Shorts in the Spring

This week the weather was completely gorgeous, until it rained and then snowed Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Oh well, we enjoyed it while we could.

The boys in their shorts for the first time this season.

Monday night, we went to the park for family home evening and spent most of our time on the slides. 

Sport loved, loved, loved going down the slide.

 

Dash started getting tricking during his trips down.

Colt was the most nervous slide rider.

Last week we dug out a flower bed and the kids think its a sandbox.  Sport especially loves throwing around the dirt.

Sport played in the dirt, with a little help from his older brothers.

Dirty Sport.

Big Boys

Dash reminded us this week what a big boy he has become.  On Monday afternoon, he and Colt were suppose to be picking up their cars, but in the meantime they decided to be puppies.  So naturally, they were picking up their cars with their mouths.  Well, about half way through, Dash sat up and held his mouth.  He had knocked a tooth loose and he was actually pretty excited about it.  He repeatedly told me there were two reasons he really wanted his tooth to come out that night.  One, it really bugged him and he wanted it out.  And two, he really wanted a visit from the tooth fairy.  When Brandan got home he broke the bad news to Dash that his tooth wasn't likely to come out anytime soon, but Dash proved him wrong.  With a little help from Colt, he got that tooth to fall out in the bath that night.  He couldn't have been happier.  And even though the tooth fairy almost forgot to come, she made a last minute showing and Dash was one happy boy in the morning. 

 

As  if losing a tooth wasn't enough, the next day Dash had Kindergarten registration.  He did a fabulous job.  He scored a 90 out of 95 and his teacher said he was very well prepared for school.  Dash told her he was so smart because his mom taught him lots of stuff at home.  I was a pretty proud mama.  Colt, on the other hand, had a hard morning.  He really thought he would be able to go to Kindergarten too, so when it was time to go, he laid down in the school hallway and started to cry.  It's going to be a long two years.


Saturday was our work outside day.  We sprayed weeds, pulled out a bush, marked out and edged a flower bed, made a trip to the dump and mowed the lawn.  Earlier in the day, Brandan had helped Randy Bensen get his mower going, so in return we asked to borrow it.  The boys loved riding the mower to and from the Bensen's house and around the yard.  I think it brought back some good memories for Brandan too.
 

Career Advise

So, I'm their Mom, of course I'm going to be biased, but seriously, I have some of the smartest, best looking, most talented boys in existence.  Naturally, I have complete faith in their ability to grow up and enter into successful and highly lucrative careers.

Dash is a natural lawyer.  I've never met a boy that could negotiate as well as he can.  And his ability to lead you to see truth his way...its uncanning.  For instance, the other day I was driving in the car with the boys and we were taking turns picking out songs to listen to from the ones I have stored on my phone.  Dash likes a few particular songs, and Colt likes almost all of them, mostly though, the ones Dash hates.  So after Dash's pick ended, Colt was reaching for the phone, but Dash refused to hand it to him until Colt answered the following question "Colt, did you like the song I picked?" At first Colt didn't answer, but continued reaching for the phone.  Dash was persistent.  "First, Colt, just tell me, did you like the song I picked?"  Finally, Colt admitted that, yes, he did like the song.  Satisfied, Dash wrapped up his arguments by concluding with the following: "Good.  And now since I picked a song you liked, you have to pick a song I like."  Guilty.  No deliberations.

Colt, on the other hand is not a debater, he is a charmer, a pleaser.  And he knows how to use it to his advantage.  Therefore, I recommend him as a politician.  I mean, tell me if this doesn't sound like something out of the public arena. 
"Mommy" (snuggling up to me and batting his eyelashes) "I love you, Mommy.  I love you more than ice cream and you're my best friend."  Of course, I melt faster than the dessert he referenced.  "Oh Colty, I love you too and you're my best friend!" "Mommy?" (more snuggling and hugging) "You need to give me a cookie now."

