Sometimes It's Better Not To Ask...

Kyle has really been into measuring things with a soft tape measure. He wanted to measure Keith the other day. He told Keith (in his deep growl voice) to "Hode dis unda yo big toe, dad." Keith put one end of the tape measure under his toe and asked Kyle how tall he was. Kyle walked backwards and pulled the tape measure all the way out to the end and replied, again in his deep growl voice, "Yo big and fat, dad!!" I don't know where on earth he learned the word fat. I guess sometimes it is better not to ask!

I Wanna Be A Rockstar...

Tami called me Sunday to let me know she was gutting Dawson's room and giving away his drum set. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I prepared to brace myself for what was to come. I was sure that when I spoke the words, I would hear myself say, "No thanks." I never heard those words. Maybe it's because all I could hear was the beating of very loud drums in my ears. Maybe I did say those words and Tami didn't hear them because all she heard was the sound of drums in her ears.

Needless to say,we are the proud owners of a new (to us) drum set, as well as a medley of other fantastic prizes that were thrown in for fun. (cowboy boots, an electric guitar, a clock radio and a camo tent complete with deer, a hunter and small gadgets)

Keith showed him the whole "1...2...1, 2, 3, 4..." while hitting his sticks together, and although Kyle watched intently each time, he chose to do it his own way. Obviously the pictures don't do the story justice. Maybe a video would. Kyle counts down, but he hits a stick to a different drum for each number. Then he makes a sound, while he's playing, that resembles the sound kids make while playing air guitar. It goes something like this...1...2...3...way-o, way-o, way-o!



Do any of you wonder why the drums are on the porch??? Do you really need an answer to that?

Playing Dress Up...

'Just wanted to share some recent pics of Kyle. He cracks me up. It has been too long since this kind of thing has happened at my house.

Kyle fell asleep right before we were ready to leave for the beer tent a week ago. This is how I found him.

These aren't shorts, mind you. Kyle is wearing boxer briefs. Underwear. At least he put on a hoodie before falling asleep. Aren't his rain boots sooo cute? Target. Target is a thief. Target takes a lot of my money every time I go there.

One question...did Michael Phelps start his career this way? Should I be paying for private lessons?

Tami gave Kyle a new "toy" (next post) and when I stopped by to pick it up, I was surprised to find a few extra goodies in the pile.

Kyle has a thing with underwear and boots...

Oh, and how can I not share this lovely creature? I have heard rumors of the Village People reuniting...at least for a one time appearance.

In The Tabloids...

Did you see? Did you see? No, it wasn't a star sighting or anything like that, but it was my Andrew, all cute, I mean tough, in his football getup and new sport goggles. Andrew had his picture taken for Dr. Jackson's ad in the Beacon this week. I get the whole football helmet (theme) thing, but to better show off the goggles, he should have maybe just worn them by themselves so people can see them. They are pretty cool. They remind me of snowboarding goggles or something like that. They are a far cry from the safety goggle-looking things Keith had to wear while playing sports. Then again...

I'll recreate Andrew's moment of fame and post it soon. I'll also post a few pics of Keith from the past, as well as an explanation about "then again..." He'll love it! So will you all!

Snaggle Tooth...

Last Friday Johanna and I worked the Vegas hole at the annual JDRF golf outing. We tried to make the golfers' experience as rewarding as the name suggests. To do that, Jo had to drink. She still wasn't interested in the Can-Can or the kick line. I tell ya...

We had a blast and it was for a good cause so we couldn't go wrong. It was the end of the outing and we were waiting on one group of guys. They were parked over in the trees and having a pow-wow. I think they were tallying up their scores, but I am not sure. Anyway, I told my daycare not to put Kyle down for a nap because I would pick him up around 1:30ish. I was still waiting for the group at 2pm so I called over there to let the girls know I would be there as soon as I could.

I will never again see this face...

