Shenanigans

I feel like such a slacker only posting once a month, but either nothing noteworthy is going on, or so many things are going on I don't have time to get to it. Or maybe I'm just a slacker. Either way, by the time I do get around to it I have to review the pictures on my phone to remember what it is exactly we've been up to the last month. So here's the latest phone picture update.
Lazy chickens! We haven't had eggs from these lazy chickens in months. We heard about a dozen different reasons why they would just stop laying, and after trying them all finally found the solution. A night light. Chickens are so temperamental. Apparently if they don't get the exact right amount of sunlight they just won't lay. So we installed a night light in the coop and it's on a timer for 15 hours a day. Literally the day after we put the light in we got an egg. We've had 9 this week, which is good news for the chickens. They were seriously on the chopping block. Thad had big plans for them in the deep pit. But now that they are being productive again they get to stay, and Peter could not be happier.

And on a slightly weird note, Thad wanted to know exactly which ones were laying. So he also wired up one of the security cameras inside the coop so when there is an egg he can see who it's from and keep track. Yes there is a scoreboard on the refrigerator. And a camera to creep on the chickens. It's strange around here.

 

Peter has kept us on our toes from day one, and I tell people all the time that my children got progressively crazier down the line. We've decided Peter is actually a hybrid of Andi and Sam. He's got Andi's focus and drive and stealth, mixed with Sammy's destructiveness and lack of fear. It's a bad combination. I truly believe that he plots out what he wants to get into, and waits till he knows I'll be busy or distracted for 5 minutes and goes for it. These were both taken the same day, and are a pretty typical representation of life with Peter.

And his new favorite thing to do is climb trees in the backyard.Broken bones here we come!  I told him to smile, and that's what I got.

Obviously being as busy as he is, sitting through church is a struggle. But we decided a couple weeks ago, that he really is old enough to make it all the way through sacrament meeting, and that instead of letting him run around the building when he's being a beast inside the meeting, we'd just start making him sit on time out. Basically we're hoping that if we make leaving the meeting awful, he'll want to be good and stay in. I'm sure eventually that will be the case. In the meantime we are taking picture of his weekly time out sessions in the primary room, because it makes us laugh.

 

Speaking of church, we had some rather big changes in our ward the last two weeks that involved Thad and I. He was called to be the Elders Quorum president, which means that I got released as the Primary President. I have loved being in primary, and especially the people I was able to serve with, but now it's Thads turn to be in charge and I know he will be a great leader.

This weekend we threw a baby shower for Alexis. We, meaning the 5 member planning committee for the event. It was so fun to put together with these great ladies, and to be able to spend time with them. I only moved across town but I never get to see them anymore! I can't take credit for any of the cute ideas, but everything from the invitations, to the decorations and food were just so stinkin cute.

I'm also so proud of the blanket I made. I threw Alexis's bridal shower in our backyard and made a little pennant banner to hang on the pergola. I saved it because it was cute and then realized last week that I could re-purpose it. So I took it apart and turned it into a baby blanket for her.

Cathy was in town visiting a couple weeks ago, and mom and I got to visit with her one night at a gathering. I just love this Lady and am so grateful for the years I had at Dancers Workshop.

In un-photographed news, Andi made principles list again this quarter. She also did her first science project, which she presented so well in class that the teacher asked her to present it at the school fair as well. She did a great job, and it always amazes me how much she understands. I shouldn't be surprised anymore, but when she starts talking about molecules moving at different rates and you realize she's not just repeating something she memorized, but understands what she's talking about, it's impressive. And I think she's read 10 books since Christmas. In most areas she is just like Thad, but I love that she got my love of reading.
Sammy declared this week that he does not want to go to school anymore because they only do baby math in kindergarten and they are a bunch of babies and he's a big kid. He's tired of writing to 100 every week and demonstrated that he can count to 100 by 1's, 5's and 10's and wants to not be with all the little babies anymore. Poor guy. Because of the new birth date requirements he really is almost a full year older than some of the kids, and he's so big that the age difference is starting to make a difference. At least to him. He has been surprising me too lately with how smart he really is. Most of the time he's such a sloth and if he's not interested, doesn't put forth much effort. But if he's interested he will figure things out. He has a circuit board he likes to tinker with and our 12 year old neighbor has a much bigger one that he and Sammy will sit and tinker with. Sammy has also been building cars with Thads erector set and the two of them mounted motors from broken remote cars to make his creations drive. Sammy loves to show anyone who will listen exactly what and how the motor is making things work.

Wicked Fun

Well 2015 is off to a great start. This last week has been full of Birthday celebrations for Andi. Sunday we had a family dinner and celebrated with both families. She's known for a while that she wasn't having a friend party this year because we had something big planned for her. So Sunday we finally told her and she was so excited.

