Steen Soup

WE'VE MOVED!

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:17:00 +0000

FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WE HAVE MOVED OUR BLOG TO STEENSOUP.MSMINDY.COM. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR BOOKMARKS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS!

THE STEENS :)

Where do you get the gray paper?

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:42:00 +0000

Raymond's been fascinated with learning about our careers lately. When I pointed to a person on the news and told him that I used to do that before he was born, his eyes lit up. Yesterday he told me that he told his friend Nico that his Dad reads the news on TV. I corrected him, telling him that I used to, and that now I write the news for newspapers and magazines.

"Where do you get the gray paper?" he asked.

It made me chuckle. For once it's nice that someone else sensationalizes what I do, instead of the other way around. : )

Ole' Saint Raymond

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:42:00 +0000

Shame on us for not sticking to this blog for our personal family memories. Back to the postings. (site will be migrated to a new and improved Steen Soup sometime soon).

Raymond took all of the Christmas cookie containers and packed toys in them, then lined them up on the couch for Maddox to open. We've only been drilling the idea of "giving" into his head for the past few weeks so maybe something finally stuck : ) Gotta love it though. Maddox was so happy. Five minutes later, Raymond was seen chasing Maddox around the house with Max screaming "stop!"

A sign that I need to work out

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:43:00 +0000

The other day, Maddox and I spent an hour wrestling and playing catch with some indoor balls (baseball, basketball, football). I stuffed them in my shirt and Maddox proclaimed, "You Incredibles, you Superman!"

At least he knows fake muscles when he sees them.

Ice Cream Linked to Brain Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:38:00 +0000

So we finally went to Willie's to get ice cream, following weeks of promises and threats driving good behavior with the boys. Later tonight, Raymond began his normal tantrum throwing about going to bed, while walking up the stairs.

Mindy: "What happened to, 'I'm going to be a good listener all day Mommy
?"
Raymond: "I don't know, I lost my brain."

I laughed, nearly waking up Tessa whom I was rocking in the chair. Add "brain loss" to the after-effects of soft-serve ice cream.

Smart-alec 2-year old

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:34:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I stood at the top of the steps with Tessa in my arms, ready to go downstairs.

Maddox: "Up please."
Me: "No, I'm can't buddy. I'm carrying Tessa."
Maddox: "You have two hands?"

Touché Maddox, touché.

Billy Mays Junior?

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Looks like I need to start the Marketing 101 courses for the boys early. Raymond has virtually every infomercial that appears during kids' shows on TV memorized. Today he begged me to buy "Introducing Touch 'n Brush." I couldn't stop laughing. I said maybe and he said, "Oh good, I'll have to be very good so I get it for my birthday."

On my way to posting this he completed the infomercial with, "Hey Dad, you get a free toothbrush too!" Anyone looking to strangely please my son for his fifth birthday can check out the latest request at https://www.buytouchnbrush.com/?mid=537246.

I'm researching what it would net if I start a "Kids sucked-into as-seen-on-TV ads" recovery class down at the parks and rec.

Steen Roebuck?

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:35:00 +0000

Raymond wanted Tessa to hold his lovie, but kept getting irritated when she slobbered on it. I told him that she was teething and said her teeth were coming in.

Raymond, "They're coming in the mail?"

Mail-order baby dentures? Move over Sears!

Tessa's First Toes in the Ocean

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Tessa got all excited to see the waves and her legs locked up whenever a wave came near.

Jumpin' Waves with Pop-Pop

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Raymond was infatuated with jumping waves the first day, but as you would expect, was overly sensitive to the water hitting in the face. He draped himself all over Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop the first day out, wearing everybody's arms down by jumping every wave.

By the end of the week, he and Maddox would take off into the water with their wings and learned to ride a few in. They even stuck to it after taking a few tumbles.

Heat-enduced comments

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

My headline is my excuse for what's becoming a very "punchy" pair of boys.

