Ordinary Adventures

Well folks, it’s time to say goodbye to this ol’ blog.  I started a new private blog with google blogger.   Please send me an email so I can invite you to view our new blog.  Email to [email protected]

Thanks!

• My parents gave me a pressure cooker/canner for Christmas 3 years ago.  Every year since then I have had a goal to use it, but it continued to sit in it’s unopened box.  Until the end of March!  Yay for me!   I think I was prematurely nesting because I went crazy for a couple of weeks:  canned 38 pints of chicken breast and 42 quarts of pinto beans.  I also made 30 cups of freezer pear jam, and several other freezer muffins, breads, and meals.  Here’s my first canning project, chicken breast
• Greyson had his Kindergarten  music program.  He was very cute and sang and did actions enthusiastically.   They did the program at the high school, so even though we were fairly close to the front, we could barely see him because of how far back they had the risers set.   He was the very front row (he’s short) farthest right, in the 2-tone green shirt.
• Easter celebrations were perfectly low key and nice.    Kaden, Vea, and I had a playgroup Easter potluck at the church.  We did a small Easter egg hunt there.  I hadn’t had a chance to give Vea any instruction, but she went into the room and quick as a bunny started picking up eggs and putting them in her basket.  She was running!  She ended up with way too many and we had to put several back.   The Saturday before Easter we went to some festivities at Science City.   There was an egg hunt that lasted 3 seconds, boiled egg and cadbury egg experiments, paper bunny and chick making, etc.  And then there was our personal favorite, the egg drop.  Older kids were given materials to create parachutes or cushioning of some form for a raw egg.  Then we all got to watch and see whether or not the eggs would crack when they were dropped off the 2nd floor balcony.  Vea still talks about this event every other day saying randomly “oh eggs dopping sciens sitty”.    We colored eggs that night at home.  On Easter Sunday the kids found their Easter baskets and we made a bunny cake (our first year to join the William family tradition), ham, deviled eggs, and potato casserole.  It was wonderful to spend time talking about Christ’s Ressurection and all the blessings that we have and will have because of Him.

Vea at playgroup waiting for the egg hunt

lined up with all our friends (Kaden in front) Enjoying the spoils afterward

Science City, G’s bunny creation

K’s bunny creation

•  I took a quick weekend trip to Chicago to see Coulson perform at the National Showchoir Competition.   It was A LOT of travel, but still fantastic!!  I spent 14 hours in transit on Friday (driving to Melissa’s house, then to Quincy, then rode the amtrak to Chicago, and finally rode the “L” to the hotel).  We got in about 11:30pm, but by receiving a text that late from Coulson, we knew he was still awake, so we went to his hotel room and surprised him.  On Saturday we watched about a million showchoirs perform.  Coulson’s team was very first and in my opinion they were the most entertaining.  They placed in the top 10 and won an award for best show design.  Well deserved! That night we had some famous chicago deep dish pizza.  So. Much. Cheese!!!  And then Melissa and I traveled home all day Sunday.  Like I said, quick with a lot of travel.  But so worth it.

me boarding the amtrak in quincyMelissa and I with the “L” in the background

Watching other teams perform with Coulson

• I can’t get any other pictures to load from April.   We spent a lot of time outdoors and the weather was beautiful!   The boys have been playing a lot of basketball, since our next door neighbors gave us their old hoop.  Vea loves riding her little pink push bike and doing whatever we do.  We also still spend a lot of time at the library, playgroups, and mommy preschool at the Stokes house.

We’re a family of 5, 2 girls and 3 boys.

We get riled up and makes lots of noise.

The girls are outnumbered, as it may seem,

but come this September, we’ll have even teams.

See if you can figure out what that means…..

K: I need to throw up.

Me: Run to the toilet.

G: Kaden, if you need to throw up just open your mouth.  Okay? Go do that right now.  Go do it.  (Kaden leaves to throw up)

G: (to me) I just gave him a little tip.

