Last Friday night there was a daddy daughter date in town...I can't remember what Isaac was up to, but the Tilton boys were minus Sister and came to hang out with us...we let them watch a movie on the tablet but then they didn't like Cassie and I visiting cuz they couldn't hear--so we sent them to the other room to watch. Cassie brought some of those sugar cookies that have a 1/2 inch of frosting on them, my boys were SOLD, that's for sure what Cannon wants to take for his class on his birthday now.
And then there was that race...



So it turns out that whole road bike thing matters! I didn't get passed by any mountain bikes. But the road bikes went flying by me--my competitive self HATES that. But my friend Kassidee told me I probably worked harder even though she road it 11 minutes faster. HA! Actually she just about won the dang thing, that was pretty cool. And when I finished, there was a gal unclipping (that had passed me too) and she said "Oh I rode it on a mountain bike last year-NEVER again." Ok, noted, if I were to do it again, borrow a road bike. My friends got the pics but, Isaac and the boys didn't make it, that was ok until I had to ride my bike back home. OUCH OUCH OUCH after my muscles had tightened back up, thankfully about one block in to my ride home (that was going to be all up hill) my guys pulled up. Boy was I ever happy to see a white mini van!! They said Tanner sleeping was the culprit for them missing it, and I won't complain about that guy sleeping cuz I know how it is!

Isaac dropped us off then went to help someone move.

These guys are goofs but I sure love them. 

Saturday night we decided to BBQ and invited the Lingwall's over. We enjoyed a good visit and a good burger. But sometimes red meat hates me and boy did I un-enjoy that burger Sunday. I sluffed meetings but when Isaac came home and I still wasn't getting ready for church Cannon questioned me on it. I answered "I still feel pukey." To which he replied "Mom there are garbage cans at church, you are the primary president!" That kid! Sorry buddy, line drawn!
Thankfully it was just a one day thing and I was back to normal...ready to be a stink'n vegetarian but back to normal.
TanTan isn't the typical not photographed 3rd child, he holds his own in the photo dept. Here he is showing off his tan--fitting for my TanTan right? And then there's the kisses to be blown. So cute.

 

This was the week of the young child here in Kirksville, so they had activities and such everyday. Monday we went to the concert in the park.  Tan jigged up and down with the music, Colt sulked and wanted to go home the whole time. So I didn't exactly run out to the other activities throughout the week. They did the same concert at Cannon's school in the afternoon, so that was kind of fun-talking to him about it.

At the first of this week I was trying to keep up my bike riding...it only happened once. But I loaded the boys in the trailer and took them up to the park by the ball fields. Tanner piled back in the trailer on his own to read his book. No buddy, you're free, go play. I took my textbook for my stress class up and read part of it...it was somewhat effective.

At kindergarten they are going through the alphabet with fun things for each letter before the end of school. J was Jersey day. No way would Cannon wear his Cubs jersey because Mr. Motley (principal) doesn't like the Cubs, and neither does his buddy Coen. Haha, its ok, we have options. But Colt had to get in on jersey day too, "You know, you know, you know mom, I yike da tubs." Good Buddy-me too.

The boys want to plant a garden...sooo....we're working on it.

Tanner was in tall cotton out there sitting in that dirt! He reminded me SO MUCH of Cannon. It was much more fun to take pictures of Cannon we he was little though because there wasn't a dumb dog jumping on me. Oh that stupid dog, she jumps on me just because she knows I hate it. The next day there was a rabbit in the neighbors yard distracting her, so I got some cute ones!

But if we're going to do a garden we need some way to keep the dang dog out it if...so Isaac went over to his project house, to get a little fencing. He came back in and said "I probably should have taken a trailer."...yup! Thankfully he went by himself, his helpers just had to check it out.

And oh my goodness, I forgot all about that house. He's listed it for sell, well, actually he made me do it. Because he doesn't have Facebook. Oh this is part of the story I was going to tell last week. Anyway, about a year ago I ended joining the Kirksville Swap Shop Facebook group...welcome to the world of "Kirksters" yikes. So one night I was telling Isaac about it, then he got to looking at my phone and scrolling through all the lists of junk for sell and he was hooked on the entertainment side of it. He read what they said then laugh and go on and so on. Well he came to a little motorcycle that was listed for $800 and he said "We could get that for Cannon." I said "WHAT?! What did you get me for Mother's Day?!" (It was like the week after or something and the answer is nothing, I bought myself a shirt. And he forgot my standing request of a note--so he was kind of in the doghouse a little.) But he looked up in all innocence and said "What do you want?" (sigh, I don't know-to think it even crossed your mind?) But to his credit, he really means it, if there is something I want he will get it for me. He's just not going to come up with the idea on his own, if I want it I better tell him. Anyway so he's been shopping for ME a motorcycle --again/still who knows??-- but I've been teasing him that its my Mother's Day Motorcycle. He wants to get me one (but really its the other kind of one he wants to ride sometimes that he's been shopping for...and I'm good with that ulterior motive.) Anyway that really is a big side story but Isaac had decided this Facebook group and all the crazy "Kirksters" as we call them was the place to list that house for sale. But he doesn't have FB and doesn't want it. That leaves me. Becoming a genuine Kirkster when I listed that dang house. UG. But I did it, it blew up my FB for a while--he checked it feverishly. Ha. Who knows, he is leaning toward getting rid of it though even thought its not gone yet, and I'm good with that plan. I felt bad when the neighbors over there asked. I said it had a long way to go before I would live in it. And the ole boy said "It'd be a lot different then live'n in the big house over there." ...hmm...perspective.

