MOM!!!

I was sitting in another room when Jack ran in and yelled, "MOM, you have got to come with me! I found this black thing that has buttons and when you push them, knives fly out!" Well, who could pass up the opportunity to find out what I had in the house that would fit that description....

"Look mom! When I push these buttons...."

"Knives fly out!!!"

When I went on my girl trip to Minn. I found this awesome typewriter, which I have always wanted, at a great little antique store at an outlet mall. This is the thing that when you push the buttons, knives fly out!!! Who knew!

Drake Relays Weekend...

Every year, we have friends, from Wisconsin, as well as other places, come to Des Moines for the Drake Relays. We have been getting together for over 15 years. Obviously, it has changed over time due to everyone having kids, but it is now getting to the point where the kids go to...it is a guaranteed good time and laughs and we look forward to it every year!

Sam and Ryan at the bulldog and new watches to time the races.

Sam at the relays...he really hung in there with the heat on Friday. Our car read 89 degrees when we left the stadium around 2:30.

When we got home, the boys played in the sprinkler to cool off...yep, the sprinkler!!!

The next day was so cold and wet. Sam opted not to go, but the rest of us headed to the blue oval. Our attire was much different..layers and rain coats!! We hung in there for the entire day...though we couldn't walk afterwards due to frozen toes! These are our awesome Wisconsin friends: Meredith, Brad and Ryan.

Green Poop...

My mom watched the boys yesterday while I (and a great friend) taught an in service at a Des Moines Elementary...this is the email she sent later...

Jack, Sam and I spent some time along the pond at the park across from Sam's school. He was content to throw things into it but grabbed what he thought was a rock and said "Ewwwww!" I took a look and told him to drop it as it was old dried up dog poo. He then took a few more steps and pointed to a dog pile that had turned green and solemnly announced: "That is frog poop....frog's poop green". ... and walked away.We washed hands when we got home.

Obviously the frog/dog does not have issue of pooing in public!! :)

Blogger Off...

I have been so busy with my life, that I have not been able to do my important computer work. I am not expecting myself to blog again until next week. I have great stories from my trip to Minn., Pictures of what Sam built with 112 dixie cups and we have Drake Relays this weekend. Have a good week and I will see you next week!!

We're Off...

Today I am off on a road trip with my mom and sister. We take off usually once a year to do some serious shopping. I am sure I will have some blog material for next week after our trip. Just when you think you know everything about a person...you go shopping with them for three days and you find out even more! i am SO looking forward to getting away for awhile and bonding with my girls!! Have a good weekend!

Hmmmm...spring....

I had my windows opened this morning...I love the sound of the birds chirping, it reminds me of when I was little. I love the smell of the fresh morning air...a bird flew off our roof and I saw it through our window..life is good...


But, what is that??? A bird flew back...and then left again..OH CRAP!! This is what I saw outside my window...you know what that means. Those dang birds are building a bird's nest in our gutters!! Darn it! This means that we (JB) needs to go up there and get rid of it BEFORE it lays eggs! Then you know if they build it once in a place, they will build it again in the same place. So now we will have to keep our eye on the area and I haven't looked, but you know they "leave" their mark with white stuff all over...spring isn't so beautiful right now...

In with the New...Out with the Old...

For Sam's birthday (which is in about a month) JB and I wanted to get him a new bike. Well, he got on his bike from last year and needless to say, he out grew it...big time! So, off to the bike store we went and Sam got an early birthday present...he LOVES his new bike...it goes a lot faster and through the grass with no problem!

Sam's old bike...add some training wheels and now Jack has a new bike!

Happy Easter!

A few photos of Easter...

Sam and Roo getting ready to go outside for the Easter egg hunt at my mom's. She hid about 58 eggs. Jack was to find the green, pink and orange ones. Sam was to find the blue, purple and yellow ones. If you listened closely, you could hear Jack under his breath chanting, "Green, pink, orange. Green, pink, orange..."

After the hunt, Aunt helped the boys count their eggs and find out if they missed any by checking it with the "master" list. The boys did pretty well...they only missed four!

Scrap Trip...

