The Fire Swamp

So John was coughing today. Any cough he has sends me into Wibbeler Worrying Overdrive, hereafter to be known as WWO. I mentioned a doctor's visit and being worried about pneumonia. He says, "It's kind of like the Fire Swamp honey. We know about the ROUS's. We can handle that."
Here's a quick run down of what really happened in the fire swamp. Buttercup: That's the fire swamp! We'll never survive Wesley: Nonsense! You're only saying that because no one ever has.

Buttercup and Westley have just entered the Fire Swamp]
Westley: [looking around] It's not that bad. [Buttercup stares unbelievingly at him] Westley: Well, I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely. After a bout with lightning sand...
Buttercup: We'll never succeed. We may as well die here.
Westley: No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too.
Buttercup: Westley, what about the R.O.U.S.'s? Westley: Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist. [Immediately, an R.O.U.S. attacks him]

After surviving their ordeal...
BUTTERCUP: (almost in disbelief) We did it.
WESTLEY: Now, was that so terrible?

On being surrounded by Prince Humperdink and his men...
Westley: Ah, but how will you capture us? We know the secrets of the Fire Swamp. We can live there quite happily for some time. So, whenever you feel like dying, feel free to visit.

Okay. I'm quite sure that I don't want to live in the fire swamp. Don't want to go back to pneumonia land. Really, did you see what they looked like after their ordeal? Love the movie and I am usually the optimist in my marriage, come to think of it in my family in general. But the Fire Swamp, NO THANK YOU. Although that John Rapp can come up with a great analogy. So very tricky using one of my favorite movies on me for a life lesson.

It's snowing...

On the way home from church Miss Esther mentioned how much she enjoys the lights with snow on them. We avoided an accident on the interstate and went home via Holland Sylvania. Hence a quick stop, I mean about 8 minutes, at "The Botanicals." Dressy flats aren't my usual shoe of choice for snow, definitely not practical for a photo shoot. I even let Kate out to play with her new camera. Here are the results. Esther was so very thrilled. With comments of "It's just beautiful. Oh my how gorgeous. I just love this garden." I'll have to create a little book just for her with a bunch of the botanical garden photos from this year.

Miss Kathryn is absolutely my girl.

This great arrangement is on the drive side of the fun house. Yes it's called the fun house that isn't at Susanism. No I don't know why it's called the fun house... some things just are what they are. Paige was frantically trying to escape her five harness seatbelt, sure that Miss Judy was there. I won, she stayed in her seat, mostly due to the carseats sturdiness not my amazing parenting skills.

Grass seed head on the median in the garden. Remember bad shoes equals no foraging through the gardens. Paige saw this and wanted to know what that Caterpillar was doing out in the snow.

This bark is the tree by the garden forum, or the first building on the right as you enter "the Botanicals"

After all the photography I took Esther home. She suggested I might want to get the girls home before they would need a whippin'. Really the girls had gone nuts! The peace of Esther's group home must have quite a relief after a car ride with the Rapplings.Took them home, fed them....very important with cranky children, then movies for the rest of the night. All was well.

Day 4

Harry Connick JR. has two CD's that I grab when I'm trying to feel Christmasy. When my Heart Finds Christmas was released in 1993. My girls know all the words and I'm quite sure they are sick of hearing this one.

So much excitement...for me, trepidation for them. That I listened to his most recent album released last year 2008.
Okay so I'm trying to decide what to give you tomorrow. It's hard narrowing down my music selection. But as Syd keeps saying, "Only 3 more days mom. Three more." I love the Christmas countdown.

Kate and Sydney's favorite Christmas song this year...

Since Kate and Sydney felt I was leaving them out by not including their favorite songs for this year. Quirky doesn't begin to do these songs justice.
The first...Christmas is Creepy

Song number two...Christmas Cash

Thanks to the Icarly show, which is quite hilarious, for bringing this crazy character into our lives. He does have a few shorts on youtube that make me laugh. Really Kate can't you put your creative genius to work to make some dollars?

So now you too can be part of my crazy world...where children go around singing that Christmas is Creepy all day. Hey Kate are you going to miss the three presents that Santa won't be bringing, since he's creepy?

Kate's new friend...

Kate made this happy little friend on the USA - Psych website. We love the show and pineapples.

Day 2...

It might seem like the same day to you but I've slept since the last post so it's a new day to me. So here's my second suggested holiday listening material.
Bare Naked Ladies is by far one of my favorite groups to listen to. Barenaked for the Holidays was released in 2004, fun stuff.

I love Elf's lament when Kate heard it this year she finally got it and couldn't stop laughing. I love my girl.


I can also recommend their childrens album Snacktime, kid tested and parent approved witty and won't push you over the edge when you listen to it for the 500th time.

Christmas means music...

I love Christmas and Christmas means music to me. This week I'm going to share a favorite every day. Today is...
Straight Up No Chaser



You know I'm going to enjoy recording for our family history how I've warped my children with crazy songs. A long standing tradition in the Wibbeler family, ie. CW McCall and the Irish Rovers to name just a couple childhood favorites. So come along and enjoy my Christmas happiness with me.