Today was gorgeous out, so while Doug assembled the new lawn mower, the boys built a clubhouse with the box. Val went and got a marker and helped me write, “No dogs allowed.” Not to be outdone, Connor asked me to write, “People come in.”
At least they aren’t at the “No girls allowed” stage yet.
I have spent the last three days battling a staph infection and also painting the bathroom. It’s amazing how long it takes to do such a little room. I must say, though, I have finally figured out how to do the edges without making a big splotchy mess!
Ava is sitting on my lap as we speak. She is getting her incisors, so she has been very cuddly the last few days. Thank goodness I’ve had time to snuggle with my sweepee!
Tomorrow I’m going shopping and Sunday we are going to Grand Island to visit Dan, Anna, Isaac, Sophia and then to Wood River to see Greg, Trudi and Elizabeth.
Well, Happy Easter everyone! We had Easter on Monday this year because I had a two-day, intense BodyStep training in Omaha. I am quite sore, but also very proud of myself. Never in a million years did I think I would LIKE aerobics, much less want to teach it!
Val and Connor went outside this morning and hid eggs for each other. It was so cute watching them run around hiding and finding them. They ran in, freezing cold, because I had dressed them in shorts in anticipation of our 60 degree weather forecast today. Then I poked my head outside and it was still about 35 degrees! Poor things! But obviously it didn’t bother them too much!
Val will be starting soccer soon. I am excited to officially call myself a Soccer Mom. Ha ha. 
Doug’s big news is he bought a new lawnmower after 8 years of using our “ElCheapo” one from Menards. We’ve moved up to a Craftsman. Yay!
I REALLY TRY NOT TO BRAG OR GO ON AND ON WITH MUNDANE STORIES ABOUT MY CHILDREN. BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THEY DO THAT MAKE ME HAPPY TO BE ALIVE!
LAST WEEK, AFTER BATHS, WHEN THE KIDS WERE IN THAT HAPPY, SUDSY CLEAN MOOD, VAL AND CONNOR DUG OUT THEIR SPIDERMAN COSTUMES. NOT TO BE OUTDONE, AVA PADDED UP TO ME AND SAID, “MY PIDERMAN?” I HAD TO LAUGH AND TELL HER, “NO, SORRY SWEEPEE, YOU DON’T HAVE A SPIDERMAN COSTUME.” WELL, LITTLE MISS AVA GAVE ME THE EVIL-EYED LOOK SHE GAVE ME THE DAY SHE WAS BORN (I HAVE THE PICTURE TO PROVE IT) AND STOMPED AWAY.
A FEW MINUTES LATER, SHE REAPPEARED WITH VAL’S SPIDERMAN SWIMTRUNKS AND HELD THEM OUT FOR ME TO PULL ON HER. NOW LET’S REMEMBER… VAL IS 5 YEARS OLD AND A SIZE 8-10 ALREADY. SO, I PULLED THEM OVER HER JAMMIES, AND VOILA! AVA HAD HER “PIDERMAN” OUTFIT ON. THEY LOOKED LIKE PANTS. SEE PHOTO UNDER “LES ENFANTS” (kids) CATEGORY TO THE RIGHT.
THE SECOND STORY INVOLVES MY TWO SWEET BOYS. (THEY ARE NOT SWEET EVERYDAY, BUT THAT TERM IS PERFECT FOR THIS ANECDOTE.) I GOT HOME LATE FROM WORK ONE NIGHT LAST WEEK AND THEY SPRANG UP AT ME AS I OPENED THE DOOR. “LOOK MOM!” THEY YELLED. “FOLLOW THE TRAIL!” AND THERE IT WAS. A TRAIL. OF LEGOS. LEADING DOWN THE STEPS TO THE BASEMENT.
VAL HAD WRITTEN OUT ON CONSTRUCTION PAPER, “MOM, GO TIS WA” (MOM GO THIS WAY) WITH AN ARROW. SO, I FOLLOWED THE LEGOS AS THEY SNAKED AROUND THE STEPS AND DOWN THROUGH THE FAMILY ROOM. AT THE END OF THE TRAIL, VAL AND CONNOR HAD TAPED UP OUR NAMES ON THE CHAIRS/COUCHES WHERE WE USUALLY SIT. IT WAS SO CUTE! THESE ARE THE IMAGES I IMBED IN MY HEAD FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS WHEN I AM PULLING MY GRAY HAIR OUT!
