Raingutter Regatta

I have been in Cub Scouts for a few years. We have done a Pinewood Derby, a Space Derby, and this year we did the Raingutter Regatta. But the best part of it all was Nathan was a part of it this year. I think/I know that Greg also enjoyed being more involved and helping Nathan come up with a good design for his boat. We sanded and painted it multiple times before applying the final coat of enamel paint. Greg and Nathan named it Barracuda and we were all excited for the big race.
Our Cub master split the boys into 3 random groups and then each boy got to race four times. Nathan won all four of his races. It was close sometimes, and not so close other times. His brother, Ryan, was his biggest fan and was a great cheerleader. Nathan ended up being one of the 3 first place winners and he was SO excited! He got a medal and was very excited to pin it on his uniform (not sure if that is okay, but oh well). It was fun to watch all the kids and while I was trying to cheer all of my wolves, I had to be a little partial to Nate. Way to blow buddy!

Preschool Field Trip

We had another preschool field trip this week-to the police and fire stations. I remember Ryan's group being a bit apprehensive, and Annabelle was just the same. She wanted me to be in her line of sight at all times.

At the police station I didn't get any pictures since we didn't see much. We saw rooms where the officers work, where they hose down and keep the bad guys until they take them somewhere else, and where they have interviews. Annabelle was really clingy there.

At the fire station it was a little better. We, the moms, got to sit in these really comfy chairs while the kids watched a 20+ minute Sesame Street show about firemen. The kids loved it, and so did I. Then we got to go look at the engines. At first Annie didn't want to go near them, but in the end she relaxed and had fun.

I have realized these last few days that Annabelle has been my baby for over 3 and a half years and it will be quite an adjustment for her when the baby is born. It will for me also. We have been best buddies while all the boys are at work or school, or even just outside. I hope that she is as happy as she says she is when Callie finally makes her debut. It will be interesting though.

I Found Them!!

I have been looking for these eggs everywhere. Who knew all I had to do was head to my local Kohlers? I asked them about it and they said they have heard the same story from other customers as well. They also said they keep selling out (I bought 2 of the bigger bags-for me). So, if you are like me and trying to hunt down some of the yummiest chocolate eggs around, now you know where to look.

Are You Smarter Than a 2nd Grader?

Today I got stumped. I could tell that I was turning red when a bunch of the kids in Nathan's class had one answer, and the teacher said it was right, but it just didn't make sense to me.

They are doing measuring and the questions were:

The shorter the animal the more or less is takes to measure.

The longer the animal the more or less it takes to measure.

In my pregnant brain I was imagining I was measuring an animal. So of course the shorter the animal the less it would take. For example a mouse is going to be less inches than a cow. Well, it took a a bit of reasoning in my head but the kids had been measuring with snails (inches), lizards (feet) and snakes (yards) and so she meant of these animals which takes more or less. And all during class we had found that it takes more of the smaller animal, the snail, to measure than the snakes. It was such a relief when I understood my lack of understanding. Nate's teacher made me feel better saying she hadn't even thought about that when she wrote out the question. I am not sure any of the kids were confused, but I sure felt silly.

Spring and 7 weeks to go

This last week has been BEAUTIFUL!! I have loved the sunshine and the time spent outdoors. I have especially loved that the kids can go outside without freezing, or bundling up. We have had a picnic and done homework outside, colored with brand new sidewalk chalk and ridden bikes. I know we will get more snow, but I am going to appreciate every sunny day.

For whatever reason I have felt like I need to get the garden ready and the flower beds weeded. I guess I figure it won't happen without me and I don't know how long I will be able to bend over even a little bit. And once little Callie is here I am not sure what my life will be like, and what I will manage to accomplish on a given day. So here I am, 33 weeks pregnant, and weeding. My bulbs are all coming up and I love the greenness. I hope the snow that will of course come doesn't kill everything.
Now I just need to go and buy some peas and get those started.

St. Patrick's Day

I think I did a little too much for "Leprechaun Day" last year, but luckily my kids are still not that observant and they seemed to enjoy what I did manage to pull off. Nate came home from school on the 16th wanting to make a trap for the leprechaun. He, Ryan and a friend got to work and I got to relax (I love that they are getting old enough to do things on their own). I went to a Relief Society meeting and when I got home the trap wasn't set up, but I just didn't want to worry about it and Greg said Nate wasn't worried about it.

