Paint!

We haven't been in the art room in awhile--or should I say I haven't. The boys and I went in there tonight to do a May Day project and as soon as I turned on the light I saw the mess!

Henry decided that he wanted to paint a couple of days ago so he helped himself. There was paint all over the floor and their table. He tried to clean it up, but it was still a total dried mess--with some toilet paper stuck in there!

He immediately showed me the picture he painted and he was so proud! He said he will ask next time and we cleaned it up. To be safe, the paint has now been put up high!

I am NOT the Mayor!

Yesterday was one of our most beloved days of the year. Opening Day for Cowtown!

My boys love everything about that place! We pretty much do the same stuff every time we go there, but that's kind of the way we like it!

This time we saw a quick draw competition, which was new and not just one, but two gunfights! The older two boys insist on covering their ears, but otherwise love the gun stuff. Josh, however, was not a fan of the gunfights. As soon as the big guns started firing he started screaming! He got back at them, though! He ran off with their bag of money after he got his picture taken with them!

We also got to watch a baseball game. That was fun. The boys picked teams to cheer for, but they weren't the least bit loyal to them.

Josh's favorite this time was the saloon girls. He was dancing like crazy! One of their numbers was "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain". I told Lucas to sing along, but he didn't think I was funny!

My boys always dress up for a trip to Cowtown. The cowboys are always jealous of Henry's very authentic green frog boots! They also tend to make fun of his hat--don't worry we all have a good time with it! Gigi gave him that hat to wear last year, but failed to tell us that even in the movies the cowboys who wear them get teased!

This time they all got a bit of teasing about their footwear, but several of them asked Henry if he was the mayor. He was so offended because obviously he was a Sheriff! When we were leaving we saw a man in a hat just like Henry's and a long black jacket. Henry did, in fact, look just like the mayor!

I'm guessing next time he'll wear chaps so he's not the dreaded mayor!

Fearless

Josh Oliver has now chipped both of his front teeth. Yet another semi-permanent injury to add to his list.

He chipped his right tooth back in November when he tripped down the two steps leading out into Amy's garage. It's a pretty bad chip and it was very traumatic for me! I know it's just a baby tooth, but he's still going to have it for several more years.

We aren't exactly sure how he chipped his left tooth. We noticed it within a day or two of doing it, but still have no idea. With his fearlessness, he really could have done it any number of ways. It at least isn't as bad as the other side.

The scar on his mouth is healing up quite nicely. You can still see it, but it at least blends in well.

He really makes me nervous. He has that terrible sense of fearlessness like Henry has, but he doesn't really escape the injuries the way Henry does. I don't know if he just doesn't have the quick reflexes to catch himself or if he doesn't have the good sense to even try! Either way, Josh has unfortunately taken after Grandpa J in that department.

I just pray he doesn't chip any permanent teeth and please no more scars on the face!

Horse Show

Today we went to watch Gillian and Gretchen in a horse show with Midas. We went with Gran and Papa, but we left Josh with Gigi--keeping him quiet and out of poop would have just been too much for me.

We watched Gretchen show Midas--he was in a bit of a mood--and then we had a couple of hours before it was Gillian's turn, so we ventured out into the rest of the Fairgrounds--there was a mini fair/fundraiser going on.

It took us a bit of walking around, but we finally found out where all of the action was. When we first got there we saw a tractor that was shuttling people around and a train for kids made out of plastic barrels. To the boys horror we made them look at all of our stuff before they got to do their stuff!

The whole time we were walking around Henry kept talking to random people about the tractor and the train. He would ask if they had ridden on it, or if they knew where it was at. He just doesn't have any hesitation about talking to people!

We finally took the tractor shuttle which dropped us off next to this huge slide. Henry immediately wanted to go down it and practically ran up the very scary stairs. Lucas, with his sensible hesitation, didn't want to, but Papa finally talked him into it. He was practically on his hands and knees going up the stairs--they were crazy scary. He went down with Papa and absolutely loved it! It usually ends up that way with him. I, on the other hand, did not love it!

Once we were done with the slide, the barrel train zoomed past us--seriously it was going fast. Henry frantically started running after it with his hand out yelling, "STOP! STOP THE TRAIN!" It was absolutely one of the funniest things to watch! We chased after it, Henry and Lucas were sprinting, trying to figure out where it stopped at, but we lost it. Henry kept stopping people and asking them if they knew where it went. At one point he stuck his hand out and made a guy on a golf cart stop for him. He asked him if he saw that train go by again, "could you please tell him to stop for me?!" The guy told him he would as long as Henry would wave at him when he got on it!

It was a fair agreement!

