What Happens when the Fanks AND the Bradleys Visit at the Same Time

I've been meaning to post these pictures for a long time. These were taken over Christmas/THE WEDDING.

The upstairs

the Breakfast table

the Guest Bedroom

The Longest Day of Spring

Time is standing still here.

1) Joel has been working until midnight for the last 4 days.
2) Micah has had a fever since March 14. He hasn't walked or climbed on/fallen off the picnic table since then.
3) On Thursday, March 13, we planted seeds to grow nice things for our back yard. Now, I'm no gardening expert, but I think that seeds are supposed to get at least some sunshine. Am I right? Huh. No sunshine since early on March 14.
4) Supposedly everyone is on Spring Break. I was sure that when everyone had spring break, things would somehow be different at our house. But it must be March 14 and spring break doesn't start for at least 3 more days (10 days for others) because there is no vacationing around here...

Normally, I would be glad for a little consistency. But I don't want Micah to have a fever forever. I actually enjoy it a little bit when he tubles off the picnic table (so long as no crying is involved) It would be nice to eat supper with Joel again. And if our little seeds survived the mini flooding and hail we've had nearly every night since "march 14", I would really like to say I grew something this year. And spring break? No need to say anything more about that.

Yes, today-March 14-has been one very long day. I'm especially thankful for friends and family I've talked to and for my neighbor who has been so helpful with Silas while Micah needs so much attention. And at least Joel working until midnight means he's been home until noon, ensuring some of the most cheerful playtime hours (except for Micah, whose aforementioned state has kept him napping all of Joel's waking hours at home). If we can get out of this glitch in time and get to Wednesday, he'll have another day off and maybe I'll remember to take a picture of something.

Like falling off a blog

If anyone is still out there reading our blog, I'm back. I have to be. There are too many exciting things coming up this spring: a huge fence demolition/resconstruction, a camping trip, a trip out west to Arizona, not to mention all the "normal" things that happen here worth remembering (like what we will do with Joel's TWO DAYS OFF IN A ROW this week! Amazing.).

It didn't make the paper...

...but the big news around here is that Micah is walking! You can also see in the picture that he has 4, count 'em, FOUR teeth in his mouth.

We've been having such a great time around here. Silas and Micah each have different things they love, but still find ways to involve the other in play/fighting over it.

Silas loves to build with blocks. Micah loves to knock them over.
Micah loves to roll the soccer ball. Silas loves to pick it up and throw it down the stairs or onto the stove.
Silas loves to play with cars. Micah loves to put the cars in his mouth.
Micah loves to climb onto the picnic table. Silas loves to sit as close to him as possible, ensuring a quick fall by Micah.



You just never know when the game is going to be taken as an offense. Keeps me on my toes, for sure.

Applesauce Disaster Sauce

We eat applesauce nearly every single morning with zero incidence. Today when we ate breakfast, I gave Micah a big bite of pink strawberry applesauce and he sneezed it all over me. Less than 20 seconds later, Silas dropped his bowl of applesauce face down on the floor.

In other developments, Micah loves to roll the soccer ball around and crawl after it, which is very cute. Silas took a nap at MOPs for the first time AND cooperated at Walmart all in the same day. As I write there are alternating games of 3-man-wrestle (with Joel) and keep-away and screaming in protest over the soccer ball between Silas and Lewis.

Sorry there's no pictures these days.

A Morning So Extraordinary

This was so aweful, I thought I might need to remember some day for reference.

7:30- got out of bed to two crying children.
7:45-changed poopy diaper #1
7:50-Micah threw-up on me
8:15- changed poopy diaper #2
8:30- cleaned up cat vomit on the stairs
9:25-cleaned up sick-doggie poo under the table

Also during this time, I had to enforce two time-outs and administer one spanking.

One Year Old!!!!

This afternoon, I picked Micah up, he grabbed my hair so I couldn't turn away, and he sneezed in my face.
It's been an unforgettable year. I have so much to be thankful for.
Happy Birthday, Micah!

