Preference

Last week I opened the door to this.

I knew it was a dance invite for one of the boys. But the question was, which one?

I did what any good mom would do. I made them open it together. 

It was for Cory. 

Bag #1 was some candy and a bunch of different letters that once unscrambled spelled out

What do you prefer?

Inside bags 2-5 were two different yet similar things for him to decide which one he preferred.

#2- Funyuns or Doritos?

#3- (two matchbox cars) pizza van or hot rod? 

#4- m&m's or skittles?

In the last sack, #5, was more candy and more letters that spelled out the girls name and a note that said "I would prefer to go to Preference with you."

More Prom

Here are the professional (because my photos are certainly not) photos of #2 and #3 and their Prom dates.

Prom 2016

Remember THIS? 

Well the big day arrived April 30th. 

Get ready for photo overload

 First Prom and Last Prom

(cue crying now)

 #2 and her date

#3 and his date (on the far left)

It's hard to believe most of these boys have been friends since Kindergarten!

Preference 2016

Wordless Wednesday

Ramblings

Last Friday I realized that I hadn't posted one single post all week.

So let me give you a little update:

p.s.- this picture has nothing to do with anything.  I just think it's cute and my husband is HAWT!

1. We've been sick - Mentally and Physically Sick

Some have had Bronchitis and others have had made-up stomach aches.

The Bronchitis I can handle, the anxious pretend stomach aches I can't.  It is physically and emotionally draining to cure the "I don't want to go to school because___________, so I'll pretend I have a stomach ache or I'll worry so much I give myself a stomach ache. Once school is underway, this child is miraculously cured!

Hallelujah! It's a miracle.

Except it's not. What it is is exhausting. We've talked with school counselors and teachers.  We even visited the doctor- you know, "just to make sure". Finally I just had to put on my mean mom jeans and tell this child that if he/she wasn't throwing up and/or if there was no fever, he/she was going to school! With a grand finale of "AND you better not call me "sick" from school because I will not come pick you up."

There may have been some finger wagging and head bobbing when we had this little discussion.

After a tons of crocodile tears and a lot (I mean a LOT) of whining, finally everyone is back in school.

Hallelujah!  Now that's a miracle.

2. Speaking of exhausting, The hubs and I have been planning out our landscaping.

When we bought our house three years ago, it didn't have a yard.  Our realtor told us it would cost us around $5000 to landscape it. HA! What he meant to say was that it would cost us around $5000 times 6. 

Since we can't afford that, we have decided to do a little at a time. Last year we spent way too much on dirt. Doesn't that sound like an oxymoron? You buy dirt to add to the dirt you're trying to cover up with grass. Yeah weird, but if we didn't, our grass would be half a foot below the sidewalks, and that could cause a lot of sprained ankles.

This year, we are installing (by ourselves) the sprinkler system. Before you do this, however, you need to map out where everything is going to go - flower beds, rock-walls, patios, basketball court (yes that will come eventually), and the garden spot.  This was hard- way too many decisions. BUT I think we came up with a plan that will eventually give us an awesome yard.

3. #3's first dance, Preference, was on Saturday. I posted a photo on Instagram and I'll post more photos here on Wednesday. I had to laugh when #3's friend took the words right out of my mouth by commented: "They grow up so fast!" Boy do they!

4. We've lost another library book. 

UGGH!

If you happen to see the book Ellie and the Good Luck Pig will you send it this way please.

Thanks!

2 Exciting Things

#3 has two exciting things going on :

1. He was asked to his first dance- Preference.

The night this invitation was delivered, all my kids were surprisingly home (something that never happens).  So after tucking in the little girls, we locked up the house, turned off all the lights (inside and out) and settled down in to our warm comfy beds. Just as we're drifting off to La-La Land (around 9:00), there was a knock at the door. I sent Clint to investigate.  He came back with this.

How cute is it? "Beary" Happy.

The asker's name was somehow magically written in the huge giant homemade gummy bear.

So sweet!

He answered her back with the classic "DING-DONG " answer, just changed the wording around a bit.

2.  We have ourselves a new hard-working man, bringing home the bacon.

(What is it about my kids choosing jobs that require them to wear a vest?)

