Six Happy Clammers: January 2011

After grocery shopping today, I am unloading groceries. William comes in and holds up his shirt, saying "Um, Momma? I fink there is sumpin' in my belly button!" I see a dark spot from where I am standing and go over to look at it. It's a hard little oval thing, so I take my fingernail and scrape it away. It falls to the floor and I pick it up to see what it is... Oh Lordy, it's a TICK, right in my baby's belly button. I try not to react too much, though I am totally grossed out and feeling slightly queasy, and tell William, "Don't worry, I got it, it was a tick. It is sucking your blood. That's how it gets food. If you see another one like that ever, just tell Momma, okay? Don't try to take it off yourself." Relief washes over his face and his eyes get big, "PHEW! Cause I fought that was a ROOT in there! I fought I was growin' a plant or sumpin'!"

Well, at least HIS mind was at ease. Now if I can just stop myself from feeling itchy and buggy all over...

Today it was time to take down the Christmas lights. Waaaaah. It's always such a let-down for me, all the effort that goes into Christmas and after that one day, NUTHIN'. Sigh...

Wanted to post some pictures from Christmas, trying to get back in the habit.

Kennedy Space Center with cranky Willie

Izzy's First Grade Christmas Program

Mr. Boy in his new bed

Mr. Boy also loves his new jacket, he wears it and doesn't chew it! Woohoo!

Pretty Sassy, so grown up

Chocoholic-ism runs in the family

Sassy's cart is FAST--18 MPH

Cruisin' down the sidewalk

Katy's is a Dune Buggy, does well off road...

Izzy's is a Drifter Kart and does 360 degree turns on a dime

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake ala Cook's Illustrated, delish, highly recommend it.

Need to figure out how to get the sides smooth when you take it out? But if you only knew how good those little crumblies were... oh Momma.

Shy Izzy

Sulky Willie (usual position these days)

Partners in Crime--Fudgsicle stealing.

You've got a friend in me...Somebody poisoned the waterhole! Amazingly, when Woody's hat is off, he says "Whoa, there goes my hat" or something else like that, and when you put it back on, he says several things like, "Oh, now hey, THAT's better!" or "Aw, shucks, you found my hat! Thanks!" It's quite amusing.

Drinking Cranberry juice

:( Getting so big :(

Jumping Bean

All smiles

Growing up, finally a natural smile! She's a tough one for that!

Happy that our ottoman is not a hard rock anymore.

Chillin' in her room

Having fun (Willie trying to lick Katy!)

Oh yeah Momma, you just THINK I am going to do what you ask. This is the look I think I gave my sisters many times. Minus the eye flutter.

Mittens! How fun. Too bad he looks so devastated. He really did like them. Really!

Trying out Gemini 7 (two weeks without being able to stretch your legs full out! Those two seats are it, nothing more to it! Yikes!

Shawn read every plaque. Me, well, my attention span apparently also ain't what it used to be.

Cool.

Thumbs up for space exploration! And cranky boys who pretend there is no camera anywhere around. Grr...

After a great show-- Izzy asked me several times is "she was real." She was Vulcan, and very cool. We had a great time at the show.

Awesome ball that is pure stone and is moved by a small amount of water (displacement theory)

Strangely, one of my favorite pics of the day. I love it in black and white but Shawn HAS to have color.

Yaya takes the ball for a spin

Izzy looks for constellations

Going into the shuttle

Willie's new shuttle, much adored

Daddy being silly with Izzy

Waiting for the bus shuttle to the launch pad

Aw, Izzy wanted a shuttle too. Darn those gift shops, they know how to get ya.

Thankfully no line here! We love going places where no one else is!

Shawn asked for a family photo, then after three or four minutes said, "All right, enough pictures." Ticked me off pretty good, so I took off for the bus with the girls and left his sorry butt in the dust. Sarah called his cell phone and said, "You better run through the gift shop to get out, Daddy, Momma is LEAVIN'!" And I was! What a doofus, really!

Willie's shuttle takes flight

I like this one, too. He sure loves his Daddy.

My Pooh Bear.

Stephenson girls

Cutie Pie

We got to meet a real astronaut, Sam Gemar, who went on three missions. The girls asked him questions which he answered beautifully.

Sarah: "Were you scared when you went into space?"

Sam: It was scariest the night before when you had time to think about it. Launch time you were just too busy to think/"

Katy: "When did you know you wanted to be an astronaut?"

Sam: About 7 years old (izzy's age!)

Izzy: "Does your Mom and Dad go with you?"

Sam: No, but I sure wish they could have seen it!

Izzy: (for Willie who would not speak) "When are you going to Mars?"

Sam: I'm going to have to have one of you do that for me!

He was very kind, autographed a picture for us, and Willie's shuttle as well. It really made Sarah MOST interested in space. We will be going to view the final launch Feb 3, as she insists on us going! Who knows, maybe she will be in space some day. We also saw a memorial to Challenger, and the whole story was fascinating to her. She came home and looked it all up on the internet. Totally cool how it piqued her interest in one short day!

This one makes me laugh every time. Katy is rarely joyous, at least where you can get it on camera!

Sunset at the Space Center

All Willie talked about the whole time was PuttPutt Golfin'. Literally said PuttPutt Golfin'. We finally went on the last night, which turned out to be perfect. Quite cool, but not cold. HE LOVED IT. He had such a blast, using his club like a net, trying to swoosh it into each hole. He couldn't get enough. 18 holes and he cried when we were done. Every time he got it in, (twenty to thirty shots laters, most of it swiping, or just picking the darn thing up and setting it right next to the hole :) Heehee) he would raise his arms over his head and go "HOLE!"

Leaving the park, still cranky boy.

Putt putting wasn't fun for Katy until she CHILLED and then she did great and had a fine time!

HOLE!

The pool at the hotel was heated but not very warm. They switched from hot tub to pool every three or four minutes. Still, they couldn't get enough. Just loved it!