Lori's visit

A couple things have kept me away fro m blogging lately.  One of those things was a blissful visit from my sister-in-law and her delicious baby Corey.  I guess he'll be two in a few months but being the youngest around here he gets to be the baby.  We had a fantastic time.  It's too bad we don't live closer to each other 'cause Lori's one of those people I know I would be best buddies with despite the familial obligation.

Lori came to visit to play and also to help me accomplish one of my 2009 goals:  goal number--well, I don't know what number it is, never made an appropriate list but in any case--goal titled:  learn how to sew.   And let me tell you, Lori can sew.  Quilts like you can't believe, the cutest aprons you've ever seen, adorable bags, and whatever else you might want.  

My goal was/is to make a quilt for each boy to keep in the basement for snuggle movie nights. When she first arrived we got right to work, cutting out fabric squares, sewing, ironing, sewing some more, and before I knew it we had our first quilt.

After finishing it our resolve drained a bit and our focus turned to just having a good time with four little boys.  We decided it would be fun to take them all to get their pictures taken.  'Cause I've seen lots of pictures at friends houses of all their children sitting nicely and smiling at the camera.  

We dressed them up, talked with them about the treats they would get after they sat and smiled nicely, and then with spirits high went into the little studio back by Target's pharmacy. Little did I know how much I would need that pharmacy and it's plethora of pain killers by this photo shoot's end.

I don't know what's going on with my friends' kids but NO WAY were our four monkeys sitting still, not bonking each other, and smiling nicely at some woman with a camera.  Every time we got them remotely set up one child would tickle another, someone would bonk somebody else, or Corey would fall off the back of the little couch.  Most of our pictures looked something like this.  I love it.

Will (the only decent looking one) has got his quarter back stance on (and a pretty good one at that), but the rest of them, hmmmm--Corey I'm sure looks adorable as always but unfortunately he is as fascinated with his future NFL cousin as I am.  Joseph, well, it's obvious how he feels about Will having that ball instead of him.  And Matthew, what can I say, is there not something else you can grab?!

So, we get what we get, at least the photo pretty much tells you like it is.  Yes, those are our boys.  

All in all we had a ball (Matthew's into rhyming lately, I can hardly help myself)and before they left Lori helped me make another apron to add to my collection.  I wear it most every day willing spring to come quickly.  (And please pardon the blurry picture--first try at the self timer.)

After dropping them off at the airport the house seemed dull and lonely.   So we slugged into the family room, cranked up some music on the stereo, and we had ourselves a little dance party to forget our blues.  

As far as the quilts, I didn't want my newly aquired knowledge to seep away so I got right to work on the Will's quilt and finish it in a little over a week.

Joseph quilt . . . ?  I'm working on it.

A big thanks to Lori and her little man--can't wait to see you again.

Monday Message

For the past couple weeks the favorite movie around our house has been Bolt.  I LOVE it.  If you haven't seen it, please try to.  And if you get it for your kids, sit down and watch it with them, at least a couple times.  I liked it quite a bit when I first saw it with the boys in the theater but every time I watch it I think it's better and better.  You gotta see it.

Anyway, my boys love it too and I can already tell it is going to make a permanent stand in our family language.  Just last weekend I was taking the three of them into a public restroom to wash up after a family dinner out.  Matthew and Will were just ahead of me and went into the mens' room before I could grab them and drag them into the ladies'.  I went ahead and washed Joseph up in the ladies' room and then stood outside the mens' room door waiting for them to come out.  I could hear them in there laughing and finally had to crack the door and offer a stern, "Boys, I'm counting to 3 . . ."  They came out giggling having not accomplished anything for all their time in there--never even washed their hands.  Will looked up at me with cheeks limp and droopy from the exhaustion of laughing, gave me a sleepy smile, and quoted a line from one of the animal control workers who is lamenting the fact that her coworkers are idiots, "Mom," he said, "You work with toddlers."  He, of course, missed the irony in the whole thing but I laughed so hard he thought he had delivered a brilliant joke.

My favorite line (or at least one of them) I will share with you here.  It takes place when Bolt realizes he does not, in fact, have super powers and is about to give up on his quest when Rhino the Hamster (who is hilarious) enters and boosts his confidence back up with a fabulous little monologue. 

". . . They need a hero Bolt.  Someone, who no matter what the odds, will do what's right. They need a hero to tell them that sometimes the impossible can become possible"

--oh, that's nice I thought, a good message, but I didn't realize 'ol Rhino wasn't done and the end just makes the whole thing--he coninues--

"sometimes the impossible can become possible.  IF.  YOUR'E.  AWESOME!"   

