The Visit - Matt

Saturday I woke up and went back to sleep about three times in a row. The third time I didn't really go to sleep but I did lay in bed. I thought that the day would be boring, but I was just wrong!

Our cousins came for a lot of the day. We were cleaning the house the rest of the day for the visit. We played games on the DS, air hockey, watched a movie and even had pizza together.

After they left I felt sad. I knew I'd feel sad when they would leave right while I was cleaning.

The Birthday Blog! - Jennifer/Mom

We celebrated Chris' birthday over the weekend. The kids and I made a big deal about it and cooked up quite the feast. We even had roast beast!



Later that day we went down to Englewood and lit the tree. There was a sleet storm that cleared right before Santa arrived and left a beautiful rainbow behind for a few minutes.



After the tree was lit came the fireworks show!











Then it was home for cake and ice cream for the birthday boy and company!



It's not very often that you see a Christmas tree, a rainbow, sleet, rain, hail and fireworks all in the same day...at least not all on the same day in Colorado. Very appropriate for the celebration of Chris' birthday!

All in all, a very wonderful day!

Dinner Tonight!

Jennifer/Mom - Tonight Chris decided we needed a silly dinner, so we went in the kitchen and came up with....Green Eggs and Spam!

While we are sitting waiting for John-Michael to finnish his Green Eggs and Spam, I thought it would be fun for us all to contribute to a joint blog post.

Here we Go!

Matt - I'm here staring at John-Michael with my eyes wide open to see if it would make him eat faster because he probably would not want to be in the place of me staring at him. He just laughed. He is starting to stare back. I decided I should stop.

Ben - John-Michael is trying to finish his Spam before we finish our blog. Perhaps he doesn't want to be the subject of an entire blog.

Kirsten - We ate Green Eggs and Spam and the whole time I had the song "Springtime for Hitler" stuck in my head. I don't know what the correlation is between that song and Spam.

Jacob - John-Michael won the race.

Chris/Dad - John-Michael is finnished I have no spammy remarks.

John-Michael - I won the race. Hip hip hooray!

Jacob - Thanksgiving Vacation

I went to vacation. I have Thanksgiving for dinner at the Country Buffet. I had pop to drink and chocolate milk. I also had dessert for Thanksgiving. I had a pumpkin pie and orange yogurt.

After Thanksgiving dinner we went to "A Bee Movie". I liked it. I liked the bee in charge of the fliers (those were the bees that left the bee hive). I thought it was funny that bees could talk.

And then I went home and that's all for Thanksgiving.

The next day, we moved the couches to the family room. The piano got set up. Dad hooked the TV on the computer. Now we have ten computers. The TV is on the computer so now we can see the pictures. It also plays music. My favorite picture is the dogs, Donald and Daisy. I think you can go see the pictures of the dogs. Some of them are posted on the blog already.

During vacation I have played chess with Ben. I played Labryinth with Matt and Jennifer. I wanted to play wii but I need to pay for it and I didn't have enough Runyan dollars. I have to do more jobs. Maybe I will get to play today when I do my jobs to earn the Runyan monies.

I am excited that I can go back to school tomorrow. I also have to get ready for that. I need to lay out clothes, make sure I have everything in my backpack and I need to take a shower, have a poop and brush my teeth. I need to find the coat for my school.

And that's all.

Kirsten - Thanksgiving

Yesterday we went to Country Buffet for Thanksgiving dinner. We left for Country Buffet at 10:30 a.m. to avoid the crowds...lol. Then after dinner, or brunch, or whatever we saw "The Bee Movie". I really liked that movie, it was so cute.

After that we went home. Later we had these burrito sandwich things (that Matt absolutely adored) and watched the "Santa Clause 3". It was cute, but I think movie sequels ought to end after the first movie. Unless of course, the movie sequel in question is "Lord of the Rings", "Star Wars", or "Back to the Future". Otherwise, my experience with sequels is not all that splendid, (Ha, ha, that makes me think of Britain's "Splendid Isolation" foreign policy. For instance take "Shrek the Third", or "Spiderman 3" or "Pirates of the Carribean 2". Those were all terrible movies that had absolutely chaotic plots that made no sense.

Kirsten - Friday

Yesterday was friday. It was also the day after Thanksgiving, if you didn't figure that out. Yesterday we spent a great deal of time moving furniture. We moved the couches and set up our family room - sitting room thing. It's actually rather cozy and homey in there. I also re-potted some of the plants and made sure they were all happy. I also talked to my friend K on the phone. I told her all about our Thanksgiving and she laughed for ages.

