Spring has Sprung!

Tball season is in full swing. After a pretty lousy start, with all games and practices being cancelled by rain, we finally had our first game!

Some highlights:
Uniforms...how I love thee!
Daddy and Uncle are the coaches....always a good time.

Luke and Cannon can't get enough of eachother on or off the field.
Everyone hits REALLY good, when its tball.
Everyone gets to run the bases when its tball.
Everyone wins, when its tball (but if you ask Cannon, his team "definately" won).

Go Cubs!

Nolan and the iPhone...and the Table..of course

So, I'm flipping through all my pictures, and I realize that most of them that have Nolan in them, are of him on the table.
I think he literally spends most of the day climbing up there. At least, it feels like he does, cause I spend most of the day pulling him down.
He has recently discovered my iPhone. He loves "Peekaboo Barn". He loves the animal sounds and the barn, and it keeps him entertained for about 20 seconds. (Hey, its 20 more seconds for me to scan pinterest, right?)

April Fools

We tried to have a little bit of fun with the kids this year for April Fools. For breakfast I added a drop of food coloring to the kids cereal bowls, and covered it with cereal. The idea was that it was supposed to change color when I poured on the milk. Rich and I were pretty excited waiting for their reaction - which never happened. Too bad one drop doesn't do anything....note to self: you need to add a few (as is more than 3) to make this little joke work. Total dud.

For Dinner I decided to do the whole "meatloaf and mash potatoes that look like a cupcake" deal. You want to know how to make a kid gag?
You serve this.
Cannon took a bite, and almost lost it. It doesn't help that he HATES potatoes of any form (french fries included).

For dessert I served "Spaghetti and Meatballs". Maeve wouldn't even touch it until the others convinced her that it wasn't actually spaghetti.
I kept waiting all day for Rich to pull something on me, even though I warned him that I don't like to be pranked. I mean, I don't mind little things. I have bitten into my fair share of sandwiches with chips, or shrimp tails, or even the paper they put between the cheese slices hidden in my turkey. Those always make me laugh! (And trust me, I can give it as good as I get it...) But I happened to see him googling "April Fools' Pranks" and told him I wasn't really up for something mean, like having him jump out of a dark closet or pretend that he got fired or something like that. I mean, seriously, I've given birth to 4 pretty big kids. My bladder is weak...I can't handle that kind of stuff.

Rainy Days

Walks in the rain are pretty fun when you get to wear your jammies underneath the coats and boots!
They are even more fun when you have snot running down your face too from the cold....right?
This little one didn't make it very long. She got cold and came inside and cuddled with me. *love*







Thank goodness Daddy enjoys this kind of thing.....(brrrrr)

Happy 35th to the Hubs!

So, 14 years ago I met this guy
We started dating.
Then we got married and got a dog.
Then we had a couple of kids.
And then a couple more.
And the other morning I got to wake up next to him, and wish him yet another Happy Birthday.
He's my best friend, my strength, my hero.

My attempt to make this birthday "extra special".
The birthday breakfast of scones.

Lunch with love notes.
His party with the family which included the "burger bar" and instead of a cake, a cookie plate.
It was a little bit of a challenge to get the candles to stand on the cookie platter....lol!
And some fruit...cause it's always nice to have it!

Rich got to do something extra special on his birthday. There was a Father Daughter Banquet that the church put on, and he was soooo excited to go! Brynn and him dressed up and enjoyed an evening there together. From what I hear, it was great!
Happy Birthday Honey! I hope that you had a really, really, REALLY special 35th bday! I love you forever and ever!

Leprechan Trappings and St Patty's Day Celebrations

This was our second time building a Leprechaun Trap for kindergarten.
Just like with Brynn, we let Cannon create his entire trap. He had fun brainstorming ideas, and drawing up "the plan".
It involved a ladder that he made, a trapdoor, a rainbow and a cup that would fall and trap the leprechaun. It also involved a box that was huge, heavy and very awkward to carry. I know this, because I had to carry it on the wettest, most rainiest day EVER and deliver it to his class. Grrrr...

On the eve of St. Patty's day, the kids reset the trap for any mischievous leprechauns that might be in our house, hoping to catch them. They baited it with marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal. Nolan got ahold of a few...he might actually be part leprechaun.
The sneaky leprechaun got away...again... and left a trail of green glitter (that I am still cleaning up) and some gold coins for the kids to tuck away in their pockets.
I made some rainbow pancakes (which made for some interesting diaper changes) and enjoyed our day.
For lunch I made a "green" themed lunch for the kids and a few friends. No one would touch the green tinted ranch for the carrots. I couldn't blame them. It looked a little gross to me too!
Dinner was a yummy Corned Beef roast (anything is better in vinegar right?!?!) with carrots, soda bread, and salad.
And then, because the kids shouldn't get to have all the fun, Rich and I had our own "adult" St. Patty's date night.
I love making these little pseudo holidays fun for my houseful of kids!

Sugared Up

I always forget my camera.
Thank goodness for the ol' iphone!!!
Just found these pics from Vday.
Uhhh. I think he's had enough frosting for the day...
Here are his valentines from the class.
And just because he is Cannon...he did a little something special, just for me!
"I love you Mom!"

This One...

...makes me laugh.
I love her attitude.
I love her thin little scraggly hair.
I love her style.
I love her sense of humor and sarcastic nature.
I love her whispers and hugs.
I love the way she twirls her hair when she thinks she is trouble.
I love the little dances and songs that she is constantly performing.
She is 3....and I love her!

Recently:
Brynn and Cannon were in trouble for one thing or another (isn't it funny that in the moment it is sooooo serious, and now looking back, I can't even remember what it is that they did?) and they were having a talk with Rich in our bedroom. Nolan was already down, and I had a few precious moments with just Maeve. We read a few books, talked and giggled about nothing, and then she gave me a hug.
"Mommy" she whispered. "Brynn and Cannon are getting in A LOT of trouble right now"
"Yep" I said. "They sure are!"
"But I'm not", she giggled. "I am not getting in any trouble at all, cause I didn't do anything bad. I was a good girl!"
Then she rolled over and went to sleep.

Ooops

I won't ever live this down.
Ever.
How was I supposed to know that clippers could cut skin?

Wanna Live at My House?

My name is Lego dude and I live here.
Want to live with me? I have a cool tower, and a great car, a fisher price horse, and although it's drafty in the winter, my log cabin is pretty fun to be in.