Here's Why You Should Be Glad I'm On Sabbatical

I have a few minutes to type now that the boys are in bed and this is all I can think to write about:

This is the progress of unpacking from the Holiday Journey.

Monday: park the car and drag everything just barely through the door.
Tuesday: take the boys' suitecase up stairs. Take my suitcase to the stairs by the kitchen.
Wednesday: open the boys' suitcase. Get tired of stepping over my suitcase everytime I want to cook or eat.
Thursday: Take my suitcase upstairs and open it. Dump clothes out of all suitcases on the floor.
Friday: put suitcases in closet. Take one laundry basket to the garage.

Goals for Saturday: Wash clothes; put away clean clothes on the floor from the suitcases; put away clean clothes from the washing machine.

I should add that somewhere in all that I took down our Christmas decorations. I swept up all the pine needles and while I was getting a dustpan, Micah crawled through the middle of the dirt pile.

My Apologies

A quick note to say that I'm taking a break from blogging for a while. Micah is crawling and Silas is in the throws of two-year-old-hood. I can't justify spending as much time as I do in front of a computer screen that causes me to face the wall.

But before I say my good-bye for this sabbatical, here's some stats:

Micah is almost 1 and amost 20 lbs!
Abbie's getting married this weekend and Silas will be the ring-bearer.
I got the KitchenAid mixer of my dreams for Christmas so let the baking begin.
Joel is about to be a RESIDENT and not an intern anymore.
I didn't lose any weight for the contest but I didn't really gain any weight this Christmas. Goal accomplished.
Silas and Micah share a room now so we have an extra-free guest bedroom again.

See you later!

-alice

"the Ball"

I promised I would post about the film festival and I know that many of you have been checking multiple times a day to hear the results. Sorry to make you wait so long.

This year's films were fantastic! Here's a list of titles/producers

"So Where Do You Think You Can Dance"- a remake of "So You Think You Can Dance"- by Dad
"the Ball" by me -a remake of a Twighlight Zone Episode titled "the Doll"- by me
"The Prodigal Son" -a retelling of the parable in the Bible- by Joel
"The Argyle Pants" -a retelling of the poem "What Was I Scared Of?" by Dr. Seuss- by Andrea
"The Woods" -a remake of "The Cave" - by Emily
"Kat Kong" -a remake of "King Kong"-by Laura
"Mort and the Sour Scheme"- a retelling of "Mort and the Sour Scheme"- by Katie
"Sleeping Beauty" - a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty- by Sara

There were awards given in many categories, but I'll just list the ones that we the people got to vote on.

The People's Choice Award went to.....Laura!
Best Actor was a tie between Dad in "So Where Do You Think You Can Dance?" and Heath in "The Argyle Pants".
Best Actress went to me for "the Ball"
Best Remake went to me as well.

Tune in a little over a year or so to hear about next year's PFF. The theme?
Christmas Movies...

The only Thanksgiving I can remember being as wild as this year's, was the year we went to Aunt Jean's. I can't remember if all the sisters were there or not, but I do remember 2 Japanese girls, Nana, and 12 doxens involved.

Thanksgiving Holiday started on Saturday for Silas, Micah and me. Just a few hours after we got out of the car, the trickle of arrivals would continue until Abbie, Zach, Stewart, the Bradleys, Laura and Emily were all home. Everyone was home by Tuesday (except Joel, who had to work until 10am on Thursday).



Here's a list of all the noteably things that happened:

1) I helped mom buy a tent for Zach and Stewart to sleep in.
2) We all ate at Cici's.
3) Andrea and Emily made Rum Pumpkin Pecan Pies and Sweet Potato Cake.
4) Muffy (the Cocker Spaniel puppy) got poked in the eye and got an ulcer.
5) My car got a check-up.
6) Dad split about 1000 lbs of wood.
7) Zach and Abbie decided to get married and set the date for less than a month and a half away.
8) Mine and Joel's team won the Thanksgiving Day Softball Game.
9) We played capture the flag.
10) We had the second annual Poteet Family Film Festival.
11) Micah got chest x-rays and had a fever of 105º.



