Top 25 (for now)

So we decided to make our list of things to do this summer at dinner the other night,
and the first thing out of the boy's mouths when asked
"What do you guys want to do this summer?" was...kid you not..."MOVE!"
Ok....
after explaining that is probably not going to happen this summer....
we came up with our short list:

What we want to do this summer (besides move):
By-Jared, Colten, and Jack

1. Go to the pool
2. Go camping
3. Have a bonfire in the backyard
4. Make smores
5. Watch the fireworks
6. Go to the pool
7. Get a slip-n-slide
8. Go to a Memphis Redbirds game
9. Go to the BMX park in Little Rock
10. Go to Graceland (Jack is REALLY hip to see "Elvis's house", why, I don't know)
11. Go see this (ok, this one is totally the mommas, but doesn't it look cool?!)
12. Take family after dinner walks
13. Get frozen custard from Andy's
14. Go to the lake
15. Plant a garden
16. Go to soccer camp
17. Go to the movies
18. Get a new TV
19. Have a squirt gun fight
20. Tie dye t-shirts
21. Get a basketball hoop
22. Have family game night once a week
23. Catch fire-flies
24. Use the juicer
25. Get/use a weight bench (Jared)

Not as good as our list last year, but not too shabby.
Some of the same things, mixed in with some new ones.
I'll change them to red as we complete the list...or try to.
And maybe we will add to it.
As you can see,
we already managed to complete somethings last weekend.

We also plan on reading....a LOT.
I am trying to finish up this, I'm reading this outloud to the littles, and this, and Jared is working on this one. (which I may want to read when he's done, I can't decide)

What do you have planned this summer?
Give us some more ideas to get our list to 50!

ETA for Mike: Of course "see Evansen" is a given, and doesn't even need to be on a list ;)...
you can't list Ev next to "make smores"....so not the same. The boys can't wait to meet their cousin....

It's a Happy Thursday

Not that much can make me happier then the words
SUMMER VACATION.
Which officially begins, umm.....RIGHT NOW.

But there have been a few other happy little things around here making me smile...
Like for instance,
Lots of boy art coming home from school.
And this story journal by the Jack couldn't be any more precious.

Yes, I love that he wrote "encouraged", so Jack....

And then this little bundle of goodness arrived in the mail yesterday all the way from Germany. I LOVE it Essie! I can not wait to go to the store now.... I'm so excited!
I've already hooked the little one onto my keys, and
How stinking fabulous is the one that hooks into the cart?!? ooooh....I just LOVE it.
Es- the post office a la Arkansas has been located and scrap-goodies shall be sent on Saturday. (It has actually worked out well for you, I've just been adding to the pile so it's getting bigger daily...lots of scraptasticness heading your way.)

And then the mailman delivered some more hazelnut coffee for my newest love....Isn't she lovely?! It is one of those things that you don't realize how much you'll love until you try it, and then it's all over... you are head over heels.
I thought I'd like one,
Colin convinced me it wasn't practical...
and then I tried Gabs and well, practicality went out the window.
It's that great.
AND because I have the best sister and parents,
I received my own fancy coffee pot for Mother's Day.
Way too generous....but very much appreciated.
The great thing is you can make tea and hot chocolate with it too.
So Jared, who tries very hard to channel his inter-Brit, loves the tea feature
and the small ones are all about the hot chocolate.
(Colin, who still mutters about cost effectiveness, will join the dark side when he tries his new Gloria Jeans mudslide coffee that arrived today...I'm sure of it)

I've also been scrapping lately, which is part of the reason I've been neglecting the poor blog.
However taking photos of the pages has proven too much for me, so I am going to try and get the scanner hooked up, and then maybe I can post them?!
Or, maybe not...

With what I have

The last time I was forced to go to the mall here,
we passed the dimly lit store that is Hollister,
and I commented to Jared (half joking) that that was one store I'd never take him to...
(I am just not a fan)
Of course that's what the "cool" kids wear here,
so Jared looked at me with a rather pained look on his face.

