The Adventures of the Homemade Kite

This afternoon it started getting pretty windy. The kids where playing outside and I decided that it would be fun to fly a kite with them. After searching the garage (even under the stairs-I got real nasty-) and coming up empty handed, Tommy let us borrow his big, fancy, pirate boat kite (seriously, it's huge and fancy). We tried it for a while, but because we where flying the kite around the house, huge drafts from off the house made the kite go funky and it was smashing into the ground more than flying. So being the crafty, inventive mother I am (pure sarcasm) we built a home made kite out of a Walmart bag, two sticks Liam gave me, some yarn that my Grammy let us have, and an awesome pink pencil. Please hold you applause for my ingeniousness until after you have seen the pictures...thank you.

Liam running with the homemade kite -Look at that air!!!-

Liam dug with this handy kitchen spoon while Emma took her turn.

Emma's turn!

Look at that kite...what kid wouldn't LOVE to have a Walmart bag kite? (Patent pending)

Emma showing me her dirty hands and her hair whipping in the wind.

Dang he's a cute kid.

Applause may commence.

My Ode to Utah

Warning: this post contains mild to sever levels of venting and whining.

Dear Utah, how do I love thee, let me count the ways...

But really, Tony leaves in six days, counting today, and all of our stuff with him...SIX DAYS! It kinda sneaked up on me. Yesterday I was thinking, 'oh I have all this time' and today, WHAM-BAM! it hit me, in six days I will be living out of a suit case for at least a month. We finally got an apartment but it doesn't open until April 15th, so Tony is leaving for Iowa on Monday and going to live with a friend out there and find a job, and then me and the kids are going to come out when the apartment opens.

Am I having mild to sever anxiety?...yes, yes I am. Have I been procrastinating pack what I need to pack?...oh, undoubtly (which is not really a word, but I like it :)). And now all of a sudden is Utah seeming more pleasant, beautiful, and reminding me of all my childhood days?...why yes, yes it is.

The last two days, walking home after taking Liam to school, it has suddenly felt and smelled like camping. You know when you go camping and waking up in the wee morning hours, when its still pretty darn cold, but refreshing and it smells...I don't know, clean, earthy, mountainy? That is how the last two days have been. And although most everything is still dead from winter, little buds of grass and leaves are starting to appear...

UTAH!! Why must you torture me!?! Can't you remain dead until I leave? Then maybe leaving wouldn't be so hard (I doubt it, but I have to blame something! :)).

I love this time of year. When everything is new, and starts to live. Thanks Utah, for being so darn. stinkin'. pretty.

To all you nursing mothers out there,

I don't know if any of you other mothers who nurse have ever had this problem but:

Liam has started being curious and asking lately what Fox eats. Any time that I nurse Fox I just tell the kids that Fox needs to eat and then put a blanket over him and he nurses. You can see the wheels in Liam's head start to turn and the other day we had this conversation.

Me: "I need to feed Fox" (proceed to nurse)

Liam: "Mom, What does Fox eat?"

Me: "Milk." (realizing what was coming)

Liam: (after thinking for a minute) "Yeah but Mom, where does he get the milk?"

I didn't know what to answer so I just didn't answer him and tried to act interested in the TV (great Mom, I know).

Liam keeps repeating his question.

Emma: (after getting annoyed that Liam keeps asking the same question says very "DUH"-like) "From under the blanket, Liam."

From under the blanket.

So how do you Moms, who are better at handling things, and don't ignore their children, deal with that nursing question? Do I just tell him straight out? But then does he go to school and tell all his friends? Do I make up some lame "stork" answer? I'd love to hear your answers and for your advice. Thanks!!

5 months old!!

Fox,

I can't believe that you are already 5 months old!! You are happy (most of the time) and smiley and love to interact with people. You still don't really roll over (in fact you've only done it once), I think you love to drive your mom nuts with that one (you don't even really try!!), but you are still way cute. :) You are mastering your hands, and can grab most things put in front of you and, of course, they go straight to your mouth. You have started eating baby food and love it as long as it has some flavor (no rice cereal for you). You are gianormous!! You are already fitting into 12 month clothes. You'll smile at anybody who'll give you the time of day. You love to jump in your jumper and play on the floor. You can turn in full circles (but you still won't roll over). Everybody can't wait to see you after you've been sleeping for a while. You still wake up several times during the night (stinker). You cuddle with me while you suck your thumb (stinker again :)), but I love it sooo much. You try to eat peoples faces, but we just tell them you're giving them kisses. You have the coolest name ever, and it fits you. Your brother and sister love you so much! So do your Dad and I. You make us all so happy! Thanks for choosing us! And can't wait to spend an eternity with you :) Love Mom.

It just wasn't that long ago that you first arrived.

You came with personality, and a strong will from the beginning.

And it doesn't hurt that you're extra cute! :)

Thanks for making our lives a little brighter and happier!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SUESS

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Liam came home today with this sweet get-up. Theodore Geisel was born March 2, 1904, so Liam's class decided to celebrate by watching the cat in the hat movie and making an awesome cat in the hat hat and tie. We joined in at home by reading some of his books. So Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Thanks for all your fun books and reading time! We love your books!

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.

Dr. Seuss

Ah, Emma

I told Emma that we got to go do something fun tonight and here is how the conversation went:

Me:"So what do you want to do that's fun tonight?"

Emma: "Go with you"

Me: "Yeah, but where do you want to go with me?"

Emma: "To the store."

Me: "Yeah?"

Emma shakes her head yes.

Me: "And what are you going to do at the store?"

Emma: "Not touch anything"

...at least I know some of what I teach my kids is getting through.... :D

When she becomes a Mom and saving the world

Sometimes I fear (just a little bit) about when Emma becomes a mom. If the way she treats her baby doll shows any way how she will be when she becomes a Mom her children are in big trouble. ;)

Today she would throw her baby in the air saying, "WEEEEE!!" and then let it drop. Then, when she wasn't thinking she would bang her baby by one arm into the table over and over again. When I said, "What are you doing to you baby?" She replied, "I love my baby." And hugged it real quick. Trying to be nice to her baby she wrapped it in it's baby blanket but when she bent down to get something her baby fell out on its head.

It's so fun to watch her Mommy a baby.

And she's dang cute while doing it.

*On a side note, look at Emma's cool hair I did today...I was very proud of it and that Emma sat still while I was doing it. :)

Now on to more manly things. Liam decided he was a transformer today and that he would with the help of his might transformers, save the world. Here are his most manly/saving the world pictures.

And this post wouldn't be complete without a couple of pictures from my main 4 and 1/2 month old man. :)

He was doing back bends...

Tony eating Fox's feet.