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V: I need it Vea’s blanket……right back. (Then she went off to get her blankie and came back with it)

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(looking at pictures of lazy sea otters)

Steffan: I would like to be a sea otter in my next life.

K: I would like to be a shark! in my next life.

G: I would like to be brother sharks with you!

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(morning after the ward talent show, discussing our pirate costumes and song)

K: (shaking his finger and his head at us) I recognized you were just people.

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(during Family Home Evening)

Me: A testimony is what you believe about Jesus Christ and his church.

K: I just believe in playing cars.

• The weekend of St. Patty’s, we went to NKC’s snake saturday parade.  Vea was not impressed – I don’t think she cracked a smile once, and after sitting for awhile on daddy’s shoulders, she requested to sit in the stroller and didn’t want to move for the rest of the time.  Greyson went right up to the front line and began gathering candy.  Kaden finally had the courage to join him when the parade was almost over.

I love this picture – they are sharing their candy and putting it in each others’ pockets (they didn’t have a bag to put it in)

mouths full of candy

•  Spring break: It was awesome to have Greyson home!  We had a busy week – so much to play!   The boys made a “spring break bucket list” on Sunday night and then we worked to cross things off the list.  The last 2 days of the week were a bummer because Kade got a sick stomach again, and then Steffan’s car had to go to the shop so we were stranded at home.   Because of those things happening, we weren’t able to go bowling or to the zoo.  Also, our “fishing” was of the creative type.  However, everything else was a hit!  Greyson also did a free karate camp every day that week.  It was a great class, focusing on self defense, stranger danger, and respect.  He loved it and he got his first karate belt at the end.

• 
• Our ward had a talent show.  Steffan sang in 2 barbershop numbers.   He also WOWed the crowd with some soccer juggling and tricks.   At the end, he and I performed with the rest of the bishopric.  We sang Captain Hook’s waltz with the bishop as Captain Hook.
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• Other random things:

March brings “well checks” for the boys.  Vea likes to wait in style – she wears her glasses everywhere lately

Kaden’s stomach flu.  And just when we thought it was over, the diarrhea began.  It took a couple weeks to fully recover, with one diarrhea episode Steffan and I will NEVER forget. 

Sibling love:

YMCA cubbies:

Vea took her first swing in a big swing.  She kept giggling and giggling.  Loved it!

Silly Kaden – waiting in line to pick G up from school

We said goodbye to the Woodards this weekend.  We were honored to be with them while they received their setting apart blessings.  They will be taking their love and goodness to Lansing Michigan for the next 18 months.  We will dearly miss them!

(while eating Greyson’s birthday dessert)

Me: Now we are going to go around and everyone say one nice thing about Greyson.

K: One nice thing about Greyson.

[he was completely sincere, not mocking]

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(Kaden handing me his skeleton costume)

K: Mom, can you inside outside right side outside this?

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K: my thumb is getting too big for my elbow.

[I have no idea what he is talking about]

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(Vea is walking around the kitchen looking for “her stool”)

V: (flapping arms up and down) Oh no stool is it? Oh no stool is it?  (walks into the living room and comes back with it in her arms) Here it is.

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(going to bed his 4th birthday night)

K: When am I going to turn 5?

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(very early morning, everyone still in bed)

K: (quietly singing a song, though I can’t tell which one)

G: (whispers) Kade, try to sing in your mind.

 
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G: mom, let me tell you a funny joke. Did the chicken lay eggs?
Me: yes.
G: no. He laid raisins. Haha! (Laughs hysterically)

Because their birthdays are only 2 weeks apart,  we can take advantage of free birthday kids meals and sundaes on the same day.

G: corndog, mandarin oranges, and chocolate milk.  Decided he likes cherries after eating his marashino cherry atop his chocolate sundae.

K: corndog, fruit medley cup, and chocolate milk.  Was concerned that the RR workers didn’t know how to sing “happy birthday” the right way.

V: Mac and cheese, and the rest of G’s corndog.  Begged for a balloon and then got upset when it wouldn’t get out of her way so she could eat.