Apparently, Kyle was running through the house and fell on the tile. He was told to stop running before he gets hurt. He pulled a total Kyle, got up and proceeded to run! He slid across the tile and landed on his face. He cracked his tooth. Luckily, it was nothing worse than that. However...Kyle has the goofiest smile. Keith and I are constantly commenting on it. It is big and toothy. He's got "the big teeth" as Keith would say. Usually, we just call him Teeth. Well, we used to...
This isn't a great picture, and it's not as bad upside down, but it is what we get to look at every day. For the next 100 years. Or until he loses his front teeth. Of course it happened on a Friday so all the dentists I wanted to work with were closed. Monday morning, I called a pediatric dentist and I was told he'd have to be seen as a regular patient first, then they would consider working on him. No big deal. My daycare provider's dentist said he'd file his teeth down if Kyle could handle it. I never gave a second thought to anything different. The pediatric dentist said she wouldn't file it down and she wouldn't cap it for at least another year. WHAT?? The only reason I didn't schedule an appointment with my daycare provider's dentist was that the appointment available was during Keith's football practice. Bum Deal. It is semi growing on us. Not really, but it makes me feel better to say it is. Someone said it'll be an endearing thing. Sure, but after it is fixed. It'll be a great memory to look back on, but for now, not so much. Keith keeps saying he cracked his grill like a hockey player. That would only be acceptable if he did, indeed, crack his grill playing hockey. :(

A little dark, a little swollen, a little bit like snaggle tooth...

Slow Down...

I had high hopes when I started blogging of posting something every day. So much seems to happen at my house that I thought it was a no-brainer. Sigh. No luck. I have fallen off the (Blog) wagon and I cannot seem to jump back on. It's kind of like watching Jimmy running behind the horse wagon last weekend trying to catch up. I guess you had to be there.

After we got back from Barothy, everything that has happened since is a big blur. I started coaching cheerleading Monday. It has been way too long since I've been involved with the sport. (Yes, it is a sport) Some things never change, though. It's kind of like riding a bike. You can take the girl out of cheerleading but you cannot take the cheerleading out of the girl.

I've been studying it all for months, and yet I was such an amateur the night I walked up. Oh boy, what a ride this will be. Peewees are 5th and 6th grade girls. This year, the numbers weren't there so I've been blessed with one 1st grader, two 2nd graders, three 4th graders, five 5th graders and one 6th grader. (no, I am NOT being sarcastic) I have to keep remembering that. We've had a slow start but I really think we are all coming along. It isn't just the girls who need to learn. I have a lot to learn myself. Never having girls of my own, I find I am making things up as I go along. Again, I have to keep in mind their ages when they look at me like, "Whatever" when I am attempting to teach them something important. To them I am just a girl telling them what to do. (hopefully not) In my mind, I think they'll want to know what I want to teach them to help them out later, if they choose to try out at the school level. To a "non-cheerleader" it is all the same, I am sure, but it really isn't. And to be totally truthful, I haven't run across too many other athletes who can pull off cheerleading...unless they were also a cheerleader. I do tend to get defensive, so I will try to steer this post in another direction. The bottom line is it has been a bit of a struggle so far and we've been working hard to get ready for our first game Saturday!!! I know I will only see improvement and I am so excited about that. I am sooo giddy... when I'm not asleep. That reminds me, for the first week and a half, I couldn't fall asleep, even though I was both physically and mentally exhausted. I would put my head on the pillow, close my eyes and run through all the things we can work on the next practice...not on purpose! Keith just welcomed me to the coaching club. Anyway, I just had my first cheerleading dream Saturday night. WOW.

Back to being giddy. Every time I come up with an idea, I get sooo excited and stop whatever it is that I am doing and work on that. We are making a banner tomorrow night after pictures for the boys to run through and I have been working on signs to hold up during crowd participation chants. If you haven't guessed it yet I am surprised, and if you've been wondering, I will confirm it...I got out my Cricut and cut out my letters. They turned out pretty good. I also gut some out, increased the size on the copier, printed them, cut them out, and will be using them for templates on my bigger foam board signs. I am looking for self adhesive vinyl paper to use in the Cricut instead...the adhesive spray is pretty messy and sticky!

See, I'm losing you...I could go on and on about this because I really am geeked!! I always "knew" I'd have girls...you know, like the ones I said my mom cursed me with..("someday you'll have daughters just like you...') I have always been girly, not sporty, and I "knew" I'd be coaching cheerleading. I know, I know. I have actually been asked how I got roped into this. I've also had comments about parents realizing I have all boys...and they leave it like that, as in, "Why on earth are you doing this? I'm doing it because I'm already here anyway. You don't have to be." The answer is because I enjoy this. It is definitely my cup of tea. I'm having a ball running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I thrive on stress. I've got so much info to share and not enough time to share it. I should write a book. That way you only have to read it if you purchase it. You wouldn't be stuck reading it right now.

