The twix's 4th birthday party

The grown ups above the chicklets and friends below.

Seany blowing out his candles.

Ryan blowing out his candles.

Yes we sang Happy Birthday twice and yes Ryan said "My turn" as soon as Seany finished.

I Heart NY!

From Auntie Carolyn's trip to NY!

Hogle Zoo

The baby giraffe.

The tiger cubs.

And the star of the day, the baby elephant, Zuri. She even trumpeted for us!

We went to the zoo when Auntie Sharon came to Salt Lake!

Gravel

Today was gravel day at the Devlins. As per my usual spending habits, I chose the most expensive stuff in the state. It looks really good.

Alex was helping early in the day before he abandoned me to go bicycling around the neighborhood, practicing exciting skills like "no hands" and "curb hopping." His comment during our work together, "Mom, one thing I know for sure: manual labor is good for you."

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Andrew another helper that came and went. Had this sage advice, "Mom, pirates should just get married and have their own kids. Then they wouldn't have to steal other people's wives and kids."

"So would I have to marry a pirate?"

HAHAHAHAHA! "No Mom. You'd just bash the pirate on the head with a shovel and tell him to hit the road."

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Seany angry that it was Ryan's turn with the kid size wheelbarrow that belongs to the Sean-a-nator, was in the house with Mark.

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Ryan and the little kid size wheelbarrow did a good 3 loads to every load I did. That kid is a work horse. A great source of his self worth depends on how much we appreciate his help. Mid help he peed in the lawn.

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Mark was sick as dog and after the morning helped me on and off. Thank goodness for my friend Kelly she helped me get started in the morning.

We're halfway done with any luck we should have some grainy snaps Monday night.

Boys know so much

Alex and his friend, Cole, were having a conversation in the backseat of the minivan where all their facts were wrong and they threw in many unnecessary but cool sounding phrases.

"My mom has never been very good at anything. But my mom's sister, my aunt can do the splits. One leg in front, one in back." Alex started them off. (Yes, apparently my talentless self is well known across Paysonia.)

"Well, my friend can do the splits like 70 times everyday."

"That's so wicked! That's more than 140 times a week."

"I know its awesome. That's how he got so flexible. But it can't be 140 it more like 80 a week."

"Nope I've got it correct. Wouldn't it be sweet to be able to get to them."

To be a more accurate rendering of this conversation, I should have used about 20 exclamation marks and bold and CAPS everywhere.

Friends

Mommy asked, "Ryan, what friends do you want at your birthday party?"

Ryan answered, "Kay-yee an Bickie (Kelly and Vickie)."

Mommy, "Right, Kelly and Vickie are grown ups. What kids do you want at your party?"

Ryan responded, "Ah no Mom. Just Kay-yee and Bickie. Ok Mom."

Catch phrase

Every grown up has certain catch phrases they use all the time. And often when something is true for a grown up, its true for a chicklet too.

Andrew says, "SWEET!" or "THAT is so totally AWEsome!"

Alex rocks it with lines from his favorite tween shows.

And now Seany. After he and Ryan had put the last bin back into the toy organizer, "Looking good Ryan. Looking good."

While watching Little Einsteins

Let me start by saying nothing brings Seany greater joy as he prepares to enter the world of 4, than dinosaurs and dragons.

The dragon had stolen somebody's treasure.

Ryan said, "Woooh, Dad. That dagon is mean. I'm going to punch it."

Seany panicked, "NO! NO! You can't hurt the dragon."

Ryan, "Yep, I'm gonna punch it. POW!"

Seany really horribly aggrieved, "NO Ryan, no you can't. Its my dragon!"

The Best Love Song Ever Written

Mark: When they release Phineas and Ferb the hits "Evil Love" has to on there. (And "Watching and Waiting" but it keeps messing up this post. Madame Kathryn is not techy enough to get 2 YouTubes to post together.)

Ryan dances

Mark very excitedly told me that Ryan learned a new sign at preschool today. After getting off the bus, Ryan made the sign for dancing and announced, "WOOK! Wook Dad, I'm dancing."

I couldn't wait to see this delightful sweetness. As soon as the story was told, I said, "Ryan show me how you dance."

Wearing his preschool painted fringed tshirt that goes down to his knees, he twirled and lifted his feet and "WOoooo Woooo Woooo" around the room. He looked like a little Native American prince.

Weed wacked:

What happens to the curls when the twix get a haircut. (Sadness, let's all say a wee little prayer that the twix get their curls back.) Seany in green and RyGuy in orange.

Ryan's 1st day of preschool

Ryan's ready to get on the bus for preschool. (And on a totally unrelated note, my roses are blooming.)

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!"

Andrew wants his way

This morning regarding video games.


