The Tooth Fairy Visits Again!

Wow, they grow up so fast. Jayce lost another tooth. Would he just stop getting older and let me snuggle him a bit longer?

My Mother.

I found this quote by George Washington and I felt it echoed my feelings about my own mother.

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." -- George Washington (1732-1799)

She has the most wonderful love for life, her children and grand-children. She loves to have fun.

She is a great mother and wonderful example to me. I call her several times a week to either share something funny about her grandbabies or to get her help and advice.

I found this poem and it made me think - did I thank her like I should?


As I Look Back...
As I look back on my life
I find myself wondering...
Did I remember to thank you
for all that you have done for me?
For all of the times you were by my side
to help me celebrate my successes
and accept my defeats?
Or for teaching me the value of hard work,
good judgement, courage, and honesty?
I wonder if I've ever thanked you
for the simple things...
The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?
If I have forgotten to express my gratitude
For any of these things,I am thanking you now...
and I am hoping that you've known all along,
how very much you are loved and appreciated.
Author Unknown

Thank You Mom!! And most of all, I love You!!

He loves me...He loves me not...He Loves Me!!!

Early in our sweet marriage just after laundering our sheets I made a confession to Jason.

I confessed how much I loves freshly laundered sheets. When you first climb into a clean bed, the sheets are crisp (not scratchy - free of wrinkles), tight, and smell like clean cotton. Oh, just thinking about it makes me want to grab all our sheets and through them in the washer. I just love it.

After this confession, do you know he has never climbed into a freshly laundered bed before I do. Never. In fact the other night illustrates this perfectly. I fiddled on the computer while Jason enjoyed his nightly routine and then he graciously helped me put the clean sheets on our bed (the really tall mattress and deep pocket sheets are tricky - without his help, his side will eventually pop off the corners).

Then I skipped off to enjoy my nightly routine assuming he was just going to climb in and doze until I finished (as is our usual, unless I get to go first). Well, and to put it mildly, if I don't think Jason is waiting I am very, very, very slow with my nightly routine. I use that time to think about how the day went, what I need to do tomorrow, and I fuss.

It was already getting to be late when I started and then I came to bed. There he was, extremely tired and waiting for me, lying on top of the quilt. Just so I could be the first one to slide into those freshly laundered sheets.

Does it get any more apparent than that!!!! It is the little things, isn't it?

A Hunting We Will Go, A Hunting We Will Go!

(Title to be sung to Hi Ho the Dairy O!!)


Pointer for any one who wants cute pictures of you kids Easter Egg Hunting. Do not let them wear fall Earth tones. Charlotte looks very Springy (is that a word) in her green jacket. The boys are BLAHH!! And very posey (to be defined as overly posed)!













Will I ever get them to smile naturally - any pointers?

Easter Sunday!

I just love Easter Sunday and all the little kids in their new spring clothes. It feels so fresh and clean, and just gets the anticipation of warmer days going. I tried to get pictures of the three in their Easter finery. Have you ever tried to take pictures of three kids after church and 2 pm and no food in their belly's. Well, like I said I tried... (You want my narration?)

Here we have all 3 looking (only the second picture).

Dad? Why do I have to do this? (Use your winniest voice. Shot 16)

Fine! I will grin and bear it... (shot 18).

Oh, No. The smile is back. (shot 29)

Forget it, I am giving up now. (shot 35)

Pigtails Or Piggies!!

Charlotte's First Pigtails. So Very Cute!!!! (Oh, and First Bruise)

3 Cakes - No Stinkin' Fair

Who out there has ever had 3 cakes for their Birthday? Let me reword - 3 cakes baked by the same person? I think there is an unwritten rule forbidding such a thing.

I know from deep and thoughtful reflection I was never spoiled in such a gross manner. My husband, I think has at least had 3 cakes. For the past 2 years we have been out west visiting family during his Birthday. This of course means Birthday dinner at my Mom's (she spoils him so), Birthday dinner at his Mom's (of course she spoils him) and then Birthday dinner from me (I have to compete).

