Disneyland

Our neighbors across the street have a darling little dog, Molly. Its like a fluffy ball of love. Andrew LOVES Molly. She was out with her mom and Andrew was chatting them up. A week ago, she told him that when they go on a vacation we could take care of Molly.

Andrew, "When are you going on vacation?"

Neighbor, "Not for a while."

Andrew, "Have you been to Disneyland? Disneyland is really fun. I think you'd really like it."

Happy Birthday MOM!

Today's my mom's birthday! Hope its a good one. Alex and Andrew are very excited to wish her a happy day. Andrew wondered why I didn't bake a cake -- the fact that Nona wouldn't be here to eat it seemed a totally unnecessary issue with cake baking.

Gifts

Sunday at church, the cutest of the ushers (small and compact, but very regal, adds inches to his 5' frame standing so straight), asked if we, all of us would like to bring up the gifts. Of course we said yes. Then I looked at our duds. Mark, Alex, and I were dressed all right. Andrew was down stairs. Ryan was wearing mixed matched socks with his brown sandals and Seany was wearing a see through wife beater, bright red shorts, and socks with his sandals.

Of more concern, would they gift the cash up at the end.

Alex very proudly carried the hosts, he smiled all the way. I carried the wine. And Sean and Ryan carried the baskets of the offering with Mark's supervision. When we got to the front they very graciously gave Father Dave their baskets. Couldn't have been prouder!

Student of the Week

Alex is student of the week this week in class. One might think this is a big honor, one might think this is a reward for a job well done. One might be wrong. Some things one needs to know about this honor:

1. Alex campaigned for the title. Asking, "Ms. Szmanda, if I don't get any red lights next week, can I be student of the week the week after that?"

When told of this scam he was running, I asked how often he got red lights (one wants to stay on green -- behavior thing). "I think I had one once a couple months ago remember the chair thing?..." Clearly, he had every confidence he could behave for one measly week. Even reminding me he needed his medicine to make sure there were no further 'chair incidents.'

2. Every student in the class gets to be student of the week one week -- show and tell, learn a few nifty facts about the kid, etc. Goes boy, girl, boy, girl... or maybe its girl, boy, girl, boy....

3. He forgot all about it, until this morning when it was time to put his homework in his backpack. Instead of discussing how cool this "Week of Alex" was, we were dashing to and fro in a mad scramble to find a suitable show and tell (he chose Octy, the octopus he won when we went to Vegas, because "I won it because Grandma came with us"), fill out his Alex Facts Sheet (favorite sport: BASEBALL, goal in life: to be a professional baseball player, hobbies: EASY, swinging and playing with Daisy) and all the while trying to find Ryan's second cowboy boot and Seany's sandals!

Puppy

Alex went out to play with Daisy for a bit before bed. On his way back in, "Daddy, guess what? I told Daisy something. I told Daisy, I couldn't have asked for a better puppy! Its true!"

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Mark rented Australia for me (which because he loves me, he's sitting through) and Beverly Hills Chihuahua for the chicklets.

All of a sudden 4 little men appeared at the landing, talking through the bars:

"MOMMY!"

"RUFF! RUFF!"

"Its a great movie!"

"BARK! RUFF!" (Pant Pant)

When Alex finally could be heard above the din, "Mommy, lets just say its romantic at the end. Two dogs. Romatic!"

Patio update

Mark and I have to regrade the patio area after the snow storms. Once that's done, we'll get the sand down and then start on the stones. http://www.quarrydirectstone.com/product28.htm

We're getting 16,000 pounds or 8 tons on 4 pallets. It'll be just the 2 of us putting them in and Mark has to work weekdays, which leaves me.

Any volunteers want to come out to Utah? We'll feed, hydrate, and house ya!

It always seems to be Seany

Today, we went to the Red Butte Gardens in SLC. Very fun. We went with my friend from elementary school. The chicklets were delightful and children's gardens were THE place to be.

When we got back, we were visiting with our friendly neighbor and her pooch. Then Seany disappeared. He reappeared with a bulky looking rear-end. I went to investigate -- nasties missing but he'd put a pull up on under his messy (still missing) undies.

