What's Cookin?

Me: Do you want a cookie or s'mores?
J: I DIDN'T HAVE PLENTY OF SCREEN TIME!
(Meltdown city after a long, fun day)

D: We have the gra-nilla and peanut butter kind! (of ice cream)

J: Just three sleeps until we can call C!
Me: Uhm, C is right there across the table from you.  You can talk to him now.

Me: Moose, shoosh!
D: Moooose... Moooose... I have two ears, and I can hear you.
LOL ~ something I say to Deedles when he repeats himself.  

D: I won't blow up any more.
Poor Deedles, after he got sick. 

J: I just don't want to get my eyeballs wet!

(7/20) We hit the gym this morning, and then came home to do some work around the house.  C asked if I'd take them to the lake this afternoon.  We got there and I realized I'd completely forgotten to text and see if Sarah and her boys could come too.  As I was spreading our towels, Sarah hollered, "Hey!  Come over here!"   Happy coincidence!


(7/21) Busy day!  Dad sanded and painted the back deck while I was at work.  Then he went up to grab the new bbq that Nanan ordered us, and picked up the teenager.  Dad even tried the iced coffee from his bday gift to me, and exclaimed that he didn't throw up.  LOL!  He's been allergic to coffee, and hasn't had it in over 20 years, so is trying it again. Though I'm not sure about this sharing my coffee business.  We grabbed the teen so we could go out tonight.  We had a great time, but definitely cannot party like we used to, and came home at a reasonable hour.


(7/22) Work from home day for me.  It poured today, so all the kids were cooped up inside.  Dad was off at work.  I dragged us all out after dinner to let the twinsies run, but that was the extent of our venturing out today.


(7/23) Fun day today!  I took the boys to the aquatics center, and the teenager stayed home to bake C's cake for his party tonight.  Isn't it awesome?!  C requested a video game party, so we got pizzas and turned the video games on at 5p when his friends arrived.  Dad worked late tonight, so while the boys played video games, I hid in the living room with a book, and the teenager hid upstairs.

(7/24) After all the boys went home, I made all the screens go off, and took us to the lake for lunch.  It was HOT, so I picked up popsicles for the errand-running that followed. We stopped briefly at home, and C zonked out.  The boys were up around 6a, but were quiet til 8, when the twinadoes got up. They were up late last night too. Grandma invited us over tonight to celebrate Uncle Jake's and my birthdays coming up here soon.  We had Alaska-caught salmon (from Granddad), and Grandma made us her famous mousse.  Delish!


(7/25) Lucky boys got to go to Lighthouse Beach today while Dad and I were at work.  C was a big old grumpus this morning because he changed the lock on his phone, and also the password to his email, so got locked out for 72 hours.  I think the outing distracted him though, and he was in a much better mood this evening.


(7/26) Work day for Dad and me, and Amanda had the kiddos.  Both boys were D-sasters today.  D was particularly drama-filled, and hobbled around over some scraped knees.  Band-aids to the rescue!


(7/27) We hit the gym this morning, and then came home for screen time and snacks. Dad worked today (the 6th 10-hour shift in a row...blarg).  I agreed to watch a friend's kiddos for a few hours.  I got my baby fix, and sent her kiddos home filthy after playing in the sand, having popsicles, and riding bikes, cuz that's how I roll.  We didn't make it out to the lake as we planned, but it was a beautiful evening to sit out on the deck.  Dad put together our new grill last night, and seasoned it tonight.  He also put together our new fire pit.  I am digging our back yard!

(7/28) Work day for me, but Dad took the boys up to scout campsites around Beckler River.  They had a picnic lunch, and when they returned they headed to the butcher to pick up a feast for tonight.  We had some friends over and christened both the fire pit and the grill.  We even capped it off with s'mores!  C helped cook, and made up a very yummy fruit salad.  He also was very interested in the grill, so I'll have him show me how to use it when it's my turn to cook.


(7/29) Today is the 15th anniversary of the 5th anniversary of our first "not date."  Got all that?  20 years together has gone by fast!  I love our life!  Anywhoozle, today is a work from home day for me, and Dad has the boys.  Both D and C woke up with iffy stomachs today, and I'm hoping we're in okay shape to head to Aunt Shannon's pre-wedding party later.

Reunited and It Feels so Good!

D: When I'm 8, I'm gonna be Colton.
J: C is gonna be 9!
Me: Yeah, that's right, C is 9 now.
J: Yeah, C's a creeper.
From Minecraft, but hahaha!

Me: You are full of bananas today.

D: If somebody is full of bananas in their tummy... 