Yep, tickets to see Wicked. This picture is blurry, but for good reason. We sang happy birthday and Peter sat nicely on the bar stool, but the moment the song ended he was on the counter and blew out the candles before the girls could get to them. 

So Thursday after school we drove down to LA for the show. I was looking forward to taking Andi out to a grown up restaurant, but instead we ended up at Denny's. And this is how we felt about it.

 Thad and Andi share a love of pancakes, so I was out voted. So much for a big grown up night out on the town. But the show more than made up for the "dinner".  The pantages is such a cool old theater. Our seats were front and center Balcony, which we think is the best spot in the house.

I was a little worried that Andi would not be able to stay awake through the show because it started at bedtime. We are pretty serious about bedtime around here, so Andi was pretty shocked that we were staying out that late. But she loved it. She's been listening to the music for months, and was completely enthralled. The only little issue we had was when Fiero an Elpheba start kissing and she asked me if they were married. When I said no she yelled, "eeewwww, gross, they can't do that!" Luckily it was loud enough that the people sitting next to her weren't bothered.
Andi also went birthday shopping with Grandma and picked out a fishing pole. She may love wicked, but she's still her Daddy's girl.

 We lost a "pet" this week. The little silkie chick Sammy brought home in August decided this week that it was a rooster. Luckily there is a place in town that will take roosters and we were able to return Midnight, instead of "dispose" of him. Sammy was very sad to see him go, but day 3 of the noise, he understood why we had to get rid of him.

And this is just a perfect demonstration of daily life with Peter. I rakes the leaves into a pile, and he followed behind me raking them back out. It's like this all day, every day, like his sole purpose in life is to hinder and destroy. It's a good thing he's cute.

And thing one and thing two here are at each other constantly. They wrestle and rough house and pester each other from the minute they wake up till they go to bed each day. I thought a 4 year age gap would keep that from happening, but it hasn't. This was a rare moment of peace brought to you by Phineas and Ferb.

2014 Wrap Up

December is gone and I feel like we sprinted through it.  The month was full of festivities and we enjoyed them all. We started out with a couple attempts at family pictures in the backyard on our own. And though we were able to get some good shots, I think next year we might actually hire someone. Mostly because my kids listen to other people much better than they do me and I was ready to throw them all out the window by the time our short little picture session was over.  I know you won't believe me when you see their cute smiles in the pictures below, but trust me, it was not a fuzzy warm experience.

Thad and I went to our annual grown ups christmas party, this year with an ugly sweater theme. Ours matched, and were "vintage" from his moms attic. I'm a little sad we didn't get a picture in our sweaters, but there were bells and puff paint and hand print reindeer antlers. They were sweet.
We Christmas caroled with my family. I took Andi to see the Nutcracker for the first time and we had a great time. The kids had their Christmas sleepover at my parents and helped them pick out their Christmas tree. Thad and Andi both participated in the talent show at our ward Christmas party. Andi on the piano and singing with the primary, and Thad sang in a Men's quartet. The ladies in our neighborhood had a girls night to get to know each other better. The relief society had a lovely dinner and activity. Thad and I celebrated our 11th Anniversary with Dinner and the latest Hunger Games movie. We celebrated Grandma Richards 94th birthday. Tenille & her boys came to visit for a few days. And we had Thad's office Christmas Party.
And amidst all the hustle and bustle, we had sick kids and projects going on! This was the Sunday before Christmas. While everyone else was posting pictures of their families in cute matching church outfits, this is what our kids looked like. Thad was singing with the choir, and in another small group during sacrament meeting, so I was home on kid duty.

Our project for the month was to build a new cabinet over the stove to hide the hood. It turned out perfect! I showed Thad a picture I liked and he went to town.

Obviously he had help. Peter HAS to be involved in everything Thad does. He loves Daddy time and comes running the minute Thad walks in the door every day.

This happened a few days before Christmas. Thad devised a new punishment/chore for the kids. Usually he just sprays out the chicken coop, but if the kids need some discipline they now get to clean it out with a broom and dust pan.

With a mask and gloves of course. Safety first.

Christmas Eve we had the traditional dinner and program with the Bulkeley's. Sammy participated in the talent portion for the first time ever and played a little song on the piano. Andi played a song as well, and then it was time for the Santa Letter.  The believers are dwindling in number, but we all had a great night.

Christmas Day was low key and peaceful. We opened presents and then my parents came over for breakfast as no one else was in town this year. Then we skyped with Bradon while the kids played with their new toys. We finished off the day with Dinner at my parents. Again, a smaller group than usual, but it was nice.

