Pumpkins and Hornets.....

October around these parts means: pumpkins (and I guess zucchini) on the front porch. I'm pretty proud that our inaugural garden produced these 6 little lovelies...one for every member of the family.....

More Hornet Football every Saturday morning.....



Little Lady content the entire game with her ring pop. Best invention ever.....



Mr. 4 year almost 5 pleased as punch with his choice from the concession stand...hostess powdered donettes..complete with chin eveidence.... 

 And then this poor kid....the one who also wanted a pack of donettes and instead got stung by a hornet while waiting in line.  He received an open tab at the concession stand for all his troubles....once the Benadryl kicked in and the swelling went down!:

Blogworthy...early June

I've pretty much lost my blogging mojo for the summer.... it's just not in me.  However, one day...... mark my words, I will make a blog book and it will be lovely and packed full of events I want to remember.  So I must continue (for the sake of the book I dread making),  posting blog worthy tidbits from my life. Let's take baby steps into early June shall we?

Trip to Kennewick for cousin Sam's baptism:

We made a trip over to the east side to attend cute cousin Sam's big day. He looked pretty handsome in his fresh new 8 year old duds. The weather was perfect, the food delicious, and the company was fun and casual. It was short and sweet but worth the trip! Favorite part of this picture: Ms. Kate feeling every part of the gust of wind that just blew past her cute little body!



My handsome and oh so talented younger brother Allen. Not only can he host a great after baptism luncheon wearing a green plaid apron..he can play a mean beat boxing key board while holding a sweaty toddler. We had great food AND great entertainment!

Stake 5k:

Our stake puts on a 5k race each June and it has become our annual running gig to kick off the summer. I love doing it. Mr. Coley pants decided to get in on the fun this year. Since it was his first 5k I deemed him the honorary user of the family Ipod, you know....get some good tunes to keep him moving!  Lesson learned: 7 year olds who fight back tears and want to hold your hand while running cause their legs are about to fall off should not attempt to use an Ipod. It will become loose, fall off, get tangled, play continual "weird" songs and otherwise be a complete nuisance for said 7 year old's mother who thus will end up wearing a second Ipod on her arm. Good times none the less.



Moments of genius:

For some special reason Kate allows Brody to brush her teeth and no one else.  Whatever!

                              Becoming the two year old:


Kate has officially had her moment(S) of being a two year old. I absolutely adore her in everyway!  Yet as she gets older I'm learning quickly the "ways of her force." She's real good at slobbering and spinning and flopping on the ground for no reason. It doesn't happen that often but when it does...Whoa Nelly!


                                 She's also good at smiling and swinging and being completely fantastic!

Up next....late June...oh the suspense!

Word to the wise..r than I...

Just a little tip to all those out there who love a good clean wall....cooking and talking and Fox news don't mix.

Watch the multi-tasking....I'm just sayin.

This little love head right here..the one with curly cue hair, dainty feet, and almond eyes...she's a pill.

I mistakenly thought I could combine:

- cooking loud and splashy chicken (hence needed the hood vent on)

-giving marital advice over the phone while cooking loud and splashy chicken

-having The O'Reilly factor blaring on the tv from the other room while cooking loud and splashy chicken and giving marital advice over the phone

AND

-watching my little lady

Bad Bad Bad combination.

That's right...black Sharpie Pen on almost every surface possible in my -still new to me- kitchen.  Kyle loved coming home to that hullabaloo. Lesson learned..Sharpies be banned. I used that beautiful invention know as the "magic eraser" on the desk and  floors..worked like a charm. The walls, staircase and wood trim will have to be sanded out and re-painted. Awesome, we needed another project to do around here.



 She's tagged everything. Writing utensils be gone!



A lovely weekend full of lovely things....

I really do look forward to General Conference weekend each April.  It's simply dreamy having my family all together, my husband actually home on a Sunday...no meetings, no pressure. This weekend we sat quite comfortably together and listened to the wonderful messages of faith, kindness, family, and service from our inspired church leaders. My testimony was strengthened. I am truly thankful for a living prophet on the Earth today. What a blessing in my life.

 Other lovely note ables from the weekend:



We have a LOT of art pieces laying around these parts. Brody is on a "Backyardigans" kick. Can you tell? -He thought maybe each character needed a little snack..hence the 2 fishy crackers for each one. Always thinking ahead....



