Saturday Isaac wanted to do something fun as a family. Mr. Adventure ended up looking up the St. Patrick's day parade and off we went in the POURING rain. Luckily we drove through some of the mess of it and all the die hard people -and their poncho's and umbrellas- and ended up at the Ag museum for second time in a week. phew. Since then I've been trying to process my dislike for such events as the intended adventure. I mean I knew all along he wanted to do something "Fun as a family" So spontaneity might not be my thing but I had fair waring and I was game, but driving to that parade -after it was supposed to have started even though it hadn't, I was miserable. Is it that I don't like crowds? I think that's part of it. And anything new or unfamiliar is so exciting and fun for Isaac and basically an anxiety attack for me. And...I don't know what else but those are the two things I've come up with so far. The rain had to be part of it, knowing we were going to get soaked and then have wet kids to deal with too... The good news is the Ag museum was fun. :) Moving on.
Sunday the Cowder's had a little shin dig at their house because Elder Jack -whom all the kids love- got his visa and was heading to Australia. I should have made a collage out of these pics but instead I just uploaded them. Elder Jack is the one on the right.

The Elders on couch are obviously playing with Cannon but I think I love that Elder Jack is on the floor playing with the kids because Isaac always says that he learned to speak Portuguese by talking to the little kids. Elder Jack-his English is coming along but mostly he just smiles :) And he is so cute with the little kids! As a parting gift we hooked him up with a primary shirt-and we made it the same colors as Cannon's :)

 

Some times I just take pictures of Colt doing things that I have pictures of Cannon doing when he was his age :) Cute little stinkers, both of them.

 

Monday Cannon man got a sweet little card in the mail with some money in it from when he helped Grama with her yard work. So we had our Family Home Evening lesson on tithing and Cannon got to pay his own tithing, he was so cute. Its all filled out and he's waiting until Sunday to hand it to Dad. I said "or Bishop or Brother Blalock" as we'd talked about who we can give our tithing to and smiled and responded "I prefer daddy." So cute. 

That money that he wanted to earn to buy a new Peterbuilt, its burning a hole in his pocket. Then we 'forgot' his money on our trip to the dollar store and he said "Its ok mom, I can just use yours." Oh Cannon, he's a crack up, and a pretty good boy too. 
When he sees old things -there's a lot of old things at the Ag museum- he says  "Why's it olden fashion?" Well that's what I hear, I think Isaac hears "old and fashioned" either way we laugh. Isaac's tried to correct him but it doesn't work. I find that I just end up talking like him. I say primerary and strawberary 1/2 the time too.Whoops. Oh well.

When he's been playing outside he smells like a stinky little boy! But he knows I think he stinks so any time he gets sweaty inside or out he comes up to me and says "Hey mom, sfell (smell) me, Sfell me mom" then smiles and runs off back to whatever he was doing.
When we remember we like to ask him what his high and low from the day are, the other day he told me his high was "Getting to have pets." You see he and his dad saw some slugs out by the garbage, he (maybe they...) decided they were his pets and he named them Lob and Joe...at his request they made the blog... you would have given in too if you would have seen how excited he was at the thought of me putting them on the blog, and sorry this was all I could bring myself to do in the picture dept--I'm pretty sure I wasn't even looking at the view finder thing, just point in the general direction and snap.

 

He wanted to put them in the bathtub to see if they could swim. NO! (That idea might come from that Tiny Turtle-Bubble song he and Colt have been singing...but it might have come from dad. I'm not sure....) but I was extra sure it wasn't going to happen! So gross...and maybe we really do need a dog. Not Yet. 

Isaac left town again this week for another interview. Cannon's my little worry wart (so he did get some of my genes) its like he was looking for something to worry about though and he said "But mom! You're not a mechanic, dad is, what if something happens to Little Green?" Oh brother, I assured him I wouldn't drive Little Green so it would be fine. It worked out pretty smooth the nights Isaac was gone this week though, one I had a baby shower at the church and Kristy tended BOTH kids for me. (I was really proud of Colt.) I do confess to giving in to the old Dollar store bribe trick when Cannon was getting so worked up about having to got to the babysitter, and then the other night we met up with the Belks. I don't know how Jenna does it when her husband works out of town. Yikes. But its always fun to have a play date-
Now, about that Dollar store bribe-- it worked like a champ, we didn't take his money and I got away only buying him one thing BUT of course there's a story: Cannon picked a big mallet. (We saw a snake at the park this week when we were there with Jenna. JD seriously almost touched it-it freaked me (and Jenna) right out...well Mr. Smarty pants saw what a tizzy it put me into so at the dollar store he wanted to buy the toy snake. I put my foot down. Said "No Way!" Then happily bought the "hammer" and listened to "but Mom, me'n dad just like snakes."  Whatever. Anyway he was playing with his mallet or "new hammer" in the sandbox when he found a lady bug. ...you see where this is going right?...we like lady bugs so he and Colt checked it out and were playing with it then I don't know what I guess I turned my head and WHAM! Smithereens! A little orange-ish (that's what color they are here) spot on the edge of the sandbox I said "Whoa we like Lady Bugs, I thought you were playing with it?" His reply? A heartless "I was done." Then, silly me I turn my head--when am I going to learn?--and  just for the record I wasn't guilty of being on my phone either time because I didn't have it with me--anyway the next thing I know there's orange-ish  sand on his lip. GROSS!! I said "We do NOT eat bugs." To which he replied with big blue twinkling eyes "We do when they are yummy." HEAVEN! HELP! ME!
I did get a picture of the mallet another trip to the sandbox-and that grin kind of tells the story...