So, my message to you:  BE AWESOME!  

And tell your kids they are too.

A Basket Full Of Photos

Our Easter festivities started out with a little neighborhood hunt in our backyard.  It was tons of fun--we had 17 kids and a dozen eggs per child so there was plenty of hunting to go round. The children were all very focused on finding eggs and nestling them safely in their baskets.  The only problem with this is nobody wants to be bothered with smiling nicely at their mama's camera when there is candy to be had.

And so I end up with photos like this:

Joseph

he's on a mission

he's walking firm and strong

with a big stride

(for a two year old)

scouting the lawn for any missed treats

and determined 

to not be hindered

by paparazzi mama's

or 

William

investigating his loot

completely centered

on his captured rainbow

and oblivious

to my calls to look up

or 

this beauty from 

Matthew

which I like to call

simply

"Ehh?"

After the hunt everyone found a protected spot, huddled over their loot, and inspected the harvest.

Saturday night before the boys went to bed I quickly tried their Easter clothes on them to make sure which pants fit who and that all ties were accounted for.  Joseph was surprisingly excited about it and wanted to put everything on.  He jumped up and down saying, (all with a two-year-old accent), "New church pants, new church pants."  I didn't tell him those pants had already been "new" for his two brothers.  He was so pleased with himself I had to snap some shots.

He still bears the healing scar on his chin from a slip in the tub several months ago--I think it might be there for life.

Sunday morning we woke early enough to enjoy baskets and special breakfast before church, yes, a feat. After church I wanted to get a few pictures of all my boys before the obligatory Sunday nachos and frozen pizza (we had real Easter dinner later with friends).  But once again, smiling at the lens was the last thing on minds of these little ones and this is the best shot I was left with. And as always seems to happen when you put these four together, things quickly dissolved into a tickle fight. After settling down inside and a couple calmly placed threats of no candy, they at least all looked at me.  Oh well, I've learned to accept it and take what I can get. We ended our observance with a tradition that as I explain it loses all of it's "funness" and seems only a bit gruesome for Easter.  So I'll leave it to the photos, and remind you it's just a cake, albeit in the shape of a lamb. Lastly, our eggs.  Matthew's the more earthy colors, having been dipped and dipped and dipped again.  Each taking a turn in most every color.  Will's the more vibrant, taking a swim in just one or sometimes two colors.  He told me about each:  "This is Orangy.  He likes to play soccer.  This is Greeny, he likes to play baseball.  This is Bluey, he likes to  . . . "

And now I must go hit the elliptical, and try to leave some of that Easter chocolate behind me.  (Ohh, that's a little bit funny.)

Weather Warning

While driving in the car yesterday with Matthew:

"Mom, Heavenly Father answered my prayed."

--He did?  What did you pray for?

"A sunny day so we could go play on the playground.  I tried to tell Mrs. Matyi but I couldn't."

(Mrs. Matyi is his kindergarten teacher and apparently it wasn't his turn to talk)

--What did you try to tell her?

With the biggest most knowing and confident smile he replies, "That I did it."

(That he is responsible for the sunny day.)

"That it was me.  Prayers can just do such big things."

Ohhh Little Monkey, I love you.

Later that night before Matthew said the dinner prayer he paused for a moment, tilted his head toward me and with a mischievous look in his eye said, "I'm going to pray for a snowstorm."

Just thought I would give you other mid-westerners a head up.

They came through!

The snow quit, melted off a bit, and those poor guys actually showed up.  They worked through snow flurries off and on in the cold wind as my boys watched them from the warmth of the kitchen.  Ooooh we were excited.  Unfortunately it was too cold and wet to go out when they finished but we are bundling up tomorrow-no matter the weather.

Here's to a GREAT summer!

Actually, as I look at that picture I notice the end of the slide is precariously close to the wood ties.  Hmmmm.  Better put some helmets on those kids first.  Haha, now I'm thinking of all kinds of things.  Any of you remember that movie Benny and June--when June sits in the front of the car with her feet up on the dash and a helmet on her head.  So funny.  That's going to be my kids.

Seriously?!

This was our weather this morning.  I don't know what else to say.

The reason this irks me a bit (besides the fact that is is APRIL and we had plenty of 60 degree days last week)--well, see that empty playground pad--it's empty because our new playground was supposed to be delivered today.

Again, I don't know what else to say.  I'll keep my fingers crossed I guess. 

Here's hoping . . .