Mom asked, "Is coming to the beach your favorite thing to do?"
Raymond responds, "What's it to you?"

Maddox's favorite thing to tell everyone all week, "Stop copying me!" (quote stolen from Raymond). Even if we're singing along to one of his random songs, which includes making up words whenever he doesn't remember them, he shouts it. I'm glad I could pass that skill down to the next generation. He also likes growling at people and then throwing a fake smile while innocently begging, "Smile at me Mommy/Daddy." Probably something he learned at school.

Notice I've nicely shoved the blame for my kids' smart ass comments onto everyone except me and Mindy. : )

Sunset on Sunset Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Beautiful sight, just beautiful. Photo taken on the access walk bridge over the dunes, off the backyard of the house. Little did we know when we went on the beach the second night we'd encounter swarms of bugs that surrounded people's heads like helmets. Everyone from bikers, walkers and fishermen were flailing and smacking themselves senseless because of the bugs. Mindy was apparently too stinky or smelled too good because she went totally untouched.

Tessa Tanning with Men

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The only men my daughter's permitted to beach with until she's 21...25.

The Ladies Beachin' It

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:48:00 +0000

The ladies on the beach on one of the first days here. Mindy looks great, as usual. She worked so hard to get into shape for this trip, just 5 months after having Tessa. Great job babe, you look awesome!

Tessa dug her glasses (didn't grab at them to take them off) and the weather has been perfect all week. Tess came down with bronchitis so her beach visits were short-lived each day (a little too windy for her).

Check out this pic of them in black & white.
I had a tough one deciding which one to post.

Sunset Beach '09

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:38:00 +0000

Well, we've been at Aunt Me-Me's Sunset Beach (N.C.) house for six days now and this is the first time we've blogged....shame on us. So many memories and we gotta get them down online or else we'll lose 'em!

Yesterday's photo shoot went as well as could be expected. Most of the shots were taken with the flash on outside so they're a little over exposed, but nobody fell face first in the sand and for the most part, nobody cried. It's been one of the most relaxing vacations we've ever had. There's pretty much nothing extra to do here but go to the beach, which is perfect.

The boys live for jumping and crashing in the waves and to sit in the shade while emptying the cooler. I had no idea my kids were from a third world country and never ate before. I could have packed play dough in the cooler and they would have eaten it. Tessa came down with bronchitis right when we got here so she's stayed at the house for the most part. More memories to post under the tag "SunsetBeach09" on this blog.

All pictures are at http://picasaweb.google.com/mindysteen/SunsetBeach#

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:54:00 +0000

I did this once before with the boys, but now that there are three, I had to add her in. Do YOU know who's who? :)

I'm a godfather to-be!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:02:00 +0000

I 've been annointed godfather of unborn little Mikey Strubert! In order to be his godfather, my name change to Vito Corleone is imminent.

You'll see in this 3D picture that he's already flexing some muscle, or he's already getting his arm motion down for beer pong. Either or, I'm psyched!

Baptism tentatively planned for November 2009. John and I will also be plotting the formation of a godfather exchange program whereby we simply ship our kids across country to save in travel costs.

More 3D pics of Mikey at http://www.strubertfamily.com/baby/3d-ultrasound-pics.

A comforting image at the end of a tough day

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Days may be full of headaches and irritations, but that all melts away when I look at this and remember why I'm drudging through these tough days at work.

Raymond-ism

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Gobbles = goggles

Raymond-isms

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Flash water = fly swatter
Chicken Farmer John = chicken parmesan

World Relations from a 4 Year-Old

noreply@blogger.com (Ray) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:21:00 +0000

A few months ago, the five of us ate at Mario's Pizzeria downtown. Raymond asked about the pictures on the paper placemats and we started talking about Italy, and how we are part Italian. We told him that Mom-Mom is Italian and Pop-Pop is German.

Raymond's reply: "Yeah, but I'm from Earth."

