In a nutshell

If I say "JUMP!" Oshyn says, "How high?" while Cruz lays on the floor. I love these guys, even when they make me crazy.

I wonder what will #3 be like?!?

Lovely Lake

If you can look past the mass amounts of duck/geese poo, Lodi Lake beach is a grand place to spend the afternoon.

The First Day of the next 17 years...

To say he was a tad excited is an understatement. Oshyn has been counting down the days since preschool ended in May. He could NOT believe that he actually got to go today. I don't know what thrilled him more--getting to eat lunch there, a new playground, or that he GETS to do homework. Watch out Kindergarten...here comes O!

The Trek *uncovered*

We just returned from a fireside at the Stake Center where a slide show was put together of the recent Trek we went on. I realized how long ago it already seemed--I had better write something before more slips away...here is a taste of what it was like, but no one will ever know truly unless they were there.

Day 1: We arrive at Tragedy Spring, California late afternoon and are given a tour by the ranger of the monument. We then travel a short drive to our campsite for the night. Families are assigned and it is very apparent after about 2 minutes that two of our "sons" might need to be tied up with ropes very soon or maybe even put on short leashes. Wow. Ward talent show under the stars. Flashlights only for the Ma's and Pa's. Dark. Dark. Dark. Sweet dreams...until who knows what time and I am awaken to the snoring of someone camping near by. But oh, the stars are awesome.

Day 2: Rise and Shine with the sun. We pack up and head out on our first day of the trail. The first 2-miles were from the original Mormon Immigrant Trail. Rough, rocky, and hills. Two hard to motivate boys. 6 miles seemed long enough in the dirt, dust, and sun, not to mention the handcart and a baby in my belly (at least my arms didn't get tired :) This is going to be an adventure.

So happy to see the port-a-potties...not because I had to go, but that means we made it! Family reflection time, some dutch oven pizza, and wonderful pioneer stories. Everyone is beat after a long day. I guess I won't be hearing the girls chat it up all night. Stars still fabulous.

Day 3: A death in the family (mock, not real) starts the day off differently to say the least. Must carry on. 4-miles up and down a much more traveled trail. Surprise! All of the men are taken for the Mormon Battalion. Ladies left to fend for themselves. Jovial, singing, strong women pulling the cart. Stop at a water hole. All is well until an uphill climb. Relief sets in when the men are seen lining the path. Why are they just standing there? Part of the "plan"...our Men take over the wagon when we reach them (even the two little whipper snapper boys help). Good thing--big hill ahead....I mean HUGE HILLS ahead. Slipping in the dirt and rocks,

multiple ropes needed, all carts need about twice the man power to make it up. Relief to see camp once again. Men and women go back countless times to help ALL of the families up the HILL (18+ carts). Very very cool. Once again tired teens--and Ma's and Pa's. And to think thereal pioneers averaged 16 or 17 miles a DAY. That used to not seem quite as far until we

embarked upon this journey feeling an inkling of their struggles and burdens. How did they do it? Brought games for down time--never played them, everyone too tired. Wet wipe bathing. Pony Express delivered mail from parents. Alone time for all. Testimony meeting. Carry on. Monster cookies. Tired Ma and Pa. Amped up teens (last night, you know). Did I mention I LOVED sleeping under the stars?--4 shooting stars tonight, the most so far.

Day 4: Morning came early for everyone today--actually woke from the bugle horn. Last day. 2 short miles, but worn out bodies all around. Silly made up Army songs along the way. We pulled up the tail end today. Port-a-potties seen. We made it. All is well. Only 3 bug bites. Can't believe its over already.

What an experience to learn of all of the sacrifice, faith, physical-mental-spiritual trials, and so much more that the pioneers gave up or went through to follow the Prophet and the Lord's plan. Beyond admirable. Something I hope never to forget.

A Date with my BIGGEST little

I told Oshyn that before school started he and I were going to go on a "date". Just him and I to go pick out a new outfit and shoes for school. He was PUMPED. Last Wednesday was the golden day and we took off alone. We had so much fun, from picking out radio stations, starting the evening with a milkshake from Up-and-Down, finding the best shoes-and laughing at other little kids trying to take them, trying on clothes (and me realizing the clothes he always liked best were the clothes he had on), and finishing off the night with some gluten-filled pizza from CPK--we were livin' it up! The best was when the next morning he asked, "Can we could go on a date again sometime? That was really fun." You bet ya.

