December 2007

What to do with Alyssa? Posted Monday, December 31, 2007, 1:29 AM, CST by Dawn My personal struggle right now is weather or not to home school Alyssa for the second half of third grade. We have pretty much decided to start in the fall. Ashlyn and Alyssa will both be at home. Jordan will be if his grades don’t improve. There are several reasons that have factored into this decision. We are trying to figure out if we should just do it now. Alyssa is behind in math. The school does not address this with any special math help like they did in Okinawa for Jordan. We also have to start patching Alyssa’s eye (long story) for about 4 hours a day. Doing this at school is out of the question because it makes doing her work a little more difficult, and kids are jerks so we won’t subject her to that. We can’t do patching at home in the afternoon because she has homework, also she likes to play outside and ride her bike. If we wait until dark she won’t have time to do it for 4 hours before she has to shower and go to bed. I have thought about breaking the time up, and that is what we will do for now. The doctor says it is more effective to do the 4 hours straight. This is a toughy for us. We will figure it out. Alyssa wants to be home schooled. She was taught at home for Pr-k and K. I think the Department of Defense school (DODS) in Okinawa was great. I am not to fond of the DODS school here. We do like her teacher a lot. I would just supplement her at home, but she already has a ton of homework. Anyway, enough about that. Everyone is doing great. I have had a little cold, but nothing bad. I am grateful I wasn’t sick over the holidays. Hank’s schedule was changed to 8 hour night shifts instead of 12. I beat the game Guitar Hero on the Wii. I beat it on easy. Alyssa has beat a couple levels already, so she is on her way. I think Hank has beaten the game on easy, medium and maybe even hard. The baby is as busy as ever. She is all over the place. She is a really good baby though. I think she will be walking by her first birthday. I am gonna go order a pizza.

My van is broke, but we had fun anyway. Posted Friday, December 28, 2007, 5:14 PM, CST by Dawn The kids had a great Christmas. We took our time opening all of their gifts. We then went to brunch at The Top O The Mar. We have spent the last few days recovering from the holiday. Yesterday we decided to go explore another part of the island. We ate lunch at Jeff’s Pirate Cove. This place is a famous locally owned restaurant. It is right on the beach. It was a beautiful afternoon. Hank and I had seafood. It was all delicious. The kids had burgers and some of our seafood. Alyssa said it was the best burger ever. They gave us free ice-cream cones for desert. We were then full and ready to go explore Talofofo Falls Park. We all piled into our van and the van wouldn’t start. Hank hunted down some guys to give us a jump. One of those guys was Jeff himself, the owner of Jeff’s pirate cove. They tried to jump our van the good old fashioned way but it wouldn’t work. One of the guys had the idea of taking the battery out of his truck and using that to start our van, that worked. We then went and bought a new battery. We are not sure what caused the battery to die. Nothing was left on in the van. It could be because the battery was old, or maybe the alternator. We will take the van in as soon as we can. By the time we left Napa auto parts it was to late to go to Talofofo falls, so we went and saw the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks. Amiyah was really good and let me watch the entire thing. The girls really wanted to see it so that made their night. We also took them to Coldstone Creamery for another ice-cream. All in all the day turned out OK. The people here on Guam are so kind. We noticed that right away after moving here. Hank found Jeff’s email address when we got home and sent him a thank you email. I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Hank has to work seven 12 hour night shifts in a row starting tonight. Of coarse the kids are all home for Christmas break. Good luck on Hank getting sleep. I will type at you all later. Amiyah is done with her breakfast. Since Hank is sleeping for a night shift I am on clean up Amiyah duty.

