No Sugar!

My friends and I are having a nice little competion: only 1 dessert a week. Whoever lasts the longest gets some free all day long babysitting sessions. I'm thinking that I will probably go to the city with my free babysitting.

I would ask some of you to join us, but I'm afraid of the competition enough as it is.

I like it. You should too.

(The caption says, "Oh nothing, just babysitting.)

If you have heard me talk about co-op before, you might just want to scroll through this post. If you haven't, then you definately need to read this. It might very well change your life.

Okay, so, co-op is a system of swapping babysitting (thanks to Taylor and Susie for introducing us to the magic). In our co-op, we have four families, totaling 8 kids. Each family takes a turn on a friday evening of a month watching all of the kids, while the other couples get to go out. So, you basically get three date nights a month in return for watching the kids once. Obviously, you can adjust how many people you have or the days and times you do it. There are many possibilities.

Needless to say, we have been loving it. We have been co-oping for almost eight months now. Noah and I have a blast. Tonight, we dropped off the kids, got a pizza, and watched the finale of Lost (that we missed last night). Our kids also love it because they get to play with their friends and stay up late. It's win/win in my book.

So, stop wasting time reading this post - - - GO CO-OP!

True Love

Calvin has found his one true love - - - Mario Kart. Yep, the video game. Now, he's only three and a half and although he's extremely talented, it's still a little tricky for him. So, I've devised a strategy that is fun for both of us. I set up the game so that I give him and myself a controller, but I am the one who plays, and he just thinks that he does. He's not quite the seasoned gamer that I am (ha ha), so he occasionally makes rookie mistakes, such as: he will forget to hold down buttons, he might look away from the screen for a minute or two, or he might even get up from the couch entirely and go into another room to do something else while still maintaing that he is "playing". I have to say that I think that takes a lot of skill to play in another room without a controller.

Good times. It wasn't until I had my own kids that I understood what my parents meant when they said that we were their source of entertainment.

Who Can Eat The Most Cereal?

Are you in it to win it or are you just recreationally eating? That was the lingering question at last week's cereal eating competition. Though many were there to win, Noah was only concerned with one challenger, Kasey. Sadly, I must report that Big Noah lost to him. Kasey managed to eat an entire box of Fruity Pebbles, while Noah fell one bowl short. I sat on the sidelines, leisurely eating only three bowls of Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cereal. I must admit that I am a little ashamed of the Shafer's no show evening, but I am glad that I didn't eat an entire box. Everyone who tried was crying in their sugary milk, especially Kasey.

Sweet Relief!

Now that Noah has completed the most difficult stretch of dental school we have time for the really important stuff. . . . like Guitar Hero 3.

Problems With The Most Recent Family Picture

1. Noah's eyes are closed.


2. I'm just about to chew something?


3. Noah is trying to throw a Spidey Web with his left hand. (not appropriate for a family picture; we've been over this).


4. Wyatt has a Simpson's mouth.


5. Where's Calvin?

Mimaw Caffy

This is a lady who knows how to have a good time. Whenever she and the boys get together, they always have fun. Out last visit to Tennessee was packed with Mimaw Caffy time, and they couldn't have loved it more. You know it's been good when you put your boys in the bath tub, and there is dirt streaking down their faces. Needless to say, they had a blast. Thanks for being so good to them.