Today, we sat at Chili's, celebrating Raymond's graduation from pre-k (Winchester Academy) and again the topic came up, but this time about the colors of people's skin. Mindy told me that Raymond had drawn a picture of some of the people he loved and all of us were in colored with a peach color and there was one brown person - that was Violah. I laughed and Raymond immediately said, "Don't tell people that." Then he informed me that "everyone who has brown skin is from India." Our only guess is this came from his pre-k classmate "Apu" who is from India.

I tried to explain that not all black people are from India, and that some are from other countries, like Violah is from the Phillipines. Once again, he said, "Yeah, and I'm from Earth."

It's been way too long since we've posted anything and I didn't want this one to get lost in the memories. Gotta love it.

Raymond Graduates Preschool

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Our little boy is now moving on to Kindergarten! We are so proud of Raymond and looking forward to his upcoming school career. Congratulations, Raymond!

From Raymond's Preschool Graduation

Mommy & Me

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:12:00 +0000

Adding Maddox's responses...

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Raymond: "Go potty!"
Maddox: "Tessa."

2. What makes mom happy?
Raymond: "When I go potty."
Maddox: "Tessa."

3. What makes mom sad?
Raymond: "When I don't listen."
Maddox: "Me?"

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Raymond: "Makes silly faces."
Maddox: "Crying."

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Raymond: "A rattle."
Maddox: "Tessa!"

6. How old is your mom?
Raymond: "16."
Maddox: "2."

7. How tall is your mom?
Raymond: "15 inches."
Maddox" Soooo big!" (arms wide)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Raymond: "Play with me."
Maddox: "I don't know."

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Raymond: "Play with somebody."
Maddox: "Um, 3."

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Raymond: "16."
Maddox: "Mommy, you 4?"

11. What is your mom really good at?
Raymond: "Playing catch."
Maddox: "All done."

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Raymond: "Playing basketball."
Maddox: "3."

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Raymond: "Write papers." (Way off...)
Maddox: "No."

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Raymond: "Chicken."
Maddox: "Dinner."

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Raymond: "Listening to me."
Maddox: "Um, 2."

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Raymond: "Ruby from 'Max & Ruby'."
Maddox: "Huh?"

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Raymond: "Play nicely."
Maddox: "I don't know."

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Raymond: "We both eat vegetables."
Maddox: "I don't know."

19. How are you and your mom different?
Raymond: "We're different sizes."
Maddox: "Um, 2?"

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Raymond: "I have to go potty."
Maddox: "It's mine?" (holding Mommy's wallet)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Raymond: "Target."
Maddox: "Um, I don't know."

The First Capture of Tessa's Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:16:00 +0000

I keep saying that this little thing has the biggest smile, and now I can finally prove it. I know I have a ton of blogging to catch up on, but this one couldn't wait!

From First Capture of Tessa's Smile :)

Raymond Questions Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:35:00 +0000

So this morning I was completely taken off-guard taking Raymond to school. He said out of nowhere, "Mommy, your dad went to Heaven because God needed some help. God needed to help him, too."

I nearly drove off the road. Is this really four year-old?

"Maybe we can get on a plane and visit him," he said.

"Awe, Sweetie, you can't get to Heaven by airplane."

"Well then how did your dad get there?" he asked.

I paused and then decided to tell the truth, "He died. That's how he got to Heaven."

"Well how did he die? Did somebody squish him?" As serious as the conversation was, I couldn't help but let out a giggle. I paused again trying to figure out how I'd answer this one.

"He had a big boo-boo in his belly." I explained. Not wanting him to freak out next time he had a boo-boo, I told him it was a very big boo-boo and it was inside - he didn't even know it was there.

"Do you miss your Daddy, Mom?"

"I miss him a whole bunch, Buddy. I wish he was here so he cold play with you."

"And you, too?" he clarified.

"Yes, and me, too. But people in Heaven can watch down on us and see us having fun."

"Yeah! Well maybe we can write him an 'I Miss You' card."

"I think that's a great idea, Buddy."