We went to the Milwaukee Art Museum after the race because Jack desperately wanted to see "art by famous artists"...
I discovered that Jared really doesn't "get" modern art.
especially the "rocks in a box".
he did however make me laugh the entire time.
Colin remarked several times that it was SO much better going to an art museum with my dad.
apparently he is really knowledgeable or something
(he's an artist)
Jack thought the bright colored blown glass installation was made up of balloons at first.
love that.

Also please note that going to an art museum with boys is challenging
because they really
really
reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally
want to touch everything.

a few more because they're cute

today:
I'm sorting through photos from last month.
I'm still in my jammies.
the littles are outside with the neighbor boys
jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler on.
(yes...I sort of want to join in)
Jared is asking to go to Barnes and Noble, and the guitar store.
grilling chicken kabobs for dinner.
and pineapple.

yesterday:
the computer didn't work most of the day.
we had to get up early for Jack's orthodontist appointment.
we went to Target.
Jack said "this is sooo much better than Walmart"
(thank goodness I've trained them well)
I made homemade mango salsa. yum.
we had tostadas
and ate breyers cherry vanilla ice cream with hot fudge for dessert.

tomorrow:
starts the last weekend of summer break.
we will get Jared packed,
he leaves for a youth group back-to-school retreat at 6.
we will have movie night.
and figure dinner out on the fly...
because I have nothing planned (shhhh... don't tell Col)

ok...
get ready for a photo recap of July.
only because I want to document it.
no matter how late the documentation may be...
darn computer.

the above is the very darling evansen...
blowing bubbles with the boys before we left to come back to Arkansas.

banana pancakes...

We decided to go check out Hardy, AR and do a little antique shopping.
I don't really understand how people find great deals on amazing things when antiquing,
because I really just find expensive things I'd love...
or
junk.
but it was a cute little town, and we had fun.

the plan was to go without the boys,
but then I found out it was over an hour away...
and since about a third of the time they stay home together
I get a phone call involving someone in tears...
we decided to go on Saturday, and take the littles.
it was over 90 degrees, and the humidity was really absurd,
but they were good.
dare I say cute even.
(bribery with extremely large sonic drinks = always a good idea)

after hardy we went to mammoth spring state park.
jack very much wished he had his fishing pole.
(as he longingly stared at the guy fishing...)
all and all...
just a really nice day.

it was the kind of day one tries to remember while tackling back to school shopping at walmart.
that was my today...
we would not refer to that as a nice day.

propped up next to my computer
Southern Living magazine...
as I debate
if 3 hours is really too far
to drive for the state's "best burger"

the waffles were delish.
and.
gluten free.
will wonders never cease.
by far my favorite GF discovery to date is
Pamela's baking and pancake mix.
ridiculously good.
I've been trying this little GF experiment since May...
with some cheats along the way...
(like in Racine. Hello pizza, fried cheese curds and kringle...soooo naughty)
but overall I feel much better eating this way.
and now that I've found a good pasta (Tinkyada), and a baking mix things are looking up.
lets just say I'm quite glad we don't eat a lot of processed foods...
makes it much easier.

Funny story-
A bunch of guys my husband works with are doing this master cleanse.
essentially you drink a water, lemon, maple syrup,
and cayenne pepper concoction.
for like 10 days.
without eating.
they have been trying to convince Colin to do it, and emailed him the directions.
(Colin for the record said, hello? no food...are you crazy nuts?!?)
I read it, and noticed that you needed to use "grade B" maple syrup.
We use real maple syrup, but I never realized it was graded...
so I checked and sure enough ours is "grade A".
(ours is just a little bit smarter I guess)
So, Jared and I were at the grocery store....
on a very busy Saturday...
we passed the syrup,
and out of curiosity, I checked for grade B...

