Vacation

This past week was great. Definitely a much needed vacation.

It started on Tuesday (June 8th) when Jaymee picked us up to take us to the airport. I was excited to be going, and very nervous about how Elliott would be on the plane. The airport has a little play area for the kids to wait, which helped some, but they were ready to go. Finally, our seats were called and we got in line. Elliott was throwing a huge fit, and I'm sure no one wanted to get on the plane with us. Once we were seated, everything was good. We were lucky enough to have an extra seat next to us, so there was a lot of room. Elliott could only be occupied for about 2 minutes at a time which made it a little tough, but we made it.

This made me melt the instant I saw it. Ethan is the best big brother.

As soon as we arrived at my parents, the kids wanted to hit the pool. Who wouldn't with all the COOL stuff Grandma and Papa had gotten them.

The rest of that day was spent playing and resting.

The next day was pretty much the same. A lot of swimming and just hanging out. It really didn't take Elliott long to figure out that grandparents are WAY better than parents.

Thursday we needed to get out of the house. After breakfast, Dad took Dominik, Ethan and I into town (it's quite a ways). The boys and I went to the Museum of Natural History, and Dad had some running around to do. Elliott stayed home with the Grandmas.

Ethan and Dominik were SO excited to see the dinosaurs.

This is Ethan's foot compared to a T-Rex.

The museum had tons of fun stuff. This is the boys playing with a green screen set-up. Ethan is the floating head and Dom is the 1/2 Boy.  :)

When they were all done, we were all pooped. My Daddy is the best and got us some Sonic! Route 44 Strawberry Lime-aid. Mmmmmm.

Elliott got some Papa time.

And some Grandma time.

And of course, Ethan was in the pool too.

Monday was the last day for me to spend with Dom and Ethan. I tried to take them to the museum we went to last time, but I am so glad they were closed. The Science Center was INCREDIBLE! We should have went way earlier. I think it would take a whole day to see all there is in there.

Ethan tried his skill at explaining his pattern to me so I could duplicate it. He did it perfect. :)

Then we watched a cow's eye be dissected and learned about all the parts. Dom was so grossed out.

But both boys put on gloves and touched all the parts at the end.

They really had fun with the "Simple Machine" section.

And the digital section was totally beyond me, but really cool. These dots were falling on a screen, but when you stand in front of the screen it looks like the dots are falling around you or piling up. Crazy.

My favorite pictures from the whole trip are these. They sat in front of a crazy mirror and could change how it distorted them and put it on a big screen. We all got a really good laugh.

Squishy!

This one makes me think of "Kid and Play". Haha.

Elliott and I woke up at 3:30am and flew home. Erica was flying out when we were getting in, so her nanny gave us a ride home (thanks). Elliott went right down for a nap and slept for 4 hours and I was able to get a nap in after cleaning up a little. It's very strange to have such an empty house, but I am trying to enjoy it.

And now, back to reality.

first saturday of summer

Yesterday morning, the boys and I made rainbow chip ice cream cone cupcakes. Even at 9:00am you can't let perfectly good cake batter go to waste.

He licked up every last drop. It was so much fun to bake with them both. Ethan got all the ice cream cones set up for me and helped get out the ingredients.

The cupcakes were for the little get together we had at the park with our friends to celebrate Ethan's graduation and school being out. Joe and Tyler came up, Erica, Carson and Jessica came, and several of Ethan's friends from school.

Elliott and Carson liked the cupcakes, but mostly just the frosting.

All the kids were hopped up on sugar from the cupcakes and Kool-aid.

Just when I thought it was over, a game of roller hockey broke out and we were at the park until 9:00pm. I definitely want to spend more evenings like that through the summer.

Today is rainy and chilly outside. Ethan's friend (let's give him a name so I can stop saying that), Cael, invited him over to play, so Elliott and I did the dishes, and watched a movie. Now he is napping, and I am enjoying the quiet. Elliott has a really hard time understanding why he can't be outside all day again today. Poor kid.

Tomorrow, Jason leaves for a month of training in Helena, and Tuesday, the boys and I fly to Phoenix. Elliott and I will be back in a week, but Ethan is staying until the 8th of July. It's going to be a long month for Elliott and I without Jason and Ethan.

Well, I better get busy. Happy Sunday.

Class of 2022 and some fun

Can you even believe that school is out for the summer? This year seems like it flew by!

Today, Ethan's class graduated from Kindergarden. He was so excited! He couldn't wait to get out the door and get to school.

This is a cake they served for everyone who attended. 2022?!?!?! I'm sure it will go fast, but it sounds like a really long time away. By the way, I will be 39 when he graduates high school. YIKES!

Here they come. All the little girls looked so cute dressed up. I, of course, am a bad mom and Ethan wore what he would wear on any normal day. He's still super cute though.

They sang some songs for us, then it was time for their certificates. Ethan got his, a quick hug from his teacher and then.............

