A video update if you will

School is almost out for the summer and the boys are counting the days down. I am not sure if I am ready for school to be out yet. Sometimes I think them being apart for the school day is the only thing that keeps them from strangling each other and me from going nuts. I have a plan though, I always have a plan. I shall distract them with activities, baking projects, chores, and of course the swimming pool that has been hogging up the garage for the past seven months. It will be fun.... right??

So Jason had his end of the year concert this past weekend. I can't even tell you how proud I am of him. He has really come along way with the clarinet playing.


Jason and his band teacher. Oh I just want to pinch his cheeks!!


The auditorium was way to dark to take pictures or video so I videotaped James who clapped and danced for every song the band played. It came out real dark but you can hear the band and kind of see James hopping and dancing and clapping. He was way into it.

Then just today, Nathan showed me a trick he can do with a pillow. I swear every time I see him do it I get the chills because it creeps me out. He's my creeepy, double jointed, goofy boy.



That's all I have to share today. Mike has finally been working earlier hours so I am finally able to sit down with my family and enjoy dinner together every night. Something we have been looking forward to for a long time.

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Teeth

With four kids, three of which are at or past the teeth losing stage, I have had quite a few run ins with the tooth fairy. Just two nights ago, Marcus lost his second front tooth after hours of wiggling it while secreting massive amounts of drool in front of the bathroom mirror.



Around tooth losing time I get bombarded with fairy questions. "Is the tooth fairy a girl?", "How does she get in our house?", "Why doesn't she like shark tooth necklaces?", and my personal favorite "What does she do with all those teeth?"

That last one always stumps me. What DOES she do with all those teeth?? She has to have a pretty extensive collection by now and by my calculations she has doled out over $100 on my kids' teeth alone! Maybe next time I see her I will get a chance to ask. That tooth fairy is darn sneaky!

How I know it's a 2 year old's naptime.

James, are you tired?


AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

(I check my ears for blood)


Hands turn to fists and tears start to flow.


More screaming ensues but is done in his normal sleeping position. As you can see the dog is pretty used to this now.


Enough with the pictures lady, put him to bed.

I'm So Lucky

To have snatched this man off the "single" market exactly three years ago today.

Happy Anniversary Love.

Derby Day

Today was derby day, which for us was a perfect reason to have a party. There's nothing better than a good horse race to bring a family together. No but really, it was fun to have a theme party and gave me an excuse to wear a dress which I haven't done since my wedding which will be three years ago on Tuesday.


Mike's aunt and uncle (Tom and Mena) flew out to AZ because our parties are so awesome and they didn't want to miss it. Mena was a talented florist and turned my Mums into fancy works of art.


Tom and Mike dressed the part with their derby hats. Tom decided to go with the green shirt to try to channel the power of the money gods to come his way.



We spent the afternoon eating lots and lots of food, betting on the horses and playing washers.


Pros at work.


Washer watchers.


Me and my date in my fancy dress. Mike is so sweet he even dressed to coordinate with me.


Someone felt left out in the hat department.


One of the my favorite parts of the party (besides the food) was the hat contest. I had bought lots of cheap sunhats and craft supplies and we all decorated our hats!


Nothing like hot glue guns and glitter to liven up a party. There were two categories for the contest, prettiest and most outrageous.


Today I realized I need more craft projects in my life. There is something soothing about the smell of the glue as you attach your fake rhinestones and hot pink boa on straw hats that makes me want more.


They were a lot of fun and even the boys had a great time with it.


Kaci's was so pretty I would actually wear it in public.


I probably wouldn't wear Jason's hat in public. Except maybe to Walmart because you can wear anything there. He was going for the outrageous category (and won).


Mena was pretty in pink.


Outrageous in a nutshell.


Judging was tough, there was a fierce battle in the pretty category and we actually had a tie. Everyone revoted and my little cousin Daniel's hat came out victorious. Go Daniel!


All the action wore little Jack out so he took a power nap on his grampa.


RACE TIME!


Can you tell my husband is a big fan of horse racing? He was jumping, screaming, and fist pumping at the tv to move his horses along.


So close! We picked the right winner but needed the ten horse to come in second. He came in third. Darn horse.

It was a great time and every time we have a party likes this it just reminds me how important it is to make time for family. It is what keeps us content and happy.


I am already brainstorming for next year's derby party! So save the date!

While dad's at work

I get to hang out with mom. We do lots of fun stuff like making a rocking chair out of the glider ottoman. My butt fits just right if I try real hard.


Sometimes I pretend to be mommy at work. I even know how to wear the headset just right and do the eye roll mommy does sometimes when she is talking to weird people.


Mom has some new hobbies that she tries to do during my naps. She is making me a quilt for my big boy bed that I will get some day soon. I like to point at each puppy and say "ruff, ruff!"


She also likes her new little garden. But I didn't know I wasn't supposed to pull all the flowers off. Petals make fun confetti.


I LOVE to watch Dora. Actually I call every cartoon Dora now. The other day I was so tired I fell asleep watching it.


Mom thinks I am getting bigger and cuter every day.

Chocolate Bunny

Who knew James could make a chocolate bunny goatee and cover a three foot radius of floor all with only 6oz of chocolate. From now on I will be asking the Easter bunny to push jelly beans.

Ozzy

This weekend we got a dog. Not a puppy, a dog. I can't even explain how excited the boys were.


Oz, who is formerly known as Spice, is half boxer and half american bulldog. He is a LARGE boy. When we picked him up I think Marcus was a little shocked by his size. We decided to change his name after Mike and I came to the conclusion that no male dog should have to suffer another day of being called Spice.


But the boy is a lover. He thought he was a lap dog on the van ride home. He spent the weekend sniffing every inch of our house and yard. He could care less about Alice except when she hisses and runs. Then he thinks she is very interesting and chases after her. We are using a baby gate to separate them until they get acquainted a little more.


Oz is Mike's best friend already. He waits by the door when Mike leaves for work. He loves James too. James likes to give him big bear hugs and french kisses. Umm, who taught him to kiss like that?

So glad we finally got a dog. With four boys in the house it was about time. Boys need dogs as much as they need dirt and rocks.

I have come to the conclusion........

That nothing says "I love you" like warm chocolate cake waiting for you after a long day of school.

Sprinkles don't hurt either.