I purchased a "Bountiful Basket" -a produce co-op thingy and my wonderful bro-in-law Mark picked it up AND hand delivered it to my kitchen. How 'bout that for service?! For this lover of ALL things green and leafy....it was seriously like christmas morning, I didn't know what I was getting.... oh the possibilities!!!  The portobello mushrooms were promptly grilled with a little olive oil s/p/ and a sprinkle of dill for good measure. The darling little radish bunch made their appearance in a fantastic salad I found on-line and will make many times over...my boys totally dug the radishes-who knew?!The apples sacrificed themselves for a mediocre cobbler. I dredged the broccoli/cauliflower and yellow squash in an egg wash..tossed them with Parmesan cheese (and a tad sprinkle of salt) then lightly sauteed them in olive oil. THEN.....the best part, I mixed a little fresh lemon juice with a little olive oil and drizzled it on top of the hot veggies. Do it.... you'll thank me later. Grapefruits/bananas/lettuce consumed daily and the sweet potatoes will most likely be baked for a little surprise in the tin foil. So my point in sharing all of this is that for me...it was completely worth my $15. The dang yellow squash (hello $2.99 a lb currently)  practically paid for themselves. I will totally be in the basket line again.



For brief moments my kids played quietly and angelically!




I made the infamous "Bunny Buns" from the Friend magazine. The boys preferred the dipping glaze method..whatever makes you happy...its conference weekend! -Nice crooked blinds.



And last but certainly not least.....my little lady achieved piggy tail status. It's a big-big day!! I kid you not, I have seriously been dreaming of the day when a little girl in piggy tails would prance around my house with a smile on her face (or her back to me)




and a bunny bun in her mouth. And there she is!!



March..let's just call it a month shall we...

First of all the tub is complete...I repeat, the-tub-is-complete. It only took a year and a half but by golly, I may just start using the darn thing. I really do enjoy glass tile very much..very, very much. Big kuddos to my oh so attractive live-in handy man who makes it all come together so nicely.



Onto the family review:

 We finally gave the much thought about go ahead and let  Jack try-out for football this year. I'm dreading the practice schedule and the price and the game schedule and the price and the commitment needed and the price ......but man is he excited!! We've all decided to see how this year goes and really be supportive. We're not a football family but you have to start somewhere. Let's hear it for father and son football throwing time in the backyard...yea! I can cheer for that!




 

Jack's signature Ralph Lauren pose with my "unknowingly borrowed" camera. Do all brothers do this on a boring Sunday afternoon?



When Kyle is gone...we eat a tad bit differently around these parts. The pressure is usually on to feed the hard working husband each night and I take great pride in doing just that. I honestly do love cooking. However, when that pressure is in Hannah Montana at the ranch....pressure gone. Exhibit A: Star Wars dinner-
Light sabers
Vader taters
Boba Fett baked beans
chewbacca (?) carrots...I know, I know it doesn't rhyme but anything that started with a C and was nutritious made it to the plate
Yoda Soda
Leah Buns (cinnamon rolls) for dessert
BIG BIG HIT!
I had scrambled eggs and toast, see no pressure.





Very spirited for St. Patty's Day.



Kate is daily growing into toddler hood in all it's toddler hood glory. Most days I find her whining at my feet for yet another  fruit snack or whining on the floor cause she can't quite fit comfortably into her doll stroller. Life's tough when your almost 2.



Brody is finally mastering the art of cleaning the downstairs bathroom solo, that is without complaining as well.  At first I have to silently cringe and let him do his thing. Then I return,  re-teach and give the bathroom a little wipe down once over and voila.....he's happily cleaned something!



Cole is reading all the time and EVERYWHERE. I love it except for when I'm calling him for dinner, telling him to brush his teeth, reminding him to pack his snack in his backpack, waiting for him to join us for prayer, or any other time I need his attention.

Boring Sunday pose #2 entitled "Hands on hips"

The usual suspects. "Mom, you are not going to like this. Kate just took out all the Kleenexes..but I saved a few for you."

Another boring Sunday pose.  Again...do boys do this?

And with that question I will leave you with a Brody quote of the day:

-While gathering my mass of primary bags and other paraphernalia after church I send Jack out to the car to immediately retrieve Brody who has already made his way to the parking lot, alone...fantastic. When we finally make it out to the car Jack says, "Mom you're not gonna believe what Brody told about 12 adults as they walked to their cars just now?!' 

Oh boy, the anticipation is boiling over.

"He said........ (insert official Brody quote here)

"Hey everybody don't step on this (pointing to greeny- slimey- fuzzy- Seattle area moss found all over the ground) it's Jabba the Hut boogers and you DO NOT want to step on those!"

And isn't that the truth?! I wouldn't want to step on Jabba's boogers either. Ya think it was that Star Wars themed dinner I was so crazy about?  

Going full circle....

If you give this gal an Ipod..she will eventually dance.

Dancing will remind her of happier, lazier... more care free evenings that didn't involve providing anything for anyone.