I've had this chalk board fabric and wanted to put a map of the U.S. on it for a long time--cuz distance is really hard for Cannon to understand-- but because Dad has been traveling all over we finally got it done.  And you'll notice the little green snake at the top of the picture. I wouldn't buy one but we did end up making a couple silky snakes for a project one morning. I tried to just make felt one's but Cannon's was dissapointed his didn't slither very good--so really we had two snake make'n projects. Cannon's is called Snakey and Colt's is Jake the pillow snake. 

Speaking of Isaac being the traveling man. Poor guy, this trip was rough, not only did he forget his belt and his phone charger (which hey we live 3 miles from the airport we ran back to the house and grabbed those for him before he ever went through security) but he also forgot a tie --good thing there are Walmarts everywhere and super nice people that work at the hotel and let him borrow their car-- but I guess he had the whole plane laughing too.  How was he to know Sault is pronounced "Sue" ??? And its in the U.P. as in the very tip top of Michigan or Upper Peninsula but those uppers-are U-ppers  pronounced "you"ppers...I guess you learn all kinds of things when your the guy on the plane that everyone is laughing at. Like I said, Poor guy. But he's had good experiences both places he's interviewed and he has more interview's next week so we're just hoping and praying for the best!

Look at these cute pics I found on Isaac's phone! These guys are lucky to have such a great dad! We love him!

Ok first things first here's the pics from that Ferry ride.

I don't know if the pictures do it justice...but we had fun. And I couldn't help but post the one of Cannon by the Keep Out sign...he'd been clear in and Isaac and Colt here still in there. I'm the rule follower in our family-I might be the only one ;)
Ok how bout this for the truth, the only reason I'm blogging right now is my 4 hour pass of watching NCAA tournament games just expired...WHAT???  LAME! I love March Madness, well when I can watch it that is--and when my Cougs don't blow a 17 point lead...to Ole Miss of all teams. UG its painful being a BYU fan. On to the week!
Last weekend we really had a great time with the Marchant Kids! They are good kids.

Friday was a little tough at nap time though-they were sure they'd been quiet for 5 hours when it had been one. I realize numbers are a little off with 6 and 8 year old. Nana told me they bought their house for $1000 dollars. Man I know they say rent is throwing money away but maybe that's why.  HAHA. Anyway so Saturday I needed a little better nap time plan than "We have to be super quiet." So we went to work on a little service project of detailing their mom's van. It was SO CUTE. They were so excited to do it for her, (they were great but they were definitely missing their mom so it was fun for them to do it and think of her being excited) they were sure she was going to think it was a new car. I had Lincoln using this little scrubby thing (ladybug-he wished it was "real" and could do it itself) but he'd scrub then I'd come behind with a "magic" rag and wipe wherever he'd scrubbed away and voila it was it was shiny bright! He was hilarious, calling for me "I need the magic rag." Speaking of hilarious that was the bottom line, those kids really had me laughing all weekend. Sunday we got along great, we had the fun surprise of seeing Sister Urie (missionary here when we moved here) at church. Cannon was actually better behaved during sacrament meeting with Lincoln and Aurianna there-Colt not so much but whatever, we survived. I packed lunches and Isaac kept the big kids at church with him until he was done doing tithing and such so our kids could start the nap process-the boys were still out when they got home so I know Sunday is not a day for work but given the circumstances it was totally a day for service :) and I put'm to work finishing the service project for their mom this time working on the outside of her van--there may be a whole bottle of windex on their van and dirt smeared all over but --who cares? My boys got great naps! Mission accomplished! That evening we picked up their older sister then waited it out for their moms late flight. We had a good time and were happy help them out. I will admit though, minus 2 kids our place sure seemed quiet Monday :)

Spring is here! Monday it was a beautiful day the boys and I hit the park but when Isaac got home he had a little spring fever himself and wanted to do a picnic so we loaded up the bikes and went to another park. It was fun. Then the little fishing game you see in the next picture down is the latest thing from Superwoman, aka Sister Powell, Cannon's sunbeam teacher. They love it.

 

Tuesday for St. Patricks day my little leprechauns and I decided the Ag museum would be fun and we lured dad into meeting us there :) it was great! We love that place.

