Way Too Short

Today when Carson got home from school I mentioned to him that his jeans looked really nice. They didn't have any starts of any holes (we are REALLY trying to make it to the end of the year without buying them new jeans! But I don't want them to look scroungy either) and they weren't nearly as big as the ones he likes to wear. I grabbed him to look at the size and he instantly starts, "These jeans are NOT properly marked. They are WAY too short!!! They say 8 Slim, but they are like 7s!" Sure enough they were 8s. I told him they looked really nice (and I am a FREAK about my kids jeans NEVER being highwater, or even close!) and he told me that when he sit down and put his ankle on his knee, he could almost see his socks. "I was so embarrassed today!" he told me. I always say that I think parents can prevent about 75% of the teasing that happens by helping their kids physical appearance (groomed and proper fitting clothes) so this made me laugh. My second grader has at least learned NOT to wear short pants. There are many grooming issues we are trying to get them to see...but luckily he gets that one! It is too funny the things kids pick up from their parents. Some are good... some are not good! I don't mind on this one! Too long is better than too short!

Close the Door

The boys have officially started scouts... and I have officially turned it ALL over to Chet. He is the sole parent responsible for the boys scouting. I take them, but he does everything else, including pick them up. Well, tonight they were reading through their books looking at things that they can pass off. Chet asks them, "What should we do everytime we leave the house?" In unison both boys immediately said, "Close the doors!" You know there is a serious problem...or they have heard SEVERAL times something when two boys say the same thing without even thinking. Well, both of those are true. On more than one occasion (ok several) we come home to a front door that is wide open. How does that happen you ask? Well, the boys run out it and don't get it latched. Then with any breeze at all, whoosh, it's wide open! I have to make a quick sweep of the house everytime with the kids locked in the car with instructions to not open it for ANYONE but me. They have no idea why, but they go along with it. Maybe the excitement of scouts will insure a closed door. A mom can dream right...or at least check myself!!! Side note: I pitty the fool that would try to steal from us. I think the thing of most value would be Carter's legos. What a waste of someone's time. They might be able to hauck $500 at very most!!! Just not a house full of things a thief dreams of!!!

New Invention

Carson is in love with anything with a motor. He is constantly talking about getting a dirt bike, and new 4 wheeler, motorized scooter...you name it, he wants it! Well, he has put a water bottle in between his bike frame and his back wheel of his bike, and now when he goes, it sounds like an engine going. It is CRAZY! The first time I heard it I was a little baffled by what it was, but it really does sound like a dirt bike. Anyways...maybe hard to imagine, but I have now noticed that EVERY kid in the culdasac now has one. They're all riding around with their bikes "rigged" with the device. It is hillarious...and SUPER annoying. All of the parents are just laughing at it, it is too funny. What a stupid thing, but Carson has the entire neighborhood doing it!!! WOW!!! I once said to a friend what a geeky thing Carson was doing, and she said to me that it seems like that to us, but he is soooo cool for 2nd grade. Too Funny I Tell You. This must be one of those things!!!

She is Cool

Today while I was at the boys school I witnessed my little social king in action. I have noticed that Caden is universally liked, and never lacking in the number of kids that want to play with him. Today while in his class all of the boys were talking about how awesome Tasha was. They must be on a Tasha kick, because everyone was talking about having a crush on her. Caden was at a small group where he had to write a sentence with the word "she" in it. Caden writes, "She is cool. Her name is..." Then he stops and calls to Tasha across the room and says, "How do you spell your name?" She tells him and he writes it and turns his paper in. All of the boys start laughing and saying, "Did you just write her name?" or "What did you say about Tasha?" and Caden just says, "She is cool. Her name is Tasha." like it was nothing. Tasha looks at him and smiles and says, "Thanks." and Caden says, "your welcome, you are," and smiles at her and walks off. It was like watching Deacons vs Priests with girls. He was so natural and not embarrassed. He didn't tease her or put her down. He simply complimented her and walked away. She gave him so much more attention than any other boy. Hillarious!!! My boys got "Girl Skills!" Too funny! (I'm sure I won't be thinking that in about 4-6 yrs. I will be hating those girl skills!) For now, I just know why they all like him! Sincere compliments...I could learn a thing or two from him!

Break

Today is the last day of the kids spring break. It has been crazy...crazy...and more crazy. Caden was building a golf course with the neighbor in my flower beds. They were bringing dirt from the neighbors yard into my completely mulched beds. I told them that could not happen anymore, so the next thing I know the older boys are telling me that Dawn (the super nice neighbor next door to us) was telling the boys (Caden and Conner the neighbor boy) that they might hit a gas line so they shouldn't be digging. I run outside to see that they have dug huge holes in their yard (luckily unfinished, but geesh!) Conner's dad comes and helps me fill them back in. Holy Moly!!!

