Daddy's Helper...

Hut Hut...

Being in 4th grade means you get to play tackle football. Colton couldn't be more excited. Me on the other hand couldn't be more nervous. Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy watching football. However, I don't enjoy the thought of my offspring being knocked unconscious, breaking a bone, etc. We've got 2 weeks of practice and one scrimmage under our belt and so far so good. There isn't an injury to report.
Here's a few pictures from this past Saturday: Doing some warm-up drills. My kid is the one with the skinny legs. He gets that from his dad.

Kind of hard to pick him out so I thought I'd help you out. Defense is his favorite. I asked why he couldn't just be a kicker. He told me that was boring. Can't blame me for trying.

Here he is carrying the ball - into a sea of kids that want to knock him down. Lord help me.

First Day of School....

Like all the other parents out there sending their kids off to school, I too think, we're did the time go?

Colton is starting 4th grade. His last year at the elementary school. I keep telling him that I have vivid memories of 4th grade and that is seems impossible that I'm sending one of my own into 4th grade. The morning of the first day, you told me that you weren't really that hungry because you were just so excited. I love that you love school! My baby. Entering kindergarten. Wow. You are so proud and I love it. You had it in your mind that you were wearing a mohawk on the first day. Lucky for me, I was able to tame it down before we got to school to take your pictures. You love that you get to wear a backpack, ride the bus and have school friends like your big brother. It's been a week of school now and you haven't stopped smiling when people talk to you about kindergarten.

Family Vacation...

A few weeks ago we took the boys camping at Jellystone in Wisconsin Dells. To say we had a blast would be an understatement. We spent a day and a half at Noah's Ark riding all the water slides. Not sure who had more fun there, Mike and I or the boys! The campground was great. We stayed in a tiny one room cabin that had bunk beds for the kids and a bed for the adults, a small table, a dorm fridge and a microwave. It work great as the weather was wonderful and we were only in our cabin to sleep. There was mini-golf, activities for the kids on the hour every hour and nice lounge chairs at the pool for me.

So.Much.Fun.

Currently...

I got this idea from Jenny over at stickyfeathers. We got back from a family vacation at about midnight last night, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and thought a mindless post is in order.

loving: My vacation weather. Nothing but sunshine and 80 degrees!!
pondering: Watch a movie tonight (The Kings Speech) or catch up on blogging, facebook and Words w/Friends. (I know. Lame.)
reading: The Help - well, technically I just finished it today
anticipating: School starting. 4th grade and kindergarten ~ how can it be???
cursing: All the calories I've consumed on vacation.
wearing: shorts and a t-shirt. No make up worn since day one of vacation...I look a little frightening!
deciding: Where to buy new carpet for the family room.
hoping: I can get my to-do list done before Tuesday.
planning: My upcoming weekend
dreading: Tuesday - back to work
wishing: That the money tree in my backyard would start growing.

The 5 Year Pictures...

I attempted to take Brett's 5 year pictures today. Never mind that he's been 5 for a month and a half. He really, really , really wanted to wear his new hat in his pictures so I figured why not. After about the first 5 minutes, the kid was workin' it. "Mom, how about I stand here and do this. Mom, what about this. Mom, that was really fun."
We had a great time and managed to snag a couple cute pictures. Here's just 4 of the 74 we took today.

5 Things....

5 Things that have kept me busy this week (other than work and kids).

1. Our front porch has been bugging me since winter. As you can see in the 2nd picture, we had a railing with spindles. This winter, one of the kids was snowboarding down the hill on the side of our house and ran into the porch snapping one of the spindles so it's looked really classy over the past 7 months. Apparently on Sunday I had had enough and grabbed Mike's tool box and some tool and started wrenching on the mile long screws that held it into place and after about an hour of sweat and a few choice words, I got all the pieces off.


Here's what it looked like before. Don't be distracted by the band Naked Bacon that was performing in our front yard.

It's still in need of some work. I'll be borrowing my father-in-law's pressure washer and applying a nice fresh coat of paint. I was very happy when I called the city to see at what height railings are required and mine is low enough to not need them ~ yeah!

2. Still in the "clean this place up" topic, I gutted out Colton's room. I threw away so much stuff and reorganized everything else. It took me 2.5 hours, but it.looks.awesome! Luckily for me, Colton wasn't around to say, "no, don't throw that, I play with it all the time" with the million and six things he hasn't touched in years.

3. We are taking a little vacation to the Dells soon and the kids are excited! We are staying in a cabin that provides a whole lot of nothing, so I've been busy making a list of all the things we need to pack including meal plans for each day. I love doing this kind of stuff. I've got a great spreadsheet started with multiple categories. I'm so type A!

4. I'm helping again this year with Vacation Bible School. I've been busy attending prep meetings over the past few weeks. I think this is my 4th year helping out. I've been upgraded from leading kids from station to station to heading up the crafts station. Nothing like young kids, glitter and glue!

5. Words with Friends. Need I say more? I'm loving this game. Currently I've got 10 games going and two of those are with random people that the game hooked me up with.

