My Little Green Beans...

Despite the fact that we have not one ounce of Irish blood in our systems, it doesn't deter us from living it up on St. Patrick's day!  I remember being particularly fond of the holiday as a child and I have enjoyed spreading my enthusiasm for it to my children.  Every year they get decked out in green and we have to dye their hair green too!  We also have leprechaun(s) visit and drop off  gold (chocolate) coins that are usually surrounded with gold glitter AND miraculously, the children always get green milk in their cereal bowls!  We're not sure exactly how that happens, but are pretty convinced that the leprechauns are responsible for that too!

My little (green eggs and) ham!

Kate was sick today and didn't get to go to school, but that didn't stop her from wanting to "go green" for the doctor's visit!  By the way, I know it might appear cold in the picture, but I assure you, we were in the middle of a MAJOR heat wave!  It was like 60 degrees!  So don't worry about the children, they were nearly dripping with sweat...

Here's last year's picture, just to prove that we really do do this every year...

Up, Up and Away!

After Kate's swim meet, we had to make a run to the Oshkosh clothing store to buy the kids new jeans.  The two of them are growing like weeds and we thought we could make it to Summer without having to buy more, but alas!  I don't want my kids looking like geeks in high-waters, so we gave in and bought new ones.  While there, we noticed they had the Aspirus Medevac helicopter on hand and the kids thought it'd fun to check it out.

I wanted to share this little (very little) clip of Jack in the helicopter.  He is just a little ray of sunshine!  His smile is so infectious that I wanted you all to share in his joy and maybe it'll put a smile on your faces!  I swear this kid has a smile on 24/7!!!  Not a bad thing if you ask me... Unfortunately the picture quality doesn't show up nearly as well as it does on my computer, but I hope you get the idea.

Her New Suit

Since we were so proud of all her efforts, we got Kate two new "faster" swimsuits.  Here she is modeling her purple one.  Maybe I'll get around to taking a picture of her blue one...or not. :-)

Kate's Final Swim Meet For The Season

Kate had her final swim meet for the season this past weekend, and she did awesome!  She is really getting comfortable about being out there and looks forward to doing her best.  I think she will be a force to be reckoned with when she learns how to dive from the blocks.  We are going to get her private lessons this summer so she can learn how it's done.  I am just so proud of her and all that she has accomplished this year.  She truly amazes AND inspires me!

Here's a little taste of what our "speedy-girl" can do!  She is in the 3rd lane (next to the empty one).  Sorry about Josh shouting in the video... not sure if he realized I was recording or just taking pictures.  He was being the annoying parent that everyone wants to say "shut up" to, but you know what?  It's hard not to scream and cheer... so let them talk!  We're just proud parents!!! :-) (remember to pause the music before playing the video).

You'll notice that after the turn she loses some ground but then really makes up for it in the end!

Mixed up Again!

I love a good slip of the tongue or involuntary bodily function...pretty much anything that wasn't meant to happen that makes someone embarrassed, I just love...that's why I fell in love with Josh.  That man always says something out of order and I laugh so darn hard.  One of his most memorable moments was way back in the day when we were first married and that awesome boy band the Backstreet Boys were on the radio singing Quit Playing Games With My Heart.  Now when Josh decided to belt out the chorus with them, it came out:

Plit gay'in (no pun?) quames with my heart!

That was his first triple mix up... but certainly not his last.  Unfortunately,  the others weren't as memorable for I have forgotten them!  BUT the other day he had me giggling again and this time he was singing (or trying to sing) Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.  But instead it came out:

Head, noulder, shees and toes, shees and toes...

How could you not love a man like that?! :-)

Word of Caution!

To all those ladies that have long hair and a sunroof in their car, please make sure that your hair isn't flying out before you shut it!  Yesterday the weather was a balmy 38 degrees or so and I needed to open the sunroof for a couple of minutes.  Then after I determined that the temperature was to my liking, I shut the window and about 10-20 of my hairs with it.  I found myself in quite a pickle because the way I was caught was hindering my ability to find the open button!  So for several panicked moments (where I was trying my very best to sit still because every little movement I could feel tugging) I searched for that darn button which hadn't been used in what feels like F-O-R-E-V-E-R!  Finally I found it and released myself from my certain doom without losing any hair.  Then and there I vowed to warn all my fellow long haired ladies of this very real danger so that they will not have to endure such a frightening and horrible moment in their lives... ;-)

She's a STAR!