J: Then they're nervous! 

D: I'm not nervous!

Me: You're pretty full of bananas.
D: I didn't even eat any bananas today!
Me: There's one right here, and right here, and right here...
D: That one is a pear! 

Me: What should we have for dinner tonight?
J: Ice cream!

D: I'm going to go play in the sand poodle!
(Large, sandy "puddles" of sand on the playground)

D: I just like mint, not mint ice cream.

Says the boy that inhaled his ice cream.... 

Me: Did you guys have fun at the zoo?

D: I liked the zoo, but I didn't have any fun.

Me: Uh oh, I think this milk is done. 

D: We just have a quarter tank left!

D: My hair is getting too big.
LOL, hardly!

D: We need more yogurt so I can have the licker!
(He likes to lick the lid)

Nanan: Use your quiet voice.
D: My quiet voice is just gone.  I only have a loud voice.

(7/11) Happy Slurpee Day!  I totally would have forgotten had someone not mentioned it at the park.  They had two flavors remaining by the time we got there: sour red, and something orange.  I mixed the boys', and got straight sour red for me.  Wheeeeewie!  I bought the boys sand for their sandbox this morning and pared down their toys so they can actually get in and play.  They had a blast!  And it kept them occupied while I weeded.

(7/12) I continued working on cleaning up our back yard while the littles played today.  We ran some coffee over to Sarah's mid-morningish, and she made us lunch.  We spent the rest of the afternoon outside playing in the sunshine.


(7/13) We woke up, and D immediately wanted to go play outside in the sandbox.  Goofy dude!  I let the kiddos play for a bit before rounding them up so we could head to the gym. Nanan came to see the boys this afternoon, and we sat out back to enjoy the sunshine.


(7/14) Sarah and I met at the gym, and it was so stuffy inside that we nixed that idea, and walked the kids to the park instead.  It was like herding cats to get them all there, and it took *forever*, but it was much more pleasant to be outside.  Once we got back, we met Dad's aunt and uncle that were in town visiting, and took them to one of our favorite sushi restaurants.  The boys were so good (well, for the twinadoes!), and it was lovely to sit and visit.  I think the last time I saw his aunt & uncle was when I was when I was pregnant with my now almost five-year-olds!  Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Dad went on a brewery tour.

(7/15) We had a blast today!  We started the morning at the gym, then packed a picnic lunch, and met the grands at the zoo.  The zoo was set to close early today, so I didn't know if we should bother.  I let the boys play at the playground until the grands arrived, and then we had had lunch.  We decided to do it anyway, and it turns out that two hours with two 5 year olds was about the perfect amount of time.  We capped off a fun afternoon with Slurpees, and then played until it was time to go to dinner at Aunt Shannon & Uncle Mike's house.  They have a beautiful new home, and it was so lovely to see it, and enjoy some time with them & the grandparents.

(7/16) We hit the gym this morning, and then bummed around the house for a few hours before packing up to head to the Aquatic Center for open swim.  I endeavored to install some straps on our water tank at the old house tonight, got frustrated, so took us all out for teriyaki instead.  In Minnesota, Dad picked up C from hockey camp.  They did a scrimmage for the parents, and got to skate onto the ice and have their names called out over the loud speaker.  So cool!


(7/17)  We had a quiet morning at home today.  The littles played while I had my coffee on the back deck, and threw the ball for our pupper.  We then met Granddad at the old Treehouse to install the straps that were giving me fits yesterday.  Granddad took us out for ice cream, since it was apparently National Ice Cream Day. So we had ice cream in place of lunch today.  Cuz quality parenting up in here!  After "lunch" we ran some errands and then got the little pool out to play out back.  Sarah called and said they caught a bunch of crab, and asked if we could come help eat it. We wandered over there for dinner, and the kids were so distracted by the campfire that we didn't make much of a dent in the crab... but it sure was delicious!  Thanks again for the invite!  C & Dad got to check out the Mall of America today.  Looks like EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!


(7/18) Last day home with the littles.  It was yucky out, so we stayed in and watched LeapFrog for most of the day after we got home from the gym. D got all excited that it was sunny out during a brief respite from the rain, and ran outside to play.  Goofy boy.  I promised them ice cream tonight, so we hit McD's on the way out for sundaes.  The first restaurant's ice cream machine was broken, so we went to the next one, where D complained his ice cream wasn't mint flavored.  And then he said he didn't feel well. And then we pulled over halfway to the airport because he wasn't lying, and had revisited his sundae.  Poor, poor monkey.  I picked up Dad and C, and we drove home with the windows open.  So glad to have them back... but what a welcome.