Jared "What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for grade B syrup"
"Why?"
"It's for a cleanse"
he then says in his SUPER loud teenage voice.
"YOU ARE GOING TO SHOWER IN MAPLE SYRUP?!?!"

i
could
have
died.

that's all I've got on this rainy wednesday.
i suggest you go make some waffles with blueberry sauce.
just don't get confused and start showering with the syrup.

trying to post about the past month...
before it's September.
so in reverse of how it actually happened...

Jack's baseball team played in the state tournament.
it was five hours away.
it was expensive (hotel, gas, food...times 5)
in one of the last games Jack hit a homerun and caught a fly ball playing second.
(is that what it's called Col? a fly ball?)
it was totally his game.
and made the weekend completely worth it right there.
the look on his face after that game was priceless.
they went on to lose the tournament, but they played their little hearts out.
it was awesome.

tonight is his end of season swim party at the country club.
vom. it.
Colin is out of town,
which means I have to attempt to be social.
*that said please note...
we ran into one of the team moms at the movie theater the other night...
and to really sum up my issue with the women here,
she said
and I quote...
"did you see The Hangover yet? it's so funny. I went to see it really late at night so no one I knew would see me"
are you kidding me?
(answer. no she was totally not kidding)
because image is everything you know.
and no one is actually who they appear to be.
nothing annoys me more.
hypocrites.
guess what?
I saw The Hangover.
it was a riot.
and if you don't like me because you know I saw it...
so. be. it.
at least I don't pretend to be someone I'm soooooo not.
ahhhhhh... I'm excited about hanging out tonight.
should be fun fun fun....

Sorry.
I'm having one of those days...
focus on the handsome baseball player in the photo above...
ignore me.

Sticking with the Blog as Card Theme...

Happy Anniversary to you...

Happy Anniversary to you...

You look so cute in this photo...

even with birds on your boobs...

(or something like that)

happy anniversary.

love you both!

xoxo

ok...so...

we went with the red.
contrary to the overwhelming response of red is a bad idea e....
we went with it.
such rebels we are.
and hey...
don't you hate it when people ask for advice and then ignore it?
I know. me too.
but I love red. and I think it suits us.
however... it is slip-covered.
(brilliant with three boys)
so we will also be getting a very neutral white for when red seems like a bad idea.
although...
clearly I never think red is a bad idea.
so.
I may only use the white for special occasions.
like when we get a puppy...
or babies are involved.
then I hear white is a smart option.
(kidding...I just obviously have lost all practical sense)anyway. our new sofa.
it's really the highlight of my day today.

The really fabulous thing is,
when we get rid of the old sofa and the chair.
(yes. they're still hanging out in the living room. we're classy like that)
I will officially only have a sofa.
one place to sit. in all of the living room.
eventually I hope to purchase a chocolate leather chair...
and maybe a funky second chair...
in the meantime,
I'm thinking carpet squares.
like preschool style.
friends come over...
and they can just pull up a carpet square.

hot pink and orange hugs and kisses...

Happy Anniversary Gabby and Mikey!

I fully intended to send a card...but it didn't quite happen.

So I vote that blogger is the new anniversary card.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Your wedding was so much fun, I wish we could re-have it every year...
love you guys!

xoxoxoxo

Pretend that it's Tuesday. Except tomorrow is still Friday....

Dude.
Did I actually say I would be back tomorrow on Monday?
Silly me.
I have no good excuse.
I am a bit of a creature of habit...
and not having a computer at home for over a month...
well,
I have to remind myself I can actually use the computer now...
(duh)
and I've sort of fallen into a pathetic little morning routine that involves coffee
and watching the dvr'd reality shows that Colin refuses to watch with me...
in my pjs.
(delightful)
Now I'm trying to work back into the coffee/computer routine...
or at least the blog routine.
some of the computer time can just end.
permanently.
seriously...not necessary.

