The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty

Yesterday we had a good day, but it was filled with a lot of naughtiness.

Josh Oliver flooded the bathroom downstairs while I was upstairs drying my hair. Lucas came running upstairs to tell me that there was water all over the basement, but he didn't turn off the faucet because his feet would get wet. He was wearing sandals! When I got there it was already flooding out onto the carpet. It turned out okay though. It was in the basement so it was an easy clean up and the toilet paper wasn't put on the holder so it was saved!

Gigi and I took the boys to the movies to see Up. It was really cute. We thought we were going to the 3D one, but actually it was only 2D. Henry still thought the movie was jumping out at him!

After we got home it was super hot outside so I decided to let the boys fill up their plastic pool and play in the water. I laid in the hammock and tried to dodge the random balls they were throwing in the air. I did get a cold water massage from Henry, so that was nice.

Later after we went inside Henry got sent to his room. When I went in to tell him he could come out and put sheets on his bed I found toothpaste smeared everywhere--his bed, clothes, the wall, his dresser, his hair. I just don't know what he thinks when he does that stuff. It makes me crazy. Needless to say he was done for the night.

After the other two boys were in bed, Lucas and I watched a movie. He learned how to snap his fingers--he's really proud--and we practiced our hand slap games--he's getting really good!

There was a lot of naughtiness today, but really it was still a good day. I do have to figure out how to keep Henry from sneaking contraband into his room, though. (That morning he had also snuck an ice cream bar in there and gum.) It's just ridiculous.

Cranky

Joshers has not been sleeping very well lately.

He does best when he gets a good 10 or 11 hour nights sleep, plus another 2 hour nap in the afternoon. The past week or so we are lucky if he gets 8 hours from the time he officially goes to bed until he officially gets up--he has been getting up in the middle of the night to "hang out" with us in our bed, and he generally doesn't go right back to sleep. He also does everything he can to not take a nap. He usually wins.

He may think that he's old enough to not need a nap, but he definitely can't handle so little sleep at night AND no nap.

Ben and I have resigned to the fact that our afternoon naps are long gone. Henry has officially given them up and it seems that now Josh has too. It was a sad realization for us!

Today the boys and I went swimming. We were only there for an hour--not really long enough to wear them out--plus they got a sugar filled sno-cone as we were leaving. By the time we got home, though, Josh was crashed, as in "drooling, let me change his diaper and put him to bed without waking up" type of crashed! He never sleeps that hard in the car!

The boys and I may be spending even more time at the pool then I originally thought if I have the possibility of getting a good nap out of Josh Oliver!

I need back my non-cranky boy.

Another Fun Graduation Party!

This past weekend we went to another graduation for two more of our cousins--it's apparently a good year to graduate!

We had the very best time!

Lucas spent his time playing washers and a fun "golf balls on a string" throwing game (I don't think that is the official name)! He was totally inconvenienced when I made him come eat a hot dog.

Josh sort of just roamed around and ate--typical Josh! He scoped out the entire fence line, which was a long way around. He and Charlie, who is just a little younger and far more tan than pasty Josh, took turns following each other around.

I know that Henry was at the party, because I brought him, but I didn't really see very much of him there. He wasn't wasting his time socializing with people that he already knew--especially not Ben or I. He did bring a couple of girls over to show Eli off to them. That was wierd, but then again that is Henry!

Summer is Here!

Today was our first official day of summer!

It's the first day where we didn't have to be rushing around getting Henry to preschool and making sure everyone was fed in time for Lucas to get on the bus. Instead the boys got to run errands with Ben--to the dump which is a very fun outing--and we planned on getting snow cones before lunch--it wasn't open, but it was nice that we could go!

I am really excited about this summer. It's the first time there has really been a distinction between summer and the school year for us. I love having all of the boys at home. It will be nice to do things without having to watch the clock so we will be home when the bus comes. No one will feel sad because they missed out on something fun while they were at school. We can go to Kansas City in the middle of the week if we want to. And, best of all we get to spend our afternoons at the pool and hanging out in the driveway!

I'm sure there will be days when I wish I was down to 2 kids for a couple of hours each day, but this summer is going to be great!

Photo-shoot

The boys got to have a photo-shoot with Jennifer this weekend. She always does so awesome!

None of my boys wanted to cooperate. Henry wouldn't sit still. Josh wouldn't keep toys away from his face, and Lucas was super stiff when he was in front of the camera. Even with all of that she got some pretty amazing pictures

We sure love that Jennifer!

Flowers and Graves

My very favorite thing about Memorial Weekend is visiting the cemeteries with my Grandma Judy. I love cemeteries in general, but I really love going with her!

She tells me stories about everyone that we visit--I never seem to fully remember stuff from year to year--and I learn little tidbits about her life that I never knew. It's the absolute best.

I like taking the boys with me because I think it's important for them to learn about the ones who came before them, plus I want to make sure they always put flowers on mine and Ben's graves down the road! It's sad to see headstones with no flowers.

The older boys did pretty good this year of staying close and helping put the flowers where they needed to go, but that Josh was a stinker! Half of the time he didn't want to get out of the car--I let him stay one time and that was a big mistake--and when he did get out of the car he wouldn't stay by us or even walk to the car when we were ready to leave. He would just stand there in one of his statuesque fits. He was stressful. I may ditch him next year.

I really love making the rounds with my Grandma. One year she went without me, and I can't even begin to say how disappointed I was. After that I think she realized that I don't offer to go just to be nice--I really do love it.

I love the cemeteries. I love the stories. I love watching my boys walk along the headstones. Mostly, though, I love the time with my Grandma and the things I learn about her along the way!

Oh How I Worry!

Lucas took this picture of Henry Monday morning. He's sitting on a shelf in his closet that is up to my shoulders.

I have no idea why he was up there, but he is absolutely not suppose to be.

When I asked him about it, with the camera in my hand, he just tilted his head, rolled his eyes and gave me his cutest smirk. He knew he was caught, yet he was still sort of proud.

It was all very "Classic Henry".