Days 1 & 2 of Spring Break

Yesterday was our first day of Spring Break. It looks like it will be another ugly weather one again this year. Hopefully on Thurs. (half price day) it will be nice enough to get to the zoo. It's funny that we have a small zoo that we've been to tons of times, but at the mere mention that we might go, the kids cheer. I love it. So I have a short list of projects for the week. First on it was to switch rooms around. JP has been by himself since we moved Bubba to the guest room to have his own room. The closet is huge and he doesn't have much to put in there, so I got the idea awhile ago to put him in Peanut and Coconut's room since they have a bajillion toys that don't fit in their closet and are therefor always making a huge mess. So I literally spent the entire day swapping everything. The kids helped a little (although if you ask JP, it was a lot). I started with switching the books because the bookshelves match the furniture in the room so I didn't want to trade them out. It took me at least an hour because I'll admit it, I have OCD. I decided that now would be a good time to separate everything into paperback and hardback books-by size no less. And then JP also has a section with chapter books and series. Coconut now has all of his board books on his bottom shelf and Peanut's are on the top. I threatened them to keep them that way or else. :) I traded all of the pictures/posters on the walls and doors. I switched all of the clothes and then took all of the size 4 and 5 clothes out of Bubba's closet (which used to hold all of the sizes no one was currently wearing) to the top rung of the new closet. I moved everyone's treasures over. Oh my goodness if I would've known what a ginormous task this was I wouldn't have changed their rooms! JP had so much stuff. And it was all mixed up. He was randomly putting it into new boxes and baskets that I gave him to use that had the little boys socks and undies in them before because there isn't a dresser in there. I went in his new closet to shelf everything and couldn't handle it. That's when he started whining and lying on the bed because he was "so exhausted" from working hard all day to put the stuff away. Here's where my OCD kicked in again. I sorted everything into different categories and organized them on the shelves according to how often they would be used and putting similar boxes together. I don't even know how long this process took, but it was a way long time. Then I went to the playroom and got Coconut's toy bin since there hasn't ever been any room for it in his closet. He never plays with the toys because they're out of sight, so I'm hoping he will now. I took out several big toys that are really too baby-ish for him now, and then put all of their big toys in it. I got a smaller bin that had been used for hats to put all of tiny toys like action figures, etc. They also their other bins that they already had-cars, plastic animals, play food. There was even room in the closet for some of the big toys like Lego bins that were always on their art table before. B got home and after doing bball practice took apart the crib and moved it over because it's too wide for the door. We have two sets of bunk beds. Bubba took his bed-which rolls under the other one (they were perpendicular) and the other one is together in the little boy's old room. Since we don't yet have another twin mattress, we will keep them together for now. Eventually we will separate those and split them between JP and Bubba and take the one Bubba took from the old room and put it back with it's mate. Confused yet? So anyway, I stopped for a half hour for lunch and a half hour for dinner, but otherwise worked non-stop until 9:30 pm. So much for it taking a "couple of hours" like I thought. Needless to say, B had to pop my back and I could only walk hunched over for awhile. The boys all decided to have a sleep over in the little boys' room. It was pretty cute.


Reading bedtime stories during the sleep over


JP's new closet shelves


Little boy's new closet


I had to take this one because it shows you that we have entirely too many stuffed animals

Day 2 consisted of us not doing anything all morning except for bathing and getting dressed and then at 12:30 pm we went to the cheap theatre to see "Yogi Bear." I didn't realize it was in 3-D which is $1 more and Coconut refused to wear the glasses. It least it only looked a little blurry without the glasses so he didn't seem to mind. B met us over there for an extra long lunch break. The kids loved it-even though JP was complaining yesterday that it was a "baby" movie. He wanted to see the new "Narnia" movie or "Gulliver's Travels." I didn't think the two little ones would do well with either of those. I am currently avoiding folding the FOUR baskets of unfolded laundry upstairs. Bubba is sleeping over at his friend's house across the street tonight. He's 12 and in our ward and his mom happens to be the piano teacher. They have become new BFFs and play football and board games everyday. Tonight they're going to watch "Toy Story 3" which his family hasn't seen yet. We all love us some Spanish Buzz. JP is currently at bball practice and I'm listening to two little boys go back and forth between getting along and then not. Well I suppose I should be off to fold some laundry. Blech.