Overall, I didn't really do anything yesterday. I did learn yesterday that Alice Cooper is touring in Finland. I thought that was interesting. I found out when I listened to the radio last night Alice Cooper is the host at night on 103.5. I think it's interesting that Alice still hosts 103.5 eventhough he's on tour throughout Europe.

Kirsten - The Last Day of School Before Thanksgiving Break

Yesterday was a particularly boring day. I had English, History and Math. Yesterday my math essay was due. That was pretty great. Also, it was Ms. B's birthday (she's the librarian). My freind Jelly and I made her a birthday card. It was pretty funny. Since it was Ms. B's birthday, my friend Jelly, the other librarian (Mrs. C), and myself were in the backroom of the library with Ms. B. We were all having a lovely chat.

Suddenly Mrs. C looked out the window into the library and saw my ex-boyfriend. Mrs. C siad to me, "Kirsten go stand by your ex so he'll go away." The four of us laughed really hard. I guess my ex had been causing Mrs. C grief all day and he would not leave. We laughed about this for a while and decided to make this joke into a scientific experiment.

This just goes to show how great of friends my ex and I are.

Matt - Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007

Yesterday was report card day! Time went by so slow. That recess I went to Junior Great Books and for lunch we ate pizza. After school we went home and I gave Jennifer my report card. Then I did many jobs. finally, I did my blog and went to sleep.

John-Michael - Saturday, Nov. 17th

I woke up. I didn't argue and neither did anyone else! But I lost my wallet which contained my 20 Runyan dollars I earned by crawling under the Christmas Tree at Grandpa Runyan's fountain in Englewood. Anyway, hopefully I'll find it.

Lots of News! - Jennifer/Mom

We have had a lot happening the past week. The dogs are adjusting well. Here are some more recent pictures of them.







Also, we put up the tree! We had a good plan and it went up really fast this year. Here is a shot of Chris unstrapping the top part. We put it together in stages on the ground with all the branches and ornaments and then Chris used the cherry picker to lift up each section and add it to the tree. It worked like a dream.

By the time the boys got there after school the first day there were only a few things left to do before cleaning up and wrapping up for the day. John-Michael and Jacob got to ride to the top of the tree to put on the last three pieces. Then John-Michael crawled underneath, hooked up the straps and the whole thing was anchored down so it didn’t blow away. He did a great job and earned twenty Runyan dollars for his efforts. (I’ll tell more about Runyan dollars in just a minute.)






The next day by the time the boys got back to the tree the next day everything was done except for the last four ornaments. Those were hung and we were done! Chris and I checked last night to make sure everything got connected and all the lights lit up properly. Boy that is one good lookin’ tree! Did you think I was going to post a picture right now? That would be cheating wouldn’t it? Nope, no pictures until the big lighting ceremony.

We survived! - Jennifer/Mom

Well, we pulled it off and survived another Halloween!

Whew!

The Dogs - Jacob

Story - Our story begins in the Runyan's house. To start we cleaned the house and then Dad and Jennifer went to go get the dogs. They came home late. I woke up and saw the dogs. I liked them.

The next day I went to school, I went to swimming and then I said, "Whoops, the sharks are there." But I was just pretending about the sharks.

After I did do my list I went to dinner. At dinner I forgot to ask a question or tell the question to John. We talked about our day. After dinner we named the dogs Donald and Daisy. Donald, Daisy and Jacob took a picture and then the next day I went to school.

And then, I went to a Halloween party and then, I went to volunteer and then I went to lunch and then I went to the money work and then I went to the computer to play and then its time to go home. And the puppy is still talking. And then I talked to dad and we put the Frankenstein up. And then we had dinner and then I went to the blog.

And that's my story.

Tomorrow is Halloween???? - Jennifer/Mom

Ok, so with everything that has been happening, it just dawned on Chris and me this afternoon that TOMORROW is Halloween! I mean we knew it was coming but it just seemed like it was still a week or two away or something. What happened??

On a completely different subject, Donald and Daisy seem to be doing just fine! They are settling in very nicely and are fun to watch. It is hysterical to see them chasing each other around playing their goofy wrestle/tag/hide and seek game. Especially on the hard floors! After all, corners are really tricky at those speeds. Chris and I both agree they sound like exactly like little trains as they "click" across the floors.

Already they are constantly following me around the house and they are even starting to answer to their new names. They are such lovable little cuties! From pictures I had seen of Corgis I always thought they were pretty cute but I had no idea how darling they really are!