Andrew: "Daddy, can I play your air game on the 360?"

Daddy: "That's what you have a DS for. I don't HAVE a DS so I HAVE to play on the 360."


Andrew: "Well, Daddy, kids NEED to play the 360 and the DS."

Seed planting

On our walk home from school registration, Andrew and Mark were walking together.

Andrew asked, "How do babies get into Mommy's tummy like me and Sean and Ryan?"

Pause. Pause. Daddy answered, "Ah, we planted a baby seed in there."

Andrew continued, "Does she swallow it?"

"No. Don't worry about it."

Andrew asked, "No. I think the doctor puts the seed in Mommy's tummy."

School Registration Day

We went to Park View to verify all our paperwork, sign up for PTA, and find out who the kids teachers were.

Alex got a new teacher. A sister of one of the coolest Paysonite's I've met. She's got to be great -- her sister is!

Andrew got a very sweet lady for kindergarten. But she's a little tough on him -- so perhaps, he won't be able to say, "But I can't fill in the blank...."

School starts for Alex in 20 days, Andrew a week after that, and Sean and Ryan, the week after Andrew.

The summer is going WAY too fast.

I-SPY

The cub scouts went to one of the museums at BYU to see the I-SPY exhibit. Mark was volunteered to drive and therefore took the younger chicklets as well. (I had a house to clean yesterday.)

Last night, I asked Andrew what he thought, being that I-SPY and the like are his absolute favorite books between the rhymes and the hunt and the fun pictures....

"It was ok. Uh, Mommy, are you going to come in my room?"

"Just ok?" I asked.

"Uh, Mommy, I don't want to talk about that. When are you going to come in my room?"

Tracy Aviary

Seany, Andrew, and Alex check out the birds in the walk in exhibit.

Ryan tries to find his way out of the high grass.

Mark made a friend.

Andrew's second favorite bird the Golden Eagle.

And the Ugly Duckling, with his parents the lovely swans.

Super Andrew!

We received a box of clothes from friends -- Alex got most of it. But Andrew found: Superman!

Rachel Coleman

One of the reasons, I was pleased to meet Rachel Coleman of Signing Time when Andrew had his icky skin removed: she is an inspirational mother.

Her latest blog entry: http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/

After you read it, I bet you'll put her on your Top Ten to meet too.

Seany gets himself dressed

Every morning, Seany changes from jammies to clothes. He was trying to button up his green froggy shirt when he asked for help.

"Mommy, I than't put my butt on?"

Kathryn looks for a job

After nearly 5 weeks of looking for work, I have to admit, its harder to find a gig than I imagined. Mark's having an even harder time than me.

Today, I received a rejection email. Not only was I the most impressive and professional candidate, the only applicant to follow up with them, I was also a pleasure to speak with and was assured that I should be able to find another gig in a jiffy. Didn't get the job though did I? Oh no, that went to someone with more recent work experience. If I was really that fabulous, why not hire me?

After receiving that email I finally decided to apply for the 911 dispatcher job that keeps flitting by me. Pays well, but in the rotation are mandatory holidays and graves. Not ideal for me, I know I could physically do it, I just would rather not. I called and asked about the application since the job board posting misrepresented its location. (I applied and didn't get the job that would have posted this job opening among other things, just saying.)

Upon receiving the Word formatted application. I filled it out, checked it twice, printed it, created my cover letter and took a more recent typing test, faxed it all off and then disaster struck: I noticed an entire section was missing from the employment history. Called it back up on the computer, still there. Reopened the application, printed a fresh one, blank, that too was missing the section.

I created an 'employment history addendum' and amended my cover letter to include said document with an explanation and emailed the department back about the error in their word document for other applicants.

So what are my chances of getting this job?

Zilch would be my guess. I faxed off an application that was missing data. Then I emailed them to correct the issue for other applicants and re-faxed the application with the addendum. Pretty sure, they'll just be annoyed with all the paperwork and I'll not even get an interview.

Ryan gets the spoons

Every morning, the 3 youngest chicklets race to get the spoons for morning cereal. Everyone has a preference.

Alex prefers a tablespoon.
Andrew usually goes with a tablespoon but will on occasion seek a teaspoon or the lone Spiderman spoon.
Seany likes the biggest spoon he can get which he then replaces after 1 bite with teaspoon.
While Ryan's choices seem arbitrary varying from day to day.

This morning, Ryan hit the silverware drawer first. As the rest of the chicklets headed to the table. He passed out the assortment.

To Andrew: a teaspoon. Accepted.

To Seany: a baby mini spoon, Gerber. Accepted, then rejected.

