We took the boys out to Lake Murray today. I've actually never been to this lake before even though it is only about 10 minutes away. I was a beautiful warm spring day. I really needed a day like this after a cold and cloudy week with two sick kids. Since coming back from my Colorado canoe trip I've felt pretty out of it. Been in a strange, lethargic funk. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, but I think I just missed the sun and being out in the open.

The boys had fun feeding the ducks, running around, setting up a rock and sticks shop (leaves were money) and watching all the squirrels run around (there were about one thousand squirrels out and about). We will definitely have to go back. Maybe bring our fishing poles and try and catch a fish or two. A perfect day for a stroll along the water.

Pre-Mother's Day Treat

It kind of felt like Mother's Day today as I got to attend at Mother's Day tea put on by the Preschoolers and I was showered with presents the boys have been making this past week. Cards, pictures, singing, flowers and delicious desserts. What more could a mother ask for? But the most cherished thing I received today was a book entitled 'My Mom' by Daniel.

My Mom by Daniel
Mother's Day 2008

My Mom always says u didnt gev me a ces tudae. (you didn't give me a kiss today)
My Mom cooks the best eg in the hool. (egg in the hole)
My Mom really loves me.
My Mom and I like to go to home.
My Mom's favorite clothes to wear are a dres. (a dress)
My Mom is beautiful because of her hair.

More precious than gold or silver. I am truly blessed to have such sweet and amazing little boys.

Spanish Lessons

This past weekend, after a delicious dinner had been consumed, our family was sitting around our dinner table playing a rousing game of 'Simon Says'. Daniel was Simon, and was adding in a level of difficulty by giving directions using his newly mastered Spanish (oh to be a language sponge like a six year old).

'Simon Says... touch your ojos'
'Simon Says... touch your hombreras'

Well, this one stumped Suzy and I, for even though we both had multiple years of high school Spanish, neither of us knew that hombreras meant shoulders. It didn't take too many years of schooling for our son to pass us in his pursuit of academic excellence.

So, last night, as Suzy and I were in the midst of a tightly contested game of Sequence, we were discussing our past week, and Suzy mentioned something that Sammy had said. As soon as she said it, it tickled something in my memories of last week. I had heard him utter the same word, but had put it off as him making up funny words during the coarse of conversation. Well, this word, which I can't repeat as I don't want this blog marked as objectionable material (if you must know, it's the Spanish word for someone who is a member of the oldest profession), is definitely not something that you would say to someone who speaks Spanish. In fact, as I thought more about the incident, Sammy had used pretty good inflection, and definitely had a good accent going. After discussing it more with Suzy we decided we better nip this in the bud, so Sammy doesn't inadvertently offend half the population of Southern California.

Me being the adventurous father that I am, decided to tackle the conversation this morning as I was helping the boys get ready for school.

'Sammy, you know that there are some words that I don't like you saying, right?'

'Like butt!'

'Yes, Sammy, like butt.'

'And pee pee head.'

'Yes, pee pee head is also not okay.'

'And ...'

'Okay, okay Sammy, you get the picture. Well there was a word you said a couple of days ago that...'

It seemed like he and Daniel (who was eagerly eavesdropping) got the point, but I am a bit afraid of hearing from the teachers and/or offended Hispanic classmates/parents tonight.

So, if you find that you are on a dark corner in a bad part of Tijuana, and you see a scantily clad young lady who has a bug on her shoulder, my boys can probably help you out with any translations necessary.

35

Yesterday I celebrated my thirty fifth birthday. It was quite a day. Delicious home cooked dinner, two different cakes, party games, presents, emails and calls from friends and family. I am pretty sure that I was sung to five times. Morning with Suzy and the boys, my mom left a singing message for me at work, after dinner/before cake, at bible study, and Tutu and Papa. Yep, that's five. For someone like me who is a bit noise sensitive that is a long day. But very much appreciated.

Lots of generous gifts, Padres tickets, lots of books, clothes, two excellent drawings, and a gnome.

After opening presents and before heading off to study Daniel looks at his Mama and asks, 'So, what party games are we going to play?'

We decided on an impromptu game of bobbing for apples, which was actually quite fun. I can say that because I was the first successful apple bobber. Don't mess with my apple bobbing skills. I missed my calling in life.

So, thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. It was a great day.

John 16:33

Here is Daniel reciting John 16:33 with hand motions. What a great verse to have memorized.