Also,
I've not had a ton to blog about...
it's been rainy...
and we've been inside.
I shall blame the rain for my inability to prioritize what I should do around the house....
like for instance....
the house is a pit of disaster?
How about I WASH and sort the legos.
all 750 million of them.
Logic. Where has mine gone?
Also please note that in my mind this would just take a minute...
2 hours later...
with a kitchen table full of legos...
and nothing to PUT the freshly WASHED and sorted legos in...
I decided, this was not my best idea.
(and who washes legos anyway?!?)

Legos though are in fact fabulous.
One of the few "toys" I do not regret buying the boys
they still play with them.
They better still play with them
they're all clean now...

It feels so good to be baaaaaaaaaaaaack...My husband fixed the computer.
and then.
I was sick.
but now I'm better.
and my computer is too.
and things are happy.

I sorted through over 1000 photos today.
posted some,
unedited,
straight from the camera,
photos on facebook...
and that pretty much was my day,
leaving no time for a proper blog post.

I have a vegetarian curry cooking...
and some brown rice.
(and some brownies because I'm already anticipating the protests over the meatless meal)
and...
I'll be back tomorrow.

Happy Monday friends.

"Hey Mom...those brownies smell great! THAT (curry) looks disgusting though"
-Jack exactly 4 minutes ago

well. alrighty then...

almost a month later.
and the computer is
still
broken
...
grrrr.

colin is in the process of "fixing" it.
shouldn't be much longer now...
cough.
cough.
cough.

so I'm online sporadically.
missing my blog reading.
and facebooking.
and blogging.

i figured while jared was at soccer,
and colin and jack at the ballfield,
i'd just stop in and say hi.

we got back from our 10 day whirlwind tour of the midwest on sunday.
munster (indiana) for a wedding.
then to the lake for a few days.
and to racine for the race and to see my folks/gabby/mike/evan.

(a few) highlights:
seeing our family(s) and uncle mikes (who we like to pretend is ours as well)
evansen's superstar blonde curls (he has the BEST hair ever)
watching jack banana fish. he loved it. such the fisherman.
my husband driving the boat. oh. so. sexy.
watching the boys tube.
jared water skiing and driving the waverunner sans an adult.
the harley museum (like i didn't want one before. can a harley be a need?!)
the milwaukee art museum (banana wanted to see a "real" art museum)
meeting becky (small shout out)
kringle.
cheese curds at the yardarm (yUm)
while i'm on a food kick Racine pizza. seriously. good. and really un-gluten free...
watching my boys run the race (minus jack he helped w/ the video-ing)
listening to ev say "Dack"(jack)...unfortunately not so much AuntE.
drawing together in the car. (draw and the pass to the next person to add to...very fun. try it)
the fart machine. funny.
my dads breakfast burritos. i'd like another now. please. (darn it. i'm back on food)
chicago radio stations. getting to hear the gufs. on the radio.

lowlights
the car ride home. how can 3 boys be fantastic the entire trip and then make me want to jump from a moving vehicle during the trip home. so. naughty.
the mosquitoes. blood sucking bastards. hate them. (don't worry. we have them here too.)
not getting to see some friends.
feeling like we didn't have enough time any one place.
Colin crashing roxy. aka the truck. (we won't dwell on this one. k?)

i took SOooo many photos.
which of course i can't show you until someone...i won't mention any names...fixes the computer.
it will be fabulous to relive my vacay later...in photos.
but for now.
pretend you can see us boating. running. and obviously eating.
i'm the fat one with the ridiculously long hair...

and a story.
without a photo.

i might have slammed jack's foot in the truck door the other day.
yes.
it hurt.
i felt horrible.
i apologized.
he said. still crying a little...
"it's ok. i forgive you."
then
a few seconds later.
"you know how when you break a mirror, and you have seven years of bad luck? well. there should be something like that for people that slam their child's foot in the door."
ha.
excellent.

ok.
hopefully it won't be a month before i'm back.
but.
you
never
know.
xxxx

still broken.
i am so over not having a computer.
so.
over.
it.

i'm also so over 3+hour baseball practices in the 9000000degree heat.
but i digress...