(7/19) Oof.  Coming in to work at 6am after a whole bunch of days off was rough.  Boys are with Amanda, and Dad is also working today.

Jet Setting & Staycationing

D: This song makes me doomed!

J: You need to be doomed, D.

D: When you're dead, you don't need coffee, Mom!

Me: I can only take one guy down the water slide at a time.
J: How 'bout just me, Mom!

D: I didn't get enough fun! *sobs*
J: Life is hard, D.

Me: So what shall we do when it's just me, you, and D?

J: We need to get some fun! We just need to wait by the door, Mom.

C: Soooo, D?  How do you like your cake by the ocean?
(Which we were literally having)

J: This Gatorade is getting pumped up my nose! 

(Complaining about the bumpy terrain)

C: Gotta make sure I stay as healthy as possible! (see sandwich below)


J: I WANT WATERMELON! 

Me: When we get to Teo's house. 

J: I WANT WATERMELON! 

Me: When did I say we could have it? 

J: When we get home!

D: C just calls it the hotel house. I call it the colorful house!  

J: It's the telephone house!  

D: Is that the Snomotion?  

Me: Huh?  Oh, close, the Snohomish River.

(7/1) Work from home day for me, and Dad had the boys. They went to the park to visit with some friends that were in town, and had a good time. I was loosed from work early today, so I made the long commute downstairs. It's brutal, I tell you!

(7/2) We scouted a few campsites today, and checked out some sites along the Teanaway River. It was a loooong drive, but we found a pretty place to stop and have lunch!  

(7/3) Om nom nom, Dad made the first batch of Dutch Babies in the new house.  After he left for work, the boys and I headed up to Nanan's to do some work of a different flavor.  Well, I worked, while they played in the pools in the back yard.  We had some delicious cake for an early birthday for C, and then capped off a day of healthy eating with a stop at "the Donald's" on the way home.

(7/4) Happy Independence Day!  We did pop-its with Dad before he had to leave for work.  C was supremely disappointed last night that his dad was working today.  I asked him to look outside right around 8pm and see just how bright it still was out.  I said he wouldn't miss much, if anything.  We went over to some friends' house for dinner and we had the best time lighting off fireworks.  The littles did sparklers, and were so envious that C got to light stuff by himself.  Our neighborhood didn't finish blowing itself up until well past 1am.  Poor Moose is not a fan.

(7/5) Work day for Dad & me.  I went in an hour early, so I could retrieve the boys early today.  I hauled them all to the gym with me, and then we had dinner super late.  But I won the boys over with the promise of staying up late and having ice cream.  They were hard to convince.  Dad brought the trailer home today, and sure enough it was a tight fit in the garage, but we'll make it work.  

(7/6) Work day for Dad and me. With Dad working late, I am in charge of picking up the kiddos.  I couldn't get there early enough today, so Grandma grabbed them for cake decorating and hot tub fun!  I joined them for dinner and then got to enjoy their awesome cakes!

(7/7) We left early this morning to run Dad and C to the airport for an adventure.  Dad is camping with cousins in Minnesota and C is attending a hockey camp.  They are going to have a wonderful time!  Though, at the same time, I know it will be hard to be apart.  I took the littles to the museum to play in the airplane, and on our way home we stopped to check on the old place.  Got it all mowed, and some final stuff removed from the shed. 

(7/8) Happy Birthday to the C-monster!  He went to see the Secret Life of Pets, and then our MN cousins had a party for him. He has some pretty awesome cousins ~ check out that cake!!   The littles and I bummed around until the weather improved, and then went to the lake for a while.

(7/9) Dad and C went to Fort Snelling today, and C got to watch the blacksmith work, and then see a cannon demonstration.  The twins and I went to the gym, ran some errands, and hung around the house for the afternoon.  Sarah came to visit this evening, and D told her all about how we have stairs at our house, and who has what color of eyes, and the number of bathrooms here. Captain Non-Sequitur!  

(7/10) The twins slept past their alarm, and JJ pronounced D dead because he wouldn't wake up. LOL! I somehow managed to bork my back, so I gimped around this morning. I took the twins swimming at the Aquatics Center, and that was probably the best idea I've had in a long time. The twins are so different this year - they've gotten brave, and wanted to swim, and jump, instead of just wanting to hang in the toddler area. They really wanted me to take them down the water slide, but I doubt I could convince the life guards to let me take both boys down. C is all settled in at hockey camp.  He's rooming with 4 other boys. 2 from MN, one from CA, & one from CO. I hope he has the best time!