We finally found it and it was the greatest ride ever!

After a lot of walking we eventually made our way back to the horse show.

Midas was still acting up so Gillian didn't get to show him. That was really sad!. She did look really cute though! I didn't get a good picture of her, though. Midas' behavior did not mean a good mood for Gillian.

By the time we left we were all so exhausted. We did so much walking! We were also very dirty. Henry especially because he jumped in every mud puddle we passed on our journey! He did have on his rain boots at least!

Sometimes I think the dirtiest days are the best!

Keeping up with his Brothers

Ben had to work tonight, but he met us up at Marble Slab for some ice cream--all of the possibilities make that place almost overwhelming!

Luke and Henry both picked out their ice cream. I figured Josh could just share with me or Ben. When he saw that he didn't have his own cup, though, he was really upset. Ben tried to just give him his cup, but Josh wanted none of that! He knew it wasn't really his.

I ended up buying Josh his own. I can't really blame him for wanting it. He is two now and fully aware of what his brothers get.

It's just really hard for me to think of him as one of the big boys. I guess it's good that he knows how to assert himself.

Surf's Up!

I'm starting to feel like I'm raising a bunch of surfer boys. I can't even tell you how many times a day I hear the word "Sweeeet". Occasionally I get a "Dude".

It's a little bit annoying.

Thanks, Gigi!

*She says that word didn't come from her, but it did! She says it a lot when she's talking to the boys--especially when it involves the Wii!

Two Wheels

Today we decided to enjoy the nice weather and try out the boys on a two wheel bike. Ben had to work so it was just me and the three boys.

It didn't go over very well at first. Henry was appalled at the idea of taking off his training wheels. Luke seemed a little bit excited, but kept saying that he was just going to let Henry try today because he needed to work on his soccer skills!

Henry's turn was first. He seemed to do pretty good. I didn't really get close to letting go. He was a lot like he was on skates--not really focusing and wobbling from side to side. I think that's just the silliness in him! He didn't really care about doing it or not.

Lucas, who I thought would be really afraid of the falling part, did awesome! On our first run, he was so steady that I decided to let go and he went about a yard or so by himself! He was really excited about it! Each time I let go, he would go farther and farther. The last time he went about 4 or 5 yards. He never did fall, though. He wasn't very good at steering so when he got close to the edge of the bike path he would stop himself. We were both so amazed!

After a bit, we headed back to the car and I let the boys run to the top of the giant hill nearby. That was super exciting for them. Then we went to Wendy's and ate IN THE RESTAURANT! That's always a treat for them!

It was such a fun day! I can't wait for Ben to go with us and see all of their cool new tricks--plus we need a better photographer for when Luke is on the bike!

Bad Mouths

Don't let those cute faces fool you.

Today Lucas said the mother of all bad words. Henry repeated it when he was tattling on him.

Usually I make the boys go flush their dirty words down the toilet because "that is where they belong", but this was a bad one. I resorted to putting a dab of vinegar on their tongues.

It was the worse thing ever for them, which is good. Lucas told me that it was going to go down into his stomach and into his blood stream and then he would probably die. That's a little dramatic don't you think? I am impressed with his knowledge about the body, though!

They could be like Ralphie in A Christmas Story and get soap, but even that only leads to blindness!

It actually was really horrible for me, too, and I hope I don't have to do it again. Unfortunately I think I'm going to have to keep it on hand just in case.

Can We Have a Redo on Easter?

This Easter was not even close to being a favorite of mine.

It was so cold and rainy. Egg hunts were moved inside--which are not real egg hunts to me--and I had a boy who's continued naughty behavior kept him in his room the entire morning and most of the afternoon. It was sad for me and him both.

We did have a nice morning with Aunt Amy, Eli, Gigi, and Grandpa J. Lucas got to go to the store with Grandpa J--any outing with him is a treat--and I'm pretty sure Josh has eaten almost twice his weight in candy! I don't think I ever really saw him without something in his mouth!

I really had higher hopes for this Easter, but you got to take what you get. The boys had a good time and that is really all that matters. Before baths I even heard Henry say, "It sure was a fun day!" I'm hoping he was only talking about the two hours at Aunt Gretchen's, not the majority of the day he was in his room, otherwise I feel terrible for nothing.

We are also going to now be eating hard boiled eggs and egg salad for days! Next year we are only dying two dozen!

Jellybeans

Today the boys and I went into Old Navy and they just happened to be having an egg hunt. My boys found one egg each. They had candy inside, much to their delight!

In the corner of the store there was a bunch of jellybeans that had fallen on the floor. I told Henry to leave them alone—I know him too well—but I kept catching him sneaking them off of the ground.

