The Birds are Chirping

It's spring around here, finally!  We had a really nice week, then it got cold again, and next week should be great again.  I hear the birds chirping, and I can't wait to get my hands in the dirt and start planting things!  Of course, those poor things will most likely die because I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll try again nonetheless.

The kids have gotten to play outside, and everybody is loving it.  Grace is the little mommy:

She loves taking care of everybody and everything.  Every day she makes lists, organizes, and keeps things running.  She's going to run the world someday.  Here she is giving Matt a push.

Matt tried to return the favor, but all it did was make them giggle.

I had the camera out, and the boys wanted a picture.  Why do they never want to cooperate when I want to take pictures?

Matt has been sick for a week and a half.  I knew he had a miserable cold, but his eyes started swelling after a week or so.  I knew it wasn't pink eye, because his eyes were still white.  I took him in to check for a sinus infection, and sure enough, that's what he had.  But I also found out that he had a double ear infection.  He never once told us that his ears hurt.  He just doesn't feel pain like normal humans.  But all is well now, after I had to bribe him to take his medicine for 5 days.  "As soon as you take your medicine, you can play with your letters."  We should have named him Stubborn.

He's also been really interested in dogs lately.  He asks 20 times every day if Mojo (Sam's dog) can sleep in his room.  Then when I tell him that Mojo is with Sam, he asks if Shoji can sleep in his room.  He talks about them so much that he started calling Shoji "Moji" because he's getting their names combined.  He also loves to flick Shoji's ear the same way he does his blanky ("Dee Dee").  So Shoji has become his replacement comfort item.  Poor dog.  Good thing she loves him, and she's such a good dog.  She sleeps in his room now, and it stinks like dog (not that it didn't before).

Parades are Fun

Today was the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown.  And, since we love all things Irish, away we went!  We got there early, so we walked through the Celtic Festival first.  As we rounded the first corner, there was a vagabond bleeding profusely from his face.  What a way to start your day!

We grabbed some hot dogs (you can get a hot dog, chips, and a drink for $2.00, so it was perfect).  We found our regular spot -- same exact place we were last year!  It was a little chilly, but as soon as the action started and the candy was flying, we all had a blast.  There was a ton of people there.  Matt especially enjoyed digging candy out of the gutter.  He danced to the drummers, ran out in the street when the horses came by, and got really tired by the end.  He was so tired that he mistook another woman for me.  She was about my size, and was blond with sunglasses on.  He followed her a little ways down the street, grabbed her leg, and then put his arms out for her to pick him up.  The whole time, I was following him saying, "Matt!  Matt!"  But he was too tired to bother listening.  The other lady was laughing hysterically (so was her husband).  I finally grabbed him and he figured it out.  Then he fell asleep on the way back home.

Another successful day.

Cowboys

A couple of days ago, Matt was throwing a big fit after waking up from a late nap (he doesn't take naps anymore for that very reason).  Mommy was gone, so Daddy called Uncle Sam to see if Mojo could come over for a "sleepover".  Matthew perked right up, and waited by the door.  As soon as he came (after all the excitement wore off), Matt made a bed in his room, locked Mojo in with him, and there they slept all night.  Poor Mojo.  But Matt was happy about it.

My kids have re-discovered their cowboy hats, chaps, boots, and ropes.  I have been giving them roping lessons, and my banister is about to fall down from being roped (Joey keep saying "whipped").  I need a steer head and a bale of straw, pronto.

Wrestling Week

Matt has gotten into the habit of falling asleep on our bedroom floor on the weekends.  We found him in a pool of drool the other night.

Here he is waiting for Grandpa to arrive.  He stood there by the door with his hand at the ready for 15 minutes.  Then he got in trouble (I don't even remember why) and he had to go sit on the naughty chair (we didn't have a naughty chair for the other kids, but he's special).  So he missed Grandpa's arrival anyway.

Andrew and Joey have been in Little Guy Wrestling for a couple of weeks.  They do an annual camp at West High, and use the high school wrestlers as coaches (as well as the adult coaches).  They absolutely love it.  I can't really stand it, but oh well.  The night before the tournament, the boys practiced on each other and Dad.  Haley was giving coaching instructions (she is one of the wrestling managers at West High -- so she knows more than she ever wanted to about wrestling).

Ben and I weren't able to make it to the tournament because we had a Boy Scout dinner that night, but Haley recorded it, and Grandpa Jerry went along as a cheerleader.  Grandma Jane watched the other two at her house.  It was a great evening, and according to Haley's calculations, Joey got 2nd place, and Andrew was in either 1st or 2nd.  We're so proud of them!  They're tough little boys, and I see many hours in the stands rooting for them in my future.

Both Grace and Matthew thought it was totally unfair that they didn't get to wrestle.  I'm sure Grace will be a willing participant in all of our practice at home, and Matt will get his turn before long, too.

Funnies:

Andrew, Joey, and Grandpa Jerry go out to City Brew every Friday morning.  One time, Andrew went to the counter to buy his breakfast sandwich, and a young woman thought he was so cute, that she just needed to buy him the sandwich.  When Andrew got back to the table, he said, "Joey loves the ladies, but the ladies love me!"

Letters from Grace, Blacksmith, Care Bears, and Wrestling

A new message from Grace, this one typed at Grandma Nan's house (she went there for lunch):

LUVMOMFROMGRACEINOWEWILOLIZBETOGETHER.

ILUVTOORED.

ILUVTOOPLAYWITHMIMOM.

FRUMGRACE.

Translation: "Love Mom, From Grace.  I know we will always be together.  I love to read.  I love to play with Mom.  From, Grace."

