Amazing Race

My boy is turning 9 tomorrow. Hard to believe. I tried to take the easy road this year for his birthday party. I tried and tried to convince him to go bowling. It's so easy - you just show up, bowl, eat, sing and go home! Finally, he reluctantly agreed - YES! But the stars were not aligned - they were all booked because of a bowling tournament. Ethan saw his opportunity and BEGGED for an "Amazing Race" party. My guilt got the better of me. I caved. It was a lot of work, but well worth it in the end. The boys had a blast....one of the boys said, "I couldn't have had a better time." Makes it all worth it! Here are some of the things we did:

Finding a clue amongst the insulation:

Exploding pop cans with a BB gun (this was their favorite - no surprise!):Riding in the car:Finding a sku # at Walmart:
Finding and going down the school slide, blindfolded:

Ice blocking:

Ethan got really good at it and was hauling...he won the race:

Counting parking stalls at the church. This was NOT their favorite - I guess it wouldn't have been mine either. There were 230 stalls.

Hunting for buttons in the grass:

They had to match a shoe print with the correct shoe......then do 20 jumping jacks. It was so funny to watch them try this with size 12 mens shoes on!I forgot to take pictures of their treasure chest full of candy. Oops.

Then we quickly opened up presents:And cake and ice cream:

Happy Birthday, little man!

Secret Stash...

Went to get out a cookie sheet and found Kaden's secret stash he was probably hiding from Emmaline. I called him over to have a laugh with him, but he pushed me out of the way and quickly shut the drawer and ran off. Funny kid!

Drama Makes Me Laugh

We went to our ward ice skating party. Emma was so funny I practically peed my pants. The second we got on the ice she was in tears. I told her we would go around one time, that's it. I took us about 30 minutes....She kept saying, "Why do they have to make it so slippery???"





Then there was Kaden. I wasn't expecting much from him. He's only 2, right? He made it literally 2 feet. Didn't even attempt to go around the rink. Okay, that's much better! No more ice!Taylor and Ethan - all smiles!

What a Chore for a Chore Chart!

This project has been over 4 months in the making! I love it! Thanks to Holli for the picture/rock/magnet idea and Nichole for the vinyl lettering and helping brain storm the whole thing!!! I took a full length framed mirror, took it out and put in the galvanized steel. Made rock magnets and lettering and wah-lah! I love that it hangs over the door so I can move it if I want to.

Besides their normal stuff (hair, face, teeth, room, bed) they do 2 chores in the morning before school, one after dinner and one on Saturday. When they do it, they move it to the "done" section.

Here is their "bank". If everything gets done w/o me asking/bugging they earn 30 minutes of free time (tv, computer, playstation, v-smile). 5 30minute magnets can be turned in for $1. I still have extra chores they can do to earn money as well. I have $1 magnets that can be added to their bank.

I use to have a simple wheel chart, but have been wanting to add Kaden to the mix and add after-dinner chores. Nichole is a genius! YAY!

Long Live the Wolf...

Ethan completed his wolf several months ago, but with our ward being split we are just now getting back in to the swing of things. He also received a silver and gold arrow. Good job, E-dog, we know that was a lot of work (for the both of us!).

Day Off...

For our day off we decided to go to Chuck E Cheese. Why? Why do I go there? It's so gross and crowded and expensive. But of course the kids had a blast and we lasted 3 hours until Taylor's friend, McKenzie, passed out. Literally! It was a hot and stuffy in there so she turned green and passed out right in my arms. Made the trip exciting enough to blog about!!! Thanks, Kenze!

Can you tell what Emma and Kaden did until they ran out of tokens??

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a great Valentine's Day! Friday night Chris and I went to our favorite restaurant:Saturday started out at Ethan's basketball game. Be prepared to get your socks knocked off - but the boy was on fire! He scored 2, yes TWO baskets! He was SOOO excited, as were we! We now prefer to call him Ethan Michael Jordan Moody!

Then Holli and I went and made our toes look pretty!That night Holli and I hosted a dinner with 6 of our couple friends. We had a ball playing games and hanging out! Thanks for coming everyone!

Trevor and Melissa loving their food:Chris and Brent wondering what their wives have gotten them in to:Holli wanted everyone to take a picture with the pink heart:Lance and Jennifer:

Tim and Amber - the heart is barely showing...Some got a little creative: Trevor and MelissaMelanie and Jeremy:

Cute Pics...

Holli was nice enough to watch Emma and Kaden so I could go to Ethan's Vday party at school. She took some pictures while they were playing with their baby pet tortoise!

Night at the Museum

The school had Curriculum Night tonight. All the 5th graders dressed up like inventors. Taylor picked Samuel F.B. Morse.

So we are all in the gym talking before it starts. All of the sudden a bell rings, the kids run to their spots and it is dead quiet. No one says anything. The kids are standing in these weird positions and won't move or say anything. None of the parents knew what to do. It felt like it was silent for 5 minutes. Then we noticed that their name tags said, "SAY something". Taylor's said, "Say Morse Code". So when you say it, they come alive (just like Night at the Museum) and say their little spiel on their invention. It was so clever and the kids were simply amazing. Here are Taylor's Bestest Buds: Mikal (inventor of bubble gum), Taylor, McKenzie (Bill Gates), and Hannah (inventor of pop art).

Good job, girls! I just have to add this....our friend's boy was there as Brigham Young. I was so impressed that he had the courage to do that. He gave everyone a 3 minute missionary discussion. It was great!

Clifford Days

Emmaline was the lucky winner in her class to bring Clifford home this week. I remember when I was in Kindergarten I got to bring Curious George home. I'm sure I was just as excited as she was. Taylor had the same thing with "Duckie". Somehow we missed Ethan. We made some dog bone cookies for the class as we departed with him today...it only took me all morning!

Are All Kids This Weird?

Mom: Here's a snack, but don't eat too much before dinner.
Emmaline: Why, 'cause I'll get pregnant?

Kaden took his favorite plastic tiger with him to the store. If anyone knows Kaden, they know he only has a LOUD button. He is either loud, or really loud. He looks at the end of the tiger's tail and starts this conversation:
Kaden: Mom, is this poop? (the tip of the tail is black)
Me: No, that's just his tail.
K: Poop come out of tail?
M: No, poop comes out of his bum.
K: Tiger has a bumbum?
M: Yes! Everyone has a bumbum
K: Momma has a bumbum?
M: Yup
K: Momma's poop comes out of bumbum?
And on the conversation went as we shopped throughout the store. I'm sure we got some nice looks...

For Ethan's birthday party he wants to take his friends on a tour of Hanford's Nuclear Waste Site. Over bowling, swimming, or the bounce-house....

Improvement...

Here's proof that Ethan (#40) has touched the ball this season. Only people that saw him play last year would realize he has gotten better...

I make light of it, but we really are proud of him. His last game he actually tried for 3 baskets. They didn't go in, but at least he's trying! Good job, E!