The evolution of basket head

You guys remember basket head right? Well awhile back those old laundry baskets just got worn beyond repair so I had to trade them in for some new ones that while being great for laundry are not so great as head wear. Not to worry though, my children and their innovative imaginations have improvised... Honestly I don't even know why I buy real toys.

Storyteller

Yesterday we wrote stories, Mason got really into it, and came up with this story:
"Once upon a time there was Mason...

...and the sun fell out of the sky. And there was a bucket above his head.

And he got all wet.

The end."

Also note the Disneyland pin, that is doubling as his librarian badge, yes you are welcome to come to Mason's room and check out any one of his books.

FHE

Yesterday we took the kids to kids to the corn maze for FHE. I have to say that I really don't like corn mazes. I mean what is the point of walking around completely lost for an hour in the cold? But I did try to have a good attitude, because the kids thought it was AWESOME. Afterwards I was rewarded for my good attitude when over frosties Max said to me, "Thanks for taking us to the corn maze mama." I looked at Shane and he held up his hands and swore he didn't put him up to it. Then Max's eloquence and sweetness surpirsed us even further when he turned to Shane and said, "I'm proud of you for blasting off my rocket." (last week) We both laughed, what a sweet boy.

Conference and rockets

Last night as we crawling into bed Shane said, "You know what I loved about this weekend? having unscheduled time." Its very true that Shane and I both tend to spend our days hurrying from one commitment to the next. And doing all of those things with Max in tow is not always fun for me. (I mean I love my boy, but he is not so good at any store.) So this weekend we watched conference. I broke out the conference bingo sheets and they were a huge hit with Mason. I think that he listened better than I did as he was so anxious to get a treat on each finished row. It was probably the first year since Mason's birth that I was able to listen to much of conference. I kept thinking is conference better this year, or have I just been missing out all this time? It was really pleasant. We didn't make any big plans, we didn't cook any huge meals (thank you crock pot) we just hung out as a family, ate treats and listened to the prophet it was great.

This is Max during the last session.



During the break on Sunday we went to park where we played six holes (baskets?) of frisbee golf, it was very nice until Mason fell into the river... and then it was time to go.

After the last session we packed up the kids again and launched their rockets. Shane had gotten both the kids rockets some time ago and they were both excited to shoot them off. Mason was really interested in the whole process, Max lasted through about two launches before he was ready to go. I think the rockets made him just a bit uneasy.

This is the game that Max and his pal were playing on Friday night. Its one where you use all of your best climbing skills to get on top of the big green box.
Then you contemplate the best way to jump off.
If for a moment you get cold feet about carrying out your stunt, don't worry your good friend will give you a loving nudge over the edge (when Cooper showed some hesitation, Max hopped to his feet saying "I'll push you!" as if he was doing him a big favor).

And don't forget including extra acrobatics in your jump will win you extra points.

Switch kids and then repeat.

The Prayer of the Picky Eater

Tonight when Mason said his prayers he said, "Heavenly Father, please bless me that the food that I eat will taste good to me..." Mason is so sweet and tries so hard to please, I truly hope the food he eats tastes good to him too.

First day of kindergarten

This week was the first week of Kindergarten for Mason. After much thinking and deciding we decided to send Mason to a Montessori school here in town. I love the idea that he is not sitting in a desk all day and so far he seems to be enjoying it as well. The first day of class he was pretty nervous. Shane and I both took him to class, he timidly took his place on the carpet and I watched through the window as class got started.

When I came to pick him up he seems happy, and relieved. He'd been through his first day and I could see that in his assessment kindergarten wasn't that bad, in fact it seemed he actually might like it. On the second day on the way to school he told me that he thought he might like me to just drop him off at the curb and he could find his way to his classroom on his own, until we pulled up to the school and he decided that he would like me to walk him to class just one more time. The next day he told me that today was the day that I could just drop him off, so I did, but after he went into the school I sneaked over to the window and watched him walk to his classroom. Before going in he climbed up on the bench and peaked in the window to make sure it was his class and then he let himself. On Thursday I stayed in the car and watched my big boy take himself to school. I can't believe how much he's grown.

Its done, its finally done!

A while back I decided to work on something personal about myself that I admit I have a bit of a problem with. If the truth be told sometimes I am guilty of starting projects but not quite finishing them... So about six months ago when we bought a big boy bed for Max I decided that I was going to redecorate his room AND that I would not start any other major projects until I was done with it. So I started looking around for ideas and stumbled upon this cute robot fabric, which I made into a quilt. The quilt was the inspiration for the rest of the room which I think turned out pretty darn cute.





I'm especially proud of his bed.

because I built it and finished it all by myself.

I got the plans for Max's bed here. Ana does a great job of making things simple and do-able on her site. I can't wait to build something else.