I wanna hold HIM

It is always so so neat to see what's been going on inside for all of these weeks. Amazing and exciting. I can't wait to meet HIM!

A Blast from the Past

July 15th-18th, 12 miles, 8000 feet, 300 12-18 year olds, 27 Ma's & Pa's, lots of dirt and dust, & much more explaining to do...

Thursday morning

I love the nature trail at Lodi Lake and these two little guys that just happened to be there at the same time as I was...

To be strong or not to be strong

June. Swim team. So fun for me to watch Oshyn learn all of the different strokes, work so hard & get stronger. He moved from the 6 and under lane (lane 1) up to lane 2 and next to swim with the 7 & 8 year olds within the first two weeks. Pretty cool, especially since he just turned 5. Oshyn loved swim team so much that he kept wanting to put his swim suit on earlier and earlier in the day to get ready. At one point he even put his googles on when we were still at home. He couldn't wait to go.

And then the repetition of it all started to sink in. All they were doing was swimming laps, Monday-Thursday from 5:15-5:45p. I think at 5, I would have gotten bored too. Oshyn said he wanted to do swim team but just for 3 days on and 4 days off. Beau convinced him that he would be able to swim across Lodi Lake with Daddy because he was getting so strong from swimming so much. That is when the humility started to sink in :) and everyday I would hear something different about his strength...

(As he was flexing...)

"My arm is really hard."

"My muscles are getting bigger. Look it goes down right here and then up right here."

"I used to think it was boring."

"After swim team is over I'm going to be huge strong."

and later when everything went down with MJ, "Isn't Michael Jackson the best swimmer?" (...hmmm, I think you mean Michael Phelps.)

This all lasted another week or two & then it got "boring" again. Occasionally he asks about starting up swim team again. Next year we will try again and purposely pick the team that has the most meets (this one had one a month--and the first one was only for the older kids--so he didn't even get to race!). I know that will change his perspective. As for now, we are ENJOYING swimming again just hanging out by our pool.

Head banging muffled

The rocking hasn't stopped for Cruzer.  After nights of shaking the windows and sounds louder than someone hammering your wall down, we figured it was a good idea to pad this little banger's noggin.  A bit of dense foam and the little man is a bit quieter and hopefully cushioned.

Plastic surgery for the Loveys

Two neck lifts, some arm tucks, and lipo for Lambie's legs and these guys are good as new.  Neither one should be head-less or limb-less anytime soon.  Its amazing what a bit of string will do.

H20 Saturday

After a morning of waterskiing & knee boarding, there was an afternoon of swimming.

Here are the latest water tricks...

backflips

frontflips

and the warm concrete that can always unfreeze the frozen skinny boy and the rest of his family.

Cheese-ball

I love Goggles

"Ketchup"

*Don't worry Chad, not the red, tomato-ie kind, just a bit of make-up or catch-up from the past few months to supplement my blog book for later. 

I have been a slacker lately on this blog due to the 1/4 keiki that I've been working so hard on.  I have been spending my free time sleeping, but with the 16 week mark just past, I should be on the up and up.  So here's to some "ketchup" for the Nobmann's!  My goal is to get them all out by the weeks end...

Cruzer makes Twozer **unedited version**

If you weren't here for Cruz's b-day, after reading this (or even skimming it), you will feel like you were. Here's the play-by-play of the busy day...

Oshyn and Cruz started off as cocoons wrapped in their blankets to keep warm, then chowed down on some eggs on toast. I decided it would be a better day if we let Cruz open up just one present before Daddy went to work. We picked carefully--the scooter was #1! "That's for ME!! That's mines!!"

Cruz cried when I wanted him to get dressed to go outside, he wanted to keep his pjs on...then I told him he should wear his BASEBALL shirt. That made him a happy boy and Mr. Big Ears (aka. Oshyn) said, "Did you say BASEBALL?". Oshyn then ran upstairs to get his "uniform" for the day. While Oshyn got dressed, Cruz rode his "new scooter--I love my new blue scooter!!" outside.

Oshyn came down asking if I could help him put on his "pleats" because baseball players can wear "pleats" too. After a bit of screaming from Cruz after Oshyn took off for a minute on his new scooter, we went across to the grassy knoll and played baseball...which became chase...which became football (because of the tackling)...