Last night at Jack's game Jared and I were talking about schools,
we are thinking about having him transfer to a different school...
and the school we are thinking about sending him to is what has been described as the "preppy" school.
I said, well, I guess we'll have to go shopping then and I may be forced to go to Hollister.
(cringe)
I told him it's not that we mind getting him clothes, he just never asks for them...
to which he replied....
"I'm just really happy with what I have Mom."

And with that, my heart melted.

I wish I was always just happy with what we have.
I'm getting closer.
I am, and I'm an adult.

Such a hard age, thirteen....I remember being awkward and unsure,
and somehow I have this kid that's moved countless times,
and been to almost as many schools as grades,
and he's just like
it's fine.
I'm happy with what I have, and I'm confident with who I am.
I have no idea how he ended up that way,
but I really really love who he is.

And that's all the sappiness I have for today.
I've been a HORRIBLE blogger,
but I wanted to get that down before I forgot.

More about my love affair with my new coffee pot,
and other bits of random tomorrow.
One more day of school here before summer break.....
How awesome is THAT?!?

Tricks on Trikes

Meeting postponed.
Perhaps I'll make sense now... or knowing me, maybe not.

So we have a kettler trike.
It was great when the boys were little, because it has a handle,
so you could guide them along on family walks,
and with big brother(s) on bikes,
it helped make the little one feel like they were riding too.

Fast forward to now.
It's been in storage or in a basement, until this house,
where it's just in the garage awaiting our big garage clean up.
(house = organized - garage = big gigantic mess of crap)
I told Gabby I'd hang on to it for Ev.
Anyway...
The other day I went out to check on the boys...
who were on direct orders to stay in the driveway/yard.

Apparently, stay in our driveway translates in boy-speak to....
Let's take turns riding the trike down the hill (that would be in the street folks), while one of us hangs on to the push bar, and rides their skateboard.
Excellent.

Please keep in mind all three of them have their own BMX bikes.... sigh
So hopefully the trike is still in one piece for Evansen?!
Of course when I was trying to find a site to link "Kettler" to, I read the specs and it says there is a 400lb weight limit?!?!?
So I guess all three boys can ride on it?
Or Colin and I can try out that skateboard trick later...?!?
Interesting.
Why a trike would need to support that much weight will be the mystery of the day.

The Early Worm Gets the Worm

Just wanted to capture my littles in the morning...this is what they do during breakfast.
They love a good book.....

Figured I'd try to get a least one more happy post in before our second IEP meeting Friday.
I'm forewarning you...
In case I post something random on Friday involving nothing but incoherent words and vulgarity.
I apologize in advance.

Welcome to Weiner

Successful trip to Little Rock. Number 40 is a boy by the way. Boys sometimes have to wear ponytails when their hair is so long that they can't see the ball....
(Back of hair photo for you Gab)I love when Jared is on my side of the field so I can just snap random photos of him standing around. This is a "WTH Mom?!?" shot...He is really a fantastic soccer player.
I realized I hadn't taken any sports shots in over a year. Indoor was hard because of the lighting, and now that the boys are older, the game is so exciting, its hard for me to watch from behind the lens.
Anyway, Jared is just super talented, and super modest, but at the same time very sure of himself....
(You have to be to wear your hair like that in AR...seriously, much self confidence is needed)
And he's so handsome....He is also 5'9" now, so I have to look up to him.
I would anyway, even if he weren't taller than me.
I can't describe with words how much I love that kid.

Ok....
or these kids for that matter...
They kept themselves entertained by, you guessed it, playing soccer.
As you can tell, Jack decided his best shot at beating Coley to the ball was to use his size to his advantage, and, well..
take Coley down.I have no idea where he learned this tactic from?!?Poor Coley....
he's just too quick for his dad and little brother.

