Pillow Talk

Yesterday in the middle of my workout Ethan brings me one of Zach's pillows to inform me there is a hole in the corner that needs to be sewn up. I told him I could not address it right then but to throw it in my room and I'd get to it later.

Well later...much later in the day I found the pillow laying on my bed with a pillow case on it. At this point in the day Zach was home from school and Ethan was at a friend's. I pull off the case and find this.....

Zach's name written in beautiful PERMANENT marker penmanship....but no holes.

I was baffled. Did Zach do this a long time ago? The writing was too neat to be Ethan's and he is always asking me to help him spell his own name let alone Zach's. But the ink smelled fresh. I took it to Zach right away and the look of shock on his face told me he had nothing what so ever to do with it.

As I was holding it up showing him I then noticed this on the other side.

The little stinker had written it on both sides. The coloring in the letters was the final give away because I know Z doesn't do that with his name.

I'm not a fan of the boys using permanent mark on anything let alone a pillow but wasn't too upset because it won't show. Now if this had been on a Pillow Case it would have been an entirely different matter. I was however, dang impressed that he wrote it so neatly and that it was all spelled correctly.

I completely forgot to ask E about it until later in the evening and so with Chris by my side I questioned E about it. He immediately said he didn't do it but was struggling with all his four year old might to NOT smile and start laughing. I told him I was impressed with his writing skills but not to do it again. He told me he took it in his room and copied the letters from Zach's name that's in vinyl on the wall.

I'm still not sure if he wrote Zach's name to just throw me off his trail or if he was truly trying to just label Zach's pillow. I hope Zach doesn't wake up with a headache from the nasty marker smell.

When Life Gives You Lemons

Due to some very unfortunate incidents the pool rules in our community are now strictly enforced.

That means because the age of our children Chris and I together are not considered enough adult supervision for our own children. In the past I would take all three on my own and now we have to find a 3rd adult to accompany us and they have to be in the water not just a poolside observer.
Basically our pool attendance has dropped to nothing and making it so we are cooped up in the house pretty much all day. Yay for Alaska Summer Vacations!

Instead in the late evenings when the sun isn't beating down I've pulled out the baby pool.

The boys added the slide to make their own water park.

It's nice because I can even send Graham out on his own and watch through the sliding glass door in the comfort of the AC.

But of course the most fun is to be had...

when they're all together.

Panic

As our departure approaches we have our checklist:
clothes- check
underclothes- check
snacks- check
passports-?????

Chris - Where are the keys to our passports?
Michelle - What do you mean where are the keys? They should be in their usual spot.

BUT THEY WERE NOT!

After questioning the usual suspects. They plead absolutely not guilty. They had not seen, touched, or even dreamed about them.

After a sincere prayer, Chris and I began to tear the house apart room by room with no sign of them. A certain son was questioned again a bit more clearly about what the keys looked like and what the ramifications of not finding them were. It meant No Grandmas, No Grandpas, No Parks, No Friends, No Alaskan Adventures.

His response..."Oh...those keys. I put them in my night stand drawer."

But they weren't there. So we dumped every toy bin, cleaned out every drawer and then.....

Way, WAY, WAY back in the corner of the room under a stored comforter under a bed were the KEYS to our family's summer time happiness.

Mr. Mischief had struck again!

After a prayer of thanks all was forgiven. But it took Chris' adrenaline several hours to return to normal.

Goodbye Preschool

Because of the introduction of a K4 program next year Ethan's Preschool teacher had a graduation party for students starting K and K4.

I am not sure who was happier about the K4 program the moms or Ms. Mai, the teacher. She had some very strong willed 4 year olds this year. I think she is very happy they will all be moving on.

Ethan is super stoked to be attending the BIG school next year. We are really trying to prep him on expectations his new teacher will have. Luckily some of those tricky personality conflicts that happened in preschool will be divided next year between the K and K4 classes. Ethan will be the oldest child in his class with a Nov. birthday so we keep telling him he will need to be a good example and a leader in following the teacher's instructions.

