Mud Brothers

See these two?  I love them.  I love them so, so much.  They make me laugh and fill my life with so much joy and wonder.  I absolutely adore them.

Considering that, I think it's amazing how often I feel like strangling them.

I don't though.  Let's just get that clear, right off the bat.

Ben and Sam displaying their tools of destruction

These pictures are to show what happens when we leave the boys alone for too long.  Like say, fifteen minutes.  Zach and I had been dozing on the couch, thinking the boys were happily playing with blocks in the backyard, when I sat up to stretch and saw this.  

Sam

(See those bins of leaves?  I had just swept up the back porch and it was quite tidy.  Of course.)

They had emptied a pot full of soil onto the ground and mixed it with some rainwater to create a mud puddle. Then they threw the mud onto the fence.  They say it was the fire guys who were doing it and they were throwing fire.  They are nothing if not creative.  

Ben's funny face

I guess I really shouldn't be surprised by all this anymore.  

Sam's funny face

And I should just always have a bath ready and waiting.

He just felt like running...

Zach is a running fool these days.  He runs a lot.  And he is forever looking at shoes and runner's world and talking with other running fools about running.  It's officially an obsession.  But he's getting into really great shape, so I'm not complaining.  Too much.  

He's working up to a marathon slowly and is probably going to do one later this year.  Last Saturday he ran his first Pikermi, so he is officially half way there.  He was pretty nervous that morning, kinda jittery like, even though, I think, he's already run this distance before.  But, then again, this was up in the mountains in rainy, muddy conditions.  But I've heard that "pre-race jitters" are pretty common.  

Zach, running in a field to get warmed up before the race

(I would be sitting down, to avoid running as much as possible before the race)

We were hoping and planning on having a little BBQ and hiking some of the trails they have up there, but the weather wasn't great for it.  It had rained all night and then cleared up for long enough that the boys and I to eat donuts and find the playground in a mere drizzle. 

Sam and Ben in the rain

Ben in the Rain 

(That's his dog Chocolate, who doesn't like to get wet)

As we were playing on the playground in the light drizzle, and I was under and umbrella attempting to read a book, the real rain started up.  Of course, it only lasted long enough for us to get uncomfortably moist and into the car and then it stopped.  Ah.  So we just went back to the race finish and stood in the rain and waited for Zach to finish.  

Awful picture of Zach finishing

He reached his goal of 8 minute miles and had a finishing time of 1:45:07.  Which I think is pretty darn awesome.  He was, of course, completely soaked and the backs of his legs were covered in mud.  Sam said he didn't know it was him when he saw him.  And then we went home and had the BBQ in our backyard, so it was a pretty splendid day overall, I'd say.  

Sand, Sun, Surf, and Kites

A while ago (think President's Day) we decided that we needed to do something.  So, we bought a kite from Costco and went to the beach.  And we invited our pals Todd and Betty & Co. to come along.  And it's a good thing that we did, too.  Because not only did we enjoy their company and all, but I forgot our camera and shared their pictures with us.  Awesomeness.

We swung by the Happy Taco again, which still has good food and awesome agua de fresa and I still highly recommend.  And Betty gave it here stamp of approval as well, which I think is a good sign.

Zach and Sam getting the kite set up. 

(I'm in the background trying to calm Ben down because of his water fears)

We've been having some really amazing weather.  It seems that this has been the best "winter" weather since we've been here or maybe I'm just getting used to the very wet weather this time of year.  It has been raining a lot, but once it stops raining, the weather is sunny and warmish.  It's a pretty nice mix.

We went with a circle kite because I liked it, and because all the cooler ones were gone.  Ah, life.  In spite of the really beautiful sunshine, it really wasn't all that windy, so our kite didn't make it up too high or for too long.

Sam and Ben leave Zach to put the kite together by himself and start sandcastle building.

The Macks had a cool dragon kite which caught the wind better than our and looked really cool doing it.  But, either way, I really like these pictures of Zach and Sam below.  

Ben, who has a pretty intense fear of being dragged away by the waves, was being a bit of a handful and we decided to pack up and head to the top of the cliffs, where the wind was better.  Todd managed to get the kite up pretty well there, but I was so worried that the boys were going to run over the edge of the cliff, that I don't think I really savored the moment properly.  All the same, it was lots of fun.  And I didn't get sunburned.  Hurray!

more chit, but less chat

Ben likes to bite his fingernails. While they were watching a show Zach saw him biting his toe nails as well.
Zach: Ben, are you biting your toenails?
Ben: Ya, but it's okay, I spit them out.



Katie: We're about to eat lunch, why don't you go and wash your hands.
Sam: No, I wiped them off on your bed.

To our home teachers while they were here
Sam: You know that guy with the beard? He's Jesus. And he loves us. He made everyone.

We had drawn a snow scene on the window with markers (Thanks CJMMM!) and later Ben had smeared it all up.
Ben: Mom, look! It's Zombie Frostie! He only has one eye. He bites people! Ah!
(The boys are really weird)



Sam: I'm gonna tell you a funny joke...Why does the dragon not talk?
Katie: Why?
Sam: Because his mouth is full of people!

Fun Times

I'm trying to be more crafty and creative-like and with the boys. Otherwise it seems like all I'm doing all day is telling them to stop doing whatever it is they are doing and cleaning up horrible messes. This way, I'm kinda focusing their energy and cleaning up horrible craft-related messes. It's mostly an improvement.

So, one thing we did a little bit ago was make playdough by following this recipe, except using boiling water instead of boiling it on the stove. We probably should have halved the recipe, since we ended up using every last bit of salt in the house.

I use the term "we" very loosely, because even though I have very lofty ideals about kids helping in the kitchen, more often I'm ordering everyone out before I start hurling spatulas at them. But Ben and Sam did help by throwing some flour in the air and saying it was snowing. Really, very helpful.


Ben attempts to make a mountain out of a kitchen tool and green playdough


Sam, ice cream spade and big, goofy grin

We've used them several times, once outside which turned out good and bad, since the mess was there, but the boys also added some dirt bits to the blue. Oh, well.

They especially like making imprints with their faces, hands, and today, their bottoms. Creativity can't be reigned in by social propriety.

Fort

Ah, building elaborate blanket based forts with Daddy. This is what being a little boy is all about.

Who needs wisdom anyway?

So, a couple weekends ago I realized that I was in a bit of pain. The source? My left wisdom tooth. I've been trying to get these blasted things out since they first showed up on the x-rays. And not a single dentist wanted to. I was practically begging for them to be taken out while I was 1. very young and 2. on my parent's very good military insurance. Nothing doing. So here I am, not very young and most definitely not on my parent's insurance with a pain that I just can't seem to ignore, despite my best efforts. So, I found a oral surgeon and got the suckers out.

So, they put me under, took them out, and woke me up. I remember getting into the car, stopping by the store for Zach to get me soft foods, and getting into bed. I don't remember leaving the office or driving home or waiting in the car or the part where I quoted Jacob Marley's lines at length inspired by the ice bandage wrapped around my head. Zach says I was doing it word for word and went on for quite a while. Want to hear something interesting? I can't really do it now, I only know a couple of his lines. Apparently I can only remember Dickens when I am under the influence. Weird.

Anyway, it's been several days, and I'm still hurting. I'm pretty sure I have that dry socket thing. Which is annoying. He told me I was a good candidate for them (super) and to watch out, but I think I got them anyway. I'll know for sure at the follow up appointment. In the mean time, I'm just eating lots of yogurt and soup and being generally cranky. Especially when Zach, Ben and Sam are munching on a fresh, hot tub of popcorn. It's just not fair.