Seany's 1st day of preschool

Seany breaks out his action pose for his first day of school snap.

Enter the next phase

While making his Ramen noodles, Alex asked, "Mom. Where do babies come from?"

Mom answered, "Their mother's tummy."

Alex responded, "Right but how do they get there?"

Dad asked Alex, "Are you ready for that conversation?"

Andrew's First Day of Kindergarten

Andrew was ready all day for school! He couldn't be more excited to be in kindergarten.

Shameless

Today at soccer (Alex plays and Andrew plays, on different fields of course), I took the twix to Andrew's game and realized that I needed the umbrella. Summer is not over yet and the sun was baking us.

So I went back to the car and told Ryan and Sean to stay right on the grass and I'd be right back. I went the 20 feet to the car and back. I slowed way down on my way back. You see Ryan had dropped his shorts and undies and peed right there in the middle of the soccer moms. I could have gotten away with the whole "never met him" "don't know whose he is," except, all the Paysonites (many who I don't know) recognized him as a Devlin twix.

Bet ya didn't know we were the family famous for peeing in soccer fields.

Seany is up early

The last couple of days, Seany's been waking up about 10 minutes before I leave for work. This morning, with his best disgruntled with life look, barely able to walk the 3 steps to me, he asked for 'up' and as I was carrying the lazy scamp into our room to snuggle with Mark, he croaked, "Mom. I want tv. I want Phinnie Ferb."

"Seany, do you want to watch Phineas and Ferb?"

Brighter or perhaps a little less frog like, "Yeah, Mom. Ferb is cooo."

I obliged turning on the TV to P&F.

Brighter still, Seany laughed and ignored my good-bye loves saying, "Mom, Perry jumped so FAR! Like this...." And yes, then he jumped off the couch....

Seany makes a funny

Yesterday, I was snuggled on the couch with Seany. "I'll be right back Seany I have to use the bathroom."

"Ah, sorry Mom the door is locked," explained Ryan.

"You need a key, Mom," Ryan continued.

"Ryan, you no get key. Key up (he showed us by forcing his hand up in the air)," Seany answered.

"Mommy, I need my Super and I can go up and get key!" Seany answered. He quickly followed this theory with all sorts of giggles. After all we all know Seany can't fly....

When we clean, we find...

...$20: Alex found in his room.

...Pirate: Seany found one in his sheets.

...I love you book: RyGuy found under his bed. Under Ryan's bed was actually a hoard of other peoples missing treasures. We've discovered where he stashes the stuff he snitches.

---25 cents: Andrew. He was totally and utterly delighted. "MOMMY! I found MONEY in my room to! It IS a WHOLE 25 cents piece!"

Alex's 1st day of 4th grade

The twix get haircuts

"Seany, I'm going to cut your hair. Do you want me to use scissors or the buzzer?"

"Ok, Mom! Its CHIZZers!" he answered.

Alex gets awarded

Alex got all kinds of awards for all his hard work this summer -- belt loops and pins for subjects and sports.

The finished china closet

Today, I finally got to the china closet.

First, I cleaned it.
Second, I used one of those handy furniture markers and covered all the nicks and scratches.
Third, I had Mark take out the stupid pieces of metal in front of the glass one the 2 ends.
Fourth, at Mark's suggestion, I polished all the brass hardware. Turns out, its supposed to be brass and not black hardware!
Fifth, Mark put it all back together for me.

What do you think?

Seany has good news

While I was spending my first day as a working girl, Mark took the kids to Seany's ear appointment. We had excellent news! Seany's hearing is normal, and the tube that came out of the ear drum was removed by the doctor without causing any more pain.

Seany has to go back in a year -- unless he has any problems this winter! But this means NO surgery!

HURRAY FOR SEANY!

Camera Phone Snaps from the Air Museum

Alex and Mark try out a simulator.

Seany pilots, while Ryan runs the control station.

Andrew gives his a go.

NASA in good hands -- Seany left, Ryan right.

Airplanes and Nature

Yesterday we went to the Hill Aerospace Museum. Anytime anyone new comes here, its a place I recommend. Everyone always has a good time.

They've added flight suits to the children's area so we had Andrew running around in Uncle Dave's old uniform, while Sean and Ryan wore orange space suits. Very fun! They have little simulators the kids can sit in and pretend in full gear with real knobs and buttons. Exciting times.

August 29th, they are having an open house (meaning you can actually walk through the planes, they will be open for exploration by the public)!

