Justin's Graduation

Justin graduated from High School on Wednesday. We are so proud of him. It was a really rocky start when he decided he wanted to live here. He has grown so much in those two years. Started with some really scary grades and ended with fantastic ones and a scholarship. It was a nice night. We had a lot of people there to cheer Justin on. It was really nice when we went to dinner in Trolley Square and Katy set off the alarm in the elevator. When we were trying to explain that our 2 year old set off the the alarm, it sounded like they put a call into dispatch. We went off in separate directions hoping that the swat team wouldn't come be there. The graduation ceremony was drama free so that was great. Here are some photos from that night.

Not my best picture. I need a retake on that one.
Justin, Jack, Noah and Katy

Justin with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa is sporting a really nice pink backpack.

The whole fam

Justin, Dan and I.

Justin and the very proud Dad

Huntsman Center

Way to go Justin! We are proud of you.

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Mommy Time

Dan can never understand when I leave the house to be with grown-ups why I take my sweet time. Actually he may understand a little bit but I I don't think that he quite gets it. I have very in depth conversations with Katy and Noah during the day. I don't know how much more they can be. This is what my day is usually like.

Noah would play x-box all day long if I let him. This is what I hear during that time: "Mom, watch me jump over this." "Mom, watch this." "Mom, see this guy, watch what I am going to do". If I am in another room than it is "MOM!". If I don't go out to watch his lego man then again "MOM!" Again and again until I finally give and go in the room to watch him. If he isn't playing x-box then he is watching SpongeBob or Phineas and Ferb. Then I get this. "Mom, watch this, isn't that funny." Mom, look. Wait a second until I rewind it. See. Isn't that so funny." "Can I watch that part again?" "Can you buy that for me" Listen to what Ferb just said."
Yep, insightful and in depth.

Noah, in pajamas that don't match. SpongeBob top and Spiderman bottoms. Maybe he should be SpiderBob or Sponge Man.

Here is another pleasant conversation I had. Katy came out of her bedroom with this chicken in a dress (usually she tries to put things in her clothes. I can't convince her that a chicken that is 5 inches isn't going to fit in her clothes.)

Nice chicken in a dress, right? Don't you love the little pony tail? Katy said I needed to make her pretty.

She keeps saying that this is chicken princess in her pretty princess dress. "look at the chicken princess". Uh huh is usually the response I give. There is only so many times I can say, yes that is a chicken princess. She is beautiful. She keeps saying this and Noah chimes in, "she isn't a princess. she is a waitress. you can only be a princess if you have a crown." Katy is insisting that it is a chicken princess and Noah is insisting that it is a waitress. (They have seen Princess and the Frog too many times. That is where the waitress reference comes from. I don't take them anyplace where a waitress usually is. The question we usually get is "do you want fries with that".) This argument between the princess and the waitress debate goes on for a least 10 minutes.

These are just a few examples of the conversations I have during the day. Does anyone else understand why I need adult conversation? Anywhere that I don't have to hear the words: SpongeBob, princess, Ferb, Lego Man is good enough for me. If you get it, could you please explain to Dan? Please! Wait, I need to go. I think I just heard the theme song to Phineas and Ferb. Anyone know a good hiding place?

Play Ball!

We signed Jack and Noah up for baseball this year. Noah for T-Ball and Jack for machine pitch. In reality they are pretty much the same thing. They don't play positions, they just stand in a row. There aren't any outs. Once you hit the ball you run to first. Once the next person hits, you run to second, etc. I have only been to one practice of Jack's and quite a few for Noah. They had the opening ceremonies on Saturday and their first games. Noah's was interesting, ok kind of boring. Kate however did stay with us the whole game. We left and came back for Jack's game. I didn't get to watch a lot of Jack's game because the playground was in sight and Katy wanted nothing to do with watching the game. I couldn't just let her go nuts on the playground because many little boys + cleats = squished fingers. The boys had fun so that is all that matters. Here are some photos from Sat. Warning: there are a lot of photos below.

Jack playing catcher for one round
He actually threw a ball back to the guy running the machine and it landed in the bucket with the rest of the balls. Everyone said to get that boy a golf club.

Waiting on First

Look at that intense concentration

Katy enjoying the "bastetball dame" which is Katy for basketball game.

Noah on First

Noah hitting the ball. Love the stance.

Noah's coach actually pitches them three balls and if they don't hit it, he puts it on the Tee.

Most of the time when we looked out into the field Noah was drawing in the dirt.

He is probably telling the kid what to do.

Noah and his team running out to the field during opening ceremonies. Noah's coach should be sainted. He is very patient with all the boys. He said that they all stand out in the field during games and half say they are bored, the other half say they are going home or need a break. I think that I would lose my mind but he just keeps telling them to get in their ready positions and they are doing great.

I think that it may be a long season watching Noah draw things in the dirt. I actually think it is amazing that Noah is focused enough to stay with his team for an hour. Jack is having a great time and tries so hard to be better.
Way to go Jack and Noah.

Happy Easter!

Here are some pictures from Easter morning. Jack and Noah found three baskets when they woke up but they left them where they found them. Good kids!

Happy Jack!

Noah

He kept asking why he got jelly beans.

Katy digging right in.

All together and all smiling.

Not sure what Noah is looking at. Maybe he can see the reflection of Phineas and Ferb from the TV. They love that show!

Hope that everyone had a fantastic Easter!

Random Pictures

I was cleaning out winter clothes from Katy's closet and I pulled these snow pants out. I set them in her room and next thing I know she comes out wearing them. She loves them. I will get her dressed, she will disappear for a couple of minutes and come out wearing them. Plus she has them on and says to take a picture of her.

Jack came home from school yesterday, went back in his room and came out of the room like this.

He asked me if I knew who it was because he was in disguise. I am thinking that he was joking. I hope he was.

We had a snow storm last weekend and had a couple inches of snow. Dan was out shoveling our driveway and I sent Jack and Noah out to help because we do our two neighbors as well. They came running in and said they were building a snowman. This was about 8:00 at night. This was the finished product.

It was a good thing we took the picture right after because in the morning the snowman had no head. The boys had fun and that is really all the matters.

Noah's Teeth

Noah lost his two bottom teeth last week. When Jack said they were loose I just kept saying, "yeah they are" in jest. He is 5 years old so he can't possibly have loose teeth yet. Jack just barely started losing his teeth last year and he is 8. Noah was crying and we looked and his teeth were loose. Dan pulled them out and we looked again and his bottom teeth are already starting to grow in. Crazy. With Jack and Noah's teeth falling out the tooth fairy is going to be strapped for cash. The only good thing is while Jack understands how much money there is, Noah can't. You can give Noah a dollar and he thinks he is rich. As long as he can buy an Icee at the store he is fine. Here is his new smile.

Kids grow up way to fast.

Valentine's Day

I know that Valentine's day was a couple of weeks ago but I get easily distracted. Here are two valentine day's boxes. Do you think that you can guess who made the boxes?

Box # 1. I know that it is hard to guess.
Box #2.

I know that it is probably hard to tell from the photo. I will give you a hint, one was made by a child and one was not. Now, guess which one!