This Boy Just Realized....

He can successfully climb the tree outside. It's his new addiction. He asked if he could go out and climb it this morning before school at 7 am in the freezing semi dark. Okay little monkey!

This Kid Cracks Me Up

Let me introduce you to my four year old whom most of you know. He can having me laughing and crying all in the same minute. Yesterday I took an intro SLR photo class at the local camera store. I won't be posting any fabulous photos any time soon, but I do know more about the settings on my camera and learned enough to practice with white balance, shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. I had fun being out and with my friend who gave me this class as a gift for my birthday. Now, we both want to take the next class that goes beyond. She is ready for it, but I still need mucho practice. I took these photos yesterday in the evening when I came home from the class. I was going through all the photos last night (many of them blurry after changing the shutter speed) and had to show my husband these ones of Gage. He is badly in need of a haircut (it grows like a wild man as soon as I cut it) and I don't know why his shirt is missing, but that's just how he rolls!

Searching For Baskets

Trevor - the last to find his. It was hidden under a table in the dining room. He got books, a DVD, a Pac Man t-shirt, a German Shepherd Webkinz, and some sweets.

Boston - found his in the dryer. The bunny gave him 2 puzzle books with mazes, word searches, etc., more perler beads, pez dispensers with candy, and a black stallion Webkinz.

Gage - was the most exited about finding his. It was in the dirty clothes basket in his bathroom closet (hopefully the goods weren't tainted by the dirty clothes). His was filled with a chicken Webkinz, a Pokemon puzzle, 2 sticker books, Silly Putty, a baseball bat, and chocolates.

Mallory - didn't quite understand, but was happy when her basket was handed to her by Trevor who found it near her toy bucket. The bunny thought she needed a Dora hat, a wooden bear "fashion plates" type puzzle, and a purple Care Bear. She stole the boys chocolates out of their baskets when they weren't looking.

Egg Dying Time

We really had to quickly squeeze this in to a busy Saturday schedule. The boys came home from helping grandma get her house ready for a showing and were taking off a half hour later to a Louisville Bats baseball game. So, we quickly dyed the eggs. This year I hard boiled three dozen because they usually fight about how many they get to color and I wanted there to be plenty. It was another moment when I realized that Trevor was getting older and didn't really want to do it (as much as he used to) and that Boston hurried through. The upcoming game may have been the reason, but as quickly as they finished the ones they wanted to dye, they were gone in a flash. I was left with my two trusty helpers Gage and Mallory. I finished up a few more with the youngens and then they took off. So, I sat at the table decorating the rest by myself. I will admit that I was patient and let those babies get nice and bright in the dyes. They were beautiful, in my opinion. But, I wish the older boys would have been there to help. At least we now have a few dozen eggs to make plenty of egg salad sandwiches this week!

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

The Thiesses hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for the neighborhood. We all just brought filled eggs to share and they hid them throughout their backyard. Each child had a limit of 12 and went crazy trying to collect them. Gage was working hard at finding places that others did not to think to check - the gutter for example (where he found two stuffed inside the down spout). Mallory took her own sweet time and just got a few. Trevor felt a bit old, I think, and just got 4 and then said he was done. Boston went searching in a voracious manner trying to reach maximum amount of eggs in the shortest amount of time possible. It was nice to meet some of the neighbors that Zane and I had never met and the kids loved it too.

Acupuncture for Trevor

Here's Trevor's first go at acupuncture. He did it with my pincushion and I am thinking it wasn't successful. It really just hurt. I left my pincushion downstairs with a few pieces of fabric I wanted to cut out during Conference on Saturday. While I ran up for something else, Mallory pulled it off of the counter and left it on the carpet upside down. That's when Trevor accidentally stepped on it. It looked pretty bad. I didn't realize that he got that many holes in his foot. We iced it and it took awhile for it to stop throbbing, but he could walk on it by that night. Poor guy!

Still Here ...Recovering from Spring Break

I really am recovering from spring break. We didn't do anything that would really wear anyone out, but it was the lack of schedule that we are recovering from. I didn't cook at all this week and the house was in disarray. So, after a beautiful weekend of listening to General Conference, we are all ready to regroup and straighten out (in the best way of course). The boys managed to get together with some friends this week, plan a sleep over, and go bowling with their dad. I managed to serve Bagel Bites for dinner one night and plan on how I was going to start a new exercise program plus, get back on a schedule. I do have some photos that I will share soon because we did run around in our yard even though it rained every other day. Boston made three perler bead animals and I helped him iron and he painted some wood with me. I made a few dresses for Mallory and a shirt. Gage ran around the neighborhood with anyone that would take him in. And, poor Trevor had a great time at a sleep over, but then gave himself an acupuncture treatment by stepping on the back side of my pincushion. He has about 10 holes in the bottom of his foot and I don't think it healed his body like acupuncture would. So, I thought a new header would be a great fresh start to spring and I hope you enjoy the new look.

For The Birds

I had playgroup at my house today and our theme was flowers, so of course, we built bird feeders! We actually planted sunflowers too, but the bird feeders were more fun to make. When Boston came home he wanted to make one too. So, we have one hanging in the backyard on a tree and one in the front. Come on pretty spring birds...we have some food for you!

He's Creative, Who Knew?

So, I always thought I would have the same energy and enthusiasm with all four of my kids. Trevor and I would do many projects together. We still have a lot of the hand puppets, drawings, and stuffed animals around that we made. I think the other kids see them and wonder where they came from. So, as you can guess, Boston, Gage, Mallory and I just don't do that many creative things together. Although I do know that the few crafts we do together leaves them wanting to do more. Boston often asks to do a craft with me almost everyday. But, it is usually right when I am making dinner. So, when Gage asked to buy this simple bird house as the dollar store, I thought," why not, it's just a dollar and if it never gets done, then oh well." But, he surprised me and asked for paints and a paint brush and covered the whole thing. I think I need to get him using his hands for more than punching and hitting more often. I think this might be a better outlet!

