10

Yes, another birthday at our house. Yesterday Davis turned 10! It is hard to believe that he is getting so old, or me for that matter. We are having his party on Saturday. Here are some things that I love about Davis. (Yes, that is Christmas wrapping paper.)
1. Davis thought that every present was "So Awesome."
2. He loves to laugh and laughs very easily.
3. He is an athlete and desires to be good at everything he does.
4. He is helpful and sweet with his brothers.
5. He loves to read. I often have to threaten to take a book in order to get him to do something else. (He read 1200 pages in April alone.)
6. Davis is a slob, he stuffs everything everywhere.
7. He doesn't care that I think he is a slob, in fact, he laughs about it.
8. He is obsessive. He is currently bothered by toe hair. He cuts it constantly.
9. He loves information about states and countries. He can label all the states and capitals, Providences of Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and is currently working on the Middle East.
10. He loves to talk about Presidents.
11. He gives lousy hugs. I call them "Dead Fish Hugs." He laughs when I tell him that, then gives me a big squeeze.
12. He doesn't like to show his softer side, but is very tender hearted.
13. He loves to cook with me. He makes great pancakes, scrambled eggs, and brownies.
14. He is a super fast runner.
15. He will always be my baby.

This is the first birthday that didn't make Noah cry. Davis let Noah help open his gifts and Noah was just content.

A Memorial

To the poor lonely ant that has been left to bury those that came to visit the Fawcett House of Death, do not worry, tears will be shed for you and your dead colony.

ANTS:

Why couldn't you have waited until we had finished our science unit on you? Didn't you know we were planning on setting you free in just a few weeks? Must you make the little boy, who so carefully cared for you, cry at the loss of yet another pet? Come on ANTS, help a poor mom out!

Dropped

Davis likes to play with Noah. He decided to give Noah a space ship ride. Davis will put his forearms under Noah's arm pits. Noah just hangs and sticks his feet out in front of him. Sounds like fun until Davis wears socks, and runs on tile... then throws Noah to his face. Noah landed face down on the tile. Instant black bump on his forehead. Scratch by his eye. Fat lip. Swollen nose. It was an accident and the broken-hearted Davis instantly sent himself to bed.
The bump has flattened and the scrapes are lightening, BUT what is left looks terrible. His eyes keep getting blacker.

Party Time

Jag wanted a Spongebob Birthday. We invited a few of his little friends over for party games. We played Krabby Pattie Relay (involved hamburger buns and spatulas), jelly fish sting (hot potato with a twist), and a wet sponge toss. I had Davis be in charge of the Pin-the-hat on Spongebob game. Christian did Fish, fish, shark (duck-duck-goose) for the kids. It was funny. Some of the kids were interested in doing other things in the middle of a game. Some of the girls would just decide that they didn't want to play a game or two. He was a bit bothered when people wouldn't play, but in his loving growl he told them to play NOW :) Jag thought his party was great.

After looking around at Spongebob cakes, we decided to make a Krabby Pattie cake instead (Hamburger). I thought it turned out good, but most importantly Jag loved it .

As Jag would open presents, he would slowly start walking away from his friends. He wanted to hide the gift. He started by sitting on the chair, moved to the table, walked around the couch...all with his little buddies just trying to catch a peek at the gift. He was opening on the move. Annoying!
He has had some major post-birthday depression, but I am helping him get over it. And as Christian so lovingly reminded him, "In 365 days, you can do it again."

Again

My Birthday?
My present? Thanks Jag. (Actually it was his present to Jag.)
No, Jag!

5

Jag is finally 5! He has waited impatiently since Christian's birthday in April. He was up by 5:30 a.m. hoping that balloons were hanging downstairs. Here are a few things that I love about Jaggy:

1)I knew when I named him I was probably naming my trouble maker.
2)He is a hugger and loves to snuggle with his mom. That makes me happy.
3)He enjoys playing with my hair and always notices when I paint my nails.
4)He loves to look for bugs. He has had a pet fly named Fly. Fly happens to follow us everywhere we go. I kill him at home, he shows up again at the store.
5)He wants to be cool. Often questioning his attire as to whether the kids at church will laugh at him. I told him that it doesn't matter, but he cares.
6)He screams out of frustration- often. Grr...
7)He doesn't like to run errands or Sundays.
8)He is funny. Most things out of his mouth cause my jaw to drop, and then I must conceal my smile while disciplining him.
9)He thinks that he is hysterical. Farts and boogers are a scream!
10)He is becoming a good reader, but hates to read. He thinks that it is OK not to read, Christian will read to him forever.
11)He loves to help, if I race him.
12)Complains that I "sign him up for too many jobs."
13)He loves to play with Noah and his "boys."
14)He hates to be alone. He doesn't like to even go upstairs without a buddy.
15)He is Fantastic! and Five!!

Chili

I have a lot of canned chili in my food storage. I thought it was a great item to store- beans, protein, 50 cents a can... Darin suggested that we eat as much of it as possible before we move (we may be "floating" to TX). How many ways can I serve chili? The boys enjoy chili mac, but I have one month to use as much as possible... HELP!

I really need creative ways to gas up my family. :)

It's Hot!

Bathing Beauties. I can only take them if all non swimmers wear "muscles."

Davis put "water muscles" on (he thought that he was funny) and couldn't get them off. I refused to help until after I got it on film :)

We've been at or above 100 for 2 weeks now. It is too hot to play outside...except in the pool. This is our new routine.

