Look out Enya!

Our First Pinewood Derby

Ok, so the Pinewood Derby is not as exciting as I thought it would be... but the twins had fun! Evan was a little sad that his car, Planetary Orbit, didn't win a single race. But, he was a very good sport through the whole event and was very excited for Elden, who made it all the way to the quarter-finals with his car, The Monkey Mobile. Elden even qualified to go on to the regional race in May.

On top of having their very first Pinewood Derby, which they have been looking forward to for years thanks to one of their favorite movies, "Down and Derby"... both boys also got their Bobcat Badges as well. It was an exciting night.

Girls, Boys, & Chocolate!

I know, I'm really bad at keeping up with my blog. Sorry. I'm just as good at writing in a journal, so there you go!

Anyway, Here are some very cute pictures of Bella eating her first chocolate Easter bunny. Yes, she got one last year, but we broke it into pieces before giving it to her... so it wasn't the same! As you can see, she definitely enjoyed it! She went for the ears first. Doesn't everybody? Not quite, I'm afraid; 8 year old boys don't. After the ears, Bella went for the butt... following the example of her big brothers. Sigh. I'm quite sure she never would have thought of that if it weren't for the half-hysterical little boys who thought eating the bum end first was simply hilarious.

On the other end of the spectrum is little 3-year-old Caleb. He's all boy, but for some reason, he is refusing to eat his bunny. When we opened it the day after Easter, we discovered that (I think due to sitting near a sunny window) it's foot was all melted away. Once Caleb saw that it was melted, he decided he didn't want to eat it. What I don't know is why. My initial feeling was that he didn't want the thing because it was deffective. However, I'm starting to wonder about that. First of all, Caleb is not one to refuse food just because it's broken... I know many kids do that at his age, but he's not really like that. Second, he hasn't said a thing about wanting a different bunny, which I think he might do if it was just that he was disappointed in his bunny's deformity.

I'm starting to think that either he feels bad for the bunny because of it's melted foot, and won't eat it because of that; or, that he feels it's in-humane to eat chocolate bunnies at all, and wouldn't even if the bunny was perfectly formed. Either way, he does like to visit with his bunny from time-to-time. He'll ask for it, hold it, look at it for a while, and then tell us to put it away. He also freaks out if anyone threatens to eat it. We've tried the... "look, if you aren't going to eat it, we are because otherwise it's just going to go to waste" method... to no avail. Every time it is discussed he screams "NO! DON'T EAT IT! DON'T EAT IT!!!"

Do we have a future vegan / protester on our hands? Don't know. What I do know is, Bella has no qualms about eating chocolate bunnies. Doesn't matter how cute he is... if he's chocolate... his days are numbered!

A "draining" problem

Ok, I know, it's been a LOOOONG time... sorry guys... all 3 of you! Anyway, time is short tonight but I had to tell a quick tale on my little Caleb guy.

So, a month or two ago when we had a rare warm day, I took the two little ones out for a good long walk. All the snow was melting and running in wide rivers along the sides of the road down to the gutter drains. Caleb asked what they were and where the water was going, and that was the beginning of his preoccupation with drains. Everywhere we go, if there's a drain, we have to talk about it.

Well, yesterday, the kids were eating dinner and Caleb spilled some water on his jeans. He whined to his father, "Daddy, my pants is wet!" Daddy's reply was, "Don't worry, they will dry." Well, Caleb didn't think this solution would work, and expressed his feelings on the matter, "NO! DEY WON'T! Dey Can't!!" Why not? Well, he went on to explain... "Dere's no dwain in my pants!!!"

Baptism Day!

I can't believe it has already been 8 years since I first held my tiny little baby twins in my arms! The time has gone by so quickly, and already they are baptized! It's even more daunting when I realize that in half as many more years, they will be 12 and recieving the priesthood!

Evan and Elden had a very special baptism day, made even more special by the fact that they actually were able to be baptised on their birthday. Of course, the best part of the whole thing was the overwhelming support from our friends and family... especially those who aren't members of our church, but came to support the boys anyway! Evan and Elden had a wonderful day, and I think they truly grasped the meaning and significance of this major step in their lives.

I was so proud of them!

Things to be thankful for

I've been sitting around pouting about my Thanksgiving weekend. I've been feeling sorry for myself and my family and whining that it was a terrible, horrible Thanksgiving. Well, I've decided that maybe I aught to count my blessings instead of whining.

Ok, so all 4 of my children and my husband had the stomach flu within a 2 day period. We didn't get to eat Thanksgiving dinner with everyone all together, although we still went later and did get to eat (those of us who could!) I spent a night without sleep caring for my two sick babies while my sick husband spent a miserable night of his own.

So what!?! I should be grateful! All of these things are minor setbacks that in no way affect my Thanksgiving. This holiday is a feast of celebration and gratefulness for all of the blessings God has given us. Here are the things I am thankful for, things that no stomach flu could ruin or take away.

1. I have four beautiful, relatively healthy kids. None of them have any horrible, terminal illness. All of them are still here with me.
2. I have a wonderful, helpful husband who does everything he can to make my life easier.
3. I have a warm, comfortable home where my family can be safe from the elements and from the world outside our door.
4. We have plenty, and I do mean PLENTY to eat. I never have to comfort a starving child who has to go to bed hungry because I have no food for them, and no way to provide food for them.
5. My husband has a good job in a secure career field. We have the money to provide for our needs, and for a few of our wants as well.
6. I have a wonderful, supportive extended family; and a handful of truly fantastic close friends.
7. I have sunsets and sunrises; oceans and lakes; beautiful silent forests; and majestic mountains to enjoy.
8. I have cell phones and airplanes, and the internet to keep me connected to all the people I care about wherever they may be.

* Ok, maybe I should have started with these last two points, but then where would my conclusion be? *

9. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, no matter what, and who has provided all of these amazing gifts in my life.
10. I have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves me so much that he gave his life for me... For ME of all people! He suffered all for me. He knows every pain and sorrow, and he chose to endure them for me, so that he could understand me when I whine. Now really... what do I have to whine about?

Splish, splash I was takin' a bath...

All I can say is, when one has 4 kids, it is virtually impossible to know what all of them are up to at any given moment. Inevitably, there is always someone flying under the radar. When that someone happens to be the "motor-driven" 2-year-old boy, well... the results are rarely good.

Eric was upstairs supervising bedtime for the older two, Bella was playing happily in the kitchen at my feet while I did something on the computer, and suddenly I heard splashing and happy giggles coming from the bathroom on the other side of the wall...




By the way, the video does not do justice to the amount of water that was actually on the floor. There was a good 1/2 inch of water covering the ENTIRE floor... all the way to & beyond the toilet!