Hoop It Up

One more day and I will be headed to New Orleans to watch a little basketball.  This will be the first time I've been away from both kids for more than about 15 hours and those days are very few.  I'm excited but also a little nervous.  Who am I anymore without a kid hanging off each side?  On the rare occasion that I'm driving somewhere without them, I almost point stuff out to them the entire way or wish they were there because I just saw the coolest motorcycle, or the baby calves were close to the road, or there was a cloud shaped like a racecar, or the farmers are using a new peice of farm equipment.....the list goes on and on.  I'm very interested to see if my brain can actually turn off "Mom mode."  I know I will miss them, but I wonder if I'll wake up in the middle of the night because I heard one of them cry or have the sudden heart flutter panic attack for a second like when I turn back to my grocery cart and they aren't in it because it takes me a second to remember that they are actually not with me at the grocery store for once.  I just hope I don't instinctively try to wipe Kara's nose, tie Cam's shoes, or smooth Ty's rooster tail.  They are already going to be annoyed with my inability to keep up on the drinking front.  I don't think they'll be up for any of my motherly tendencies.   It's too bad UNC lost out because Cam and Ty were so looking forward to seeing them play, but these trips for us are about much more than basketball.  I think we're going to see a few GOOD games and have a GREAT time. 

The snow is gone, but the sled remains........

Maybe it can double as a boat?

What could we do with this last little bit of snow?

Make a snowball and move on....

Ryker checking out our Christmas tree from this year to see if it's grown any since we planted it.

Maybe we could use this sled for hauling branches to the burn pile?

Yes!  That's it and your Mom will much appreciate it!  Work kids work!

Potty time

Kya started trying out the toilet a few months ago.  She would go right when she woke up in the morning.  She's kind of over it now, but she understands.  I think she'll potty train faster than Ryker now that I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Nothing like a little flower for the hair to make you feel fresh and clean after your bath.

Scoot over, Frog and I are coming up and I'm NAKED!

Make room, I went back for George too!

Random January Pictures

Yay!  Dad is coming home for a couple days!

Ryker whipping up his first pizza's.

 

Kya supervising.  Hurry up Ryker before Kya eats all the toppings!

 

Snack time is just better outdoors....

"I must-ache you a question.  Is there something on my face?"  There were about 40 questions we must ache of each other this day.  Each question was followed by a fit of laughter from both kids.  Kya was mostly laughing from peeling hers off and sticking it back on, but someday she'll get our awesome jokes. And don't worry, we have plenty more mustaches to go through.  I want to get one on Ryker while he is sleeping so he wakes up with it, but the 2 times I've tried, he's almost woken up.  I may have to settle for Hippo or Eyeore.

This what you look like when you are drinking dirty bathwater Kya.  Stop doing it!

At least stop saying "ahhh" when you are finished, like it was the most refreshing drink of your life!

Kya loves herself some shoes!

Did you enjoy your breakfast this much this morning?

 

Ryker gave himself a spike and figured Seth needed one too.

I wish this picture was better, Seth had quite the late 80's "feathered" look going. 

A little rocket launching in the "clubhouse".