I have told you these things,
so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Bath Time

This boy sure does enjoy his bath. I thought boys were suppose to detest baths. My dad told me he would go all week without a bath when he was a boy. Not my boys. I get complaints on days I don't give Daniel and Sammy a bath. Not that I blame them. I wish I could soak in a hot water bath everyday, or even once a week, or just once a month. I can't even remember that last time I filled the bath for myself.

Sammy particularly enjoyed his bath on this day because for some reason or other Daniel was banned from bath time, so Sammy had the tub and toys all to himself. A rare event indeed. He stretched himself out and relished every minute of it.

Chevy Luv

I was looking at old photos the other day and came across this picture of my Dad and his little red Chevy luv. This picture just cracks me up. But I am so glad that I have a picture of my Dad under the hood of his truck that he loved so much. He must have spent countless hours working on that truck. I don't know how many years exactly he spent giving that truck TLC, but my parents had the truck when we lived in Texas (we moved the summer before my first grade) and he still had it running after I married Dan. That is a long time.


For me, my Dad's little Chevy Luv holds many memories. I don't remember, but when we lived in Texas my Dad used to drive my sister in I around in the back of the truck. At the time there was no hood and my sister and I (who were probably around the age of my boys now, 4 and 6) would sit up on the tire wheels and watch the world fly by. I can believe that my Dad let us do this, but I am in shock that my Mom (who is now so overly protective) would allow such a thing. My Dad likes to tell the story of when my sister and I were riding in the back of the truck and a lady in the car next to my Dad was making a big fuss at him. My dad rolled down the window to see what the excitement was about. The woman pointed to the back of the truck were my sister had fallen asleep and was hanging over the side. Well, that didn't stop us from riding in the back, but my Dad did get a cover to make sure he wasn't going to lose one of us.

There were times I loved that truck as much as my Dad and times that I wished we had a different car. When we were younger my sister and I loved riding in the back. We loved playing, rolling around and watching out the back window. But when I got older and started going to a private school where Mercedes and BMWs were the standard, the little red truck became a source of embarrassment for me. My dad usually drove us to school since my Mom, who was the librarian at our school, had to be at work early. I always got stuck sitting in the middle since I was the smallest. Sitting in the middle was fun when I was little, my Dad would let us shift for him, but when you are wearing a mini skirt it can be pretty uncomfortable. I can remember so vividly puttering up the big hill to school. The three of us in front. Me in the middle. No A/C and just an AM radio usually tuned to the oldies but goodies. Packed in like sardines with all our binders and backpacks and stuff. My Dad would fall in line with all the luxury cars and when it was our turn my sister and I would jump out of the truck and run off to school.


I have to admit I was a little sad when my Dad told me he was going to sell his truck. I often have a hard time letting things go. Especially things that hold memories or that are meaningful to me. So I'm glad that I snapped this picture, could it really be almost 15 years ago? My Dad in his flip flops and short shorts with his red Chevy Luv truck.

Spring Dance

Yesterday was the Preschool Spring Dance. All the classes preformed a dance from countries all over the world. Sammy's class preformed an African dance. I think Sammy enjoyed his 5 minutes of fame very much. He had a great big smile on his face the whole time and thought it was pretty cool that he got to dress in a skirt. I thought that he was pretty darn adorable, but then again he is my kid. Sammy appears to have rhythm and coordination. Not to sure where that came from. I wish I looked that cute when I danced. Go Sammy, go Sammy, go-go-go Sammy!

Say Cheese

Yesterday was Picture Day. The kids all looked so cute all dressed up and ready to pose. Thankfully Daniel was able to get his picture taken this time. He missed picture day earlier this year as we discovered Daniel (like his mother) gets car sick. I had him all prepped and pampered and didn't think much about him looking at a magazine on the way to school. I parked the car, Daniel stood up, declared he didn't feel so hot and then puked all over himself.

I was a little nervous today on the way to school, but we made it with no incidents. Can't wait to see how the pictures come out.

Rock Climbing

Our campsite at Agua Caliente was situated right at the base of a rocky mountain. It was the best and worst site in the camp. The best because the boys could be climbing rocks within a couple steps and the worst because the boys could be climbing rocks within a couple of steps. The mountain side was kind of strange because there was a slide of granite/minerals on the bottom half. It looked as if someone had come along and dumped a big load of concrete down the side of the mountain, but it was soft and crumbly and very easy to climb.

The boys could not escape the lure of the mountain and those rocks. The mountain called to them, 'Come. Come and climb my rocks and explore my hillside." When the boys woke up in the morning the first thing out the their mouths was "Can we go climb the rocks?". After breakfast, "Can we go climb the rocks?". When lunch was over, "Can we go climb the rocks?". You get the picture. They probably would have spent the whole day on the mountain side had we allowed them to.

