Best Gift of 2012

I started writing …life’s about a dream  today in 2008.

Five years of journaling our lives.

For Christmas this year, BP made the blog into hardback books for me.

It was a precious and priceless gift, and one I have thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Here’s a link the the background information post.

 It’s one I usually wrote for this blog anniversary day.

I’m off to smile, laugh, reminisce, and cry while reading my blog books.

“Kid Wash”

BP built this for the boys today:

They’ve had lots of fun running and riding bikes and scooters through their very own Kid Wash.

I can’t think of a better way to usher in summer.

This may just be our method of bathing these next few months.

Renovation Realities

The Money Pit is in full renovation swing.  Again.

For those who don’t know our DIY history, I seem to have a knack for timing pregnancy and renovations.

Ha.

Unfortunately, this time I am not pregnant and was put straight to work.

Enter:  The deck renovations.

Before:

BP has a 4 day weekend to turn the above into a DIY paradise with a covered walkway from our detached garage.

Sa-weet.

And here’s the proof that I am not pregnant:

The boys were helping, too.

After all, that’s why we keep having kids.

More hands to help.

Keep watching for our renovation updates.

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For past house renovation links, click the “renovation” tag under the post title.

Halloween 2011

I’m a lucky girl.

I had The Karate Kid, and Darth Vader, and some random version of Spiderman to protect me while trick or treating.

And then there was this guy….

who pumped iron prior to his candy rampage.

Look at those muscles in action:

As he approached each doorstep, Muscleman Spiderman loudly stated,

“Teet teet!!”

for candy.

So manly.

We hung out with our usual Halloween crowd in my parents’ cul-de-sac for hot dogs, chili, smores, and trick or treating.

The weather was perfect.

The company was even better.

Another Halloween in the books.

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Click these to see past Halloween posts.

Ghosts of Halloween Past

2008

2009

2010

Mini BP

 I just love candid shots.

 Our friend took the following photos at Frick’s graduation.  He even put one of Frick praying in the local paper.

SO cute.

Isn’t this picture precious?

Frick’s official 5K Graduation pose:

Compare the above photo to this one of BP:

Sheesh.

Frick looks just like his dad.

Good lookin’ kid.

Yessiree.

Eleven Years Ago Today

 From taking vows…

…to starting our journey…

 

…to adding more joy to our lives.

I’m so glad I get to spend this life with you.

I love you!

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Previous Anniversary Posts:

2010

2009

Happy Birthday BP!

Top Five Reasons Why We Love Your Birthday

5.  It gives the boys the opportunity to stash cards they created into the deep abyss otherwise known as the space under their beds.

4.  You get to “rest” all day long (as if).

3.  You always and forever will be older than me and for exactly 8 days, you are four years older instead of just three.  It’s the little things.

2.  The boys love celebrating birthdays.  It’s even cooler to celebrate Dad’s birthday.  And there’s cake involved, which brings me to number 1:

1.  I get to make your mama’s Red Velvet Cake.  And then eat it.  For breakfast.

Happy birthday to the coolest husband, father, son, brother, friend, and so much more.

We love you BP!

Out of Nowhere

Frick was sitting in BP’s lap and began using his knowledge of the five senses to appropriately assess his father’s age.

Frick:

You don’t look old, Dad.

You don’t sound old.

You don’t smell old.

You don’t feel old.

(Frick licks–yes, licks–BP’s arm) And you don’t taste old.

BP:

Ok.  That’s good to know.

Lots of chuckles ensued.

Welcome to Crazy Town

That’s where I’ve been living since Friday.

Baseball season is in full swing.

The boys had games Thursday and Friday.

This week, Frick and Frack’s games are on the same day AND the same time.

This calls for Supermom.

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On Saturday, the boys graduated to the next belt level in karate this weekend.

Frick and Frack’s belts are now half yellow, half white.

BP jumped straight from white to orange because of his perseverance and diligence during the test on Sunday.

The boys think that is the coolest thing ever.

I think it’s a spectacular example to the boys.

________

I really do believe extra curricular activities help a child become a good time manager.

If the activities are organized sports, they also provide much needed exercise and important lessons in teamwork.

These activities make me become more structured with our afternoons.

The more structured our day is, the more we get accomplished (errands, housework, homework, etc) in a timely manner.

Our boys behave better when they have structure to their day.

Of course, this will probably all go out the window once the boys are in school full time.  And that’s Ok.

We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

But for right now, our time in Crazy Town has been eventful, but manageable.

 

 

 

 

Brain Dump

 

*I signed up for E-Mealz yesterday.   They offer many different plans to coordinate with your favorite stores and diets.  I love Publix and am currently trying to get back to my Lifetime goal weight at Weight Watchers, so I picked the Publix/WW points plan.  My first week of menus come out tomorrow.  I am excited about the challenge of menu planning mainly because I have never done it before.  New things are fun.  Until they get old.  Any advice on E-Mealz or menu planning in general are welcomed.

*Speaking of Publix, I saved 61% today.  Yessiree.

*Frack can do a 300 piece puzzle.  THREE HUNDRED PIECES.  It takes him some time over a couple of days to do it, but it gets done. I helped him the first time, but he’s done it on his own ever since.  I have never seen someone so patient with little tiny puzzle pieces.  He is also beginning to read.  A little lightbulb turned on over the weekend.  I love watching that Ah-ha! moment in kids as they learn something new.  Maybe that’s why I love teaching so much.

*Frog is feeding himself with a spoon or fork.  Messy stuff, folks.

*Speaking of the little stinker…Frog was an absolute BEAR yesterday.  He was in such a bad mood.  I guess he wore himself out from his grumpiness because he slept from 6:45pm to 6:00am this morning.  Lately he has been waking at 3am and then again at 5am.  It felt like we had a newborn in the house.  Hopefully last night’s stretch is indicative of what’s to come.  Fingers crossed.

*The Pittsburgh Steelers won on Saturday.  It was a fabulous game that I watched while clutching and hiding behind a pillow.  I hope next week is a blowout.  I can’t take another close game.

*The boys are taking karate and have earned white belts with yellow stripes.  Apparently karate has been on BP’s bucket list, so he has enrolled.  He broke a board for his white belt Monday night.  Upon hearing his Dad was taking karate as well, Frick stated:

I’m gonna have to give you some tips.

This should be interesting considering Frick’s karate instructor likened him to a wet noodle.