Spring (and some other weird happenings)

Nicholas...

(Can you see the tiny flakes of snow on my hood?)

Last night we went to see the HSO here locally and they had several very recognizable numbers. Nicholas really impressed me with his knowledge of the instruments and his interest in the names of the composers for each song. For instance, when I said Bizet, he said "Georges Bizet?". He knew a lot of the songs from Baby Einsteins and Little Einsteins. I was so proud of my almost 4 year old! He was also really funny when we were listening to the "Overture to Orphee aux enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld)" by Bach and he looked at me and said, "Mom, this song always makes me cry" and then fake cried and laughed at how silly he was being.

Yesterday he said to me in the car...

N:    "Mommy, I have dream that Luna will be quiet."

Me:  "Really, a dream...you had a dream?"
N:    "No, Mommy, I HAVE a dream."
Me:  "What is you dream?"
N:    "I have a dream...a dream to be 5".

   Nicholas says the craziest things sometimes such as when I recently went into the bathroom to check him after going #2. He said "That is not my poop, Mom. It is yours. Your poop came out of my bum."
   He has gotten better about yelling out weird things in public such as "I don't like that baby. Tell her to stop looking at me!" or "Mommy, why is that lady following us. Tell her to stop following us!" (This usually involves someone in heels walking behind us at the mall or Target. It is really embarrassing. I am glad we are making improvements in this area.)

Patrick....

The first picture is from "Go Texan" day at school. The boys got new boots and western shirts. Nicholas had pictures done at his school on a pony coincidentally the same week. Patrick is a Lego maniac lately. Free styling Legos are the way to go. He designs all kinds of vehicles.

Ear candles! I talked Patrick into doing them. He has one problem ear that produces a ridiculous amount of wax. They really help! This particular day we had been to the Earth Day festival and the kids had their faces painted. I was proud when Patrick came home the next week with a book from the library on how to make toys with recycled materials. He made several different toys using toilet paper rolls, string, clay, fabric, balloons and dried beans. He has always been the innovator in the family.

Bluebonnets!

On the way up to take pictures, Nicholas fell asleep AND we got rear ended in Chuck's new car. A Jeep Wrangler ran into us which is ironic since Chuck rear ended someone in his Jeep last November. It was a hard hit and Nicholas slept through the whole thing! Everyone was ok except for me. I hit my head on the improperly adjusted head rest. I had a bad headache in the back of my head for about 5 days, but it finally got better. The tow hitch was ripped off of the car and the axle was bent. I has all been repaired now. When we got to the area on the side of the road to take pictures, Nicholas would not participate. Finally after a bribe from McDonald's, we got some shots on the way back. We have beautiful wildflowers all over town this time of year.

Boy Scout Catch Up

FINALLY, I have this new blogger thing figured out. The posting of these pictures was so difficult at first. In old blogger, I had to upload photos backwards if I wanted them in chronological order. If I accidentally deleted one, I had to start all over to get the order right. It was a BIG PAIN! Anyways, new blogger is great because you can move pictures around and make them smaller or bigger, left, right center, etc. Anyways, this is a Boy Scout post. First we have the Cake Off Silent Auction back from November. It was supposed to be space, alien or planet themed. I had NO IDEA how competetive these people are! We did the moon and it was quite beautiful with its craters and mountains. It was a cinnamon swirl cake that everyone always loves and my buttercream frosting (I never cut corners with baking-I started baking in Jr. High. I don't like to cook, but I do love to bake.) The cakes were amazing! Last minute Margaret waited until the last minute to try and find a toothpick flag and an astronaut. WHO knew it was impossible! I will say that this was back when we were driving the cadillac (after Chuck's wreck) and traveling around without a heater or the driver side window rolled up was quite difficult (so I will give myself a break on this one). We were really late, too, and barely made it on time. Nicholas did not understand the whole process and insited we bring our cake home, so I kept having Patrick write down higher bids, but someone beat us in the end. Luckily, they bought another cake as well and needed to unload our cake. I was happy to buy it back for $15 (I think...it has been awhile...it may have been $7) Here are some of the cakes...

This is the winner, Matthew, from our den!

TOOL BOX

Chuck volunteered to show the boys how to build their own tool boxes. I got all of the wood the day before at Home Depot and he cut it the next morning. The boys did a great job. I love my husband for all of the wonderful facets that makes him so fabulous. Chef, builder, mechanic, boat repairman, decorator, camper, encourager, Christian, motivator, counselor, friend, amazing father and husband, the love of my life, artist, gardener, housekeeper, son, son-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew, cousin, grandson, neighbor, philanthropist...I could go on and on. He is amazing that he can play golf twice a year and blow everyone away. He never plays tennis yet still beats me. He skateboards down to the mailbox doing tricks while holding Nicholas. Is it hard to be married to someone so great? Am I jealous sometimes? Maybe a little. But I prefer to call myself extremely blessed that the boy I had a crush on in September of 1988 chose ME and has stayed with me through all of the mess and frustration I can be sometimes.

BLUE & GOLD BANQUET!

Chuck actually called in sick to work that day. The third time in 18 years! He woke up and couldn't walk. He had already been for an MRI and they immediately sent him to a surgeon. I chose a different spinal surgeon that partners with my Pain Doctor because I have heard a lot of good things about him. We went to the ER to get Chuck some major drugs that day. It was awful. I have never seen him in so much pain. He had the surgery 2 weeks later and has been great ever since. His foot was numb and his leg was on fire. He was limping. It was so sad! Thank you Lord, the surgery was a success and he bounced back so quickly! Mel came down the day before and we went to the rodeo carnival and exhibits. It was fun, but 5 hours of walking. I couldn't believe Chuck kept putting Nicholas on his shoulders! We had fun but it was so crowded. The boys had fun riding rides. Nicholas is quite the daredevil. Patrick loved the funhouses.

So, my parents were already in town visiting and took Patrick to the Blue and Gold Banquet. I hated to miss it. The boys get a lot of recognition and awards as well as the Bear patch they have been working toward all year long. My parents did a great job filling in. We are blessed to have such great grandparents on both sides.

CAMPING

We have loved our Boy Scout Camp Outs and our Boy Scout families. It is a lot of fun, relaxing and there are always come and go activities planned as well as a pack dinner and campfire at night where each den does skits. I am amazed at how comfortable Patrick is with Scouts and how well he can stand up in front of 100 people and tell jokes using the right inflection and not being nervous. Scouts is an awesome program that I would recommend to anyone. They are faith based (no matter what your religion) and it teaches the boys so much. Patrick has really found a place to shine with Scouts. He plans to stay in until he makes Eagle Scout (esp. once he heard that he will have an automatic admission into TX A&M (his dream school). Cool , huh?

This was a Park Ranger hike at Lake Livingston. I sent Chuck. I was napping. I know I'm terrible about that!

Chuck won't smile for me...

Nicholas (lover of all things Super Mario)

"OK, here is a smile for you, but let me have the Nintendo DS (or was it a rum and Coke?)" Patrick actually busted us one night (after Nicholas had fallen asleep) arguing over whose turn it was to play Super Mario on the DS and said "I can't believe you two..it is my DS...get your own!"

Isn't Chuck the cutest? I could not have married a better man. I love this picture!

Benji and Patrick playing..

Yes, look at me Mommy, I am sooo cute, too!