My little reader

I love the fact that Ethan loves to read. Sometimes, when everyone else is playing outside, he'll be sitting on the couch reading....for hours at a time. He read so much this last year that he was one of the 10 ten readers for his entire school. He earned a trophy and a 50 dollar savings bond! What a proud mommy moment!

Not only does he like to read, but he's a great speller. He made it into the final spelling bee. I forgot my camera so I don't have pictures but he did well. I am NOT a good speller so I was never invited to participate in the big spelling bee. It's a sore subject. Just kidding. I'm just happy to have spell check :-)

I'm proud of all the work that Ethan did in the 3rd grade. I think he's ready and excited about 4th grade next year. He can't wait!

Yep, I'm allergic

We finally did it! After living here for almost a year, I finally got Abby in to see an allergy specialist. This is Abby right after they started the skin prick test. She was pretty itchy but did very well!

Abby was able to watch a movie while we waited.

Yep, I think it's safe to say that Abby is allergic to trees, weeds, grasses, dogs, cats and some foods. Gotta love it right? I'm blaming Ryan...it's all his fault...

Team! Team!

I think we have on our hands one very sports minded kid. Which puts Ryan in a very happy place. Josh is playing soccer this year so he has all the gear: a soccer shirt, cleats, shin guards and the works. I try to put up Josh's uniform so we know where to find it come game day but EVERY DAY Kaden will grab a chair and pull them all down (long socks included) put them all on and declare that he's going to be on the team and win the game. Only problem is that he trips over the shirt and the shoes keep sliding off which makes one frustrated boy! And add one frustrated momma when it's game day and I can't find the cleats and shin guards. Sure is cute though. I guess we need to figure out at what age do they start soccer for the little ones.


Yep, same thing for the football shirt. Any sport shirt will do. As long as it belongs to the older boys and comes down to his ankles he's in heaven.

The Pinewood Derby

Our pinewood derby was a while back but I figure I should post these pictures anyway. This was Ethan's first year at the pinewood derby. He was so excited. Unfortunately our cars this year didn't do to well. Although we didn't come in dead last, we were at the back of the pack. Poor Josh. He was so used to doing well (having taken 3rd place his first year and 1st place last year.) I think Josh learned that it's much funner when you're winning rather than when you're losing. Ethan had a grand time despite the outcome of the race.

This is the best shot I got of Josh. He wasn't too happy, but at least he has a somewhat pleasant look on his face.

The boys waiting for their race to start.

Ethan looks more excited about that popcorn ball than his car!

Just a word of advice

Just a word of advice.

When getting warm by the fireplace, don't stand too close! Not only do your buns get unreasonably toasty warm, but your jacket will melt causing a large hole to form in your newly purchased jacket. And then your mother will have to spend the next hour scrapping, with a knife, the remains of the melted jacket off of the glass. It isn't pretty. So don't do it.

Hope that bit of advice helps anyone out there today. Have a great day!

Spring Break

Our spring break was this week. This is what we woke up to on the first day of our vacation. Fun huh? It snowed pretty much all day. My mood was sour. The kids fought non-stop. I threatened to throw them all in the snow. Naked. Well, not really but I really wanted to.

On a side note: Kaden is talking more. He now says "kill." Gee, what a proud parent I am.

So there you have it. I hope you all have a wonderful winter...er...I mean spring day!

What Idaho people are really like

I guess I must be turning into a true Idahoan because I had a really good laugh with this one!

65 ABOVE ZERO:
Floridians turn on the heat.
People in Idaho plant gardens.

60 ABOVE ZERO:
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Idaho sunbathe.

50 ABOVE ZERO:
Italian & English cars won't start.
People in Idaho drive with the windows down.

40 ABOVE ZERO:
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves and wool hats.
People in Idaho throw on a flannel shirt.

35 ABOVE ZERO:
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Idaho have the last cookout before it gets cold.

20 ABOVE ZERO:
People in Miami all die.
Idahoans close the windows.

ZERO:
Californians fly away to Mexico.
People in Idaho get out their winter coats.

10 BELOW ZERO:
Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Scouts in Idaho are selling cookies door to door.

20 BELOW ZERO:
Washington DC runs out of hot air.
People in Idaho let the dogs sleep indoors.

30 BELOW ZERO:
Santa Clause abandons the North Pole
Idahoans get upset because they can't start the snow-mobile.

40 BELOW ZERO:
ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Idaho start saying, "Cold enough fer ya?"

50 BELOW ZERO:
H*** freezes over.
Idaho public schools will open 2 hours late.