As usual the house is quiet and I'm up way too late blogging but two last pics quick. Colt fed Tanner some sixlets today...Tanner was love'n life! And last by not least I found myself a St. George girl Missionary tonight at the baptism!

Turns out this gal, sister Bracken's mom was my 6th grade P.E. teacher! How's that for a small world? I thought it was pretty cool. She was just here on splits but good enough, I had so much fun chatting with her I didn't even think to point out that Jeff is actually from St. George too--its was his son Trevor's baptism. But then when I emailed her mom this pic, I told her-she totally knows the Lingwall's.  

Alright well, this quiet house is begging me to join in on the sleep--until next week.

Oh what a week-a fun week-but what a week! First a little backstory, my friend was trying to talk me into doing the little triathlon they have here with her-I wasn't biting. So then she wanted to do it in teams, so I still thought I told her no with every possible excuse except for actually saying "No." Well finally she said "If you don't want to do it just tell me." I read the text and laughed to myself as I thought I've tried every way I know how, but I decided if I wasn't willing to actually say "No" then I needed to say "yes" but not complain about it--so that was the plan. I agreed, we got one of my (former, she just turned 12) primary kids to do the swim, my friend was going to bike and I was going to fun. I'd had minimal treadmill time-things weren't pretty-but it was getting better. So giddy up, it was only 2 miles. Well Grandma and Grandpa Ison came and that was perfect I could take off on a little jog anytime I wanted so I tried to go most morning. Years years YEARs ago my dad told me "you're only ever 2 weeks away from being in shape" Well, I don't know where he heard that but its not true! OR it might be true when you're 17, but it NOT when you're 35! Soooo I ran a couple days while Grandma tended and my old knees hurt so bad I had to just go for a bike ride the next day. But on my bike ride I found a lot better route to run, that wasn't so up and down hill and the next day I was back to jogging, and the next. Whew, that gets us back to last Saturday where I normally start the blog. I got up and forced my sore little legs on a jog, my muscles ached (So pathetic but its true) but I pushed through. The day before I'd felt like I had a good run, this one I more or less survived but it was done and that was the best part. So I got home, and we said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa. Cannon wouldn't even give Grandma a hug...but later when we asked him about it he said he was just sad-I get that. And tired Tanner, rubbing his little eyes... but they hit the road around 9. On their way out of town they say a yard sale with a little circular saw at it, Grandpa thought Isaac might like, it was just up the street so the boys and I walked up to check it out for Isaac. 

We walked up. Not a big deal. They boys wanted to ride, Tanner wanted to help push, why Cannon picked to ride the trike he got when he turned 2...I have no idea, he rides it all the time, look close it has his little gun hooked on with a tie down-oh brother. The problem was when we got there I didn't even know what a circular saw was! But I took a couple pictures, of what I thought might be it (circular blades--I'm not totally stupid) and came back and showed Isaac, he decided for $2 he was game and he and the boys went back up. (And came back with all kind of goodies, a hoe, a gas can, and so on --he did turn down something he figured they would impale themselves with-figuring the emergency room bill would be far greater than the dollar he was going to buy them for, good move honey.)  Anyway, all this to say up until some point Saturday morning I was fine. We kept in touch with Grandma Kami and the girls and ended up meeting them down at the church for the Easter Egg Hunt the other ward put on. Cousin time! More Grandma time...let the good times roll!

 

Tanner's first Easter--even though he's already one.

The kids were bummed they didn't find a golden egg, but other than that they had a great time. It was nice of the other ward to invite us along, I wouldn't even attempt such a thing--but they had a great turn out and the kids had fun. I'm pretty sure that makes it a win.

I gave the boys their "Easter outfit" Brazil jersey's the night before, Colts wasn't as bright so he quickly traded it in for the old hand me down one because it matched Cannon's better, and looking at the pics...Cann's looks so baggie-maybe it was the best choice.

Then we went home and the kids watched the tablet while Grama and Aunt Kami napped-I don't know what I did but somewhere in there I develop a huge knot in my hamstring, and pain in the butt and back to accompany it, and subsequently a terrible limp. Seriously, I came up SO LAME! And while I hoped it would go away...I'm still pretty gimpy, so that long story to say I had to bail on running in the triathlon...but I can still ride a bike--so my friend and I switched and the big race is  tomorrow morning so I'll have to report on next week.

Saturday Afternoon we took the kids to a park, and the Easter Bunny came. (We like him to come on Saturday around here so we can focus on the Savior on Sunday...he usually accommodates us) He kept it pretty simple bringing bubbles and squirt bottles and markers and such and the kids had a good time playing with the new loot.

