The Tricia Court Slow Rollers

The Tricia Court Slow Rollers - that's what I'm calling the cul de sac bike gang. Again, when it's 60° and sunny, you evacuate the houses! I think at one point we had all 15 kids in the cul de sac in the circle playing! 

You Say It's February??

You say it's February, yet the weather says May. And I'll take it! We had a week of 60-70° weather and we took full advantage. And, the weather had great timing - a 4 day weekend for the boys! They played outside for probably a total of 36 hours over the course of 4 days. I refused to let them be in the house. Sunday we took a bike ride over to the park - the park that we should be sledding at this time of year, but instead are playing on the playground in short sleeves! Woohoo! 

2nd Grade Valentine's Party

As the room mom for Ben's class, I went in to help with the Valentine's party this year. This was actually the first one I had ever been to. The kids passed out Valentine's beforehand (cut out that insanity), so we could have fun playing games and eating a treat. The kids were on such a sugar/gluten high - they had doughnuts after Junior Achievement and then cupcakes for their party snack. Some were smart and took one or both home. My child was not one of the smart ones. He ended up with a tummy ache. 

Another mom came in and did the games. She had great games! Better than I would have come up with. The kids had lots of fun and all went home to a sugar coma. 

Pre Superbowl Power Nap

After partying hard in Cleveland for Elaina's baptism, both boys were asleep in the car before we even got out of Cleveland. They power napped the whole way home so they could watch the Superbowl. They still went to bed thinking the Falcon's were going to win (Ben was very sad).

Elaina Gets Baptized

We celebrated Elaina's baptism on Super Bowl Sunday this year. We all went to church at St. Mary's in Chardon and afterward, had the baptism ceremony. It was nice because Elaina was the only baptism that day. She had a super pretty dress and really liked playing in the baptisimal font :) The deacon was great - he gave each of the kids a job so they could be a part of the ceremony. Ben read the petitions, Nick and Eva both handed him a bottle of the holy oil and chrism. Adam and I were honored to be Elaina's god parents :) 

The Day Clothes Forgot

It was winter. It was cold. It was lazy. So Nick decided to never get dressed. He spent the day in underwear and a blanket. 

An Afternoon at the Museum

The art museum had a temporary installation, Plexus 35, that I was bound and determined to see. It was thousands of threads that make a rainbow. The last weekend it would be up was my only chance to see it. The boys came with me, but I don't think they were as impressed. I thought it was awesome, though, and glad I got to see it before it was gone. 

The Daddy Race

And of course the parents have to have their own race (in hopes that parents would be less inclined to make their kids' car for them). Adam so pretty excited about his car - the Death Star, complete with laser beam! And so completes another year of pinewood derby.

The Sibling Race

The siblings had their own race after the scouts finished up. And Nick's car was a...wait for it...Pokemon ball! I know, you almost fell out of your chair, you were so shocked. Nick's car was pretty fast. He won 3rd place for speed! But more importantly, he had fun!

Race Day!

It was the day the boys had all been waiting for - Pine Wood Derby Day! You would have thought it was a national holiday. Ben and Adam were out the door by 7. Nick had his first sleep over at his friend Jake's the night before, so he was a little tired, but he held it together and enjoyed the races. Keeping with the Pokemon theme, the boys made Pokemon ball cars. They each painted their own. Ben did not win for speed, but he did win car design from his den-mates!