I'm sure I'm leaving some things out. I'll add them as they come to mind.
Next post: the film festival!!!

An Everyday Afternoon from around 3:15-4:30

Silas, Micah and I like to play outside every day. Even on cold rainy days, we get out for a least a few minutes.
When we're outside, Micah swings in the red swing hanging from a tree around 4 feet above the ground. Silas pushes his tonka truck up and down the hill, and under and around the swing. Lewis barks incessantly at squirrels in the neighbors' yards or at Silas and the truck, if they're having too much fun. Two days ago our normal afternoon included this series of events.

1. I went inside to get potatoes out of the oven and get a glass of water. When I returned, Silas had Micah's spit-up all over his back.


2. Thank goodness I had that glass of water too because the other remarkable thing that happened was a wasp landed right on my bluejeans!!!!!!!! I screamed and poured the water on him (and my bluejeans) and then I squashed him. I saved the day.


This is Lewis trying to keep Silas and the Tonka truck with the herd.

All Saints Day

Ironic. Behavior here has been anything but saintly.
But the point of this post is to tell you about our All Hallows Even, or Halloween as some have come to call it.

New Year's Resolution #1: don't take Silas and Micah to trick or treat without their father.
New Year's Resolution #2: don't take a wagon for trick or treating when no one wants to ride in it.
New Year's Resolution #3: don't think that just because you leave a bowl of something you think no one else will like (such as oh, say, animal crackers) that at the end of the evening there will be any left for your kid.

The truth is we had fun for about 10 minutes. That was the ten minutes that both Silas and MIcah rode in the wagon. After that, when neither Silas NOR Micah rode in the wagon, the evening fun began to fade. But over all, the costumes were fun and what other holiday is there when people in a community walk around on the street with each other?

This is the end of the fun. Silas didn't want anything else but to pull the wagon. Micah wouldn't sit up any more so I let him lay down in the wagon. It was s l o w going. But we made it home in time to take a couple of pictures. Though
none with all of us together.

Finally, below is a picture from our super fun trip to the pumpkin patch.


P.S. Sorry about the sideways pictures. I'm not sure why ended up like that and I don't have the go-get-'em attitude to fix it just now.

the Great Outdoors in Pictures

The Great Outdoors

We took Silas and Micah on a hiking trip in a national park not too far from home. Some friends kindly lent us their baby back-pack carriers though I was hoping that Silas would prefer to walk rather than be carried. However, after a recent hike at Pinnacle, I suspected we would be hauling around a 35+ load on our backs.
_______________________
Pinnacle
Silas and I started up the trail, hoping to meet Joel, Dad, the sisters and exchange students on their down. After more than 20 minutes we had made it almost 3/10 of the 1.5 mile hike. I realized after 12 steps in that this was not a destination-goal hike. For Silas, it was about digging in the dirt, saying hello to people and dogs passing us as they came or went, stopping to spot every airplane, trailmarker or bird singing overhead. And jumping. Did I mention jumping? I think we stopped 8 times (in 20 minutes, mind you) to jump off a rock.

I realized Silas was tired when he refused to stand up after one of our stops to dig in the dirt. Since I was in exercise mode, I told him we could dig at the bottom but fo rnow, if he didn't walk, I would have to carry him. BIG MISTAKE. I carried him on my hip most of the way back down. He was so encouraging though; he told me things like "You're doing it, Mama!" "Don't fall!" and "Mama, do you need help?" To this I replied, "Yes, Silas. WHy don't you get down and walk now."
_______________________

So, we took the backpacks to Petit Jean. After we checked into our lodge, we hike a mile or so to see the "bear caves." Apparently, no bears live there, but I believe they did before the white man came and sent the bears onto the trail of tears.
Anyway, the trail and caves were lovely and rocky and provided the perfect pre-supper/bedtime exercise Silas needed to prepare him for...

