Distractions

No wonder it took you so long to fall asleep today (and many other days). Too much recreational diversions (aka "things to do" in your room). Better luck tomorrow.

Close Camping

After many weeks of planning--or maybe about 10 minutes, Beau and Sam decided to take the little ones on an adventure. Last Saturday, the tents went up, the fire burned--very safely, mind you (I'm not sure it is kosher in our HOA rules to burn a fire near the bball court, but what they don't know, won't hurt 'em), and the s'mores were roasted. You would have thought all of the kiddos died and went to heaven. They had a ball and danced the night away to the beat of their own drums. Good thing the morning sprinklers didn't put a damper on it.

The Grape Festival

Friday was "free" day at the Grape Festival (the local Lodi fair) if you went before 5pm. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for anything "free". I think it is in my Herzog jeans. So at about 4pm the little men and I trekked in the heat to make it before 5. After I almost died of heat stroke in about 5 minutes--it must be the pregnant thing--or not, I was thankful to get a call from Beau saying he wanted to go. So we got in...FREE!, went to the bathroom and turned around to walk out--getting our hands stamped for later of course.We returned when the sun went down which made a world of difference in the heat factor. I would be lying if I said I couldn't tell/smell all of the bodies that had been there before 5 and sweated their little hearts out (could also be the hyper sensitive pregnant nose too :)

The boys were jazzed to go on the "spinning wheel" aka a suped up version of the ferris wheel--the biggest ride they saw when we went earlier in the day. As soon as we got there Beau put Cruzer by the measuring sign to see if he was tall enough. He tripped out as if Beau was selling him to the circus right then and there. No worries, he was too short so even if he truly wanted to, he couldn't have gotten on. The rest of the night was an interesting one.

I learned much as we waited in lines and partook of the rest of Babylon...I mean the Grape Festival.

#1 I want my boys to stay LITTLE forever. The groping brace-faced teenagers freaked me out

#2 Cruzer made it in the port-a-potty (#2 that is)

#3 O's not afraid to go on a ginormous ferris wheel and waved to me everytime he went around

#4 Did I mention the teenagers?!?! (let me clarify

not just the ones with braces---ALL OF THEM)

#5 The old school ferris wheel was about 5 rides away and probably cost $4 less (I'm sure just as much fun)

#6 Pregnant people aren't allowed to go on ANYTHING, even little munchkin rides that barely move. If you try, they look at you like you were asking to go on the "Zipper".

#7 A $6 train ride for Cruz (and Beau) was worth every penny to see the excitement in his eyes as it went 1/2 mile/per hour

#8 Watching Beau on the above ride made me laugh aloud. He was by far THE BIGGEST kid on the train and his head towered above all

#9 Oshyn is a serious race car driver. Hopefully

in 11 years when he gets his license he won't crash into walls or other cars quite so much. He couldn't believe how cool he was and how fast he drove (possibly 1 mile/hour :)

#10 We were good to go after 3 rides--O could have stayed all night

"No Child Left Behind" Ski School

We had a great time Labor Day weekend in Redding (as always). One of the greatest parts was seeing all of the boys ski. They weren't all super thrilled before ski school began, but boy did they feel pretty dang good afterwards when they ALL got up. Beau and Nikki are definitely tricky...

The "Veterans" Beau & O

"Why does everyone think it was so cool when I skiied?" (Isaac commented, accompanied by a smerky grin)

Don't let Lukie fool you...I'm sure he was having a great time. He was the MOST excitedbeforehand.

Dean "the BIG dog" Panttaja made it the easiest/hardest. Hardest to see at the get go, but easiest to ski with because he could actually put some good weight on the skis.

Next years upcoming students.

This is the usual drive home after a nice ski day and fun filled weekend. Ahhhh! Peace.

Know-it-all-isms

(a bit old, but too funny to forget...)

On our way to the pool we saw some of our 11-year old neighbors up on top of their minivan hanging out. Cruz trailing behind Oshyn and I looked right up at them and with his deep angry voice & big lips said, "HEY! You need to

get down from there RIGHT NOW!" Oh were they scared. :)

At the doctor's office last week (for his way over due well-baby check-up, not the ER) the nurse came in to weigh him. She asked me if his diaper was soiled. Cruz looks up at her and says in his charming--ha! I mean I-should-own-this-joint voice, "I DON'T wear DIAPERS! Diapers are for BABIES!"

Later another nurse was coming in to give him immunizations. She said, "Would you like to give baby his immunizations in his legs?" In his same wonderful voice as before he informed her, "I'm NOT a BABY, I'm a BIG BOY." The nurse replied, "Well all right then BIG BOY, you can get them in your arms."

Cruz has a way of surprising people. He is just a little guy with A LOT to say and isn't afraid to say it. I have yet to meet another 2-year-old like this one and I wouldn't trade him for the world, even when he's cheeky.

All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Does that include growling? Because that is the most prominent thing that Oshyn has acquired from his 5 day/week, 3 1/2 hour day...