He got the hell out of there!

Don't you just love those hats? Ethan had an amazing report card, and we couldn't be more happy.

The weather was perfect to be outside having a piece of cake and some juice.

We asked another parent to get a picture of us all together so that in 12 years, we can have another one taken of us all together and compare them. I think we might look a little different then.

Mrs. Bishop made Ethan's first year of school so awesome. He had so much fun, and we still cannot believe how much he learned. She liked her bracelet, and was even wearing it during the ceremony.

During naptime, I colored Ethan's hair. It's supposed to be purple, but it's more bright pink. It's awesome. When Elliott woke up we went outside to play. I love this picture of him and I had to share.

I found them a swingset on craigslist.com and couldn't pass it up! It needs swings, but it has these two things and a slide. That's all that Elliott can use anyway, so it works perfect for us.

I definitely see some very tan boys and a well used playset in my future. It's so nice to be able to lock them in the backyard with entertainment. It's much easier for me to get things done when they are playing. We had a really great day, and I am so excited that summer has begun.

Have a great weekend.

frugal and fun

After school today, Ethan, Elliott and Jason sat and colored together. Unfortunately the boys' attitudes went downhill from there, and we called it an early night for Elliott.

Since tomorrow is Ethan's last day, I asked him what he would like to get his teacher (she's awesome), and he said a bracelet. Well we are on an extremely tight budget, so I told him to pick out some beads (because I own thousands). I love what he chose, and of course when you are six, there is really only one way to put it together. A pattern of one than the other.  :) I really hope she likes it.

Again, with the budget, I refuse to spend money on a card when I own at least 100 stamps, and hundreds of pieces of paper. So I made this.

Nothing says "thank you" like a one-of-a-kind handmade card. I guess it either says "thanks" or "look how broke we are". Not too shabby though.

And lastly, when you are being frugal, even boxes are too expensive. So, I went back into my scrapping supplies (yes, I do own some Jaymee) and pulled out the computer for some how-to instructions on paper boxes. You know, like the ones you had to learn to make in 5th(ish) grade.

I have to say, if someone put this much time into a gift for me, I would cherish every bit. Plus, I feel totally Martha Stewart and so proud of myself for saving every penny I could.

So next time you need a gift for someone, dig deep, and I mean really deep. Think of something you already have that you can use (UPCYCLE) into something really great. It will mean so much more than something off the shelf, and it won't cost you a thing.

boys will be............

Some of this you may find inappropriate to blog about, but it's my life and it's my blog.

The last couple weeks I have really noticed my babies turning into boys. Growing up with 2 sisters, I don't think that I really knew what I was in for. Boys are daring, gross, rude, naughty, and really really fun.

First, daring. Ethan wasn't bad when he was little, but now he is crazy. He climbs up trees, the monkey bars, the slides, he jumps his scooter, and does wheelies on his bike. I truly believe he is out to see just how many scars he can acquire before he's 10. Elliott is just as bad. I think it's mostly because he sees Ethan having a great time being daring, so he wants to do it all too. He has tried to ride the scooter and the bike, he tried to climb the tree and the slides, he even wants to do the monkey bars. The kid has no fear and I see broken bones as well as several scars in his very near future.

Next, gross. I'm sure your mind just went crazy with all the ways boys are gross, and I bet my kids haven't even scratched the surface of gross, but they disgust me sometimes. Here's a short story that made me laugh. Ethan used the bathroom while Jason was standing there and Jason came to me later, so proud. "Ethan pees using only one hand," he said. "And?" I asked. I could see the excitement in his face, clearly this was a big deal that I was unaware of. "Ethan can pee, without his pants around his ankles, and he only uses one hand to aim!" he said. Now I know. I didn't realize this was some sort of "coming of age" thing for boys, but now I know.

Boys are also rude. I don't mean in their actions, well not all the time, but in their humor. Farts are funny. They are. Even to me. But really? Do you have to announce when you fart? Any time Ethan is with his friends, they work farts into their playing. Today at the park, they made fart noises all the way down the slide. They laughed so hard, every time. This goes along with thinking that smelling their feet is funny, that the word "poop" is funny, and that pretty much any word that is gross is also funny.

They are naughty too! Ethan is always teasing Elliott, and Elliott hits, kicks and takes things from Ethan. They deserve each other. :)

Through all of this, they are also so much fun! They like to do just about anything, and the fact that it doesn't require me to play with Barbies, tea cups, or baby dolls makes it even more enjoyable. They love the dirt, the bugs, every kind of ball, and most of all they love to be outside. They look cute in just about everything, especially their Mohawks, and they think everything is funny. I really enjoy watching Ethan play with Elliott and engaging him in all sorts of activities. Elliott has such a great time hanging out with Ethan, and takes it all in. They are great brothers.

I loved them as babies, but I cannot get enough of my boys.