But, Jayce. My own son, who I have been given the charge to not overindulge, spoil and ruin. I have failed. This year he had 3, all baked by me.

1. Birthday cake at his party. 2 of them, because you have to have enough for guests

2. Cake for his class at school, which I turned into cake pops. Mine were really ugly, tasted good. Go here to see what I am talking about, Bakerella.

3. The family party also deserves a cake.

Here are some pics of the last cake (sorry no pictures of my ugly cake pops - I am perfecting it) and his new remote control car.

PULL THEE SWITCH!!

Since I begged, pleaded, and was lazy, Jayce did not have a Birthday Party last year. Every other year is adequate. Right?
We had an all Boy Mad Scientist Party!!

The invitation were swollen paper test tubes with the information on the back. I almost lost my mind and had the party for 3 hours instead of 2 (good thing I caught the typo).
Now keep in mind that I was raised all girls.

When the boys (14 total, counting Jayce and Grahm) arrived we made slime - or snot (you just use clear glue in the recipe). This of course meant that only half of the boys were listening or even in the room. The rest were playing Basketball.

Then we took the party to the backyard for some explosive fun. We used old plastic film canister and launched the lids. I asked questions and explained the science of it all - but they just wanted to see the "rockets".

You should ask boys what makes a rocket go if there is no fire. Interesting theories...
Back to my rocket story. So, I ordered everyone back. I put the Alkaseltzer tablet (only 1/2) into the canister and added the vinegar, snapped the lid on and sat it on the grass. The lid popped a few feet into the air - yeah it worked. They swarmed me to get their chance, they quickly complied and fell into an orderly line. I added the magic and snapped the lid on and handed it to the first boy. What did he do?

He stood in the middle of the lawn and held it - the same way I have seen crazy boys hold roman candles. I should have known. Before to long they were pointing them at each other. I should have known. Good news, only one boy ended up with vinegar in his eyes.

Next, we made a Soda Geyser. You dump a bunch of Mentos in Diet Coke (no sugar is good in this case) and watch in shoot out of the bottle about 20 feet. They even make a nifty little gadget for quickly dumping your Mentos into a 2 liter bottle. The boys of course liked this. I tried to keep them at a safe distance, but while we were patiently waiting for Jason to prepare the geysers (we did 3) they boys would race around and try to get closer to the mess.

Then, we headed back in and we made homemade Root Beer. First of all, who does not like homemade Root Beer and who does not like Dry Ice smoke? The boys were fascinated by it all, by this point had given up trying to explain the science behind it all.

We ate Radioactive Wraps (turkey, cheese, and lettuce on green tortillas), molecules (melon balls and grapes on toothpicks), Doritos, and Root Beer (in Erlenmeyer flasks). They actually ate, well not all of them - but they did...

We had cake in the shape of a Brain and we had ice cream. They played basketball and Jayce opened his presents randomly in spite of my request not to. He was completely spoiled and I was educated in what toys 7 year old boys like. Have you ever heard of Lego Power Miners?

Oh, and no Root Beer was spilled.

First and Second Grade School Program

I just love school programs. I thought they were fun when I was a kid and now I get to sit in the audience and grin like my kid just performed an Oscar Award winning performance!!
Jayce is in a combined first and second grade classroom, there are three at his school. This year the school theme has been about Fish. They also learn French at his school, so the performance was peppered with French - from phrases to songs. Jayce gave the introduction. So here are some cute pics of the event, you can see Jayce's personality in some of them.

"Jayce, smile...."

"Seriously, smile for me...."

I have at least 5 of these. I guess this is the new smile!!

Happy Be-lated!!

Since I was stuck in a car driving on his actual Birthday I couldn't post a Birthday post for him.

Happy Birthday Jason!!

This is one of the best days of the whole year. Just think if this special day had not happened - I would not have all the wonderful things in my life that I do. I am very grateful. You are one amazing guy - you can fix anything, you can ride horses, you can train horses, mend fence, wrestle cattle, hunt, cook, get accepted to Dental school, get good grades, do beautiful dentistry, make furniture just to my liking, quiet all my fears, and kiss away my tears. I love you and hope you had a good one!!