Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Kaetzel Family!



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Friday, October 29, 2010

Target Practice

The other day after picking Max up from school I announced that we needed to head to Target. Max immediately began to protest, saying, "But Moooooom, we always go to Target. Why do we go there so much?" Truthfully, the kid had a point. I love Target. I mean really, really love Target. I could wander the aisles for hours were it not for my band of rag-tag boys dragging behind me. When it's raining and there are still a number of hours before Mark gets home, a common phrase in my house is, "Hey, I have an idea. Let's go to Target!" So I get it. My boy simply doesn't share my same enthusiasm for this discount emporium of dreams (okay, maybe I love it a little too much), especially if he knows we're not going to be purchasing any toys.

On this particular trip I needed to get Gus some boots. He was heading to a pumpkin patch the next day with his preschool and I had accidentally left his rain boots outside in the rain. (Yes, I do see the irony, thank you.) As we were walking through the store, Gus was lagging behind, curiously examining every kitchen gadget, linen and small appliance. It was driving Max completely insane.

Finally Max calls out, "Gus! Hurry up or you are going to be disciplined when we get home!" (hmm...do you think they've heard that before?)
"No he's not," I said to Max, trying to stifle my laughter looking at my little 6 year old acting so parental.
Max shrugged his shoulders, gave a big sigh and muttered, "Well, he would in my world."

I can just imagine Max laying in bed at night, dreaming up all the things he'd change if he had a world of his own. No pesky brothers messing with his things, no green veggies and no more boring trips to Target would definitely top the list, I'm sure.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Activity Tree

This is my latest project that I finally finished after far too long. It's an 'evening activity tree'.
"A what?" you ask.
Here's the deal...every evening Mark gets home and the boys go into a near-panic trying to make sure they get to do what they want with him, which usually leads to one kid crying that that's not what he wanted to do, 'so and so always gets to pick the activity', blah blah blah. Not to mention their choices usually include some sort of video game or wrestling moves, which pretty much leaves me out. My solution...create a sweet little tree with days of the week on the branches and little "activity birds" hanging from said branches. That way, the boys know what to expect and I have a way to get the kids to take baths, do art and read Bible stories without much fuss. Or at least that's the plan. Tonight was our first night using it and what was on the branch? Video games.
Go figure.




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Thursday, October 21, 2010

File Under: Things I Shouldn't Have To Say Before 8am

"Why are there shark teeth in the bathroom?"

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Max's Trip - Part 5

Joy.

Despite the sadness of the loss of Great-Grandmom, Max had a wonderful time and is already talking about his next visit.


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Max's Trip - Part 4

Backyard Lightsaber Battles

These photos were totally Max's idea. I told him I see an Artistic Director career in his future.




Not sure who has more fun during these epic battles:

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Max's Trip - Part 3

A Day in D.C.

Max's Great-Uncle Bob was able to meet up with the crew at the Mall.



Unfortunately the Museum of Natural History (Max's #1 choice of sites to see) was closed for the day due to a broken water main. Max instead selected the Air & Space Museum, as well as the American History Museum and still had a fabulous day.


Here he is checking out Venus through a giant telescope:


Max and Mark near the Washington Monument:

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Max's trip - Part 2

Visiting with Mark's family:

These are 2 of Max's Great-Great-Great Uncles. Can you believe that??



Mark, Max and Uncle Randy. Uncle Randy was recently in a bad motorcycle accident, so it was really great that he was able to come down for a visit and pose for one of the "famous" porch-swing photos.



Great-Grandad, Mark, Max and Mom-Mom take their turn on the swing:


Now it's Grandad's turn:
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Max's Trip - Part 1

Visiting Great-Grandmom's gravesite.

Mark, Max and Great-Grandad take flowers to Great-Grandmom's grave. She passed just 2 weeks before Mark and Max's trip.



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