election day

real quick- this was yesterday- zachary was talking about the election and james chimed in...

james: which one is the black one?
zachary: obama
james: that is who i want to win
mom: why?
james: because he is black and there has never been a black president before.

later, going to bed...

j: mom, you need to tell me right when i wake up who won.
m: ok james


morning...

m: james, quess who won?
j: who?
m: obama
j: yessssssssss

m: james, do you know any white people?
j: yes, one, president bush, oh wait, i know two...mccain is white too.
m: do you know any black people?
j: yes, one, obama

James is so handsome and i am telling you, he is going to make an incredible husband one day. whenever i put on lipstick or do my hair or get dressed in something other than tennis or athletic wear, he always notices. He will say, "mom-you look pretty today." seriously, so special. the other day i was getting dressed up to go to the temple. i was trying to decide between two dresses with certain shoes. he didnt know. he walked in and said, mom make sure and wear heels with that one. i love him. p.s. he is about the sportiest kid as well. talk about balance. i am telling you-husband of the year one day! :)
This is zachary this spring. we were getting ready to plant the garden, but while he was waiting, he made this one in the sand box. zachary is doing well in school. he changed schools this year because he was accepted to the magnet program in our district. this was a hard choice for us because we moved to our current house because the elementary school is in our backyard. i spent a few weeks stalking him and recess and there were times i wanted to take him out. i have been patient and he is doing really well. he has made some new friends and he is really being challenged at school. sometimes he is frustrated to not be the first one done with every assignment, but who doesnt need a slice of humble pie every once in awhile? he is still missing his two front teeth, what a guy.
the boys are about the best of friends. i know people who have playdates everyday. i literally have to force myself to because these two are inseparable and rarely fight. i am so lucky, and so are they.
here is day-z. she is helping build the new fence...
hazel-what a diva. she is all over the place. we kind of had our fingers crossed that she would follow in james footsteps and be a bit timid and mellow. but no-it is official, she is much more like the other blond. she is adventurous, social and mischievous. she can usually be found walking around the house with a full size bag of chips, or if she really scored, a package of oreos...

That's our update!!

Pee Fight?

I was minding my own business, getting ready for my sisters wedding dinner when the boys asked if they could take a bath. That is not unusual for these days, they recently purchased a jelly fish and a sting ray toy. Together, with there sharks and whales, the tub becomes an ocean.

On a side note...it is very normal for me to walk into a bathroom to wash my hands and there is a plastic ocean animal in the sink that is filled to the brim with water. This went on step further with the jelly fish. The jelly fish got the entire bath tub filled and then, just for good measure, an entire container of salt added!!!

Okay, back to the point, they are getting ready to get in the tub and I hear James say, "pee fight?" so casually like it is just kind of like are you in the mood or not? Zachary answers just as casually, "sure." As they walk over to the toilet, the conversation starts to make sense and I suddenly scream, "WHAT?" what is a pee fight...they proceed to explain how your streams of urine are like swords, blah blah. "who taught you about pee fights?"

DAD.

I SURVIVED THE EXPLOSION OF '08

IT WAS JUST LIKE AN ACTION MOVIE...

EXPLODING SOUNDS RIGHT AND LEFT, PEOPLE RUNNING FRANTICALLY AWAY FROM THE SPARKS, KIDS CRYING OUT WITH CONFUSION, PARENTS ANXIOUSLY SEARCHING FOR THEIR CHILDREN...

THIS WAS OUR 24TH OF JULY.

IT ALL STARTED WHEN CORY CALLED TO EXPLAIN HIS VISIT TO AN EVANSTON FIREWORK STORE ON HIS WAY TO THE CABIN.  HE WALKED IN AND THE 18 YEAR OLD EMPLOYEE OFFERED TO HELP HIM. 

C:  WHAT ARE THE GOOD ONES?

E:  WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?

C:  $350...(I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LARGE, BUT THE FIREWORKS ARE USUALLY 50-100$ EACH)

E:  OKAY.

THE EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO THE FRONT OF THE STORE, WHERE HE GRABS 3 SHOPPING CARTS.  HE BEGINS TO FILL THEM UP.  WHILE HE IS DOING SO CORY MENTIONS THAT THEY HAVE QUICKLY EXCEEDED THE BUDGET.  THE BOY TELLS HIM NOT TO WORRY.  WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE CHECKOUT, HE TYPES IN THE TOTAL OF $350-.

CORY PULLS UP TO THE CABIN AND OPENS THE BACK OF THE SUV.  IT IS STACKED TOP TO BOTTOM AND ALSO ALL OF THE SEATS ARE FOLDED DOWN.  CORY LOOKED LIKE A TRUE PYROMANIAC.

THE BIG BOYS WERE ON CLOUD NINE, THEY COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE SUN TO GO DOWN.  APPARENTLY, THEIR ANXIOUS FEELINGS WERE THEIR ULTIMATE DOWNFALL.  IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE UNPACKING THE MAY PACKAGES AND THERE WERE JUST TOO MANY BOYS WITH PUNKS.  THE CROWDS WERE GETTING IMPATIENT SITTING MAYBE 20 YDS AWAY.  PRETTY SOON THEY WERE LIGHTING FIREWORKS AND HAVE NOT HAD THE PATIENCE, COMMON SENSE...FILL IN YOUR OWN ADJECTIVE HERE...TO MOVE THE TRAILER WITH A LOT MORE FIREWORKS AWAY FROM THE FLAMES AND SPARKS.

THEY PUT ON AN INCREDIBLE SHOW.

WE WERE OOHING AND AAAHING.

UNTIL A SPARK HIT THE TRAILER AND SOMEONE YELLED OUT "RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

AFTER THE FIREWORKS STOPPED, LITERALLY 3-4 MINUTES LATER, WE BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF THAT EVERYONE WAS SAFE AND SOUND.

THEN, THE BOYS REALIZED THAT WE STILL HAD HALF OF OUR ORIGINAL STASH THAT WE STARTED OUT WITH.   THEY STARTED PLANNING THE NEXT SHOW IMMEDIATELY....I THINK THIS TIME, I WILL WATCH FROM THE CABIN DECK:)

Picasa Web Albums - Katy

Picasa Web Albums - Katy

Children Updates...long past due...I know!

Zachary is officially done with kindergarten. How weird. Even though he seems very much old enough to be in 1st or even 2nd grade for that matter, it is still surreal. For the end of the year, the kids clean off the walls and bring all of their art work home. It was very fun to unload his backpack that was filled with creations. At the bottom there was a special item that his teacher had been working on all year. They worked on journal writing and each week, she saved their entries and then the kids wrapped the 3 ring binder and brought it home to their parents. Each week the entry was clearly directed by the teacher on some subject they were talking about or a seasonal topic. I was going through the journal, and I was so glad to have these things documented. Anyways, I read along and came across something very interesting. One entry was a picture Zachary drew of me. The entry read: "This is my mom. She loves me." The very next entry was a sketch of Cory. The entry read: "This is my dada. I love him."


James asked me an interesting question the other night. "Mom, I have been meaning to ask you, what does it feel like taking care of so many kids?"

Hazel is walking. Her personality is flourishing and her hair is whitening. Everyday her hair seems to get whiter.

That is our update!