Candy is Dandy, but Liquor is Quicker

The kids and I were watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The original version with Gene Wilder, not the lousy version with Johnny Depp. In my opinion Ompa Lompas just arent the same in the newer version.There outfits are so much cooler in the first movie.Plus, the music in the original is just so "classic" and full of wisdom.:)

"Who do you blame when your kid is a brat
Pampered and spoiled like a Siamese cat?
Blaming the kids is a lion of shame
You know exactly who's to blame:
The mother and the father! "

Anyway, I listened to the following conversation and laughed my head off.

Tanner: I wish I had a chocolate factory. With trees made of candy.
Zach: You would be so fat. Like the lunch lady at school.
Tanner: She isnt fat Zach. She just has big pants
Zach: Tanner, she has big pants becuase she is so fat. AND her name is Mrs. Largie.
Just FYI: Her name is Mrs. Margie.

Asher Turns 3

I am getting really bad at remembering to take pictures. ( I forgot to take pictures easter morning?!? Lugging around a newborn might have something to do with that!)Here are a few shots of Ashers Birthday. Grandpa Banzhaf and Grandma Lori came up to celebrate with us. I picked up one of those "death by chocolate" fudge cakes at Costco and then just added some polkadots and candles to it.
Asher loves Disney anything. Especially Toy Story and Mickey Mouse. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said " I go to Disneyland with Zach and Nanner".
I wish we could have gone to Disney. I LOVE Disneyland. Its just not in the budget this year. He did get some fun presents and alot of love from the family.
Asher is one of the sweetest kids I know. He is very cuddly and gives lots of kisses all the time. His Daddy is his best friend. They love to go on long bike rides together. Happy Birthday Asher.













Going for a birthday ride in the convertable





Grandma Lori and the boys

Big Baby

Crew is getting huge. I just love how my little guys plump after they get a few weeks under their belt. We havent had him into the dr yet to confirm our suspicions on weight, but the rolls have arrived. Just love this little guy!

Baby Acne has arrived. Darn it.

Milk mouth

Deep thoughts

Isnt that a kick in the ...

You will never believe what we found.

Our front room is 22 ft high. Its hard to reach anything. Even with a ladder. Mike was trying to see the dust layer up on one of the window ledges. Guess what he saw:





If you don't know what it is, ask a man. I cant stop laughing. And dry heaving.

Spring is Bustin out all over

Here are a few pics of April happenings thus far.


Growing and growing

Trimming and planting around the yard Swimming in the pool


Happy that the pool is cool on April 1st. It was nearly 100 degrees
New dishwasher. Washing dishes was a joke in the other one

Painting the chocolate walls Natural Linen. Brightening the mood and feel of the whole house!

My first scorpion in the house. I freaked!

Making Lemonade

Of course, this is a follow up to the post I left earlier about our new house.

This weekend we were given some lemons that were grown by our uncle who lives here in AZ. He grows amazing lemons! We are also going to try and grow them. We still need some tutoring on the subject. However, after recieving the lemons a message was sent to me loud and clear. Something like this popped into my mind as I sliced into the first one:

"Eden, ... I'm giving you a lemon.

I grew it, I watered it, I allowed others be responsible for getting it to you. It has passed through this years hard frost and crazy heat. I waited until just the right moment to ripen it so it could be picked for you.- Stop complaining about the lemon!

Everyone has lemons. Here are yours . And here is the lesson...you must learn to make lemonade and enjoy it! Add the sugar, add the water ( spiritual water, this is the most important ingredient! ) and get squeezing those lemons.

I cannot do that work for you. I have done everything else. You must choose to squeeze. This will not only provide you with delicious refreshment when your finished, but will strengthen your muscles.

Stop complaining! You have lemons when many do not. I am still ripening their lemons for picking at different times. Remember, I am the gardener here.

Be happy, and you shall have the "fruits" of your labor. The sweetness can only be had with the sour. Learn to work with both. This will help refine you and strengthen your character. You can make this house a home. You can make lemonade from these lemons! "

Ok- so yes I know, Im a brat. I am grateful that we have a home when many are losing theirs. A lovely home albeit an abused one. I need to see the home now as we first saw it, full of potential. We have been working hard on the house and done a ton so far. We have had tons of help from family (thanks Jake and Soni and Fred!) and our neighbors.

And yes, I did in fact make some wonderful lemonade.

Srubbing the grout. 800 sq ft of it.

proof that it happened.

What the baby is doing when Im cleaning. Little Burrito

Look at the size of that big lemon.

One Month Old

Crew is One month old today.

Even though he is sick, we have still been getting smiles.

I know they say new babys smiles are reflexive. But he smiles when I smile, when I sing or talk very sweetly. He really does Smile.

We love him. He is a doll.