Sharing a 70 sq. foot room with all of us. It was a long night. I think my favorite part was the screaming while banging the crib against our neighbors wall. The next morning, we checked out and hiked the Cedar Creek Falls Trail down the waterfall. I remember hiking this trail in college and thinking, "Gosh, this is a pretty good hike." Going down felt 3 times as long since Micah was pulling my hair to climb out of the pack. The way up was much more grueling yet pleasant than I remember in college. I had Silas singing songs in my ear. In one round, he sang "happy birthday" to Zaccheus.

Overall, it was such a fun experience. We saw fish in the creek, chipmunks and squirrels on the trail, wildflowers and yes, there were plenty of places to jump off rocks as well.
Pictures coming soon.

Because I was tagged several times-

MAN TAG:
1. Who is your man? Joel Bryant
2. How long have you been married? 5+ years
3. How long dated? a little over a year
4. How old is your man? 28
5. Who eats more? pretty sure I do
6. Who said "I love you" first? Joel did
7. Who is taller? Joel
8. Who sings better? I do, but he's not bad when he's serious about it
9. Who is smarter? Like Kim said, "which kind of smarts?"
10. Whose temper is worse? mine!
11. Who does the laundry? I do
12. Who takes out the garbage? it's a tie
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do
14. Who pays the bills? I do
15. Who is better with the computer? Joel
16. Who mows the lawn? Joel does 9 times out of 10
17. Who cooks dinner? I do
18. Who drives when you are together? we take turns
19. Who pays when you go out? we take turns
20. Who is most stubborn? we couldn't decide. PROBABLY Joel
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I am- this probably means I'm less stubborn than Joel
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Another tie
23. Who kissed who first? Our first kiss was at our wedding
24. Who asked who out? Joel asked me out
25. Who proposed? Joel
26. Who is more sensitive? I am.
27. Who has more friends? I do.
28. Who has more siblings? I win 6-2
29. Who wears the pants in the family? We both wear pants

I tag Andrea

Time to clean up our language

Today from the back of the car, Joel and I heard Silas say,

"Learn to drive, people!"

Get psyched.

It's far better than the Crop Circle Conspiracy.
Thanks to Joel and Laura, my movie for the
2007 Poteet Family Film Festival is completed.

"the Ball"

Coming soon to theaters everywhere.

Cooking with Silas

Is God in a bad mood too?

Septermber in general is one of the greatest months of the year. October is the first greatest month followed by September, which is tied for second three-ways with April and Christmas (I know Christmas isn't a month, but I'm pretty sure that it would be more simple for everyone if December were renamed "Christmas".

Here a couple of September highlights:

1. It's the month just before October.
2. Yom Kippur
3. the First Day of Autumn
4. September 13- International Chocolate day
5. September 19- Talk like a pirate day
6. Of course there's Labor Day as well. Labor day would mean nothing to me if people didn't come to visit us every year. Why? Joel doesn't get the day off and neither do I. This year was fun because Labor day was Baby Mania with the Kruses. 5 babies, 2 and under just having a great time eating and trying to learn to share.

September 22, however, has been called (by me) the worst day of September, 2007.

Here's what happened:
I found out we ran out of grocery money.
Micah pooped 3 times in a single hour.
Silas cried without any breaks for about an hour. This was a temper tantrum like we haven't seen for a while complete with door slamming and screaming. After 45 minutes of trying to ignore him and after having woken Micah up TWICE, I called Andrea for help. And help she did because apparently Ava was doing the EXACT SAME THING at their house! I gave him yogurt and granola, tylenol and told him we would go see the Big Dam Bridge for a walk. This stopped the crying for the amount of time it took him to eat the snack and then the crying resumed until we got in the car.

A day before all this happened, I was having a mini-breakdown from all the crying and whining that both Silas AND Micah were throwing at me. I told God I needed some way to have a break from the insanity. I remember praying something like this: "God- I am SICK of tripping over toys, hearing that I'm doing a bad job all day long, and smelling poopy diapers!"

On the worst day of September, 2007, I woke and 2/3 of my prayer had been answered. I had cramps so bad I didn't care about the toys and head cold with a stuffy nose so I couldn't smell the diapers anymore.

Sorry. No pics for this post.