Virtual Hot Chocolate 15k

We didn't train but Ben was DYING to wear his jacket.  

We went mostly uphill - not a great idea. 

It was chilly and raining a little - actually a great idea.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

We aren't really big into big landscaping projects and after this one I think we may be even less into big landscaping projects, BUT I am super happy with how it turned out. It all started last month with the plan of adding another raised garden bed which then turned into a discussion of how difficult the beds make it to mow that part of the yard.  

That led us into an exploration of alternatives to grass so the boys wouldn't have to negotiate around the beds and that ultimately brought us to the project that was a lot of work for everyone, including the boys. 

They didn't really appreciate that it was all started as we were trying to make their lives easier (well, and increase the chances of the yard looking nicer) because in the short run it meant a day of shoveling mulch.  However, we didn't make them do it alone!

'

You can get free mulch from the local dump here, so we rented a pickup truck (to spare the van) to get the mulch. Jason and the older two boys did two runs to fill up the truck with mulchy goodness. Back at the house, Mom, Doug (not seen here), Jason, and I would unload the mulchy goodness and Ben would spread it all in the back.

A few days later, Isaac helped me put the new raised garden bed together (he is really strong!) and then gave a running commentary on the odor as I filled them with dirt.

A few days after that (clearly not in a rush), I got some plants in the ground thanks to Mom and Alison having some extra starts and planted some seeds as well. So our peas are started and now I have to go figure out how to plant potatoes and then wait for it to get warm enough to plant corn. I think we should have our starches covered this year.

March on FB

First law of mulch: no matter how much you think you need, you need more

Second law of mulch: no matter how many kids you have given birth to and cared for, you will not be able to find any of them when there are bags of mulch out

A rainbow at the start of a covid vaccine clinic this morning

Josh: The limited edition Oreos are weird flavors

Ben: Yeah, the Lady Gaga one doesn't taste anything like Lady Gaga

Me: Isaac please go do your handwriting worksheet.

Isaac stops and glares at the ground clenching every muscle in his body.

Me: Are you turning into the Hulk??

Isaac: ::growls:: NOOOOOO!

A post I read recently reminded me of the Circles of Hell in Dante's Inferno and I was thinking about what I would put in an updated version. Currently, I've come up with Potty Training and Calling Comcast. What would you include?


And the Papa Bear said, "Someone's been sleeping in my bed!"

Your Spring wardrobe isn't complete until you have an outfit that screams "I'm headed to Lowe's and ANYTHING can happen!"

Today is an absolutely wonderful day to shovel mulch.

Ask me how I know 

It turns out that Isaac is angry that he didn't get to eat one of the cupcakes we had at his gender reveal party


When we teach boys/young men/men that they can't control themselves, we are telling them they don't have to become adults.

Recent convo with my dad:

Me: My teens don't seem to feel like they should have to spend their weekends working on the yard.

Dad: Yeah....

Me: Wait, are you having flashbacks to my teen years?

Dad: No.....I didn't say that.......

Wool socks, rainboots, waterproof jacket, umbrella, mask, camera - the complete ensemble for the spring soccer parent


CU Boulder grad here - today's really not the day to defend your damn gun rights to me


I'm thinking about having a 90's themed Spring Break for the boys: only one person can be online at a time, they have to use a phone or a bike to talk to friends, only one episode of a TV show a week. What do you think, best Spring Break ever?


There comes a day in the life of every child when they must accept the cold, harsh reality that their mom does not want the child to follow her into the bathroom. That day has yet to come for Isaac.

It's good to know that no matter how difficult life gets, Costco's got my back

I don't always helicopter parent, but when I do I imagine my kids are probably screaming this in their heads

We just broke the news to the kids that they will only get 2 hours of wifi a day during spring break. I think our popularity rating is at an all time low.

We are now experiencing the phenomenon of the "extra sock" - as in a few loads of laundry this week have each had A sock that no one will claim. Poor orphan socks. Maybe our missing socks are showing up in someone else's dryer and theirs are in ours?

Birthday Ben

 This boy did not want a party for his big TWELVE but he did have BIG ideas about how he wanted to do deserts on his big day. As a compromise, we got a bunch of doughnuts and stopped off at a couple of his friends' houses to share/celebrate and then had chocolate cupcakes for dessert for his birthday dinner.

So this was the year of sugar. And to complete the experience he had three doughnuts for breakfast before his game on Saturday and then proceeded to score TWO goals at his soccer game. Now you can attribute that soccer success to either the sugar or the fact that Coach Jim put him on offense for the first time in many, many seasons - you pick. I know what he thinks....

Spring Celebration

 

Spring Soccer, PNW Edition

 And soccer is back! Back with masks, on and off the field. Soccer in the time of covid-19.

This morning's game was played on what can best be described as a shallow lake. Now, I know that this looks like a grass-covered field, but I can tell you from experience the whole thing was covered in about an inch or so of water with a smattering of deeper areas placed randomly around the field.

I wore my rain boots and I have to tell you that anyone who wore regular shoes to the game...chose...poorly.

For all that it was a pretty good game. The Wildcats did lose (6-5 we think) but the close games are more exciting than the ones when the team blows their opponents out of the water (which I guess would have been literal in this case).  Looks like it's going to be another great season.

Braces...Here We Go Again

You may be able to tell by the look in his eyes, that he has an inkling of what is about to happen to him. In other words, his older brother did him the honor of telling him outrageously crazy (and mostly not true) stories about the horrors of braces.  Luckily for him, he had more options for soft foods so we had chocolate pudding and yogurts waiting for his sore mouth.  

The part always makes me laugh. So I take a picture. Cuz, you know, it will last longer.

First round: the top. As soon as they let him up, he started laughing. He kept telling me how weird they felt. A few hours later though he didn't find them quite so amusing. 

So, here we go again.