Celebrating Reese's birthday

Friday night, we celebrated Reese's birthday with the Brody family and the Grove's. Miss Kristi helped Mommy make the Thomas the Train cake! I think it turned out well & Reese was certainly thrilled!

Reese had that shy little smile on his face while we sang happy birthday to him. I know he was loving every single moment of it!

At bedtime, I snuggled in bed with Reese and showed him the photos on my camera from that evening. The cake. The candles. The birthday boy. But, before I could kiss him goodnight, he asked in the sweetest little voice, "Mommy, can you sing 'Happy Birfday' to me one more time?" So, we sang it together. It was so precious. Well...it was precious until about halfway thru when he let one rip! Aye! Such a Brody!

Reese Turns Six!

My sweet little Reese turns 6 today! I cannot believe how quickly time has flown! There was a time I thought we'd never get through those terrible two's (and three's). LOL. But since he has developed in his vocabulary and has grown in his temperment, he has become such a fun, sweet kid. He has hit milestones so quickly that it feels time has just flown by!

Now he is in kindergarten. He is acceling beyond our expectations. And he is an awesome big brother to Marina, while looking up greatly to his big brother, Mark.

He was thrilled, this morning, to bring treat bags to share with his kindergarten class. And he is anxious to get home after school to play with his gift from Mommy and Daddy...the Thomas the Train table (which I have to quickly assemble before he gets home!)

Kids these days!

Friday night we were treated to a special surprise visit by one of our fave babysitters (and our good friend!) Francesca, who was home from college on fall break. We have missed her so much since she left for school right after Kid's Camp in August. In fact, Kid's Camp is one of the last memories my kids have of her. So, it was extra funny to hear Marina's greeting to Francesca Friday night:

Rina: "Hey, do you remember YOU from camp?"

A couple weeks ago, Ryan was speaking to the 2nd and 3rd graders in the Jungle Room. He was telling a story of King David:

Ryan: "Who can raise their hand and tell me who King David was?"
Kid in the 3rd row: "He's the guy who defeated the Giant Pickle!"
(Those of you who are familiar with Veggie Tales will understand why that is hilarious!)

O-Town Smackdown

High hopes. Preparation. Dedication. Perseverance. These adjectives describe the Panther White Lightweights today as they entered round 2 of the playoffs vs. Frankfurt. It was their chance to beat this undefeated team after such a close call earlier in the season.

But, yet again, Frankfurt pulled off a win. The final score was 6-0. And thus ends our 2008 season. But what a great season it has been! As parents, we have literally watched this team grow and develop at a rapid pace right before our eyes. And it has been an amazing thing to witness.

Can't wait til next year.
Meantime, we get a couple weeks off. Then wrestling season begins! Which equals more cheering from the bleachers!

Hide and Seek

Yeah, they are cute alright. But they are also little stinkers! Partners in crime! Their newest antic: hiding silently from Mommy until she goes into panic mode, searching every floor of the house.

It's happened twice now. I'll come downstairs to a silent family room. No kids in sight. The back sliding door is cracked open to allow a breeze. And I'll call for Reese and Marina, receiving no answer. I'll call louder. Nothing. I'll peek outside, check the basement, look back upstairs, EVERYWHERE. And just when I'm ready to call the cops, I hear little giggles behind he couch. In a spot that only little munchkins like them could actually fit into. Relief! Then anger! Then laughs, because they are so adorable, crouching into that small spot. Like two little peas in a pod. Luckily, they haven't figured out any other spots to hide. So now I know to always check there first. Stinkers!

The most unusual trip to Wal-Mart

Those poor secret service men are thinking, "This wasn't part of our job description."

My Confession

I just gotta let something spill here. There's something I need to confess. And it requires that I put down my pride and just say it: I am domestically challenged.

There! Phew! I feel better. I hate to cook. I hate to bake. I hate laundry. But I do them because I have to. Altho I don't do them very well. I cannot seem to make a pancake without burning it. I cannot make a batch of cookies without setting off the smoke alarm. It's to the point where my kids and my husband immediately respond to the beeping smoke alarm with, "Mom's cooking again!"

I cannot keep my house clean, no matter how hard I try! No, I don't wash my kitchen floor once a week. Or even once every 2 weeks, when life is really busy. There's always a load of laundry waiting in the hallway to be folded and put away. And my poor hubby often has to pick thru the dishwasher to find a clean spoon, because I just can't seem to keep up with the repeating circle of using dishes, putting them in the dishwasher, running the wash cycle, and returning the dishes to the drawers. Can't do it.

Maybe when I'm not working full time I will be able to stay on top of things. Maybe. But until then, I'm so grateful for a hubby that understands and never complains. As long as he has something to wear to work and a lunch packed before he heads out and dinner ready when he returns, he's satisfied. Phew! I am just so amazed by women who seem to stay on top of it all. And still have time to bake cookies. ;)