In the Kitchen with the little guys

My mom sent Max a cookbook for kids. He wanted to make lots of things that we didn't have the ingredients for. He finally found one we could make:

Monster Toast
1. Pour milk into small cups.
2. Add food coloring.
3. Paint a monster.
4. Toast.
5. Butter lightly.
6. Munch your monster!

Painting their bread in their swimsuits (I don't know why, they just wanted to wear them).

I don't know how Max can stay in that position for so long.

I made some fun toast (it wasn't very monster like) for Jack.

Fun moms eat fun toast, right?

Once the dust had cleared in the kitchen Jack got a chair to himself and started a masterpiece of his own.

And yes, this is what we had for dinner tonight.

Shoes

Today I took the boys shoe shopping. I called Nate inviting him to go but he said he'd pass. Weird. Why wouldn't anyone want to go shoe shopping with all 3 boys at the mall?

Of course the whole event started out with a fit from Grant. First, he didn't want to go because he wanted to play a game on the computer. Then he "didn't really know" which shoes he wanted to wear. He wanted the light up shoes, then he wanted his crocs and then he finally decided on the horrible spider man plastic flip-flops that are impossible to keep on his feet. I, of course, let him wear the horrible flip flops because I was just happy to hear him make a decision and get out of the house.

We started at Payless to take advantage of BOGO. It was horrible. They didn't have much to choose from as far as spring/summer options go. Max wanted the horribly bright red Lightning McQueen crocs, Grant was crying because he couldn't find his size and Jack wore around some pink mary jane's followed by Dora crocs. Grant finished off our time in Payless by screaming and running through an aisle followed by a punch to Max's face. That lost him his cookie that had been promised to all boys who were "good" which of course, caused a bigger scene.

We ended up at Target. Max wanted Spider Man light up shoes and flip flops, Grant wanted boots and Jack kept trying to stand up in the cart and dive out. I found each precious child a pair of knock off Vans. I just hope they can get them on themselves....

Nifty Knitter

I went to a Learn-to-REALLY-Knit party a couple weeks ago. I felt very domesticated and a little bit old sitting around with my yarn and knitting needles with lots of other super fun girls doing the same. It took me over an hour to knit four rows on the beginning attempts of a scarf that will probably remain on the knitting needles for years to come and will eventually be retired next to my scrapbooking supplies.


When I got home and Max saw my yarn he asked me when I was going to make him a camo hat. This was Sunday morning and he said he needed his hat to wear to school the following day so he could write about it in his journal. So, I yanked out my friendly Nifty Knitter and made him an entire hat in an hour. I even made one for my niece that afternoon just for kicks. Of course, then Grant needed a hat. He asked for rainbow but I just didn't think that would quite fit his image.

Max thought Jack and I should try on the hats, too. Grant's actually fit Jack better; I might have to find some rainbow yarn after all...

FYI: At Max's conference his teacher showed us his writing journal with a picture and story about his hat.

words of wisdom from the boys

I was trying to wake Grant up to get ready for MDO. He said, "Just two more sleeps, Mom. I just need two more sleeps."

Nate told Max he had his jacket on inside out. Max responded, "Well, no wonder I couldn't find my pockets!"

We drove by a baby horse in a field and Grant said, "His mommy and daddy fell in love and that's how he was born."

Grant told me, "My legs really hurt. I think I need to get some new ones."

(From a year ago that I had written down in a forgotten journal): I told Max we didn't have any mushrooms for the recipe I was making for dinner. He said, "Well, do you have any marshmallows?"

A.D.

Last weekend my boss gave me some tickets for the Razorback basketball game. I called Adam and invited him to go with Nate, Max & Grant. His girlfriend, Annie, got a ticket and came, too. After the game we celebrated A.D.'s upcoming birthday...the big 23. Leah came over and helped me with dinner. Such a fun family time. Happy Birthday (last week), A.D.!

Big Boy Bed

Jack has been demonstrating his abilities to launch himself out of his crib over the past month. He hasn't officially done it... I've caught him in the act and pushed him back in... but we know the inevitable day is quickly approaching. In preparation, Nate and I started talking about how he was going to be needing a bed. As I was driving past 9 Months Later a couple days ago I saw the perfect little bed...

We decided the most economical choice at the time would be a toddler bed:
1) We don't have to buy new bedding.
2) We have the mattress.
3) I kind of want to put all the boys in one room and have a play room so the small size would fit better if I ever get enough guts to try them all together.
4) I am a sucker for cuteness and as far as beds go, toddler beds are REALLY cute!

We put the bed together just for fun a couple nights ago. When Jack got up yesterday morning I moved the crib mattress onto his new bed to show him. He immediately ran over, climbed up by himself and laid down. Last night I hadn't moved the mattress back into his crib yet so I thought I'd just try letting him sleep in his new bed. He laid down, went to sleep and let himself out of his room at 7:00 this morning. WHAT? I was expecting the horrors of moving Max & Grant into a big bed... it wasn't pretty. Nate's mom watched him today and said he took his nap on his little bed perfectly. What a dream child (unless he's sick and possessed by demons).

(I'm still skeptical and am thinking of this as the honeymoon period). But for now, way to go, Jack!

Happy Birthday, Natey!

Today Nate is 32 years old!

We celebrated last night since we have community group tonight. Leah came over and watched the boys so I could "surprise" Nate with a date, just the two of us. While we were out, Leah and the little guys made a beautifully decorated cake with LOTS of sprinkles.



How much more fun could getting older be?

Brutal honesty

Yesterday morning I was rushing around trying to get all the kids, including our neighbor, in the car to go to school. After everyone was in and buckled and I got in the driver's seat, Max announced from the back seat, "Mom, your nose is bright red with a white circle on it. It looks like strawsberry ice cream with whoop cream on top."

Thanks, Max.

Maybe I should start putting make-up on before I leave the house...

Spin Baby

Jack loves to spin. Last night I started out spinning him but after falling into the couch at one point I realized that I might accidentally fling him into the fire place so Nate took over. Nate is a much better and faster spinner anyway. For some reason Jack calls it "Shake" instead of spin but he also calls Bunny Bear "Blanket" so we're not real sure about his labeling abilities.

Here's what Jack might look like if he were drunk...

(apparently, when you take video on our camera you can't rotate it so that's why it's sideways. Just adds to the drunken element.)