What makes you laugh?

You can tell a lot about someone by what they laugh at.  It is especially interesting when you are around extended family...you begin to see continuous threads of humor running through an entire family.  Aunts and Uncles laughing, almost in unison, at the same moment.  It is contagious and quite comforting.  I have noticed this on both sides of my family...maybe it is my Mennonite background, but there is a somewhat dry and modestly stated humor, delivered most wittily by the very straight faced relatives.  My Grandma is no exception.  She is quite the story teller, very humble, and very witty with her one-liners...and the amazing thing is that she just turned 98!  My Mom and step-dad Ted, myself and the kids drove up, along with many of the other family members to celebrate this birthday with her.  It was a great time for the kids to connect...really for the first time with some of their second cousins, great aunts and uncles, and of course Great Grandma, Clara Miller. 
Below are some pictures and some highlights from the trip...
- sharing with the kids a bit of our Amish Heritage
- gorgeous snow covered farmland stretching as far as the eye could see
- gigantic ice cycles hanging from every roof...some reaching to the ground
- kids were overjoyed to stay the night in a hotel...they walked in with a "Wow, mom this is amazing!"
- jumping on the beds...shhhhh don't tell
- quality time with family
- seeing and staying with my dear dear friend Susan (the cute picture below of her son Lane and Addie playing horse and bugging!)
- spending time with Grandma and seeing her age oh so gracefully!!!!!!  We love you all!

Sign reads "Horse drawn vehicle parking only"

Our panel of wise souls!

Grandpa and his beloved guestbook!

I would love to hear from you guys....what things make you laugh?
Ryland laughs when an adult gets hurt (I guess he thinks it is funny seeing our weakness too)
Addison laughs at Ryland being silly and dancing
I laugh the most at Becky when she gets silly, at Richard when he is at his funniest around Jon and Jake, and any time I hear Ryland's belly laugh.

PPT

What is PPT you ask?  It sounds like a disorder or vaccine, but it is just initials I made up for being Paralyzed by Passing Time.  This is the exact syndrome I spoke against in my first blog post.  I said that I wouldn't "avoid blogging because I missed a link in the chain."  Well, low and behold it happened....Valentine's Day.  I just thought I couldn't go on with another blog post unless I included Valentine's Day...and I just didn't have the pictures or a big story from that day....

....however, I realized I do have one...and I will include it briefly, but to carry on with what I want to leave here on these random sheets of cyber paper, I will make this blog brief and hopefully capture a few child perspectives.

On Valentine's Night Richard took Addie on his annual VDay date and when she came home, beaming of course, she asked if she could tuck me in to bed this night...tired and willing, I obliged.  She said a sweet prayer with me, and sang me two original songs...absolutely beautiful songs (in word...not so much in melody!). A couple of nuggets from her lullaby (which was basically a narrative of her life and her relationship with us and God) I will leave with you...

- She has two Fathers - one in the "air" and one here

- When we have left her and Ryland before and gone on a long distance trip she hasn't felt safe (talk about heart breaking!), but knew that she could always talk to God and he would never leave her, he would be right by her side - yes, tears were rolling down my face at that point.

- and Yes, she loves us so much...That was the best Valentine's any mom could get. If you haven't yet, I hope you too get a valentine's song one day!

Valentine's Day blog post - check!

Ok, Ryland's latest little question...When he has done something he thinks has irritated me or I have a certain look on my face he will say, "Mom, you happy at me?"  with this fake desperate little smile across his sweet face.  Oh yes, Ryland, I am very happy at you!  You bring me such joy!  The funny thing though is that it always reminds me of that commercial (local commercial of course) from that law office with all the ladies lined up talking about posting bail for someone saying...."Don't worry. R&R will be there.  We ain't mad atcha!"  Hilarious!  If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing that...I am deeply sorry because it is a classic. 

I will post again soon with more pictures from a recent trip to Ohio, but for now I just want you all to know that I am happy at you!...and with you!...and my cup runneth over!

And to my Valentine, Richard...I love you and you will always be my BEST FRIEND and have my heart!

"Ready, Go, Set"

I adore that Ryland mixes words up...just like his mommy!  Richard often reminds me that I often talk like English is my second language..when it comes to quotes and quips I just seem to have a missing link in my synapses.  I love the kids getting older, but I will miss some of the funny things they say or the funny way they say them. 

On the home front...life has been pretty typical January/February...everything but the weather actually.  We have been getting all kinds of snow...wonderful on one hand (I have been trying to appreciate the diversion from the typically non-climactic winter); however, it does seem to add to my funky mood when I am cooped up in the house.  I have to admit, I feel a little sorry for my family sometimes having to put up with my moodiness...I have been devouring gardening websites and digging up old garden magazines just to make me feel a little "Springy." 

Addison has been learning to read and I have been so proud of her.  She loves to learn.  However, whenever we sit down for her read a book to me, she gets crazy ants-in-her-pants and it is like sitting next to a off-balance washing machine.  She moves around non-stop and bounces and won't sit still.  The other day I kept on telling her to sit still and finally she said..."Mom, wait one minute I have to do something." She got down turned around and said "Ladies and Gentleman!" put her hands up in the air and starting  hopping, wiggling, and dancing like crazy.  This lasted for a good minute or two while I laughed and then she came back to the table, sat down, and said "that is better."  I guess she just had to get those ants out!  Funny! 

Ryland is pretending to kill the poor snowman!

 

This is what happens when you leave the kids alone for too long!!