I was very impressed at how well Daniel and Sammy scrambled up and down the rocks, although they managed to get quite a few cuts and scrapes in the process. And they have proudly shown off each and every one of them.

On Saturday morning we climbed all the way to the top of the mountain. Going up wasn't too hard, but I was not too sure how we were going to get back down. Luckily there was a trail leading down the back, so we did not have to resort to slipping and sliding all the way down.

Rock climbing was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for the boys. Really what could be more fun for little boys?

Desert Adventure

We are back home from our camping trip out in Agua Caliente. Besides some bumps, bruises, cuts and scratches (the boy's arms and legs are quite impressive) we survived the weekend without any major injuries. The boys had a blast and fun was had by all, but we are wiped. There is so much to tell, but I have to hit the sack and try and make up about 10 hours of sleep. I will write more as soon as I am able to stop yawning.

No Fooling

Happy April Fool's Day! Actually this is the third April Fool's Day we have had this year. For some reason I kept thinking it was April 1st when in fact it was not. I am not sure why I was so anxious for it to be April 1st. April Fool's Day has never been an important day for me. I can't ever remember fooling anyone on this day or being fooled by someone else. And though it might be fun to fool someone it is usually not very fun for the person being fool. And for Dan it is one of his least favorite days (you don't want to fool with him).

Unlike their parents, Daniel and Sammy found today to be great fun. When I came home early this morning from my workout I could hear two little giggling voices upstairs. As I walked upstairs I could hear Daniel and Sammy trying to 'fool' each other.

'Sammy, are your eyes blue? April Fools!'

'Daniel, is your hair long? April Fools!'

I didn't quite get it but the boys thought it was hilarious. Luckily they don't quite understand the concept.

So today is the first day of April. I really do love this month. The weather is turning beautiful, baseball has started, Dan and my sister will get to celebrate their birthdays (they both were born on the same day and year), Dan asked me to marry him in April eleven years ago, my first rose buds have begun to bloom and sometimes we get to celebrate Easter (although not this year). Now I know why I was so quick to say it was April already. April is a great month.

The Grand Tour

Let me give you the grand tour of our lodgings for our big Walls Family Camp Out 2008.

This is what our lodgings will look like as we arrive at our campsite. We get to spend the next hour or so trying to set it up while making sure the boys don't run off and get lost in this middle of the desert.



If all goes well our tent will look something like this. Hopefully Dan will still be smiling.Plenty of room to stretch out and relax although I am not sure how much relaxing we will get to do.The top is so high that Dan has to stand on his tippee toes to touch the top. No crawling around in this tent. I could do jumping jacks if I wanted to.Handy cup holders, because, well, who doesn't love a convenient cup holder.And the piece de resistance, a storage loft for all those things that need to be stored in a loft.We have room for 4 more in our luxury hotel. Anyone want to come along?

The Annex Building

We have fought the good fight, and lost. Suzy and I have finally acknowledged that our two little boys are no longer quite so little. As this new day dawned in our lives we are preparing for the familial rite of passage that besets us all, the first CAMPING TRIP! Yes, in a mere eleven days we will pile eight arms and legs and more gear than I can imagine into our not so mini-van and head east to Agua Caliente County Park. Being two responsible parents (and wanting to avoid all thinking about what kinds of trouble the boys will be getting into) we are planning everything meticulously. One aspect of the planning was the tent decision. Individually Suzy and I have backpacked more than 'car' camped, so trying to decide on a family tent was a bit of a struggle. So, after conversations, deliberations, and altercations we settled on the Columbia Cougar Flats.

When the fifty plus pound monstrosity arrived via the poor UPS man, our next decision was staring us in the face. Where in the world can we set this thing up to test it? Garage, not tall enough. Family room, too much furniture. Local Park, too wet and muddy. Work it is. Thankfully my work has a great room for this, I was thinking that it would be easy, no problem. I was a bit off in my calculations. There was about a foot gap around each side of spare room after I finished the hour long process of setting this bad boy up. Fifteen by ten feet, two rooms, bay windows, shelving, cup holders and a loft. When standing in it with flat feet I could not reach up and touch the top. Wow. This wasn't how I remembered camping. It theoretically sleeps eight, but I think that with all of our stuff we will still be crowded. Suzy wanted to check it out so I left it up over the weekend and we snuck in with the boys on Saturday. Unfortunately Sammy got lost in one of the rooms, and we haven't found him yet. Hopefully we find him before we leave!

