Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from The Logues!

We are off to Northwest Indiana for some fun, and a great visit with family & friends!

Martin's Christmas List?

This is Martin's Christmas List.

I found it in his book bag last week.

There are a lot of odd things about this list:

With the exception of the pet hamster, he has never mentioned any of these things.  Ever.

I can only assume the elf listed has to do with this Elf on the Shelf business.

Apparently, this is the latest craze among his class.  Some of the elves even make it to show and tell.

I didn't know Tootsie Roll made pillows, and I'm amazed my son knows this.

The best part is, this list isn't even written in his handwriting.  Yet, he has no explanation.

It's all a mystery to me.

Hitler's Opinion of Santa

My friend Bernadette is great with computers.

She made this hilarious video.

Check it out.

In Lieu of Christmas Cards....

Best Friends Forever

Well, I hope forever includes the teenage years.

*fingers crossed*

They're Back!!

 This might be is one of the greatest moments in college basketball history.

And nobody deserves it more than Indiana.

Go Big Red!

The Feast of Saint Nicholas!

I hope you and your family are enjoying this Advent Season as we anticipate the upcoming Christmas Season!

P.S. Go check out my friend's blog, A Saint A Day.

It's a great resource and she also happens to be a pretty cool chick.

Check It Out!

My friend, Beth over at Catholic Mumma is giving away a set of 50 awesome Christmas Cards!

Click here, to enter.

And be sure to tell her hi!

More Martin Quotes (and even one from helen)

Me:  "Martin, it's just called a comma, not a comahawk."
- - - What we discuss while he writes a note to his penpal, James.

Martin:  "Mom.  Roadrunners are built for speed, so creditors can't catch them."
- - - Either he meant predators or his roadrunner is behind on his bills.

Helen:  "No."
- - - This must be her favorite word.  She uses it all. the. time.

Martin:  "I was just playing football with the guys."
- - - After several consecutive days of rain and in his school uniform pants, no less. 

Please see picture below:

A Basket Full of Babies?

OR....

..wait for it..

Come on.  You knew it was coming.

10 Things I Learned On Thanksgiving Vacation

10.  People actually read this blog (and my facebook page).  Specifically, people in my husband's family.  So either I better step it up, or watch what I write.  Which brings me to....

9.  I'm a proud 'Region Rat' and I don't care what the Southern Hoosiers say.  You can take the girl out of the Old Style Beer, but you can't take the Old Style Beer out of the girl.

8. You can make green bean casserole with cream of celery soup instead of cream of mushroom soup.  I had no idea you can deviate from the cream of mushroom soup. 

7.  Never trust a changing room in a department store, especially those in Kohl's in Vincennes, Indiana.  This is one of those "don't ask/don't tell" moments.


6.  I am no longer welcome in The Young Hip Club.  All the younger-not married-kidless-cousins left to catch a late Thanksgiving movie.  For some reason, I wasn't invited.  I am now an official card carrying member of The Uncool Group.  I blame the dark circles under my eyes.

5.  S/P on men's underwear does not mean small/petite.  In fact, it means small/pequeno.  Would you believe I studied Spanish for three years?  Yeah, me either.

4.  Helen loves sauerkraut.  I don't love her day after diaper.

3.  A triffle dish is not a giant wine glass.

2.  My nephew is one of the cutest babies ever born.

(drum roll, please)

1.  My van was probably the best purchase ever made.  With two kids, a dog, and all of their stuff, it made traveling much, much easier.

What Was Helen Doing Today?

Well, I'm glad you asked...

Best Buds

Martin & Sheldon watching Harry Potter.

It was a great weekend.

Just a Random Update

Here's what we've been up to:

• My Van - I can honestly say I love my new van!  Well....it's new to me anyway.  We got a great deal on a used Town and County.  We aren't Chrysler People, but when a great bargain is banging on our front door it's hard to ignore it.  Helen loves it because she sits up high and is able to look out of the windows.  Martin is also a big fan claiming we can fit "many more brothers" inside.  Which brings me to my next point...

•  A New Baby? - When the announcement of the mini van was made public, several people also thought a baby announcement was soon to follow.  As I have mentioned before, we are very open to having more babies.  But as for today, the parent to child ratio in The Logue Household remains equal.

• Christmas Shopping - If you know us, then you know we do everything in our power to not make gifts the focus of Christmas.  We are the "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" type of people.  But...I will admit, I get excited about buying Christmas gifts for my kids.  I have already started shopping, and my latest obsession is finding the best possible deal.  Right now, the best gift I can give myself is that sense of satisfaction when I find what I was looking for at the cheapest price.  It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.  Besides, I want it all done to avoid crowds of people and I plan on hibernating once the first snow flake falls.  I despise snow.

•  Report Card - Martin received his first report card last week.  (pardon me while I brag)  He did an excellent job!  His strongest subjects are vocabulary (ironic, huh?) and Art.  We have our first Parent/Teacher Conference next week.  This is all wonderful news to hear as we chose to move Martin up to the first grade after preschool.  I was a little nervous about it, but it seems to have worked out for the best.