Then we stayed up way to late watching BYU blow that game.  Wed Isaac flew to Ohio for a job interview, he got to see his folks so that was awesome. He felt good about his interview and has another one next week. I am trying to "Come what may and love it" remembering we are still technically supposed to have another year of school here, but... still hoping to move in the westward-toward home- direction...time will tell. Worrying about it doesn't accomplish anything. (And typing that might help me remember its true.) And the thought of being "grown ups with a real job" to me is a little surreal. Anyway, his flight back out of Columbus got canceled so he had to come back this morning. Bummer, just a hassle, but he got to see his folks one more time and he's back now so all is well.  And boy! I'll tell ya, every time he's not around -for whatever reason, he's gone, we're gone, he has meetings whatever- I'm always keenly aware of just how much he does! He really is a great helper! I'm very lucky!!
Here's just a few more random pics. Isaac putting Colt's sandels on Cannon...Well they were Cannon's-2 years ago. Isaac -notice his own toes are pretty much off the front of his flip flops- was just going with the philosophy they are open toed, his toes can just hang off. Oh brother! Then Hey Cannon, how bout we just have Colt push you in the stroller? Maybe its just another example of my over-photographing my kids but it was pretty funny. We'd been up to Children's Place hitting the clearance rack. We went for a baby gift but of course I bought matching pajamas even if Cannon's way grown out of the one piecers...they were $1.49. You know that made my day! And the puddles-always provide such entertainment. We've taken to calling the Crocs "puddle shoes"

 

Above Colt is trying to pic up a rock that's bigger than he is. He's a determined little stinker too. I finally helped him, he wasn't going to give up! And Cannon deciding to roll around in the dirt just like Sugar-dog does...great. 

And last but not least...a couple movies. Kristy (Marchant mom) is actually Colt's Nursery leader so when her kids started singing this with him he was all about it. --Its super cute in the Sandbox...not as cute at the baptism last Saturday night during the talks--yikes. 

Cannon loves to read the books he has more or less memorized, he did it for my mom on the phone the other day and she kept saying I just want to see him, I need a movie...that was easy enough to make happen. And that cute little voice! I'm going to be glad I have it recorded!

YAY!! I finally changed the blog header.  Ok one thing that made me really sad changing it is-don't blink, these cute little boys of mine are growing up SO FAST

Temple trip--so long! But we had fun! Colt's learned to point to Angel Moroni, we have a little book he does it on too-its super cute. And thank goodness the the Catholic church just down the street from the temple had a park, that was awesome, and the weather was great, my boys ended up a little bit pink...whoops. (Cannon took the pics of me lifting Colt up to dunk it, he's a big helper.)

Isaac and the boys found a Home Depot and a ferry for us to go on, so we did that after he got done at the temple.  I have TONS of pics but it will have to be an added in later deal. I'll explain in a second. But first look how cute, Cannon has the best Sunbeam teacher-she always does the cutest things with them. He's very lucky.

So I do need to add stuff in but we have these two cute little Marchant kids over for a few days. While its super easy because they are so cute with my boys and just good kids, there is certainly an added level of stress-but there shouldn't be because they're great but anyway. Currently I'm forcing "Quiet time" while my boys nap (Actually they were game for naps too) but I think I'm going to get in on the naps too. We're having fun though-that's the most important part!

 

Its March so next month will be a year with the same blog header...come on Lyndi get with it. I took pics to update it in Dec but I didn't love any of them...maybe someday soon...maybe.

Ok about that pine wood derby... look at the smile on Isaac's face...Its really the only picture I took of the building process but as you can see he was having a good time.

 

We took lightening over to the church Saturday morning for a trial run (the benefits of having church keys :) ...they're endless ) Anyway...Lightening Mr. "I am Speed" was slooooooow! So Isaac really spent pretty much the WHOLE day revamping his design and plan. And it paid off, he got second place again.

Here's our little team Lightening McQueen--of course we dressed for the part.... And then Cannon with Aurianna-he was happy as long as he was tagging her around, if she was watching the races he was but if not, not.

I think we won all of our heats but then they calculated it out and we were 2nd.

 

Both my boys thinking they are big stuff climbing the ladder. The victor tipping his hat and he little mischievous one reaching for the scissors. Typical.

So the pine wood derby was the highlight of last weekend but other than that it hasn't been a very eventful week. The weather here is crazy. One day it was 82 degrees and warm as could be the next day freezing rain. It was as close as the boys have come to seeing snow this winter. 

Before it was SO warm and before it got SO cold again we had a kind of in between rainy day. I was sure we were going just stay in but Cannon wasn't so sold and you can see who won out. He's just so cute when he grabs all his baseball gear and some for Colt and begs to go play. So we did only the we didn't play any baseball because the field was literally one giant puddle but they found an excavator and a sand pile though so I'm pretty sure it was little boy heaven. Cannon kept saying "We're at the beach!!"

 

We snuck in one little play date with Jenna and here kids but I think that pretty much wraps up the week. Not terribly exciting.

Colt has been doing two pretty cute things lately both walking around with his knees bent. Some times he is trying to tickle-its the cutest thing he gets his little fingers up and wiggles them with his jaw clenched this certain funny way. AND he's also been trying to play a little defense on Cann Man. Trying to catch it on camera has been the tough part because as soon as he sees it that's all he wants. Oh well. Here's my attempt.