Happy St. Patty's Day

So Peanut came home so tickled that a leprechaun visited their class while they were at recess. He danced on the tables, lost a shoe, messed up the room, and left candy. He also turned the toilet water green. All the way home his brothers told him there was no such thing, but he insisted that there was because he had proof. So when dad got home the leprechaun visited our house and turned the toilet water green in every bathroom. Well he went in our room to go potty and freaked out! He was terrified to pee in green water. I had to stand next to him because he was afraid there was a leprechaun in our house still. I told him it couldn't be in the toilet because it would drown. When it was time for bed he couldn't sleep. Dad told him that if you sprinkled salt in your doorways, they couldn't get in. So he came downstairs to get salt and I went up to talk to him. He was so scared. I told him that all of the leprechauns went back to Ireland. He wanted to know what they did there so I told him they lived in their little village and did normal stuff like us. He asked if they were with St. Patrick, but I told him that St. Patrick died a long time ago but we celebrate him because he did a lot of good things. Well even the salt didn't help because he came down a half hour later wanting to stay with us on the couch. Eventually we talked him into sleeping with Bubba. So we moved him when we went up to bed later.

Well, today he was still scared because someone at school had told him that they stay around for three days. I assured him again that they went home to Ireland.
P-"But the day before, one colored Mrs. Sawyers hair green."
M-"No, they can't touch you, they can only play tricks. She dyed her own hair."

I was upstairs going to the bathroom later when the front door blew open. The boys go out the front to walk to school and it doesn't always stay closed very well so we have to keep it locked. I've never seen two little boys fly up the stairs so fast. I told them it was the wind and they just needed to lock the door, but they refused to go downstairs by themselves, so I had to go down and do it. He was pretty much attached to me until I took him to school. Poor little Punkin.

And So it Begins...

The craziness is about to begin. Next Monday to be exact. Bubba has piano at 3:30 pm. Peanut has his final swimming lesson at 5 pm, which is a make-up from his teacher being sick. Bubba also has his first practice that night at 5. Fortunately B has offered to be an assistant coach this year so he can take him. We'll have our same coach because his son is also on our football team so we know him well and so B offered to help because the boy of the guy who helped last year chose to do lacrosse this year. B is a little wary because he doesn't feel like he knows enough to coach, but I keep telling him that he's fabulous because hello he's taught our boys to play great. He says he just doesn't know how to coach the kids while they're on the field-like when to tell them to run or stay or whatever. I think he'll do great.

I'm pretty sure that JP and Peanut will both be on Tues./Thurs. so we'll just switch off watching games like we did with the big boys this year. At least the big boys games are on opposite nights so we can both be at them. They're more exciting than a 6 yr. old t-ball game. Those are frustrating because when you have a 6 yr. old that can crack a ball into the outfield and he's playing on a team with kids picking daisies in the grass. We didn't feel like he was old enough to play up this year though because he doesn't have all the hand-eye coordination to catch well. JP is playing up this year. We know his coach from church and asked him to try to get him so he would have friends on the team, but also because we were worried he would be drafted up to AAA (what Bubba plays). You see, they have assessments where each boy hits three balls from a pitching machine, fields three balls infield, and then catches two pop flies in the outfield. JP rocked everything and we were worried he would be snatched up to the next level. We feel like he still needs to work on catching more before he's ready for that. We were also worried that Bubba would be drafted up to Majors (which is big kids up to 13). So luckily because B is helping coach they could put a coach's hold on him, which means no one else can take him. Our coach told us that a few of the Majors coaches had wanted him after his assessments, so phew. B was unsure of it all, but I told him that this would be good because he'll be one of the best kids on the team instead of lower on the totem poll with the bigger kids.

Anyway, I'm sure this is all a bunch of gibberish to most of you, but any way it gives me a chance to brag about my outstanding athletes. ;)

Musical Update/Babysitting

I have posted some of my favorites from the "New Moon" soundtrack. I listen to it all the time. It's way different than the other two because of how depressed she is for most of the movie. Most of the songs are nice and mellow and it has become my favorite of the three.

