Looking back at the pictures, last weekend seems like a long time ago. Saturday Isaac went to work and my mom and I took the boys to the park in Novinger. I love the one with Cannon rolling his eye, in captures so much of his personality right now. 🙄

I tried to drive off without letting them play on this old train car...that didn't work...

We look for about any reason to celebrate and eat a cupcake around here...The fact that Tanner turned 11 months (whoa...that was quick) but anyway 11 months while Grama was here, that seemed like a good enough reason to celebrate.

Little Characters! They keep life fun!

Monday we shoved as much fun as we could in before we had to take Grama to the airport. (Notice Colts slippers in the above pic...we let him leave the house in those! Ha. Oh well.) That afternoon we picked up Cannon a few minutes early grabbed slushies at Sonic and then we had to give her back 😕

Cannon was only semi-cooperative with the selfies.

But we had fun while she was here! She's been making the boys lots of hats...(I gave her a pretty hard time about it too...she doesn't seem old enough to sit and crochet...I know she's Grandma, but that just seems like such an OLD Grandma thing...haha.) Anyway, I keep finding these hats all over the house...so we ALL put them on.

Below I have TanTan doing his best Cannon impersonation, sucking on a silky! (I was sure Cannon was the only one.) And Colt sharing pieces of his donut. What a good brother.

We had the treadmill on a little this week, all blurry pics of my little runners though. Cannon told me he can run as fast as me...and its true!!! He was so proud and he went "all the way around" the little lights make a loop for every quarter mile. We also had the leg shaker out. I love Tanner's face as he turned it up on Cannon.

Tanner's getting to be quite a chatter box with lots of Ga Ga and Goo goo noises. Colt's little firecracker personality is always popping off too. I asked him if he wanted to choose what he had for breakfast or if I should and he said "I want to choose" then in a very concerned voice "...but the only thing I can think of is marshmallows and tootsie rolls." Oh brother!
Something came up about a grown up this week and he quipped "A grown up is just someone who bosses you around." Lest I wondered if I do anything else.
Life is good though. Its been a busy week. But good.
And its officially spring break--we should be able to fine something fun to report on next week...we'll see!

Well, we've been having a good time, and playing hard and Isaac's been working hard! Saturday, seems like so long ago, but I know my mom bought steaks for Isaac a little belated birthday dinner, we were just going to fry them up but he prefers them grilled so even though it was cold outside he fired up the grill. (Then got a little distracted putting the rope swing back up for the boys so the steaks got burned but were super rare--gross-- BUT really ya can't blame the guy for being super dad! And it makes a better story so what the heck? right?...I can blame the dog though, she chews on it or we could've left the swing up.) Really everything was still good (I just don't do rare) it just had lots of character...and we had lots of fun. The boys roasted some mini marshmallows, it was before dinner so I limited their fun, but they even shared with Tanner-he loved that! And while we were at Westerns (the meat shop) Grama bought the dog a bone, the boys had a great time giving it to her.

Just play'n with Grama! Love those smiles.



Monday Cannon didn't have school because it was a teacher development day. So we loaded up the boys and headed to Columbia. I was excited to go shopping, the boys were excited to go to Chuck E Cheese. We went to one store on the way down and one once we got there and came out of both empty handed. Then Chuck E Cheese's it was...Holy Cow, they had so much fun!





They ran from thing to thing, coming to get tokens from me in between each game. We made them stop and eat but then it was back at it. Colt doing whatever Cannon did. The above picture was a super lame teacup ride. Well at that point I had Tanner in my arms so I handed them 2 tokens each. Well Cannon put them both in the teacup...and Colt followed. So they waited and waited while that dumb thing turned slowly around for 4 tokens worth!...at least Tanner liked it! I kept it one token at a time after that. So it was a blast...and then when it was time to go we had a melt down of all meltdowns by Colt because Cannon tried to force him to do something. Truthfully I missed it, but I dealt with the screaming hissy fit after afterward, it was a dandy. And if we EVER go back to that place...well we shouldn't, or I'm a liar because I said "stop it or we'll never come back"-and it didn't even slow him down enough to breath. So...glad you had fun boys. You're only hope at doing it again is time-a long time- and hoping that somehow I forget how miserable of an experience it ended up. So much for keeping the blog positive right? Yikes. When all was said and done I had them drop me off at the mall by myself, while they went to get gas. Initially Colt needed to cool it, but by then-it was me who still had smoke coming out of my ears.

Cann Man took the following picture of himself to put on his Star Student poster. 

 

He was SO excited to be star student. Tuesday he got to share his poster, Wednesday he got to take his favorite toy for he and a friend to play with. He even talked Colt into letting him take his Dinotrux Ty Rux too so they (he and a friend) would both have one. SO with that anticipation when I picked him up and I asked him if he had so much fun, but his teacher was gone and the student teacher didn't let him play with it. Oh. Bummer. Sometimes things like that stink. But then we got back and Grama asked if he had so much fun playing with his Toys and friend...and then Isaac got home from work and it was the first thing he asked him too. Poor kid. Then he said in a voice laden with disappointment "Mrs. (student teacher) is the WORST, she not like Mrs. Frady! Then we were trying to save that-Oh no no no buddy, teachers get to do things different, we're sorry it wasn't what you expected but it doesn't mean she's the worst, she's trying to learn, and she's learning from Mrs. Frady but it doesn't mean things will always be the same. Sorry buddy. After that though it was just kinda-eh-star student...big whoop.

