Gymnastics

One time, when she was almost 2, I watched Maeve jump from the 4th step on a staircase to the floor and land it perfectly. I think that is when I decided she should try gymnastics.
Of course, in the meantime, I had another kid, so those plans were postponed a bit.
She got to start this last week, and I think that she really liked it.
She is in an interesting phase right now.
A phase where she mostly pretends she is a cat.
Sometimes its a mouse, sometimes a bunny, but mostly a cat.
She meows, purrs, walks on all fours, and will climb on your lap to be "pet".
When she is in this "mood" she will completely ignore your questions, unless they are addressed to her in "kitty cat" form.
It's weird, but then again, she is 3.

Needless to say, when the teacher started the floor warm-ups, she insisted that instead of everyone being a bird, everyone should be a kitty cat. The teacher actually did it!

I think she had a good time, although she says that she isn't going back.
Well, little one, yes you are. For two reasons.
Mommy paid for the month,
and mommy is sick and tired of you balancing on ledges, jumping from furniture and hanging from towel bars.

School Pics

Cannon's first school picture is....interesting.

Soccer Mom

I "officially" became a soccer mom this weekend!
#1 and #2 played in their first official soccer game Saturday morning at 9am.
Nothing like bright and early on our only day off...

Here are some of the game highlights:
Brynn was goalie for the first half. She blocked the first goal attempt. Of course, it was mostly because she just happened to be standing in the way of the kid who tried to kick it in. We had to let her in on the secret that goalies can use their hands to pick up the ball when they need to.

Cannon had an assist. Of course, while dribbling the ball down the field, it got out of his control, so he reached out, used his hands to grab it away from another kid, and kept right on going.

Maeve made friends with a dog. Then I turned around and looked at her and she was SITTING on it. Thankfully the dog was friendly, and very used to kids.

Nolan escaped my grasp one time and crawled out on the field only once. I feel like that is pretty good considering I was (at the same time) cheering for the 2 on the field, and pulling the 3 year old off of the little cocker spaniel.


I don't know exactly which team won. I don't think there was any active scorekeeping going on. But, if I was to guess, I would say my kids team won. (Of course)

10 Months...almost 11

How did this month fly by so quickly? Could it be because *cue the sound of singing angels* Nolan is sleeping through the night????
Why, yes, I think it could be!
I guess, technically he isn't fully sleeping through the night, but we no longer go get him, and he gets to cry it out in the crib until his 6am feeding. I put him down around 8pm, and don't have to feed again until 6am. What I do in between those 10 hours is sleep. Usually.


Nolan now eats only what we eat.
It causes some problems though, since he tends to shove it in faster than he can chew it, which results in gagging, some awful noises, and food "re-appearing". Then, 2 of the 3 other kids start to gag, and usually have to turn away before their food "re-appears". Its lots of fun.
But, he refuses to eat baby food. Literally bats away any spoon from his face, and won't open his mouth unless it's his fist shoving food in.
When his tray on the highchair is empty, he grunts and pounds his fist on the table, as a signal that he is ready for more.
It's comical...if you are raising a neanderthals.

He takes 2 naps a day, and I really love it when its time to get him up. He is smiley, and easy going, when he is well rested. I love the way that when I pick him up from his crib he automatically tries to bear hug me with his arms and legs so that I won't put him down. Thankfully my back can handle the extra weight for a while longer.

He has taken some spills, mostly down the 2 steps into the garage, but besides tears, no harm done. He loves to play with the kids, and they still love him. Actually, adore him. There is nothing better then hearing him laugh because of the silly antics of his siblings.

He stood alone for a brief second...when Rich set him down, and let go. But that is as far as it has progressed.

I definitely love this little mans smile, and definitely dread his tears.

Maeve's Type of Guy

"Mommy - isn't he handsome?"

I guess we know what kind of guy she digs!
I mean, who wouldn't like a man in uniform..
with a sweet hair do'...
and weird looking hands?

2011 Neighborhood BBQ

I love our annual neighborhood picnic.
We share yummy food, we catch up on a years worth of happenings, we watch the kids run around and play, blowing bubbles and drawing sidewalk chalk pictures over then entire court.
We hand off the babies to the eager teenagers who want to hold them and play with them.
We wave to people driving by, yelling out "hello!" and the occasional "CAR!" when one pulls into the court.
We eat more yummy food, share recipes, and neighborhood gossip.
We pick up the kids that fall down, discuss local schools, most desired teachers, newest pregnancies.
We roast marshmallows. We caution kids not to run while carrying sticks. We enjoy a beautiful evening, one of the last ones of the summer most likely.
Then when the 5 year old trips on the curb, and slams face first into a parked car, we pack up our gear and head on home.
Good times, good times.

