Basketball Season...Complete

Joseph had his banquet last night to finish up basketball season.  I still think this whole "everybody wins" thing is silly.  Can't we just have a playoff and let the best team win?  Oh well, he was proud of his trophy and actually learned a little bit about basketball, I guess that is all that matters.

This isn't the greatest picture, but I posted it because he looks so big and old!!  What happened to my little JoJo???

The Name Game

There is a joke in our family that everyone (except Joseph) has the same name as a train from Thomas the Train.

   

We had a name picked out for baby boy #4, after MONTHS of discussion.  Well, a family member just had a baby and used the name!  Obviously we aren't happy about this, but don't want to use the same name.  So, that leaves us with a very short list of names that we don't really love.  The sad part about this is that I have resorted to visiting this site to look for baby names!  We've only got about 5 weeks left to decide...I'm hoping for some Divine or Thomas, Intervention!

Generosity of a Friend

My dear friend Kristy got me this gift certificate.  She knows that I won't actually take the time to pamper myself and knows that I need it!  Thank you so much Kristy, I am going to use this VERY soon :-)

Pinewood Derby

How did the Pinewood Derby go you ask?  Well this picture says it all and it was taken BEFORE the race!

Joseph was not a happy scout.  He wanted to make all of these last minute adjustments before walking out the door to make his car faster.  His Daddy tried to oblige, but we didn't have time and he wasn't very happy about it.

His mood improved slightly due to the muffins and juice!

Saying the Cub Scout pledge.

His car in the race.

 Overall he did well for his first year, but he has high expectations...maybe next year.  And all I can say is that I am glad this is a Father/Son activity!

Adorable Gift

 My friend Wendy is an accomplished knitter and has taught me nearly everything I know.  Thankfully she is also very patient, a great teacher and only lives a couple blocks away so she can save those projects that I mess up!  

She made this for the baby, I think it is absolutely adorable!

Thanks Wendy!!

Handsome Boy

I bought this little blazer for Joseph when he was this age.  It was a Baby Gap splurge that I felt guilty about later. Who would have thought I'd get so much use out it.  Doesn't he look handsome?

Valentine's Eve

We celebrated Valentine's Day tonight because the reality of having a nice dinner on a Monday night just wasn't going to happen.  There wasn't a lot or romance, but there was great food and lots of yelling at the kids..haha ;-)

Flowers from my hubby 

 The dining room table ready, we NEVER eat in here.  There is carpet....who ever thought that carpet in a dining room was a good idea??!  Note to self: get a tablecloth and napkins that work for Valentine's Day, oh and throw in a new dining room table while you're at it.

Menu:

Filet Mignon with Bearnaise Sauce

Scalloped Potatoes

Italian Broccoli

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

More strawberries....yum!

(I actually used our wedding china too...which almost never happens.)  

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Unwanted Advice

   A simple trip to Kroger with my kids has resulted in almost ruining my day!
Why is it that people feel like they can just give their opinion of you when you are walking through a store?  I had about 3 people go out of their way to make comments to me while shopping with my boys.  They were not being obnoxious, disobedient or loud.  We were simply pushing our cart through the store and people kept saying things like "Wow, you've got your hands full.." "Three boys!?  Good luck!" I even had a woman shake her head in disgust at us last week.
   I don't think any of them even knew I was pregnant (I had a big coat on.)  I think if I had said that I was expecting ANOTHER kid and especially a BOY they would have been even more surprised.
  My response to these comments? I usually just smile and move on.  I know my boys' are watching and listening to how I react to these types of things.  I don't ever want them to feel like they are an annoyance to me or that they are the unwanted result of "trying for a girl."    
The thing that bothers me the most is that my kids are generally well-behaved in stores.  If someone feels the need to comment why can't it be something positive or some encouraging words instead of a look of horror?  My kids aren't anyone else's responsibility; they are not the ones feeding them, washing their clothes, potty training them or teaching them!
Sorry for venting, but this just frustrates me immensely and seems to happen all too often.  I feel like I need to prepare myself for the comments that will come in a few weeks...when I've got a FOURTH boy in the shopping cart!

New Haircut

He has a forehead!!

Oliver finally got a haircut :-)

Hat for Baby

My friend made this hat for a friends' baby and I thought it was super cute. I decided to copy it exactly...well except for the pink yarn!
It is too small for my boys, so Oliver's monkey made a good model :-)

I figure the baby will be able to wear it once or twice before it gets too warm!

2 Day Vacay?

   When Thomas told me that he had to go to Huntsville and I said "Hey let's all go!"  I think I was delusional.  I figured the gas and hotel were paid for, the kids and I needed a break from the routine, we homeschool, so it would be a fun 2 day vacation.  He was staying at the Westin and there was a pool.....what couldn't be great about this?!  
   Well...like I said...I think I was delusional.  Let me start by saying that Joseph and Henry were really good, I can't blame them for anything....so that leaves one!  It dawned on us as we started our journey that Oliver really hasn't made that many long car trips.  The older boys were used to the long trips because we used to go back and forth from Alabama to Michigan very often when they were babies.  The trip began and continued like this:
Oliver: Mama, Mama!
Me:  What Oliver?
Oliver: Book! (I give him a book) 
Oliver: Mama, Mama, Mama!
Me: What do you need Oliver?
Oliver: Baba (water cup)
Me: Hand it to him
Oliver: Mama, Mama, Mama etc. etc. etc.  
We were taking bets on how many times he said my name...it had to have been in the thousands for the whole trip.  Aside from it being annoying, I get carsick (and and have the equivalent of a basketball in my stomach) and I can't turn around that much while riding in a car.
  He also only took a 10 minute nap...the entire day!  He wouldn't sleep in the van at all.  I thought he will DEFINITELY sleep tonight.  WRONG, again.  He woke up about 5 or 6 times during the night, Thomas and I got about 2 hours of sleep.
   Then, I had agreed to take the boys swimming in the pool.  What was I thinking???  I am 7 1/2 months pregnant and I can't think of a worse time to be in a swimming suit.  I endured it, but it wasn't fun.
We finally made it back home at about 7 last night.  I felt like I had ran a marathon.  We survived, but I have spent the whole day recuperating and doing laundry.  I don't think I want to take another road trip with Oliver for a couple of years...too bad we are already committed to our annual summer Michigan trip.  I have 5 months to mentally prepare!