Hangin' with Mr. C-dawg

Every now and then life takes on the surreal quality of feeling like a movie.  C has been looking for the three-hole punch all day. I haven't paid much attention because he likes to punch holes in papers. He finally located the punch a few minutes ago and ran off to his room.  I again didn't pay much attention-- mostly because I wanted him to leave so I could eat my cookie dough in peace without having to share!
Not even two paragraphs later (I was also trying to read a book) he comes trotting back, blanket in one hand, hole punch in the other.
"Mom, can you help me punch a hole in my blanket?"
**cue laugh track**
Honestly, I could not stop laughing at the absurdity of his request and the fact that he was in earnest. Earlier in the day he asked me to put buttons on his blanket. I can only assume this was his attempt to get the process started.
I tried to explain between giggles that the hole punch wasn't for blankets.  Undaunted he replied, "Okay. I'll try my train blankie then!" and ran off.
I tried to return to my cookie dough and book only to be interrupted 3 paragraphs later.
"Mom, can you help me?"
I looked up and sure enough. There is a train blankie dangling from the three-hole punch.
Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a '90's sitcom.

I was able to rescue the blanket from the hole punch. Luckily it sustained minimal damage. And this time made sure C really understood that hole punches are for paper, not fabric. Now he's busy pre-punching all my printer paper. Thanks kid, that helps.

The mischief this face can do!

Facebook Updates

March 25, 2016; 8:21 a.m.
Maybe the cutest thing all day and I didn't have my camera. I dropped the girls off for school and watched their little backpacks bounce away side by side. Be gentle girls-you're carrying my heart with you.

March 17, 2016; 9:10 a.m.
Taken roughly 2 minutes apart:

March 17, 2016; 1:15 a.m.

1:15 and I'm still up.  Thank you C.

March 14, 2016; 9:28 p.m.

D got into the iTech program in our school district! It is a STEM program that he's been wanting for middle and high school. He starts next year as a 6th grader.

             ** A note about this post.  D may not show much outward excitement about it but here's how it went down.  We opened the email saying he'd gotten into the program but we needed to accept the invitation at the following link.  We clicked on the link and before I could get a word out or have my dramatic mom-ment (ie "Are you sure this is what you want? Do you need to think about it? etc.), D had clicked the accept button and it was a done deal. **

March 9, 2016; 9:27 a.m.

There's nothing like feeling good because you're 10 minutes early only to find out you're actually 15 minutes late.

       ** Best comment: Mary-Ellen P.  "I got to an appt right on time in Gresham this morning...unfortunately the appt was for next week. I was supposed to be in Beaverton today. So...you're not doing all that bad!"  **

frown emoticon

Twins and Get Well Cards

Tonight C picked out his fire truck/ambulance/police car pajamas to wear because fire trucks/ambulance/police cars are his favorite everything. L has the same pajamas in his size so C decided L should wear his too.

Tonight for family home evening the kids wrote get well soon cards for several people in our ward who are either sick or in the hospital. My favorite card came from K. She wrote,
" Dear Sister B,
Sorry for you being sick so often. I hope you get better soon because you can't pass on yet. Also because you are a very sweat lady. Love,
K."
Luckily, she's a very good friend of the family and really loves K. She should get a good chuckle out of the card. They say laughter is the best medicine!

A wrote a card all by herself too. I was really proud of the effort she put into writing legibly and the thought into what she wrote.
"Dear Sister J,
I hope you feel better.  Our family is thinking about you and praying for you to get well.  Be strong and keep the commandments.  I liked coming to family home evening at the Pythian home.
Love,
A Pyatt"

And not to be left out, here's D's thoughtful contribution.
"Dear Mr. M,
Thank you for letting me visit your house on a monthly basis.  I hear you haven't been feeling well. I am a so sorry and give you my blessing.
Thank you again,
D Pyatt"

They each wrote their own letter with their own words and own hands.  I think it turned out pretty well.  Even better, they wanted to write the letters.  I was worried about time and suggested maybe we wait but they were excited to send cards to the sick members of our ward.  Makes this mama heart proud!

Biz-Town

I got to go on a field trip with D this week.  We went to Biz-Town which is a culmination of an economics unit the 5th graders have been working on.  They have been learning about how to be a grown-up.  They had jobs, which they applied and interviewed for.  They had paychecks which had to be deposited at the bank before they could to shopping.  They had to run their businesses and pay their operating costs.  There was a tv station and newspaper, a mayor and city attorney.  I helped in the Biz-mart electronic store.  There was a utility company and health clinic.  There was even a branch of the humane society where kids could adopt stuffed pets.  All of these businesses were run by students.

Welcome to Biz-Town!

Applying for auto insurance at Allstate.  This rewarded him with a small toy car he gave to C.

Busy at work in Biz-Town.

Meeting with a CEO about ordering a sign.

D was a sign designer at International Sign Company.  Only after we were home did he inform me that I could have ordered a sign for him to design!

Geez mom! I'm trying to work!

 I was pretty anxious about going because it was an all day event so I'd have to leave the baby for 6 hours.  It worked out just fine and I'm so glad I went.  Turns out I was ridiculously proud and giddy whenever D would walk by.  He just looked so handsome and professional in his suit doing his job. I tried to play it cool so I wouldn't embarrass him too much but I think I lost my coolness after the 70th picture I took.  He took it well though.  And seriously, I loved getting to see him be a young professional for a few hours.  He loved Biz-Town too.  He wants me to sign him up for summer camp so he can do it for a whole week!

Rike's back for a visit!

We went to the airport today to pick up Rike.  She was our exchange student from Germany who lived with us last year.  She is on spring break for 2 weeks and was able to come visit us for her break!

C was very excited.  He remembers Rike at least enough to talk about her still.  In fact earlier this week I sent her this message:

Yesterday J was over playing.  The boys were upstairs and C asked J if he wanted to see "My Rike".  He pointed to your picture and told J, "That's my Rike. She loves me." It was so sweet!

We got to the airport just at the right time as Rike came out of customs only 10 minutes after we got there.  C was excited when I said he could run to give Rike a hug and took off up the exit ramp toward Rike.  It was all fine until he ran right past her.  Apparently remember there's a Rike and recognizing his Rike are two different things!

Once he figured out which one was his Rike he was all over the hugs!  

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Waiting for dinner at St. Paddy's Party Pub

Rainbow fruit kabobs

Leprechaun visits always result in a mess of chocolate but no one complains about cleaning it up!

The leprechaun left a trail of gold and silver from the kids' bedrooms down to the table where he'd left breakfast and treats.

Happy Birthday Roy!

He hit the big 3-5.  This means we've been together for nearly 14 years.  He's made it through undergrad and law school.  He's worked in public service fields, handyman jobs, legal intern, legal associate until finally he's a partner at his law firm!!! We've bought 2 cars and a house.  He's served in nursery, Sunday school, scouts, Elder's Quorum, and now a Bishopric at church.  We've introduced 5 people into the world that weren't here before.
I know he'd say it's a good life even if every part is always sunshine and roses.  We love you, Roy/Daddy!