Pinewood Derby

Nate competed in his last pinewood derby this week. He and Matt have made some great cars. This year's inspiration came from his Mario Cart DS game. He named his car the NDasher. (That made me recall my own dasher from when I was sixteen. I'll have to write about that car sometime!) Nate always enjoys the racing. I think he was excited about winning 2nd place and the award for the Classic Racer.




Only nine more years of Pinewood Derby left!

I'm an Addict!

Oh, no!  A friend loaned me the Twilight series a few days ago.  I finished the first one and started the second.  Matt should hide them from me if he wants anything accomplished around here this week!  

Awesome Art

Nate and Spence have a great art teacher at school. They do detailed and interesting art all year long. I especially loved what they brought home this week.

This is Nate's Mola.

These are Spencer's Cardinals.

Nate is 10

We have a child in double digits. Oh my heck! We started the day with a big french toast breakfast (with lots of whipped cream-Nate's fav). I bought a big cake and we invited Nate's friend over. I was upstairs getting ready and Matt was on a bike ride, and when I came down I heard this smacking noise. On the counter in the kitchen was Cameron pounding the cake. The only think that saved it was that it was still covered with the plastic wrap, otherwise I'm sure the cake would have been demolished. I guess it was good that we didn't have a party because the cake looked like someone sat on it. We put candles on it anyway and sang Happy Birthday! I still can't figure out what I was thinking buying such a huge cake??? We ate one row and then we couldn't even share it because it looked so funny. Oh well. I think Nate had a good day. He got Madden '08 for their DS and we went to Alvin and the Chipmunks and Five Guys for dinner.  

Sleepy Sam

After lunch the other day, I went into the office to check my email and when I came out Sam was gone. Cameron was sleeping so I walked around softly calling for Sam. I went upstairs to look in his room and I saw that the blanket on our bed was bent funny. (See first picture.)


I walked around the bed and saw him tucked perfectly under the blanket like this, sleeping. I thought it was so cute that I ran and got my camera out. Later, when he got up I asked if he had been tired and he said, "No, I was cold." He didn't believe me that he had fallen asleep.


Sam says a lot of funny stuff. He calls vitamins, bite-amins. Sandwiches-Famwhiches. Nutcrackers-Nuthatchers. Last weekend we went to our friend's baptism and he said something that cracked me up. We were listening to the talk on the Holy Ghost and he looked up as if everything was now clear to him and said, "So he is kind of like a ghost (laughing). But not a scary one, a NICE one."

Un-trimming the Tree

I realized that I didn't take ANY pictures of our Christmas tree or our family at home during the Christmas season. So, I decided to take some of Sam and Cam helping me take the tree down. This activity is not nearly as fun or festive as putting the tree up. Maybe I need to think of tradition that could make it more enjoyable. Maybe a silly song to sing or yummy treat to eat.   Next year.  It was a pretty tree.

Christmas

Maybe you thought we didn't survive the trip home. Well, we did and it actually wasn't too terrible and so I'm already planning when to go out for the summer. We all had a great vacation and we loved being with our families. We did so many fun things, but here are just a few pictures. One highlight was when Santa visited Grandma Geri's house.  The kids all got to sit on his lap and get a balloon just for them.  Cameron was scared at first but then once he saw the candy canes he was totally willing to talk to Santa.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a good group picture of Christmas Eve, but it was a nice party at Hill and Tom's with Grandpa Arch.  Thanks for the creepy spider.  Eek!

This is Christmas morning after the boys saw what Santa brought them.  It was fun to watch them play with their new things.  We enjoyed breakfast and the homemade eggnog with the Skidmore side of the family, and then opened more presents.  

Here are the Cheney cousins in new PJs.

We went on a sleigh ride the next day.  It was cold and some of the little ones were crying, but it was beautiful and even lightly snowing.  Then we had lunch around a fire and went four wheeling in the snow.  We loved being at Mom and Ennis' Woodland home.

Cam looked so cute in his hat and tie!

The days we spent in Eden were lots of fun.  Skiing was definitely a highlight and we were impressed by how well all the kids did.  We all had fun sledding and playing games.  I tried to track down killer bunnies but amazon is sold out!  I guess I'll have to wait.  

We miss all of you already.  I admit I have been a little blue, so come and visit anytime!

New couch

Here is our new couch and the room we painted--twice.

Ooh-rah!

Today I took the boys out so we would be out of the way for Matt's scout meeting.  First, I thought we would go to McDonalds.  Partly because I like egg McMuffins and partly so the boys could play and run around.  By the time we got on the road I knew we would miss breakfast being served, so I went back home to get a coupon from an expensive coupon book I was coerced into buying last week.   It was a buy two get two entrees free at Silver Diner.  

So then we headed in the other direction for chocolate chip pancakes. We got seated at a too small table and it just got worse from there.  Cameron was AWFUL.  I caught a glimpse at what our plane ride is going to be like and I am SCARED!  But, between the crying and yelling, kicking off shoes, the climbing up the back of the bench to peek over the other side, drinking syrup out of the tiny syrup pitcher, sticking fingers into the tiny syrup pitcher, tipping the cup up so high that a half a gallon of chocolate milk dumps all over, refusing to eat anything much except for graham crackers dipped in ketchup, oh, and throwing binkies onto the gross floor 13 times, the boys had a fun meal.  But to top it off, my coupon didn't work for kids meals.  I may have tried to argue about it because it didn't say that on the coupon, but I just wanted to get out of there at that point.

Why is it that people either have to say  "Are all those yours?"  or else my favorite "Wow, you have your hands full!"  If I have to make one more polite comment back to these people, I might hit someone.  

Even after all that, we did have a great day.  We went to the new Marine Corp Museum and it was very well done.  As we left, the boys were saying things like, "That was the best museum ever!"  and "Let's come here everyday!" and "Thanks Mom for bringing us here!" (Which was my favorite comment of the day.)  I'm sure we'll go back soon.  We didn't get to see it all because of more of Cameron's exciting behavior. 

 

This is the looking up from the center of the building. It is abstractly shaped like the Iwo Jima Memorial.

This floor vibrated and shook when bombs went off in the scene being described.

This big tank was the best part.  There was a fierce battle. 

Seriously, I am so grateful for those who serve our country.  I'm impressed by their courage, discipline, patriotism and strength.  I hope I live with more gratitude for the easy life I get to enjoy.

Bouncy Baby

So, this is how Cameron lets me know he is up from his nap.  I hear a boing, boing, boing and when I open the door he is bouncing away.  He is so happy and full of energy, I wish I felt like that when I got up.  You all know I am NOT a morning person.  I much prefer late quiet nights.  Anyway, this day I tried to catch him in action.  I'll have to try again and take the bumper out first.  Just thought I would share this cute phase.

The Christmas Boxes

This was the first day opening boxes this year, and Cameron's first time.  It was so cute how he shared with his brothers.  

Today the boys got this Christmas book.  When they sat down to read it together I thought they looked precious.  We love the Olivia books!  

So we are counting down the days until we get to come and visit--Yea!  (Except, not yea for the plane ride.) 

Photo Booth

The boys love to play around with Photo Booth on my computer.  Tonight I checked and they had taken 531 pictures of themselves playing around.  As I looked through them I thought some were pretty cute or pretty funny so I made a collage.  

They are getting quite creative.  They took tons of their superman trick which is that they jump and try to be in the air when the camera goes off.  The one in the upper right corner was a successful attempt at that.  I can't believe I am posting a picture of myself like that, but I reminded myself of Edna Mode from Incredibles.  Hope you get a chuckle from these!  

(I think if you click on the picture it will show you a larger version.)