Let's Play Ball!

We are excited that baseball season has begun! Our weeks have been booked with back to back practices for both Aiden & Ethan. Ethan is excited to be finally playing ball this year with the Cubs. He actually has out performed some of his teammates during practices. He has his big brother & dad to thank for that. We’re hoping he has a fun experience in organized ball. Aiden will actually be taking a step back this year as far as league division, but we think it will help refine his skills—Mike also thinks it will be an extra boost of self confidence to be one of the better players on the team.  I worry because all these kids are coming from T-Ball (where Ethan is this year-some of them even swing a bat like Ethan, aye). I know it’s way too early to make any calls, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed that he doesn’t get bored, and most of all has fun! Both of them love the family support/cheer, so if you can make it out to a game (or two) this season, they would love it. Opening day is March 14^th (I think), but with the March rain it may be rained-out, as it has years in the past. We will keep you posted with the game schedules when we get them. Also, raffle tickets are $5 each, and the prizes are Visa gift cards ranging from $50-$200. Let us know if you want to buy one. We have to turn the money in by March 2^nd. GO CUBS! GO DIAMONDBACKS! (sounds odd haha)

On the way home from school today

 Mom to Ethan: “How was your field trip today? Where did you go?”

Ethan to Mom : “Pennsylvania”  (If I didn’t know any better I might have believed him)

Mom: “Really? How was your flight?”

Ethan: “Great. We jumped out of the plane and landed on the roof.”

Mom: “Cool. What color was your parachute?”

Ethan: “Red, white & blue” 

My new gadget!

So for anyone who does not already own the iPhone, all I can say is go buy one! I have to say that the iPhone is the best gadget they’ve invented since the laptop (and wifi)-it’s both, all in one little small bundle of love (BOL)! Here are some of the wonderful joys of my new little BOL:

 The touch screen—SO COOL (minus the fingerprints)

1. Facebook—soooo my employer thought they could keep me off of FB, ha!
2. Shazam—I hold my phone up to the speaker and SHAZAM it will give me the information of the song currently playing (artist, song name, album, year, and even the option to purchase it from iTunes-which is also on the phone)
3. AroundMe—Open the application and there is a list of places (bars, pubs, bars, banks, hotels, hospitals, etc.) All I have to do is pick one of these places, lets say “bars” it finds my current location and lists all the bars within a few miles from me. If I find one I like (so hard to imagine), I click on it and it gives me the address, phone number, point on a map, and even turn by turn driving directions (maps program also included—designated driver is not)
4. The weather & traffic is only touch away. Of course so is outside, but not nearly as cool as knowing the exact temperature, humidity, or which way the winds are blowing.
5. Work & personal email right to my home screen, with a keyboard that doesn’t predict what it thinks I want to say, but autocorrects my typos (brilliant)
6. Piano Man—that’s right! It’s guitar hero for piano right on my tiny little BOL
7. It doesn’t stop there, a dictionary, encyclopedia, crosswords, Pandora, YouTube, and many many more.
8. You can even plug your ear buds in and listen to your iTunes. “yes kids, I am still on this very important phone call….Bom Bom Bidum Bom Bom Bidummbumm…Disturbia”

It truly is a wonderful BOL…oh and it even makes a call or two. J

the choice is yours--and yours & yours

I decided to let the kids decide what they wanted for dinner yesterday, since I really wasn’t in the mood to come home and cook. “Chicken…Ribs…Spaghetti” Fridays! 5:00 is a great time to hit up the restaurants-it was empty and we were seated and served right away! After we have discussed and decided what we all want to eat, the kids are encouraged to speak up and tell the waiter their orders. They have become quite good btw. Aiden orders his, followed by Ethan’s whisper of “pasgehtti” and then its Ava’s turn. Our waiter was young, maybe 20, and was a real god sport about asking them what they would like, “and for you young lady?” “Oh, I have to go pee really really bad!” I tried to laugh it off and order for her, but he was already a shade lighter than his apron. It might have not been so embarrassing if lets say she didn’t speak so loud and clear! Poor kid. We get back to our table after getting her to the bathroom and she resumes coloring her menu. After a few seconds, she looks up at me and says, “I just don’t know mom. I just don’t know” as she is shaking her head like she is at a loss for words.

 So for the second night in a row I haven’t been able to muster up the energy to cook dinner when getting home. I again ask the kids what they want. Ethan shout’s, “French toast!” French Toast it is! “We have to have a veggie…or a fruit??” “Fruit!!” Caramelized apples atop the French toast, smothered in maple syrup it is! 

And now I question my sanity….if you could hear them now! 

They tickle me...

Mom to Ava: "What did you buy when you went shopping with daddy today?" (with her photogenic memory and all)

Ava: "Chocolate milk, apple juice, toothpaste..." thinking for a moment "...Apple Jacks  OH and Frosted Plates!" 

