Singing for Grace

Cruz had a big performance at his preschool's church.  The kids sang well and it was neat to see all of the banners at Grace Presbyterian church--it reminded me of my Grammie.  I adore his preschool, teachers and am so thankful that Tyce gets to go there next year.

The Golden Bears

Oshyn played a season of basketball for Upward Sports this year.  They do it up to the max (yet charge the same as YMCA?).  They had reversible jerseys, shorts, and even little cheerleaders.  Before every game they pumped up this big thingy (see below) and the kids all said their names in a mic before they ran out on the court...all to music like the big whigs.    

 These pictures are less than good, but I'll chalk it up to the fact that these little men PLAYED.  It was so fun to watch them actually have entertaining, hard, team working, lay up making games.  Oshyn was a stud (and knew it) and even attempted what I called 5-pointers.  It was a great season for the "Golden Bears".

Snow buffs

This year ski week wasn't filled with a maximum amount of snow.  We didn't have to use chains going up to the cab or plow the driveway.  The slopes had enough white stuff (real or fake, it worked just fine) and the kids were stripping off clothing instead of buying face masks so they wouldn't freeze to death.  Pleasurable skiing conditions for little people and perfect for Millie and Cruz who just started skiing this year.

The first day, back at the cab, Millie, Cruz, Tyce and I braved the snow that there was and had a bit of a snowball fight and made a miniature snowman.

That day, and all of the days following, Pop Pop and I would pack up about 15-20 sandwiches and head to the hill to deliver lunch.  We set up near the ice skating rink and got caught up on all of the cool tricks everyone had been doing so far.

We weren't sure how Cruzer would do, but with the great weather and a stellar attitude, he was an animal.  One day of ski school and the kid zoomed down the hill like he was born with ski's attached to his feet.  It was so fun to watch (on video) how proud he was of himself and the pure laughter coming from his belly when he fell every once and a while.  Kids are amazing!

Some Cabin/Snow-isms I don't want to forget:

Millie: Cwuza, do you know what 'none of your business means?' (She asked this 3 or 4 times, very politely before he answered back, "No, but I know what 3+3=...6!"

To Tyce the cabin was "the cabbage" :) 

Every night, everyone came home excited but tired.  When we got them all in bed there wasn't much of a peep heard from the bunk room.  Dreams of the slopes danced in their heads.

Here's a glimpse of our rocker, Cruz, on the slopes.  I sped it up a bit so it wouldn't be super long, so beware if you get snow sick. 

Practicing

I saw this cute photo idea on Pinterest with all of the kids stacked.  We tried to practice without a newborn baby on top...still wondering if one more would make it on there without Tyce flipping him off for a good time!  We will see...

Roughin' it

Beau has been camping about once a month with the scouts in our ward since he has become the Young Men president.  This has been a great learning experience for him, but try telling your little boys that you're going camping and they aren't.  Not fun.  The day he got home this last time, as much as I'm sure he wanted to sleep in the comfort of his nice, warm, cozy bed, he told the boys they were going camping.  They didn't go far--just out the back door, but they were beyond thrilled.  

 I could see the flashlights on as they were reading books in the dark of night.  

Morning arrived and they were all bright eyed and bushy tailed!

Tyce looks like he had a rough night...he was the only one in this picture that didn't sleep in the tent!

Camping was a success!  They can hardly wait for another adventure & boys night out!

Woodbridge Wilderness

Practically in our own backyard, there is a "wilderness" area.  Ever since I can remember, its been closed.  Sad part is, it used to be open all of the time until some smart guy decided to gas the place and set fire to it all for "fun".  I just found out it is open the 1st and the 4th Saturdays of the month (with supervision at the gate)...we had to check it out!  I've been wondering for years what was behind the chained gates.

The boys were ready for some wilderness!!  When I told them where we were going, true to their nature--they both put on camo shirts, jeans and boots.  Oshyn even threw on a "safari" hat.  The excitement was awesome.

We had a little tour guide show us around.  No joke, he looked about 12, but was something fancy in the military.   

Cruz got a cut from some very dangerous grass :) which slowed him down a bit, but he survived without a band-aid for quite some time.  He wouldn't suck on it like we all advised him.

 My little tree hugger enjoying the log walking.

We saw a deer skeleton to round off the day.  They took the skull but we were able to look--not touch, the rest.  

We can hardly wait to show Daddy and Tyce the gem of wilderness in our backyard!

Funny Faces

Lover boys (& girls)

 

 Here are all of our Valentine's...can you feel the love?!?

Oshyn to Beau 

Cruz to Beau 

Oshyn to me and Gma Annie

 Cruz to the fam (kind of funny when you look at the card to him from us...)

 To Cruz from Mommy & Daddy--The SAME!

To Tyce from Mommy & Daddy

 To Oshyn from Mommy & Daddy

To Gma Annie from boys

The spread.  Pink spaghetti, not pink broccoli, some sparkling pink lemonade with some fancy cups, and strawberries, raspberries and blueberries with whipped cream for dessert.

We love to do up the little holidays with the boys.  I think they may think its okay too. 

Confused

It is the middle of February, but the weather has been so fabulous and warm that the trees think it's SPRING!  I love blossoms.

Sharing seats & Lately-isms

Tyce-isms:
I don't want a sticker! (when we enter story time at the library or the dr. office--both always offer stickers b/c most kids like them)  If by chance one makes it on the top of his hand, we may as well have given him a shot in the same place because he complains about it hurting for hours and CRIES his eyes out.  We avoid stickers.

Oshyn's school?
Tyce's swimming? (when we drive by familiar places)

I happy to see you! (to any of us when he sees us and when he's playing cars--this is what they say to each other :)

What's up dude? (when we least expect it--we can't help but laugh b/c we don't know where this one came from)

Jesus Christ was born? (he loves Bony M's "Mary's Boy Child", but says this at random times...

What's in your mouth?  Jesus Christ was born.

What do you want for breakfast? Eggs, toast, Jesus Christ was born.)

Brother Kerr is coming to town. (to the tune of Santa Claus is coming to town...???)

Going in na church? (anytime we look nice he asks us this)

Tyce always has a song in his head and walks around the house singing something almost all day.

Cruz-isms:

It's "soggy" outside today. (Foggy :)

Socks that are connected to your pants...those are called tights!

'Party Rock' has a nice beat...a COOL beat!

Cruz is very proud and honored to have a CTR ring. C=Choose, T=The, R=Right.  He received it from his Primary teacher and has been making really good choices when he wears it.  I should have gotten one sooner!

Oshyn-isms:

The goal for the year for O is to think of others first.  He has demonstrated this in ways recently without any prompts, which has been really neat.  At school they receive "otter bucks" for good behavior, getting work done, etc.  Occasionally they can cash them in at the "Otter store".  One day he came home and had bought Tyce a book with cars and Cruz a Star Wars bobble head.  I asked him what he bought for himself and he said, "Nothing".  I assumed he just didn't see anything he liked, but O told me that he didn't have any otter bucks left after he bought Cruz and Tyce their presents.  Wow.  

He's worn his contact for up to 12 hours!!  and isn't struggling with them anymore!  Yay!

The boys are obsessed with "jinxing" each other...

Cruz: Jinx!! You owe me a coconut!

Oshyn: Do I have to go all the way back to my homeland??

For about a week straight I was asked to sing the National Anthem, so the big boys could start playing baseball in the backyard.  Cruz used the tramp for his ball return net and Oshyn used the rebounder.  Good stuff.

 The "Worker Guys"