Merry Christmas! Posted Monday, December 24, 2007, 1:45 AM, CST by Dawn Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. We have been busy. Ashlyn has been sick with the stomach flu. She had to miss singing in the Christmas performance at church. She has been sick for a few days. Today she seems better. The rest of us are hoping we don’t get whatever it is that she had. We had things to do every day this week. I had 3 potlucks in a 24 hour period. We went to Hank’s work get together on Friday. I had a nice time. Alyssa had her school Christmas performance on Thursday and her Christmas speech on Friday. She did great for both. Today we let the kids build their gingerbread house. We had a treasure hunt for the girls. They had a great time figuring out clues. At the end they found a treasure box with jewels inside. I went to make my Christmas Eve clam chowder and realized the bacon was not in the fridge. Hank found it in the van, yuck. Unfortunately it has been in there since yesterday so it went into the trash. Now he is out on a bacon hunt. The commissary is closed so I am not sure were he went to, maybe off base? I can’t make clam chowder without thick cut bacon. We are going to the Navy base for Christmas dinner tomorrow. I can’t wait until Christmas morning. Hank and I get so excited. We love watching them open their gifts. UE, I am happy to hear Mike and his family stopped by. They are some of my favorite people. I am also glad they got to enjoy you. They are so down to earth. I am very blessed with a wonderful family. Aunt Mary, I was happy to read that you are better off than expected. I hope your Christmas is a great one. Please tell Joel thanks for the baby clothes. She sent them to me many months ago and I never called or wrote her. I intended to, but as you know time gets away from you when you are caring for your family. Amiyah is using a lot of the clothing. It is nice to have them. I have had to buy her very little since she sent them to me. Well Merry Christmas to everyone. We miss you all, and wish we could be with you.

Steinmeyers etc Comments (1303) Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007, 4:40 PM, CST by Mary Happy day. I do have a set back, but it is much easier to deal with than a second surgery. My body is rejecting the mesh they repaired it with. A round of anti-inflamatories should fix it up. We are all doing the happy dance, some of us are doing it on the inside. Which reminds me, Maya, Joell's 2 year old was watching tv and dancing. She called out, "Hey Mom, I'm dancing with my feet AND my hands!" I got some flowers today, it doesn't hurt so play the sympathy card. They are really pretty, red and white with a get better soon note. I really am feeling better, just get tired easy. If I take a nap, I can't go to sleep when I should. And on it goes in a vicious circle. I am trying not to fall asleep this afternoon. Jen and Rachel and Ethan were here this morning while Riley and Brynn were in school. They made crepes for breakfast and Jen mixed cookie dough in my Kitchen Aid. She took it home to bake. (She only brought the chocolate chips, we donated the rest of the ingredients.) They cleaned up. Amazing!!! Other than that we lead a boring life, so will say so long for today.

Steinmeyers etc. Posted Saturday, December 15, 2007, 7:00 PM, CST by Mary Hello, hello! It is only 10 days til Santa visits. I enjoyed hearing about your holiday adventure. How fun. It is a good thing we have grandkids or the holidays would be sad for me. I get to be a kid all over again with the little ones. Glad to hear Ashlyn is doing well, and hope Alyssa returns to her normal bubbly self really soon. I had a set back last week, found out the hernia repair didn't hold. I have a C.T. scan Monday and see the surgeon Thursday. Other than being discouraged, I feel fine. I really don't want to do all that again, but we will get through whatever we have to do. We got the Texas kid's package sent today, and got to call and talk to all of them. It was fun. The only thing I have left to do to get ready for the holidays is wrap some gifts for Gary. The house is festive, not nearly the decorations I usually put up. I let the kids take what decorations they want of the ones I am not putting up, that way I still get to see and enjoy them. I talked to Aunt Jean today and she has a 3' tree up and decorated and was pleased with it. Tell Jordan his crazy Aunt Mary says hi.