•  Relationships - There have been two things our dog, Sheldon has be afraid of.  One was a tiny Christmas ornament shaped like a bear.  It lit up and played Jingle Bells.  He hated that thing so much, he would never go near it.  If we had company over who didn't care for dogs, we just put that bear ornament near by and Sheldon would keep his distance.  The second thing Sheldon was scared of was Helen.  Maybe it was all of her crying early on, or maybe it was her size, but  Sheldon would avoid Helen at all costs.  However, since she is growing up (at a rather fast rate, i might add) and learning how to throw his ball and sneak dog food into dish, they have become the best of friends.

• Babysitter! - On Monday, Brian had a work dinner at a very nice restaurant in Columbus.  He (yes, he) found a babysitter so we could have a night out together.  We have never hired a babysitter.  Ever.  The handful of times we have gone out, we have had grandparents around or a really, really close friend to watch our children.  This was the first time we ever paid a teenaged babysitter.  And I must say, it worked out rather well.  The kids had a great time and I wasn't a crazed lunatic constantly calling and checking in - which I still do, even with my own parents.  I hope Megan will babysit for us again. 

My Defining Moment

There are were two things I swore I would never do:

1.  Drive anything blue.
(i think blue is a horrendous color for any vehicle)

2.  Drive a minivan.

(i'm waaay too cool for that)

Yet - if I find a great deal (and I mean one we couldn't possibly pass up) on something we need (more room), than I'm willing to make the sacrifice.

Now the two things I swear I will never do:

1.  Put stickers on my van.
(soccer mom, stick figures of my family, or otherwise)

2.  Wear mom jeans.

(i'm waaay too cool for that)

This Picture Speaks Volumes

Totally unplanned.

But there it is.

The Feast of Saint Martin de Porres

Any one who knows us, knows this is a special day in our home.

This is Martin dressed as Saint Martin de Porres for All Saints Day last year.

This year he dressed as Saint George - the patron saint of Ethiopia and the Boy Scouts.

To a five year old boy, Saint George is much cooler than Saint Martin, with is Roman armor and spear.

(sorry - this mom forgot to take a picture of this year's saint)

Saint Martin de Porres - Pray for Us!

Happy Halloween!

Brian is totally into this.

 This one is for you, Angela.

 Martin knows what to do.

Helen was putting the seeds back into her pumpkin.

The finished products.

 We went for the Insect Theme this year.

 Ladybug Helen.

 Yes, that is Martin under that mask.

The aftermath.

18 MONTHS!

Her first word was "Shooooo" [shoe].  She says it all the time, and the girl loves "shoooooes".

She waves "bye bye" to everything from the dog, to the toilet flushing, to the water going down the bathtub drain.

One of her favorite pass times is pointing at Sheldon saying "dad dog" [bad dog].  I'm not sure where she learned that one? 

Anyone (or anything) that passes her, she greets them with a "hi" and a wave. 

Helen loves to hide and jump out to scare you with a "booooooo".  We think it's cute.

She just started saying "deee do" [thank you].

She likes to tattle on the dog - especially when he is up on my new furniture.  Helen will come get me and pull me into the living room excited to catch that "dad dog" in the act.

But most of all, she is learning Cause and Effect.  For the last two days she has been carrying around this twig stick she found outside.  This morning, part of it broke and it was very devastating.  So I taught her the importance of duct tape.

Haircuts and Toilets

Because that's what we do around here.

Helen likes to read "Conversations with God" while using the potty.

She is her father's daughter.

The BIG Camp Out!

Obviously, the cub scout season is in full swing over here.  This past weekend was Martin's first camp out with his entire pack.  Last week it rained and it was cold everyday.  It stopped raining Friday, but it was still cold and the ground was wet.

I was in full Mom Mode and did not want to send Martin, my five year old son, outside to sleep in a tent for two nights while there was a frost advisory.  Yes, yes...Brian was with him, but still....  I was hoping this camping trip would be cancelled and rescheduled for a warmer weekend next summer.  But it wasn't.  My dad kept reminding me:  Cub scouts are just miniature Marines.  So Friday afternoon, I gritted my teeth and went shopping for things they needed.  I made sure Martin had extra everything - socks, shirts, sweatshirts, coats, blankets (notice everything is plural?  because i made sure there was more than one of everything in his bag).  And I even told Brian:  If it gets too cold, you come home.  All I got was two sets of rolling eyes.

When I woke up Saturday morning, all I could see was frost.  Frost on the grass, in the trees, on roof tops - and all I could think about was My Sweet Little Martin sleeping on the ground, probably freezing and missing his warm bed and his loving Mommy.

Not the case at all:

 On his way out the door:

"Mom!  Enough with the camera!"

 Camp fire

 Map & Compass

 Fishing

 Bluegill

Human Fuse-ball

 Archary

 Tent City

(kind of reminds me of a Grateful Dead concert)

 Home for the weekend

 After Mass:  Q&A with the priest

 Hayride

Goodnight!

Now That's Racin'!!

Martin had his very first cub scout pack meeting tonight.

Which really was the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Race.

The only rules were it must contain a pumpkin, and it must have wheels.

Check out the process:

Can you guess what his pumpkin looked like?

Here's a clue:  It didn't have anything to do with Star Wars.

 (though his costume did)

 That's right!

A Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle.

And Michelangelo, no less.

After all, he is a lover of pizza - just like Martin.

(the board the pumpkin sat on was painted to look like a pizza slice)

There is Martin's Pumpkin Race.

His made it down the ramp first, but it also flipped first.

Which, if you're a boy, is pretty freaking awesome.