things here,
aside from the computer issue
are good.

currently in like with:
guacamole and corn chips
ice tea
tori and dean home sweet hollywood
reading in the sun
sun

currently not fond of:
computers
humidity
boys that hit each other

ok.
i love my blog friends.
and miss you all.
i'm hoping someday i'll have a new post with photos.
(hoping someday i'll have my photos)
now jared says it's his turn with colin's work computer...
sooooo.
bye for now.

our home computer is very much broken.
colin's work computer is allowing me some internet time at the moment....
otherwise we are currently internetless. aka unplugged.
be back soon.
i hope.
xxxe

Bedazzle this...

It's summer and my poor blog is being neglected.
In my defense, it's mainly due to my teenager being home and the fact I have to vie for computer time now.
also.
it's summer... did I mention that?
which means I can write
slept in,
watched the boys play soccer and ride bikes,
can't believe they drank a whole pitcher of kool-aid AGAIN,
man they eat a lot...
it's hot out,
we have a baseball game tonight....
repeat.
repeat.
repeat.
or. I can not blog as much.
so far the later is winning the debate.
but here is a little update.... Jack had a baseball tournament about 30 minutes away this weekend. Colten had a soccer tournament in Little Rock. So we had to divide and conquer.
I stayed here with the big J and the little one, the two Cs went to the city.
(Which was very sad for me, because I really wanted PF Changs, but I digress)
Jack's team did great and won the first two games, but lost the third.
He actually cried when he struck out in the last game....
which led to a conversation over dinner about how there is "no crying in baseball"...
when I asked later if he could tell me what we needed to remember about baseball
Jack replied "hit the ball every time".
ha.
well.
I guess that will solve the crying rule won't it.
no crying...or no reason to cry. which ever works.
he's so cute and sensitive. it kills me.
but.
there is no crying in baseball.
Oh,
and they looked SO darn cute in their new all-star uniforms...
I know, I know...I talk too much about the incredible cuteness of baseball boys...
but goodness. it's almost too much. the new uniform, and the darn fence that protects me from the hard balls, but makes for crappy photo opts.
(Colten got 2nd in his tournament by the way. They lost their last game to the Bluebirds...which I think is sort of a sissy name for a team, I think I might have asked if they also played the Butterflies...but apparently they're really good...which goes to show you...you can't judge a soccer team by it's name, errr...or something like that.)

me.
I have been gluten free for almost three weeks now. (actually 3 weeks tomorrow)
An experiment of sorts. Which unfortunately (or is it fortunately?!) is going well...
I should be happy it's going well. not bitter about the lack of french bread, pizza, and pasta...RIGHT?!?
I am happy and I feel really really good...and I would like a slice of garlic bread...wait...no...what? Without providing TMI it's not for weight loss... just so no one thinks I'm on a crazy wackadoodle diet.

and...
My hair is out. of. control. long. I don't even know what to do with it anymore...
I think I need Stacy and Clinton.
a little what not to wear, and what the hell should I do with my hair...
yes please.
either that or I'm getting some long jean skirts, and a buggy.
really. those are the options friends.

also why is it that everyone and their dog can take cUte pictures in the mirror of themselves?!? but when I try I either cut my head out of the photo, or I'm making some dumb expression in the ones that actually do include my face. I think I was in the middle of saying something in that second one... probably "What was that noise?"...or "Turn that music down!"...or "Answer the phone!". those are all popular lately... I am pretty sure I wasn't intentionally making what appears to be a kissy face though...
((ETA: Colin just got home and looked at that second photo and said, and I quote "You make that face all the time and you don't even realize you're doing it!" Awesome. So apparently, if you ever meet me, I make a dumb kissy face subconsciously. sweeeet.... ))

overheard today.
me from the other room "STOP boys!"
Coley "You don't even know what we're doing"
me "I can hear wrestling and you need to stop"
Coley "Ooooh... she's good"

I'm getting up early for soccer camp this week,
so I just might be updating more regularly.
might.
you know about really riveting things like my hair.
or maybe I'll have my new bedazzled "baseball mom" shirt to show you.
one of the moms on Jack's team makes them. they're pretty fabulous.
please try to contain your excitement.
(see the above sentence about needing wardrobe help, you can not dwell on my dorkiness)
it's summer.
that's about as good as it's going to get.

School's Out

our end-of-the-year teacher's gifts are the same every year.
a big ol' beach towel, sunscreen, and a magazine...
all tied up w/ a pretty bow, and a handmade tag.
I got the idea from Heidi Swapp's blog awhile back...and loved it instantly,
because it's so what I'd want to do after teaching 20+ kids all year...
lay in the sun, and look at magazines.

Jack went with me to Target to get everything, and the whole time he insisted that they wouldn't have beach towels in Arkansas because there "are no beaches here" ...

And...
my middle had his awards today.
Scored a few... A-B merit roll ALL year, an award for being selected to safety team, AND a special award for library.
(that one came with a book...which for the super reader was by far the best award possible)Way to go Coley!
Now...it's officially SUMMER!

allow me to brag on my boys...

When Jared was born the nurse brought him to me in the night and exclaimed
"He's so alert and serious, looking around investigating the world. I believe that he just might be doing algebra in his head"
I am sure he was...

Jared told me it wasn't a big deal if we missed his awards ceremony...
his Dad was gone that week, and it was in the evening
we had other places to be...and it "wasn't a big deal" according to J.
Well, what we didn't know was that Jared won the award for the highest grade in geometry.
(we found out shortly after, when half of the 8th grade class texted him)
He was the only 8th grader in the 9th grade class.
and he had the highest grade.
It was a big deal. A very big deal....
and we missed it.
Just one of many goofs that will occur when parenting multiple children.
so just for the record...
Jared is extremely gifted, and I'm so very very proud of him.
(even if I did miss the darn awards ceremony...)

Also,
hello?!?
it would be lovely if the school sent home a little note when your child is getting an award other than honor roll.
Not that honor roll isn't reason enough to attend...but a heads up would have been helpful....

This morning Jack Banana got the citizenship award for his class.
His adorable teacher Mrs. Cindy said that
"All the students in the class will tell you that they adore Jack" that's pretty cool.
I have to agree with the class.

I love seeing my boys shine with their own strengths and accomplishments.

and no,
I didn't leave Coley out,
he has his awards on Monday.

happy weekend!

There is some serious balloon art on my kitchen table...

So it's 90 degrees here today.
I now remember why I need to lose weight.
Not to be cute.
Or buy (read that fit in) cute clothes.
(although I can not lie... those are very close contenders)
It's because being fat in the summer is not cool.
It's actually the opposite of cool. It's hot.
and not in a good way.
In a true stroke of brilliance,
I stopped to get (hot) coffee before heading to the grocery store this afternoon.
(in my defense I had a headache....what? coffee is not medicine?)
that really really cooled me off...
or made me sweat more.
one
or the other.
Last night Jack had an amazing catch.
He was playing second,
the kid that hit...really hit. hard.
the ball was heading straight at Jack. fast.
he literally scooped it out of the air.
(and then I think he looked behind him to see where it went)
His coach was so proud of him.
It was cool.
I could tell Jack was pretty tickled with himself.
The boy can hit, but catching....not always so much....
When he came off the field Coley went over to the dugout to tell him good job.
Jack replied
"It was coming right at my face...what was I suppose to do?!"
Ha. that's my boy..... *How much do I love that there is a Hootie on the team? Lots.

Jack had his allergy testing this morning.
48 polka dots on his arms...
and ....
.....
.....
thundercats are go!...
NO ALLERGIES!
(still)
Happy dance. happy dance.
The allergist said there is always a possibility
especially with peanuts,
but after two years of being ok it was unlikely...
so that was a relief.

