The Star Wars room!

Remember my post talking about the Star Wars room my mom was doing for Keith? Well we finished it today for a day early birthday present. When we were painting it we told him it was going to be Caroline's room, so when he got home from school today we took him up to see Caroline's new room. He almost died from excitement, and promptly told us that Caroline was just going to have to have a different room because HE was the one who liked Star Wars - not Caroline! So check it out...

I love Nigeria!

No, really, I do. I mean, where else would I get my daily (some days hourly) dose of humor if it wasn't for the small (??? I'm guessing here. I don't actually know too much about Nigeria, other than I'm thinking I'm NOT related to all these dead rich people there) country which appears to have some type of epidemic going on. I mean, what else could explain all of these dead people with no next of kin and millions of dollars? I NEVER KNEW I had so many long lost relatives. Oh wait, maybe I'm not related to them... maybe our last names just have a letter in common, and that entitles me to their huge inheritance. Who knows. But anyways, you have to love the stories they come up with. My absolute favorites are the ones which start "Dear Sister in Christ." Those ones REALLY crack me up. No one addresses me as their dear sister in Christ except for random people from Nigeria looking for someone to dump millions of US dollars onto. Anyways, for those of you who don't get Nigeria letters (of course, if you don't get a Nigeria letter every once in a while I'm thinking you're not reading my blog, because you probably don't have email, or, for that matter, a computer), here you go. Have a laugh!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am highly delighted to be in contact with you and sorry
for the embarrassment this mail might be to you as we have
not met or known each other before but please feel free to
write me back and let me know if you can be of help.

I am Mr. Don Williams. I was a good friend to Late Mr. Roy
J. a national of your country, who until his death has no
wife nor son or daughter to claim his assets hence he was
buried here.

He was a contractor and has spent most of his life in my
country Nigeria. Mr. Roy J. were involved in a car accident
along Benin/Onitsha express road and unfortunately lost his
life on the 27th day of September 2006 at Onitsha. Since
then I have made several enquiries to your country embassy
to locate any of my friends extended relatives, this has
also proved unsuccessful hence: he has no next-of-kin at the
time of his death.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
contact you since all my effort to trace or locate any
member of his family failed me so that you as a foreigner
will assist me as my late friend next-of-kin in repatriating
the assets and Capital valued at US$6.5 million left behind
by my friend before it gets confiscated by the bank where
these huge deposits were lodged as treasury bills.

The said Bank in Nigeria has issued me a notice to provide
the next of Kin or have the Treasury bill confiscated. Since
I have been unsuccessful in locating any of my friend's
elatives for over three Months now, I seek the consent to
present you as the Next-of-kin to the deceased since you has
the same last name with my late friend, so that the proceeds
ofthis treasury bill can be paid to you.

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall
then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for claim. I
have all the necessary information needed to back you up for
the claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation
to enable us see this transaction through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law. Reply through my alternative e-mail address:
don_williams2000@hotmail.com

I wait to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Mr Don Williams

A song for Caroline

Well, another one :)

Eight years!

Today is the day - Ed and I have been married for eight years. Where did the time go? If you had told me ten years ago that I'd be sitting here, married to someone I hadn't met yet, with three kids, I would have told you that you were off your rocker. Yet here I am. And for all the ups and downs over the past eight years, we've still come out ahead. I mean, there haven't been any homicide charges filed against either of us, so that's a plus, right?!? I would post a picture, but we got married before the days of digital cameras. HA, just kidding - but all of the copies of our wedding pictures I had on a computer weren't on *this* computer, so I have to scan some. Maybe I'll post some next year!

The last day at Harrington's

The cutie in the house

ER trip #4675497483

ER trip #4675497483 occurred last night. And I bet you can't guess which child was involved this time! Aww, you're right. It was Henry. Such a surprise, I know. Did you know AI DuPont has a wing named after him? At least they should. Actually, this accident wasn't REALLY his fault. He was leaning against the screen door looking at Keith playing in the backyard, and Keith decided to come in. So he pulled the door open and out tumbled Henry, who proceeded to land, face first (of course!), on the brick step. So off we went. Six hours later, we got home with the diagnosis of split lip (they don't stitch those), a broken tooth (but not broken enough to do something about) and a loose tooth (go see a dentist). Yeah. The pictures aren't that great, mostly because Henry doesn't understand the words "stand still!".

The end of an era...

For those of you familiar with Kennett Square, I'm sure you've heard of Harrington's, right? The coffee shop? Been in Kennett for almost 13 years now? Well, I strongly suggest you go have your last cup of coffee there this week. Why, you ask? Well, it's closing.
Yes, for real.
No, I'm not kidding.
Saturday, September 27th Harrington's will be closing at 3pm for the last time. It's a bit bittersweet, because while *I* am not going to work there anymore and Adam isn't going to work there anymore and my parents aren't going to work there anymore and we're all pretty excited to not have to work at the coffee shop anymore, we're going to miss it. It's been our morning routine for EVER - Keith, Henry and now Caroline and I go and get our coffee every morning. My kids have grown up at Harrington's, and Keith seems to think that I'm kidding when I tell him it won't ever be open again after Saturday.

