RIP Davy Jones

As I'm sure anyone who actually reads our blog on a regular basis ('cause you actually know me ;-)) will recall that I am a huge Monkees fan. Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that I'm not really part of the generation you would consider to be part of the Monkeemania craze, but that has never really stopped me. From the first time I remember anyone asking me, my favorite song has been "Daydream Believer" (well, there was quite a stint with "Kokomo" by the Beach Boys, too, but that is beside the point) At last count I had well over 30 Monkees CD's and my collection ranges from all the episodes on DVD (and some on VHS as well!) to puzzles, a lunch box, concert shirts, pajamas and on and on and on... While other girls had pictures of 'N Sync in their lockers, mine was plastered with the Monkees. I'm a freak, I know it and will proudly fly my freak flag high :)

All that being said, I was so bummed out earlier to get a text from Shell saying "your dream beau died" then to tell me at the age of 66 Davy Jones passed away from an apparent heart attack earlier today. While Shell's always been a Peter fan and Sarah's a Micky girl (sorry sisters, outing your Monkee freakdom a bit, too ;-) Though let's be honest, I left you no choice!) I have always been devoted to Davy. So I'm sure that you can imagine my sadness that not only is my favorite no longer around but my 'fab 4' is now only a trio. (Well, they would be if Mike ever bothered getting his act in gear...) What a bummer to think that the four of them will never get the chance to be on stage together again.

It did make me extremely thankful for the opportunity for my mom and I to go see them (for a second time!) this past June here in Detroit. The year I graduated high school we went and saw them together and both of us agreed we thought they were loads better 10 years later. So in case I didn't say it enough at the time - Thanks for my 5 year anniversary gift, Grant :)

I'm instituting a 48 hour period of mourning here at the Gatchel household during which only Monkees music is to be played. Shouldn't have to worry about running out of music anytime soon given my collection ;-) Thoughts and prayers go out to each of 'the guys', Davy's family and all my fellow Monkee fans out there. Thanks for the memories, Rest in Peace, Davy!

Paczki!

Yesterday Grant took the kiddos and found an authentic Polish bakery to buy paczki for Fat Tuesday. So this morning my kiddos are enjoying their first taste of authentic paczki :) Mikayla picked blueberry and Noah has apple. You don't think they enjoyed them or anything, do ya?

Valentine's Day Cookies

Last night was happy-fun-family-cookie-time at the Gatchel house! The kids got to punch out the shapes with heart-shaped cookie cutters in the afternoon and then decorate them later before bedtime. Of course, the best part was getting to eat all the frosting and tasty decoration :)

Super Sunday

So what did you think of the Super Bowl? Or rather, the more important question, what did you think of the commercials? I have to admit that I was sadly disappointed in the commercials this year. And was it just me or was it more than a little obvious that sex sells? I felt slapped upside the head with it. I mean, even the M&M's got into it with a naked joke...

Grant, the kiddos and I enjoyed watching the game and spending some time together. My kiddos were super wound up though and I think it was the second half before we ended up watching any of the actual game.

Kayla eating pre-game :) She devoured nearly an entire batch of popcorn on her own by the time the game was over

Breakfast of champions at Casa de la Gatchel - homemade cinnamon rolls :)

Elmo's Super Heroes

A few weeks ago we implemented Noah's "chore chart" here at home to give him some responsibilities and incentives for doing things on his own. Each day he has seven things he can do to earn a "chip" and if he has at least five chips by the end of the day, he gets a special "token" that he can put in his token bank. He saves these tokens to spend on rewards that we determine ahead of time. His first reward was to go see Sesame Street, which cost 10 tokens, which he seemed to earn in no time at all.

Earlier this week I took off work in the middle of the day on Wednesday and Noah and I (Grant) finally got to go see the show in downtown Detroit at the Fox Theatre. The place was probably the most elegant and ornate theater I have ever been to. Our seats were only ten rows back near the center, but just about any seat would have had a great view. 

Noah had a great time! True to being my kid, when asked what his favorite part of the show was, he would say "The streamers! They made a loud bang!". Thank God that he was able to catch some of those as a souvenir  after being shot off during the finale, otherwise I would have had to wrestle a 3 1/2 year old back to the car screaming about not having a $15 spinning Elmo toy....

Anyway, here are a few pictures from our trip, including eating lunch in the car at the park afterward. Enjoy :)