Christmas spirit? The mall is full of it. Posted Saturday, December 15, 2007, 6:33 AM, CST by Dawn I like the mall here at Cristmas time. It is the same as any other mall. It doesn't matter that it is hot outside, it is full of the holiday season inside. We took the girls out for a special day. I felt a little bad because Alyssa is still not feeling very well, but this is the last weekend Hank has off before Christmas. We took them to see the movie Enchanted. The girls loved it and Amiyah was pretty good. I was able to see the entire movie, usually Amiyah and I end up leaving because she is fussy. When I do have to leave with her we always go out into the mall and shop until Hank and the kids are done with the movie. Today however, I actually got to see how the movie ended. After the movie we took the girls to ride the Christmas train that is inside the mall. We then went to Cold Stone for ice cream. Hank had pumpkin pie ice cream and shared it with Ashlyn. Alyssa and I had smoothies. We then watched the light show. It was really cool especially if you take into consideration that we live in Guam. It was Christmas lights set to music, very festive. We got home late. Alyssa was a trooper. She wasn’t her normal bubbly self but she still had a great time. Jordan didn’t want to go with us. I guess we are no longer cool enough to hang out with. We still make him come along sometimes. UE and Aunt Mary, Thanks for posting. I read Ashlyn your well wishes. Aunt Mary, I enjoyed reading your news posts. Thanks for your encouragement. I had a ton of laundry to do, and the bathrooms could use a good cleaning, but I decided to do something with the kids. The house is in good enough shape to get us through the weekend. I will catch up on Monday when 2 of the kids are in school. I am off to bed now. We have church in the morning.

What an evening. Posted Friday, December 14, 2007, 8:30 AM, CST by Dawn Ashlyn was playing around standing on the computer chair and fell on her face. When she first started to cry, we thought she had done something minor. Hank looked at her hands and saw they had blood on them. He then knew if she had started bleeding that fast then it was bad. He looked her over and saw she had a ½ inch gash in her chin. I gave him a paper towel and he immediately put pressure on it. He said it looked really bad. You could see down inside her chin. Hank had her lay down. I have to say my husband acted faster than most people would have. He had pressure on the wound within about 15 seconds after the fall. We decided to call an ambulance since Navy hospital is 40 minutes away, and we were not sure how bad the bleeding was going to be. Security forces came first. And then the ambulance. Ashlyn only cried right after she fell and stayed fairly calm throughout the entire incident. The paramedics came and assessed the situation. They said Hank had done a really good job controlling the bleeding. He had also put ice on it while we waited for the paramedics. It only took them 5 minutes to get to our house. They bandaged her chin and told us it was ok for us to drive her to Navy hospital. By the time the paramedics left, Ashlyn was up and walking around. She asked Hank if she would still be pretty. Hank said of course. We drove her to the ER. She was very brave and only cried a little when they gave her the first numbing shot. The doctors said they have had teenage boys cry more than she did. She had 4 stitches in her chin. She took a few minutes to charm the staff on our way out. We took her to Denny’s for a chocolate milkshake before we headed home. We were very thankful that all she needed was 4 stitches. We know that a million other variables could have made this a very serious situation. On the way to Denny's, Ashlyn bowed her head and prayed to herself. While she was drinking her milkshake I asked her what she had prayed about? She said “I asked God to heal my chin.” Hank and I were proud that in a time of need she had thought to turn to God. We must be doing something right. Alyssa is sick and running a fever. She missed school today. She will have to miss a friend’s birthday party tomorrow. We may go to a movie tomorrow evening if she is feeling better. I actually beat several songs on Guitar Hero. I currently have Wii arm. I was playing with Hank for about an hour tonight and my hand started cramping so I said I am done for now. Hank was able to battle a friend of ours on Guitar Hero. She lives in Washington DC. It was really cool. They did about 5 songs together and she kicked his butt. This is made possible because we have our Wii hooked up to the internet. Jordan had his field trip today. He had to dress nice and go to a lunchen. His grade had to use all of the dancing and etiquette they have learned in the last couple months. He really didn't want to go but when he got home he said it wasn't so bad. Well I am going to bed it is late.

