Tree

The Sesame Street Gang

How Did This Hat Get On My Head AGAIN?!

More Decorating....

Decorating The Tree

We also had our Thanksgiving Number Four today.  Since every meal we have had so far has not consisted of leftovers, mommy made Thanksgiving four all over again!  We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, fresh cranberries, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie!  It was awesome!!  The boys loved the meal and for some reason they both absolutely love cranberries.  They love the canned cranberry gel stuff and they love the fresh ones too.  Every turkey meal they ask for more, more and more.  It’s strange how much they like it.

But back to my mischievous monkey.  “Trust me Santa…. I’ve been good ALL year!”

I've Been Good.... I Promise!

Silly O-wee

Isn’t it just so cute how much Owen looks up to his big brother.  He mimics everything that Ryan does and just constantly watches him.

Brotherly Love

After the tree went up and was decorated, we put the train around the tree and boy did the boys love it.  Ryan just laid on the floor and watched it go around and around and around.  Of course, daddy decided this cheap, plastic train wasn’t good enough so off to Target he went.  Mommy made him return the train he brought home though   Maybe another year when the boys are older and the risk of it breaking in 10 minutes has decreased.  Not this year though.  Maybe we’ll look again when the after Christmas deals hit.

Really Dad?! A Santa Hat?

Choo-Choo!

Ryan LOVING the Train!

Intrigued

The boys were so good today.  Seriously, they were SOOO good today.  They played together great.  They helped decorate the tree.  They helped empty the dishwasher THREE times today.  They just had a blast all day long with each other.

Only once did we have a little fight.  And it was actually pretty funny.  Ryan was pushing a kitchen chair over to the counter and he bumped into Owen and knocked him over (he didn’t get hurt).  Ryan said “O-wee.  I no mean to.  It an accident.  I no mean to.”  Owen started crying anyway and toddled over to me for love and hugs.  I told Ryan he needed to apologize to Owen even though it was “just an accident”.  Ryan went over to Owen to give him a hug and say he’s sorry and just as soon as Ryan went in for the hug, Owen smacked Ryan’s face straight on.  He didn’t get hurt, but boy did it take him (and ME!) by surprise.  Neither of us were expecting that!  Owen just had this pouty look on his face as if to say, “there.  I got you back.”

Well, I told Owen that he now needed to apologize to Ryan too and Owen said “Nooooo…..Nooooooo……” and was shaking his head no.  So, off Owen went to time-out.  Ryan LOVED that his little bro needed a time out and when I was making Owen sit in time out Ryan said “See O-wee.  You hit and you go time out.  You no say sorry and you have to go time out.  I say sorry and I no have time out.  Sorry O.”

About 30 seconds after we left the room, Owen started crying and when we (me and Ryan) went back in there Owen was very quick to give hugs to both me and Ryan and said “sor” (for sorry).  And then they went back to playing as if nothing happened.  Brothers.

So our house is decorated.  The tree is up.  Our bellies are full and the kids are sleeping.  Delta is exhausted and I am now blogging and enjoying a glass of wine.  Aaaaaahhhhh….. a perfect ending to a perfect day. And really, who wouldn’t love their day when it consisted of snuggles from my little Santa man?!

Loves From Little Santa Man!

Tired, Tired Delta

For Thanksgiving, we always go to Jim’s dads house in Big Canoe, Georgia.  I love it up there.  It is so peaceful and beautiful.  And filled with good company.  This year was no exception to that.  The entire family made it up there which meant 14 adults and 8 kids ranging in age from 1 year to 12 years.

Megan Sheridan

Josh Hannah, Tyler Sheridan & Colin Hannah

Ryan absolutely loved playing with “Holin and Jamie” who are really known as Colin and Josh to the rest of us.  Ryan has been talking about them nonstop since we left there.  He talks about how he played football with them.  And how he watched a movie with them.  And how he went outside with them.  Seriously, Ryan absolutely loved them.  And they seemed to really enjoy Ryan as well.  They were so good with him and watched out for him so that he didn’t go down the hill or run into the road.

Thanksgiving Football

Daddy & Owen

Lucas & Hudson Brown

Ryan Playing Football

And it certainly wouldn’t have been a Thanksgiving holiday without the annual “kid pic” outside.  This year was just as chaotic and crazy as in the past (remember this?).  However, this year, it was Owen who was the little trouble maker.  He had just woken up from his nap and didn’t get a chance to finish eating his lunch yet when it was announced that it was “picture time!”  So needless to say, Owen wasn’t the happiest camper ever.  He cried and refused to sit.  But after some quick thinking and a little bride of a lollipop, I think we managed to get a decent photo or two.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Overall, what a great, GREAT Thanksgiving Day.  We couldn’t be more thankful for all the family, friends and love we have in our lives.  We truly are blessed.  Thanks Jim & Janice for another wonderful time in Big Canoe!  And the absolutely wonderful meal.  Yum!!

Owen loves Thanksgiving food!!  I guess that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to those who know him.  He really loves any food.  Per tradition, we went to my Aunt Joni’s house for Thanksgiving lunch/dinner.  It was a blast, and for the first time Owen got to see a horse, or several really.  At first he wasn’t quite sure that he liked this because the creatures were easily 100 times his size.  But after a bit, he warmed up to the idea and wanted to see them a lot.  He would even start flapping his arms and grunting if I would start to walk away from them.  It was really cute.  Here are a few pictures from the day.