They celebrated Dr. Suess's birthday by dressing up at school...and at home??? Not sure about the pants under shorts and sleeves look but they have minds of their own. We really left the house like this too...oh well! We're really not trying to impress anyone.

I put my mom up to helping me get rid of some of my piles. Oh I'm such a piler-its terrible. But even though there is junk all over my counter as I type--we had that baby cleared! It felt good. I'm pretty sure the one corner has ALWAYS had SOMETHING piled in it since we moved in. Ahhhhh... Anyway I cleaned off the fridge too but not before I took a picture of that note Cannon gave me on Valentines. He's a cutie. Maybe the "best Evr!" There's tons more places I have piles but the reality of clearing them--its a pain, I pile stuff because I DON'T know where to put it. Maybe we'll be ambitious tomorrow....but maybe not.

We sang a few birthday songs this week, to Grama Ison, our buddy Zach, and my cousin Kamryn below its just a screen shot but they are so cute when they do it. I had to post-blurry or not. Tanner's just happy to be up with his brothers, he thinks he's a big shot. The other is just a screenshot from my class...but I really like the indented quote. I wanted to remember it-and ultimately put it up in our house somewhere. So screen shot? Why not?

One morning I got up to find Cannon making his own lunch. I was like "What is going on?" He answered nonchalantly "I'm just making my lunch mom." When I asked Isaac what he knew of it he said "he's supposed to wait for me to make his sandwich..." I explain that he had, and all that was in it to which he said "Well, just stay positive about it." Ahhhh he's so dang good for me! I love him! It was good advice too. And we switched things  up a little on this lunch too.

Daddy always lets the boys pull the light cords...and they love it!

I don't know what else, we've shopped, we went to Cantril just for fun, Grama's been crocheting. I've been giving her a hard time. She just seems to young--but I guess she's a grandma, so there ya have it. Colt LOVES it when she makes him hats (especially when she lets him pick out the yarn) and he cracks the whip. "I dus need someone to dit wort'n on my hat!" And I tried to get a picture of both he and Cannon taking a turn picking up her started project and hook, jabbing it in a few times expecting it to come out crocheted-but it didn't! Is was pretty funny, but the pics didn't turn out.

Oh another funny thing is the way Colt says "Oh my heck"...I'm learning lots about my tone of voice and voice inflections. Oh great.
We've loved having Grama here--one of the little things is, its so nice to leave...I think some of the time I make up errands just because I can go by myself-I'm just kidding- but its so easy to just go-kid free!
I guess that's about it until next week.
 

Sick-la-wick

Ok so last I blogged Tanner was my little sicky-pooh. The term on the Kirksville streets for what's been going around is "the plague" and let me tell you what-its accurate! Holy Cow. The plague has plucked us off, one by one. We are all healthy again finally, but its been the long haul.  Saturday morning Isaac took one look at me and said "You've got it." --as if I didn't already know HA-- but yes, I did have it! When Colt was sick he slept in the hallway so he'd be close to the bathroom, I took notes from the 3 year old and did the same thing. I hate throwing up and can only remember a handful of times of being that sick. Yikes. So glad we didn't try to go to Nauvoo. In fact even Isaac stayed home from the priesthood leadership session because I was no use taking care of our children. Of course he's super dad (and we had beautiful weather) So they used a tie-down and rigged up a little swing in the tree in the back yard. By the afternoon I wasn't great, but I was at least up off the bathroom floor so I got a few pictures for evidence. Check TanO out, looking so longingly...

Tanner did get his chance but he wasn't so sold on actually doing it. He wouldn't hold on, but he was pretty darn happy in his dad's arms. Their buds. 

Sunday everyone felt fine but when I talked to my friend on Friday about what bug the kids had had she said it was crazy and it was more like 72 hours until you were out of the woods, rather than a 24 hour thing...so Tanner, Colton, and I stayed home from church. Isaac and Cannon were still fine though so they went to stake conference. It worked out nice that I didn't have to shirk any primary responsibilities being sick cuz it was stake conf weekend. Monday was president's day and Cannon didn't have school. While I'd intended to invite some friends over I didn't get it done. They boys played really well together, it was nice weather again, we talked about a park but didn't get there with the way naps worked out. Isaac did have to work but walked in the door at about 2:30 or 3:00 and didn't look or feel good. He was done for. So glad I hadn't invited anyone to our sick house! He went in to lay down and I (thinking we were free of germs) took the boys to Walmart so the house would be quiet and he could get some rest. 

We cruised all over Walmart and hey, I'm sure it was worth Isaac's extra 2 bucks to get to rest, of course I bought the $1 slippers. Ok we ended up with more than just slippers, it was slippers and donuts, and juice boxes-- but we stayed gone a long time, hit Aldi too and ultimately had a good time! We hoped to come home to a dad that had slept it off but we-or rather he-wasn't so lucky. 