That night after having Tanner just about ready for the tub, he escaped...and the following pic is how I found him. He's sold on jelly beans. The huddles around the tablet pic is just funny to me--it was Sunday night and they were watching Mormon messages. Too cute.

Saturday night we ordered Pizza, I don't know if that was it, or all the traveling but it got the best of both Grama and Ann, yikes, such a rip off to be sick on vacation-for them and us- but anyway with all that none of us got a single picture of the kids in their cute Easter church clothes oh well. We made up for it with a billion pics in Nauvoo on Monday.
Sunday night Tanner scored again--I'll tell you what, when you have a birthday and then get to see both grandma's the next two weeks, this kid just keeps cashing in on the birthday fun. Grama had gotten Elsie one of these when she turned one, it was a fun toy, so why not?

The big kids loved it too. Monday Cannon didn't have school and we headed for Nauvoo. Grama felt good but we left her (and Tanner) home anyway. She said he was good, they had fun but they missed out on our fun. We had a perfect day in Nauvoo. It was beautiful! City Beautiful lived up to her name. Perfect weather, not busy at all. So many pictures but, it never gets old.

We did the same old stuff, but there's always something new too! I don't know how many times we've been to the family living center but this was our first time doing this to the wool. And I had never done the carriage ride or been to the drugstore and learned about the bee box or to the shoe makers place either. We ran from place to place, it was really fun. 

Elsie pulls a goofy face in pretty much every picture--so I gave up on trying to find pictures where she wasn't. Ha. 

There's a statue of Kami's Great Great Grandfather there, I didn't take a picture of it but she did, when we were there we found this one of the Prophet Joseph. The boys loved it.  They were also determined to find a whale...I said "a what?" and then Cannon described it-oh "a well" ok...

I know there's a picture with Kami and I in it too in front of one of the sets of horses but I seemed to have missed it when I was uploading. Oh well, its not like it was great anyway. But we had fun. We ended up vetoing Carthage just because of the drive and then we were going to have to rush so much in Nauvoo sooo...next time! I hope they come back!
Tuesday we sent Grama and Kami up to Cantril to check out our favorite Mennonite store. We had fun here coloring and painting shirts about the girls trip. But first this next pic of TanO--he found that twix in a purse I'd left on the floor and we was not about to be denied.

With hand-me downs-we had just enough bikes to pull it off.  

Cannon and Colton have so much fun with Ann and Elsie that Tanner's just kind of "baby Tanner" Ann would get so excited when he would do anything. She told me that he had a really strong grip and that he would probably be stronger than her dad when grows up. I laughed and said "Make sure and tell your dad that!" But anyway, this kid, he LOVES to sit IN the book container and read book. Oh he's pretty darn cute has he babbles and turns the pages. And you can see one of those t-shirt projects drying behind him. I sent the girls home with them and...don't ask where the others are! 

The Easter Bunny gave the kids each a pack of sixlets that had a coupon for a free game of bowling-sweet. So we went to use it, it didn't work because it was Tuesday night and bowling is only a dollar on Tuesday night anyway, so, cool, we'll use the coupon another time. But kids had fun. My boys discovered the strategy involved in using the ramp. Ann is the fastest bowler I've every seen...(and Elsie might be the slowest-not a timid kid but very timid when she sets the ball down.)  I didn't bowl because of my back issues but Isaac did. I messed up by telling Colt, "Hey look, go tell dad you were beating him in the 5th frame." (It was 6th frame or so by then) Well then Cannon and Ann got all kinds of concerned about the score. In the end, Cannon was up by one and Ann had one ball left to throw (and about 5 or six pins still up) but she threw it too quick and it banged into the little thing that goes in front while the downed pins are swept away. So it didn't get anyway and it used up her turn. Cannon was like "I won I beat Ann." Ann was dissappointed "Why did that thing get in the way!" So we settled on it was a tie because her ball really was headed for one pin and it would have hit it so they both would have had 80. Oh brother.

Wednesday we took the kids down to the crossing and let them play around while Cannon was in school, then Grandma took them to the movie after school. It was movie or swimming and we let Cannon choose, he figured he better go movie while Grama was here because we never go, and swimming we do. We had planned to let Cannon be late for school the next day and take the kids to McDonalds for breakfast and then to a park or something for a half hour or so before they hit the road for KC where they would stay the night before their early flight. BUT, a fortune mishap with grama's phone dying and having to log into her email to get back into her phone, we found out their flight was actually the Thursday morning, not Friday...so 12 hours away! It was a bit of a mad dash to pack and they had to do the on the road by 1:30 in the morning thing, but it worked out and they made it. We're so glad they came though! It was so fun to have them!

And now its back to "normal" around here. I guess. This is what "Hey, stay in the car." Looks like, little stinkers. 

 

 

In other exciting new, just tonight Tanner showed off by blowing some kisses! Good job buddy-we've been working on that. I have more stories to tell but holy cow I just looked at the time, its 11:00 I better get to bed, I have a bike race in the morning.

If I end up with a motorcycle for Mother's Day...I'm sure I'll remember to fill ya in on the story--