Yes, yes….it’s official….we’re NUTS!! - Jennifer (Mom)

Well somehow (quite a few months ago) Chris and I began to consider the possibility of getting a dog. So we researched all kinds of different breeds for temperament and personality, etc. and came up with the idea that a Corgi would be the best choice for our gang. Corgi’s breeding is very focused on temperament and at the same time they bond strongly and take a very protective stance regarding their “family”. We also figured we were in pretty good company choosing a Corgi because the Queen of England fancies them!

Once we made the decision for a Corgi, we started looking. To shorten the story a bit I’ll skip to this past weekend. After a lot of communication and MUCH deliberation we headed to a breeder on Sunday. The breeder just happened to be in Nebraska…yes that’s right Nebraska! So, after meeting the dogs we ended up driving home with not one but TWO Corgis. They are absolutely amazing dogs and cute as cute can be!

Tonight we had the “naming of the Corgis”: A girl just under a year old, sweet and VERY calm and a boy three months old and bright and bouncy. The little boy just LOVES to tell us about EVERYTHING that is happening. The girl is patient, loving and quiet.

The names everyone had were read and narrowed down to the following three options:

1. Mario and Princess Peach

2. Donald and Daisy

3. Zipper and Button

Then we had our vote. Seven of us were present and the vote came out as follows.

1. – 2 votes

2. – 6 votes

3. – 1 vote

I know, I know it adds up to more than 7. We think that is because Chris was sneaking extra votes in. An alternate theory proffered was that the dogs themselves voted. Hmmm….

So, there it is. Even discounting two votes off #2 it clearly won and Donald and Daisy were named. We think their names suit them nicely. Even those here that didn’t have Donald and Daisy as their first votes are coming around.

Jacob got his picture taken with the puppies before bed. Donald is on his lap and Daisy is next to him. He just loves them as do we all!

Ben - Matt stole my title

Yesterday I got up and did my list. Then at 10:00 I read and finished Harry Potter number seven. Then when Kirsten and Jennifer left the house we all went "Woo-Hoo" so loudly that Jennifer and Kirsten could hear us.

Then we played on Wii a game called "SpongeBob Square Pants - Creature from the Crusty Crab". Then I made some brownies and I played on Matt's Pinball machine a little. Then I did some other stuff until I went to bed.

The End

Matt - Creature from the Crusty Crab

Yesterday, I woke up. I messed around a little bit and then I did my jobs. When I finished my jobs Jennifer was going to leave with Kirsten. We played "Creature from the Crusty Crab" and "World of Warcraft". During the middle of the party Dad showed me how the lantern is lit. Dad had a new one for decoration for his desk.

When we were finished, we went to bed and that was my day.

John-Michael - Game Day

First I woke up and then I did my jobs. Then the boys searched for something to do. Then we asked if we could play Wii. We went up into the room to get a certain game. It was called "The Creature from the Crusty Crab" and also we got out a Superman Pinball game. That was basically what we did until it was bedtime. Then we ate dessert first so we had to have breakfast. We had breakfast for dinner.

Jacob - Jennifer

Uh, Jennifer? I'm here to talk to you. (Tell me about your day yesterday Jacob.)

Let me tell you about the day. (Good plan)

I woke up after I had a weird dream. I'll tell you what my weird dream is later. And later we went to take turns on the Wii. And then I have breakfast and we didn't have dinner and that was opposite. And then I went to bed when there bedtime.

In my dream Jacob lived in Bikini Bottom. There fish or whatever it is. I went to outer space and I'm going to a galaxy. It was a weird dream.

Maybe tomorrow I'll tell you more about the weird dream.

John-Michael – The Apex

First I woke up and did my jobs and then I watched a movie and then we went swimming at the Apex. First I went on the water playground, then I practiced walking on logs on the water and then I thought about going on the big slides. I walked up with Kirsten and then when I saw how twisty and turney it was I thought, “I don’t want to do this!” and then I ran away from Kirsten and went down the stairs and did something else. And then I swam around.

Then my mom came and got me and said, “I’m going to help you get over this fear.” And then I rode right in front of my mom and then once I got through I was really happy! I did it on the floaties a whole bunch of times and then I did it just regularly just a few times. Then me and my mom raced. Then we left.

It was the very funnest experience I have had in my whole life!

Jacob – Talking about swimming

I did go figure out to go swimming. So, I did get in the swimming suit and that’s all I can do.