We're so lucky!

The other day we were all together somewhere and someone commented on all of our boys. When we got in the car Blue Tiger said, "I think our family is the luckiest family in the world."
I asked him why he thought that.
"There are three reasons. Because we have all boys in our family, because we are Christians, and because we get to stand in a different place in the carpool line at school." (This is because often I am being pulled to the side of the carpool lane to have parent/teacher conferences on a regular basis. I didn't realize it was a cool thing for the boys.)
Then last night he told me. "We have so many blessings, we don't have any more room to receive them."
YEA Blue Tiger. I am grateful that I am lucky enough to have you as my son.

The Moon

EZ has been studying the moon in science class. We have been keeping a record of what the moon looks like (at least on the days/nights that we can see it). I always have to look up in his notes or ask the older boys which way is waxing and which is waning. I told them yesterday that I just needed a song or something that would help me to remember. So Star and Blue Tiger came up with one for me.
(It's to the tune of Jingle Bells.)
Waxing's on the right, waning's on the left,
These are phases of the moon you'd better not forget.
Oh moon phases, moon phases,
they are really great.
Oh what fun it is to learn how the sun affects us....
(or something like that.)
The funny part is...it really did help. I can remember now that waxing is on the right and waning is on the left. Too funny.

Raingutter Regatta

Last Tuesday night was Blue Tiger's first Raingutter Regatta. He made such a great boat. Unfortunately, it only won two of the four times down the gutter. Anyone who knows our Tiger, knows how he handled this....poorly. He is such a perfectionist. Losing is just not something he does well. He is getting better and we are constantly working on calming techniques, but in the mean time...
Oh well. It was his first time AND he did have the best LOOKING boat. He and Dad made it a pirate ship with cannons and everything. It was fun.
Maybe next year Tiger!

Blue Tiger is Brilliant

Okay, today Puppy comes crying and running to me and says. "Mom I don't want to be touched!" Blue Tiger was chasing him so I asked him to come sit down and talk to me. I asked him why he was so insistent that he touch Puppy. He told me he was sure Puppy was lying to him and he could prove it. So, I asked the logical question. "How can you prove it by touching him?"

He went on to explain to me that there is a spot on your neck where you can feel your heartbeat and he came up with the idea that if you could ask the person a question while touching that spot you could see if their heart beat faster when they answered the question. And if it did, they were lying.

Okay I sat there with my mouth to the floor for what felt like a very long time and then asked where he had heard this. "I just thought of it." My mouth was still on the floor.

That's when I told him about lie detectors and praised him repeatedly for being so brilliant. He told me I could stop talking about him now and asked if he could play Pokemon.

Book of Mormon Trip

My hubby and three older boys have been gone for just over two weeks. Trust me, it has felt like a lot longer! They will get home late tonight.
We told our boys that when they finish a book of scripture we will take them to the part of the world where that book was written. Within the last year Star, Spike, and Blue Tiger have all finished the Book of Mormon. So, that is where they have been. Mostly in Guatemala and Mexico. There are more areas to see, but we decided to go with a tour and this seemed like the most comprehensive. Dad told me that he has been super pleased with the tour and has been really grateful that we chose the one we did.
The boys have had a great time.
The little boys have missed their big brothers and Dad terribly. But we've had some fun while they've been gone. I understand they have a few thousand pictures. I am sure Spike took the most. We will sort them out and be posting more. And I am going to have the boys update their blogs with thoughts about their trips. So, check in for further details later.

Martial Arts

My Blue Tiger asked a couple of months ago if he could start a martial arts class. My hubby and I thought about it and the more my hubby thought, the more he liked the idea....for himself too. So, for the last few weeks they have been going to classes together. The most surprising part of all of this is how much Tiger likes it. Don't get me wrong, I thought he would like it, but he is very hard on himself if he isn't perfect when he does something. So especially when he starts something he usually gets very frustrated and really has a hard time until he learns to do it perfectly. But that hasn't happened. Each time he goes he comes home so happy and enthusiastic. We have watched his confidence grow and have loved watching him grow in a new area. YEA! I am so happy for my Blue Tiger.

A rare and wonderful opportunity.

Today I was at one of the schools that my boys attend for a bunch of meetings. As it was, each time there was a recess in the meeting I got to go outside and watch the kids at their recess. And each time I got to watch one of my boys.

It was so interesting and wonderful to be a "fly on the wall" and not have them be aware of me and yet watch them as they played.

I loved watching EZ as he played around other kids, always in the middle of things.

I loved watching Blue Tiger as he paced back and forth, obviously creating stories in his head. It was even better when a friend approached him and they paced and created together, adding animation to the stories. And I loved watching Spike as he went to a secluded spot (that I think is off limits) and walk and think. It was an interesting activity for me to do, one I totally enjoyed!

Pinewood Derby

YEA! It's over again for a year. I think it is the fact that it's kind of a family legacy on my side, but the Pinewood derby is a major source of stress for me (and therefore for my family). In my growing up years I can remember weeks and months that my brothers would spend on their cars. The planning, the carving, the sanding, the painting and the hours spent in my Dad's office working on the perfect car. Every year one of my brothers won first place. It made for some good competition, but that only made my family work harder. Although we don't get quite as into it as in my growing up years, I still stress about it. At one point I was having dreams about my husband having to leave and that would leave only me here to help the boys finish their cars. My subcouncious was even stressed. And even though we didn't take weeks and months, my boys came through (with the help of Dad) and won first and second place. The legacy continues....
Spike won first place and Blue Tiger won second.

Another room down! Whahoo!

Being that today was a break from school I took advantage of the fact that I had my boys home and started off first thing this morning with Star and Blue Tiger. ORGANIZING! We cleaned their room thoroughly and vacuumed and everything. And just when they thought they were done I told them that was just the PRE-cleaning.
We took everything out of drawers and closets. Cleaned out under beds and dressers, and on top of shelves and dressers. Totally organized games, books, nick knacks and then vacuumed again. Star told me that his room totally feels empty. Well it should! We took a whole bag of junk to the garbage and two bags of clothes, shoes, and stuff to give away out of there. We were finished in the early afternoon so they could go and spend some time outside in the (desperately needed) beautiful day we had today. YEA!