Video Issues

I'm having some major issues uploading a video....hopefully this works. If it does, the main points of Cate's conversation are:

• She is two
• Carter is at school
• Furfy is getting her feet
• Carter is downstairs playing "BuhBox" (XBOX)
• She answers no to everything
• Bennett is downstairs playing with "Bray"
• No, she didn't take a bath (but yes, she just did)
• "Boots" is in the tub
• With "Dora Splorer"
• Furfy is under the table
• Buddy is outside

Soccer Weekend

We spent the weekend in Overland Park, KS cheering for Carter and his soccer team. Carter loves out-of-state tournaments!!! Only two other boys on the team live in our town and the others are scattered throughout five different cities. These tournaments give them a chance to hang out together and they've all become great friends. Bennett and Brady also love away tournaments because they get to swim and hang with Hunter all weekend! Cate was great in the car to and from...slept over two hours each way and then was content to read her books and watch Clifford. It was a very enjoyable weekend! Tessa, Brady, Hunter, and Bennett...hanging out together during Saturday afternoons game.

They went swimming four different times...the hot tub was their favorite!

Notice the lack of swim diaper...she's getting to be such a big girl!!!

This is the first time we've used Cate's stroller since last fall. We're not big fans of strollers, but she fell asleep on the ride to the game and slept until it was over!!!

The boys love half-time so they can play on the field!

We will be back in Kansas next month for Bennett's first away baseball tournament...Go Team Illini!

Outta Here

We're all packed and ready to spend the weekend watching soccer in Kansas City. GOOD LUCK CARTER....GO SLSG!!!Don't you just love Cate's "bed head"??!!!

Tuesday Blues

I'm not feeling great today. I have a bad cold and can't breathe or taste anything. I even made a great new recipe for dinner and everyone raved about it....even Bennett..(he said "you've finally cooked a meal I actually like") and I couldn't even taste it. Boo hiss.

Chicken spaghetti-recipe from The Pioneer Woman. Used a bit less cheese in the filling and more on the top...figured boys were more likely to eat it if it was smothered in cheese.

Carter, Bennett, and Brady enjoying some good eats and great conversation.

Cate was a bit ornery today. More so than usual. The highlight was when she put Bennett's hockey jersey on and got stuck. Made herself a little straight-jacket. Karma...love it :)

And I ate some crow today. I have yet to meet a mother who hasn't fallen victim to the "I'd never" trap, and I'm definitely an overachiever in this category. After having three boys, you'd think I would have learned my lesson...but noooo. When I was pregnant with Cate, I said to Scott "Cate will always have the cutest outfits on and her hair fixed when we leave the house. I will never take her out in public with mismatched clothes or dirty face". HAHAHAHA! Seriously, what was I thinking? Anyway, today when I had to run to Farm Fresh for some milk, Cate, with chocolate all over her mouth, insisted on wearing a stained dress, non-matching pants, no socks, and a hat that had a a huge crease in it. Again, I ate my words, but I was in no mood to argue with her. I am still learning to accept that some days are just like that and I need to move on.

Of course, she still looks super cute!

I just took my Benedryl D and my Ambien sleeping pill (don't worry Mom, the pharmacist at Walgreens said it was ok) and I'm hoping for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow is a do-over.

Breakfast With A View....

My favorite part of the kitchen rehab is that the kids can sit at the counter and eat...makes keeping an eye on them much easier while I'm cleaning up. However, we need to purchase new bar stools so they don't have to actually sit on the counter anymore :)
*Still need to finish backsplash and replace dining room light...will this renovation ever be complete??!!

Brady & Cate

Six months ago.....

And today.....still jumping
This picture makes me think of the Olympic female hockey goalie who said that she spent most of her youth stuck in goal while her older brothers practiced their slapshots. No fragile girl here :)

Way Back When-sday

My Bald Beauties :)

Carter 1998

Bennett 2002

Brady 2004

Cate 2008

Our Family Motto

A Letter To My Brady

Dearest Brady-

I'm going to get straight to the point. I'm not stupid. I realize that you don't give me enough credit because I'm a "girl", but I'm on to you. Totally.