Steinmeyers etc. Comments (1242) Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 8:29 PM, CST by Mary U.E. is right about my housekeeping skills. We survived. I have one word for laundry PILES. I always wanted to be a good housekeeper, and now I can. It is all priorities and time. Do what is important, which is your family. Your children are really important, but they will grow up and move away (hopefully) and all you will have is each other. Work on your relationship as well and make it fun. Back to laundry. We found these laundry sorters at Wal-Mart. They consist of a pvc frame with three mesh bags. Ours are color coded, white for whites (cool huh?) then a light one for colors and a darker one for jeans and dark colord clothes. All you have to do is train everyone to sort. When Brad's three kids come up for the summer, it works really well (with a lot of reminders). Last night I went with Joell for her women's church group Christmas activity. It was a progressive dinner that started with soup at Joell's house. The house looks so festive. It is cosy and homey too. Brynn came over today and decorated her gingerbread house and we had a tea party. We also made Gary's favorite cake. It is spicey and chocolate and has raisens (which Brynn doesn't like). It made the house smell good. We also took a two hour nap (nice!) I am now ready for a quiet evening and an early bed time. Jen is picking me up at 9:15 in the morning while the girls are in school and taking me shopping for Gary's gifts. Then it is on to the Dr. Whoop-de-doo. Friday should be a quiet day as will Saturday. I say that, but watch out. Happy holidays to everyone.

Just a normal day. Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 1:40 AM, CST by Dawn I see Aunt Mary has been posting. I really enjoy reading her posts. I talked to her for a long time a few days ago. She was very encouraging and made me feel a lot better about parenting a teenager. I don’t have a lot of people I can look to for advice so it is nice that I can run crying to her if I need to. She raised 5 wonderful children and is also a teacher. To me her wisdom is unparalleled. She is an inspiration to me. I am glad to have her in my life. Hank is “helping” Alyssa build a school project. She has to figure out a gadget that uses several steps to pop a balloon. It is due tomorrow. He is almost done. The girls have AWANA tonight so I am helping in Ashlyn’s class. I would like to know how Aunt Mary kept up on all the laundry. I think that will be my Aunt Mary question of the day. I am a mother of 4 who acts like a mother of 2. A women I know said that about herself except she has 6. She meant she hadn’t really adjusted her strategy after her second child. I think that describes me also. I have to bathe the little ones before we go to AWANA.

Steinmeyer family Posted Tuesday, December 11, 2007, 1:50 PM, CST by Mary Abby lost her first tooth! It got loose at Uncle Ed's on Wednesday and she lost it Sunday. She was so excited. The tooth fairy came and brought her coins. It is nice that in kindergarten they think a lot of pennies is way better than a dollar. Rachel had the kids in Target yesterday and they passed a display of fabreeze air freshener with several people around it. Brynn's comment was, "Hey mom we need to get some of that for when someone poops." I love it when it is not my kid, much funnier. Tomorrow Brynn spends the majority of the day with me. We are decorating yet another gingerbread house. She also wants to make a Christmas cake, who knows what a three year old's idea of that is. I am sure I will find out. The last gingerbread house was rancid, but on a Sunday afternoon with Kiana chomping at the bits, I stuck it together and went in the other room while she decorated it. I put good smelling candles around it and brought out the infamous fabreeze. Needles to say, no one will be nibbling on that one. Have a great day! Aunt Mary

The Steinmeyers Posted Monday, December 10, 2007, 11:01 AM, CST by Mary Hello all - I finally feel like I am recovering from my hernia surgery. I am so glad I got the majority of my shopping done before hand. It snowed most of the day yesterday. It melted as soon as it hit the ground, but it was pretty and put me in the Christmas mood. I turned on Christmas music and Kiana and I made a gingerbread house from a kit and then we watched Christmas movies. Saturday Jen and the girls came and I oversaw the baking and decorating of some Christmas sugar cookies. Jen had to leave for work and Steve came and helped Gary put up the lights on the house. OOOH pretty! The tree is up and so is my Christmas village. We turned out the lights in the living room and turned on all the lights to the village and the tree. Three year old Riley spent most of the nexe hour dancing in the twinkling lights of the tree. In a giggling excited voice she shouted out "Isn't this wonderful, Nana?" While the guys worked on the lights,I took a nap with Abby and Riley, I was in the middle, interesting nap. I have a few last minute things to pick up and Gary is doing some Santa shopping. The rest of the grandkids will come one or two at a time for their turn making a holiday treat and spending time with Nana and Papa, I don't know who enjoys it most, us or them. Talking to Dawn yesterday made me miss the family a lot. I hope to post at least once a week. Knowing me, I will be good about it for a while, then become a slacker. Love to all, Aunt Mary