Out of all the boys, Sport has the most options.  Despite some obvious genetic drawbacks on his size, I see Sport being a professional athlete.  And I mean any kind of athlete.  The child can dribble a ball, shoot with a wrist flick, throw with impeccable aim (usually right for the face, and no, he doesn't miss, so you learn to pay attention), race with the big kids, lift weights (he works out with my hand weights on a regular basis), jump and tackle.  Rock climber and stuntman are also within his range.  Sport climbs onto counters, walks the back of the couch and jumps from the window sills.  Bravery is definitely his strong suit.  And when he is rich and famous, I expect him to buy me a new house to make up for all the dented walls and broken decorations I'm putting up with while he develops his skills.

Easter Race

Brandan has been on Spring Break since Thursday and the boys have been getting in some serious Daddy Time.  One of their favorite new games is to "hurdle" Brandan.  This involves Brandan lying on the ground while the boys get into "blocks", Sport shouts "Go!" and then they run towards/at Brandan.  Dash clears him most of the time, Colt occasionally clears him, and Sport doesn't even try, but just dives onto his belly. 

Brandan as the hurdle and the boys just coming out of their starting position.

Sport took a break from the races to practice dribbling the ball.  This is his concentration face.

The boys in their "blocks".

On Saturday, we went over to the Upton Park for the city Easter egg hunt. 

Dash with his Easter egg basket.

Colt waiting for the starting whistle.

Dash prepping for the go signal.

Dash gathering eggs.

Sport, Colt and I picking up candy.

Colt knows a good thing when he sees it.  He almost exclusively gathered Cadbury eggs.

The post race booty.

Dash and Colt with their buddy, Zoey.

After the Easter egg hunt, we went home and held our own Treasure Hunt. 



Brandan just finished reading a clue and Dash is taking off.

Brandan and Sport on the hunt.

Brandan and Sport still on the hunt.  Slow and steady.

Saturday afternoon we all dyed our own Easter eggs with sports themed wrappers. 

Dyeing the eggs.

After several close calls, Sport was corralled in his booster seat for the rest of the egg coloring process.

Colt wanted to keep his clothes clean so he shed his pants.  We did some fast talking to get him to keep on his unders.

The boys and the eggs.  Brandan is spinning the inspiration on his finger.  If you'll notice, Sport is a little sour about still being in his chair.

Easter morning.  The boys were heading to the car for church with all their random church paraphernalia.

March

So I'm back. It has been kind of a crazy month. I finally took Colt into the doctor and he gave us a cocktail of medicines and a prescription for breathing treatments. We spent the next couple days nursing everyone back to health and were finally feeling better in time to have a traditional St. Patricks Day meal with the Bensens at our house.

The next week the weather continued to be completely beautiful so the boys and I spent as much time outside as possible riding bikes and later going to Brandan's track meet in Newcastle.  The boys loved cheering for the racers and seeing most of the basketball boys.

Unfortunately, our camera went through a weird won't-work-phase, so I had to rely on my phone camera.

Colt just learned how to peddle his bike.  Both boys are very proud of themselves.

The boys sat right up against the fence on the home stretch at the track meet.  Here they found themselves another friend.

On the night of Thursday, the 22nd, Jill and the kids drove up to stay the weekend with us while Dan was at a coaching conference.  The boys always love seeing their cousins and we all had a good time taking it easy, playing outside, going for walks and having a picnic at the park.

Saturday afternoon the Claysons left and then late, late that night the Madsen grandparents arrived.  They came to stay the week and again the boys couldn't have been happier to see more family.  We had a really relaxing week.  The weather was gorgeous so we spent lots of time outside walking around town and over to Brandan's school.  The boys played with their grandparents reading stories, making treats and having movie nights.  Our week activities included a trip to Devil's Tower and another track meet at Newcastle.

Right before the family visits, Sport started fevering again and I was so discouraged.  He spent the next few days so incredibly grumpy and sickish I was at a complete loss.  Like an idiot, I never let it cross my mind that the poor kid might finally be getting more teeth.  It took a couple of days of misery before I finally noticed that he is getting both top and bottom molars.  Whew! Lots of pain killers and gum gel and I think we are about through it.

Dash and Colt climbing rocks at Devil's Tower.

Our Devil's Tower trip was in the middle of Sport's hard times.  Here he is sitting in the middle of the path bawling.