The kids woke up to things a little green and while they didn't love the idea of Green Eggs and Ham, they did enjoy the plates and necklaces the leprechaun left. Oh, and the green M&Ms which Annabelle snuck later that day and ate A LOT by herself). I though we were done with the whole celebration, but when Nathan got home he informed us that Leprechauns come tonight as well and needed to work on his trap again. I let him go for it and this is what he made:

The leprechaun will walk up the crayon ladder because he will see a quarter at the top. Then he will see a sign that says, "Don't touch the gold" and see a pot of real money (we used chocolate last year) across the top of the box. BUT, it really isn't the top of the box, it is a false top and the leprechaun will fall through the lid. He is supposed to bring the caught leprechaun to school tomorrow. I am not sure what will happen, but I hope he isn't disappointed by whatever happens.

Dancin' the Night Away

Greg got off work earlier than usual and so we were able to finish dinner earlier and since we didn't have scouts or basketball or any other type of meetings we were able to just sit around and enjoy each other. Annabelle was still in a dancing mood and so we turned on some music and the kids went crazy. It was really fun to watch, and I even got up and boogied for a bit. There was a lot of funny faces, moves and lots of laughter (my favorite).

Hooray for Parties

I decided to let Annabelle go to her cousins party, and it was the best idea ever. Getting her in her dress caused many tears, but she wanted to go so badly that I gave in. She was miraculously healed and when I arrived to pick her up she was dancing and swinging both arms all over the place. I really didn't expect that, but was VERY relieved that her arm is no longer limp at her side.

Dislocated

Yesterday afternoon I was helping Nathan with subtraction while Ryan and Annabelle were playing beautifully. They were laughing and running around and so when Annie started screaming I really didn't think it was a big deal. Finally Nate told me, "Mom, can't you hear Annie?" I decided to go and check and there she lay, in the hallway, not moving her arm. After I learned that Ryan had dragged her about 4-5 feet I knew what was wrong. I had done the same thing to my little sister when she was 4. Annabelle wouldn't let me look at it and so I called Greg to come home. He later told me how surprised he was that I was so calm. I guess I was calm because I remember my dad fixing my sister's arm and it not being that big of deal (I just knew I couldn't do it and needed Greg to be the fixer).

When Greg got home Annabelle was a little calmer, thanks to a Popsicle and a pile of books thanks to her very saddened brother. Poor Ryan kept calling himself "stupid" and I have to say I was quite impressed that I didn't yell at him at all, I just kept reassuring him that it was an accident and now we know not to drag people. Greg and I were both uncertain if it was her shoulder or her elbow and after fiddling with it for a bit we decided to take her to the doctors.

After about an hour of x-rays and waiting, her elbow was popped back into place and an ace bandage was wrapped around it. She wasn't crying anymore and even managed to eat some dinner. The bandage was cutting off her circulation a bit so I made Greg take it off for bed (she was not happy about that). She did okay for the first few hours of night, and then woke up a bunch in the early morning.

All morning she has been babying the arm. She eventually let me help put on a button up shirt and is slowing allowing herself to move it a little. It is funny to watch her play, eat and walk around with a limp arm. She does have a birthday party in a couple hours and she wants to go. We shall see though.

Baptism Day

What a crazy and wonderful day. I am so proud of my Nathan for making the decision to be baptized. He looked so great all in white and it made me cry as I watched Greg baptize him. He wrote in his journal afterwards and his thoughts were so sweet. We were so blessed to have so many family members come and support Nathan and our family. We had a lunch with over 50 people (which is why I reserved the church building months ago) and while it was a bit chaotic, it was great to see so many loved ones all together.

First Snow, For Some

I guess I have been taking for granted that I have lived in the snow the past 11+ years. While my sis and parents were in town this last week we had a nice snowstorm and everyone was impressed with my kids and their snowman making skills. Even my mom commented that she has never see snowballs actually grow by rolling. I informed them that it takes a special kind of snow and that even I have been able to do it a couple times. My sister took most of the pictures but here are a couple.

Ice Skating

Greg's company took us ice skating the other night and despite having three kids who have never done it, we all had fun. I have never been an ice skater. I can't do it and it kills my ankles. Since I am 7 months pregnant I didn't even think twice about lacing up. Greg was great though. He actually really likes ice skating and managed to help our three kids have a great first experience. All of the pictures I took our a little blurry-someday I will read my camera manual and get more out of my camera. Ryan and Annabelle lasted about 1/2 an hour and Nathan and Greg about 20 minutes longer. Luckily there were donuts and hot chocolate to pass the time, and only Annabelle spilled hers.