Mom to Ethan: "So what did you do at school today?"

Ethan: "Not much"

Mom: "Who did you play with?" (trying to get into a conversation with him)

Ethan: "I played tag with my friends."

Mom: "Were you chasing the girls?"

Ethan: "No, I only chase them on Thursdays, and tomorrow is only Wednesday."

DUH! 

Read before you start the video.....Ava's Melody

During dinner the kids love to talk about events that happened during the day, or in the past,

 but they love to story-tell. Unfortunately they all love to speak at once, so Mom & Dad never really hear much of what they are trying to say. Mom decides she is going to make a new rule, "if you have the wooden spoon in your hand it is your turn to speak. If you do not have the wooden spoon you listen and eat." So after a few rounds around the table, which was quite sucessfull, we came to the last round. "Last time around, think of something good," said Mom. Aiden gives a really nice "thanks" for his dinner, family, and friends (so sweet). Ethan follows suit and also gives "thanks"

 Little Miss Sunshine decides she was going to go out with a bang...a song...one she made up as she went. It was very cute...and then the spit....and the rock?!?!?!

Puppy love....or not??

Aiden (on the phone to Gracie): "You left your backpack at school."

Gracie speaking, Aiden silent

Aiden grin, giggle, silent

Aiden: "ok, bye"

Aiden hangs up the phone

Mom to Aiden: "So what'd she say?"

Aiden: "She said to meet her at the bar."

Miracle Drugs

Have you ever heard of “miracle” Tylenol or Motrin- or whatever “pain” medicine you give your child?  

Scenario #1

7:30am, Child #2: “Mom, I really don’t feel good. I don’t want to go to school my head really hurts.” As if emphasizing their “really” suggests that last time they said they weren’t feeling well they were full of you know what.

7:35am: After the whining, nagging, and moping Mother administers 2 chewable Children’s Tylenol tablets—after all it is cold & flu season

7:37am: Child #2 caught running around, laughing hysterically, and wrestling with his brother.

I don’t know about you, but adult Tylenol doesn’t even take my headache away…I should really consider switching.

Scenario #2 (child truly sick)

Child #1: Fever 103, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, and congestion

Mother: Administers PLENTY of Motrin

Child#1: This time approximately 30 minutes later, when the medicine has actually kicked in. Running around, dancing, laughing, exhaustion/fever GONE, playing, as if those above mentioned symptoms never existed in this child on this day!

I guess what Vicodin, Percocet, and many other unmentionable drugs do for us adults. J

Ava’s Memorable Moments

First let me start by saying, Congratulations to  Jestina and her fiancé Matt, who were recently engaged on Christmas Day. Jestina is my cousin and also Ava’s McNanny.  With all of the wedding planning to be planned, Ava is becoming increasingly obsessed with weddings and getting married. Ok, so she's only been with Jestina for a total of 1 (one, uno, ein, un) day, and she is already obsessed. All through dinner she talked about “her wedding” and how I was going to have the privilege to be in it. Here’s how she broke the news to her father:

Mike to Ava: “Hi hunny. Are you getting ready for bed?”

Ava (all excited and in a very high-pitch mousy voice): “Daddy, guess what?!”

Mike: “What?”

Ava: “You and mommy are going to be in my wedding <Inaudible, squeak-squeak @ 5,000wps>  I am going to have 2 pretty dresses, one pink, with a crown, and pretty shoes.  <Inaudible, squeak-squeak @ 5,000wps> and you can come to my wedding.”   

Mike: “You have another 25 years to go before your wedding.”

Ava (as if her world just came shattering to pieces--- quickly turned to anger and defiance): “NO! I am going to have my wedding.” Continued by <Inaudible, squeak-squeak @ 5,000wps> for approximately 4 more minutes.   

Ava has another small, yet unusual, obsession….showering! She averages 2 showers a day, but has been known to take as many as 4. I guess she’s making up for the boys’ less than enthusiastic desire to be clean.  So one day I am getting ready to head out the door. I take a last look at myself in the mirror before I deem myself ready, and here comes Ava strippin’, walkin’, and chatterboxin'. 

Mom to Ava: “What the heck are you doing?!?!”

Ava: “I’m going to take a shower.”

Mom (probably with one hand on the hip): “Oh no you aren’t. We have to leave right now!”

Ava (now naked and IN the shower-water off-getting ready to turn the water on): “Yes! I need to take a shower.”

Mom: “You turn that water on and I am leaving your butt here Missy!”

Ava (now stepping out of the shower, frustrated and angry, pointing her finger and scolding me, as she slowly annunciates her words): “DON’T YOU DARE!” 

Update: Today she is telling Jestina that her wedding is tomorrow. Guess she better get her butt moving on finding Prince Charming!

Happy New Year

We aspire to learn something new, laugh out loud more often, cry less, play more, and make it a memorable one...

 Happy 2009!

♥The BomG’s