I have pictures from camp but I cannot post them. I think that would be a wee bit creepy to the parents of the girls. I have to add that I was super excited when the UCA cheerleaders taught things and played games for (learning) fun that I had taught at the practice prior. I just kept saying to the girls, "See...I taught you that!!"

Hey, you can wake up now. The boring cheer talk is over. Go about your business and wipe all thoughts of misery out of your minds.

Barothy...

We headed home from camping Thursday afternoon to grocery shop, do laundry and pack for our weekend family reunion at Barothy Lodge. I remember a big headache but I cannot remember why. I thought it was only a week ago but, looking at the calendar, it has already been two weeks! I do remember that everything had to be ready to go in my van that same night because I was leaving right from work on Friday. Keith was staying back with Caleb and Andrew because they had football.

Every year I make my annual stop to the Ludington Walmart (yeah, I know I live BIG) and to the Ludington Maurices. Well, imagine my surprise when I found a little scrapbook store had moved in. Right. Next. Door.

I spent a lot of money.

Kyle wanted to help grandma with the Sunday dishes. Lucky for everyone eating, the dishes were only being rinsed off and put in the dishwasher.

Kyle was sooo excited to show me what Sammi taught him.

'Showin' daddy some love...

A little hot tub fun with Sammi...

Kyle wanted to take pictures of everyone. He wanted to take a picture of me taking pictures. He wanted me to take a picture of him taking a picture of me. Can you see the pattern?

I should show pictures of all the people making funny faces for Kyle. I would take pictures of them being silly while Kyle was taking pictures of their feet. And their knees. And the sky. And his finger. Again, can you see the pattern?

Fun, Fun, Fun...

Okay, so WOW, We've been totally busy. I thought for sure I would blog our happenings as soon as I got back from vacay, and I didn't think I was that far behind until Kristin told me today to update already! She pointed out that my last entry was on the 28th...almost a month ago. At any rate, here is the rundown...

Before leaving for camping, we visited camper friends at Hill and Hollow. I don't know if I mentioned that before or not. We had reservations also but cancelled when I realized how much work it would be to do without Keith. Instead we decided to make a day trip out of it. The boys all had fun.

This is Andrew being tossed through the air by Brad VanBergen...he thought it was totally awesome...


Kyle made his first ever attempt at roasting marshmallows by himself. He wanted to roast, not eat, the icky, gooey treats. He also would've rather helped Keith with tending to the fire...not so good.

Kyle so desperately wanted to join in the game of catch being played by Keith and Caleb...

La Dee Da! Kyle swam, with swimmies, all by himself. He had an absolute ball...

We spent an evening downtown, putzing around at Craig's Cruisers...

...watching Keith and Kyle being lapped by Caleb! K's sour expression was caused by Kyle's not wanting to go too fast!

We also did a bit of mini golf. I had no desire so while the boys were racing, Andrew and I took 9 in...oh yeah I asked if I could only do 9...no luck! The girl at the shack asked us if we wanted to keep score or not. Andrew said no. Okay, is it just me, or if you already don't like to mini golf isn't it silly to play if you're not keeping score?? I would've just given my $ and walked away.

THIS is the reason I tried to nip the game in the bud while the others were go-karting...

I didn't plan for them to golf. I certainly didn't plan for them to catch up to us. (all thanks to the slow golfers who kept score in front of us) And I most certainly didn't ever intend to golf with them!

This is such a typical picture. Kyle is such a poop!


More randomness...

I thought I might add some thoughts regarding our vacay since I didn't do it earlier. Some may not call it a vacation. By the time I got to the campground, Keith and the big boys were already gone. Football started that same night. (we didn't know that when we took vacation time) I set up shop and put our new grill together (thanks, mom and dad) while Kyle ran around. We took many bike rides that night, as well as the rest of the week. I got up every morning and biked. The second day I rode downtown. It wasn't too long of a trip, but the sun was HOT and I biked uphill on the way back and I truly thought I was going to die! My mouth was sooo dry and I kept swallowing to produce saliva. I had that taste in my mouth...like I was going to throw up! Lo and behold I made it back and here I am. While in town playing around, we also went out for dinner (didn't want to cook) and stopped for ice cream. The boys got to draw pictures of themselves and each other (all 4 of them) on the floor to ceiling chalkboard and sing along to music from the piano-playing customer. Fun, Fun, fun!