S & C: split a burger with side salads, ate a shameful amount of steak fries and campfire sauce, happily obliged when neither boy could finish his sundae, and were pleased to leave a generous tip in spite of the small check.

Red Robin = Happy Family

Kaden had his birthday last week.  He is the cutest 4-year old and I often say to him “please stay 4 forever.”

• He is still so innocent.  He acts grown up, always wants to be older than he is.  He is socially clever and can follow conversations and directions, and has the same desires and some of the same skills as older children.  It makes you forget that he is only 4.   But then, he’ll say something in his own little way, that doesn’t completely make sense, and you remember – he is still so small.
• He is our best eater.  His favorite foods are still fruits of all kinds (esp loves blueberries, strawberries, actually every berry, oranges and pineapple).  However, he eats almost everything we have.   Sometimes he complains about dinners that don’t look yummy, but once you get him started, he gobbles everything down.
• He is a character.  He says and does random things.  It is completely entertaining to try and follow his thought patterns, and to see what he will come up with next.
• He is feisty in his own little way – pouts with his bottom lip, starts talking about poop, and says he won’t give you any more kisses.  Or sometimes he pouts by changing a happy song to be opposite (ex.  “Nephi’s Courage” becomes “I won’t go, I won’t do ANYTHING…).  Even with this feistiness, he usually recovers very quickly from his disappointments.  His general temperament is happy, active, and fun.
• It IS tragic when he decides he won’t give you any more kisses – his kisses on my cheeks are perfection.
• His favorite song right now is “hum your favorite hymn” – his imagination is in full bloom, and sometimes he wakes up scared at night.  He likes us to sing him this song before bed, and since we taught him this song, I can sometimes hear him singing quietly in the night.
• He likes to help me cook and to “wash the dishes” (which is mostly playing in the water).  He has myself or the YMCA workers make him a paper plane every day- he has a whole bucket of them and throws them all over the house.  He loves cars and tracks.  He LOVES to be read too. He has an excellent memory and he memorizes books you read to him.  Sometimes you think he is reading, but he just remembers what it says.  He has become proficient at using a computer mouse and navigating around his programs.  He has started coloring inside the lines.  He can write a handful of letters and numbers.
• He does not like to ride his bike or scooter.  I kind-of force him to give it a little try every time we are outside, and he usually does, but he does not seem to enjoy it yet.  He loves to play ball outside – t-ball, tennis, soccer, frisbee, football, and hockey (he just got hockey for his birthday).

We celebrated his birthday all day.  He woke up to a decorated room (our tradition that keeps living on), opened a few presents, and then confetti pancakes.  He chose to go to the park with playgroup friends for an activity – it was beautiful weather!  Then we went to Donut King, where he picked out all the donuts he could stand (literally, there were way too many choices there for a little boy not to get overwhelmed quickly).  We played outside all afternoon with his new net/goal from Aunt Jamie and Uncle Jeff (combined present for G and K).   He chose tomato soup, tuna sandwiches, pineapple, and cheetos for dinner (bless you child for choosing something ridiculously easy).  Then we put 4 candles atop his favorite cookie coated donut and sang happy birthday and opened more presents.   He had many phone calls and cards from family.  Baba and Mimi sent many fun things: darth vader jacket, other jackets and clothes, puzzle book, etc.  He wanted all of the same things that Greyson got for his birthday, so he got a lot of the same things:  A bathrobe, more fort clamps, a mini basketball, soccer signups, and orange bubblegum.   He opened up his two packages of orange bubblegum, and exclaiming in delight he immediately handed one to Greyson.  He is a great sharer!   The next day he came down with the stomach flu.  At least the poor kid waited until after his birthday.

