Naner is Nine

My little guy turned 9 this week. He wanted an ice cream cake which was fine with me because they are easy peasy to make. This gentle giant is funny, sensitive, sweet and well-liked. Zane is somewhat a math wiz. He loves bowling, golf, and riding his bicycle. His initial birthday wish list included the following : A new set of scriptures with his name on them and a rechargeable toothbrush. That's it. With Noah's help, he extended the list. Noah bought him a giant Giga Ball. He got some board games, clothes, and money. And my friend Laura picked him up a new set of scriptures with his name on them at the St Louis distribution center. Zane also received three tickets to the St. Louis vs. Springfield Cardinals game tonight. He is taking his dad and brother and they are all super excited.

Pinewood Derby

Wednesday was our Pinewood Derby. Last year, Zane just threw the wheels on the block and raced it without doing anything to it. This year, he decided that he wanted to built an actual car with his dad and try and win. Greg is pretty handy and was determined to build a winning car. He followed the same design as the one he built for Noah (which won a couple of years ago). The hard work (and extra money) paid off and Zane won every single race he was in. Our Zaner got first place and felt pretty good about it. So happy for him...and Greg.

Rubik's Cube Romance

Last Friday Olivia was late getting in to the car after school. She was floored by what had just happened to her and as soon as she got into the van she told us this story: A boy in her class had been wanting to ask her out for the last few weeks. She knew this and so she had been carefully avoiding him. He was waiting for her outside of class and said he needed to ask her a question. Then he was really fidgety and awkward and finally started by showing her some pictures on his phone. Inside the albums were pictures of Rubik's cubes with letters "solved" in the middle. The letters formed the words "I love you Olivia. Will you spend the rest of your life with me".. and then he pulled out two more Rubik's cubes from his pocket that formed the question mark which he opened up somewhat like a ring box. She said, "Andrew, I'm so sorry but I'm already dating somebody." Which is a lie and I told her not to lie to him but she did it anyway. His chin began to quiver as he quietly put the Rubik's cubes away and said, "Oh...Ok." and walked away. Never mind that this kid is clearly a serial killer, I thought it was kind of sweet. But WHY is he asking her to SPEND THE REST OF HER LIFE WITH HIM?!?! They are 14 YEARS OLD for pity's sake. She feels really bad because of all the effort he put into it and his sad pitiful reaction. I could not stop laughing because it's just too funny. But I do have a soul so I did feel bad for the kid. She just tends to have that effect on boys. They are falling at her feet. Greg is wishing they would all just fall over dead.

Olivia's Once in a Lifetime Minneapolis Experience

Olivia went to Minneapolis the first week of March for a National Music Conference (ACDA). Her choir was one of only 3 middle school choirs in the nation chosen to come and take part in this awesome convention. She has a solo part. For their first performance, she wasn't feeling well and when it came time for her solo, she actually threw up in her mouth and not knowing what else to do, she swallowed it. It threw the whole choir off because she was unable to come in on her part. After the concert she was backstage crying hysterically. Her director found out why she was so upset and what had actually happened. He has since declared that my daughter is his hero. He posted on a Facebook Group for choral directors and the post has received well over 100 comments about how this child has so much "Grit" and that they are all blown away by her. One person in particular who was sitting on the front row, was very happy that Olivia did NOT in fact projectile vomit into the audience. The choir went on to receive two standing ovations. Apparently the members of the audience were unaware of the screw-ups. Her teacher Mr. G sent me this Meme and said that when he retires many years from now, this story will still be the best of his career.

Our kitchen "Reveal" Before and After

Well it only took about 4 MONTHS but we finally got the kitchen finished. I started a little before Thanksgiving with gel-staining the cabinets which was a much bigger job than I had anticipated. Then Greg busted out the inset middles of a few of the upper cabinets and we ordered glass that we sand-blasted and painted them a pale greenish. I found the stove and microwave on Craigslist for $250 and sold my old stove and refrigerator for $225. Then we bought a new stainless steel fridge and dishwasher. The tile for the counter tops was found in the dumpster behind Missouri Tile. We had picked out some other tile and when we went to load it up, we saw the warehouse guys throwing boxes of tile away so we went back after the closed and grabbed them. Then I took the ones we bought back. We found new cabinet hardware including hinges. The backsplash was about $5 a sq. ft. I textured and painted the soffits above the cabinets.The only thing left to do is to install the new faucet. According to my calculations, we spend about $1800 total for a complete makeover. Hoping that it helps sell the place in a couple of months!

Real men eat (and make) quiche

I've been letting the kids choose things that they would like to cook and then I buy the groceries and give them a little help in the kitchen. Hopefully I will be able to just turn them loose with it soon. Noah chose to make bacon & cheese quiche and deli tomato soup. He did a great job and didn't even cry when cutting the onions. Heh Heh Heh. Just kidding, he cried like a baby.

Looking in the Rear-view Mirror

Yesterday on our way to pick up kids from Reed, Adley and I played "Name That Tune" and "I Spy" and "I'm going to the Moon". Some days Adley falls asleep and I listen to Dave Ramsey. But other days she is wide awake and talks my ear off the whole time. As I looked back at her in the rear-view mirror I was stunned by her cuteness. She is full of it. She's so funny and smart and keeps me on my toes. I was thinking about the day I knew that I was supposed to have another baby, and then about the night that I was in labor and how I cried tears of joy just before she was born because I was SO excited to finally meet her. I think of other events in my "rear-view mirror" and many of them are sad. There are even a few things that I'm downright ashamed of. But I'm so glad we (mostly I) decided to give it one more shot because I ended up with a pretty amazing little person and I'm really not sure what I would do without her.

Cool! Now I have TWO Priesthood Holders

The title of my post was inspired by Kyle the hyper-active child from a Studio C sketch. You should check it out on YouTube. Saturday, Noah turned 12!!! I can't believe it! I'm such an old hag! We went to lunch at ReRico Brazillian restaurant. He absolutely LOVED it. Then we went to my parents' house for brownie/cookie trifle. Noah got his first real gun: A Ruger 10/22. Plus he got a metal detector and a drone that can film/take pics. Sunday he was ordained to the office of Deacon and passed the Sacrament. Monday there was no school so we had a "Friend Party" which ended up not going so well. It was 5 hours long and some of the boys didn't get along. Noah and two of his best friends ended up getting into a fight and I think they all three got a little teary-eyed. I'm hoping that blows over. Anyway, I can't believe he's 12! He had his first youth activity last night...(I'm not sure what they did-bad mom for not asking!) He is a pretty good kid. He has his moments but for the most part, he's kind, considerate, loving, caring, happy, funny, and sensitive (sort of). We love our Noah Balboa.