Because Jared's team made it to the finals we didn't have much time on Sunday to explore Little Rock, but we went downtown for a little while.
In the parking garage I told the boys they had to "hold a hand"....
This is Jared being funny and holding his own hand. Loved this building with all the stars.
The sun was at the worst possible point in the sky, so these photos are less than great, but I found some cool places for future photos.
This one, just because it's novel to get all three in one shot.
The car trip home was pretty quite. One was sleeping, the other two watched movies and read out of the Book of World Records. My favorite thing overheard. "Planet with the hottest surface" "Venus" "Too bad it's not Uranus, that would be a good pick up line."And...we drove through the BEST town ever.
This will be hanging in the boy's bathroom. Love it.

Baseballs

At baseball practice tonight
Jack is throwing the ball with one coach....
the other coach is gets out of his car and yells

"David You got your balls? I forgot mine!"

And
I
laugh hysterically
because I am a very, very immature mom.
But really,
what choice did I have?!?

Jack is the Warrior

Jack's Aunt and Uncle sent him this shirt for his birthday....how fabulous is this? Cracks me up.
I love cool boy clothes. Sometimes tricky to find...especially in the 8 year-and-up range, but not impossible anymore.
I now have my eye on 3 other shirts by this company for my littles. Very cool.
Except I can't find the "mothers lock up your daughters" shirt online....so I may be sending some money to SanFran.
Thank you Aunt Erin and Uncle Pete!
Jack didn't even complain when I told him we needed to go out and take some pictures so you could see it. (So you know it's a hit!)

Question.
(Completely and totally unrelated)
I was telling Colin last weekend that I really want to get canvas grocery bags.
Like these, or these (ok, these are nylon), or these....(you get the idea)
However, it occurred to me today, as I was putting away the 22 plastic bags worth of groceries I got,
that I wasn't sure how that would work.
SO, some of you environmentally-friendlier-friends that I have....
help this momma out...
Do the canvas bags hold more groceries?
Do I have to shop more often/buy less at a time?
Do I really need to buy 22 canvas bags?!?
Will the cashiers curse me and my 22 canvas bags?
How does this work?

Random Friday

There is definitely a theme running throughout my house lately....
When you have girls I'm guessing you see more rainbows and flowers?
haha..

So I taught Jack a new joke which he's promptly elaborated on....
Jack "How do you catch a unique wabbit (rabbit)?)"
"I don't know"
"Unique up on it"....
Jack "How do you catch a tame wabbit?"
"I'm not sure"
"Tame way!"
that is the original joke as told by his mother....
and then Jack adds....
"How do you catch a JACKwabbit?"
"How?"
"You JACK IT"...
nice.
not really going with the flow of the original joke....but ok, Thank you Jack for your two cents.

Colin left for Chicago yesterday.
And looky what I now happen to own.....hmmmm......how'd THAT get in the tv room.
I'm bad.
Don't worry babe....we don't own a new coffee pot. (yet)

While I was gone Colin did some laundry.
Which if you know my husband is not anything that happens normally.
Not because he's not a helpful and wonderful husband, but because he is notorious for shrinking ALL of our clothes.
So when I was in NC and he told me he'd been doing laundry, I was a little nervous...
but then I heard his new "when in doubt leave it out" mantra...
and had to laugh..
especially when I got home and realized he didn't put ANY of the boy's clothes into the dryer!
None of it.
too funny.
It was all neatly hung on the drying rack.....
Got to love it...
It's really just my fat butt that needs my clothes to remain dryer-less...

Happy Friday!

Anyone?!?....please.....

If anyone is at all familiar with IEPs,
and has any advice on how to somehow incorporate OT on a speech IEP....please let me know.
If you don't feel comfortable commenting on the blog, you can email me at ewillard9@gmail.com. Coley had an IEP for speech and OT in Ohio, however in AR speech is a stand alone service, and OT is not.
SO, I need to either give up and admit defeat, or figure out how the two service could relate.
Fine motor skills and speech....hmm....