It is Monday again. Posted Sunday, December 9, 2007, 4:13 PM, CST by Dawn My neck is a lot better now. We had a quiet weekend at home. We decorated gingerbread men on Saturday using a kit. It came with 8 large gingerbread men, icing and candy. We all had fun. I also got a gingerbread house kit. We will do it next weekend. The girls watched a bunch of Christmas movies yesterday and I made us homemade cocoa last night to go with our Christmas movie marathon. I make it a lot, but last night I put a candy cane in each one. The girls loved it. Ashlyn now says I am the best mom ever. Today Hank is wrapping gifts for donations at the BX. It is a fundraiser for the booster club. I think I will have him take some of ours with him. It will save me some time. We have Alyssa’s allergy shot today followed by singing practice. Ashlyn is feeling better. She didn’t have a fever yesterday and her nose is clearing up. The baby discovered the gifts under the tree. So far she is only interested in the bows. She took one off this morning and chewed on it for awhile. We let her. I figure at least she isn’t ripping them up yet. Aunt Jean, thank you for your post. I love spending time with you too. Alyssa read your review of her recital before she went to school and it put a huge smile on her face.

What a pain in the neck. Comments (2683) Posted Saturday, December 8, 2007, 5:48 AM, CST by Dawn I injured my neck somehow. I woke up yesterday and my neck hurt really bad. I took an 800mg Motrin and it seemed to feel good enough to get on with my day. I was having muscle spasm on the left side when I would move my head a certain way. Anyway, I felt a little better so we went out to finish up our Christmas shopping and take care of Amiyah’s social security card. The Social Security people have been giving us the run around big time, but that is another story. So we are out doing our thing and my Motrin wears off. Now I hurt worse than I did before I took it. We had to go to Navy hospital to take care of some paper work for Amiyah, so I thought I might as well go to the ER while we are up there. The drive up to Navy was torture. Every time Hank made a turn or hit a bump I would have a muscle spasm in my neck. I was in tears many times. I went to the ER. I was given more Motrin and prescription for Valium. This was the only meds they could give me because I am a nursing mother. I have never had any serious meds except for during childbirth so this was a first for me. I waited until bedtime before taking it so I wouldn’t have to worry about being tired or Amiyah having to eat for a while. I slept with a heating pad on my neck. I felt better this morning, though I am still very sore. The muscle spasms have stopped for the most part. I don’t have a cool story for why this happened. I guess I am getting old. The hardest part was not being able to do anything. I am not a sit around kind of girl. I do like being lazy at times but on my terms. I feel behind now. Most moms know what I am talking about. If you are out of commission for a day or two, you fall behind. Life seems to come back at you with a vengeance. Ashlyn is still sick. She is doing ok but her fever keeps popping back up. She has a stuffy nose, so I know she has a cold. She is still her same old self. Hank and I bought Guitar Hero III for the Wii. It is fun. I suck at it. So far Hank rocks. He is playing right now as I type this. Well nothing much new around here. I hope all is well. UE, I will try to have Jordan email you soon. I have been bad about a lot of things lately. Thank you for remembering Jordan’s birthday. I think I saw Aunt Jean post about his b-day also. Most of our family forgets the kid’s b-days. It is nice when people remember. So never be shy about posting. We appreciate that people are reading my blog. The fact that you all stop by and say high makes my day. Jenny and UE: I saw your post about Alyssa’s recital. Thank you. I shared them with her and she was delighted that her family had stopped by the website to watch her. She is very proud of herself.

Happy Thursday! Posted Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 9:58 PM, CST by Dawn Alyssa had her recital yesterday. She did awesome. Hank and I were very proud. Hank posted video of her playing her songs. Ashlyn was so eager to watch her sister play her songs. Ashlyn read her first book yesterday. She was so excited and proud of herself. She read a beginning readers book. They are called Bob Books. Alyssa used the same ones. Jordan had a nice birthday. Due to his grades he didn’t get as big of a birthday as we had originally planned. He was happy with his gifts. Ashlyn is sick now. I am sure she has what Alyssa had. She has had a fever on and off for a couple of days. She is on the couch right now watching Tom and Jerry. More Ashlyn quotes. I wouldn’t let Ashlyn have a new toy while we were out shopping on Tuesday. Ashlyn says “you are ruining my day. You have been ruining my days since Okinawa.” I said “I’m sorry I always ruin your days. I am a bad mommy. I will get you a new mommy.” Ashlyn rubbed my hand, smiled sweetly and said “you’re not a bad mommy, just a day ruiner.” Ashlyn has referred to pooping as dropping a brownie in the brownie bowl. (Similar to a Hank phrase.) Well that is all I can think of for now.