And who can play football without a helmet?

After lunch, Cruz took a nap while O and I decorated the downstairs and made Cruz's cake. He was pretty surprised when he woke up (and the next day when he came downstairs in the morning he kept saying, "What the HECK?"). We took off for a little break to go to Oshyn's swim team--only to realize no practice on Friday's. The boys wanted to run the track instead. So we did. We got home around 6pm and then it was "Happy I-was-in-labor-two-years-ago Day" to me, so we ordered Nonaka's teriyaki rice bowls for dinner. Spiderman and Birthday boy scootered down the street to pick it up. By the time we got home Cruzer was ready for the party to begin!!

Beau got home a tad late and before he could even eat dinner the boys were chompin' at the bit to celebrate! Cruzer was so pumped to blow out the candles that he did it not once or twice but by the end of the night, THREE times (...and continued to ask about blowing out candles for the next few days).
He was a little present opening pro, so serious and excited about everything. A "HUGE" train track went up using all of our pieces and we had a few happy campers for the rest of the evening.

We finished the day where we began, with some scooter riding. Hope you had a Happy Birthday little man! We can't believe you are already TWO! (Although at times you act like you're 22.) You are giving us quite a ride and we love you.

A trip to be with the GG's

June 6-14, 2009

What a fortunate gift I had the day after Cruz's birthday. Grandma Annie flew in for the week to be with the little men so I could go back to Pennsylvania and pamper my fabulous Grandparents for a week. An unforgettable experience in many different ways and one that I will cherish that I had the opportunity to take. I learned first hand that life sure has its twists and turns as the eighties come your way, but if I can take it in stride and with a bit of humor as my Grandparents showed me by their example, I can face the challenges and trials and keep on keeping on until Heavenly Father is ready for me to come back home. Thank you for having me Grandma & Grandpa!

Luck for me, my brother had to work, so he came home early from the beach and I got to see him for the last few days. You were missed Marcy!!

The Soccer Star and his "pleats"

Oshyn had another fun soccer season. Here it is all bundled into about 3 1/2 minutes. He's number 4...the one in the orange shirt. :) One of our family friends, Troy, was the coach and his little guy Matthew was on the team along with a handful of other kiddos we got to know. My favorite Oshynism of soccer was that he was obsessed with wearing these cleats that we inherited and to this day calls them "pleats".

Cruzer makes Twozer

More to come on that milestone when I return from Pennsylvania...

BIG Surprise

On Wednesday this is what I found in the parking lot.  I kept asking Beau which grown-up this car belonged to.  Daddy's truck hasn't been the favored ride for the mini passengers this week!

FYI--It is a Ford Edge for those who inquired.

Crudini and destructive tendencies

An update on the bed situation (mostly for remembering later--dulled down a bit since blogger just erased my entire post--bah humbug)...

Cruz is staying in his room, not coming out--which is something I wondered about both of my boys when I de-cribbed them.  It's kind of funny to me that it takes a while for them to truly realize what kind of freedom they have just been given.  Cruz (and Oshyn when he was little) calls--well, YELLS to me, "I READY TO GET UP!!!"  He doesn't get up until I come into his room.  I like it.  I have to say that the head banging has ceased when going to sleep, but upon waking he bangs his noggin against the headboard or wall just as hard as before.  Brain damage inevitable?  Hopefully not.  Headache for life?  I don't see how not.

Nights have been a success.  Oshyn wants to sleep with Cruz every night.  I had him give his little brother one night of flying solo, but they have cuddled the other two.  

Nap time is a different story.  Maybe it is because Policeman Oshyn doesn't nap.  This is one of those rare times I'd like a camera baby monitor.  I want them to have privacy in life, but spying sounds good after the past few days.  Cruz stays in his room during naps too.  And eventually sleeps.  It is the in between time that is a small mystery.  I don't hear much, but when I go to get him afterwards, I see much.  The first day it was cars and toy bricks in bed, the second day, stuffed animals and a book.  Kind of cute and as long as he stays in there I don't mind.  Well, today the norm must have gotten boring.  I walk in to greet him with a smile and all over his bed are tiny scraps of ripped up books (these pictures below do NO justice, this is the remains--after the clean up) and the art wall in their room has been cleared of its masterpieces (it used to be COVERED almost completely).  I have no idea how he reached so high on the wall, but he did--hence another reason for the spy camera.  

