The Family Rules

Our "family rules" started on Facebook. Early on I decided that I was only going to post on Facebook if I could make people smile. Each new rule is the result of an action, comment or blunder on the part of one or several of our family members. The first family rule that started it all?
New family rule: "We don't give wedgies during family prayer."

Now some may think this should go without saying. We are a spiritual family, we pray every night together before the kids go off to their respective dreamlands. Usually there is a certain decorum associated with prayer time, but it's not uncommon for this formality to be more of a wish on my part than an actuality. One night in particular, as we were kneeling in prayer, my lovely daughter who was 7 at the time decided to stealthily reach behind her big brother and give his undies a yank. I have to give Ethan credit for not yelping right in the middle of suplication. He waited until we said "amen" to announce that he had received a wedgie. Shelby, ever the innocent, quietly grinned as only a child with great gratification can. You see, it's usually Shelby who is on the receiving end of most teasing and torture in our house, and sometimes payback is sweet.

Cast of Characters

What happens when the class clown meets and marries the funny girl? You end up with bunch of goofball babies. The things that happen within the four walls of this house can provide the avid humorist with years of family fodder. Three goofy kids ranging in age from 2 to 13, allows for a steady stream of offbeat situations and anecdotal humiliation. Don't worry about being a Peeping Tom, your invited to take a peek inside our wacky Winkel world. Just don't leave any nose marks on the windows, it creeps me out.

Meet our cast of characters:

ME! (Laurel): I'm The Mom. It falls on my shoulders to make sure this gaggle of gigglers gets fed, washed, educated, shuttled, and otherwise supervised in all workings of the world. I also work full time from home in our family business making sure all the $$$ gets to the bank on time.

Bryan: Husband magnifique! Not only is this handsome man the love of my life, he's also handy around the house. Bryan has a sarcastic personality blended with the ability to not only see the humor in things, but also point it out using little to no verbal filter.

Ethan: A smaller version of his father, in almost every regard. This kid keeps me on my toes, and constantly reminds me that life doesn't have to be so serious. He also needs a haircut.

Shelby: As much like her mother as Ethan is like his father. Shy...until you get to know her. She can make me laugh and make me pull my hair out, all without taking a breath. Sweet as pie, as long as you don't release the Kraken.

Tyce: The perfect combination of the best and worst of the other two. He's my little shadow, as long as its on his terms. As far as he's concerned, he's the boss around here and nobody better say otherwise. He's responsible for most of my tears of joy, and frustration.