What's going on...

Lots going on around our house these days! We are wrapping up basketball and starting soccer and baseball. Having two boys who live for sports makes a very busy mother! I have gotten spoiled over the past few weeks with both the boys on the same basketball schedule. Now we are trying to balance Thomas's soccer and Matthew's piano, soccer, and baseball schedules. It will just be for a few weeks, but I am anticipating more take out food runs than normal!

After Thursday night's soccer practice, I asked Thomas to close the blinds while I got Mary Beth ready for bed. A few minutes later, I went to find Thomas and found him face down on his bed, dead asleep, still in his shin guards and cleats. He was burning up. I took him to the doctor on Friday, and he was diagnosed with the flu. He hadn't been sick since Michael's wedding two years ago, and I couldn't believe how pitiful he looked. He could hardly keep his eyes open. Thomas and I both got on Tamiflu (I can't imagine how I would manage our schedule if I was sick for two weeks with the flu!), and he was much better yesterday. Thomas being sick really made us pare down our activities all weekend, and I have to admit, it was great just being home.

After Bryon got home from church yesterday, we spent a considerable time in our yard gearing up for the spring. My fingers are sore today from so many thorn pricks, but being out there working in my garden has given me major spring fever!

What song was number one the day of your birth?

For me it was "One Of These Nights" by the Eagles .
Bryon's was "Joy To The World" by Three Dog Night.
Matthew's was "Smooth" by Santana and Rob Thomas
Thomas's was "U Got It Bad" by Usher
Mary Beth's was "Slow Motion" by Juvenile

I think it is funny that I knew Matthew's song really well, I know only the artist, Usher, but not the song, and I have never heard of "Slow Motion" or Juvenile! I guess I listened to less and less popular music with each passing baby!

What about you?

By the way, the Macarena was the number one song the day I got married! Hah!

Valentine's Day and the weekend

I have lots to catch up on!

First of all, we had a very nice Valentine's Day. Ever since Matthew was old enough to realize what the holiday was about, we have made the Valentine's night a family affair. This Valentine's Day, I made my grandmother's traditional spaghetti dinner and a strawberry cake. We had a candlelit dinner in our dining room. ME's chair was covered with towels! We enjoyed telling each other how much we love each member of the family. For the rest of the night, the boys kept talking about how much they loved eating in the dining room (I guess instead of eating in the kitchen when we have guests!). Friday at lunch, I made Mary Beth some soup and called her into the kitchen to eat. She raced in and sat at the dining room table and said, "I am ready for lunch!" What can I say, the girl has formal tastes!

This weekend, Michael and Jilinda came to town to celebrate Michael's birthday. After the boys' basketball game, we all gathered at my house to eat lunch. After lunch, we all sat around my living room to listen to Dad read my parents' 100 memories of Michael, and then watch a video of his life up to this point. It was a very emotional afternoon. Watching the video made me proud of my brother, really miss being a child, and hopeful that Bryon and I can provide a wonderful childhood for my kids like my parents did for me.

Here is a cute picture of Michael and Matthew when Matthew was in kindergarten. It was on Michael's video, and I don't think I ever had seen this one before! I can't believe how little Matthew looks!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy Half-Birthday, Mary Elizabeth!

Today, Mary Elizabeth is 3 1/2! Here is what she is up to lately:

*Mary Beth rarely walks anywhere. If she is moving, she is either twirling, jumping, or strutting hands on hips! She is very interested in the "twirl factor" with her dresses. The more material on the skirt, the better the twirl!
*She is into imagination games. Every day, we take turns being Belle and the Beast, the mean old ugly troll and the princess trying to cross the bridge, Cinderella and the prince, etc. When she is in character, she refuses to be called Mary Beth.
"Time for bed, Mary Beth!"
"Don't you mean, Cinderella?"
*Speaking of Cinderella, she is still obsessed with all things princess. She is Ariel in the bath tub, and either Cinderella or Belle "on land". She has asked me before if she could be a walking mermaid. Whatever floats you boat, Mary Beth!
*Dress up, dress up, dress up! You rarely see Mary Beth walking around our house without some sort of dress up clothing on. She came out of her room this morning in her Cinderella dress, tiara, and high heels!
*Her room is generally a disaster! This goes back to the last point. I can't put away her dress up clothes faster than she can pull them out! She did tell me a month or two ago that she wasn't strong enough to help me clean her room. Here's hoping that she gains some strength soon!
*She adores her big brothers. She calls Matthew "Bub" or "Bubby". Thomas is "Sweetie". Matthew calls her "Zooie". She can do no wrong in their book.
*She loves to laugh and to have others laugh at her. She went to her favorite restaurant yesterday with her best little girlfriend. They laughed for over an hour straight! Life is never dull with Mary Beth around.
*She adores Lauren. She calls her "Aunt" and prefers to have Lauren call her "Niece".
*She still loves her "Bibi". Sadly, the term bibi has been replaced recently by "blankie" or "blanks" for short.
*The girl can SING. She has a very large verbrato that cracks me up!
*She is very interested in letters right now. She loves pointing them out on buildings and is right most of the time. She also loves writing "M" but doesn't want to learn how to write any other letter.
*She is still pretty petite. She weighs 32 pounds and can still wear some of her 2 year old clothes.