Meet Our Scavenger

All three of my boys have been really exceptional babies. I didn't deal with colic or sleeping issues. My biggest hurdle was learning to breast feed a sleepy sleepy newborn the first time around. It isn't until just after a year that we embark in the stage of discovery. For this is when each child's true personality begins to shine through....

Graham is our Scavenger.

He does not look underfed in the least but strangely enough the kid hardly eats anything we put in front of him other than fruit, yogurt, and cheese. Slowly this is changing as I have not given up on the veggies yet. After he throws down most of his meal, removes his bib, and slathers himself in yogurt he demands to get down. I plead with Ethan not do dawdle over his meal because I will soon release the scavenger. Who immediately after refusing his own meal will stop at nothing until he gets his brother's food. Or anything else someone might have left at the table.

Last week I found him walking around chewing something. It was carrot sticks he had refused at lunch and dropped on the chair next to him. I've decided to just leave little treats for him to find himself. Then he just loves his little treasures and eats them happily.


Another oddity is that he doesn't climb out of his bed he climbs in. Any time the little busy noises are not to be heard I find him in his bed with his beloved binkie. As the days progress I find him in there more and more just relaxing....not sleeping just hanging out with his bink.

I began to put it on the shelf but now that E is out of school he is a partner in crime and gets it down for him.

One other small joy for Graham is to finds the bathroom door left open. He loves to splash in the water, unravel toilet paper, and of course flush. Lately if he can get in there and flush before we catch him he runs out with an arm pump and says "YESSSSS!'

Graham is very mellow and is happy to self entertain much like Zach was. What a relief because Monkey number 2 is busy enough for all 3.

Fine Arts Night

Last night we viewed the finest art UDH has to offer.

The evening opened with a few words from the UDH principal, Mr. MacDougal, who will be retiring at the end of this school year. Then Mrs. Hanson, Zach's art teach, explained the events of the evening.

Each grade level demonstrated a different artistic technique.

The K class had previously painted a bumble bee and they demonstrated their coloring skills for us.

Other grades did water color scenes and tempera painting demonstrations.

Both Laura and

Lana are in Zach's class. I also coached them in soccer this year.

After a power point presentation of pictures Mrs. Hanson took of the students throughout the year.....

we toured the school looking at art Zach had done that was on display.

Art was Zach's favorite class this year. He often came home from school and went straight to his art box.

Also by the K rooms there was a beautiful garden in bloom. Each day the children bring home a new book to read. After they read it they write the title and their name on a flower to put in the garden.

We are so proud of Zach and his achievements this year. He has been a leader in his class and made some really good friends. I love seeing him write so well and reading on his own. He has inspired Ethan to want to be a reader as well.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

From Your

3 Little Monkeys.....

& Adoring Wife Who......

.....Couldn't Even Begin To
Dream Up A Better Husband or Father If We Tried!


Here are the cards the boys made for Chris:

Note the big green belly just for Chris and the big red heart on a stand, according to Ethan, is a "Love Machine".....and it's full.

Now who couldn't use a little more "Love Machine" in their life?


Zach's opened up to say...

My daddy is so special.
He's brave and strong and smart!
That is why I love him so...
With all my little heart!

Life Is Beautiful

Exactly two minutes before I was to get out of bed this morning Snuggle Bug #2 came in for a morning cuddle. He knows the rules....he can only come in if dad's already out of bed (I just can't stand being crowded in bed) or if it is the weekend. Dad was out so he was welcomed in.

After about a minute of closeness I heard this ever so soft whisper.....wake uuuup, wake uuuuup. As I opened my eyes little fingers were slowly wiggling in front of my face. I just had to laugh and then get up.

Because of the heat I've given up the 5AM rides. It was just no use. When the alarm went off I just couldn't get out of bed when I knew my bike trainer would happily wait for me to ride at 7:30 instead. Because the work out is never fun indoors I've pulled out some old classics to help pass the time. First it was Sound of Music...the songs really got me moving. Then I watched Life is Beautiful. Since Ethan is home during these rides he and Graham are in and out of the room or sometimes plop down and watch. In Life is Beautiful there are parts where the main character slowly wiggles his fingers and under his breath says what he wants to happen.....and it does. I guess Ethan really picked up on this and after success in using it on me this morning says he plans to use it on his brother. We'll see how it goes.