I went inside the house -- the odor was everywhere. I looked down. The nasties were everywhere. They are not coming out. Seany had plopped fresh clean towels down over all the worst bits in various rooms. He'd managed to get a wee bit in the potty chair. Mostly, he nailed the carpet in our master bedroom. I think Mark is going to need to steam clean the carpets tonight.

Lazy

I've been feeling very lazy about inside chores the last couple days. Monday I had an excellent excuse -- tons of bark to be dealt with.

Yesterday and today, I just have wanted to hang outside and play with the chicklets. Last night Mark folded all the clothes covering the couch (8-10 loads) -- see told you I've been lazy. Yesterday, I had him bring up the 3T stuff to sort through for summer duds for the twix and Andrew's next batch of items. I didn't even touch them.

Today I'm forcing myself to get through some of the clothes. We're going to move the twix's dressers into there room -- will be nice to have 2 fewer pieces of furniture in our bedroom! Then I'm going to load them up with their spring/summer collection (the twix have a collection...).

Andrew's stuff should be easy and finished before he gets back from preschool and I'm going to attempt Alex's stuff Friday night with his help.

Finished Playyard

I put all the bark in myself -- 660 sq. ft. at 4" high. Andrew brought about 25 pails full -- Andrew needed a ride in the wheelbarrow back to the driveway each and everytime. Mark put up the canopies and chalk area yesterday. We can finally check the playground off the to do list!

Daisy and her Easter bone

What does one do with the ham bone? If ya have a puppy you let her give it a few licks...

We have a potty trained twix

Just one! Seany! Seany went all day in his undies and didn't have a single accident! I'm so proud (don't actually feel particularly proud, I lost that feeling for these basic human functions after Andrew was pt). The pullups should last twice as long now that Seany doesn't need them, saving us $30+ a month!

And Happy Anniversary to my parents. 1971 - 2009 = 38 years!

Potty Training Class

Before we left for Primary's I was very embarrassed that I needed a class to potty train Ryan. I just thought I could do it. And that I didn't need help -- despite needing the parenting classes a year ago, despite the destructiveness of the twix, despite the life we lead, I thought I could manage on my own.

Some good thing came out of the class:

1. They're pretty sure Ryan cannot feel the urge. So for the first 2 weeks, he'll sit on the potty at the same time he usually poops and see if he can do it. After 2 weeks, if we have no progress, we get to start the glycerin suppositories...Fun times. The goal is to wean him off them, since he can poop eventually. We're going to teach his bottom to do it on its own at the same time everyday.

2. Stop focusing on peepee until we get bm's under management. Then start the peepee schedule.

3. Once summer weather hits, try the undies with him on a peepee schedule (every 2 hours). Again, he probably doesn't feel the urge. So we've been hitting and missing at putting him on the potty.

4. She said, its perfectly normal and likely even for him to need pullups well until he's 4. She's hoping since he's been such a ROCK STAR in everything he's had to do, that he'll be able to manage the potties with less interference.

5. MRI is not even going to come up again until his next clinic visit, so just journal leakage and back pain until that appointment. This is a huge weight lifted. Part of the reason I was so stressed about potty training was at the clinic visit they wanted this info like yesterday. So since they've decided to wait until next year, that just makes my life so much less stressful...

Painting day

We're painting the bird houses, we made a few weeks ago at Home Depot. Yesterday, each boy got to pick 2 colors. Well Ryan said "Orange," so I got him a yellow to match. Seany said, "Purple" so I got him a red to match. Andrew spent ages choosing the right blue and fire engine red. Alex went for a metallic green and finally set on a metallic blue to go with it.

We'll see what they end up like.

Holidays

Andrew LOVES holidays. We're not the family that buys treats, toys, and new clothes for our kids. The clothing comes in second hand or as gifts from grandparents, with a very occasional emergency replacement purchases. The treats -- no not so much -- we stock animal cookies and graham crackers. The toys, they have enough and get one each on holidays and birthdays.

Andrew askes, "Mommy, when's Easter again?"

Mommy answers, "Not until next spring, next year."

Andrew askes, "Mommy, what holidays are next?"

Mommy answers, "Nona and Papa's anniversary, Nona's birthday, Mother's Day, and Uncle Vince's birthday, Uncle Jason's birthday, Father's Day, Great-Grandma's birthday, 4th of July..."