Kate played Settler 2 in her classroom play about Johnny Appleseed.  All the kids were pretty nervous, but they did a great job.  Kate spoke loud and clear which was pretty tough for most of them.  They all looked so proud though when they were done.

We were supposed to put together an outfit for the play, so one night Kate was telling Josh that she needed to get her "red poin ear" costume.  Josh of course was completely confused and when he asked me later what she meant by it, I told him she needed "rugged pioneer" clothing!  But red poin ear sounds good too!!! ;-)

The actress deep in thought...

Be sure to pause the music on my blog before watching!

I Have The Best Kids!

It's true and official:  I have the BEST kids!!!  I don't know what it is about them, but it just makes me warm inside.  Maybe it's the way that Kate agrees to read books to Jack so I can work out on the treadmill and how excited he is for her to do that.  Or maybe it's because when we ask them to get ready for bed, they never complain.  Of course they have their moments like any other children do, like selective hearing and the occasional bickering, but all in all I couldn't be happier.  Lately the kids have be acknowledging the things we do AND saying "thank you" without even being prompted.  Like:  "thanks Mom for reading to me" or "thanks Mom for helping me with my homework"....weird stuff like that! LOL

Even though Jack knows how to read perfectly fine, Kate still works on teaching him.  Here she would read most of the sentence and then wait for Jack to complete the rhyming word on the end.  I don't think she quite realizes that he could read the entire book to her without any problems... but it's still great to see her putting in the effort to teach her brother.

On the night of the Daddy-Daughter Dance, Jack and I had our own fun at home.  We watched a movie, made popcorn and played the Wii (the next day I took him out to the water-park for a Mother-Son Beach Party...it was a blast, but I didn't bring the camera!).  Anyway, after Kate tore up the place dancing with daddy and after all the fun Jack and I had, the kids were pooped!  They wanted to "camp out" with each other, so I told them that was fine and to go get into bed.  I wanted to tell Josh one thing before I went up to tuck them in.  The story lasted all of 3 minutes at the most and when I walked into the room, here they both were, all tucked in and fast (very fast) asleep!  Lights on and everything!  At first I thought they were playing a trick on me, but when neither of them stirred as I was taking pictures, I knew for certain they were sleeping!!!  What a fun age!

Daddy - Daughter Dance 2009

It's that time of year again...the Daddy -Daughter Dance.  Kate and Josh went last year and had a blast.  She couldn't wait to go out again with Daddy.  They even went to my favorite restaurant: The Back When Cafe, cuz she wanted to go to a "fancy place".  I've only been there like TWO times, so I'm totally jealous! Good for her though.  I know they will have so much fun, and make lots of memories.

We went all out adding the shimmer and sparkle to her eyes, lips and hair.  She kept admiring herself in the mirror and wondering if anyone would recognize her.

What a difference a year makes.  I thought it would be fun to compare last year's photo with this year's.  I can't believe how fast she is growing up (or how fast Josh is balding for that matter).  I know I dolled her up a bit more this year, but I can really tell her features are changing into more of a young lady and not so much of my baby I so fondly remember... :-(  I'm happy to see how beautiful she continues to become, but I'm sad to see it happen all too quickly before my eyes...

I guess these are the blessings and curses of being a mother.

Boys Will Be Boys...

This picture cracks me up every time I see it.  It's the boys "first fight" caught on camera.  I wonder how many more they will have to endure while growing up?!

Another (gross, yet funny) Jackism...

The day started out like any other Sunday... we lazily got up way past any normal or acceptable time for most families.  We spent the day playing games and sledding, making hot chocolate and popcorn.  I tended to some neglected duties such as laundry, sweeping, mopping and finally tackling the stripes I'd wanted to add to Jack's bedroom walls.  He asked if he could help and I told him "no", this was more of a "big person" job.  Then he asked if he could watch and I said "certainly".  He seemed content with that answer and let his boyish imagination run wild while I painted.  There were a lot of noises coming from this sweet little boy that sounded like motorcycles exploding and trucks getting pulverized by some invisible creature from a far away planet.  I smiled to myself as I listened and thought "how cute", either he's always like this when he plays alone in his room or the paint fumes are making him high... either way, I was enjoying the company of my short friend.  Then out of nowhere Jack announces that he is going to go to the bathroom.  I hesitantly said "okay... thanks for the news flash" and continued on with my painting project wondering why I always need to be informed of such things.  The next thing I wish I never had to have heard was Jack shouting to me from the bathroom:

"Mommy!  A sloppy joe just fell outta me!"