Happy Birthday to Greyson!!  It was fun seeing how he wanted to celebrate this year.  The Saturday before his birthday we went bowling and had pizza and orange bubble gum.  The forecast showed another snow storm coming, so we figured we wouldn’t want to be out on his actual birthday.   And sure enough – his birthday was another “snow day”.  I loved having him home to celebrate all day.   We had confetti pancakes for breakfast, and sweet potato soup with bacon for dinner (all per his request).  We played games, made forts, played dress ups, watched Disney’s RobinHood movie,  colored, he talked to many loved ones on the phone, and when daddy got home we opened presents, had mint chip ice cream cones, and more orange bubblegum.  I think his favorite present was a bathrobe.  He looks like a little gentleman in it and he wears it every  morning. I think he likes it because its like a blanket he doesn’t have to hold.  Other gifts from us include:  a basketball, team soccer signups, 2 more packs of orange bubble gum, and bracelet looming elastics.  He was also excited about his 10 dollars from mommom, and fort clamps, star wars jacket, and counting bank from Baba and Mimi.

School resumed again the day after his birthday, so Kaden, Vea, and I went and had lunch with Greyson and took some M&M  cookies for him to share with his class.

Some things I want to remember about Greyson at this age:

• I know this is cliche, but I can’t believe he is 6 years old.  He is so grown up, and yet still so tiny.  Literally, his head and face and little scrawny body are tiny.   BUT, he is so STRONG.  It amazes me how physically fit and strong he is.  He can do a full pull-up.  The other day he jumped up and down (without stopping) for 15 minutes.  Seriously.  I had the timer going.  He is a fast runner and he can run forever it seems.
• He is a picky eater, and eats tiny portions.  Yet, he still seems to have plenty of energy.   His favorite fruit is pear.  Anything else is determined by the day.  He may like it one day and not the next.  He tries not to eat a lot of sugar – really, he tells me that he doesn’t like sugar, and only eats sweets if they are offered.  He doesn’t ask for them.  He requested NOT to have a cake on his birthday, because he said the frosting has too much sugar for him.  I tried to gently persuade him otherwise, and it almost ended in tears.  In the end, all he really wanted was orange bubblegum.   Keep it up Greyson!
• He wants to do the right.  He also wants to help others do what is right, and its very frustrating to him when others don’t do what they should.
• He loves to read.  He seems to use that time to be by himself and gain energy.  And he reads very well,  end of first grade level.  He also likes to color and draw.
• He taught himself to do flips and does them on the couch.
• He is very protective of and helpful with Vea.  He reads to her, sings to her, talks to her and explains things, etc.   He’s not so gentle with Kaden. However, Kade is his best play mate, and he brings kaden up to speed (makes him airplanes, helps with his lego creations, helps him read, etc).  He also promptly gave Kaden one of his packs of orange gum when he opened it.  He is a wonderful brother!
• He is happy, full of love, and fun.  Starting kindergarten was tough on him.  It took him almost the whole first semester to get used to things.  Then, returning after Christmas break we had some regression.  However,  I think we can say now that he has made it.  I think we are finally through the craziness.  He is back to being his happy helpful self, but in so much more of a grown up way.
• He is tender-hearted and generous.  With no promptings, he took money out of his bank and asked us to help him give it to the bishop for the poor people.  He remembers specific people when he prays.
• He tends to be over-dramatic when he gets hurt.
• His favorite school subjects are P.E. and computers.

Here is a birthday questionnaire that I had him fill out:

In case it’s not clear and because he colored the whole thing, here’s what it says:

what is your name: Greyson

how old are you:  six (though he crossed out “five” once, and “fi” again)

what is your favorite thing to do: play games

what do you want to be when you grow up: I want to be a captain of a ship

what is your favorite food: monster (aka german pancakes)

who do you like to spend time with: Vea

what do you do really well: splits

what makes you laugh: a little monster with four eyes

what is the best time of day: when I’m at my house

what are you afraid of: nothing

who is your best friend:  Vea

what do you like to do with your family: draw pictures for each other

what do you love to learn about: bats

where do you like to go: to the bouncehouse

what is your favorite book: arthur books

if you had one wish what would it be: I wish I can fly

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And some birthday pictures: