Springtime at Our Home

When it snows at the end of March, you do what you have to do.

In other words, you build a snow-bunny.

Happy Easter from the Far North!

aka Virginia

PS. For those who do not live in Virginia, please note that this is not normal weather.  We do enjoy a nice warm Spring.  Usually.  As in, every other year ever.  Just thought I should clear that up.

Our Mayo

We love our Mayo.

She's neurotic, cranky-in-her-old-age, and she drives me batty.

But she's my girl.  A good girl.

And we all love her.

PS. Baby hugs are her favorite.  Can't you tell?

Welcome to Virginia

It's the day after St. Paddy's Day.

Last week we played outside in short sleeves every day.

And today we're playing in the snow.

Welcome to Virginia.

I Missed This

One year ago, we were in Key West.  And aside from the spring-breakers, the traffic, and the run of strep we experienced upon arriving on the island, it was marvelous.  I miss it.  Especially right now, as the snow falls outside my window.  Don't get me wrong, I love snow, but it's St. Patrick's Day, people.

But as much as I miss the warm weather, sunny skies, and days upon days spent on the beach, one year ago we were all missing something else.  We were missing Gator-ville.  More specifically, we were missing Gator Week.  A week dedicated to wearing orange and green, dancing with the gator rappers, and celebrating the fact that we are in fact Gators.  We go to the best elementary school this side of anywhere.

I bet your teachers didn't dress up as gators and do gangnam style with you last Friday.  Ours did.

Happy Snow Days!

Finally!  It snowed!  A real, honest-to-goodness eight inches of fluffy white stuff for boys to play in.  (Just so you know, I just spent a good five minutes trying to reword that sentence so as not to end with a preposition.  Not going to happen.  "In which to play" just sounds way to uppity for little ol' me.  Remember Jen, this is not your history thesis.  Been there, done that.  Moving on...)

Someone once told me that brothers wrestle because it gives them a chance to hug.  Yeah, that's it.

There is nothing better than a good snowstorm to get you outside and having fun.  Unless you count a nice warm spring day.  Or a cool pool on a hot summer day.  Or crisp leaves to jump in on a cool fall day.  But I digress. In the winter, there is nothing better than SNOW!  So bring it on!  Lots of it!

And although we had I think it was 27 (that's right - I heard it on the news) separate days with snowfall, only one other time did we even get enough to stick.  That was the time my children collected snow from all the neighbors' yards to pack enough on the hill for sledding.  The next day they sledded in the mud.

But yesterday it snowed all day long.  Actually, it snowed for almost thirty hours.  That's right folks!  It was perfect.  Lots of snow, lots of fun.  

Note the sock-gloves.  He can't get those off so easy.

Today, it's in the forties and we're melting fast.  By this afternoon, there may be more mud-sledding going on.  But while this late-season snow is here, we are soaking it all up.  Quite literally.  My dryer may not make it.

It's so, so worth it.  Because boys need snow.  And moms need snow days to spend with their boys.

Off to enjoy the last snowballs of the season!  Hopefully.  :)

Joy is...

...rediscovering favorite childhood games with your own children.

Anybody else remember Blockhead?

That's Awesome

You know what I think is awesome?

That my children think I am awesome.

That is what I think is awesome.

This morning I dressed a little Aiden Cooper (The Bridge to Neverland, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pierson) and a Crispin (The Elfstones of Shannara, by Terry Brooks).  It is amazing what some smudges of eyeliner (for the dirty boy look), a paper bag elf hat, and Dad's shirt can do for a boy's imagination.  And for Mom's status as "The One Who Can Do Anything."

Speaking of Mom's status, there's another thing I think is awesome.  My boys still love to hug and kiss me.  Even in front of all the other kids at school.  Lots of moms told me this would stop in fourth grade, but so far... I'm still awesome.

I sure do love my boys.

Giving It His All

Can you find Camden in these pictures from last week's basketball game?

Hint: He's the one who doesn't touch the ground. Ever.

Camden plays basketball much the same way he lives his life.

Full throttle.

Anything they can do...

We have on our hands a 15-month-old who idolizes two big boys.  He'd like to do everything they do.  So, now he wears shoes.  But he forgot how to walk.  And now he sits on the potty before his bath.  But he saves the piddle for the tub.  Thank goodness.  I wasn't really ready to give up this baby quite yet.

The Big Christmas Photo Dump

It's a new year!  I LOVE a new year!  May this be the year that I get organized, learn to manage my time, make yummy dinners every single night, and get back to my blog.  Yes?

Right now, with my baby boy sleeping, would be the perfect time to clean out the craft closet.  Or take a good hard look at that as-yet blank calendar.  Or make a menu...

I think I'll start with the blog.

Here's a photo dump - and when I say dump, I really mean dump - of our Christmas holiday.  No order.  But what's the fun in order?  We'll get to that tomorrow.  Maybe.

If that isn't the perfect Christmas morning face, I don't know what is.

Those, too.

Nico totally bonded with his Della.

We left him with Bob and Della for one afternoon and now he hits, head-butts, and growls...

The Christmas Eve reading of the classic, "Wonder Walnut."

Best story those boys have ever heard.

The girls, not so much.

I was a bad mommy and gave my boys an extra week off school before Christmas.

Sometimes you need more time for cuddling on the couch with your brothers.

And the scientific process of creating a grasshopper pie.

Long story.  Remind me to share sometime.

And kissing your Dada.

Poppa's aunt's little rocker.

Lots of time for laying on the floor with my baby boy!

I get lots of help every day, but Christmas-jammied help is the best kind.

Finally got Aunt Amy on the Hunger Games bandwagon.  She's hooked!

And Uncle Clark is just hooked on his little boy.

Find Della...

Just being real here.

We're not always smiling.

Just most of the time.

Please pretend you don't see the feet.

My dad and brother have seriously ugly feet.

Sorry.

Sometimes, Santa needs to do some of his assembling during the day.

Sometimes, boys get to play a new computer game.

Nico is in love with his new "house."

His brothers are in love with Darth Maul.

And legos.

And new bikes!

Cam's already had one pretty impressive crash.

Impressive as in, that barrier used to be upright.  And in one piece...

We're glad Cam's in one piece - and that he got right up and back on.

Oh, and he won the race...

Black magic with Poppy and the uncles.

We're getting ready for Pinewood Derby time!

One little boy has a few years to wait.

See you next time, and here's to hoping it'll be better than a dump!

Happy Halloween!

from those meddling kids!

Day to Serve

September 29, 2012 has been declared by the governors of Virginia, Maryland, and West Viirginia, and by the mayor of Washington D.C.

A DAY TO SERVE

and

A DAY TO END HUNGER

Please go to daytoserve.org to find opportunities to serve in your community.  You can participate in any number of service projects in your area, give to a local food bank, or get a group together and plan your own project.

If you happen to be in the Fredericksburg areea, stop by the LDS chapel on Bragg Rd between 10 and 2.  There you will find over a dozen service projects ready for your willing hands and an expo of 30+ service organizations sharing what they need from you!  Also available that day will be a Red Cross blood drive and food trucks from Fredericksburg Area Food Bank and SERVE (Stafford Food Pantry), both ready to accept your non-perishable food donations.

I know we're busy.  And I know times are tough and money is tight.  Trust me, I know.  But the Lord has asked us to be His hands here on earth.  We can share what we have been blessed with - be it our time, our goods, or our love - with those less fortunate.

Together, we can make a difference in our community.  So please join me and let's get out there and help each other!

DAY TO SERVE

Dedication

 

You know your boy loves the sport when he's willing to play the first game of the season in a torrential downpour.

You know you love your boy when you're willing to watch the first game of the season in a torrential downpour.

And you know your other kids don't get much say in things when they spend their Saturday afternoon watching a soccer game in a torrential downpour.

That's the way it goes around here.  And don't worry.  Cam's got some football sidelines with his name all over them.

And Nico?  Well, he's just along for the ride.

Blogging, Not Weeding

Look what my darling boys found in the garden.  It's body alone is over an inch wide.  I promise I'm not exaggerating.  I do that sometimes - exaggerate, especially about bugs - but I'm not doing it now.  This bad boy is big.  And creepy. And he makes me shiver.

Needless to say, I'm not weeding today.  Or maybe ever again.  One simply cannot weed while one is shivering so violently.  Still shivering over here.

Let's move on, shall we?  No need to dwell on tonight's nightmare before noon.  Here's to a little distraction...

Yesterday, Nico and I went out and bought cabinet locks.

I guess today I should actually put them in.

Last week my boy became a man.  Or at least a Bobcat.  You know, some cultures send their young men out into the wilderness to survive on their own for months.  Others do other things.  I like this one, personally.  

You know when you promise your kid a birthday party and then three months go by and you're starting to think,"Hey, maybe he forgot!" and he comes to you in the middle of the night to ask when he will get to have that party?  Oh, is that just me?

We finally celebrated Cam's birthday with friends.  Good, wonderful friends, whose parents didn't even say mean things about me (at least not that I could hear) because I called them up the day before about this very late, very last minute party.  It was thrown together fast, which meant we played with water balloons and stuffed them full of candy.  The perfect party, I'm thinking!

Oh, and let's get a better look at that cake.  'Cause I'm feeling a little bit pleased with myself.  I may not be doing any wedding cakes any time soon - or ever - but my kiddos think I'm pretty awesome.

And on that note, let me leave you with a sweet little moment.  I love catching them unawares.  And I love that my boys' buddies are so comfortable in our home.  Please, please, please can we keep it that way for always?

Have a happy day!  And let's try not to have those nightmares, 'kay?