Is he a monkey?

First Seany pulls one leg up...

Then he brings the secnd up and sort of hops vertically.

Guitar playing take #2

Guitar playing take #1

Andy made a guitar

And I told him I'd take his picture with it after his bath.

Ryan had to get in on that camera action.

Birthday presents

My gifts from the 5 men in my life.

Alex and Andy helping.

Ryan helping, while Seany observes.

My rings -- Grandma's ruby and my plain band for everyday.

My mysteries on DVD!

What is this kid's name?

Yesterday, I overheard during our walk...

"HIEFER, stay with your brother!" Mom shouted.

(That can't be right...)

"HYPER! HYPER get on the sidewalk!"

(Still can't be right. But this is Utah any word, sound, stringing together of letters will do.)

"HAPPIER! Get on that sidewalk! Now, HOPPIER!" (as in a happy bunny?)

(No, still a no go. Definitely something that end in -per. All I've come up with is Piper, but that doesn't cover the "H" sound at the beginning. Crazy lady.)

Any ideas?

Walking

Ok, I realize I haven't felt well for 2 weeks and the snow is finally melting, but I may have gone a tad overboard today.

At 8:15, my friend, Tina and I, dragged our boys out (in stroller) and around for 2 miles with a stop midway at the park.

At 12 noon, I walked the twix (in stroller) out and picked up Andrew at preschool. Then we walked to the snow covered park, struggled a while and played about half an hour. Then we continued on to a wee little park Andrew likes but is far away. We got there played for another 15 minutes and headed home -- uphill. That walk is about 5 miles (not all uphill).

Its good to go out again...

Serial casting

Alex is going to start a new treatment plan for his toe walking -- serial casting. He will be put in a cast below the knee on each leg that stretches the tendons for 2 weeks. Then a new cast for 2 more weeks. Then he should be done.

If he stretches each day and tolerates the casts, he should be able to avoid surgery.

Cast #1 goes on March 14th. Cast #2 comes of April 11th. He should be cast free for 1st communion!

Alex's Basketball Magazine Cover

Smartie Pants

Ryan is a smart cookie. We all know this, occasionally he proves it.

Yesterday, he was minus a pair of pants -- I couldn't tell you why. At some point he asked for a new shirt, his button down plaid.

Later, he disappeared. Only to reappear at the foot of the stairs, "Daddy, Daddy! See my paas!" Ryan had gotten out clean pants, put them on, and was tapping them to show them off!

Best of all, he LEFT the other pants IN the drawer.

Mischiefmakers in action

First, this is why I try to buy only what we actually need.
Second, thank the Lord Almighty that they didn't empty that coffee container, it contains oil.
Third, even dry brownie mix is very hard to get up.
Forth, Seany (in button up) and RyGuy (in tight jammies) learned to open doors yesterday, this pantry door would be their favorite.

Also, I had followed parenting instructions (i.e. gave them an activity to do while I pottied, maybe gone 3 minutes) and what do I find when I return, the race cars untouched and yet look at the kitchen.

Anybody wondering why, oh why did they do this? Peruse down, please.


Candy. Candy, Candy.

Earthquake in Utah?

Yes, its true. The epicenter was Wells, NV -- a place I've traveled through many times 204 miles away.

I felt it. I was laying in bed and thought, "Wow, its just like a little earthquake from back home. I didn't hear I giant truck, hmmm, I wonder what that was..."

By the time I got out of the bed, brushed my teeth and went downstairs, I'd forgotten all about it.

Apparently it measured 6.3 and its caused some serious damage there -- it will take the news crews a couple hours to get there so we'll see.

Peeps here keep calling into the news -- "We've never experience one before -- its kind of cool."

No, its not cool, people can be seriously hurt as can buildings, etc.

Ryan in a football helmet

Ryan came to me and said, "Mommeeeeee ball haa peas." Then dropped it to the ground to sign "ball" "hat" and "please." Just to make sure I got the message.

Andy at CEC

Andy on the clock ride. Last year, when we went this was "too scary."

Andy driving the monster truck.

I never could find Alex when I had the camera, he was very very busy. When he collected all his tickets, the lady said, "You have enough for cotton candy or a toy."

She didn't even finish the sentence when he answered, "Cotton Candy."

He doesn't get to have much sugar at home so, any opportunity away from home he takes advantage of.

Chuck E Cheese

RyGuy with his Daddy.

Seany with the mouse.
Ry with the mouse.

Seany on his horse.

Ryan on his horse. They like the ride so much the would just move to another horse when it ended and then wait expectantly for me to start it up again.

A bunch of boys

They like to watch movies together -- that day it was "Night at the Museum." So the line up, RyGuy, Andy, Alex, and Seany.

From Auntie Erin on their 1st birthday

Seany sporting grey.
Ryan in dirty blue.

They are finally well established in sizes 18 months and moving into 24 months. It only took them until 2 and a half!

Alex's bahamas cruise...

Yep, I'm concerned his identity may have been stolen and because he's a minor it quite complicated to get a copy of his credit report. Stupid red tape. At least I can put fraud alerts on his ssn. If it has been stolen, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.

Mark's Valentine's

Our gifts from Mom & Dad D.

Mark got a card and chocolate heart from me. Where as I got a tale about a card with two cats and giant coworker's foot.

Twix Valentine's

Ryan loved his card (as he had no crayons to plow into his coloring book) from Nona & Papa.

Again, very interested in his card from Grandma & Poppa and later the Pez dispenser (when he learned there was candy in it!

"Wook, Wook!" said Seany showing off his card from Nona & Papa.

He couldn't grace the camera with his face, so absorbed he was in his Pez from Grandma & Poppa.