The Crusader

Davis is now the ultimate Ant Crusader. He steps over every ant he sees. On our walk last night, Jag got the lecture of a lifetime. Jag carelessly stepped on an ant...actually smashed it on purpose. Davis began the lecture:

"How can you enjoy watching the ants in our colony, and then just carelessly kill ants from another colony?" "I don't know if I can understand you Jag." "Watch out for all ants."

It took us forever to get home from our walk.

Off to the Races

We took the boys to the local race track for a loud and car filled evening. I knew that we were in for a unique experience when the first 8 rows of bleachers were void of people, but filled with mud. Even on row 10 we got a splattering of mud.
The crowds at a race track are as unique as the county fair. Lots of mullets, big chests, tiny clothes, and sequins. I think that half the fans were missing teeth, and most were drunk, but it was great family fun.
Noah ate his ear plugs and kept trying to pick the mud off the man in front of him. Jag managed to pick the winning cars while I picked the losers. Christian fell asleep (too tired from the camp-out), and Davis grinned the whole time.
Our favorite race was won by a 70 year old man, it wasn't a retirement heat, he beat the young guys.
I think that we will have to go to the races once more before we move, I will be busy sewing sequins on my daisy dukes until then.

A Holiday

I have created a new holiday. It is called Fathers and Sons Outing. I have 4 fantastic boys who love to camp! Friday and Saturday camping. Only dad's and son's. I actually cheered in Relief Society when they announced it and gave a big "Got 4 sons" cheer. Actually only 3 of the boys went camping. Darin gave a big NO to boy 4 going with.

It turned out that I was lonely. I was so happy that Noah stayed home with me. We ate pancakes for dinner and went on a long walk, played at the park and watched funny shows on TV. He is a funny kid to talk to and is full of lots of things to say. I was glad to have the conversation.

We both missed the boys. They had a great time and came home filthy! Next year #4 is going too, what will I do with myself then?

Visualize

Jag sitting naked, putting water muscles on his ankles, getting ready for the tub. No photos to follow. Just visualize.

Baseball's Biggest Fan

Now that I spend every moment of my life on the baseball bleachers, I am declaring myself "Baseball's Biggest Fan."
I have grumbled about going to the ball park every day, transporting dinner in cute little serving containers every night, and everything I could be doing instead. BUT the reality is that there isn't anything that I need to be doing. I love sitting at the ball field, hard bleachers and all. I am getting good at providing a variety of yummy, transportable meals that the boys will eat. And I LOVE watching the boys play ball. I am a wreck with nervousness each game. I really just want them to do well.
At last nights double-header (baseball lingo for games from 430-930 p.m.), I thought that Davis's coach was trying to send me into a nervous frenzy when he pulled Davis from 2nd base to pitch! About a week ago they showed him how to pitch and he has practiced nonstop (at home), but this is his first year playing and I figured that the planets would have to align before he would ever be called upon. Well the planets aligned. I yelled, "Are you crazy?!" Davis beamed and gave me his famous arms above head cheer. Batter Up.
He walked the first batter, 2 batters hit, and 3 batters struck out. It was a great night at the ball field.
The boys aren't the best players on their teams, but they try hard and I think that they are the best! I look forward to a lifetime filled with bleachers, ball, and transportable meals.

Pets?!

My dear mother thinks that my boys need pets. We have had pets!

There were our fabulous, quiet, sweet... Sea Monkey's. They did meet an unfortunate and untimely death. The cries and journal entries that went out that day.

We had a few pet lizards. Unfortunately Sand Devil was re-caught and then croaked the next day. Davis swore that he would never catch a living creature again. They should be free to roam and die in the wild, not captivity. Wow, the cries and journal entries that went out last weekend.

We had a pet wolf spider in Turkey. It lived in a hole in our front yard and the boys loved looking at it. That is until some villainous person came and smashed him and his lovely hole.

Davis lives in denial when his pets die. With the sea monkeys, he quickly filled the tank with fresh water and some food and then pretended that the little bits of floating debris were his pets. Davis told me that Sand Devil was just sleeping and then stuffed it in "his favorite crack in the wall." I am the one who usually has to bring Davis to face reality, at which time he crumbles into a pile of tears. He is soft-hearted and would rather pretend that the pet is alive than face the sadness of death.

Dear Grandma Thull sent Davis an Ant Farm for his birthday. He loves it! It now lives in my laundry room. I hope that Davis and his pets can survive this time.

Strike One, You're Out!

Jag decided to play baseball with Noah. Noah's head became the ball. You can see the red welt from his cheek to behind his ear. 4 hours later, the welt is still there! Needless to say, Jag was very, very OUT! Thankfully he was using a plastic bat.

Christian's Weekend

We have been busy with visitors this weekend. Christian was baptized on Saturday, and we were lucky to have lots of grandparents come. We had a great time playing with them and sharing our Arizona sun. We played at the park, went to the Desert Museum, went swimming, BBQ'd, had a fire and played some more. We don't get enough visitors down here, and we were glad that they were all able to come. It is always nice to have family around us. The time passed too quickly. We are alone now and the boys are always bored. They need constant grandparent/cousin (and Drew) interaction to keep them happy now. I hope they all plan on coming to Texas, so that the boys can stop being bored.

We ate lots of food and enjoyed our evening fire complete with 'smores.


We went to the Sonoran Desert Museum and enjoyed all that the desert had to offer, including heat.