What? It's been more than four weeks!?

Two children.  

Two very rowdy children.  

That is one of my excuses for the long absence.  As cute as they are (and how can you say they aren't),

Emily and Andrew are quite adept at getting into all sorts of trouble.  And Emily's lovely penchant for knives (and climbing on top of counters to reach them, despite the gates and locks designed to keep her out) doesn't help things.

I suppose there exists other explanations:  Having my wisdom teeth removed and continuing illnesses among them.

But the most important [reason] remains to be this man:

Since he quit one of his jobs, we are having loads of fun together and as a family.  We are quite lucky that our kids go to bed marvelously early--a routine I strictly adhere to in order to keep my sanity-- so after bedtime we enjoy chatting, playing games, and watching shows together.  Treasured time we've never really had as a married couple.

In short, we are partying it up!

Ah, but to satiate your curiosity, here is a list of 10 important happenings in our lives.

1. We can now include Andrew in our family's list of chocolate addicts (a list that includes all of us). As soon as I pull out a piece, he screams "chocwate!!!!"

2. Emily no longer takes naps.  I have learned that any naps on her part ultimately lead to a much-later-than-desired or staying-up-later-than-mommy-can-handle bed time.  No thank you.

3. Ben has lost like 15 lbs.  He also has a very nice 6-pack going on.  Yeah, he is smoking.

4. I lost the stupid 10 lbs I gained when I was put on birth control pills to control the cysts.  (Holy cow that was a wordy sentence.)

5. And I, also, have a 6-pack.  Ben and half the human population think I'm smoking.

6. We are transitioning our family into adhering to more traditional gender roles.  I take out the trash and Ben cooks dinner.  It's working out EXTREMELY WELL, in case you were wondering, because I absolutely hate cooking and Ben absolutely loves it.  Taking out the trash is a small price to pay to enjoy one of Ben's gourmet, and veggie filled, dishes.

7.  I have read several historical biographies recently and have fallen in love with Antonia Fraser's writing style.

8. I'm thinking of writing a musical starring Emily and Andrew.  Most of it will be comprised of their unique dancing styles and the ten or so nursery rhymes they know (half-sung half-yelled).  I think it will be an instant hit among their peers.

9. Andrew has a pot belly that is equivalent to an 8-month pregnant woman.  He even waddles like one.  (Sorry pregnant friends, it is the best description to explain his unique walking stance.)

10. We will be moving in less than 3 months.  The crazy part is, Ben and I aren't stressed.