What Nicholas has been Up To (and a little bit of Philip and Thomas too)

 Doing some vacuuming.  I love the stage where they imitate you doing housework.  Maybe he'll be the first one not to outgrow it!

 Driving the pedal tractor.

 Climbing anything climb-able, appropriate for his size or not.

Looking cute.

 Playing Caps for Sale.

Building a stick lean-to, which will have to be rebuilt due to the ridiculous wind yesterday!  Oh well, building is the best part anyway.

Good Season Samuel!

Samuel was able to wrestle in the state tournament last weekend! 

He wrestled in the 90 lb weight class. There were 20 boys in the bracket; he won two matches and lost two.  We're not sure where that placed him because by the time he lost the second match we'd been there about 4 hours and we were ready to leave, not stick around and watch a bunch of kids we don't know wrestle until all the places were figured out! :) After wrestling we tried to find something indoors to do as it was 23 degrees and windy but we didn't find much.  We ended up walking around the mall and playing with the trains at the hobby store there.  Then we met Steve and Raleen for dinner (they came to watch the tournament too) so that was fun.  We made a weekend out of it and stayed overnight too.  Sunday was more successful.  We had breakfast at the hotel buffet, went swimming (mostly in the hot tub as the pool was very cold- as in Jeremy saw an employee with a garden hose cold) and then headed to a nearby town for Mass where one of our old college friends is the priest.  After lunch in a packed but tasty Chinese restaurant, we went to the local museum with Father.  It was a nice museum with three levels to look at and some hands on exhibits for the kids.  We didn't actually get to talk much with Father because we did a lot of Nicholas chasing but such is life with kids!  I'm sure we'll be able to catch up with him someday.  As we drove home with five exhausted kids (only two of whom fell asleep, Nicholas and surprisingly Samuel) I said to Jeremy "You do realize that the kids will talk about this as a big vacation until the next time we stay in a hotel, right?"  Guess it'll have to last them awhile since we only average a hotel stay every three years or so....

Misunderstanding

Chad: Jeremy, the kids are coloring on the house (This picture in Chad's mind)

 Jeremy: That's okay, that's what they're supposed to do (This picture in Jeremy's mind)

Oops.

Birthday Boys

Poor four year old had to imagine his candles lit because the only lighter in the house wasn't working.  Apparently someone has not bought matches since we last ran out.

 And happy birthday to my hubby too.  We love you!

We enjoyed lunch out complete with banana cream pie because Jeremy was lucky enough to be born on a solemnity- St. Joseph's feast day (who is his patron saint too, nice planning God!).

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Congrats Thomas!

Thomas has been so close to all As all year.  He kept getting a B in just one subject on his report card or progress report but the subject kept changing.  But this quarter he did it!  All As!  Good job Thomas!  He was very happy, possibly because kids with all As get a free pizza coupon but that is beside the point.  He worked hard and did well.  We're proud of you Thomas!

Samuel got all As as well and we're very proud of him but that is not news.  When I asked him how he would feel about getting a B because he was doing hurried work and not checking over his papers he said, "I don't know, I've never gotten a B."  True, but try to keep it that way Mr. Speed Demon.

Happy Birthday Philip!

This ginormous present from Aunt Pat has been waiting for Philip since Friday.  Lucky for him Daddy did not leave for work until after Philip was awake so he got to open it before breakfast.

And what was in there?

A "Big Scoop" tractor.  Can we say hours of fun?

Thanks Aunt Pat!

 Here is Philip with all his completed Legos.  He hasn't taken them apart and rebuilt them but he has played with them every day.  The robbers must keep escaping from jail! 

We love you Philip!  Have a wonderful day!

Spring Break Fun

Jeremy took Friday off so we could have a Family Fun Day during the kids' spring break.

Love the looks of wonder on Julia and Nicholas' faces ....and the butterfly on Jeremy's rear. :)  Julia was looking at fish and Nicholas at butterflies.  Yay for beautiful weather.  And for my future reference, Nicholas HATED the wagon we borrowed, the only way we convinced him to stay in was to keep him supplied with Cool Ranch Doritos.  Yum.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

 Someone thinks he's too old to pose nicely.

Ha, ha, Mom wins- sort of.

Thank you Jesus for  lovely weather!

It's Never too Early for Legos

or 

Why Bother Getting Dressed when you have New Lego Sets to Build?

Philip loves his Legos.  He got one set at Christmas, which he has built and taken apart and rebuilt so many times I think he almost has the directions memorized.  He can make that one with almost no help from me. He got three new sets for his birthday; they require more direction from an adult or big brother but it's only a matter of time I'm sure.  We open the package and divide it by color, which helps him a lot.  Then we look at what pieces we need for each step, find them and build.  Then we repeat.  Usually 20 times or so.  But that's okay, it's worth it.

 There's how many steps?

 Where is that piece?

 Don't let those other two pictures fool you.  I love building (and I'm good at it too)!

He completed two of his three sets and has only one more vehicle to finish on the last set.  I forgot to take pictures of the finished products though.  Oops.

This is what Nicholas does (for awhile at least) so no Legos end up in his tummy.

Happy building!

Bikes, Bikes, Bikes

The sun finally came out for awhile so we enjoyed the weather by riding bikes. 

Julia is a bit big for the bike that has training wheels on it right now and being too lazy to find and put training wheels on the bike that is her size I suggested she try the two wheeler:

and off she went.
J: I've been dreaming of this!"
M:  What?
J:  I've been dreaming of when I could ride a two wheeler!!

Birthday Fun

We had a combined birthday party for Julia and Philip this weekend.  Julia and my mom created this butterfly cake together.

 Philip and I did the Husker one.  He informed me I spelled his name wrong but he just doesn't recognize it when it's all in caps.

 Happy girl with her presents.

 Excited boy who kept saying "I know you brought me Legos!" to everyone.  They have a distinct sound when shaken.

 Those who were able to dress to Philip's theme.

 And those dressed to Julia's.

They both had lots of fun with the family and enjoyed their cake and presents.  It was a beautiful day to boot so most of us enjoyed some time outside too.  Yay for the sun!
Happy birthday Julia and Philip!  We love you.

Oh Philip

Philip was kneeling just outside the pew at Mass the other day so that he could see better (we were way in the back of a school Mass).  He had his hands folded nicely and was watching what Father was doing.  The lady behind me leaned forward and whispered "Now there's a picture of an angel!"  I don't think he could hear her but maybe he did because I kid you not, at that exact second he turned around and made this face at her:

Yes, quite the angel.  Happily, she was amused, not insulted.

And unrelatedly

 Anywhere is a good place to read.

Indoor Fun

Inside snow fun.

They asked for a project so we made St. Patrick puppets.

Samuel ran races with his Lego vehicles.