Almost, But Not Quite

Well, Bret almost had the 4-wheeler running again. After not using it much towards the end of last summer and fall because it wouldn't run in reverse or stay in 2nd gear, we ordered a replacement gear box and new tires. Bret replaced the gear box this afternoon and it worked for all of about 5 minutes. Now it won't run in 1st gear or reverse. You have got to be kidding me. Poor kid was so excited when he saw it back in the garage after being in Bret's Grandma's garage for the winter. And we know what Ryan does to the 4 wheeler when it ticks him off. Worth a pretty good laugh, though.

Sure, Go Right Ahead

So last night at 2am in the morning, Ryan comes in to our room and asks if he can go downstairs and play his Star Wars game on his Play Station. Having not a single clue what time it is and knowing that I just want to go back to sleep, I tell him yes. He says "Yipee" and turns and heads for the door as Bret thankfully wakes up and sets us both straight. After finally calming down, Ryan climbs into bed with us and I'm still not really sure if he ever went back to sleep because at 6am he's bugging us about it again. So I sent him on down. Great parenting, huh?

Complaint Free World

The 21 Day Challenge

As I'm sitting on the couch reading through People magazine (because I'm feeling too tired and lazy to put away the rest of the groceries I bought this morning) I came across this article about a church in Kansas City, MO and a movement they have started. It's called A Complaint Free World and you wear these purple bracelets (similar to the Live Strong ones). The challenge is to go 21 days without whining or complaining. Every time you whine or complain you have to switch the bracelet to the other wrist and start the 3 weeks over. I've ordered 20 of them since they are free and when they arrive, I'm going to hand them out to family and friends. I think it'll be fun to support each other and yet kind of funny catching each other breaking the rules and having to start over. What a great idea! It'll sure make us all realize just how often we complain and help us to become more aware of our thoughts and more enjoyable to be around. So check out the article and let me know if you want one.

Now if I could just find a bracelet that says "Patience With Your Kids" for the other wrist.

A Perfect Day

Finally! Some warm weather! Today was a true sign of spring being right around the corner. With almost 70 degree temperatures and the warmth of the sun, the babies and I hung out on Emily's driveway on a blanket watching all of the neighborhood kids that weren't in school play. I did feel a bit guilty since Ryan and Ashley would surely be upset that I was outside enjoying a beautiful day while they were stuck in school. (Not too guilty, though...ha.)

It's funny how you don't tend to see many of your neighbor's during the long and cold months of winter, and then all of a sudden it warms up outside and you realize that everyone's kids have grown a few inches taller and look a lot older. It was nice to sit and catch up with friends that we don't see everyday.

Spring break is quickly approaching and I'm hoping the weather will be as nice as it was during last year's break. Last year the kids and I were outside from the time we had finished eating breakfast until it was time to come in for bath time. By the end of the first day, Emily and I had sunburns - in March! We couldn't have asked for better weather.

Here's to hoping that tomorrow will be just as great as today was.

Future Astronaut

Yesterday was Ashley's field trip to the Challenger Center in Bloomington and she had a lot of fun. Bret went with as a chaperone and it seems the kids really enjoyed having him along.

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The kids got to simulate a mock space mission.

After they left the Challenger Center they headed over to the Children's Discovery Museum. Someone failed to tell Ashley that you shouldn't lay down under a cow when you're attempting to milk it.

Below would be the kids' free entertainment.

Why Can't They Stay Little?

Chloe is now 7 months old and Cecelia is now 6 months. Where has the time gone? Can they get any cuter?

Chloe hams it up for the camera.

Cecelia is always full of smiles.

Chloe: I'm getting such a headache from all of this picture taking stuff. Do you think she's about done, already?

Cecelia: Who knows. Here let me massage your headache away.

Chloe: Okay, but I get to play with your head next.

Cecelia: Um, I don't think so. I saw what you did to that teddy bear's head earlier.

We Already Knew That She Couldn't Keep A Secret

This post is dedicated to you, Mom!

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Yesterday was the big day for Ashley's family birthday party and I had come up with a sure fire way to throw her off. She was pretty sure she was going to get the iPod Nano she's been begging for and I didn't want it to be too easy for her. Bret kept trying to talk Ashley into getting a Nintendo DS but Ashley insisted that she didn't want one. A friend of hers had just gotten a Nintendo DS for her birthday, so I borrowed the box and hid the iPod inside of it, pretty sure she'd believe there was a DS inside. I told everyone ahead of time NOT to tell her to look inside the box. I wanted her to continue opening her presents so that she'd slowly realize she was getting an iPod as she opened up all of it's accessories. Then we would have told her to look inside the DS box when she had gotten to the last present and still didn't have an iPod in her hands.

She did fall for it, and very graciously....

But then my mother asked to see what the DS looked like before she moved on to the next gift!!!



Sigh. She was happy to see it was an iPod instead of a DS, but man it would have been really fun to see her sweat it out some more.

Ashley's New Gig

Last night was Ashley's very first babysitting gig. While my friend Emily and her husband took Ryan and their son to a basketball game, Ashley stayed behind and watched their two young daughters. I think I was more nervous than Ash. I called at one point and asked if she needed help getting the two girls to bed and she told me she could handle it. I kept looking out our kitchen window through the backyard at Em's house to make sure everything looked okay. She did such a great job!!! When she came home she was all smiles and so apparently proud of herself. I knew she'd be great since she's had a lot of practice with helping me out with the babies here at home. She says she's ready for her next gig - only mom won't let her go further than a neighbor's house since she's only eleven.

Up next is Ashley's family birthday party this afternoon. I've got something very funny (Ash might think cruel) up my sleeve. I can't wait so stay tuned...