Spring Break=Time to Blog!

     It's officially spring break here, and I couldn't be more excited!  Not because we have big plans for a beach trip, or Disney world like a couple of years ago.  Mostly because we don't actually have anything planned...a rare occasion around here lately!  So, I thought I'd take a few minutes to catch up on life around here! 

     I spent today--the first day of spring break-- doing laundry and going through the boys' clothes and switching seasons and sizes.  Yep, that's my glamorous life folks... :)  Does any one else get nostalgic when they pull the little clothes out of the closet?  "I remember when we first got those jammies...First-Born loved them!"  "That was Middle Biscuit's favorite t-shirt last summer."  That is one thing I enjoy about the job...and the boys like finally getting to wear certain longed-for items of clothing from their big brothers! 

     We had a catastrophe yesterday.  We had just finished lunch at Mimi and Pa's (our Sunday afternoon tradition), when we heard a blood-curdling scream from Stitch.  It seemed to go on forever!  Of course, we all dash in there (Mommy, Daddy, Mimi, Pa, and Grandma & Grandpa, who are back for a visit) to see Stitch holding out his hand.  Upon further inspection, we see that he has had his hand shut in the bathroom door, and when he instinctively jerked it out, he managed to rip his entire pinky nail off.  Having never had this happen to me, I can only imagine the pain.  I mean, they do use this technique as torture, so it can't be a very pleasant experience.  There's not much to really do for it, so he has it wrapped in Neosporin and a bandage now.  It's his right hand, so he is now learning to do things with his left...I wonder if it will turn him into a lefty?  He is definitely the one who stuff happens to in this family.  Earlier this week he had managed to fall off the bed he was jumping on, climb on a box next to the piano and hit his bottom lip,  get some kind of bug-bite on his face, not to mention all the scuffles he gets into with his brothers.  If he makes it to adulthood, it will be a miracle! 

     We want to get our garden put in over spring break as well.  It's not going to be very big...last year we put too many plants in too small of an area.  We got a few things out of it, but we hope to do better this year.  We want the boys to learn how to do these things as they are getting older.  Think redirecting some of that excess energy.  Besides, food tastes better when you have worked hard for it, right?

       Speaking of re-directed energy, Pack 247's pine car derby was a success this year.  We had a great turn-out, and First-Born's car won "Most Realistic" for the second year in a row.  This probably has nothing to do with the fact that he insists every year on making his car look "like a real race car."  He asked me why he won the same award this year as he did last year...*sigh. 

     Well, that about wraps up this spring break post!  Hope you are all enjoying your spring-time fun with your families!  :) 

Boys Scouts and a Baby!

     This past week has been a busy one for us!  *Sigh*--it seems like I start every blog post with those words!  :)  Thankfully, the runny nose/coughing bug has finally vacated the premises!  Yay!  Every time we have a sickness, it makes me all that much more thankful that we are a healthy family overall!  


     Monday was our Blue & Gold Banquet with our Scout troop.  This is one of the highlights of the Scouting year.  The Scouts try to earn their rank badges by this time, and invite their families to see them get their award.  

     Scouting has become a bigger part of our lives over the last year.  Originally, I kind of intended that it would be something Hubby was able do to with our boys as "bonding" time, but the pack needed helpers, so guess who recently got recruited to be the Wolf Den leader?!  This is the den First-Born is in this year, and it also happens to be the largest group we have in our pack.  (Hmmm...now I'm wondering if that was the plan all along...?)  
     
     So, every other Monday, we all pile in the van and head to Scouts.  By the time the little boys are old enough to actually join, they're going to have earned all the badges already!  But, Scouting's a good thing, and it's one of the few extra-curricular activities that still has an emphasis on traditional family-centered values.  

    This year's banquet was a success, and all our Scouts did a lot of hard work toward their Scouting progress.  

    First-Born at the banquet.  When I see him in his uniform, all I can think of is the movie "Up!"  "Mr. Fredrickson, my knee hurts..."  :)

     

     Receiving his awards.  He earned his Wolf Rank, a popcorn-selling badge, and a Gold Arrow point. 




     Also on Monday, we got a new cousin!  My little brother and his wife had their first baby on Monday night.  We got to meet her on Tuesday.  She's such a cutie, and she helps even things up in the cousin mix.  Now we have two girls and three boys.  Welcome, Baby K!  :) 

     Meeting our newest cousin!   It's so funny...Stitch loves babies!  We were at the Science Museum the other week, and every time he saw a lady with a little baby, he asked me "Mommy, can I pet her baby?"  He and Daddy are teaming up to convince Mommy we need a new little "mini-figure" around here!  :)

        So sweet!  Those hospital pacifiers always look so big in their little mouths! 




   Well, that about wraps up this week so far.  This weekend already promises to be busy as well...with a birthday party and a wedding on Saturday!  Still haven't quite figured the logistics out for that one yet...  Maybe we'll have a day with nothing going on--but I just can't see it any time soon!  :)

Bowling, Valentines, and Other Fun Stuff!

     This week has been a busy one for us around here!  To begin with, we are finally starting to get over the recent sickness that has been plaguing us.  Yay! I think I should have purchased stock in a tissue company...we would have seen major profits the past two weeks!  Anyway, I finally put away the medicine back in the medicine closet...the first sign we're mostly better!

     Monday, I realized that in all the planning for the Valentine celebration at school, the boys didn't have their Valentines done yet!  So we spent Monday evening working hard on Valentines for all our friends at school.




  Here's First -Born working hard on his Valentines---Choosing just the right one for just the right person!






     Then there's Middle Biscuit...he was able to write all his Valentines by himself this year!  Getting so big! 



     Last-but definitely not least!-here's Stitch with his finished Valentines!  I can't decide if the face says "I love you" or "You'd better watch out!"

     The next day was Tuesday.  We decided to have our Honor Roll field trip and our Valentine party all on the same day.  All the students in the school have made Honor Roll for the first two quarters, so we wanted to take them on a field trip that was fun, not "educational."  We also had to find something that covered a wide age group...from 3 to 18!  This is not a very easy task!  But we finally decided on bowling, and it was a hit!  Every one had a great time--even the teachers!  Even I bowled...and I am the worst bowler ever!  Mrs. Porter got to come with us and she brought her new Valentine...

Baby A!  She was bedecked in her Valentine's finest...and look at her cute smile!  :)









   I enjoyed being able to practice taking pictures on a mostly stationary subject, and Stitch was excited to get to spend a few minutes with his new cousin! 







     I love his expression in this one!  Anyway, I hope you had a great Valentine's Day, and that you were able to give out lots of love to all your special Valentines!  :)