How the Chimp Stole Christmas Posted Saturday, December 1, 2007, 8:13 PM, CST by Hank Every Poo Down in Poo-ville Liked Christmas a lot... But the Chimp, Who lived just North of Poo-ville, Did NOT! The Chimp hated Christmas! The Whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were to tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart was two sizes too small. But, Whatever the reason, His heart or his shoes, He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the Poos, Staring down from his cave with a sour, Chimpy frown At the warm lighted windows below in their town. For he knew every Poo down in Poo-ville beneath Was busy now, hanging a mistleoe wreath. "And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer. "Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!" Then he growled, with his chimp fingers nervously drumming, "I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!" For, tomorrow, he knew... ...All the Poo girls and boys Would wake up bright and early. They'd rush for their toys! And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the noise! Noise! Noise! Noise! That's one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! Then the Poos, young and old, would sit down to a feast. And they'd feast! And they'd feast! And they'd FEAST! FEAST! FEAST! FEAST! They would start on Poo-pudding, and rare Poo-roast-beast Which was something the Chimp couldn't stand in the least! And THEN They'd do something he liked least of all! Every Poo down in Poo-ville, the tall and the small, Would stand close together, with Christmas bells ringing. They'd stand hand-in-hand. And the Poos would start singing! They'd sing! And they'd sing! AND they'd SING! SING! SING! SING! And the more the Chimp thought of the Poo-Christmas-Sing The more the Chimp thought, "I must stop this whole thing! "Why for fifty-three years I've put up with it now! I MUST stop Christmas from coming! ...But HOW?" Then he got an idea! An awful idea! THE CHIMP GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA! "I know just what to do!" The Chimp Laughed in his throat. And he made a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat. And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great Chimpy trick! "With this coat and this hat, I'll look just like Saint Nick!" "All I need is a reindeer..." The Chimp looked around. But since reindeer are scarce, there was none to be found. Did that stop the old Chimp...? No! The Chimp simply said, "If I can't find a reindeer, I'll make one instead!" So he called his dog Max. Then he took some red thread And he tied a big horn on top of his head. THEN He loaded some bags And some old empty sacks On a ramshakle sleigh And he hitched up old Max. Then the Chimp said, "Giddyap!" And the sleigh started down Toward the homes where the Poos Lay a-snooze in their town. All their windows were dark. Quiet snow filled the air. All the Poos were all dreaming sweet dreams without care When he came to the first house in the square. "This is stop number one," The old Chimpy Claus hissed And he climbed to the roof, empty bags in his fist. Then he slid down the chimney. A rather tight pinch. But if Santa could do it, then so could the Chimp. He got stuck only once, for a moment or two. Then he stuck his head out of the fireplace flue Where the little Poo stockings all hung in a row. "These stockings," he grinned, "are the first things to go!" Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant, Around the Poole room, and he took every present! Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums! Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums! And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Chimp, very nimbly, Stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimney! Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Poos' feast! He took the Poo-pudding! He took the roast beast! He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash. Why, that Chimp even took their last can of Poo-hash! Then he stuffed all the food up the chimney with glee. "And NOW!" grinned the Chimp, "I will stuff up the tree!" And the Chimp grabbed the tree, and he started to shove When he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove. He turned around fast, and he saw a small Poo! Little Cindy-Lou Poo, who was not more than two. The Chimp had been caught by this little Poo daughter Who'd got out of bed for a cup of cold water. She stared at the Chimp and said, "Santy Claus, why, "Why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?" But, you know, that old Chimp was so smart and so slick He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick! "Why, my sweet little tot," the fake Santy Claus lied, "There's a light on this tree that won't light on one side. "So I'm taking it home to my workshop, my dear. "I'll fix it up there. Then I'll bring it back here." And his fib fooled the child. Then he patted her head And he got her a drink and he sent he to bed. And when Cindy-Lou Poo went to bed with her cup, HE went to the chimney and stuffed the tree up! Then the last thing he took Was the log for their fire. Then he went up the chimney himself, the old liar. On their walls he left nothing but hooks, and some wire. And the one speck of food The he left in the house Was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse. Then He did the same thing To the other Poos' houses Leaving crumbs Much too small For the other Poos' mouses! It was quarter past dawn... All the Poos, still a-bed All the Poos, still a-snooze When he packed up his sled, Packed it up with their presents! The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings! Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mount Crumpit, He rode to the tiptop to dump it! "Pooh-pooh to the Poos!" he was chimp-ish-ly humming. "They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming! "They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do! "Their mouths will hang open a minute or two "The all the Poos down in Poo-ville will all cry BOO-HOO!" "That's a noise," grinned the Chimp, "That I simply must hear!" So he paused. And the Chimp put a hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low. Then it started to grow... But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY! He stared down at Poo-ville! The Chimp popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise! Every Poo down in Poo-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same! And the Chimp, with his chimp-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! "It came without packages, boxes or bags!" And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore. Then the Chimp thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" And what happened then...? Well...in Poo-ville they say That the Chimp's small heart Grew three sizes that day! And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight, He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast! And he... ...HE HIMSELF...! The Chimp carved the roast beast!