Having a teenager on facebook is interesting.
(just having a teenager is interesting)
I'm getting use to the text-talk*
What I can't understand is the horrible horrible spelling.
I understand it's a relaxed environment....
and clearly on my blog punctuation is not my priority...
but simple words like "impressed" spelled "empressed" ?!?
Seriously...there are a lot of teenagers today are going to grow up and not be able to spell.
at
all.
and contrary to popular (teenage) belief...it's sort of important.

Of course Cole's speech teacher informed me (at the IEP meeting)
that my child doesn't really need to learn to write legibly
"they just use computers anyway"...
She was not making a joke.
but I may have laughed.
a tiny bit.
I vote both writing and spelling important.

I'm so ready for my boys to be done with school.
(they're ready too)
Jack has gone to two different parks, had "water day", played in a kick-ball "tournament",
gone to the zoo, had board game day, and has field day tomorrow....
I think they're done.
What about you?

*np. isn't a typo and doesn't really mean no. it is possible that someone thought that...and might have gotten rather angry with their teen.
np = no problem.
I'm slowly catching on.
slow
ly.

Summer List 09 Edition

So far the list includes:

1. Go to Crater of Diamonds State Park and look for diamonds
2. Go to Disney World (way to aim big Coley)
3. Go to the Gulf Coast/beach
4. Go camping
5. Go to a RedBirds game
6. Go to NC
7. Go to the lake
8. Run in the race
9. make tye dye shirts again
10. Go hiking
11. Go to a movie
12. Take walks after dinner at the park/let the boys play soccer
13. Bike ride at Craighead Forest Park
14. Fish at Craighead Forest Park
15. Get a puppy
16. Make smores in our firepit
17. Get 3-D sidewalk chalk and make some art outside
18. Have a squirt gun fight
19. Get/use a weight bench
20. Movie/game nights once a week
21. Get a basketball hoop
22. Soccer camp
23. Go to Graceland
24. I still want to go here
25. Plant flowers in the garden boxes in the backyard
26. Eat outside whenever possible
27. Go on picnics
28. Go to a museum
29. Play tennis as a family
30. Play baseball as a family
31. Watch fireworks
32. Get ice cream from Andys
33. Paint
34. Read Read Read...
35. make Kool-Aid
36. Get our own fireworks to set off
37. Make popsicles
38. Have a lemonade and cookie stand

We will add to the list for the next few weeks,
then cross off as we go
and
of course play outside is a given.
Some new ones and some from last years list.
Oh summer. We love you.
*** Colten also suggested "buy a Corvette"...I decided we could just leave that one off.

(my Dad in Vietnam)

Thankful today (and always) for the brave men and women fighting for the freedom we enjoy daily. God bless our soldiers.

A must read today.

(We love you Tony, Essie and the Harrison clan)

Thursday.

1. Jack came home from school yesterday with a lovely rash and hives on his face. I was pretty sure it was something he ate, but took him to the doctor this morning anyway. We saw the new pediatrician at the clinic, and I loved him. I knew when he started talking about Fast Food Nation, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and In Defense of Food I would be switching our primary doctor.
He told me that it's entirely possible that Jack reacted to something in the (horrible) processed food they have during "snack" here at school, and that it's probably not a return of the food allergies of his past. But. To be on the safe side, Jack is having allergy testing next week.

2. When Colin leaves for any amount of time it is inevitable that
1. something will break.
2. someone will get sick.
3. I will have to be multiple places at once.
and I got to check all three off the list the first day.
Jared is going to love that I'm leaving him at Colten's soccer practice tonight so Jack and I can go to the orientation at the middle school. Teenagers love that sort of thing.

3. Speaking of middle school. Why in the world would they move 3rd graders to middle school?

4. and Speaking of school. I am still not convinced I'm not homeschooling next year. Why is it such a hard thing for me to decide? I don't know, but every time I think I'm sure what I'm doing in the fall, I change my mind again.