More Stitches

Thank goodness for friends who are so generous with their time and expertise. I think as soon as the neighbor resident and ENT resident move, then there will be a moratorium on stitches and illnesses around here. I just won't let it happen. But, until then, we will be grateful that someone is kind enough to let us come over and use their dining room table as a doctor's office. Boston was jumping on our neighbor's tramp and when catching a football knocked his face into something (a poll or trampoline spring perhaps?). He ended up with two stitches on his cheek and he was very brave while being stitched. He did end up with a McFlurry and two new Magic Treehouse books, so maybe there was some joy on Friday night after all. And, in three days, I get to use our suture kit to take them out. I am getting pretty good at this!

Ahhh...Spring

Gage Outside On A Warm Day

Reasons I Can't Work In A Bakery

There are just a few, but they are enough to keep me out.

#1. I would let someone do this to the dough.

#2. I would eat all of the white bread, rolls, sweet rolls, cupcakes, and/or donuts.

#3. I wouldn't fit through the doors eventually.

And, that about sums it up. I made bread with Gage this morning and now I HAVE to give the rest of the loaves away or else I will so so full of bread that I might sink. That's all there is to it.

Good Morning Mallory

The Most Exciting Thing Going On Around Here

So, now I can say (with a big smile on my face), we had a leak in our plumbing. It has been fixed by our plumber and boy, are both of us (the plumber and I) very happy. No more hiss in the line and no more $$$$ going out the window. I will try to plead my case with Louisville Water for what it is worth. We had such a beautiful day on Saturday (mid 70's), so that helped us in the endeavor and the boys all got in and helped. Future plumbers (without the cracks) I think. We also went to the Louisville Home, Garden, and Remodeling Show at the exposition center. It's when you go to those things that you are shocked that you come home with all of your kids. I think Gage hid in every nook and cranny he could find. But, after the child wrangling we went to Five Guys Burgers in Indiana for a well deserved (at least Zane and I deserved) burger and fries. It's coming to the Summit soon. Oh, and as a bonus to the plumbing fix, we took down our Christmas lights. What more could you ask for? Oh, I am sure that there is more that I want, but I will take this for now.

Time Keeps On Rolling...

I have no photos and no really exciting news. Things are just rolling along - bumps and all. I guess I could say that -

1. We have a huge leak in our water line and it caused our bill to triple this month. It still needs to be fixed.

2. Trevor is in chess club and loves it. I think I need to learn how to play so that I can give him a challenge. I would never give him a challenge, but it would provide for some practice.

3. Mallory likes to scream and then say, "just kidding."

4. Gage is addicted to all electronics. He wrote on his kindness notes for him family at play group, "I love that she (mommy) watches me play the Wii." "I love that he (daddy) plays Mario Kart Wii with me." "I love that he (Boston) can get to the next level of a Wii game for me." "I love that he (Trevor) helps me and watches me play Wii." "I love her (Mallory) because when I get her up in the morning, she can watch me play Wii." Is this a phase or does he need help?

5. Boston loves that it is just slightly warmer than it was a few week ago and loves to play outside whenever he can.

6. Our elliptical is finally fixed after 4 attempts and we are finally (I am at least) exercising again.

I guess it's good that life keeps on rolling and I am thankful that for now these are the most exciting things that are happening!

Boston's Loot

Boston seemed to enjoy the Valentine celebration at school (what little there was of that) the most. He went through his loot several times that day, spreading it out on the table. He told me who gave him each Valentine, that he got two from one girl, and that he indeed wrote out two of his own to himself! It was cute to see him enjoying his treasures since I know the time will come when it won't be as magical.

From Grandma With Love

Family traditions are wonderful - especially family traditions that involve getting treats from my mom in the mail. I think we have received Valentines from Grandma Julie (I know they're from you too dad) since I was a student at BYU. Of course, she wasn't Grandma Julie then, but my mom, and now the kids have come to depend on this special treat from grandma each Valentines. Zane was sent a Valentines package the February that we were engaged and he has come to look forward to these as well. This year the kids got their candy and dug in very quickly. Trevor dug in so quickly that one of the first Skittles that he ate pulled out a tooth that wasn't even that loose. He had just last the opposite canine the night before (I teased him that he was just trying to make some quick cash!). Mallory got the bonus treats with 2 knitted items - a hat and a shrug. Lucky girl. Gage got his sugar free gummy bears and I got a package of Abba Zabas. Do you know what those are? One of my favorites. Glad mom knew that. I hope she knows that she has already won our love, but she can keep up this tradition for good measure!

A Dinner Date With the Ones I Love

For the past five years or so we have been having a Valentines Dinner that includes the whole family. Why just celebrate the holiday with one person you love when you can include them all? Plus, I have a crowd issue and you know, Valentines Day and restaurants? So, we decorate the dinner table with red and pink and try to include some of those colors in our menu. This year was steak (we left the center pink!), tomato basil soup, french fries (for the littlest), baked potatoes, strawberries, and cherry lime-ades. We decorated sugar cookies for dessert. I hope the kids enjoy this each year and it's one of those memory makers. You never know with boys because they don't say much and Trevor even said that he didn't want to celebrate Valentines this year. It was late at night when he said that and he was tired. But, you know, as the mom, you still want to have a little fun because frankly, most of the other days aren't so much that way. For the record, I had fun. I did. I love the holiday. Who wouldn't love a holiday that involved sweets, hearts, and the color red? So, let's hope the kids had as much fun as I did!