THe trim around the ceiling was also kind of an adventure, I had a picture in my brain of what I wanted it to look like, but every time I tried to explian it to someone they loked at me like I was nuts. I also had a hard time finding the right shape to go on the trim. Finally I came upon something that worked... googly eyes.
They looked pretty strange before they were painted, but after a coat of silver paint and they turned out perfect.

Blessings from Heaven

Today as we left for the last day of preschool Mason was thrilled to see a layer of snow covering the ground, yep you heard me SNOW. I however commented on how I wasn't as happy to see the snow because I wanted it to be spring. Mason said in his most serious voice, "Mom, Heavenly Father always knows what's best for us." I laughed a little at being put in my place by my five year old and had to agree, "you are right buddy," and then I said a quiet little prayer thanking the Lord for the sweet and smart little boy I have been blessed with, and if you could melt that snow by this afternoon that would be ok with me too.

Two stories about perception.

Last night Max came from the pet store where he had gone with Shane and Mason and told me with excitement about the Nemo fish that he had seen that was the same color as his hair. His language skills are growing so quickly its so fun.

This morning Mason recited to me the story of Little Miss Muffet who sat on her tuffet, eat her courage and waves...

Poor Baby

So I used to say that I was a terrible insomniac, but I've just decided that I just don't need that much sleep, so once again its 5 am and I am updating the blog. Yeah! for you.

So this morning I am thinking of poor Max. Last night I was feeling so good about myself... Dinner was on schedule and cooking, the house was almost clean, laundry from the day was folded, and I was gathering my stuff for the mutual activity that was in an hour and a half. I thought I was so together, which is a feeling I love although I admit I feel its opposite more often than not. So I am feeling great and what happens Max climbs into my lap and says "need a lub" (which means "I need a love/hug" to those of you that don't speak Max). Now those of you that know Max well know that this is unusual for him and my mommy sense was piqued slightly, but I think that my general feeling of togetherness had lulled me into a false sense of security because I was not wholly prepared when thirty seconds later the poor child stood up and puked all over himself and the surrounding area. Poor baby! and poor mama, suddenly that feeling of togetherness went right out the window as I spent the next hour alternately cleaning up vomit and comforting its sad originator, and I was reminded that I think the key to happiness in life in general, but especially in motherhood is planning, preparation, and when despite those two things everything goes South flexibility. Oh yeah and it helps to have a supportive husband who doesn't mind stepping in to play vomit catcher while you head off for the night to complete your commitment to the young women.

Max is usually so busy, it feels strange when he acts so tired and snugly. Although I would never wish away any extra snuggle time I can get with Max. The other day around three o'clock he stood still long enough for this to happen.



Mason and I hardly knew what to do with ourselves being in a house without Max noises.

"Basket head!"

That's what Maxwell shouts every time I get out this laundry basket. (Well if we're being honest he really yells "basset head!") Then he promptly claims it as his own and spends the next hour like this.

Luckily he has a brother that will play right along.

Sledding

Ok what happens when Nicole wakes up at 3:30 am and can't go back to sleep, well the blog gets updated...aren't you lucky?

So over Christmas break Shane stayed home for a week, the kids and I were in heaven. We had a great time doing a good deal of family stuff. One of my favorite days was the day we went sledding. Winter is so long here in Idaho and sometime the kids get so tired of being inside so one day we took them sledding. It was a great adventure, and I got to try out my new lens, and can say that I am in love with the extra zoom power.

This is us arriving at the park, when Mason was a baby my mom gave him the title of "the Little Rajah" which we all used affectionately to describe his universal acceptance of the idea that the world revolved around him and we existed simply to serve his needs. Max has never held the same belief, since he came into a world with sibling competition built right in, but occasionally he gets to be the Little Rajah too. This day he was particularly enjoying being towed around the park on his sled.


Then I watched from the bottom of the hill with trepidation as Shane pushed Max down the very tall hill. Max on the other hand was thrilled.




How could anyone resist a face like this?

Mason went down the hill several times too, and I really have to hand it to Shane because after each slide down the hill, he walked down and collected the sled, and the child involved and headed back up the hill. Honestly I got a good deal being put on picture detail.



Two thumbs up!

But I didn't want to miss out on all the fun so I took a turn climbing the hill with the kids, although I don't think Max enjoyed having me be the head of the entourage since about eight feet from the top of the hill I lost traction and started sliding down.

I eventually had to resort to crawling the last few feet and I only made it to the top when Max got off the sled.

Max was a little put out at being abandoned a few feet from his goal and eventually started sliding back down the hill on his seat.



So I decided to let Shane resume his duties as Sherpa and the fun resumed until Max suffered the first crash of the day.


He was pretty upset by it, until Shane and he worked it out with a promised trip to the playground.




Which involved some snowballs and diabolical plotting against mom.

I might have been caught unaware except that the entire time Max was walking toward me he had this mischievous grin on his face, and was repeating, "Get mom, get mom."

And of course I let him get me, because like I said, really, who can resist this face?