UDH Bike Club

This is our UDH Bike Club.

Last weekend we closed out our riding season with a 20 Mile Social Group Ride covering all the roads of Udhailiyah.

Never have this many members ridden together at one time. Because most of the members of the group are spouses dividing child care also divides the riding times.....but not on this day. Our group has tripled maybe quadrupled in the last year as so many people have become interested in the sport. I think we surprised many a security guard and bystander as we passed in such a big group.

We all got sitters and headed out in the 4:30pm heat. No tricks were left undone in the 106 heat: ice in the insulated bottles and camel backs, extra water for dumping on ourselves, we soaked as much of our clothing as possible in water before the ride, and one wife followed us on a golf cart and sprayed us with a water gun.

I was a bit worried about being able to keep up in the heat but I had no problem. The pace was very social, meaning no one was dropped unless they wanted to be, and the men only showed off their sprinting skills a few times.

This was also the first time Chris and I have ridden together both on road bikes. We even had enough energy in us to ride for 20 more minutes after the group ride was over. Then we quickly showered to meet everyone for the closing Bike Club Dinner at our golf club. One of the members is retiring and produced some great biking related gifts for everyone that could answer his mishmash of trivia questions. All in all we had a wonderful afternoon and evening.

Poor Ethan

Is it the heat?
Or?
Did Graham inherit horrible motion sensitivity from me?
Or?
A combination of both?

Because the last two times I took the boys out in the morning for a chariot ride behind my bike Graham threw up.....on Ethan.

The first time wasn't so bad but the second I had to stop at a friends so Ethan could borrow a shirt as we didn't have time to go home and change before school.

This is the view that made him sick.....can you blame him?

I found this shot Ethan took with my phone he'd been playing with the last time we rode.

What? Whaddya Say?

Ethan never had ear infections as an infant. His very first one happened just before we moved here and then they've continued every 3 to 4 months. Then a year ago we noticed intermittent hearing loss. Now with Ethan you might say he just wasn't listening well except that he goes through periods of asking us to repeat ourselves when we are sitting right next to him.....CONSTANTLY. At times this has been very frustrating for both he and Chris and I.

A year ago we took him to the ENT, did the hearing test which was fine and he pretty much brushed us off. About 3 months ago we just couldn't take it any long and I thought his ears must be full of wax because he could not hear us. Our GP told us to get a second opinion and finally go in last week and......

He does have DIMINISHED hearing due to fluid behind his ears along with enormous tonsils. So we are on our last huge dose of antibiotics and decongestant and scheduled to have tubes put in after we get back from our summer travels.

Hallelujah we are thrilled for the little guy. This should take care of the hearing problem, middle of the night cries from ear pain, and lessen mom and dad's frustrations.

Sorry, Kinda Lame

It is lame to rave about a good recipe and not post it when you actually have it. I just didn't have the time at the posting to put it in.

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars Kids Will Love
by gottalovelattes, eHow member
www.eHow.com

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup wheat germ
• 2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• A  pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 4 egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup honey
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

1. Step 1
   While the is pre-heating to 325 degrees F, spray the bottom and sides of a 13" x 9" baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
   
2. Step 2
   Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. You may want to use your hands to make sure that the mixture is evenly moistened.
   
3. Step 3
   Fold the mixture into the baking pan and pack it down evenly with a flat spatula (no slits).
   
4. Step 4
   Place the pan into the oven and bake for 16-20 minutes until golden brown.
   
5. Step 5
   When the pan is still a bit warm, cut into small bars or squares. The granola bars can be stored in a plastic container for up to a week or frozen in zip-lock bags to enjoy later.
   

Sorry about the lay out I just cut and pasted....too lazy not to retype the recipe.