Interesting fact about AR that I was unaware of...
dyslexia is not considered a learning disability here...
and therefore will not qualify you for any services by itself.
Yeah.
Cool, huh?
Writing is really overrated when it comes to education.
Anyway, I'm not going to rant about my frustrations, just thought maybe someone somewhere could lend some insight that I haven't considered yet...

And if you are trying to figure out what IEPs and OTs and the rest of the nonsense means because you have no idea....
don't.
It's confusing, and exhausting, and ridiculous...
consider yourself lucky NOT to know what any of it means....

And because I can't not have a photo on a post.....
HEY, whoever send me this..... you really know how to make someones day!
It even found me in AR....how awesome is THAT?!?
There is nothing better than getting mail. Actual mail mail.
And that is complete hypocrisy coming from me, since I can't seem to find my way to the post office to mail anyone anything....
baby steps...
I know...
I'm working on it.
Anyway, thank you...

Monkeys are VERY popular this season

Finally, huh?!?
Sheesh.... I was going to post yesterday, but blogger wouldn't let me post photos,
and really nobody wants to read what I have to say about my trip...
y'all just want to see this little man...

I understand.....
He couldn't be any more adorable..... He's at that super smiley stage, where he can track you with his eyes,
and really pay attention to what you're saying.
In my case it was nonsense....but he seemed to enjoy it.
(I talked with him like I would my boys....with a bit more emphasis on absurd words, and many many quotes from the Office, and the movies my oldest is currently quoting daily.)My boys didn't even get out of the airport before they had to "see" the Evster on my camera....
He really is THAT delicious. Colin will attest to the fact that I didn't shut up the entire drive back from Memphis.
10,000 stories. About the bambino, watching the Office season 2 (why am I just now finding this show?), going to see Forgetting Sarah Marshall (HEe-larious, spent much time quoting that one too), eating sushi (spider rolls are scary, but delicious....dragon rolls are just delish), showing Gabby the ways of leaving the house with the baby (she's sort of a pro now), sleeping with Max, Max peeing on the sidewalk (the boys favorite story told), playing Scene It Xbox and losing EVERY time (so much fun though, totally want that game now), playing RockBand...the drums are hard,
I also think I have told Colin that I want (need) Gabby's coffee pot a half million times (that and season 3 of the Office).....
What I really realized, aside from the fact boys ROCK....which I already knew,
was planes aren't that bad....
no, that's not it...
its I HAVE to live closer to them.
Because I need to hold babyboy much more often.....
and
eat sushi with his momma.
I MISS YOU GUYS! Thank you for everything...I had the BEST time.

Pay No Attention to the Plane

I am leaving for NC in just a few hours! I can hardly wait.
Please think good plane flying thoughts for me tonight....
I have plenty of trashy magazines to keep my mind entertained, so all should be just fine.
Just a little nervous still...
whew.
SO...
It dawned on Colin yesterday he has 4 soccer games this weekend,
and 2 baseball games to get to...
poor thing,
his dreams of a video game marathon weekend have come crashing to a minor halt.
No worries...I am convinced the wii will still manage to get a good workout in.
Ah, while the momma is away they will definitely play.
Monday I will be back to ruin all the boyfun,
however I will bring with me many fabulous babyEv photos...
Ev will be left wondering who that strange woman with the camera-face was....

Until then I leave you with two things to ponder...

Jack's new installation piece currently being displayed on my mantel,
entitled "Crocodile pooping"

And...behold the ultra-cool fuzzy pencils.
Just on the off chance you want to be extremely awesome and get these for your kids....HUGE hit. WalMart baby. We are all about cheap thrills...And with that
I am out...
See you Monday

It's here....