This picture was taken on his first day. I said to him in my sweetest mom voice, "Let's take your picture so we can remember your first day of work."

His answer, "I'll think about it."  Which, in case you don't know, in teenage boy language means, "No thanks!"

So while he was distracted, I snagged a picture of him!  

HA!  Take that!

Sweethearts 2016

It is with a heavy heart that I write this little blog post.

Last Saturday was #2's last ever Sweethearts dance (unless she becomes a high school teacher and gets drawn for chaperone duty, of course.)

Here she is with her cute date.  Can you read her facial expression?

Let's look closer -

In case you don't speak teenager, let me translate:  her expression is saying "Hurry Up and take the dang picture mom so we can go!"

(Please ignore the blurriness.  I was feeling the pressure and forgot to focus the camera lens.)

It was bad enough that her little sister (#5) video recorded the whole thing. From the pick up, to the awkward boutonniere pinning (In our family we call it a booty-near because we can never spell boutonniere right. It's easier that way!), to the picture taking by yours truly, to the descent out the door and into the car.

Yay-ya!- having little siblings- ROCKS!

Remember what her brother did her first Sweethearts?  You can refresh you memory HERE.

Since I had taken a picture with her for her first Sweethearts Dance. . . .

(no idea what is on my shirt)

 I wanted a picture with her for her last.

Then Clint got jealous and wanted a picture too

 so I took a picture with him.

(I kid, I kid!)

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, 

WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO AND GROW UP?!

12 Days of Christmas Randomness

1. Two Sundays ago we all accidentally dressed in Christmas colors.

Definitely picture worthy!

2. Last Sunday, we kept with the long-standing tradition, and had the grandchildren decorate Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree.

3. We've sat on Santa's lap, as well as written him our last minute Christmas lists.

4.  We attended a Christmas party at Gram's assisted living center. The kids made trees while Clint sampled all the candy.

5.  Last week it snowed.  It was absolutely beautiful.

6.  The next day it snowed even more.

Then yesterday it rained, and melted everything away which I'm not happy about - I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!  Fingers crossed it snows today.

7.  Yesterday #3 spent the day snowboarding in the mountains where it was snowing  - Lucky!

8. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be here.

9. All the gifts are wrapped, and I can't wait for Christmas morning.

10. #5 had a dance recital this past weekend.  She did great, and is a natural-born performer.

11.  Due to some scheduling conflicts and a surgery, we were not able to have our traditional Cookie Day this year, so yesterday, the girls and I (since the boys were out playing), whipped up a few things, and everyone was happy, happy, happy.

 12.  And last but not least, Christmas came early for these two little girls.

My best friend, Denise (mother of 4 boys), gifted them her old Barbie Dream house (circa 1980), with furniture and Barbie dolls too.  

Remember Aja, the blue-haired Jem doll?

If you need me, I'll be upstairs playing Barbies!

Sadie Hawkins 2015

Wordless Wednesday (double click on any photo to make it bigger)

I'm Alive!

It's true!  I'm alive.  I wish I could say the reason I haven't blogged all week is because I've been glued to my couch, unable to do anything except to relax, read, and eat Bon-Bons. The truth is I've been running around like a turkey with it's head cut off (pun intended). 

So just in case you missed me and have been suffering withdraws from lack of super interesting informative post this past week, let me recap.

I. Last week was Sadie Hawkins.  

Just look at this adorable group of guys and girls!

They came to our house for a "Make-Your-Own-Pizza" date before the dance.

(more on this later)

II. Last week we also moved Gram again.  

She moved from HERE to a brand-spankin' new place 2 blocks down the street.  It's super nice.  The staff is incredible, and she's getting more bang for her buck!

It was very fortunate for us that the night we moved her stuff in was PIE NIGHT at the assisted living center.

 

When #3 was little, he used to always write, say, type, sing, sign: "I like pie."  

Needless to say, he likes pie, and was very happy to be rewarded for his service with pie.

III.  Last but not least, basketball has begun.

#4 is playing on an accelerated league, and the season is in full swing!

I've also been busy helping with Thanksgiving activities at the elementary school, trying not to go crazy figuring out this years Christmas gifts, and cleaning -always cleaning.

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!  I'll post more about ours next week.  I'm so grateful for all my blessings, and the God who gives them all.