Famous Last Words

I've noticed that as kids get older, they are pretty certain their parents are not all that smart. Zach had a couple quotes this past week that illustrated this fact.

The day before the 5th grade maturation program, Cory asked Zach if he understood what they were going to be discussing. Zach said he knew that they were going to talk about where babies come from. Cory asked him if he knew. He answered no, so Cory asked him if he wanted to Cory to tell him. Zach said, "Do you know because your brother is a doctor?" Cory said no, he just knew and would Zach like him to explain it. Zach said, "No. I'll let the professionals handle it."

On Easter, Zach told Aunt Cyd that he has learned how to find his parents in a store if he gets separated. He told Cyd, "I just go to where all of the on sale crap is and I can find my mom." Cyd (who was not helping) said, "Well at least you find her at the sale rack and not with the regular price stuff." Zach replied, "That's where I find my dad."

And finally, on April Fool's Day, my mom tried to play a trick on us that backfired and earned her the best nickname ever. The kids all received a text from her phone saying "I finally learned how to text. No more techtard. Love mom." We were all very proud (and happy that we can finally get a hold of her) when hours later we received another text that said, "April Fools! From the Techtard." A little while later Zach, sitting at the counter eating, started to laugh. Then he says, "Mimi is funny. She said 'April Fools from the Turd-Texter.'"

Even Grandmas are not off limits from 11 year old jokes.

Letter to my blog

Dear blog,

You have been very neglected the past couple of months. I have to admit that I have had the best of intentions. However, I have an excuse for you...it involves a blow to the head, a couple months of confusion and mindless ramblings, another blow to the head to bring me back. Or it could be because I was lazy and have spent countless hours watching Craig Fergusen, eating Christmas/Birthday/Valentine treats, and generally doing nothing of value. I'm not sure which excuse looks less pathetic but here I am.

So, what have we been doing in our absence?

Zachary qualified for the 6th grade geography bee (one of only 3 fifth graders to do so). He survived a couple of rounds before he was asked a trick question. I say it was a trick question because it had something to do with Michigan (I don't know what - I would never qualify for a geography bee). He gave the answer (something to do with a body of water) and he was wrong. Here is the trick - the mom sitting next to us said that she lived in Michigan for 30 years and she thought he was right. But nevertheless, I do believe Zachary is awesome.

We have spent lots of time at the cabin. The cabin is my FAVORITE place in the world. We went for New Years with Mimi and Grandpa, Aunt Lyndsee, and Brian and Erin and other weekends on our own. The snow is awesome. I am getting better at driving the snowmobiles through Cory's patient instruction..."You'll never get better by only driving on the path". And we have discovered an amazing sledding hill from the eagle trail behind the cabin.

Cory and the boys have allowed me to tag along snowboarding a couple of times. In the time it takes me to do one run, the boys can do 2 1/2. It is humbling.

I had a birthday. I wish I turned 35. I really turned 38. *sigh*

For my birthday, Cory took me to Seattle. We went to Pike's Place Market and got hot chocolates and pastries in the mornings, ate seafood the rest of the time (loved Ivans), and walked the city. I loved it. He always makes my birthdays amazing. On a side note, I told him that I am a little bugged that every year he gets better and better looking and I get funnier looking, older and shorter. So not fair.

Ella had a birthday. She turned 7. She thinks she turned 13. *sigh*

I'll do better blog. I have big plans in store involving more cabin stays, more snowboarding until the end of the season and the rest staying home. There are projects to do on the world's saddest looking basement.

Sincerely,

A

Home for Christmas

Naughty or Nice List

Things Santa heard in the Memmott house this week:

"When Santa asked me what I wanted and I said I would like to be surprised, do you think he knew I meant a Nintendo DSI?"

(Squeezing Mom's arm): "Mom, do you think you are fat. Because I think you might be fat."

"Grandpa, what is this I am eating?" "A sausage." "No. I mean what animal is it?" "A pig." "Oh good. I am eating my favorite animal."

"Are there going to be some presents that when I unwrap them I am going to say 'boring, only clothes?'"

"Has Santa packed his sleigh because I might change my mind about all my presents."

Yes - ALL these quotes came from one child. Can you guess which two children are nice and which one is Ella?

Chinese Christmas List

This is Ella's Christmas list in Chinese:

This is the translation:

"I want a Teddy Bear because I love them. I want a toy puppy. How is Christmas? I mailed you a note. Love, Ella"

Unwanted Dive-onics

I took Ella to the doctor today for an ongoing (and by ongoing, I mean it feels like a lifetime) cough. This is a recap of Ella's visit:

Dr. Duffy: Hello Ella
Ella: I don't want dive-onics!
Dr. Duffy (looking confused): What are dive-onics?
Ella: Stuff I don't want!
Dr. Duffy: Ok, no dive-onics.

Dr. Duffy checks her out, finds an ear infection and begins writing a prescription.

Dr. Duffy (joking): Ella, I think a course of dive-onics will clear up this ear infection.
Ella: No! I don't want dive-onics!
Dr. Duffy: How about amoxocillan then?

Dr. Duffy fills out the prescription, opens the door, and yells out to his nurse: Will you bring me the dive-onics?
Ella: You promised no dive-onics.

Dr. Duffy and I laugh a little at the thought of the nurses googling dive-onics in an effort not to expose their ignorance. Ella leaves with her prescription for pink medicine.

As I tucked her in bed tonight, I asked her what dive-onics are. She said:
I don't know but the word sounds bad and I know I don't want them.

Halloween Hodgepodge