When I asked Cruz if he was the destroyer of all of these things, he calmly replied, "Yep."  No remorse at all.  This isn't his first book slaughter and I can't seem to get the "respect-your-books" into his almost 2-year-old brain.    

Question: Any ideas of what to do to keep the books safe or to help him understand? (besides moving them on the top shelf--I want Oshyn to be able to reach them)  Suggestions welcomed ASAP, another day that goes by--another book (or 5) down the drain.

The latest place to hit the hay

After our little animal started breaking out of his cage, I've been anxious to just put him in a "big boy" bed.  Less chances of having to put a cast on any, or multiple parts of his body.  So last night, after a good book and a good prayer, Cruz slept on the bottom bunk.  We weren't sure if he would be in and out all night or not, but he was so pumped to be there--crib-less and with his OWN pillow, that he did awesome.  A nice pump up session for the potty training soon to follow... 

My boys (mostly Oshyn and Cruz if he can be convinced) like to make beds all over the house when they are playing.  Beds under tables, in tents, on closet floors, you name it.  As soon as we had the thought of putting the mattress in under Oshyn's bunk (we used to have all of our books and toys under there), O suddenly REALLY wanted to sleep there.  We denied him last night because of Cruzer's first night out of the pen, but tonight when he asked if he could cuddle Cruz until he fell asleep, the answer was "Sure."  I figured it would last all of two minutes until Cruz would scream "Leave me alone!" but when Beau went in to check on them, this is what he found.  I love it.  Hopefully I love it all night and not rudely greeted at 2 am by cranksters.  Regardless, as for now, they are little sleeping angel buddies.

Tadapolts

On Wednesday we went to a birthday party and one of the party gifts was a jar with tadpoles in it.  Kind of fun to think we could watch the little guys get legs, arms, and then turn into frogs in 6-10 weeks time.  Our neighbor gave us a cup of dog food to feed them (they told us that is what they would eat) and Oshyn is determined they are called "tadapolts".  If I refer to them as tadpoles, he corrects me.  They made it home on our bike with Cruz protecting them, but as I look at them only 2 days later, I only see one swimming.  Kind of pathetic when we started with about 8, but I don't know what we are doing wrong...I don't think they need to be pet, or taken for a walk, and we have talked to them periodically.  Let's just cross our fingers that the one makes it through the night and that hopefully one or two others are just sleeping.  I guess if they don't, this will be a good story to tell the kids when they want a dog--"We can't get a dog!  We can't even keep tadapolts alive for 3 days!"

Bug lover?

Cruz is intrigued with bugs.  He calls most flying bugs "bees or butterflies" and crawling bugs "ants".  One Sunday at church he was being a "bugger" himself (I couldn't help that one) and someone was trying to pray.  Luckily we saw an ant on the floor and I let it crawl on my hand so he could check it out.  He suddenly became very reverent.  The ant became my friend.

It isn't abnormal to find him laying on the sidewalk outside, or recently in our kitchen, watching them march their way around.  He will yell for me to come and look.  "Mom, come ere...I need show you something."  Then after examining and watching them for a few minutes the lover turns into a hater.  "Can I squish it Mom?"  And that is the end of that.  No matter how many Cruz squashes to smithereens they never seem to run out.

Preschool's out for Summer...Preschool's our for-ever!

Oshyn had his last day of preschool today.  It was a party at a gymnastics joint.  They seem to do that a lot here--have the end of the year school party's at a "place".  We never did that, but I guess that is what happens when you aren't allowed to bake cupcakes for a party at school anymore. 

Last week was his official last day of school-school.  I showed up on my bike to pick him up and I must have missed the "bring your camera" memo.  Every single mom/dad that was there had there cameras with the big lenses taking tons of pictures of the kids on the playground.  Whoops.  I'd like to say that was the first time I felt out of the "Mom-loop", but that would be a big, fat lie.  Oshyn didn't seem to notice.  I love that guy.  Grace Presbyterian Preschool was a fabulous, happy beginning to school-life.  Thanks Miss Patty and Teacher Jan.  So long, until Cruzer turns 3.