The Shopping Experience....

Since we've lived in Missouri, I've discovered that people from this area aren't really into the whole "buy a new Easter dress" phenomenon that has swept the nation. I've kind of quit myself. It just doesn't seem to be a big deal anymore. This year, however, I heard they were having a 50% off sale on girls dresses at a local chain. I figured maybe me and Kennedy should check it out. I took her with me. I don't know why I did. Maybe it was for the bonding, or something crazy like that. I knew she had interesting taste and rarely seems to like what I choose. For some reason those things slipped my mind and we made the trip together. There were 5 dresses on the rack. 4 of them were pastels, sleeveless, and something you would consider an actual Easter dress. Of course, the 5th dress is the one Kennedy really fell in love with. I took one of each into the dressing room with us convinced she'd fall in love with one of the others. The thing about 6 year old girls is that nothing ever looks bad on them. She was adorable in every single one. But the look on her face, and the way she twirled in the one she chose, how in the world was I going to deny this beauty this particular dress? There was no convincing her not to buy the black & white polka dot number, but she admitted to loving the others too. She suggested we just buy 2. Fat chance girly. The 50% off sale would have been a moot point had we purchased 2. Being the wonderful mother I am, and one that is truly learning that clothing is one battle not worth fighting, I relented and bought her the polyester polka dots. I even purchased a new white tee and some pink flip-flops to complete the ensemble. The plus side? Polyester is wash and wear. And she actually looked adorable.

The Big Hunt.....

This year Easter fell in March. I am not a fan of early Easter. Apparently it shouldn't be this early again for another 100 years or so, and I'm grateful. I like to associate Easter with the rebirth that spring brings......flowers, green grass, rain, and warmer temperatures. Because it was in March, and March is unpredictable, my kids hunted for eggs in heavy winter coats and gloves. Thankfully we were without snow so we didn't need boots. There was just something odd about hunting in mittens. My kids didn't seem to mind and gathered their goods at record speed forgetting about any plummeting temperatures.

The kids each filled their baskets in their own unique way. Ethan took off by himself and since they were allotted only 10 eggs due to numbers, he chose to hunt slowly and find the "decorative" eggs. He was pretty successful. Kennedy followed me for awhile but realized she could find better eggs if we parted ways. Jack and Landon picked up whatever they saw. Before Landon would pick an egg up he'd say "there's another egg!". I heard this 10 times, once per egg. I wonder if he thought he discovered something nobody else had.

They posed for me, then bartered with each other for the "big" egg. It was in Landon's basket and since he was none the wiser, he was duped into trading for a "tiny" egg. I'm sure one day he'll figure it out.

When we entered our warm house, coats and gloves were shed and the true finding began. All the eggs were open within minutes, and the trading started. Lucky for me, they all headed downstairs leaving me upstairs to bask in the quietness. Nothing like a bucket full of candy to make the fighting cease.

The Healer Within....

In this small medical community the medical school sponsors an exhibit called "The Healer Within". It's just a small traveling exhibit that explains how different parts of the body work. It's quite interactive and I think it teaches the kids some cool information. We headed over on Saturday and lucky for us Shawn was able to stay the entire time without getting called in.

Kennedy and Landon learning about the heart.

Ethan testing his grip strength.

Landon testing his balancing skills on a moving skateboard.

Kennedy would have stayed on the skateboard all afternoon if we'd have let her.

No photos of Jack. Due to his obsession with the workings of the body he was all over the place and not in one place long enough for a photo op.

Pinewood Derby.....

This is our very first experience with the annual pinewood derby held by the scouts. Well, the first for Ethan. Shawn has been doing this since he was a boy. After witnessing the planning, making, and racing of the car, I've come to the conclusion that this activity is made for the men. There was many a night when Shawn was alone in the room greasing up the wheels with Ethan no where in sight. Ethan watched as Shawn painted the racing stripes along the back and sides. I do have to say that it was one fancy car. Ethan chose the design online and called it "The Missile".

Because Shawn is one of the leaders, he was in charge of sending the cars down the ramp. Anyone that knows Shawn understands his lack of facial expressions. He's pretty hard to read seeing that he has the same look on his face whether he is at a funeral or Disneyland. However, I've been around him long enough to see how he feels in his eyes. I watched him close as Ethan's car continued to place first in each heat. I could tell that he wanted to scream "wahoo" at the top of his lungs while throwing happy punches into the air. I captured a rare glimpse into his feelings with the camera. If you notice his slight smile and the way he's holding his hands you should be able to tell his inner-child was whooping it up.