So, if anyone is interested, we will be out in the desert, come and join us. We will have plenty of room for you...

Egg Hunt

Today was the last day of school before Spring Break so both of the boys had their Easter egg hunt at school today. They were both very excited about the prospect of searching for hidden eggs filled with goodies. I also loved Easter as a kid. My sister and I would hide our eggs over and over again until they were all cracked (we always used hard boiled eggs). I also remember finding some eggs that never got found a week or two later that didn't smell very good.

We have already had a couple of egg hunts at our house and I have a feeling we will have plenty more before Easter is over.

Read to Me

I think one of the things I will miss the most when the boys have grown up, besides the hugs, kisses and snuggling, is reading books to them. I love reading to the boys and they love being read to. They are drawn to books like bees to flowers.

Now that Daniel is learning to read I have found him reading books to himself and even reading to Sammy. Even Sammy feels the excitement of this milestone for Daniel as Sammy will run to find me exclaiming excitedly, 'Daniel read a book to me!" As excited as I am for Daniel I am also a little sad knowing that all to soon my reading days will be over. But I am and have taken advantage of the time I do have. I have probably read hundreds of books for hundreds of hours to the boys.

Transitions are never easy, at least for me. I know it will be sad when reading to the boys becomes only a distant memory, but hopefully then I will be reading with the boys. And that might be just as special and enjoyable.

Lego Creation

The name is 'AT Command Base Walker' because it has a detachable ship for tough fighting. It has two drillers in the back. It can drill, blast and move very fast.

Daniel, age 6. Still loving Legos.

Morning Fun

I got a bit of a surprise when I went in to brush the boy's teeth and get them dressed for school this morning. Typically they are in their room saving the world from bad guys or are having an epic Lego battle. This morning, something different. Something strange. What? What is going on in there? These were my thoughts as I approached the door that begins my day. Daniel and Sammy were playing... football. They had a football (some of Sammy's underwear, clean, I hope), they were throwing it around. And sometimes even catching it. I heard Daniel utter these words,

'Okay, Sammy, let's huddle up and figure out how to beat these guys.'

The teams were Baby Bippie (don't ask) versus the Giants, and Daniel and Sammy were on the Baby Bippie side (really, don't ask!). I am pretty sure that those rough and tumble Baby Bippies were winning.

So, to summarize, now that football season is over for months, my boys are expressing an interest. Just when I would love for one of them to want to watch a baseball game with me, they are into football.

Overflowing

Every morning in Daniel's kindergarten class his teacher takes roll call. It goes something like this:

"Good morning, (insert student's name)."
"Good morning, Ms. Foust."
"How are you doing this morning?"
"I am doing..." or "I am feeling..." and then the kids say something like sleepy, excited or whatever they want.

Well, yesterday Daniel replied, "I am feeling very happy!"
"Why are you feeling so happy today?" asked his teacher.
"Because today is overflowing with good things!"

And Daniel's day was indeed filled to the top and spilling over with good things.

Fridays are Daniel's favorite day, and not just because it means the weekend is here. Fridays are very fun days at school. They have chapel, go to the Park and get to go to the treasure box (a reward system for good behavior). Yesterday was even more special because Daniel received an award in chapel for being loving. Each week the kids study a certain character trait and memorize a Bible verse that relates to that character trait. Then in chapel a child in each class who demonstrates that character trait gets an award. It is suppose to be a surprise, but the kids have figured out that if someone's parent is at chapel it probably means they are getting the award.

I was not surprised at all to learn that Daniel was getting the award for being loving. He is a very loving and affectionate child and often tells his teacher he loves her. Daniel was simply glowing as he walked up to receive his button (award). In addition to this he also got to be a flag bearer during the salute and his class preformed the chapel song (they were so, so cute).

It was a good day... simply overflowing with good things.

Falling Behind

I know, I know, I KNOW. I haven't blogged in a really long time. Really it's not my fault... it's my sister's fault. Chrissie has been encouraging me to start up an arts and crafts blog. I love reading what other people out there in blogland are creating, but I never really though about blogging the going ons of my studio. Well, I finally got it together last month. It is called Handwork Happens. It has been really fun showing off and documenting all my projects, but it has been taking up all my precious blogging time. I have to figure out some way to allocate blogging time between the two. If only I could figure out a way to add a couple more hours onto the day or get the boys to go to sleep at 6:00. I'm thinking... I'm thinking...