jump for heart.

I asked Hads if she wanted to do "Jump rope for Heart" again.

She asked, "Is that where I ask people for money and then get prizes if they give me a lot?".

Nailed it.

To which I replied, "Sure, but there's more to it then that…".

To which she interrupted, "I know mom, then I get to show off my jump roping in the gym after school one day, with all the big kids."

So, I am certain that she totally gets what this is all about.

And I am also certain that this gal and I could not be more different as first graders.

When I was her age I was on a jump rope team.

That actually went to other schools and performed.

This kid physically cannot jump rope.

It's actually amazing to watch.

At one point she put the jump rope on the floor, and just jumped over it.

Back and forth, back and forth.

But what she lacks in skill, she makes up for in self-confidence big time.

And when we walked into that crowded gym after school, she ditched me at the door, grabbed a rope, double knotted her shoes, and went right up to the very front row.

When I was her age i would have hemmed and hawed before walking into the gym, looked around for a friend to stand by, and quietly taken a spot in the back.

I hope she never figures out how bad she is.

Or at least never cares.

She's my favorite.

And she jumps over a jump rope that's laying on the ground better than anyone I have ever seen.

(of course, I have never actually seen anyone else do that…but that's beside the point).

Mrs. Fee!

Hadley's P.E. teacher, and my best friend's big sister, and the gal I get the best texts from about what Hadley said/or did at school during the day.  

She's also the same person that stole her Mom's suburban when we were kids and drove to her friends house while we were all watching the Miss America Teen pageant.

She's also the same person's whose clothes I would steal and wear to school.

She's also the same person who taught me how to do the running man.

Hads and I both think she's the coolest.

And she is.

sis & bro.

She reads to him every single night, then she kisses him on the head, and gently tucks him in, and tells him if he gets out of bed and starts banging his toys around and wakes her up he's dead meat in the morning and won't get a hot bottsie.

True blue siblings.

no pants party.

When these boys are together, it's loud, it's rough, and it's usually without pants.

(take that where you will).

They are best buds.

And clothes are always optional.

sledding.

We thought it would be fun to take the kids up sledding since the cabin got A TON of snow. 

Little did we know that they would want absolutely nothing to do with it.

(well, we kind of had a hunch).

BJ's boys lasted the longest, they were outside for over an hour.

Carson lasted about 3 minutes…then his gloves got wet, and life as he knew it, was over.

But us big kids had a blast in it.

And even built a jump.

That's how cool we are.

One day the kids will figure that out.

But it's more fun that they haven't yet.

the 'gram.

Ry travels a lot…

so we let him be a part of the the family via Instagram. 

(actually Instagram Direct, which is the best invention ever).

We cook and clean, and do homework and take Frank for walks, and take the garbage out and get up early.

And he sits in the sun, pretends to to listen in on a conference call or two, and 'likes' our photos.

Sounds fair right?

Tomorrow, I am going to apply to be a travel nurse.

happy heart day.

We have a little tradition on Valentine's Day.

(that I was dumb enough to start).

They get to go on a scavenger hunt to find their loot.

(actually, my mom is the dumb one, she did this with me and my bro, and since neither of us turned out to be ax murderers, I figure copying our childhood isn't the worst thing.  Although they may turn out to be insanely inappropriate and absurdly vulgar…but it could be worse.  Right?).

Hadley was all about it this year…because she can actually read the clues.

And that makes her feel really, really cool.

So, she woke up before I left for work, which is EARLY, and loudly whispered from her door,

"Mama, can we come down and do the hunt before you leave?  Please Mama.  PUHLEASE!".

I couldn't say no to my gal that loves a holiday like NO other.

(and often times these little 'moments' make me think maybe, just maybe, they will forget all those times I scream my bloody head off at them.  

Fingers crossed).

Uh-Oh, I guess it was his turn.

Gotta keep up pal.

on the catwalk.

I told these two knuckleheads to pose.

And this is what I got.

Naturals.

about a boy.

This little guy never stops talking.

Ever.

And he says the funniest things.

(Amongst all of this caterwauling).

He still calls yogurt, yogrit.  And elevator, an elevator   Dessert, is bessert.  The cabin, the cavin.  A girl, a gril.  And a snore, a snonckle.

He tells me his sock is 'krunckily', his shirt is 'bumpily', something in his shoe is 'pokily', and his hat is 'wonkily'. 

His shoes are 'fast runners', his coats are 'hot guys', and his sweats are 'cozy guys'.

When he grows up he wants to be an ambulance driver lady.

He HATES being called a baby or a 'cry'.

So of course we call him those things ALL the time.

And he screams back "I is not a cry, I is a big man, tough man!"

And then he cries.

He doesn't like girls, or pink, or anything remotely feminine.

He likes boys, and blue, fighter guys, and shooters, and motorcycles.

He saw a policeman pulling over a car the other day and he said "Oh no Mommy, that guy did not eat his broccoli.  You should always eat your broccoli, right Mommy?"

I dropped him off at Zaide's the other day and asked him if he wanted his blankie, and he said, "No thanks Mommy, I don't need that guy until the moon comes out tonight."

The other day he was at my work daycare for 13 LONG hours, and when I picked him up he said, "Oh Mommy, you were so quick…let me grab my things.  Follow me!  You were so fast."

When I come downstairs after getting ready in the morning he says, "Oh Mommy, you look perfect."

He calls everything a 'guy' and answers everything with 'OF COURSE!'.

When he flushes the toilet he says, "Goodbye guys, time to go back to your Mama's."  And then looks at me and says, "I'm going to miss those guys."

When I pick him up at the gym daycare, he runs up to all of his friends and says "Gotta go guys, my Mommy is here, I love her.  So I gotta go."

He adds 'really, really, really' to everything.

He hugs everything.

He 'shoots' everything.

He is the sweetest big man, tough man.

And I really, really, really love this guy.

table manners.

Ummm…he has none.
This kid is such a delight to have dinner with.
Not a delight to clean up after.

superbowl xlviii.

After the first play of the game.

Guess the Skittles.

Beast Mode.

 After Harvin's second half punt return.

Insane.

Don't know if you heard…

But the Seahawks won the SUPERBOWL!

No words.

Just screams.

GO HAWKS!!!

Same time same place.

Next year.