Pinewood Derby and Quiet Moments

Tuesday was Joe's Pinewood Derby...his dad took his car to work the day of the derby to weigh it and have a friend help him with the axels.

He broke the car.

Luckily, we had last year's car (with which Joe took second place), so we decided to give it another go. We taped on one quarter and one nickel for extra weight and sent it on it's way. Joe took second place again this year. I think we'll just keep using this car every year, and for every child. I've figured out that I'll be attending pinewood derbys every year for the next 11 years, so it seems like a good plan to me. I don't know what will happen when I have two sons racing the same year...maybe we'll rock, paper, scissor for the good car.

It was a good but late night though, and Joe also took the Sportsmanship Award. We're so proud of our little scout!

Tonight is the big Variety Show at school. Both Joe and Maggie are performing, and I'll be selling ice cream to the over 500 people who will be coming. It's a busy day for us, so I'm taking time to count small blessings like this one. In the midst of all the chaos today, I heard Maggie and Charlie talking quietly in the front room. When I peeked in, I saw them working together to build a tower of blocks, and then quietly knocking it down on the count of three. Then, they start all over again. I love the moments when children not only play together, but help and support one another. I don't get those moments too often, so I have to memorialize them when they happen.

I'm also adding an element to the blog called Harry's Costume Capers. This is just a daily list of the costumes he uses every day. I thought it might be fun in a few years to look at.

Wish us luck on the Variety Show...I'll be sure to post pictures soon!

Walking Shoes

I just got John his first pair of All-Stars. He thinks he is pretty hot stuff in these shoes, and I just had to capture the moment.

Harry The Guidance Couselor

You can't tell from the picture, so I'll have to explain. This morning Harry wanted to set up a desk and be a teacher. So we got the desk, the paper, the pens, and the apple. He set himself up and then saw Charlie walking by, dressed as a Cowboy. He called him into his office and the conversation went something like this:

Harry: "So, you want to be a cowboy?"

Charlie: "yep"

Harry: "Okay, well it's pretty tricky. You're going to need to get a vest. And some chaps. And then, when you get a little bigger, you'll need a horse, and a rope. Do you still want to be a cowboy?"

Charlie: "yep"

Harry: "Okay, I'll get the paperwork started."

Harry then proceeds to write "Cawboy" on a paper and hand it to the "Cowboy Teacher" (me). Charlie goes back to playing cowboy, paying no attention whatsoever to Harry's suggestions.

Just thought you might enjoy that exchange this morning...it made me smile!

WHY I LOVE BOYS

Last Saturday was Joe's 9th Birthday. For his big day he decided to go to the Montery Bay Aquarium. I had never been there before so I thought it would be a good trip. The kids had fun....I came down with the stomach flu in the midst of the visit, and looking at fish did not help my state of being. (No, I AM NOT PREGNANT - promise). I forgot the camera in the car and was depending on Grandma to capture the day for my blog. As she went to take her first picture, a man accidentally jostled her and she dropped her brand new camera on the ground....thus...no pictures of the big day. We re-grouped, saw the fish and headed out to get some dinner. I always let the kids pick where they want to go for their birthday dinner. We've had some fun on these dinners...going to places we normally wouldn't.

Joe picked HomeTown Buffet.

This is not my favorite place...even when I'm not sick to my stomach. I took a food safety class to keep my health department licesncing at Cold Stone, and learned all about foodborne illnesses and how bacteria grows. I don't know how places like that stay in business. The potential for mistakes is ENORMOUS. So many foods, so many temperatures, so many little hands....

I digress.

We went to HomeTown Buffet. The kids loved it. I payed 11 dollars for a diet coke. The kids loved it. (I have to keep reminding myself of that). We made the 2 hour trek home, got all the kids to bed, and fell into bed ourselves. We were woken twice during the night to help vomitting children. I think both Joe and Maggie overdid it at the HomeTown Buffet! My 11 dollar diet coke wasn't seeming too bad at this point.

Now, onto the title of my blog, WHY I LOVE BOYS. Tonight, Joe is having his first sleepover birthday party. He invited three boys. I asked him if I should plan some games or activities for the party. His reply was, "No, just get some chips, pizza, and rootbeer...oh, and make sure the wii-motes have fresh batteries." So, here I am, hosting a sleepover party, and posting on my blog while the boys all play quietly upstairs. I contrast that to what I would be doing right now if the party were Maggie's, and conclude that "this is why I love boys". BTW, Maggie, Harry and Charlie went to Grandpa and Grandma's house for the night - thank you thank you.

Happy Valentines Day

Well, no time to catch up now...maybe once February is over (a lot like my December), but I wanted to post these pictures of Harry & Charlie out delivering valentines to all the neighbors yesterday. Most of these people we don't know, but I have a feeling with Harry in our family, we'll soon know them all!

And to assuage my guilt over actually sending my children to school with pre-made, store bought valentines, we had heart shaped pizza for dinner. All in all, a lovely Valentines Day with one big person and five little people to love!