"What?!" I said a little unsure of what I just heard.

"A sloppy Joe just fell outta me -- cuz it smelled like one, that's why I said that!"

So first of all I got to thinking that this was some new joke that daddy decided to teach our impressionable youngster, but when I went to the living room, Josh was just as bewildered as I was!  I asked if he heard all of that and he nodded his head, but clearly had no part in this.  Secondly, I must tell you that I don't make sloppy joes...at least I haven't in years so I'm curious as to whose sloppy joes his doo doo actually smelled like.  I'm hoping it is from the schools cafeteria and not grandmas...cuz I think she'd be a little upset and possibly offended!!!

It Turns Out...She's Funny Too!!!

So often I think of Jack as the "funny one" and Kate as the "responsible, reserved one".  Well it turns out that she has quite a bit of humor in her too! Today she brought home a form she filled out at school regarding her new year's resolution.  This is how it looked:

My new year's resolution is.......

Starting a career on guitar hero and play more on it and punish my dad.

When I pulled it out of her backpack and read it (laughing out loud), she was in the bathroom.  When she came out I said, "That is hilarious Kate!  You're going to 'punish' dad?"

She responded in the most even, quiet tone, "I already have..."

OMG!!!  I was laughing so hard!  I called Josh on the phone to confirm what she said was true.  He didn't deny that she beat him on several songs already.

Just Mom and Me

After Kate's swim competition was over, I needed to get back home to take are of some responsibilities there.  Josh wanted to stay to finish up a poker table that he and his dad were building (I'll post pictures of that later...it turned out GREAT).  Anyway, I gave the kids the option of staying with dad or coming home with me.  Kate wanted to come with me and Jack decided to stay.  He wanted to finishing painting a birdhouse that grandpa made for him.  On Sunday, Kate and I did our hair all fancy and painted our nails.  Then we went and saw Marley and Me.  I kind of regretted that because it had a lot more adult content than I was expecting!!!  She said that a lot of other kids had seen it and loved it, so I didn't see the harm!  Luckily for me, there were no questions I needed to answer afterwards.  We both cried into tissues and she said she really liked the movie.  She now wants to read the book.  After that I treated her to some custard from Culvers and then we did a little shopping.  It was a great day.  We definitely need to do more of those...

Here's us getting pretty...which really isn't a pretty process! LOL

The finished product!

She's a FISH!!!

Kate participated in her second swim competition this weekend in Rhinelander.  She did AWESOME!!!  She even came in first in two of her heats.  Once she learns to dive from the block, I think she'll really be a force to be reckoned with!  She had fun getting her "war paint" on.  I think it encouraged her to go faster.  By the way, she did win a second place medal in her last competition for the 100 relay.  We saw her gain ground, so we know she was an asset to her team.  They made her the anchor this time...which is probably why they came in first during their heat.  Way to go Kate!!!  Win or lose, we are so proud of you!

Her war paint

Sooooooo CUTE!

She was surprised that I could make her hair look so cool.

It's so hard to get a good picture of her in the water, so this will have to do.

Displaying her "heat winner" ribbons

Happy New Year 2009!

Boy, I can't believe that another year has come and gone!!!  So much has happened this year and I only suspect that 2009 will bring just as much excitement!  Here's hoping that all your dreams come true in '09!

The kids decided to put on a New Year's Eve play.  I got a kick out of the invitation to the show.

Kate was the narrator and the boys were the (crazy) actors.

Peyton was barely hanging on as the clock reached 12:00.

Of course my kids, aka "the party animals", were not going to let a little thing like midnight keep them down!  Party on Garth.  Party on Wayne.

Ahhhhh....

Kate is still getting her groove on!

Despite being soooo tired, we were able to get a smile out of Peyton.  His first for 2009.  Let's keep those coming!!! ;-)

Could that cheek be any bigger???  Could he be any cuter???