Cousins!!!!

We were spring break'n it this week at Granny and Pooh-Pa's house with:

ALL OF THE COUSINS

How fun is that?

8 little boys

All under the age of 9

All under one roof

Anyone else need an excedrin?

Day One: The Great Wolfe Lodge

We've got connections that hooked us up with cheep cheep cheep day passes to the water park.

Report on the near drownings of the day:

I took one of my little nephews to the top of a water slide so we could ride down together. The attendant told me that we couldn't ride down together. He is a tough little guy who will be two years old in July. So I asked him if he wanted to go down by himself. His heart was racing, he was smiling, he was splashing, and he said, "Ya"... letting him go by himself might have been a poor judgment call on my part. Oh well, he lived.

I was watching another little nephew who is also soon to turn two in the kiddy pool. I think every mother has seen that look of panic on their child's face in the bathtub, or pool as they look up at you through a thin layer of water. It's a look of, "I don't understand. What's going on? I can't breathe." Our heart jumps up into our throats and we race to the rescue. He was fine... just needed a few Auntie snuggles to help him calm down.

Mr. Fingers surprised me. We were all in the deep part of the wave pool having a good time. Mr. Fingers was bobbing up and down with the rest of us but I noticed he wasn't smiling. I asked him if he was doing alright and he said no. So I snatched him up and put him on my other hip (The snake was already occupying one). I told him that if he is having a hard time he should let someone know so they can help him. He said, "I couldn't ask for help... I was too busy trying to stay alive."

Despite our few close calls, a good time was had by all. Lets just say that when we got back to Granny and Pooh-Pa's house all 8 boys were tuckered out.

It really was a blast!

The next day we were off to the Hands on Children's Museum for a little song, a little dance....

... a little water down our pants.

We put all 8 boys in their black New Zealand t-shirts that Granny and Pooh-Pa brought back from their trip. This way we could keep track of them. One woman asked me if the boys in the black shirts were all related. I told her they were all cousins and she complimented them on being such good kids. -Always nice for a mom/aunt to hear.

-The Snake at Dr. Brain's office getting a check up.

And this is one of the cutest little boys ever! I think he looks just like one of the Whos down in Whoville... with his long eyelashes, big saucers for eyes, and dimples in both cheeks. If only he wasn't so attached to momma and would let his Aunties play with him more

-sigh... one day.

Oh the joy of Wagner's bakery in down town Olympia.... chocolate eclair.... heaven.

Every night the Snake and his cousin HAD to take a bath in Granny big tub with the jets.

No, that is not a turd floating in the tub... it's a toy otter... but it looks just like a turd. I think it's gross, but it is one of those "granny's tub essentials"

Thank you to Granny and Pooh-Pa for letting us invade their house, and for showing us such a great time!!!!

His Job: Make them.

My Job: Throw Them Away!

... only problem is, he's quicker at his job then I am at mine.


What's that in the corner? - a paper plane
What's that in the book shelf? - a paper plane
What's that in my bed? -a paper plane
What's that in my car? - a paper plane
What's that on the lamp? - a fire hazard, and a paper plane
What's that in Mr. Fingers back pack that used to be his homework? - a paper plane
What's that stuff piled up in the garbage can? - lots of paper planes
Where's my water bill? - oh yeah, I left it on the counter and someone made it into a paper plane.

That boy is exasperating.

"I don't want to go to the Bounce House....

.... it's boring. All they have is slides, and stuff to jump on, and it is just no fun at all."
-Lil Sis
I'm not even kidding. This is a direct quote!
What is wrong with this child?

So we FORCED her to go (with the rest of the boys who were totally excited) and she was almost in tears. Apparently having fun is some kind of torture and we are just cruel dictators that never let her do what she wants to do.

It took about five seconds of running around this place with her step-brothers for her to start having the time of her life.


They played so hard they were a sweaty mess. They needed hydration. They needed a breather. They needed to trap The Brain in a box.



Nope, the Bounce House is no fun at all.

While putting on our shoes to leave Lil Sis says, "Daddy, can we come back tomorrow?"

He's on to us....

We tried to nab ourselves a leprechaun... but no such luck.

We think that he must have known the tote was a trap. Next year we are going to have to be more clever when we disguise the trap.

That little devil took all of the gold coins and ran for the hills. In his haste, he dropped his hat.

He did play a trick on us before he left. There was a brand spank'n new box of lucky charms that he must have left for us on the table, and when we went to get the milk........

he had turned it green.

(green milk looks totally disgusting... but actually tastes like regular milk)

He must have dropped his shamrocks while he was here because the table was covered in them.

He was kind enough to leave one gold coin for each of the boys, and an anti-pinching button for them to wear today.

Better luck next year I guess. Oh well, it was still fun to try. Maybe next year we'll catch him!!!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

Leprechaun Trap

We are trying our luck this year...

we've been very clever...

we have set up a trap to catch a leprechaun.

As you can see, the original lure will be the rainbow (that we have created). And like any good rainbow there is a pot of gold at the end of it.

I'm sure the leprechaun will be totally shocked when he goes to take the pot of gold and the light saber will fall, and the "tote" will have him trapped! We have covered the "tote" in tin foil so the leprechaun will not be able to apparate once he is inside.



The boys have worked very hard to catch one of these illusive leprechauns.
They are each looking forward to seeing what they've caught in the morning... and claiming their wishes of course.

We are so tricky... poor little leprechaun...

He won't even see it come'n

Donuts from the Universe

Honey Bear and I watched this movie on Netflix call The Secret. I had heard of the book once through Oprah... (I am not a fan, and I'm embarrassed to say that I have ever watched her show).

The basic premise of The Secret is founded in the law of attraction. What ever thoughts you think... you will attract those things to you. Whether its good, or bad - what you think will find a way to become reality.

The universe is your catalog... you need only to decide what you want and then truly focus on it.

I thought back to the past few Anatomy and Physiology test I had taken. I had gone all out in my study and preparation for those test. But, after all of my effort I only got "B"s on them. After watching this movie I realized that I was so worried about getting a B on the test that the universe made that happen. Doesn't matter if you want it to happen or not... if you think it, it will happen.


So I decided.. What the Heck? I've got nothing to loose. Lets give this a try. First thing I did was focus on the Anatomy Midterm I had coming up that Monday. Only good thoughts this time. What happened? I put in the exact same quantity and quality of studying but this time I got 97%!!!!!

I decided I wanted to deposit more checks into my account. Basically I want to have more money. What happened? That week I got:

1) Reimbursement check from the church - That same day!
2) A Birthday check - The next day!
3) Our state tax refund - The day after that!
then after only a couple more days...
4) Our federal tax refund

Wow! So far the universe has totally delivered.

So I went and bought the book. Last night Honey Bear was reading it and he said, "I want a donut and a Dr. Pepper."

I said, "You are going to have to be more specific with the universe."

He replied, "I want a Safeway glazed donut, and a Dr. Pepper."

Guess what happened?

The universe delivered.

Now I need to get back to studying for my finals. Finals that I am going to rock and get straight "A"s on.... right universe????

Katie's Birthday Give-Away

A Message from Mr. Fingers

I'm sorry about the cake and ice-cream you know. At least the balloons will keep you entertained.

(ya I know... he spells like his mother)