Yesterday the kids woke to 30 hid eggs, a family movie, and some chocolate bunnies. Pretty simple. When we got home from church we probably had 80 eggs in our yard. My front yard is TINY, so they were EVERYWHERE!!! It was so kind of someone! Then we went to a friends house for "Your Traditional Easter Dinner." Everyone was to bring what they would normally cook. There was SOOOOO much food, it was delicious. We took spiral cut honey glazed ham, cheesy potatoes, and cinnamon rolls. There was baked chickens, brisket, sweet pork, and all kinds of sides. Yum!! Every parent (5 couples, 16 kids hunting) brought at least 10 eggs for every kid and the dads went and hid them in the front yard. It might be about 1/2 acre with tons of trees and rock beds and drainage pipes. 5 and under got 10 eggs and then we turned the others loose for as many as they could find. We now have 2 ice cream buckets full of candy. Chet and I made the mistake of putting 4 quarters into 4 golden eggs. There were a few crying kids, and some stealing of golden eggs right out of kids hands.

And a side note for one more crazy! For lunch today we ate 4 cans of Spagethi O's, 2 pkgs Ramen Noodles, 2 cheese crisps, 1 box Mac & Cheese, and 1 bottle (64 oz) apple juice. Then they all ran out and are jumping on the tramp now. Where does it all go??? How is that possible? I know I talk about this a lot, but I am more than worried!!! I don't know how we will feed them! I HATE spending money on food. I am learning that it is a MUST, because the more I have around, the more kids we get coming over. And I love that!!! I just have to make a lot of homemade snacks, with all my leftover time! Ahhhhhh, life!!! Crazy but worth every crazy moment!

Faces of Money

The boys were paid by the neighbor for working and he wouldn't let us give the money back, he said they were amazing workers and they really helped him. It started a conversation about who was on each bill. Chet asked who was on the $10 and nobody knew. Then he said, "President.." and both Carson and Caden in unison at the top of their lungs (because we are at dinner and they have to announce to the entire neighborhood that we are eating remember ) "President Uctdorf!!!" Chet and I couldn't help but laugh, and a lot! That must be both of their favorites because when they heard president, both thought him without hesitation. Too funny the way they think!!!

Workers

We counted the other day and realized that we have 17 kids, 13 and under in our little culdasac. There are 8 houses, 1 is not yet sold, and one couple has no kids. There are kids EVERYWHERE! We LOVE it!!! So almost every day that the temperature is above freezing, and some days that its not, you will find my oldest four running around playing with neighbors. Today was no different. Our neighbors are starting their landscaping, so he had a pick-up truck bed full of small landscaping rock. My boys were on him like stink on crap! He couldn't barely move around without a boy there wanting to help him. I made them all come home and I went to tell him that he can tell them to come ask me and I will tell them no, they cannot help. He is so kind, and told me that he would love to have them there! So, my three oldest were shoveling rock as fast as they could into a wheel burrow, and they were doing well. They emptied that bed in no time flat! Then he told them to sweep all of the stray rocks into the bed, and three boys were there sweeping as fast as their arms would go. Maybe they were just a pain, but before he could level out the rocks, they were ready for it to be dumped again. He was laughing because his kids were playing basketball on our hoop, wanting NOTHING to do with it. It made me feel bad that they were practically mobbing him, but I also liked to see them so excited to work. We went to lunch with Chet and they wanted to get home fast so they could help before he was done. Hopefully they have been instilled with a great work ethic, sometimes I wonder!!! All those years of Chet tripping over them as he worked seems to have paid off. They were strong, knowledgable, and willing! Gotta love having boys, think of all the possibilities.

Really Big

This weekend my BIL & SIL were up for Carter and Carson's baptism. They brought their 5 kids, and my kids had a BLAST with them. We have never really lived close to cousins they could play with, but it was fun to watch them become such natural friends. My nephews stayed at our house (13 & 15), so they were kneeling down to say prayers with us Friday night after about 4 hours of straight playing with my boys. Taylor and Tanner are both over 6' tall. Somehow, Cael got in between them for prayers. As we were getting ready to start, Cael looks up to say something to Taylor, and his eyes get huge. He says, "Whoa!!! You are BIG!" He then looks over to his other side and says the same thing to Tanner. Then he bows his head and closes his eyes. It was so precious!!! After all that time he had just realized how tall they are. We all got a good laugh out of it!