I was proud of his composure as Ethan won 1st place over-all. Ethan won a plaque and a box of twix candy bars. When we arrived at home Ethan handed Shawn half the box of candy bars and said, "You did most of the work dad, so you deserve this prize." Shawn spent the next 30 minutes trying to explain to Ethan how much work he actually had helped with. Good work Shawn. I mean Ethan. Well done, well done.

MY Sanctuary......

When I was younger my family moved about every 5 years. We left Idaho when I was 7 and moved to Western Washington. When I was 11 we headed down to Southern California. Then when I was 16 we headed back up north to Central Washington. I actually stayed in close contact with the friends I'd made in W. Washington, so when we moved only 4 hours away, I'd often drive the distance to visit them. I remember the summer after I'd graduated high school me and my friend Misty headed in that direction to get out of town. We were planning on staying with one friend in particular. As we pulled in the driveway we noticed about 10 cars parked in the cul-de-sac. We discovered her parents were out of town so this was to be the weekend hang out. We were all good kids so it wasn't one of "those" parties. Just a bunch of kids with free reign of a home. We hung out in the hot tub, played games, and ate a lot of junk. On Saturday evening a huge water fight broke out in the kitchen between the girl that lived there and about 5 boys. Me & Misty ended up on the front lawn watching it all go down. Pretty soon the parents pulled up. They were home early for reasons unknown. We had a clear shot of the kitchen windows, so we watched the whole thing unravel. The reaction from the Mom is the one that surprised me. She didn't yell and scream for everyone to go home, or send anyone out of the house. She started to cry. Then she started grabbing towels and cried while mopping up the wet mess left by teenagers having a little fun. Misty and I left shortly thereafter. I have always wondered about this reaction from this Mom. Why the tears? Now I'm the mother of 4. Nobody needs to explain to me now why she had this reaction to a kitchen full of water. I too have cried over my kitchen. My house is my sanctuary. Sure, kids will be kids, but I still don't like to see my new leather ottomans tipped upside down and jumped on like trampolines. I don't like when Landon uses the water and ice on the fridge to make rivers run through the tile grout. I don't like it when Jack pees all over the back of the toilet seat because it makes a cool splash. And I really don't like it when the kids use crayon or marker to color the carpeted stairs. I've already had to leave the computer twice in the few minutes I've been blogging. Once because Jack tipped the La-z-boy over and was catapulting his body off it onto Ethan, and once because Kennedy used a light saber to knock over my Jesus picture which fell behind the entertainment center and scratched the wall on it's way down. I now understand the tears in the kitchen while silently mopping the sopping wet floor. One day maybe my own kids will understand what it means to take care of the home in which they live.

Random Happenings.....

Today I took the kids to see "Horton Hears a Who". It was Landon's 1st movie in the theater. I've taken 2 year old children to movies before, and vowed never to do it again, but I thought he'd be the one kid that could handle it. He kept saying really loud "That is a really, really big elephant Mom". He also kept asking questions throughout the whole thing. Not questions that had to do with the movie, but things like "What is that fruit snack mom?", or "Can I hold the cup Mom?". At one point after too much soda he declared that his belly hurt and he needed to go poop. He doesn't have a quiet voice either. I stood in the back with him until he did his business, changed him, and we were able to finish the show. I have to say that it was the easiest trip to the movies with a 2 year old that I've experienced up to this point. He might even be able to attend the next movie we venture too. Great job kiddo.

Since it's been girl scout cookie season, this has been one of my bedtime snacks as of late.

Who doesn't like a few thin mints with a tall glass of skim milk? A little piece of Heaven.

Because of the time change my kids have been fighting bedtime. They used to be in bed by 8, and after numerous trips for drinks or whatever, they are asleep by 8:30. Lately I've found them wandering around as late as 9:30. When Shawn is home he locks us in our bedroom regardless of what child is pounding on the door. I prefer to threaten rather than lock them out. Landon has been a real stinker and just doesn't want to be in bed so he cries knowing that I have no sympathy. Kennedy takes pity on him. Since they share a room she offers for him to climb into bed with her so she can read him a few stories. Nice girl. Every night this week she's come in to tell me that he needs to be moved out of her bed. After 2 pages he's zonked. This was too cute not to document. He doesn't even flinch when I pick him up.

Shawn's gift.....

Shawn's birthday present finally arrived. He's been saving for this baby since November. Every extra bonus he received went into his "Bose" fund. I finally relented when he was a few dollars short because it was his birthday. He informed me that this is the Bose Wave-Radio II, not to be confused with the first generation. He also ordered the ipod attachment so he could listen to his own selection of tunes. He claims that this will be the reason he starts lifting weights again. Hmmm. I'll believe it when I see it. However, it does have a sweet sound. Shawn claims he can hear notes and sounds on this baby that he didn't even know existed in some of these songs. I think he's just over-excited about his new toy. The kids enjoyed the tunes too.