After the Museum, we went to the Ogden Nature Center. I'd read all kinds of great things about it being a sanctuary for animals that can't be released into the wild. And it was free yesterday.

It was a very natural place with every natural weed known to Utah flourishing -- foxtails up to our ears, thistles taller than me, and spiky ground cover galore! The highlight were the 3 bird houses where we saw some beautiful hawks, eagles, and a playful pelican.

Wall Art

Yesterday, we spent a good portion of the day hanging various items of wall art -- the Pepe & Penelope plate Mark gave me for our first Christmas, the guardian angel picture, Carolyn's cat, the Asian birds, and the family gallery.

Seany was my big helper. He'd drag up from the basement to the counter each item one at a time. When Ryan decided to help and not be left out, Seany was full of instruction on the proper way to carry a picture up.

When he excitedly brought the Pooh Bear light switch up (to be put in his room), he told Mark with a tremendous amount of babbling and hand gesturing, "No touchie."

After their nap, Seany excitedly discovered Pepe & Penelope in the mini-hallway. He dragged his daddy over there. "Come on Daddy! Come on! Wook! Wook!" Arms raised up in an offering, he showed Mark the amazing plate that made its way onto the wall.

I am a computer

Alex and Andrew were dealt the task of picking up their toys. Alex put a toy bin on his head and in his robotic voice, "I am a computer. Ask me a question."

Mommy asked, "Will you please finish picking up the toys?"

The computer answered, "Error. Question did not compute. Ask another question."

Sadness

My camera died. This was a really good camera, Pat and Cathy bought it for me 5 years ago. It was a $400 magic machine -- little videos, autofocus and snap. I loved it. I noticed over the last couple months it wasn't quite up to the same speed and sharpness of the past -- hoped it just needed the manual pulled out and reset or something. I realize that others do not see this as a horrible tradegy. But others do not have a daily blog they like to update with snaps illustrating the fun that is our life. Guess what I'll be asking for Christmas! And I'll be hitting up peeps to borrow their cameras for events like the twix's birthday next month.

Things not captured on film:

Ryan and Sean running around the house in their back to school shirts from Nona and Papa, screaming at the top of their lungs to all who will listen, "This my NONA shirt! My Tigger on my NONA shirt!" (And yes, the boy with Pooh bear instead of Tigger also screamed it was his Tigger shirt.) Alex and Andrew carefully folding their back to school shirts to save for their first days of school. First day of school won't be captured! The sadness!

Opening the end of summer surprise box from Auntie Carolyn: All four chicklets playing 'yoyo' with their light up rubber balls. Andrew helped heavily by Alex "Now, now Andrew you need to...." building their model flyer planes and launching them from the balcony. And Mark teaching Seany and Ryan how to race their little wooden mice.

Andrew cleaning the kitchen cabinets. He spent 45 minutes and cleaned (to the best of his 5 years old ability) all the bottom cabinets!

Kathryn gets a job

I was offered a position at Pinnacle Security today.

Field Services Coordinator: I am the point of contact for 50 or so, installation/repair technicians. I work with them to make sure customers needs are met. Resolve any disputes, handle customer complaints, give customers a survey after service to make sure all needs were met and they are satisfied. I will be charged with finding additional subcontractors in areas without a satellite office. And whatever else needs to happen...

I start Monday! I'm very excited!

Ryan swips

"Whoa, Mommy I almost swipped!" laughed Ryan.

"You almost slipped?"

"Yes, (hahahaha) wash me swip again!"

Seany sees a monster

Last night I couldn't get to sleep. So I stayed up watching TV. At about 2 am, Seany came into to the living room, fussy and crying, "Mommy, Ryan not in bed. Monster took Ryan."

"Its ok Seany. Lets find Ryan and put him back in bed."

"Ok!" Strangled crying.

He was on the floor in the middle of their room. I picked him up and put him back in bed.

"Look, Seany its ok. Ryan is in his bed now."

Still upset, "Yeah, Monster took Ryan on the floor."

"No Seany. Ryan just fell out of bed."

"Ok!" He laid down on his bed and was out before I covered him up.

Ryan is a big guy

Last night at bed time, Ryan hopped into bed in just his undies (Mickey Mouse emblazoned across his wee little rump). "Wook, Dad, I like Owlex."

Later when I came in to give him a nigh-nigh kiss, "Wook Mom, me Ryan just like Owlex! See I have my underwears and NO jammies!"