I just wanted to post a quick link about something Eleanor said this morning. We were making french toast together and she asked me if I had any phobias. I though she must be confused about the word, but she said it clearly. I dismissed it and just said no. She brought it up a couple of other times so I asked if she had any phobias. She said yes and looked around the room for a phobia. She found a large bottle of Gatoraid and told me that was her phobia. This didn't seem to bring me any closer to solving this mystery. Finally, I asked her where she heard people talking about phobias. She then informed me that she heard it on "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown". Lucy tries to diagnose Charlie Brown with a phobia. Detective mom solves another one.

Random Pictures

It's been a long time since I posted. Most of these are from our unseasonably warm Christmas. We went to Virginia and visited one of Eleanor's favorite places...Uncle Johnny's farm on the New River. We fed the chickens and both the children really got into it.

John has been working for 3 weeks now at his new job at Appliance Parts Pros (.com) as a customer service rep. It isn't his dream job by any stretch but we will continue to search for a job in a church. We had to hire a Part-time Nanny and so far so good. It has been hard to leave them in the care of someone else and next year we may have to both work full-time. I do wish that one of us could be with them till William is about 5 (part-time at least). I love my job (most days) and the grant has been extended so it will continue next year. The grant is Reading First: "This program focuses on putting proven methods of early reading instruction in classrooms. Through Reading First, states and districts receive support to apply scientifically based reading research—and the proven instructional and assessment tools consistent with this research—to ensure that all children learn to read well by the end of third grade." http://www.ed.gov/programs/readingfirst/index.html
We are also looking for a church and we are not sure which denomination will be best for us. Each Sunday we visit a new church.

In Summary, things are going well and we don't know what we will be doing next year as far a jobs go.

Movie Quotes

1. Pick 20 of your favorite movies. (No particular order)
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Bold when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search or other search functions.

Part 1:
1.) But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life.

2.)Okay. But dogs CAN look up!

3.) It's better to help people than garden gnomes.

4.)Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you’re going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.

5) I don't *know*, Margo!

Part 2:

6. They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops, and that's true. What they don't tell you is that when it starts again, it moves extra fast to catch up.

7. Why would a reviewer make the point of saying someone's *not* a genius? Do you especially think I'm *not* a genius? You didn't even have to think about it, did you?

8. We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?

9. George: Drive carefully. And don't forget to fasten your condom.
Annie: Dad!
George: [shrieks in embarrassment] Seat belt! I meant, I meant seat belt.

10. That's right, Peter, second star to the right and straight on till morning.

11. Gordon: Go on then, run!
Dennis: Isn't there some kind of like... special technique?
Gordon: Well... yeah... you put one leg in front of the other over and over again really really fast.

12. The nameless warrior was executed as an assassin but buried as a hero...But even now when the Chinese speak of their country They call it Our land.

13. Little Girls, Little Girls, everywhere I turn I can see them.

14. don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.

15. Am I wearing boxers? For future reference, I usually prefer briefs for their security and peace of mind. Going free-bird is not exactly ideal. I don't like it.

16. L: I want my lamp back. I'm gonna need it to get out of this slimy mudhole.
Y: Mudhole? Slimy? My home this is!

17. The last ever dolphin message was misinterpreted as a suprisingly sophisticated attempt at doing a double backflip through a hoop while whistling the star-spangled banner but in fact the message was this: So long and thanks for all the fish.

18. Rob? Tsk tsk tsk. That's a naughty word. We never rob. We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it.

19. [saying her bed time prayers] I forgot the other boy. Oh, what's his name. Oh, well, God bless What's-his-name

20. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Anyone who wants to tag along is more than welcome.

Holidays

Eleanor turned 3 on December 8th and we had a Wiggles party with her friend Claire. I made waffles with all the fixin's and we played treasure hunt. She also had a princess party at Nana's house. She is a big girl now as she reminds us daily. It has been a big milestone for her. She now sleeps in a big girl bed and doesn't use diapers anymore (she is still in pullups for bed and nap time) and she just about gave up her binkys. She also decided that she was no longer shy and she sat on Santa's lap yesterday. I don't take many pictures anymore because it is so difficult to take their picture. William always runs off and Eleanor just wants to take pictures with the camera.
My parents bought the kids a rocking horse and Eleanor picked many names before finally deciding on Doorknob. Other names were: Pickles, Dress, Tinsel, Christmas, and Blanket. In case you are wondering if my kids run around half dressed all the time the answer is yes for Eleanor and no for William. William doesn't like to be cold and he doesn't know how to take his clothes of yet.
I hope to get some good family shots soon.
Merry Christmas Everyone.

Updating The Outside

So, we have been working to get as much done before the winter. We (and by we I mean John and his dad) painted the door orange, and the shutters and garage door brown. Notice that the garage door looks a lot like a chocolate bar. My dad and mom helped us cut down a large tree...I thought someone might get killed, but we all survived.
The before picture is the one with William in the foreground. The paint job was hunter green and cream and painted on freehand so that the mistakes were very evident.