Finally after the third or fourth one I saw him pick up, I said, “Henry, don’t eat jellybeans off of the ground. That is really gross.”

He looked at me and in the happiest tone said, “But, I really like jellybeans off of the floor!”

He ate them all and I just didn’t fight it! How dirty can the corner of the store be, really?

Josh and his Stool

Josh Oliver has a best friend.

It is a stool that is in the kitchen.

For a long time now, he has blindly felt along the counter until he would run into a tasty bit of goodness that had been left too close to the edge. He couldn't actually see what he was grabbing at so he would have to take a few steps back to see what was up there and then feel around to see if he could get it. It's really funny to watch!

About a month or so ago, a stool from the bathroom got brought into the kitchen. Josh has been in love ever since! He not only can see what he is grabbing at, but now he can actually grab at things farther in. He just helps himself to just about anything that is up there--cookies, cinnamon rolls, candy, toys, anything.

He doesn't even really try very hard anymore for us to hand him things. He just pushes his stool along the floor and climbs up. Sometimes he's a little bit sassy about it, like just get out of my way and I'll get my own!

For a couple of days he was using a turned over rubbermaid tub. He stood up higher on it, which meant almost nothing was safe from him. I sent that back downstairs pretty quick! Most of what he gets into is harmless, but I don't want another sticky fingered boy running around the house--I already have Henry.

The good thing about that stool is that we always know when he's sneaking stuff because the rubber on the bottom is loud as it slides! It at least gives us warning that we should maybe go see what he's found!

I must say, he is pretty cute with that stool! The ornery ones always are!

Baseball

We took the kids to a baseball game today with Papa's work.

It was crazy windy--like blowing chairs and nearly full cans of soda over windy.

The kids had a lot of fun running around. They made piles of dead grass which probably blew into everyone's face down wind. They played duck, duck, goose and dog pile. At one point Olivia and Henry voluntarily laid on the ground and let Gillian and Lucas run and jump over them--Gretchen and I debated on telling them to stop, but decided that it may be a good lesson to not just go along with the older kids, plus, knowing those two, it could have actually been their idea! Josh pretty much spent the whole time mooching food and soda from everyone.

While we were there, I found out the Olivia is crazy about Lucas. She was hugging all over him. It was so cute! I don't know how I didn't realize that before.

It was a little bit stressful. I spent a lot of time telling my boys to come sit by me because they weren't making good choices, but it was a good time! It was something different. It was really nice getting to sit out in the sun and "enjoy" the wind!

By the time we went home, all the kids desperately needed baths, thanks to the flying dirt and grass and all of the food. We all smelled like dirt, and we were exhausted. It was a good day, though--we watched none of the game, but I didn't really go for that!

Cupcakes

Last night Gillian had a fun night at her school. Gran and Papa went, but the boys couldn't because we already had plans to go to the movies. Gran won some very colorful cupcakes in the cake walk. She and Papa dropped them off for the boys on their way home since they missed out on the fun. When I saw Gretchen and Gran today, they just laughed! They knew what they had really gifted!

Henry and Babies

Henry loves babies! He always has.

One of our friends was scheduled to have her baby yesterday. Henry was almost completely beside himself waiting for his chance to meet the new baby. He would not stop asking me questions about when she was coming and when we were going to go up there. He was anxious and his constant questions were not helping the long day of waiting pass any quicker!

By that evening it was apparent that she wasn't going to have the baby before the boys' bedtime. I had to convince both boys that the she wasn't coming until later and that if they would just go to bed we could go up there in the morning.

At 2:30 Henry came into my room and annonced that he was dressed and ready to go up to the hospital. He was in fact dressed in everything but shoes! He was defintely anxious!

We went up to the hospital first thing this morning. Both boys were so excited. Lucas was satisfied with holding her for just a minute or two, but Henry kept asking me why I got to hold her for so long and why I got so many turns. Where did he learn to be such a baby hog from?

I can't really blame him. She was absolutely perfect and kept making the sweetest little noises. There is just something so great about new babies. If only I didn't have to share!

Police

I had a run in with the Police today.

I was walking around the house trying to find something to wear and a police officer (Henry) accused my of being nekked and wrote me a ticket. I tried to refuse the ticket because I was in a bra and underwear which covers as much as a bikini. I ended up ripping up the ticket like any sassy criminal would.

I was reported to his supervisor (Lucas) and was handed a ticket that said, "you r a node(naughty) mom". The above note was also posted on my bedroom door (the last word is criminals). It's apparently a warning!

Those Police Officers are tough!