One Quarter at a Time

A couple weeks ago we went to the Lego store. Daniel fell in love with the Lego fireboat. Being the "wise" parents we are, we decided to try and teach about work, savings, and delayed gratification.

For the next couple of weeks Daniel diligently took out the trash for which we paid him $.28. He thought about the boat constantly. He prayed at night for his fireboat.

Well, when we finally announced to him he had enough money and we were going to the store so he could buy his fireboat, he could not contain the excitement.

I was so proud of him. He walked into the store carrying his empty peanut butter jar converted into a piggy bank. It was full of small change. He walked up to the counter and handed the whole piggy bank over to the cashier.

I could tell he was proud of it. I was proud of him.

Walking out of the store with fireboat and empty piggy bank in tow.

He slept with the fireboat two nights in a row. Now he is saving for the fire truck.

These Are Going Over the Mantle

A Reunion 22 Years in the Making

Once upon a time, I lived in Rochester, NY. When I was 8, we packed our things and headed to the bottom of the world (Argentina), I left two BFF's. Well, now that we live back at the top of the world I got to catch up with one of them...22 years later. What a great and unexpected reunion.

Last time we were together we were playing Barbies. Now, we are growing babies.

More Blood, Sweat, and Tears

The trench we dug and the drainage pipe we laid.

This is what 5 tons of rocks looks like (10,000 lbs)
It is not so pretty when it is dumped in your driveway and you know you have to move it to your backyard.

The new dirt biking path we inadvertently built.

This is what you look like after a long day of yard work.

Marathoners in the Making

Yesterday was the 114th Boston Marathon. Here are the little runners pacing themselves on the coarse at mile 19 ahead of the whole pack (if you squint you can see the little yellow 19 mile marker on the right side of the street).

Go Daniel!

Go James!

The Turning of a Page

I recently closed out a decade of my life. It is crazy to reflect on everything that has happened in the last 10 years. Just to name a few...

Served a mission

Graduated from college

Married

Went from bike to minivan as a mode of transportation

Working on growing my third child

Ran four marathons

Lived in four states and one other country

Got my first cavity

I just found out about the cavity. I'm kind of bummed about that. My once unblemished mouth is unblemished no more.

Wow! What a ride.

The Lone Ranger

He's somewhere on the Texas prairie.

"Howdy Ma'm"

"I'm goin ta get me a 'coon."

"Snake!"

Built Upon the Sand

It is going to be a sad day when we actually finish the drainage system we are putting in to prevent the floods from raging in. But at least the house will be cleaner and the laundry pile smaller...hopefully.

Black and Blue

We are recovering from a couple of recent accidents. James has the remnants of a black eye. This happened after a not-so-graceful fall.

Daniel's accident on the other hand was quite the acrobatic act. He managed to construct a 4 ft high balance beam by balancing a wood plank between the back of the couch and a chair. Unfortunately he did not test the structural integrity of the beam before he attempted his walk across. Maybe stitches were in order. That will be two facial scars in 4 years. At least he still has all his teeth...a bruised one at that.


You should see their speckled legs.

Roll Out The Red Carpet

Dear James,

Happy Birthday little bug!

Mother nature gave you the best birthday present ever...850 weather...so we did what any other sun starved people would do...spent the day at the beach.

After we got home, I plopped you and your brother in the tub. After throwing all the sandy gear in the washing machine, I walked back up the stairs to where you were, only to find I was climbing up a waterfall. You had dumped gallons of water out of the tub. So much water that it was running down the stairs and leaking through the ceiling on the first floor.

I was a little upset. I pulled you out of the tub and dressed you. As I was putting on your shirt, you kept saying

"Shirt, shirt, shirt!"

But you aren't so good at pronouncing the "r's". And then I had to laugh because secretly I wanted to say the same thing.

Today while we were driving home from the beach, you fell asleep. You had drool dripping from your chin to your car seat shoulder strap. Daniel was rattling off a story about you and him in a train, and I sat there enjoying the moment. I wish I could bottle this time up and put it on the shelf to open later. I love that you are my little boy. I love to tickle you. I love to play hide-and-seek with you. I love your sunshine. I love that you need me. I need you.

I hope all your birthday wishes come true.

love,

Mom

Happy Easter

About 20 seconds after Daniel sat up to the table and analyzed the Easter feast in front of him, he asked

"Mom, can I have some nachos?"

Are you kidding me! Who would pass up a spread like this? He settled in with some fresh rolls with butter and honeycomb, while Christian and I enjoyed the halibut we sold our right hands for.

No one asked for a substitute when it was time to eat the cake.

Looking for Signs of Spring

Yesterday we went tadpole hunting. We left with empty containers, muddy shoes, and brown bottoms. Well, my bottom wasn't brown. I resisted the urge to sit in the mud and then swivel around in it looking for good throwing rocks.

They tried to push these into the water for a long time.

Yes, I am Brave

Yesterday I did something very brave. I walked into my ultrasound not knowing the gender of our next seed, and I left not knowing the gender of it. If I can wait until August, everyone has to wait until August.

Conference Weekend

My kids are very excited for General Conference weekend. You may be wondering how I managed to get a 4 and 2 yr old excited to listen to 8 hours of talks. Behold the genius....

A basket of treats and new crafts that has been sitting out on the piano for 5 days now taunting them to no end. Every morning Daniel asks if it is conference yet.

Rain Rain Go Away

On Tuesday, we were taking in water. I was afraid the river flowing down our backyard into our house was going to sink our ship. So the boys and I went out to bail water. It was all fun and games until Daniel squiggied muddy water into James' face. Or until James fell into a sink hole and couldn't get out. Or until James stepped into a smaller muddy sink hole and lost his shoe. Or until both boys were shivering uncontrollably from the cold and wetness that I abandoned ship long enough to strip them down and stick them in the warm tub.

But now everything is dry and we have that experience to look back on and laugh about now...it wasn't funny at the moment.