The Shark Car Debuts at the Pinewood Derby

Our Cub Scout pack's annual derby this year was the Pinewood Derby.  The car kits were handed out two months prior and this year we actually got the darn thing done early.  Chad and Merritt went over to Chad's brother's house to play with his wood working tools and when they were done, Merritt had a "shark" car.  He picked out the colors he wanted and painted it very carefully, only asking me to help with a little of the finish work and decorating.  He was extremely happy with the result.

The only thing that didn't get done before the derby was the wheel installation, but I wasn't too worried until Chad called to say he had to work late.  When I realized it was up to me to put the wheels on I figured we might as well just use the car for firewood since I was bound to screw it up.  Sure enough, two of the wheels gave me fits and I ended up using some wood glue to stick the wood chunk that flew off back on.  Thankfully, the husband of one of the Wolf leaders was adding weights to all the cars so that they were equal and doing a little spruce up job on the ones that needed it so he tweaked the wheels.  Merritt's car won three of its heats, which was so fun, and came in 10th overall.  He got a little plastic trophy, which he was really excited about, and a homemade sucker shaped like a car.  It was a fun night.

Grace's Spring Recital

Grace had her spring recital and her class danced ballet to "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music and did tap to "Yankee Doodle Dandy."  The dances were cute and she did a really good job, but I have to say that the most entertaining dance of the evening was done by the Mini Combo (3-4 year olds).  There are three boys in the group and one of them just stood there, rocking back and forth and looking around, while the rest of the kids danced and swung imaginary bats to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!"  Then he decided he better start doing something so he began picking his nose with all his might!  The whole crowd was laughing hysterically and when the song ended the kids got the loudest cheer of the night. It was classic!! 

Easter 2012

We began our Easter fun this year by coloring eggs.  We only do 6, which I guess is weird, but I can use up 6 hard boiled eggs a lot easier than 12.  We bought a dye kit that contained a clear wax crayon so that we could make secret designs which would be revealed after the eggs were dyed.  You know what?  It is REALLY hard to write with an invisible crayon, especially on the rounded surface of an egg.  Oh well, the kids thought it was fun.

The rest of the eggs were plastic.  We filled them with candy and Easter messages, then Chad, Heather, Jeannnine and I hid them around the yard.  When we were half-way through hiding the eggs I turned and saw three little excited faces pressed up against the boy's bedroom window.  Sneaky little darlings!  We gave Grant a head start, as he has the shortest legs, and then let them go nuts.  I really need to count the eggs before we take them out cuz I found two the next day.

When we came back inside, the kids had to open all the plastic eggs and find the folded pieces of paper.  Grant was as excited to find paper in his eggs as he was to find candy!  "Yeah!!  Paper!!" he'd say.

Once we found all the paper we put the phrases in order to reveal the Easter message: "He is risen!  He is risen!  Tell it out with joyful voice.  He has burst his three days' prison; let the whole wide earth rejoice.  Death is conquered; man is free.  Christ has won the victory."  I am so grateful for that knowledge!

Happiness is...

family
fun
big smiles
lots of laughs
and
four kids banging on a piano.

Joseph

I love this little rascal so much!  He has the brightest blue twinkling eyes and he makes me smile every day.

Love Day

I used to think that Valentine's Day was for couples, but I've come to see, for me at least, that Valentine's Day is for family.  I don't want to make reservations at an over-priced restaurant and leave my little ones in a baby sitter's care when we can stay together, have lots of fun, and I can smother them all in hugs and kisses and Valentine's Day schmaltz. 

 It's a wonderful excuse to have pink drinks and flowers and candles.  The boys think its neat to have these things on Valentine's Day, instead of unbearably girly (which it would be any other day of the year).

 And who doesn't want a pink frosted heart-shaped sugar cookie?  (Let's not talk about how I ate almost all the chocolate covered strawberries.)

It's another day to show them I love them, just with pink extras thrown in for fun. (Aren't they the cutest little stair-steps ever?)

A First Birthday

Joseph turned the big 0-1...same day I turned the big 3-7 but we made it all about him, I mean...you only turn one once!  There were presents...

and a birthday cupcake!

We opened presents...all together now!

Then it was time to eat!  Joseph was pretty suspicious of this strange new food...

but he quickly caught on that chocolate is AWESOME!

Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!

But then came the crash.  Birthdays are, after all, exhausting.

When he started sucking his thumb and twirling his hair we knew the end had come.  His big day ended with a bath and a nap.  Happy Birthday Joseph!!