The Underwear Chronicles

I have had two conversations with my husband recently that have been a little funny. I thought you would appreciate them. Here you go:

Conversation #1: Emergency Preparation- Underwear

Scene: We are packing for a trip to San Antonio to attend a conference. The suitcases are open and we are trying to decide if we can get away with bringing just one suitcase for the three day conference.

Lori: It's only three days. Lets see if we can scale down and fit all your stuff in with mine.

Gerry: If you can take some stuff out of here, then we can make this work.

(Lori watches as Gerry takes our her boots, hair dryer and pajamas- all things he does not consider to be essential to this trip)

Gerry: Now I think we can do it. (He proceeds to pack his underwear and socks into her suitcase.)

Lori: I thought that we were only going for three days.

Gerry: We are.

Lori: Then why are you packing seven pairs of underwear?

Gerry: In case there is an emergency.

Lori: What kind of emergency are you planning for that requires you to bring twice as much underwear as you are going to need?

Gerry: I don't know.... my Mom always told me to pack extra underwear.

Lori: I am not sure I want to travel with you if you are going to have an emergency that requires you to use all that underwear.

(Gerry starts to take out some of the underwear. He decides to leave two extra pairs- just in case.)

Conversation #2: More Underwear

Gerry: I'm going to Walmart. Do you need anything?

Lori: I could use some new panties.

Gerry: Really? (in an excited tone) You want me to get them for you?

Lori: Sure.

Gerry: Well, what kind should I buy? Bikini?

Lori: I like the low cut bikinis.

Gerry: (a little more excited) What size should I get?

Lori: 6

Gerry: Is there any particular fabric you like- cotton, silk?

Lori: Either is fine.

Gerry: (eyes widening) What colors do you like?

Lori: White or flesh so they don't show through.

Gerry: (pausing to take in the mental picture) Do I have a budget?

Lori: I don't know- $10 should work. I didn't know this was going to require so much questioning.

Gerry: I got it. I will be back!
(he leaves the house with much more excitement for a trip to Walmart than I have ever seen him leave in the past. I must not be following through on my New Year's resolutions.)

I forgot to blog about Ben's meeting with Santa. We had prepped him. We talked about Santa's generosity and kindness. We showed him pictures and read him stories. Ben even started to say the word Santa as Christmas approached. But our prepping was to no avail. He was not happy about sitting on the lap of a man with a long white beard wearing a silly furry red suit. He was not having any part of it what so ever.

Christmas at the Millers

I know that I have been slow in posting about Christmas. Many apologies. Aside from Ben's bout with RSV, we had a great time. Little Gerry got his Nintendo DS complete with Star Wars games. Ben got many toys related to Elmo and his very own table and chairs. We were excited to see them have a fun Christmas and to share it with my parents who were here fresh from the frontier and Gerry's parents who were coming back after visiting their newest grandchild in Jackson. Here are a few pictures. Enjoy!

My Child is Brainwashed by McDonalds

At about 5:30 this evening, I decided that I was hungry, tired and lazy and there was no relief in sight because my husband was in Abilene. I also had both of my children and Gerry's friend Will over. So, I thought that maybe we could go to McDonald's for dinner. I am a little health conscience and I watch what my family eats. Therefore, we never go there so it is a shocker to my children when it is suggested. I don't know about you, but aside for the fact it isn't very healthy, McDonald's is not my first choice when it comes to food. The older I get, the more often I suffer from the McGurgles.

At any rate, after asking Will's Mom if it was okay, I told the boys that we were going to McDonald's for dinner. You would have thought I told them we were going to Disney World. They were soooo excited- running through the house, pretending to faint, talking fast and loud about the toys they could have this week, etc... I was amazed at their response. So that got me to thinking. How has McDonald's brainwashed our children? When did this happen?

When I was a kid, I remember that I loved to go to McDonald's. I think that McDonald's and Burger King were the only restaurants that had the kids meal with the toy so that was a big draw for me. Other than that, I am not quite sure why I liked it so much. I could have been that I got my very own meal in a McDonald's-shaped box. Or maybe it was Ronald McDonald and his gang of friends- I remember those commercials on T.V. Now that I think about it- was I brainwashed too? I must not have been if I am not a lifetime lover of the place. Right?

So, now back to my question. How has my child been brainwashed? I watch T.V. and I do not recall seeing a recent McDonald's commercial. Are they in the schools? Is there something addictive to children about their food? Are there subliminal messages in the video games? I just don't get it. I would like to get to the bottom of this mystery....