Blue And Gold

The boys made their own cakes for the Blue and Gold banquet.  I thought they turned out cute.  We have been caked out this week and have thrown lots of it away.  

Another Year Older

I found all of these notes on the floor when I woke up on my birthday.  I love getting notes.  The boys got creative with their Legos.   I am not sure that I am wiser but I am getting older with more grey hair than ever before.  

It is finished

Last night was the last wrestling meet and these boys were ready to be done.  Josiah was excited when the season started but soon found out he was the oldest boy by a couple of years and didn't have any competition during practice.  It was frustrating to him so it didn't make for a good season for him.   He did win some matches though.  It made it more difficult when it seemed the coaches petered out too.  I think this team may fizzles out.  Jarom likes to wrestle and did pretty good this year for such a skinny kid.   Elijah just thought it was cool to do the same thing as his brothers.   Now we only have a few more activities that have to do with wrestling then we are officially done.  

His first match of the night.  Nathan was on the sideline telling him to get up.  Elijah says "I can't he has both of my hands."  Then at one point he says to the boy "get off of me."  If only it were that easy.

Our beautiful score keepers.

President's Day weekend

We took off for Oregon this weekend.  Nathan's parents have received lots of snow but once we said we were coming it started to melt.  However, as you can see there was plenty to spare.  The kids had a blast playing in the snow with their cousins.  My kids have made lots of great memories visiting both sets of grandparents throughout the years.  

They were flagging their grandpa down.  He would drive them back up the hill so they could sled down it. 

Elijah riding in the truck.  You don't find this happening in these parts.

The kids were tired of sledding down the hill and went on to other places.  See those two arrows? This is where they ended up at.  Elijah went along so I thought I better trudge through the snow to make sure he was okay.  The snow was still above the top of my boot which made it very annoying and hard to walk in.  About a quarter of the way over I was wishing I had snow shoes.   Lydia who is 4 yrs old passed me up and walked nicely on top of the snow with no problem.   Every step I took I was thinking this time I won't sink in but it never happened.  

My tracks in the snow

When I finally made over I told everyone I was highly disappointed that they didn't make a trail for me so I didn't have to make my own.  They didn't seem to care.  Ha!

Heading back the way we came. 

Thomas and Lydia being pulled by their mom.

Sadie and Gracie realized how hard it was to walk through the snow on the way back.  They are dead in their tracks but then revived enough to make it back all of the way.

Here they are again once they got to the house.  

I was saved on the way back because Ori brought me some snow shoes when she came out to where the kids were.  She must have heard me muttering about wanting some.  

Resting up and drying off in the house for a bit.

Then we went to my dad's where it was warm, sometimes sunny, mostly cloudy and some rain.  Chris snapped this picture of us as we were leaving for home Monday morning.  Our kids were begging to stay. 

The best part about this picture is that Josiah is actually smiling.  Thanks Chris!  They love the trampoline.  

Don't they look adorable?  They look like some old lady football players.

Most Creative

Jarom's teacher had her students make their valentine's container at home.  Jarom made the one eyed purple flying valentine eater.  You can't see it but there is the monsters uvula visible when there isn't candy in there.  He received the most creative award.   I am still in awe at how much candy these kids collect on Valentine's Day.   

A bike ride

The kids didn't have school Monday because it was a grading day for teachers.  Sadie and I decided we needed to go on a bike ride.  While she was at basketball practice earlier that morning I went for a walk with my friend at a park.  The boys came along with their bikes and rode a bit while I walked and talked.  It was quite chilly out with the wind blowing.  The boys were done with the cold once I was done walking.  So when Sadie and I mentioned going for a bike ride a couple of hours later they weren't thrilled but we did convince them after much persuasion.  They all bundled up and we were off after locating some misc items.  It seems when we decide to do something like this at last minute it always takes forever to get out the door.  Our goal was to get to a park on the east side of town.  

You can't see Elijah in above picture but he is on a tag-a-long bike that hooks up to mine.

Do not let Jarom's sour face deceive you.  He was loving this ride and wanted us to continue after making it across this bridge.  Once we got this far I was thinking I had to be crazy.  Our place of residence is not biker friendly in the least bit and I was with all of my kids on this bridge going against traffic because I didn't dare cross that busy road.   I was hesitant to continue on to the park because I didn't want to pack them and their bikes home.  We took a short cut to the park down the stairs just after crossing the bridge.  It worked out great till we had to head back home after playing at the park.  Oh the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.  I was doing the later.  It was tough to keep the their positive upbeat behavior going.  It was also tough getting up the incline from the park.  It was all good again once we got our bikes back up the stairs.  

As we were heading back on the bridge Sadie stopped and said a guy was taking our picture on the other side.  I told everyone to stop and maybe he would get bored and go away but he didn't.  We took off and Sadie and Jarom got to him first and they pretty much blew him off.  They also told him they didn't want their picture taken.  Josiah went a little ahead of me so I stopped and talked to the man which was a mistake.  He was from our local newspaper and was there to take some good pictures to show how narrow the walking/bike/wheelchair path is on the bridge.   I would agree it is narrow.  He was disappointed when I told him this was the first time ever riding bikes across this bridge.  I have my opinions about their proposed changes.  This quick conversation won me a section in the newspaper.  Now I can say I am famous.  GRRR!  See below.  The actual link is HERE

My kids will never let it down that I let this man talk to me.  

.

3

Here is two photos of the photo that they guys used in the local paper. 

Webelos done

Josiah received his webelos badge last Wednesday.  He needs to finish up his arrow of light then off to 11 year old scouts.