เว็บไซท์หนังสือพิมพ์ เดลี่ เมล รายงานว่า เดวิด เบ็คแค่ม ซูเปอร์สตาร์แห่งวงการลูกหนัง และแบร้ด พิทท์ ซูเปอร์สตาร์แห่งวงการมายาฮอลลีวู้ด ต่างได้รับการคาดหมายว่าจะอยู่ในกลุ่มของคนที่มีชื่อเสียง ที่พลอยฟ้าพลอยฝนเข้าไปในอยู่ในวิกฤติเครดิตของดูไบด้วย เพราะมูลค่าของสินทรัพย์ที่พวกเขาซื้อไว้ในดูไบ ดิ่งฮวบลงอย่างน่าใจหาย ในขณะที่ดูไบกำลังดิ้นรนรับมือกับสภาพหนี้จำนวนมหาศาล

สถานการณ์ในดูไบ ได้แปรสภาพจากแย่เป็นแย่ลง หลังจาก ” นัคฮีล ” บริษัทพัฒนาอสังหาริมทรัพย์ และบริษัทแม่คือ กลุ่มบริษัท ” ดูไบ เวิร์ลด์ ” ซึ่งเป็นโฮลดิ้ง คอมปานี ที่สำคัญของ ดูไบ ได้ขอพักการชำระหนี้เป็นเวลา 6 เดือน มีรายงานด้วยว่า รัฐบาลดูไบ ซึ่งเป็นหนึ่งใน 7 รัฐที่ใหญ่ที่สุดของสหรัฐอาหรับเอมิเรตส์ จำเป็นต้องเชิญผู้เชี่ยวชาญจากสำนักตรวจสอบบัญชี ดีลอยต์ มาให้คำแนะนำในการปรับโครงสร้างทางการเงิน ในขณะที่เศรษฐกิจใกล้จะพังทะลายเพราะหนี้สินมูลค่ามหาศาลถึง 8 หมื่นล้านดอลล่าร์ หรือราว 2 ล้าน 8 แสนล้านบาท

ดูไบ เวิร์ลด์ กลุ่มบริษัทที่เป็นแรงผลักดันอันสำคัญที่อยู่เบื้องหลังการเติบโตอย่างรวดเร็วของสหรัฐอาหรับเอมิเรตส์ ได้ร้องขอให้บรรดาเจ้าหนี้ยอมระงับการเรียกชำระไถ่ถอนตราสารหนี้ของบริษัทและบริษัทในเครือคือ นัคฮีล มูลค่า 59,000 ล้านดอลล่าร์ หรือกว่า 2 ล้านล้านบาท ออกไปก่อนเป็นเวลา 6 เดือน ท่ามกลางความวิตกที่ว่า บริษัทนัคฮีลจะไม่สามารถเดินหน้าพัฒนาเกาะต้นปาล์ม จูไมราห์ และโครงการอื่น ๆ ที่อยู่ใกล้เคียงได้อีกต่อไป และที่น่าวิตกยิ่งกว่านั้น ก็คือเรื่องที่ดูไบอาจจะผิดนัดการชำระหนี้ด้วย

เหตุการณ์ที่เกิดขึ้น ได้ก่อให้เกิดวิกฤติด้านความเชื่อมั่นในช่วงที่เศรษฐกิจโลกำลังอยู่ระหว่างการฟื้นตัว ในสภาพที่ยังเปราะบาง และอาจจะทำให้บรรดาธนาคารที่ให้เงินกู้แก่ ดูไบ เวิร์ลด์ ต้องประสบหายนะด้วยเช่นกัน ขณะที่คนดังระดับซูเปอร์สตาร์ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นเบ็คแค่ม , พิทท์ , ไมเคิล โอเว่น , โจ โคล , แอนดี้ โคล , เดวิด เจมส์ และเคียรอน ไดเออร์ ต่างก็ได้รับการคาดหมายว่า ไปซื้ออสังหาริมทรัพย์เอาไว้บนเกาะแห่งนี้

มีการสันนิษฐานกันว่า อาบู ดาบี ซึ่งเป็นเมืองหลวงของสหรัฐอาหรับเอมิเรตส์ อาจจะให้เงินกู้แก่ดูไบ แต่นักลงทุนยังไม่แน่ใจ แต่อาบู อาบี ก็เคยช่วยเหลือทางการเงินแก่ดูไบมาแล้ว 1 หมื่นบ้านดอลล่าร์ หรือราว 350,000 ล้านบาทในปีนี้ และอาบู ดาบี เองก็กำลังเผชิญสภาพหนี้จำนวนมหาศาลด้วยเช่นกัน

เจ้าหน้าที่จากสำนักตรวจสอบบัญชี ดีลอยต์ ในอังกฤษ ได้ออกเดินทางจากกรุงลอนดอน ไปยังดูไบแล้ว เพื่อให้คำปรึกษาด้านการปรับโครงสร้างทางการเงิน มีความเป็นไปได้ที่ดูไบ เวิร์ลด์จำเป็นจะต้องขายสินทรัพย์ หลังจากวิกฤติเครดิตทำให้มูลค่าสินทรัพย์ลดลง ขณะที่การเงินล่มสลายเช่นเดียวกับการท่องเที่ยว ราคาบ้านในดูไบ ร่วงลงไปถึง 47 เปอร์เซ็นต์ ในช่วงไตรมาส 2 เมื่อเปรียบเทียบกับช่วงเวลาเดียวกันของเมื่อ 1 ปีก่อน

รัฐบาลดูไบ ได้ปลดประธานของดูไบ โฮลดิ้ง และดูไบ เวิร์ลด์ ซึ่งเป็นบริษัทยักษ์ใหญ่ของรัฐ ธนาคารด๊อยเช่อ ของเยอรมนี ระบุว่า ดูไบจะต้องจ่ายหนี้มูลค่า 4,300 ล้านดอลล่าร์ ในเดือนหน้า และอีก 4,900 ล้านดอลล่าร์ ในช่วงไตรมาสแรกของปี 2553

Boys had fun playing chess today.  Check it out

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