What's keeping you busy this week?

Photo Printing...

I'm overwhelmed. I have a bazillion pictures on my computer. I download them off my cameras, might do a little editing and then they sit. I haven't printed pictures since early 2010. Ugh.
I had a notebook of all the folders that I printed pictures from in an effort to not duplicate print orders (which I may have done a time or two). Not sure where that notebook is. Great.
Do you print your pictures regularly? If so, where do you do it - online, at home, bring your card to Target?
I have no idea where to start. I'm thinking I'm going to start with the most recent and work my way back. I think I'll start tomorrow.

Back To Blogging.....

I used to blog regularly. Looking back, I would post a few times a week. Now I'm lucky if I get one post done in a month. I blame that on a few things - working full time, raising 2 busy boys, summer and Facebook. Yes, Facebook. That lovely vortex that sucks away my time. It's much easier to post a sentence than to compose a paragraph or two.
However, I'm coming back. I am going to make a commitment to myself to blog at least twice a week. It might not be a lengthy post and it may not include pictures, but my intent from the beginning is to capture moments of life to look back on down the road.
You in?

Happy 5th Birthday!

My sweet boy. We are so lucky to have you in our lives. This past year, your personality and preferences have really shined through. You are incredibly witty ~ especially for a 5 year old! There isn't a day that goes by where you don't make us belly laugh. I adore that about you.

You can hold your own with your brother. The two of you can't be so angry with each other and then in the next blink of an eye you are snuggled up on the couch watching a movie.

You love lasagna, yogurt and french toast sticks with my special dip.
You are very polite.
You are such a boy. You love to get dirty, catch bugs and torment the dog.

Thank you for being an amazing boy and thank you for still wanting me to tuck you in at night. Happy Birthday buddy!

4 Wheels to 2 Wheels....

Brett has been asking to take his training wheels off for a couple of weeks. The day finally came and he was so excited. At first. For being a little daredevil, he was extremely cautious when it came to trying to ride his bike. He wouldn't keep going fast enough to keep the bike up no matter how good Mike's pep talk was.

He mastered the "lean" and was trying really hard. See the tongue hanging out? That's when you know he's really concentrating.

He'd make it a few feet and then just stop pedaling. We all know what happens when you stop pedaling and don't put your feet down.

You got it. Wipe out. A handle bar to the ribs.

And he's done. He wouldn't get on the bike again after that. He wanted his scooter.

Guess we'll try again another day.

Daredevil...

Let's Play Ball.....

This is what we've been up to every Monday and Wednesday evening since the end of April. Colton is loving baseball this year. It's more competitive and the kids are pitching.

Here's Colton warming up. Right after I took this picture, he looked at me, shook his head and said, "geez Mom, really?!"
Here he is playing first base. One of his favorite positions.

Here he is pitching. His favorite position and my most stressful position. I get so nervous that he's going to hit somebody (which he has) and more afraid that he's going to get drilled by the batter (which thankfully he has not).

Playoffs start next week. Go Blue Jays!

Brothers....

On Easter I attempted the near impossible feat of getting a decent picture of my boys together. When they both are dressed somewhat decent and when they are both looking at me with an unforced smile.
Here they are posed by the tree in the front yard. Then a distraction. A car driving by and they both say cheese while turning their head to see who's going to catch them looking all dorked out. Then boredom sets in. Colton is clearly annoyed and Brett's making faces to entertain himself.

I must have said something hilarious (as I'm one to do) as Brett is laughing while Colton is attempting to remain composed as he wouldn't want me to think that he thinks I'm funny.

And here it is. I love this picture of them. This is who they are and I love them to pieces.

Can You Really Be 9???

I cannot believe you are already 9 years old. I never understood what my parents were saying when they told me, "the older you get, the faster time goes." Now, I get it.
What an amazing kid you are. You are so smart. You are so witty. You are so sensitive. You are so boy. You have no idea how much I love you! Happy Birthday buddy! Mike and I made a decision when we started having kids that we'd have family only parties until the kids were school age. Then we'd have a family party and a kid party. When Colton turned 6 in kindergarten, we gave him a choice. If you want to go somewhere for your birthday and have your party, then you don't get a gift from mom and dad. If you choose to have a party at home, then you get a gift from mom and dad. Maybe we are harsh, but those destination parties aren't cheap! I will tell you that every year since his 6th birthday, he as always chosen a destination party. This year was GrandSlam.

These are some of his closest buddies. They are a great group of boys.

Laser Tag was the hit of the party. They went in with team strategies and came out sweating and replaying every twist and turn and shot taken. Of course their team always won no matter what the scoreboard said.

Off to the bumper cars. I have never heard a group of nine year old boys giggle so much.

The hardest part of the day? Trying to figure out what trinket to cash all their tickets in for.

Last but not least, the birthday cake. Colton requested a baseball cake this year. I have so much fun creating the birthday cakes. I have overheard him bragging to his friends, "you should see the cakes my mom makes. She's better than the store." Thanks bud!