Donkey Basketball

A few days after the big snow storm, Donkey Basketball was on the schedule.  Ryker had already had a long exhasting Saturday full of lots of activity but he didn't want to cancel our outing.  It didn't start until 7:30 and he convinced me that he would close his eyes and take a nap on the way there.  He knows it is a 30 minute drive.  I figured waking him up might be rough, but we left Seth and Kya and headed out.  He asked me a few questions and asked me to turn his music on and stop talking because he needed to get started napping if he was going to get enough rest.  I know that sounds weird, but he will promise to take naps in the car as long as we stay on the go and he doesn't have to miss anything.  We rolled up to the gym about 10 minutes early and there were only a couple of cars in the parking lot and no donkey's or horse trailer in sight.  I quickly checked my tickets to see that I had the date, time and place correct and I did.  I was getting a little panicked because he was not going to be a happy camper.  He had been looking forward to this for weeks and he was going to be a little tired and cranky when he woke up.  I checked all the doors for a sign, then called the Eagles since they were sponsoring it.  Sure enough, they had postponed it for a couple weeks.  I'm not quite sure how they expected ticket holders to know that.  There was no notice in the paper or signs around town, so I guess if you don't frequent the Eagles, you were SOL.  Probably not a big deal for most people that live in town and didn't just drive 30 miles with a kid that might possibly turn into Varuca Salt when he woke up in a car headed in the opposite direction as Donkey Basketball, but for me, this was not good.  I quickly gathered my witts and went into damage control mode.  I drove to the Red Box and rented him a cartoon and we headed home.  Luckily he didn't wake up until I pulled into the grocery store a couple minutes from our house and woke him up.  I told him the bad news and asked him if he wanted to go in and pick out a treat.  I normally don't bribe him, but this wasn't just about Donkey Basketball.  He'd been looking forward to going to this "big kid" stuff with just him and I for weeks.  We went in to look around and what to my wondering eyes did appear?  Magic Shell!  I explained to him what it was and of course, he was in.  When we got home, Kya was in bed.  I got Ryker some ice cream and let him put the shell on.  Then I started getting mine.  I hadn't been eating any crap so Seth gave me a surprised look.  I explained that I was pretty disappointed too:)  He hadn't been eating anything unhealthy either, but apparently Magic Shell broke him.  Who knew a little Magic Shell could save the day?!  Lucky for us, it has a shelf life of about 6.2 years even once it is opened so we'll have it for the next crisis.

What donkeys?  That frown turned upside down with one bite!

Donkey Basketball: Take Two

This time, they showed up and Liz and Colton were able to join us so it worked out even better.  Seth was out crabbing so we ditched Kya with Grandma and Grandpa (sorry Kya) and met our crew at the Pizza Factory for a little pre-game carb up.

Favorite part of the game?  Any guesses?  Come on, anyone? 

Unfortunately, only one donkey forgot to use the restroom before the game, but that was enough to make it Ryker's most talked about highlight.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention Ryker's cowboy boots with his cargo pants.  We couldn't find his one pair of jeans (his quads are so big, jeans don't fit him), but he was set on wearing his boots.  First, they are the coolest, but most importantly he got them from Jake and he's a big kid!  If anyone ever tells Ryker that hand me downs are not cool, I will leave a rotting humpy in a crevis of their house that they will never find.  This kid thinks that used stuff is the only way to go.  Who wants something new, when you could get something that was so cool that the only reason the big kid that came before you gave it up was because they outgrew it?

So as far as the game itself?  I have not seen a more unathletic group of men in a long time.  Ryker kept yelling "whoa, what a terrible shot" and laughing.  To be fair, there was 2 or 3 that appeared to have touched a ball before and I know they were on donkey's (the ones that could get on), but wow.  There were also quite a few wardrobe malfunctions involving a pot belly, an undersized shirt, and numerous pairs of oversized jeans.  Hanging off the side of a bareback donkey is not the best look when your jeans are saggin'.



February Yard Work

Our yard is a complete mess from all the construction traffic, not to mention the neglect by me from being pregnant or packing a baby for the last four years.  We had a few gorgeous February days where we were able to get out and drag some branches to the burn pile and rake some leaves. 

Ryker likes it when the clothes dryer is going so he can warm his hands now and then.

Urrrgh.....

Can I get a hand over here?  This thing is not budging.

You get the sticks Kya, I'll take care of the heavy equipment.

After a hard days work: popcorn, a movie, and a nap while Mom cleans the house.

Try to keep that popcorn on Dad's side kids.

BIG snow

If you are reading this from Montana, please ignore the title.  I haven't gone crazy, I realize that this is just a skiff for you, but for us in Washington, it was HUGE and we made the most of it. 

It stuck around for about 5 days at our house, but most places there wasn't a trace left after 3. 

Ryker was most excited about peeing in the snow this first day when there was just a little.

They also enjoyed throwing snowballs to Cosmos.  Ryker was reminiscing about what a great snowball catcher Chacon was and how much higher he jumped that Cosmos.  Yes, Chacon was a heck of an athletic dog and I missed him in that moment too, but in Cosmos' defense, he is 11, it was a little chilly for him, his winter coat was weighing him down, and he, like the rest of us older folk, knows it just isn't worth it to slip jumping to catch a snowball anymore. 

If I were Kya, I would be real sick of all the gates and railroad crossings always popping up in front of me.  Plus, she's always required to give him some kind of payment to get though.  Who ever heard of having to fork over a ticket to get through a railroad crossing.  I'm giving it another 6 months before she just starts barrelling through this kid's blockades.

Then after she got through, he grabbed the handle of the trike, put her in a wheelie, and drove her around where he thought she should go.  She was laughing until she realized she wasn't in control of turning, then she wanted him to put her down.  Apparently, he was taking the wrong route!

Ryker made snow angels for himself, Kya, and I then tried to coax Cosmos into making a dog angel.  Cosmos just walked through Ryker's instead.  He did sit down later and Ryker called it good.  His tail brushed a little snow, so Ryker assumed that was the intent.

Once we came inside, we sat in my room on the bed and watched the snow fall.

Day 2: Now we're talking!  We got dumped on!  We still didn't have a sled but this tote did the trick.  Ryker started the day by looking out his window and yelling "Oh yes, more snow!"  Then he suddenly became concerned and asked, "Where are my pee holes?  I made pee holes right there by Dad's truck."  I explained that they were covered by the new snow, but don't worry, after breakfast he headed out and promptly got started on some new ones. 

We put this ramp in clearly for accessibility reasons, but it has proven useful for so many things like riding bikes down it (even though it is difficult to navigate the turns and they often end up crashing), pulling sleds down, and from a utilitarian standpoint, I haul stuff on it all the time.  I don't think our treadmill would have gotten in the house without that thing.  I can't imagine life without it now.  I didn't think I could get so excited about a ramp, but I love it!

Yep, went to town and got ourselves our first Washington sled.....yee haw!

Had to manufacture our own sledding hill........

Now they're getting serious!

Day 3:  We woke up to this and our power was out.  I figured since my alarm didn't go off and I was already going to be late, plus I couldn't shower without power because we're on a wel,l I should just call it a snow day and start my work week with 8 hours of VACATION!  I called work and told them I wouldn't be in, but then I started feeling bad because I really hadn't tried that hard and since when did the lack of a shower stop me from going anywhere?  I'd had enough fun on the weekend and figured I should be a responsible adult so I got ready and headed out the door only an hour behind schedule.  What happened next was fate I tell you.  I have never been unable to get to work because of snow, but there I was stuck in the snow!  I had backed up and when I went to go forward the snow was so sticky and a mound build under my car as it went forward.  Pretty soon I was high centered.  I put some cardboard under my tires and Seth tried pushing me.  We would have had to shovel my whole driveway (100ft) and dig the car out and who knows, I might have gotten stuck on the regular road.  Seth was ready to dig the car out, since it was now blocking the truck in and I was going to take the truck, but I figured I'd given it my best and I could call it a snow day now.  I didn't really want to leave him with 2 kids, no power, and no vehicle.  As hard as it was to admit that I was actually stuck, by the time we dug my car out I would have missed a half day of work anyway and that would have been a lot of digging when the smart thing to do would be to wait until the afternoon and it would probably melt on it's own.  So my snow day had officially began.  I skipped back inside, put on my snow gear, and we headed out for some more fun.

Ryker eating snow.

Kya getting a little worried about the depth.  Cosmos wasn't making a very good trail for her to follow.

Ryker and I searched the neighborhood for some good sledding hills while Kya napped.  All we could find were a few septic mounds.  He liked being pulled around and even pulled me for about 6 inches, with me pushing with my hands of course.  We ran across this big snowman out by the road.  Excellent work neighbor kids!

With the power out, we had an excuse to use our fireplace for the first time since the construction phase.

Day 4 & 5:  I had to go to work (insert groan here) so I only have this one picture of Ryker pushing Kya up the ramp when I got home.  And yes, I did get my car stuck a second time.  I like to drive in the deep stuff and still believe I am invincible with only front wheel drive.  I'm smart enough not to try it in rear wheel, but front wheel should get me anywhere, right?!