Random Comments

Random comments from Mr. Talky, Cooper:

(Unsolicited): "Thank you for breakfast, Mommy. Knuckles." (puts hand up for a knuckle shake.)

"Mommy, who's bigger, me or Ava?"
"I don't know, Cooper, you tell me."
"I'm bigger!"
That's right."
"Mommy, who's bigger, you or me?"
"I'm not sure."
"You are!"
"That's right, I am!"
"Mom, you are so bigger." (!)

Driving in the car, responding to something silly he said:
"Cooper, that's ridiculous!"
"No, you're dididulous!"
(Laughing) "Cooper, you don't even know what you're saying."
"Yes I dooo."

"Maybe...No" (says this all the time now; prefaces Yes and No with Maybe...)

Select a Candidate 2008

Overdue

We have been slacking on updates. So just to let you know, new pictures and post coming within the next few days.

Also, Sonic is Heidi's Chronic. Nooch.

Vegisaurus

Cooper is really into dinosaurs right now; for Christmas he got a big tub of dinos from Auntie Karen. In the tub was a big Brontosaurus; it's become one if his favs. Perhaps it's the veggie lover in him (or Joey's past life channeling), but the dino is his Broccoliosaurus. Next time you're eating your green trees, imagine them with a looonngg neck, and short, thick legs.

Home Sweet, Gingerbread Home

We were so busy during the Christmas chaos that we weren't able to get the Gingerbread house Sigrid gave the kids made during the holidays. But, we definitely wanted the kids to have fun making it, so we made it this weekend. They had as much fun swiping candy from the candy bowl as they did doing the decorating!

Cake #5

Free Ice Cream

Amazing Love Story

Chinese Man Shows World What Real Love is by Carving 6,000 Steps Up a Mountain for Wife

Their story came atop a list of China's top ten love stories.

Dont Try to Take Me to a Disco

All she's missing are the Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses.

Problem Solving

Now that I've been home with the kids, they've had lots of playtime and arts and crafts, but we are starting to wonder what they should also be learning at this stage. We're trying to start being proactive about their skills; in daycare there were group activities designed for this.

Cooper is pretty on track; he can recite numbers 1 to 10 (sometimes 12), he recognizes numbers, and can count to 10. He talks up a storm when he wants to, and his speech adapts. We'll notice new words or use of grammar that sometimes surprise us.

Ava is doing good, too. With the exception of not wanting to talk, which the Dr. thinks she's just not hit her growth spurt yet, she's ahead of her age. The Dr. said in social and adaptive skill she's at the 26 month mark. 4 months doesn't seem too much, but when it's applied to a 22 month old, that's practically 1/5 of her age! I think having Cooper as her playmate helps.

Here, we purchased a floor puzzle for the kids to work on. We knew Ava wouldn't really be able to complete it, but she watched and tried to get the pieces to fit. Cooper needed guidance, but once the piece was found and near the right place, he could get it. Here is Cooper with the finished puzzle.

Cake (#4)

A little different this time, much more color (no white) and I tried more design.

Next week I'm going to start (hopefully) Wilton 2.

New Year, New Look

The last haircut I had was in California, so I was long overdue. I took about 5 inches (it was too long) and give me bangs, which I haven't had since around the time I met Joey! Besides, Cooper got one, so why not me, too?

No matter how you say it....

Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Russian: S Novim Godom
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo Prospero Ano Nuevo
English: Happy New Year

No matter how it is said, the meaning is the same.

*rawsonfour

Happy New Years Peas

A traditional southern New Year's dish is black eyed peas and ham hocks. An old saying goes, "Eat peas on New Year's day to have plenty of everything the rest of the year."

We modified this for our tastes; turkey sausage and chicken, and added to the sauteed onions some diced carrot, celery (leftover from Christmas.) To the reserved liquid, we added some chicken base for additional flavor. We also added a little pepper, pinch of garlic, and some parsley.

• 1 pound dried black-eyed peas
• 1 pound link sausage, or your favorite
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar (we used light)
  
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup prepared barbecue sauce

Rinse, prepare, soak, and cook peas in about 3 cups water, following directions on the package. Drain and reserve half of the cooking liquid. In a skillet over medium heat, brown sausage and onions; drain off excess fat.

Place peas in a 3-quart casserole; add sausage and onions. Stir in reserved liquid, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and barbecue sauce. Bake at 300° for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

A New Years Editorial By Joey Rawson

With another year ending, and one about to begin, I thought I would share some thoughts.

As this year begun, unwanted stress and anger were part of my daily routine at work. Which bled into fatigue and stress at home. But once September came along, and we hit the highway, I started whistling a different tune.

Moving to North Carolina has been nothing short of a blessing. My new command has supported me as an individual more than any other command in my career. The Onslow County area is a great place to live. Don't get me wrong, Southern California was awesome, and San Clemente was a beautiful place to live, but it grew tired. Here, I feel relaxed, no pressure. I haven't meet anybody mean. It's full of "Southern Hospitality." It took a little getting used to, but I sure do enjoy it now.

The stars shine brightly, and the cool wind is the only noise cluttering your thoughts at night (unless the hunting dogs at the end of the road are going at it, but they're just dogs). Yeah, we have the occasional gun fire here and there, but to put it in prospective, it's just some hunter out there enjoying himself.

As a city boy, with 19 years of Philadelphia blood running through me, I must say this was a much needed change. Who needs gang violence, murder, theft and streets of trash, when you can have people who are just living. Sure, some have small homes and leave stuff on their lawns. But in all honesty, do we really need big things, or is it something that we desire? I have a big house, but I wanted a big house. Could I have settled for a park model? Sure, but it was our desire to have this home.

Ending my discourse, I would like to say that I love North Carolina. I love my family and the home we live in. I love the country road I drive to work everyday, and farms that line them.

Happy 2008 everybody. Keep it simple.

*joey