Hayden Hasn't Got the Memo

Today is the first day of the new year we have been able to ride bikes and play in the front yard. We even brought the dogs out and within seconds they were shivering like pebbles on a train track. Apparently this 45 degrees is not ideal but we will take the fresh air.

However, I do not think that Hayden got the MEMO that sledding season is over!!!

Bryden's Quote of the Week

As we are running around trying to get ready for basketball practice Bryden is upset about something and whining and crying.
I said "Bryden, why are you acting like this? You are almost 6 years old."
Bryden "I don't want to be 5 or 6 years old!"
I said " Do you want to be a baby like Hayden?"
Bryden "No. But 4 would be nice."

I am thinking I want to be 21 again.

Our Little Players

These days on a Saturday morning you can find us running through the house looking for uniforms and gym shoes while checking our schedule to make sure we are headed to the right school. Last Saturday was very busy with two kids playing basketball ,we had four games in one day. Makena herself had three. It was a pretty busy day but I can't think of anything I would rather be doing on a Saturday morning.

Bryden is playing basketball for the first time this year. He has only had two practices and one game. So far he spends a lot of time on the court chewing on his fingernails and playing a little bit of defense. We are hoping to get a shot off this week. However, he cannot be happier because the other guys on his team "get a lot of GOALS". I think he is still a little bit in soccer mode.



Makena is in her second year of playing basketball. At this time she is playing in two different programs. One through the church and one through the YMCA. She is doing awesome this year and we like to say she has never met a shot she didn't like. We will be working on passing up the court as the season continues!!!

HAPPY SATURDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Despite the long cold week the kids are still managing to bounce off of the walls as I am writing this. I attribute this to the excitement and of course, the surgar associated with todays holiday, Valentines Day. Hayden and I accompanied both of the big kids at their school parties. Hayden of course had a ball and was allowed to consume a very unhealthy amount of sugar. Purhaps this would explain the wall bouncing!!!
All in all, it was a fun day and we will be doing two basketball practices tonight so daddy and I will celebrate this weekend. I am thinking that may be a drive through night. Does Mc Donalds do heart shaped cheeseburgers??

Gone Are the Days

The Future Frat Crew!!!!

It really was not that long ago that we were all going through the daily grind of the college routine. Racing to early morinig classes, cramming for finals, and of course the social atmosphere. The days of intoxicating frat parties, weekend camping trips and gushing girls nights out have gone by the way side only to replaced with poopy diapers, winter colds and temper tantrums. I do not think that any of us would go back in time when we all see the precious cargo we carry around these days. However, it is always fun to get together and reminisce about old memories as well as making new ones. This weekend we did just that. Using the excuse of the Superbowl game we got together with some old friends from college. The common straw was all Pi Kappa Alpha alumni. a.k.a. Frat Boys. It was a great day full of super dollar bets, catching up and of course lots of kids, crazy kids.

Gone are the days of Frat parties but I think I am OK with this. It sure makes for feeling better the next morning!!!

A Parade of Ridiculousness

As you go to bed at night it is always the same routine. Put the kids to bed, straighten up the house and as for last night, in light of the freakish amount of snow we got this weekend, daddy and I turned on the 11 o' clock news to check for school closures. We hear the usual. Outer lying schools will be get the day off but Spokane city schools have not had a snow day in 6 years. Why start now. My suspicions were confirmed and off to bed we go to get ready to tackle the next day. I have now discovered that you CANNOT always be prepared.

Act 1: Blaine checks the school closure lists before we wake all of the kids. No luck!! We get everyone out of bed, dressed and ready for school and then THERE IT IS!!! Under Matt Lauers little smile on the bottom of the T.V. screen. NO SCHOOL. Our district has decide to be the very last of the day to cancel school. Boy my kids (and myself) could have used the extra sleep!!!

Act 2: Daddy's truck has not been handling the snowy roads very well so he decides to run it to the Toyota garage. Just for a look. Come to find out the right axle is broken and basically we are lucky we have not been in a wreck. (Do not buy a Toyota Tundra. In only 20 thousand miles this has now happened twice.) Oh, and our dealer does not provide courtesy cars. After some very strong persuasion by my husband they agree to give us a car. They gave my 6 foot 5 inch husband a Toyota Scion to drive around in the snow. Did I mention the snow berms are taller than the car? Can you say "Big guy in a little car." Chris Farley has nothing on my hubby.

Act 3: It has been a crazy day so I decide to give up my ticket to the Gonzaga basketball game to stay home and take Makena to her first basketball practice with her new team. Daddy leaves and Makena friend is about to be picked up for her piano lessons. The road is so icy her moms car cannot make it up our road so I throw everyone in the car to run to the end of the street. As we wait Hayden continues to remind me that he has a poopy diaper and within seconds I hear funny noises coming from the back end of the car. Hayden has stuck his hands in his diaper and is holding a double fist full of, you guessed it, last nights dinner. It smells so bad he proceeds to start gagging and then puking all over the back of the car in disgust of his own gift. And did I mention the basketball practice I stayed home for got canceled too!!

Act 4: After cleaning the mess I call my sister to share my day. A few seconds into the conversation I her "@#%$ and %&#$. I just wrecked my car. Let me call you back." She spun into a ditch but was O.K.

It now is 7:22 and I think I will just go get into bed and start over again tomorrow. Does anyone know if we are expecting any school delays tomorrow???

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Today is Daddy's Birthday. So we have decided to compile a list about all of the things we love about Daddy. (Thanks for the idea Sara!!)

1. Daddy always turns my seat warmer on in the car for me, before I even get in. I love this about him. My buns are always warm and did I mention there is a high of 2 degrees today!

2. Da da pretty (Hayden)

3. Foot rubs before bed. He gives the best foot rubs. He can even do it in his sleep! (That's foot rubs.)

4. Daddy always likes to take us golfing and to the movies. (Makena)

5. He always keeps me in a realistic world. With out him I would be over involved, I would be overlapping commitments, buying things we already have, paying too much for the things that I do buy and probably spending too much money all together. Every big purchase we have ever made has been well thought out and impulse buying is kept to a minimum.

6. Daddy always wears cool belts like me. (Bryden)

7. I like to joke that he can never sit still but the truth is I love it. If there is any time in the day that we could be out doing SOMETHING, then we are out the door. Movies, golfing, boating, even going to Costco for some toilet paper and lunch.

8. He is a hard worker. He has always been a hard worker in both school, work and household chores. He has always gotten the job done and will hang and rehang pictures around the house for me. Someday I will find the perfect spot for those mirrors!!

9. He always seems to have a witty comment for everything. I can be completely upset with him and he can still make me laugh!!! A good friend of ours likes to call these comments "Blaineisms".

10. First and four most.... he loves and put us first in his life. Our kids adore him and I love that!