On Tuesday, I had the honor of joining the girls from Memory Bound on a road trip, to Minneapolis, to visit another scrapbooking store. It was great fun and needless to say, not only did we bond, but we also had the opportunity to get to know a lot about each other. It was a great learning experience and opportunity for us all. Like good scrappers, we had to get a picture outside of the store. I just uploaded them and wanted to share a few...

I guess, the girl that took our picture wanted to document everything...

Linda was pondering pillows...I look as if I am practicing standing up for someones wedding.

The photographer could not get the entire name of the store into the picture.

There is so much more I could share about the trip, but I was told that such stories were NOT blogable and had to sign a document in sloppy joe juice to promise...

Just want to say thanks to the girls for the fun, memories and great laughs!

Mac and Cheese...

I love my mom, don't get me wrong. BUT...

Sam went there for dinner the one night and later told me... "MOM, Nanny (my mom) MADE MAC N' CHEESE ALL BY HERSELF!" Oh...(yee) I thought...she makes mac n' cheese all the time. So I say in my best chef knowingness, "Oh, did you have shells and cheese or Kraft?" (two of my specialties, by the way.) Sam looks at me like my head just spun around. "NO! SHE MADE MAC N' CHEESE ALL BY HERSELF!! She... didn't...have...a....... BOX!! It was the BEST ever!!" Oh. I thought to myself again. HOMEMADE mac n' cheese. Just great.

So, Sam came Monday, which is his night to pick dinner, and asked, "Remember when Nanny made me mac n' cheese without a box, do you think we could have that tonight?"

Honestly, several thoughts went through my head at once...NO (was the first), go to your Nanny's (was my 2nd) and then last of all...How the hell would you make something like that and why would you want to make that when you can get it from a box? But, I kindly replied, "Well, I will have to try to find a recipe for that." (but, please DO NOT send me any recipes.)

So, just want to say, Thanks to my mom for setting the bar so high! And could you let me know when you are having "real" mac n' cheese so Sam can have it for dinner?

Wreaths for Easter...

The boys needed a "project" to help pass some time the other day (notice that they are still in their pj's.) So, thanks to our friends having leftovers, we made Easter wreaths. It is that foam stuff that you can buy in a pack from Micheal's...Well, the boys LOVED it! It was a great project because Roo could do it on his own and Sam could take it to the "creative" level. It passed a good hour and the wreathes make great decorations for Easter...next project dying Easter eggs...probably won't be as successful.

April Snows...

As all good scrapbookers did, I too took a picture of the snow on Sunday. The boys were bummed to see the cold weather and the snow, but were excited to go out and play in it..hopefully for one last time!

It's Hard Being a Kid...

I lost my scrapbooking mojo for a bit and was very frustrate about that happening! But, leave it to my boys to inspire me with their behaoir. This is the page that broke my block and the story is below...thanks, Sam (kind of.) (I so need to get a scanner!!!)

Lately, Sam has been stretching his wings (so to say) and has been testing the waters on how far he can push me and Jason. For example, the other day we were sitting at the table and Sam was watching something on TV and states, “This is stupid.” It caught me off guard, due to him usually not talking in this manner. So, I said to him, “Sam, you could say that in a different way.” He replies, “This is dumb.” I then realize that he is pushing to see how far he can go. So I respond, “Sam, it is not okay to talk that way!” He continues to keep “pushing.” “So what should I say?” he inquires. I know he wants to me to say a “word” that we shouldn't be using…so I sternly say (so he can get the point), “Some things you can think in your head, but don’t say out loud.” He now realizes that he has pushed to far and comes back with, “Thanks for explaining that to me mom.” Ugh!!

So, Sam worked himself into a grounding the other night. He was in his room “thinking” about his behavior. I went to his room and while we were talking about the situation, he states, “There are way too many rules for a kid to remember.” So I asked him to name 5 quick…well, he did. So, I summed up the rules he shared with me as ones that were all about respect. He just looked at me and said,

“It is SO much harder being a kid then a parent.”

I think I will share this statement with him when he is the parent!

It followed me home...

I discovered sewing on my scrapbook projects about 2 months ago and loved the effect. My little machine lasted 2 pages and then Jack decided to try his hand at sewing...the above picture shows how well that went.

Now...look what followed me home last week! I haven't ventured to open it, but I will let you know what happens when I do!!!