School's Out! Summer's In!

Yesterday was Mason's last day of Kindergarten and he made it through with flying colors!! Yay Mason!! The boy amazes me daily by what his little brain can do. It's almost scary actually.

So now begins our summer fun! It looks like I'm going to be busy trying to keep these guys entertained. Bored boys lead to fighting boys and at times, whining boys and we don't want any of that. NO we don't!

We have some fun things planned and I'm looking forward to spending time with all my guys and family this summer. Bring it on!!

I saw a friend of mine post a side-by-side photo of his son on the first day of kindergarten and the last and I thought to myself "What a great idea!!" So, I had Mason go out and stand where I took his first day photo and snapped one off really quick when he got home from school yesterday. I think it's something I'll do every year, at least while they are younger but with more planning and thought next time. Nolan wasn't up for taking a photo with his brother yesterday like he did on the first day of Kindergarten.... the little bugger. :)

I thought the change in appearance from clean cut, preppy kid on day 1 to shaggy haired skull shirt was quite humorous. That's my boy!

And Spring Break Begins....

Otherwise known as "How long will it take us to drive Mommy completely insane?" week. Luckily enough, my friend Kristi is a plan ahead type of gal and asked us last week if we'd be up for the zoo. OF COURSE!! I never pass up a zoo trip of any kind. And since it drives my other half crazy at the mere mention of the zoo, I'll jump at the chance when someone else suggests it. So Thank you Kristi and Avey and Ella! :)

Another fantastic part of the day, No Rain!! It's been raining, spitting, misting, fogging for days now and while it was a bit on the chill side, it didn't rain. Frankly, I'm quite tired of the rain and since the rest of week calls for it, should make for an interesting sprink break. Blech.... Who knows, come Friday, I might be shoving the boys out in it regardless, raincoats, rain boots and all. I suppose it just depends how over the edge they've driven me by that point.

But today there was no rain and the kids got to run around to their hearts content and life was good.

Meet Pookie...aka Juicy...aka Nugget

Yes, it's a chicken. And apparently it loves our yard. She showed up one day last week and hasn't left. Of course, that tends to happen when you feed a stray. :) But how can you not feed this cute little lady especially since she's kind enough to leave us an egg or two now and then.

The first couple of days she kept pecking on our front screen and was driving the cats bonkers. Now she just kind of roosts in the bush in our front yard and doesn't come out much. Methinks she's lonely. We contemplated building a coop and keeping her but that would make her a "pet" and well, I'm not sure we're chicken type people. So I'm on the hunt for a new home for her unless she decides to leave us first.

I've been a baaaad blogger

I am a procrastinator, a lollygagger if you will. It's one of my faults that I am well aware of and for those that really know me, I'm sure they'll back me up on this 100%. You'll very rarely get a birthday card from me on time (if at all) and it's not because I don't want to send one.... I usually just keep putting it off and putting it off until it's ridiculously too late to send it and then it would just be silly.

I'm going to try to be better than that with this blog, really I am. :-)

So to catch up on what's happened since my last post.... Hmmmm, a whole lot of nothin'. Okay, so I turned another year older and have reached the big 3-7. I may have some grey hairs (or many) and a couple of wrinkles but I'M NOT OLD. So I've said it and so it shall be. What else? AJ has shaved his head in protest. Okay, maybe not in protest but he did shave his head.

The boys are still the boys. Today we took them down to Portland to check out the OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and if I could figure out how to add a hyperlink I would but I can't so I won't. Anyhoo, it was fun. We didn't make the submarine tour this time but it'll be at the top of our list the next time we visit. Some guy did trick Nolan into getting shocked. It was kind of funny. Nolan wasn't very happy about it though.

That's about all. This Friday is the school carnival and my friend Kristi and I will be there selling fresh baked Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. We even managed to talk our husbands into splitting the shift with us. I'll try to get some photos of AJ in the cookie booth. Should be a laugh riot as I'm sure he'll have a big grin on his face (and if you couldn't tell, that last sentence was dripping with a heavy side of sarcasm.)

PS - Grandpa & Grandma, I'm gonna try to get your party pictures to you ASAP. (See, I told you all I was a lollygagger) BAD! BAD JEN!!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!!

After two short flights, two long drives, a party, some Rock Band and a trip to a winery (0r three) .... the boys and I have made it home. And it is a much more colorful home at that. Daddy was busy while we were away. AND he even put all the Christmas decorations away. Well, except for the lights outside and since I put them up, I'm sure I'll probably be the one to end up taking them down. But that's okay, because I have painted walls!

Now, onto the important stuff...

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!!

and

HAPPY 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO YOU AND GRANDMA!!

The party was so much fun! We got to see lots of family and old friends. I also learned that Mason LOVES to dance. That boy was dancing with anyone and everyone. Such a little charmer. Nolan, on the other hand, spent most of his time hiding behind me. Try taking photos with a 4 year old ramming into your backside every 2 minutes. Lovely!

I also learned that I like Rock Band. Thank you very much sis, now I'm gonna have to go out and buy it and lord knows the last thing I need sitting around my less-then-substantial living room is a set of drums and a guitar. Sigh......

And speaking of my sister, she is the best! All the around the best, but one of the things I like MOST about her is you can ask her to do pretty much anything and she'll do it with a grin on her face.... I give you exhibit A:

So Happy New Years to everyone! I hope it is LOADS better then 2008 turned out to be. I'll post some more photos from our trip shortly. Until then, TTFN!