Bubba babysat for the first time on Sat. night. We had an Elder's Quorum party. We got them a movie at Redbox (when did their price go up?) and some microwave popcorn and they had a movie night. We were only gone an hour and half while the movie played. He texted us that everything was going well and then when the movie was over. He got everyone in jammies and to brush teeth before we got home. He was ready to read a story when we got in. Too cute. Such a responsible boy. JP was mad because he yelled at him to brush his teeth, but Bubba in defense said that it was because he'd already told him five times. :) No one else complained. We were so excited to know that we could go out and get dinner or desset some time and he'll be just great. We're getting another phone today. He can use mine when we're out together, but if I have to run errands or take kids to swimming lessons he'll have one (since we don't have a land line). Plus, with sports starting we'll need something for anyone who needs to call us after practice, etc. when we're driving three around. It's only for that though. He won't be allowed to call friends and he'll only be allowed to have it while we aren't with him. No personal phone until 16 and driving. He doesn't know yet we're getting it so I'm sure when I come home today from the store he'll be tickled.

Hey Mommy...

That's my new name. Coconut says this ALL day long. It's getting old really fast. He starts by saying, "Hey Mommy" and then goes into a random made up story-very funny ones. And as soon as he finishes he says, "Hey Mommy" again and says something else. So in one conversation I may hear "Hey Mommy" like six or seven times. It's driving me nuts. I know you're probably thinking how cute it is, and I thought that at first, but when it's all day long (and even more so while all of his brothers are at school) it starts to drive you insane. I would also like to go to the bathroom by myself at some point. It doesn't matter if the door is closed. Every single one of them will come outside the door either with a problem or just a story. Hello! Can't this all wait until I'm finished? I promise I'll be less than two minutes. Sheesh!

I've tried everything and can't get Coconut's picture on the sidebar as big as his brother's. I've tried cropping in Picasa to make it bigger like I did with Peanut's and it still didn't work. Any suggestions? It's driving me nuts. I've tried several different pictures and none of them work! Ahhh!

Happy Birthday Peanut!!

New Lego Ninja guy

New Mighty Beanz car

Peanut turned 6 on the 1st of March! I can't believe he's already so big. We had a few friends over for cake and ice cream after dinner. He chose Carl's Jr. for his birthday dinner. He's really into these new Lego Ninja guys. He's collected all but one color now I think. JP whispered in my ear that morning before school that he wanted me to get Peanut some Skittles for his birthday when I went to the store that day. What a sweet brother. It's nice when they like each other. He had a great birthday.

Now for the traditional words that make me think of Peanut-
Mellow, creative, builder, organizer, Legos, dress-up, Build-a-Bear, smiley, cutest giggle, sweet big brother, chicken nuggets, fruit snacks and granola bars, Captain Slowpoke, crazy eyebrows, dimple smile, fun, puzzle master, pokey hair Mighty Beanz, and reader.

Oh how I love my sweet little Peanut. You will always be my Peanut even when you're grown and gone. He's decided to put a hold on piano for now and take swimming lessons and baseball for now. I just can't get him to practice (even though when he plays he loves it). I can't believe this little boy is so grown up. What a wonderful son he is to have.

Valentine's Day/California

Prepare to spend awhile on reading this.
For V-day this year, I thought it would be fun to get a heart shaped pizza, sparkling cider, and eat on nice dishes by candlelight. The kids thought it was the coolest day ever and want it to be a new tradition. We went around the table and said something that we loved about everyone.

Last week our school had a winter break. (Yes this was in addition to a Christmas break). So we opted to use our Christmas money and hit Disneyland. It's a tradition for us to go every year. We thought we would try a less crowded time. We got a room with 3 beds because B's awesome step-mom Susan came with us. The hotel ended up being super nasty. Maybe we'll take a year off next year and save up enough to stay at one of the Disney hotels.
Fri.-packed everyone's stuff (except dad's shirts that he was very particular about) and car.

Sat.-left the house at 9 am (which was my goal). We hit Costco for gas and Burger King for breakfast. Made it to Vegas in 10 hrs. including stops-which is great considering it's a 9 hr. drive. Hit In 'N Out for dinner. Stayed overnight with Susan's brother and SIL. They're super awesome and we so appreciate that they let us stay every year. The boys played their antique slot machine until both JP and Bubba hit the mega jackpot-which never happens.