But I'm not. So, go and sit and enjoy a cup of 45, and buy a pound or two. Because you won't be able to after Saturday!

Here's looking at you, kid!

Mr. Fix-It and his gang

My singing machine

Henry walks around the house singing Sweet Caroline all the time now. I wish I could record him because it is hilarious. If you know him you know that enunciation is not his strength, so all you hear is "la la la line" over and over again. But, he can follow a tune! Now if he would start calling Caroline by her name instead of baby we'd be good!

Numbers

The other day Keith came in and asked to see the number on my stomach. I looked at him blankly and asked "number? What number?" and he said "you know, from when I lived in your stomach. What number is on your tummy?" I had no clue what he was talking about. So a day or so later he came in and said "Since Caroline was the third baby, did she put a number three on your stomach?" I, being the caring mom I am, said "what are you talking about? There are no numbers on my stomach!" to which Keith replied...

"You know, you keep saying all of us kids put a number on your stomach."

And all of a sudden the lightbulb went off and I asked "you all DID a number on my stomach?" to which he replied "YES!"

Priceless.

Meeting Darth Vader

So, about a month ago I got an email from Pottery Barn Kids. Usually I delete them, but I think the subject was Star Wars, or at least something catchy which prompted me to open the email. Lucky I did, because it told me that some of my favorite Star Wars characters were coming to a mall near me and I should get myself a ticket so as not to miss out. So I did. The next day I dragged the whole family to Christiana Mall (on a weekend, no less) to get tickets to see my favorite Star Wars characters. Actually, I could have cared less, but Keith absolutely loves Star Wars and hey, it was free. So today was THE DAY. Keith, Caroline and I packed ourselves into the van and headed back to Christiana Mall. On a weekend, again. (Side note - I worked at malls for 7 years at Victoria's Secret, so it takes A LOT to get me to go back into one. Especially Christiana, also known as an absolute madhouse.) The Star Wars characters were going to be at Pottery Barn Kids (did you see the Star Wars room they have?) from 12pm until 2pm. We arrived at 10:30am, and there were already 6 families in line. I dragged Keith to the bookstore to finally buy Twilight because there was no way I was waiting in line without something to do, and by 11am we were back and in line. I think we were family #11. So we waited. I read. Keith waited.

About 11:15 the PBK manager brought out the Imperial Cadet Training Manual for the kids (I'd tell you what was in it, but then I'd have to shoot... er, lightsaber you):

and told us parents that the characters would be signing autographs and PBK 'just happened' to be selling Star Wars books. So, being such an awesome mom, I had some other mom who gave up her Saturday to stand in line with her child keep an eye on Keith and I ran in and got him a Star Wars book for the characters to sign. Fortunately looking through said book kept Keith occupied for a while.

I was only asked ten times "how much longer?". Not too bad, considering we were waiting for Star Wars. Keith made friends with the little boy in line behind us.

That kid was quite a talker and knew every single bit of Star Wars trivia known to man. And now, *I* know every single bit of Star Wars trivia known to man, because the little boy felt he must share his information with me. Finally, noon arrived. PBK set up security, opened the rope, and let one family in.

I thought Keith was going to die. I managed to point out that there were only ten families ahead of us and approximately three hundred (yeah, I'm NOT kidding) behind us, and he kept it together. Finally it was our turn. We were let into the store, and there they were. Darth Vader and his three Stormtrooper sidekicks. Also known as Keith's very favorite characters ever, thank the Lord. He got their autographs and then got his picture taken with them.


He was thrilled, and made me promise to get the pictures framed to put in his room. At 12:15, we were done. On our way out we passed the three hundred other families waiting for their five minutes with Darth Vader, and Keith said "Man, mom, they're going to be waiting until midnight!" And you know what, I think he's right.

Happy One Month (and a day) Birthday, Caroline!

Yes, Caroline turned a month old yesterday. And no, her mother didn't realize it until late in the afternoon. I know she was thinking "I'm sure you remembered KEITH'S one month birthday" and you know what, she's right. Unfortunately for her, my memory and attention span are both shot. She can blame that on her brothers. So here's my baby girl at a month and a day old...

Congratulations are in order!

To Keith's school! His elementary school was designated a Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education. Way to go Chadds Ford Elementary!!! What IS a Blue Ribbon School, you ask? Well, I didn't know either, so I hit up my trusty friend, google. And here is what I found, from the Department of Education's website:

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. In addition to being honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, where each school receives a plaque and flag signifying their status, these schools serve as models for other schools throughout the nation.

I must say, I'm impressed.