I have written every spring of my love for baseball season.
What's not to love really....the pants, the hats, the gum, the sunflower seeds, little boys spitting and hitting, and running and sliding and getting dirty.....the way they stand waiting for the ball....glove down, the sunglasses, the helmets, the tiny batting gloves, the nervousness of having your son up when the bases are loaded and there are two strikes.....wait that's not my favorite part....when they HIT it after that it is, the slushies, the popcorn, the cheers.....
did I mention the pants?!?
I'm a fan what can I say.
And seriously, could that BlueJay be any cuter?!? I think not.
He got player of the game last night....YAY Jack!
and he was having a really fabulous hair day....

Cute, but less cute....
Making faces every time your mom tried to take a decent photo...
and just adorable, getting ready to hit his brother....So, the shots last night weren't great....
Thankfully I have the whole season ahead of me...
some of my very favorite photos have come from baseball season....

Even with their "Colton" and "Jake" shirts on....

At last....

front "tooofless"...and I love it.

Obsessions

Look at all the cute piles of baby clothes sitting in on the floor of my closet waiting to be delivered to Ev next week....all washed, and folded.
All well loved and worn by my three boys. Ohh, so cute.

They are definitely not sitting on and around what appears to be Martha Stewart Living magazines dating back to 1995....
Who in their right mind would keep 13 years worth of magazines, during 7 moves across 5 states?!?.....no one.
So just avert your eyes...pay no attention to those....

Not only can I outfit triplet boys, I can also craft for the next ten years uninterrupted if I decide to.....nice. I sort of love Martha and babies, what can I say....

To you

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to Essie today!!!!
my beautiful wonderful friend...who always made parties PARTIES....
Coley and I both know you're doing it up right in Germany....
(You are after all the Queen of parties in his mind)
hopefully the locals are prepared for Harrison mayhem...
We wish you all the love we can send....The treehouse will toast you tonight.
Lieben und Umarmungen mein lieber süsser Freund! xxe
(Please let that say what the English to German online translator says it says....
hopefully I'm not saying anything naughty...although this would not surprise you one bit...)

Seven

Christy tagged me forever ago...and she's just the cutest so I must participate.

This also gives me something to blog about besides stupid move-talk...
So seven random things about e.....

1. I have a significant amount of "crazy" in me.
According to my sweet husband...who at church last Sunday said to me "You are crazy....everyone has some crazy in them, but you have significantly more crazy in you than most".......whaa?!?
He said this because I said I wanted to sit on the end of the aisle when he sat us in the middle of the pew. (yeah, I know....who is really crazy, Me?!...I think not) As we moved down the aisle and he was telling me his crazy theory, out loud, at a church I've never been too, around people I don't know.....I think I must have given him a look of "would you like to see crazy...right here, right now?!? I'm fairly certain the people behind us were praying that the crazy woman wasn't going to kill her husband during the service.

2. I've lived in 10 states. NY, Indiana, Colorado, WI, NV, California, Iowa, NC, OH, and Arkansas.... That's all I have to say about that one...I can not elaborate anymore...as much as I'd like to.

3. I have ridiculously bad roots that need to be touched up something fierce right now. I called and asked Gabby if Ev needed a trim while I was there...since I'm thinking I trust Megan (Jack's girlfriend and hairstyling goddess) much more than my options here....one of which is God's House of Beauty...I can't make these things up. She hasn't called me back yet, but I'm guessing he doesn't.

4. I get to go see Evansen next week!!! I'm SO excited.
Oh yeah, I get to see Gabby, Mike and Max too.
My boys are SO jealous.

5. I am terrified of flying.
Terrified. of. flying.
Not a little scared to fly, terrified.....can't breath....going to pass out....terrified.
I have to fly next week (see #4)
It makes me crazy. (see #1)....
I think I'm going to need drugs, or alcohol, or both. Although then I worry I'd be terrified and sick....so perhaps I'll just stick with passing out.