5. I can not wait for summer vacation. Making the annual summer list of things we want to do. Sleeping in is right at the top of the list...for me anyway.

6. Jack has a baseball tournament this weekend. The first game is tomorrow night, Colin won't be back yet, so I need to know where I'm going.
Directions at the batting cages last night went something like this
"Turn by the WalMart. Go until you see a four-way stop...I think it's a four-way. Turn right. No, it's left I think. You will see a bridge off to the side. Look for a school...."
Because I'm not directionally impaired enough as it is.
So, I asked if maybe the coach could email the address to us.
This is the email I received. "Drive down the bypass. Take the first Trumann exit by the Super center. Turn LEFT at the stop sign. Go straight until you pass the Sonic at that light turn RIGHT....etc"...No address.
It's like my grandpa giving directions while I was driving. Turn at the tree honey. No not that tree... the next one...no no the next one....

7. Here is an example of why I shouldn't try and take photos AND cheer...
Happy almost Friday.

Colten was studying for a history test a few weeks ago...
Colin asked him a date.
he replied "1762"
"Close" Colin said "It was 1772...the year of your mother's birth"
Colten looked at me funny.
"I was born in 1972 Cole"
without missing a beat my child says
"Ohhh....I was going to say did you hang out with Sacagawea or what?!"
nice.

tiny review of our tiny trip...

During our trip to Ohio
we spent a lot of time in the pool. (yes, it's the same in the water as it is out)

the boys saw their old friends, teams, and teachers. and we ate at all of our favorite restaurants that we miss.
it was pretty neat because we've never been back to a place we've moved from.
(and as frequently as we do that, it's sort of crazy we haven't)

in Missouri the rain let up and the middle played in a tourney...while the big and the little worked on "rainbows"...
which is when you kick the ball out from behind and arc it over your head landing it at your feet...
if that makes sense.
it's amusing to watch.
Jack can't quite do it yet.
Jared can (occasionally)...
We drove over 1500 miles in the 6 days we were gone.
I took an absurd amount of photos like this...
and this...
but not a lot elsewhere.

I'm still attempting to get caught up.
and Colin leaves tomorrow for a work trip...
(hopefully he will leave with clean undies....but the verdict on that is still out)

Working on a little bit of laundry right now.
Be back soon...

After these messages we'll be right back...
Heading to Ohio with Colin.
Work for him. Fun for us.
Then off to a soccer tournament in Missouri.
Please note
my boys could care less if they have clean underwear,
or clothes...
but
snacks are a different story.
We have just a few snacks for the car.
The iPods are charged.
MacGyver (the complete first season) is in with the dvd player...
and we will be back in a week.

Both tournaments were cancelled because of rain.
I get my four all to myself ALL weekend.
Lucky lucky me.
To top it off...it's an amazingly gorgeous sunshiny day.
happy mother's day weekend friends...

Jack comes home from school frequently with odd requests.
I need coffee filters, and twist ties...
I need pipe cleaners, and tissue paper...
I need glue and a squirt bottle....
He's always making something.
It was lovely this weekend, to see Colten join in.
(without being encouraged by us)
His fine motor skill issues normally make crafts less than enjoyable....
but apparently Jack sold his latest and greatest craft idea to Coley,
and he actually,
dare I say...
enjoyed it.
Makes my heart happy...

I really need sofa advice...

I always thought I would want this sectional or one similar (and less expensive)
but maybe it isn't the most practical choice....
It would fit our living room here perfectly, but we won't be here for long...
and maybe a sectional won't be the best fit in our next house...

So then I thought maybe I wanted something simple like this one (this style)
in red...but then again, maybe I should get a more neutral color....Then I found this one and I like it too...Can you tell we've never bought "real" furniture for our home?!?
Colin's mom gifted us with sofa money for Christmas
and we have yet to spend it.
The decision is so hard.
Sofa suggestions? Links? Ideas? I need them...
ooooh do I ever.

He's getting better....

Any guesses on what he is playing?