Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Prodigal Blogger Returns

I am back.

Through a series of unfortunate events, we have been internet-less around here for the past three weeks. Not by choice, mind you, but it was how the fates would have it. I checked my email and quickly consulted my Google Reader at various locations around town, but was not able to update my blog. And for those of you who wait with baited breath for each update and do not feel complete without your daily dose of my daily life--please accept my sincerest apologies.

Without the high-speed distraction, I had to sow my wild oats in the real world.

We had a couple of these:



And we finally finished this:


On the snowy and cold weekends we made (and heartily consumed) this:





Popcorn made on the stove...what a novel idea for my kids!

There was plenty of time for this:


And we tried to avoid being impaled by one of these:

It was wild there, for a while. I still found myself glancing at the computer everytime I walked by, wondering if there was a new email or blog post. But eventually, that did go away. And in some ways, being disconnected simplified things. I couldn't look up a recipe I was thinking of, but I could clean my kitchen counters. And sink. Or family room. I wasn't able to check the morning headlines, but I could sit at the table to eat breakfast instead of at the computer. And read. Or talk to the kids. The internet connects us with the world, but distances us from the responsibilities and relationships right in front of us.

And so, while I am extremely grateful to be back online (very helpful when you're the PTA corresponding secretary, for example), I hope to remember that my virtual life does not always need my utmost attention. Maybe then my nephew will make it to the bathroom on time. And Andrew will do his homework and checklists like he should. And I can keep the house from looking like this:

Who am I kidding. I could get rid of internet, television and phone, and the house would still be a pig sty. That is the real real world.

It's good to be back.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Reality Bites

I spent far too long in the dream world of sweats, sleeping in, and stuffing my face.

I made some futile attempts at exercising here and there, hoping to offset the thousands of calories I was consuming. And at one point last week, once the crowds had died down around here, I thought I might hop back on to the healthy train a little early. Get a head start on the new year and all its accompanying resolutions. That lasted a day. Still too many cookies and kids and laziness.

Yesterday it was all over.

I was up before dawn, sweating it out on the treadmill. Today I went back to my early morning exercise class after a three-month hiatus. I have not consumed any refined sugar or white flour in the past 36 hours. And it kind of stinks.

But, just like with high school or college, we have to move on from our glory days of revelling and gluttony. It's in the past now, fun to reflect on now and them, but in our wisdom and maturity we know it can't last forever.

Time to grow up and face reality.

And maybe - hopefully - be able to button up those jeans again.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

A shift in the universe

No pizza and movie night for us this Friday.

What?!?!
I can hear you exclaiming.

What's wrong? Is someone sick? Is everybody ok?


Not to worry, we're all fine. Just a little pizza-ed out (is that really even possible?) for the week. So we decided to go a little nuts and switch it up with Nate's homemade sliders, some flavored brats, and fries. Delish!


Aunt Missy "topped" off the evening with a surprise--ice cream sundaes!

And, oh yeah, we still watched the movie. We're not that crazy.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Champions on Ice

Trying something new is a great way to start off the new year. We tried ice skating for the first time, something I have been wanting to do with the kids for a while now. Halloran Park on W. 117th in Cleveland has an outdoor rink that is only $1 per person--including skates! So for the price of a movie ticket, all six of us got to skate for two hours.


We started off a little rocky...there were some tears,

a little bit of this:


...and a whole lot of this...





...but Brooke got a cone to push and Emma and Leah got their confidence up, and soon--no walls necessary!

As we were leaving, the first thing I heard was "When can we do this again?" Now I have something in my back pocket for the loooong weekend we have coming up in in a couple weeks. I am proud of the kids for sticking with a tough new challenge and turning it into a success!

Party on...

When the Franklins, Flemings, and Ryans left at 10:30, the celebration did not stop. Oh no. The kids wouldn't let it! By 11 we had all quickly changed into jammies and settled on the couch to watch the ball drop and to witness Robbie Kneivel jump over a volcano in Vegas. It was an action-packed hour, what with Ryan and Dick, the Jonas Brothers and Jesse McCartney, and Robbie and his fear-inducing graphics of what would happen if the slightest thing were to go wrong with the jump. It left us with some explaining to do.

Emma's reaction to the JoBros

With a few minutes to go until midnight, and all four kids still going strong, we broke out the glasses and sparkling cider, ready to toast the new year.Start spreadin' the news! It's 2009!


Happy New Year from the Franklins!


(...and that about sums it up...off to bed!)

Let's get this party started...

We got to have the Flemings here through New Year's Eve, so we had send them off in style. Another round of pizza and wings, some dancing and singing, a little foosball, Zack's brownies, Emma and Leah's cookies, an intimidating puzzle, and of course...the Wii (Santa's best investment ever!).


The girls rocking out to "Scream" and the rest of the HSM3 Soundtrack

An intense foosball game

Some art room action...there was a lot of creativity flowing among the girls!

The puzzle Amy was supposed to finish before she left...it is still not done.

A little Wii mischief!

Mmmmm....brownies and cookies...gone in 60 seconds

And then, all too soon, it was over. The Flemings had an early flight to catch and everybody was clearing out by 10:30 PM.

With some final cousin pictures,a group hug,

and one last "Thermal Underwear!"

and "Chinchilla!"war cry,

it was time to say goodbye.

Always the hardest part.

But boy, did we have fun!

It's all fun and games

The fun...

hot fudge sundaes

watching funny clips on YouTube

painting ornaments

The games...

Wii, Carcassonne, Wii, Bang, Wii, Buzz Word, Wii, Keesdrow, Wii

It was all fun and games until someone had to go and have a
New Year's Eve celebration,
and then the fun and games continued.....