So then we started calling Cannon "the last man standing" the poor kid, it was a time bomb. I kept quizzing him, asking him if he had any of the symptoms the rest of us had had. But he was doing great, so I still sent him to school Tuesday. 

Tuesday was Isaac's birthday~and as I was reminded several times throughout the day it was also Colt's half birthday.

A cupcake for dad's birthday? Don't mind if I do!

Cannon and I actually made the cupcakes Monday night, Colt didn't get to help because he didn't finish his dinner. He'd had ample time and I felt like it was the first time since he'd been sick I really pushed the food issue. Well, I shouldn't have. He was up sick again in the night. He was screaming, covered in puke, as was his bed and shortly thereafter the floor, he didn't want to shower just wanted to sit in the tub--that wasn't going to cut it-- woke the whole house up. I was just like Nooooooooooooooo we can't start over with this!!!!

But he went back to bed (on the floor in front of the bathroom) and luckily that was the end of it and we survived. Isaac's birthday was pretty uneventful, he being Mr. Celebrate and all. He was sluggish but went to work, with nothing but a birthday wish...and some homemade sandwiches for lunch that I assured him were gourmet! He left and I thought to myself I really don't have a single thing for him for his birthday. In his mind he's thinking finally she's starting to get it, in my mind I'm thinking THIS IS HORRIBLE. So we made him a primary shirt (its not even cute--but we didn't have a lot of color options in the large tall size, and I'm determined to buy talls, he of course couldn't care less) 

His shoes have been stinking, so he's been trying to get rid of the smell. ...that process could easily be an entire post but sufficed to say freezing stinky shoes doesn't work... anyway a long time ago I had mentioned buying him some new shoes--like when I saw that the back of his were ripped or something, no way, and he made me promise not to buy him new shoes. So I promised. But then (over a year ago) my mom and I were at Ross and they had a good deal on some good dress shoes that would fit him. But I couldn't break my promise...so my mom bought them. So amidst all the trying to get the shoes not to stink I busted out the new ones--Happy Birthday Isaac, from the in-laws. Then I told him the story. His other ones though, they were tired and done. 3-4 times a week for the last 7 years...for dress shoes! Oh Isaac's you'd make President Hinckley so proud with your: use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. 

We made some of his favorite frosting for those cupcakes. Tann's Sold on this Birthday thing!

Happy 35 HoneyBear! Cannon was pumped his dad "had a 5 in his number now" just like he is 5.

On Isaac's birthday I finally got a picture of Tanner's little "fang" teeth, and I didn't crop that pea out of the bottom of the pic just so there is evidence that I don't just feed him cupcakes and frosting. ha!

Wednesday when I picked Cannon up he was SO PUMPED! They were going on a field trip the next day to the petting zoo. He was so excited. But then we got home and I offered him an after school snack and he just said his tummy hurt and he wanted to go to bed. 

Crud. 

Poor little man. The last man standing-falls. 

He went to bed and slept for about 6 hours, when he woke up he pretty much made himself puke "just to get it out" of himself then said he felt a little better and went back to bed and slept for the night. I was so sad he was going to miss the field trip but I didn't think I could sent him within the 24 hour window (as per school policy) but Isaac said to just see how he felt. So the next morning he said he was fine, and he acted fine, so I let him go to school. (So basically if the plague continues in Kirksville its probably my fault.) And he got to go on the field trip. 

....Now...about that petting zoo... it was the FFA kids at the high school, and it was just some panels in a big shop room at the technical center, it was cute but when I asked Cannon about it he said "Not quite what I expected." But I think he still had fun. I'd told Colt we could go too and we'd try to go when Cannon's class was there. Well...they went first thing in the morning. We didn't get there until more like 10:00 and Colt was ticked that Cannon and his friends weren't there. He whined the whole time and wouldn't pet anything. He also thought I ought to just take him to Cannon's classroom since we missed them at the petting zoo. That boy has a mind of his own. He also told me this week that "He knows everything Cannon knows" so he "should just get to go to kindergarten too." Little character, when I work on my independent study class he gets to work on the preschool computer, and he is pretty smart, I'll give him that!

Sometimes I find random pictures on my phone. Sometimes they take'm, sometimes I do.  Weather in the high 70's was nice too! We have a good time these boys and I!

And today! Today was a great day! Cannon gets to be "Star Student" next week, he was pretty proud after school and did a great job of filling out the poster all by himself (well spelling help but that's all) And GRAMA'S HERE!!!

All along I've been telling the boys she was coming Saturday, because experience has taught me if she gets in at night, that day, when the boys think she is coming that day is so long and takes forever. So I picked Cannon up and we got home and were going to tidy up the house for when Grama came "tomorrow" but then we were going to eat dinner and then go get her. I was plotting the surprise in my head all day and I was pretty excited. Only the boys and I were equally surprised when right after we got home from school Grama walked in! She'd caught the earlier flight from STL which was WAY better than a 5 hour layover! So fun! We're excited!! Let the good times roll!!