To himself: a tablespoon, the rejected baby spoon, and a serving spoon. Had Alex not been on a hike with the cub scouts, upon seeing the serving spoon Ryan produced would have made his usual breakfast serving spoon joke, "What's this? A shovel? hahaha Get it Andrew, a shovel!"

Parting gifts

My parents let each chicklet chose a toy at Kmart last night.

Alex and Andrew finally after much deliberating and refusals to allow Bakugan in the house, went with guns.

Ryan chose a Mickey Mouse -- no surprise!

Seany tried out a few toys, a dump truck. "Ok Mom, put this back." A big red ball, "Ok, Mommy all done." And finally went with a wheelbarrow.

When we got home. He dumped all the blocks onto the floor, then loaded them up and took them to his room. He repeated the process and said "My weebarrow took the bwlocks!!"

My sweetie

Love my sweetie, even after all these years! Our neighbors gave us the swing and some plastic furniture and here Mark is putting them to good use.

Baseball!

At the state tournament, Alex's team won the first and lost the second two games. His coach was proud of Alex's dramatic improvement over the season!

Alex's team above and Andrew's team below.

Cub scout happenings!

Alex's pinewood derby entry.

Fishing at the Payson Lakes.

Bebe gun shooting at wolves and bears camp!

Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary

Mark and I have been married for 10 years today. Our wedding day was a stressful day filled with lots of anger and I generally don't like to think about it all that much. I remember wondering if this marriage would last and thought our families would never get along. But 10 years later, our families are friendly and despite the hardships we are facing now, we are still happy and in love.

10 memorable moments:
1. Our wedding in Lake Tahoe, beautiful!
2. The birth of our first son Alex.
3. Family vacation to Disneyland with my parents.
3. Moving to Utah.
4. The birth of Andrew, son number two!
5. Family vacation to Disneyland with Mark's parents and Jazmine.
6. The discovery that the new baby in the belly had a twin and the famous twin hug.
7. The birth of Sean and Ryan, sons numbers three and four.
8. The entire NICU period, Ryan's surgery, virial hospital stays, monitors, and therapies -- the whole era.
9. Moving to the Payson house and setting up shop -- especially the patio!
10. Getting to go to the Disney Studios and meet Swampy and the rest of the Phineas & Ferb gang.

The twix's summer preschool

Seany sitting, Ryan standing with their preschool friends.

Sean in blue, Ryan in white at their last day of summer preschool -- water party day!

4th of July Fun with the Devlins

Andrew and Alex relaxing in the hot tub.

Playing in the creek in the country.

Andrew taking a break. And Alex helping cook the pig -- wonder what he's thinking.

Dinosaur b-day and Farm fun!

At the dinosaur museum, we got to celebrate the museum's birthday complete with face painting, t-rex adventure, crafts, and games... Ryan has a blue t-rex with red teeth on his cheek. Seany an orange brachiosaurus on his cheek.

Seany rides a pony. And below, Ryan rides a pony.

Both twix introduced themselves to their pony and stroked the big beasts faces before asking to climb into the saddle. "Hi orsy! I'm Ryan (or Seany)." Pat, pat....

Here they checked out the newest pony at the farm...

Fun at home with the twix

Unemployment fun with the twix: Kitchen marshmallow roasting. Mark, Seany, and Ryan in red.

From the Avery's adventures with Alex & Andrew

Andrew and Alex on the Dragoncoaster at Santa Cruz.

Playing in the sand!

Andrew prepares to enter the ocean.

Alex almost waist deep!

And Andrew in the water....

(PS I don't have any from the adventures in the country with the Devlin's, yet.)

Bwocks

Blocks are big time fun right now. The twix pull them out of the closest and play with them for hours. Then when 'clean up' time comes around. The twix throw all the blocks back into their bag and shake 'um up to make room for more.

This morning, Ryan said, "Ok, Seany. Its time to play bwocks. Come on, Seany. Help me open the door."

To which Seany ran full speed to the closet and obligingly opened the door.

Moments later, at full volume, "NO SEAN MY BWOCKS! MY BWOCKS!"

Seany responded with, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Twix in action

Sean and Ryan have been very busy playing with each other while their big brothers are away. Their favorite game: tackle the twin. They love it. Its great fun until a head gets banged or the twin is absolutely pinned down.

Ah, to be 3 with a exact match!

4th of July

For Independence Day we went to Magna to watch the Magna parade, bbq, and watch the fireworks at our friend's house. The next door neighbors have a giant dog, Walter. As you can see, Seany and Ryan loved the horse/dog...

Highlights:
-Sean and Ryan collected candy tossed out at them from the various floats.
-Played with their friends on the playyard in the backyard.
-Carnival rides especially the boats.
-And fireworks laid out on the grass!