She's getting pretty good, right?

***

Andrew told me that he figured out what he wants to be when he grows up: a blacksmith.  So we talked about how blacksmiths aren't used very much anymore.  But he would still like to make swords and armor.  We talked about how different things are used in war now, but he could make them just for fun.  I told him he might want to get another job, and be a blacksmith as a hobby.  We'll see how that turns out.

***

Matthew has decided he's a Care Bear.  He has a "belly badge", and it makes him fly.  He rubs his tummy and flaps his wings.  It's totally cute, until he screams at his siblings because they want to rub his belly badge, but they aren't allowed to touch it.  He watches Care Bears every day, of course.  It's getting out of hand, but it's better than Power Rangers, or some other crud like that.

***

The two older boys are doing wrestling camp.  I'm surprised how much they love wrestling.  I completely hate it, but if it teaches them to do their best and give their all, I'll support it.  I'm disappointed I won't get to go to their tournament next week (Ben and I have a big dinner the same night), but I know they're going to rock.  They are my little muscle men.

***

A few weeks ago, I took this picture of my two lumber jacks:

Then, Joey got a new shirt for his birthday, and it's the same one that Matt has!  Now they REALLY look alike:

Joey's Birthday Party

Last Saturday, we celebrated Joey's birthday at Steep World, a rock climbing gym.  It was so much fun!  They had a little area where we could have cake and do presents, so we did that first.  Then we spent the next hour and a half climbing the walls - literally.  It was so much fun, and the kids were exhausted by the time they were done.  Very successful party!

Joey invited Reece and Ryan, Kanalu, and Breklen.  Kourtney and Kaitlin couldn't come because they went to Disney Land, but they took Joey and Andrew out for frozen yogurt on Joey's birthday.  What good friends we have!

A green light saber was at the top of his list.

We had most of the crew there.  Our whole family was present, Nan and Fred, G. Jerry, G. Bertha, Emily and Kanalu, and Sam and Allison all came with us to celebrate.  It was tight quarters, but we all love each other, so no problem.

We had to keep an eye on these two.  They are double trouble.

He also got several Star Wars and Ninjago lego sets, some shirts, a bow & arrow, binoculars, and $20 from Grandma Bertha.

Andrew and Breklen were the first two on the wall.  Andrew scaled it like a pro, and Breklen was not to be outdone.  She is a go-getter!  She didn't give up, and showed us all how awesome she is!  Her hands were red and hurting by the time we were done, but she didn't let that stop her.

Joey and Kanalu got the hang of it, and even though they were a little timid at first, they embraced the idea, and were monkeys after that.

Ryan was pretty afraid of heights, but he went up to the top anyway.  I just love to see kids conquer things.  Anything.  It gives them such confidence.

Joey and Breklen had a little race to the top.  They are kind of competitive with each other.  A little competition is good for you.  It shows you've got heart.

Haley babysat "The Old People".  The pretty much behaved themselves.

The kids had an awesome climbing guide.  Can't remember his name, but he was really great with the little kids.  Their favorite part was when he hid Starburst all along the walls, and they had to climb to find them.

Andrew tried some tough angles.  I was so impressed.  This guy is a tough one.  He likes a challenge.  I like a kid who likes a challenge.

This game was hanging on the wall.  They had to pick a spot and stay there for 4 minutes, and if they were successful, they got a candy bar.  These guys all made it!

I think we'll be frequenting Steep World.  The kids just loved it.

And of course, our little Gracie was not to be outdone.  If the boys can do it, she can, too.  Of course, a little help from Uncle Sam never hurts.  After awhile, she was climbing everywhere the boys went.

Love this picture of the birthday boy.  Joey sometimes needs a little sweet talking, but he accepts a challenge, too.  I'm so proud of him.  He is so sweet, cute, and fun.  He makes me laugh every day.  I'm so glad we were able to celebrate his special day at such a fun place!

What a Day

It's snowing and I hate that.  Especially when it's COLD and snowing.  Which it is.  Boo.

I sat on the stairs today while the boys were getting off to school, and when I stood up, my lower back was completely out.  It took me five minutes to stand up, and it still hurts.  I can't even hardly step on my left foot without pain shooting up my spine.

I tried to practice my Symphony music, and this is what happened:

Matthew made himself chicken nuggets, complete with ranch, ketchup, and bbq sauce.

He got out the Costco 5 lb. block of cheese with a knife and tried to cut himself a slice.

He put half a bottle of nano wax into his hair, plugged up the sink, and broke the mouse on the computer.

He did this in my first 5 minutes of practice.

Now he's in the bathtub, where at least he's contained.

So much for being productive today.

I still haven't prepared the awesome FHE lesson I had ready in my head.  Looks like we're winging it again.

It's 4:32 PM and dinner hasn't even started to prepare itself.  Where's the maid?  Oh, right.  We don't have one.  Except for me, and I'm crippled today, which = sandwiches for dinner.

But here's the good news:

Jill had her baby boy yesterday, and he's a major cutie!  Isaac Stanley was born on Jerry's birthday, February 6.  Can't wait to meet him!  Hopefully soon, so I can get some good newborn pictures of him.

It's still snowing.

Yesterday, we went over to G&G J&J's house for a birthday celebration.  Joey was ecstatic to get his new Wii (it's red!), and a new DS game.  We made a cherry cheesecake, GJ's favorite, and gave him some homemade cards and a gift certificate to City Brew.

Here's the birthday boys, who turned 6 & 60:

Grace is getting good at posing for the camera:

 

Trouble makers:

 

Grace got some new goggles, courtesy of GJ: