Olympian

Introducing Adam Brown, the newest competitor in the Biathalon competition. He's trying out some new technology - a new type of ski that's similar to a hot wheels track and fastened with velcro. We hear it will be very fast. He also opted to use a clone trooper blaster instead of the standard rifle that most competitors will be using. We wish him the best of luck and a shiny gold medal!!

Master Swimmer

You're looking at the face of a child who just tested out of Level 3 and is now a Level 4 swimmer! Congratulations Adam!!

Unloading the Dishwasher

When I tell people that Alexander "gets into everything", I sometimes wonder if anyone really knows what I mean.... well, here's today's proof. He decided he'd empty the dishwasher for me and went ahead and pulled out the rack and unhooked the silverware basket. He then proceeded to parade around the house singing and dancing. Oh Joy!

Happy Birthday Delaney

Happy 5th Birthday.

This was Alexanders first time in a swimming pool. A friend let us use this cute little floatie. Alex loved it and glided around on the water for almost an hour!

Road Trip

This weekend Tim went out of town for his annual Festivus gathering with his friends and my niece, Delaney, had her 5th birthday party and dance recital in Kansas City. Without hesitation, I decided to throw the kids in the car and head south for the weekend. Grandma and Grandpa graciously agreed to help out while we were there and we stayed in the hotel room right next door. What could possibly go wrong?

Problem: Snow storm arrives the morning we are scheduled to leave.

Solution: After a few emails and phone calls from people asking us to reconsider, we left anyway. The roads were actually pretty good.

Problem: Screaming baby in the seat behind me.

Solution: Turn the radio up and pull over to pour more milk from the cooler. Ahhh, crisis averted.

Problem: During dinner at a KC barbeque, baby knocks over giant glass of Diet Coke onto 5 year old brother. Brother screams and complains about wet pants for the duration of the meal.

Solution: Plain, old-fashioned bribery. Yes, if you stop crying you can have a brownie. Yes, you can watch whatever movie you want when we get back to the hotel. Yes, I will buy you a new Transformer. Tears suddenly faded and I still have a giant, uneaten brownie that came home with us.

Problem: Baby swings head backwards and hits me square in the nose. Bloody nose.

Solution: Leave the room while trying not to lose it completely. Tylenol and large glass of wine after kids bedtime.

Problem: 5 year old doesn't want to sleep in big bed by himself.

Solution: I slept on the pull out sofa with him, leaving baby sleeping alone in a crib in the nice bedroom - next to the nice fluffy bed that never got slept in. Back hurts from sofa bed.

Problem: On the way to the dance recital, giant pick-up truck drives into the back of our van while we are at cash machine. Tailgate was just replaced 2 weeks ago due to another accident.

Solution: Still working on this one.

Problem: 5 year old who cannot control himself and is running around and yelling like a wild person after sitting for 2 hours at a dance recital.

Solution: Pull my hair out.... (this actually doesn't work, but I dont really have any other solution).

Problem: 5 year old wants to be more comfy on the way home so I explain to him how to recline his seat back. He is appreciative and very "comfy". Falls asleep right away. After we got home, realized his seatbelt was unhooked and booster seat was on the floor of the car.

Solution: Thank God that we didn't get in a car accident and hope that if you are reading this, you dont work for any sort of law enforcement agency.

All in all, it was a fun trip and I am glad we went. Delaney did such a nice job at her dance recital - which was put on by a dance group of mainly chinese little girls celebrating the Chinese new year. So cute. The drive home was actually very relaxing after the kids went to sleep. I cracked open a Diet Coke, ate some Oreos and rocked out to whatever classic rock station happened to come in on the radio. We'll be happy to have Tim home tomorrow!