Apparently we are too busy enjoying ourselves to take many pictures, that's literally all we took. Peter loved the train table and spent 90% of the day there. Sammy liked it too.
I got new couches for Christmas this year and love them. We went for a sectional and I was worried about how much of the room it would take up, but they are so comfy it's worth it.
 This beauty was taken a few days ago. Thad threatened to send the kids to bed unless they rubbed his feet. He stoops low sometimes.

And this is what we call Church Peter. One of us usually ends up sitting in the car with him and when we try to take him back in for nursery this is the look we get.

We are looking forward to 9:00 meetings this year and being the first ward in the building so there will be plenty of time out rooms available. We really have to break this habit and get him to sit through the meeting.
We have been truly blessed this year and are looking forward to what the new year holds for us.

Falling behind

Tis the season for life to get busy. And we have been, but when I skip blogging for over a month I can hardly remember what we've been doing. If I were better at writing Bradon letters on his mission I'd have things documented, but I'm no better at that these days than blogging. Poor Brado.  Halloween happened. Peter actually participated in the pumpkin carving and could not get enough of lighting the pumpkins. That kids has some serious piro tendencies that will need to be addressed.

 Andi's bat, Sammy's mean face, and peters happy face.

Our ward had a trunk or treat a few days before Halloween and Andi went as Maddelyn Hatter and Sammy went as a Pirate.They had a great time running around playing games and getting candy. Then they got to go around the neighborhood on the night of, and we've had candy coming out our ears.

Thad and I went to a grown ups Halloween party this year, which was a lot of fun. We took home the trophy for best couple costume.  I must say it was pretty epic, and we made that mask out of plaster strips molded to Thad's face.

Sammy's birthday was that week as well, and though we already did Disneyland and a family party for him, his class at school managed to make his day pretty special. That and I made him a cake roll.

Report cards came home and both kids did great this first quarter. Andi even made Principles list with straight A's and got a free pass for Johns Incredible Pizza. So we did that for FHE and the kids were in heaven. Peter ran from game to game and did several laps of the place before the night was over.

The kids have a new favorite game with Thad. War. They all have their own little nerf guns, peter included, and they use the couch cushions for bunkers and shoot each other. It used to be played by throwing blocks, but now we've graduated to real weaponry.

Both kids finished up their sport seasons the same weekend. Andi teared up a little leaving her game, but was pumped about getting a trophy.  She really enjoyed volleyball, so we may be looking for another program for her to do.

 With her coach

Sammy's team, minus one, at their pizza party.  Such cute funny little guys.

The fall carnival at school was a big hit again this year. They always have a bunch of blow up toys for the kids, from bounce houses, to jousting rings and giant slides. Andi & Sammy faced off in the jousting ring, and I think they both ended up falling without really hitting each other.

I love all the crafty things that happen in Sammy's Kinder class. Last week he came home one day in a pilgrim outfit which consisted of a paper hat, color and tie. But his Native American costume later in the week was even better. Complete with headdress, vest, and quiver of arrows.

We've been checking things off our project list again. Thad poured concrete on one side of the house, and I helped. For reals. I ran the concrete trailer and helped smooth it out once poured. It wasn't a whole lot of concrete, but it makes such a difference now that the bikes and scooters are parked out of the dirt. I've only taken one picture that shows any of that project, but really that picture goes with a different story.
We have a red neck fire barrel that we use to burn boxes and stuff. Yes we have a recycling trash can, but it's only emptied once every two weeks and that is not nearly enough to keep up with Thad's amazon habit. Anyway, Thad burned stuff last week and left the barrel on the side of the house. I was in the house one morning and realized Peter had been quiet too long and found him out in the barrel. Apparently ashes make a great sandbox substitute. Ugh.

We also built the window seat I've been wanting since we moved in. Okay, I've wanted a window seat forever. Clarissa had one in her room, Punky Brewster had one too, and I've always wanted one. And now I do and I love it. Thad doesn't love it like I do, but he's seen the value in the added storage, and he put it together regardless of his feelings about it, which I love him for.

Thanksgiving was at our house yesterday and it was a great day. None of our out of town family came in this year, but we did have both Thad's and my family over, so our gathering was sufficiently large. Not really large enough to justify the two turkeys that we cooked, but we cooked two anyway. It was the inaugural run of the deep pit, and just in case things didn't go as planned we also cooked one in the oven.  The deep pit worked out beautifully. Best turkey I've ever had. It literally just fell apart, no carving necessary. I think that will be the new tradition. But we had so much food left that I sent everyone home with 9x13 pans of all the fixings and we still had a whole 9x13 of just turkey when they left. Luckily it's amazing and we'll have no problem getting through the leftovers.