Energy Miser

Being energy conservative is my environmental goal for January, and I am looking for practical changes everyday. We already do simple things, like recycle, use canvas bags for shopping (all of which are recycled from garage sales or freebies from work), wash our clothes in cold, and have unplugged just about everything imaginable. I want to see a difference in our energy bill, and I'll let you know how it goes. Today, I unplugged our rarely used microwave and started to rinse the dishes in cold only. Brrrrr. (I am pretty sure the microwave is a pity microwave that our parents gave us in frustration and disbelief that we could live without one.) I have to be practical about things as we have 2 young kids, but any other shavings off the electro-field appreciated. Evan called me an energy miser today, and I blushed at his romantic comment.

A conversation:

Evan: Ollie, what did you have for lunch today?
Ollie: I don't know.
Evan: Was it taco bake?
Ollie: I don't know.
Me: Was it pizza?
Ollie: I don't know.
Me: Was it saucy?
Ollie: I don't know.
Evan: Was it crunchy?
Ollie: I DON'T KNOW.
Me: Let's play 20 questions, and you tell us when we are getting warm.
Ollie: Is it warm in summer and fall?
Us: Yes.
Ollie: Can you wear shorts when it's warm?
Us: Yes.
Ollie: Is it warm in the car?
Me: If the heater is on, yes.
Ollie: Is it warm in a truck?
Me: If the heater is on, yes.
Ollie: Is it warm in a van?
Me: If the heater is on, yes.
Ollie: Is it warm in a house?
Me: If the heater is on, yes.
Ollie: Is it warm in a restaurant?
Me: If the heater is on, yes.
Ollie: Is that 20 questions about warm?
(Continue dialogue for several hours straight, and welcome to 4!)

Family Portrait

This is the best of O's realist stuff.
These = happiness to me

Travel Stories

The "worldest peach" AKA the big peach is on the way to Indiana, which we'll pass on the way to E3's on Monday. I am looking forward to Santa as all good children are. Santa will be coming to Uncle Ethan's. Last time we where there, Eli peed on the carpeted floor, I scuffed up the garage, our car broke down which set off a chain of events that prevented our hosts from getting a Christmas tree when they wanted, and surley the wonderful dinner that they served us could have better digested without our little heel nippers. None the less, they are having us back, and I only hope that this time we will be better house guests.

Click here to see the boys with santa.

'Cause band-aid's stuck on me....

What is it with kids and band-aids? They hold this magic over kids that is unexplainable. Ollie got a little poke from a stick at school this week that his teacher put a band-aid on. This was the tiniest of scratches and he gingerly carried around his hand for a day not daring to get it wet in the bath tub or wash his hands. When we finally did make him get it wet, he had to have another one though I could have used a magnifying glass to find the scratch. He even asked as we entered the barber shop for a pre-Christmas mop chopping last night if it was a "band-aid-taking-off-shop." He seemed content when I assured him it was not, yet he did tell the stylist all about the band-aid, and he never talks to strangers. I once knew a girl whose parents used band-aids as a reward system, I think for pottying. Her mother laughed about people's public reaction to a youngster with so many injuries. Any parent could have spotted a band-aid junkie. Hey, maybe I should try wearing one the next time I am feeling blue. Maybe they ARE magic.

I am aghast that it has been so long since I have updated the blog! Oh my! I have lots of excuses, but just a quick note that I am ransacked with Christmas cheer and end of the semester school duties. We all have one week left before we get to just kick back, enjoy one another and breathe. Pictures this weekend.

It's glorious

In true Rayburn fashion, the boys are pictured here putting the icing on the Christmas tree cake. Evan and Ollie wrestled the thing down with their own bare hands.

3 year old bliss