She will even dance and sing along to "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus.

Upon this display of crazy.... two of her sons will stare in stunned disbelief.

Her middle child who has been home sick from school for the previous THREE days will exit the room with disgust.

Dancing mother will continue to clean up mess from delicious dinner she loving prepared.

Dancing mother's cracked winter hands will continue to sting with throbbing pain with every drop of water.

Middle child will begin coughing uncontrollably upstairs.

Upon hearing MORE coughing, dancing mother will stop dancing, roll eyes and pray that it will STOOOOOOOOOOOP! (I apologize after every eye roll...I know he's sick and I am quite compassionate.... however,  I'm just a bit done with hearing coughing every BLASTED minute of every BLASTED day).

Coughing upstairs turns to crying and moaning which dancing mother knows means only one thing: Vomit

No more dancing.

Middle child will cough himself into a vomit inducing frenzy which lands him into the bath tub.

Child # 3 and #4 stare in shock and awe at tubside.

Mother is now thrilled with the thoughts of drenching her cracked and stinging hands into bath water as well.

As coughing/vomiting child calms in tub water, sheets are removed and put in the washing machine down stairs.

Back upstairs, child #3 and #4 proceed to make themselves at home in the bath water..fully clothed.

Mother's night keeps getting better and better.

Child #3 gets pjs on...admits his lack of judgement on bathing fully clothed, takes out wet clothes from hamper and hangs them out to dry. Awesome.

Child #4 receives fresh clean bath by herself..minus clothing and prepped with sleeper suit.

Child #4 's hair is an anomaly in itself. Genetics from her father have produced fabulous curly swurly locks that only a little lady could pull off. With a little love and styling from her mother, she can pull off quite a do.

Freshly bathed hair with zero product, bow, or tiny barrette yields quite a different outcome. I give you the Tears for Fears curly mullet: 



Tears for Fears...80s classic and personal favorite.




18 month old Kate...also a classic and absolute favorite.


As the little lady sipped her warm milk... getting in the sleeping mood, I thought to myself, man, she's rocking a serious Tears for Fears mullet tonight. I turned back on the Ipod... next song on rotation....

Tears for Fears.....I kid you not.

And this mother began dancing again.

True story.



Looking on the bright side....

 I'm a happy person by nature. I'm definitely a "glass half full" kind of gal. Today however... I'm a bit blue..no,  annoyed is a better way to phrase it.

You see, I'm flying solo in the parental department till what seems like forever. I've got 4 solid days down. Many more to go...blasted hunting season. I've done it many times before..it's old hat. But this time it's a little different....looooonger. I like CO-parenting, I'll leave it at that.

 Other mentionables that I can complain about .... for just a minute:

#1- My Most favorite hilarious and witty local radio talk show host and CHANNEL that has been my oasis of conservative sanity in my liberal desert of a state for 16+ years is changing its format to ........OLDIES MUSIC! You have GOT to be kidding me.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH say it isn't so.......I'm speechless!

2# I've lost my cooking mojo temporarily--- and I'm still hungry.

#3. I spent a delightful evening having dinner with one of my most favorite friends for her birthday last night. I wanted steak. I wanted steak with polenta. I ordered steak. Steak with pancetta. Polenta and pancetta are two VERY different things. I hate pancetta.

#4- I blame my steak and "P" word confusion on lack of sleep. I do not sleep well without a man in the house.

That's all. My minute is up. Now, onto wonderful mentionables as of late:



Big shoes...who doesn't love little kids in big shoes?!



The fellas were solving mysteries outside. The case at hand: How did the nut get cracked?



Glass half full: I'm kinda 'gettin really good at making bread.
Glass half empty: I'm kinda 'gettin really good at eating bread.



Just a little candy corn toss at pack meeting...



My boy earned his Bobcat and I earned this lovely yellow shirt.



This guy can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 3 different ways...bet you didn't know that was even possible. Oh but it is!



And my sweet little Cole is rockin the teeny tiny violin as well. He licks his lips in complete concentration and says, "Oh let me thstart again.." over and over...it's a hoot!

 There, I feel better already!

#3

This child of mine is finally asleep.  I don't know who slipped him the spastic pills but it has been a day. From biting bums, refusing soup, talking like a goo goo baby-constantly, and don't get me started on brushing teeth....I'm done tonight.  Ugh, silence is golden.

Awesomeness from Thursday

I love the fact that fantastic stuff like this just appears on my counter!

-Focus on the highly excited practicing newbie Wolf... not the fridge/microwave that needs a good wipe down.-

I also love the fact that I'll be spending my entire Thursday evening training to be the most fantastic den leader AROUND! That's right, entire evening!! The inevitable has arrived.