*When it is time to get in the car, she races around the house to pack up a purse or two. They are usually filled with plastic toys, chap stick, or even the occasional extra pair of underwear or socks!

What a joy she is to me!

Happy 30th birthday, Michael!

Today is my brother, Michael's, 30th birthday! He is such an important part of my life. My kids adore him, and I feel so blessed to call him my brother. Can't wait to see you next weekend, Michael!

Ring Tailed Tooter!

I want to be careful writing this so as not to leave the wrong impression. For starters, my boys have always been rambunctous, but they never get in trouble in school. Thomas hasn't ever gotten a color change, and Matthew, from the start of preschool to present, has only had one. Deana, he did get his name tag pulled by a cafeteria Nazi, but even his teacher thought it was stupid, so we won't count it!

And then there is Mary Elizabeth.....

Let's just say, the girl loves to talk. She also loves to be silly with her best friend, Whitney. Yes, before every ballet class, and Mother's Day Out drop off, we have the discussion on how we must behave. She will look at me with her nose squinted and 1000 watt smile promising that she will be on her best behavior. It's just so hard for such a social butterfly!! She has had a few time outs for talking/silliness. Last week, I picked her up and asked her if she had gotten in trouble. She exuberantly exclaimed, "I didn't go to time out! I am SO LUCKY!" Does this mean just that she didn't get caught?

I must say that she is a doll. So affectionate and sweet. It is just a matter of reining in her mouth! She did great yesterday, so I am hoping this is just a phase!

Red Velvet Balls

Red velvet balls are one of my family's favorite desserts. I just got through making a batch for Matthew's teacher's birthday today. They are also a great gift at Valentine's Day. Here is the recipe:

1 box Red Velvet Cake
1 sm. tub of cream cheese frosting
1 package of chocolate bark

Bake red velvet cake as per directions. Use the biggest container you can to bake it in. This helps it be a little dryer. I use a 11x15.

Let it cool slightly. Then crumble the cake in a large bowl (make sure not to have large chunks of hardened edge cake in the mix) and pour the cream cheese frosting in the bowl. Mix well.

Roll into balls whatever size you want. Mine are usually the size of golf balls. Maybe a little smaller. Put the balls in the refrigerator to harden.

After a while, melt the chocolate bark either on the stove or in the microwave. Dip balls into the chocolate mix and let them harden. After finishing the balls, I like to drizzle white almond bark on top of them.

Then try your hardest not to eat the entire platter of them!

Monday morning quarterback.

What a whirlwind weekend! After our game on Saturday, Bryon and the boys went camping with our neighbor and his two boys who are the same age as Matthew and Thomas. They had a great time fishing, canoeing, hiking, listening to ghost stories, and exploring caves. ME and I had a fun girls weekend, too! We are considering spending a few days camping during Spring Break. I am not much of a camper, but I think I can hang with a few days of R&R, beautiful scenery, and hiking. I just need to find a place with closed in, air conditioned luxury!

We enjoyed the Super Bowl with some of our friends and thanked the good Lord for the gorgeous weather! All of our kids had fun playing outside and we got the first glimpse of spring. I am sure the cold weather will come again, but I have enjoyed cooking out and wearing shorts for a change!

My poor kids looked like walking zoombies this morning after such and eventful weekend. I think next year, they should plan for the Super Bowl to be the Sunday before MLK day so everyone can rest afterward! We will all have an early night tonight, and all will be well for tomorrow.

I was happy for the Giants, but it stung just a little seeing how the Cowboys beat them twice this year! Oh well, there is always next year!