Family secrets revealed. Who really does the school pojects, and where the presents are hidden. Posted Saturday, December 1, 2007, 4:37 PM, CST by Hank I am happy to see new readers and posters. Keith and UE wanted actual lyrics. Sorry we didn’t write anything down. It was only a couple lines anyway. Aunt Mary, Hank will either email or post on how to post news and pics. We would love to hear what you are up to and see pics of you and the kids and grandkids. Alyssa is feeling better. I let Amiyah in the girls room while I cleaned it last night. She got to chew on Barbies and Dora guys and anything else she couldn’t swallow. She has been wanting to get in there and explore for weeks. Unfortunately she has now been back there so she knows it is a treasure troth of choking hazards and can’t wait to get back there unsupervised. She is an expert crawler and can get all the way down the hall in no time. Hank put up a gate a few weeks ago. I will try and post video as the events of December occur. Today I have to help Alyssa finish her book for school. She had to write a 30 chapter book for school. The chapters can be just a couple of sentences or as much as a couple paragraphs. She had a couple months to do it. We put it off due to all of the other homework she has. Anyway it has to be turned in tomorrow. She actually hand wrote about 5 chapters but I thought it would be more practical to have her narrate while I type. I figure this way I can make corrections instantly and it would be nice and neat. Of coarse this turned into me doing most of the creative thinking. Hank reprimanded me at first for taking over, and then I reminded him of the fort he “helped” Alyssa build last year. He stayed up until the wee hours of the morning for that one. Yes I suppose we fallow a long tradition of parents taking over projects. I can see Aunt Mary shaking her head at us right now. Come on Aunt Mary every one does it. She does all of her other homework. She even writes her own book reports. I am much more into Christmas this year. I got my Christmas spirit back. We went to take the girls to see the movie Enchanted but we got there a few minutes after the movie started. We may try again today. Hank is working a night shift tonight, so maybe this afternoon. We were smarter this year and hid most of the Christmas presents in the shed. The shed is locked so the girls can’t go snooping. We knew our closet and under the bed were a bad idea when Ashlyn would come in and say “can I have the new My Little Ponies that are up in your closet.” She actually found some Strawberry Shortcake dolls I had bought on sale several months ago for Christmas. She had 3 out of 5 opened before Alyssa caught her. I then proceeded to put the remainder 2 in some easy to reach place where she got them again. Hank took them and hid them well. So now everything is put away outside the house.