Let me start by saying that your father and I have been very lenient with you. For a few reasons but mostly because you have two older brothers (one who is basically a juvenile delinquent) so you've seen and heard more things than a five year old should. However, lately, your antics are pushing me to the edge. Most things you do are normal five year old boys stuff, but your language...oh Brady, your language is so bad. When I sat you down last fall to talk to you about this, you asked me to list of all the words you can't say. And I obliged...hoping you would avoid these words all together. I'll give you credit. You're very creative in what you say, but you're not fooling me. No...I know what you meant when you told Bennett you were going to "kick his ace", but I often feel the same, so I let it slide :) And when you sat down at dinner, flipped up your middle finger and said "hello everyone, I'm the f-word"..well, that was just really funny. But the other day when you yelled "I have to siss" as you were running to the bathroom...that was taking things too far. Off to your room you went. And tonight, you were already in time-out for calling your brother "a friggin' idiot" (granted he was acting like one) when your other brother walked into the room and you called him a "loser". Breaking point..everyone has one, and I've reached mine. Gold star effort for claiming you were actually calling him a "luger, like in the Olympics. Because one time Ben slid down the stairs on his back and he reminded me of a luger and besides the word luger isn't on the list". Nice try, but no dice. I'm done. No more Mrs. Nice Mommy. And the ultimate punishment was enforced...no XBOX...gasp! The tears fell and an Oscar-worthy "Most Dramatic Performance by a 5-Year Old" ensued, but I'm holding my ground and your daddy is backing me. He told you a bar of soap in your mouth would be next...

So, please Brady....please think before you speak and no more bad words. Yes, it will be hard, but you can do it. Just yesterday, your teacher told me that you are a very "mature 5 year old". Prove it!!!

Love,

Mom

Way Back When-sday

Carter and Bennett.... 2002 Bennett, Carter, and Brady...2004
Bennett, Brady, Carter, and Cate (and Murphy)...2008

2009

Cate-24 month appt.

Cate had her 24 month doctor appointment on Thursday. I opted out of shots again. She doesn't need the final Hep.A (I think that's what it was) til she's in kindergarten and I declined the flu and H1N1 shots. Just didn't feel like a vaccinations kind of day, so we'll wait. She weighed in at a whopping 25 pounds. They measured her for height, but I don't trust their accuracy, so I waited til Scott marked "the wall" before it was official. 32.5 inches tall. Guess those Alton Giant genes passed over yet another generation.
Scott has been tracking the kids growth on this wall for the last 7.5 years.

Cate has grown a lot in the last year!

She's obviously tired of having her picture taken. Too bad!!

"The Vuh-Jay" Warning: Mature Audience Only

Last week I received an email from Carter's science teacher with this as the subject: Carter--funny! He is not in trouble so take a deep breath & get ready to laugh! I find it amusing that she felt the need to add that he is not in trouble...obviously, not the norm with him :) Anyway, she started the email like this: Just wanted to let you know that I have found a topic that interests Carter--reproduction! She went on to say that he is taking this chapter "very seriously" and she thinks he finally loves science. Wonderful. We couldn't be more proud. Nothing like sex-ed to bring out the genius in Carter.

When Scott and I asked him about it that evening, he told us he had to give a PowerPoint presentation on reproductive organs. Holy hell, I'm so not ready for this. He was talking a mile a minute..couldn't get the words out fast enough. It went something like this.... "I had to find diagrams of the female body and did you know women have hair 'down there'?? So ridiculous. (laughing hysterically the entire time) It's called a vuh-jay (he couldn't bring himself to say "vagina") And then I had to find pictures of a naked dude...and they have hair down there too" To which Sarcastic Scott answered "Yes Carter, you're going to get hair on your balls." Carter's jaw dropped and he actually seemed thrilled.

Kill. Me. Now.

He went on to describe other details of the project and how his class will soon be involved in "Game Plan" which is an abstinence program. I've never seen him more excited about school.

One more year til he's in highschool. Guess it's time for me to start mentally preparing myself for his teenage years....it's gonna be a rough ride!!

Jon Turns 15!

Last night, we celebrated our nephew Jon's 15th birthday at a local pizza joint. Family, food, and fun...what could be better?! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON!! Hope it's your best year ever :)Cate, Brady, and Delaney "helping" Jon open his gifts

Bennett, Brady, and Delaney begging Aunt Kathy for ice cream cake

Cate and Delaney had a great time running around!

Renovation Realities

On Monday, we started our kitchen renovation. Construction is so messy. We tore down the wall between our kitchen and dining room to open everything up and at least appear like we have more room. So far, the cabinets are down, the wall is gone, first round of drywalling/wall repair is finished, and our countertops and new cabinets/bar thingy is being built. I guess we're 50% done...can't wait til it's all finished and the cloud of dust is gone :)

Scott forgot to cut the power when he took the oven hood down. These two wires touched, and BOOM...sparks were flying. My first thought was that if he killed himself I was going to have to grab those wires and electrocute myself too...I can't raise these kids by myself!!!!!!!!! Thankfully, Scott's heart started again (!) and all is well. Sigh.