6. I hate cooking.
My husband actually just realized this fact recently. He claims I'm good at it, and probably I'm better than average, however, I don't like it. I only do it because I love to eat, and it's cheaper than eating out. (Although only marginally lately.....do you know how expensive it is to feed four guys?!?)
If I could choose between a housekeeper, and a chef.....hands down I'd get the chef.
I'd rather clean then cook.
If I could afford to get both though I'd obviously pick that choice.

7. I hate small talk,
I don't do well pretending to have something to say when I don't. This makes me come across as cold, and/or bitchy....which I don't think I am either. (Some might argue this)

That Jack photo cracks me up. He lost one of his front teeth, so the other baby tooth instead of just playing nice and falling out, decided to move into the center of his gap,
kind of making for a hillbilly Jack.
Very amusing and at the same time horrifying for his mother.

Tag...you're it.

Chillax Mom...

1. We're moving in a week. I'm in list making mode. Lists for things we need to pack and do. I'm very laid back about this until the weekend before the movers come....then I get a little stressed.

2. My baby is turning 7 on Thursday.
My BABY.
7...
3. I love parties, and because we have moved every year, this being the third time right around Jack's birthday he has never had a "kid party" so he's getting his first kid party on Friday. He is beside himself with excitement. I also love surprising the kids, and so it was a great opportunity what with the birthday and the move and all, so Colin is coming home on Thursday, but the boys have no idea....
Until I almost blew it this morning when I said "We'll probably have to drive separately to the party because it doesn't end until 6:30 and the soccer game is at 7"
Colten caught it because that's so Colten, he catches all those little slips....
even if you think he's not listening.
The other two would never have noticed.
"Who is coming with us that we'd have 2 cars?" he says ...
I realize what I have said.....and say "Oh yeah, that won't work....Jared can't drive!"
To which Jared replies.... "I AM McLOVIN!"

4. I haven't seen my husband since January 28th.


5. Jack has to make a 3-D miniature of his bedroom for class. Jack being mildly like his mother about things like this is completely worried about the details. I, even though I'm like that with other things, am trying to just get the room finished...because it's totally cutting into list making time...
So we go to JoAnns because Tim Gunn needs fabric to make his vision work....and we're looking for the correct fabric for the "carpet" when Jack finds a gingham and say...."We NEED this, for OldBaby".....Well, melt my heart.
So now his miniature is a work in progress still, but we have an OldBaby ....and he cut it out himself. (OldBaby is his blanket)
He did however tell Colin about the miniroom, and said "AND, I'm going to make a talk bubble that says OldBaby will NOT like Arkansas!!!"

6. I caught up on all my dvr'd Project Runways this weekend.....so now Jared is using "fierce" to excess....

7. I've lost 14lbs since Colin left. I have like 20 to go, so it's just the beginning...it's amazing....eating smaller portions and exercising...works...it's rock science folks. Yeah, tell that to the woman still trying to lose the "baby" weight. (see #2)

8. Made a baby page for the newest boy in the family. I've had it done all week, but the felt letters keep coming off.....like constantly...is it me, or is it them....it's them isn't it?!? (My scanner is being uncooperative, so I'll take a photo in the morning)

9. Took a photo of my frig for overlooked....I'm getting one step closer....

10. In our house you can't say "crap" or "suck" among other things....(well, you can, but my boys can't)....because they're not nice words I guess, and because they make my husband crazy. Jack has this incredible vocabulary, honestly, it's just amazing....but he does love to say crap, and "that sucks" frequently.....or "God" (more like "Gaaawd")....which quickly becomes "Go-SH" "I said the SH Mom...I did, I was saying goSH".....yeah, right buddy. Anyway for his birthday I got him a Nike shirt that says "My game rocks" on the front, and on the back..."Your game" and then there is a picture of a vacuum.....Way to encourage bad behavior huh? Colin will be so proud.

11. And last but not least....Thank you Amy for the response to anonymous.....you pretty much said everything I was going to.
And I think this list is done...