Andrew responds, "MOMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEE..... I mean when is the next holiday that THE KIDS get presents?"

Puppy Issues

Daisy had to go to the vet this morning. She's had some discharge and after looking it up online, I was terrified! The worst possible outcome was that her uterus was going to explode.

Luckily, Daisy does not have whatever uterus exploding infection is called. Daisy has vaginitis, gross, but perfectly treatable. The only down side is that it can be a life long problem for dogs spayed before their first heat cycle. Apparently, the hormones she develops during heat correct the discharge problem. So we've got to delay her spaying until after she goes into heat 3-5 months from now.

The doctor also said that Daisy has a mite problem on her face. Its very minor and common for puppies and she feels that Daisy's immune system will take care of the mites on its own in about a week.

She also said that Daisy is adorable, well behaved, and at an excellent weight. We're doing well so far!

Snow then sun then snow then sun then snow...

Equals very touchy, crabby Utahns. I've had my 4th experience with a crabby person today -- these are adult peeps not the chicklets. TODAY WAS BEAUTIFUL. The forecast for tomorrow rain, followed by more rain, then snow Thursday.

It's got to be the weather. I act all friendly and cheerful and get a sort of reprimand for being nice to these people who've been entombed in their homes since November. Its like they get a taste of sun and it's snatched back so their happy gene goes back into its cave. In all cases, they have some other legitimate concern. But that's my entire existence, one major issue after another.

I'm not saying that I'm always Miss Sunshine, but I don't think I take it out on others (expect for that one unfortunate blow up last spring). I think I fake cheerfulness until I feel it as per my parenting training a year ago.

Today, marked the 4th such occasion with yet another person. So may I suggest, everyone try my way, take it a day (sometimes hour) at a time and plaster that smile on until it sticks all by itself.

Fish show

Andrew and Alex have been performing 'silent' fish shows with their fish topped pencils from Auntie Carolyn.

"MOMMY! Fish don't talk...."

Nervy

We were playing outside this morning. Across the street the little Chihuahua got left out.

That nervy little dog tried to mount Daisy. Daisy at 12 weeks is 3 times its size. I shooed it away and put her in her kennel. Next thing I knew that little bugger was barking (if you can actually call the noise emanating from that little rat a bark) at our garage. It actually expected me to let it do its thing!

DISGUSTING! I scared it back to it house. HOW DO I KEEP IT AWAY?

From their family

From Nona and Papa they got cards and gift cards for Target! Sean, Andrew, Ryan, and Alex.

From Grandma and Papa, they got a sports cup with candy and a Mario Racer thing and some fun left-handed stuff that they already got into.

Lost Pictures: Great-Grandma gave them each some moola and Carolyn gave them all variety of fun stuff from her cruise. I lost a couple pictures somehow.

Our Egg Hunt

Every year we 'hide' eggs for them in a family hunt. Next year, I have hopes for being able to use the backyard.

Checking out their haul -- Seany in blue and Ryan in red.

Andrew.

Alex.

From the Bunny

Andrew got a Transformers game.

Alex got a paper recycler.

Sean and Ryan got transforming ROCKETS!

And they got Madagascar and Madagascar 2, a chocolate bunny and a handmade candy frog.

Easter Parties

We actually went to 2 Easter gatherings today. They were both so fun!

A friend of mine at church holds an Easter Party each year. This is the first year we've gone. She told me her backyard is like a park -- she wasn't kidding, its huge with trees everywhere and fun.

It was a potluck, I made with Andrew and Ryan chocolate cookie bars. They were all gone before we had to leave. First they did the egg hunt. Each kid got to find 18 eggs! Then we lunched -- Mark left with Alex & Andrew for the BYU baseball game (thanks to a friend of his at work). Next we crafted. Sean made a pink egg and Ryan a green egg and we made bunny necklaces -- very cool they turned out looking like dog tags. Then she had the potato sack races (I wished I'd remembered my camera). Sean would hop, fall, get up, hop, then Ryan would hop, stumble, take a step, and fall.

She even had a bunny pinata. They each managed to fill their hands with fun treats. And she gave them each a good bag.

