{where does ear wax come from?}

This one is Chad's masterpiece...I was cleaning out Chad's ears (he was actually taking it quite calmly this time) and he queried,
"Mom, do you know where ear wax comes from?"
He asked in such a way that conveyed he knew the answer to the question already.
So I said, "Why don't you tell me."
"Well....(with emphasis)...when I eat, the food goes down to my tummy. And the extra food that my tummy doesn't need goes straight up to my ears, and then you have to clean it out!"
I was quite impressed with his creativity when he added some more.
"And the reason why it's yellow and sticky is because I eat so much honey!"

{soaking under the stars}

So, this is not to make anyone jealous or anything- at least that is not my intention (which is rather to make the most out of life and seize the opportunity for memories)... Our babysitter offered to take the kids over night for Valentine's. We took a raincheck for this last weekend. So, Sunday night, Jon and I went up to the hot sulphur springs north of Winter Park where there are 26 delightfully hot pools of water flowing from the hillside.

We soaked under the stars for a couple hours then got to sleep in for the first time in a loooonng time. Feeling the ice cold decking under our feet made us want to make our way as fast as possible to the next pool, sliding quickly under the warm water.

When we woke up, we sat in the pools again while it snowed, before going home. So nice to relax away from the daily grind... Have you ever completely relaxed every muscle in your body? If you haven't, you should try it some time...

{colorful Chad}

We were playing Duck, Duck, Goose with the kids this afternoon. After a while, it was Chad's turn for the second time. He planted a hand on my head, and said "Peanut butter", on Jon's head and said "Jelly", on Kate's head and said "Honey", then came around to me again and yelled "Sandwich!!!" I surmised that I was supposed to be the one chasing him...

And speaking of honey, Chad just loves honey sandwiches. Last week before bedtime, he said he was still hungry and asked for one. I said, "Tell you what, if you get out all the ingredients and a butter knife, I'll make a honey sandwich for you. (I was busy making something else at the time) He got out everything but the knife, said he didn't know where to get one. I pointed to the silverware drawer. He opened it up, but got distracted with the various treasures also in there. When I came over to him, and said "The knife is right there in front of you. Pick it up", he looked up at me incredulously and observed, "Well you're already standing right here mom! Why don't you pick it up?" I really had no answer for that one.

{purple ice cream from the Phillipines}

The kids have had a real treat this week, enjoying purple ice cream from the Phillipines. Besides the fact that the delicacy comes in purple, Kate's favorite color, it is in the form of ice cream-which the kids don't often get. Jonathan's boss grew up in the Phillipines where he frequented an ice cream shop down the street from his house. Now living in Denver, he somehow special-ordered his favorite flavor all the way from the island. The purple ice cream is made from the purple yam (taro). He sent a bucket home with Jon much to the kids delight. It's kinda a taste you'd have to develop at a young age.Kate was pleased as punch that the ice cream matched her new shirt!I also have to brag on my sweetheart. He gave me the string of black pearls for Christmas and got them strung for Valentine's Day...to go with the earrings and ring that have been previous gifts. I love wearing them!

{training early}

So this is my plan, grand scheme, crazy dream...About the time that Kate gets to high school, about the time that everyone says it gets hard to get along with your kids, about the time we need some one on one time...Katelyn and I are going on a motorcycle trek across the West. She's spunky enough, I'm daring enough. I think we'd make a good team, me as driver, her as rider. We'll explore the redwood forests, Mt. Ranier, and the Pacific coast. It's a trip I'm already looking forward to. Katelyn listens intently (a rare occurrence) and asks questions when I tell stories of the adventures we'll have someday. Her only requirement: that her helmet be purple.