Baseball

A group of guys from church invited Rich to an A's game on Sunday. He was pretty excited to go, but had a few regrets that he was leaving me behind to take care of a bunch of stuff throughout the day by myself. Not enough regrets to stay however, but just enough to feel bad...
As they were about to leave, one more ticket became available, and so Cannon got to go too!
Like any good wife and mom would, I sent them away with a packed lunch, lots of drinks, some sunblock, hand sanitizer, and made sure Rich knew what Cannon was wearing in case they got separated and he had to describe what Cannon was last seen wearing. Morbid, I know.
Apparently they had a great time. Their seats were really good, the weather was amazing, and the game didn't last so long that Cannon could get bored.
I sent the camera with them, and it came home with some interesting pictures. I have a feeling Cannon might have gotten a hold of the camera.

A chair... and
A closeup shot of some people we don't know...

Making friends with the usher/aisle guy/person that walks around yelling "popcorn, peanuts, cold beer", resulted in a temporary tattoo on Cannon's cheek, and a shirt, and a ball directly out of the ball pen.
Direct Quote from Cannon: The best part was me getting the baseball. And also the best part was spending the time with the boys...and stuff.

Help Yourself!

Well hello there little man!
Make yourself right at home!
Help yourself to whatever you need.
Funny little man!

Birthday Party

Our friend Ben turned 30 (finally!) and his wife arranged a cool "Grease" themed surprise party for him. Part of the party was to have pictures taken out by fully restored truck. It was a great idea, and the party was lots and lots and lots of fun!!!

Tooth

Brynn lost a tooth at dinner the other day.
Thankfully she didnt swallow it.
I love the gaping hole in her smile now!

Wonderfall

Every year I invite a group of friends out to my parents orchard for apple picking, dirt playing, playground swinging, tractor riding good times.
This year was no exception.

The tractor rides were a highlight for all the kids. My dad always does a really good job of "teaching" as he drives. He stops the tractor, and shows different kinds of apples, and answers questions in the best ways!

When we had kids, my parents invested in one of those great play structures and put it up under a canopy of trees and it is the perfect play spot!

All the kids were able to pick some apples, and take them home. I always get such a great response from moms after the day is over. But, I don't really do it for that reason. I do it for this one....

Weekend Project

At a garage sale a few weekends ago, Rich and I picked up this beauty. He was pretty excited about it, and hoping that the kids would love playing with the puppets as much as he does.

Unfortunately they didn't.

I had hoped that it wouldn't just sit in our garage taking up space looking like a sad castoff from the 90's. I asked if I could paint it, but he was pretty opposed to the idea. He thought the decorations on it added to its "charm".

I finally convinced him that I could do it, and make it look cute too. So when we decided to get rid of it, I got permission to update it so that we could possibly earn a little bit of money from the sale.

It started out like this.
A little sad right? It was lovingly painted for some family in the 90's, and I totally respect the time and effort that someone put into the detail of the work.
It was solidly made too!
My first attempt at a color match to the fabric for the new curtains was a total fail. Under the fluorescent lights at Home Depot they matched...but once out in natural light it became very clear that I had not done well this time.
I have been using Rustoleum primer lately, and really loving it. It's expensive, but it works really well. After sanding and filling some holes and dings on the surface, I started priming the theatre.
A coat of primer made all the difference in the world!
After I finally found the right color green (Green Apple - Rustoleum) I painted everything except the shelves. I sewed the curtains (to short the first time - my seam ripper is a well used instrument) and it started to come together nicely!
I also used chalkboard paint for the first time. It was...interesting. Mostly because the roller I bought was so cheap that it kept dropping off of the handle onto the tarp, and collecting dirt. I returned it after I was done.
The last few details of spray painting the curtain rod white, and some ric-rac tie-backs helped finish off the project.
I think it came out really well, and am now attempting to sell it. It can be used for so many things! A puppet theatre, a shelf, a lemonade stand, a little store front for the pretend grocery store, even a TV stand if need be!
I love, love, love working with my hands on this kind of stuff! I really hope to do more projects like this!

Garage Makeover

Our garage has been a constant project since we moved in.
I loved parking my car in it, but eventually gave that up so that the kids could play.
Then, we went for it, and sheet rocked and insulated the whole thing.
We even painted....

I got a craft area for my own use, and the kids got a play area for their use!
We picked up a couch, and got some free carpet, and it's finally feeling like a cozy play room.
It's been a fun transformation, but I still feel like it's not quite right. I would like to do a few more organizational things, but Rich is convinced the I have a "bin habit" and he doesn't really support it. I might just have to do it, and then when he sees how great it looks he will be won over to the "dark side"...

Here is a photo journey of the transformation....the never ending, ongoing transformation!

Chaos, clutter, and kid stuff....everywhere.

Getting closer to done. Still lots of evidence of our kids...

My crafting area all done. Organized, and ready for some serious sewing, and crafts!

Our new living space...being well used! The couch is comfy, and the kids love having a carpet piece for to make it comfy for all the Lego play!

I am thinking a few pillows on the couch, and a few more bins on the shelf....I just might be done.
Maybe....