Sun.-Coconut woke up at 6:30 am so B found a Veggie Tales they could watch on his phone. They made us a big pancake, bacon and egg breakfast. We left close to noon-ish. Made it to the OC in early afternoon and headed straight to my grandma's house. We visited with her and my Aunt Janet and they got us KFC for dinner. We hung out until late evening and then hit the road to settle in to the hotel, which we quickly discovered was icky-wallpaper peeling off, hole in the wall where the doorknob hit, grout missing in bathroom tiles, mildew and stains in shower, door not set on hinges right so big crack at the top. At least there was a fridge, microwave and the bed wasn't hard.






Mon.-Actually made it to Disneyland first thing when they open and hit Indiana Jones before the line got long. Even though it was President's Day, we never stood in a line longer than 30 min. because of the couple of fast passes we got. Lucky for us they were open until midnight and had fireworks that day. It wasn't very crowded. We met my best friend from high school, Desiree and finally got to meet her new husband, Cory. We ate in Downtown Disney where they have lots of shops and restaurants. They treated so that was a super nice bonus. We visited for a couple of hours and the kids were so patient even though they were really excited to get back to the park. Next time we'll have to drive to San Diego where they live so we can visit longer.




Tues.-took a day off and hit Newport Beach. It ended up being the best day to go because the sun was shining and it was warm. We walked the pier, took a million pictures, got an ice cream which I always look forward to (a big square block of vanilla dipped in chocolate and sprinkles), played in the sand, found "she-shells," and put our toes in the water. It was cold at first, but not once your feet were in for a couple of minutes. Coconut had his pants rolled up and was sticking his feet in the water when the tide came in a little further than the time before and it freaked him out and he started to run away. I'm sure you can guess the rest. I was taking his picture and had to hurry and get over to him running and crying, "Mommy!" I didn't make it in time and he face planted into the wet sand. Mouth full of sand and soaking wet I carried him over to the freezing shower and stripped him down and got the sand off the best I could. I got a new diaper on him and took off my sweatshirt and wrapped him in it. His poor little teeth were trembling.




Wed.-to CA Adventure to celebrate Susan's b-day. They give you a button and print your name on it. My favorite ride is the Tower of Terror. It's basically a giant elevator that drops you and goes back up a little bit at a time. The boys all love the roller coaster that goes upside down. I can do it once, but will get a headache if I do it any more than that. Another favorite of everyone is the Toy Story ride where you get to wear 3-D glasses and play carnival games. Coconut liked the Bug's Land rides. They close at 8 pm and we went to D-land to go on the Nemo Submarine ride because it wasn't open the last time we went with Susan. Then back to the hotel where Susan and the boys had a snack party and B and I went on a date to In 'N Out and IKEA.





Thurs.-D-land again. We celbrated Peanut's b-day since it's today and he got a button and picture with his favorite character Pluto. It was uber crowded. Why on earth were there so many people there on a Thurs. in Feb.? A worker told Susan that they don't really have an off season anymore since there are so many year round schools. Lame. We stayed until close that night too. Gotta get our money's worth right?

Fri.-left at 9 am and drove straight thru to home. Originally we planned on staying overnight in Utah with some friends, but a snow storm was coming and we didn't want to be rushing to our piano recital on Sat. night so we drove thru. We made it to Ely, NV before it started to snow and then had to drive about 45 mph for the next few hours. As we got closer to home there wasn't any snow at all. So we ended up getting home at 3 am instead of around 12-1 am like we thought. We ate at In N' Out at Vegas one last time so we could get our fill of our favorite place.

Sat.-slept late, watched tv in our jammies most of the day, and then B and I went out to the mall so I could pick something up and he could get a break because he was so knotted up from the drive. At 7 pm we had Peanut and Bubba's first piano recital. They each played two songs that they memorized. They looked so handsome in their ties and did such a great job!

This week I'm trying to catch up and also do a b-day tonight. We've only invited neighbors for cake so it's not high stress or anything, but I'm still running around. And Peanut started swimming lessons last night. Coconut was supposed to, but wouldn't go with the instructor, so he'll be waiting a year or so. His lessons are at 5 pm and JP's are at 6:30 still, so I think at least on Mondays we'll just go and stay the whole time so I'm not driving back and forth. On Wednesdays though the big boys have scouts so that won't work. Baseball assessments are this Sat. The season will start some time after swimming so we'll take a break from that for awhile. Prepare to get even busier-3 in baseball this year. I have no idea how we're going to swing that, but they all want to play and it's not fair not to let Peanut.

B-day pictures and Ode to Peanut coming soon...