We had to head out then as we had no diapers and they were long overdue. By the time I'd changed them. We were 2 minutes early to my cub scouting friend's (she has 4 boys too) egg hunt/party. She put out about 200 eggs. They hunted for a good 10 minutes, filled their pails and then emptied their eggs.

She had numbers for each kid and when their number was called they got to pick a prize and 2 kids won "grand prizes" fun boy/girl themed baskets! Seany picked a soccer ball toy. He loves his soccer (that's the 3rd soccer ball toy he's chosen for himself). Ryan picked bubbles which he spilled and she kindly let him get another.

Today totally beat all the previous years attending city/pay events. From now on I want to do the friend deal. I'm even going to look at getting them both some loot for next year. It was awesome! And the rain was kind enough to stay away until after we'd partied.

Costume Days

Sometimes you just need to be special -- SuperSean in cowboy boots. Ryan is a pumpkin. And Andrew is a blue power ranger.

Alex plants a tree

We got 2 more trees from arborday.org yesterday. In the roots was this tiny little 8" red maple. I asked Alex if he'd like his own tree. Of course he did. We didn't have pot small enough. So we drilled holes into the bottom of his coffee canister. Then he mixed the dirt and sand added his vitamins to the soil, put his tree in and watered it.

The tradition continues

Alex.

Ryan, Sean, and Mark.

Andrew.

Preschool Easter Parties

Andrew LOVED preschool today. They made bunny hats and bags and hunted for 5 eggs each!

Seany came off the bus trying to get into his backpack to get to his loot!

And Ryan very happily devoured all 3 of his treats.

The long awaited furniture pictures

I told some folks that I would post pictures of the craigslist furniture run Mark made for me a couple weeks ago. Finally, here ya go!

For $50, we got this china closet. I want to take those metal things off the 2 side windows and put the plates in. The plates will have to wait a few more months at least. It needs some touching up but for the price I think its a good match to the table.

An umbrella stand for $75. This will be nice for guests to be able to hang their coats when they visit.

And one of our neighbors gave Alex this futon for his room. It needs a new mattress but he and Andrew love it. They even wanted to do a movie marathon up there this afternoon to enjoy!

Recent photos

Ryan and Sean in their work aprons and cowboy boots.

Daisy at play.

Andrew chose his own get up.

The finished product. The bench is drying again as Seany added his own little paint job to it. He'll show you when you come visit.

Andrew has a theory

Sunday, we made our weekly walk through Target. (We do this every Sunday while Alex is at catechism, the twix seem better in church immediately after). I took Ryan to the restroom and Mark had Sean and Andrew.

Andrew theorized, "Daddy, the bad guys must be controlling Sean and Ryan and that's why they're always in so much trouble."

Wonders

I wonder if I can amend my wishes to make numero uno the twix being non-destructive, eating, careless beings.

Wishes

When we were in Vegas, we saw an ad for a bracelet. It said something like "Wished for it, Won Big, Bought it."

I felt that was a total waste of a wish. A BRACELET! That's just an item, nobody needs a bracelet. If I'm gonna get a wish granted, its not going to be a selfish totally unnecessary extravagance. With the amount she won and spent on that bracelet, there's a whole lot we could do to make our lives easier, make our chicklets lives better, etc.

What would you wish for, assuming it could actually come true?

1. Ryan's spina bifida totally cured and all related issues completely resolved resulting in no further tests, surgeries, therapies, etc.

2. Alex's nuero-issues totally resolved including ADHD, stuttering, and toe walking resulting in higher self confidence, no surgeries, therapies, and embarrassments.

3. My parents' health issues resolved with no further complications.

3. Completely debt-free, no more mortgage, ability to just pay cash for what we need.

4. Finished backyard and basement to make our life easier.

So, what would you wish for?

Ah Mommy

The phrase Andrew says most often:

"Ah, Mommy, there's just one thing..."

If they do it to themselves...

Is it really wrong? Ryan, Andrew, and Seany locked themselves in. If only they hadn't figured out how to get themselves out!

Ryan takes some pictures

Ryan takes pictures of his toes.

Ryan takes pictures of his twix.

And Ryan takes pictures of his puppy.