Growin' up, up, up...

This is Jake enjoying the Raingutter Regatta from Steve's shoulders. I just happened to catch the right little look from him. He is getting so big. I would normally hate that, but he is acutally getting cuter by the day!

The Catamaran King

The "Alley Cat" and the Alley cat!
Blow! Blow! Blow!

Yes, He actually is jumping!

The proud boy.

Tuesday night was our Cub Scout Pack Raingutter Regatta (or Raingatta, as we like to call it). Alex won first place! He was so thrilled and still is. He has to show his ribbon to everyone. After not winning one race in the Pinewood Derby (well maybe one) this is real excitement to an 8 yr old boy, and to one as simple and guileless as Alex, it is a true joy. Steve and Alex named it the "Alley Cat" which is one of Alex's nicknames and also the boat was a catamaran style. It was really a simple design (thank you internet) and was by far the fastest boat. Of course, one parent had to make some comment to Steve that the "unwritten" rule is that the boys not spend more than 5 minutes on their boat. But KUDOS to the boys. They were completely thrilled for Alex and just thought it was a cool boat. It was a good learning experience for Alex on how to be a good sport when you win. He had the "how to be a good sport when you lose" lesson already. I think he did great!

Don't try this at home...

..it might give you a ring around your head! (Disclaimer: no surgical gloves were harmed in the making of this blog. Oh sorry, one did get ripped.)

Lovin' Strawberry Shortcake

Our Family Home Evening this week was inspired by Aubrey telling me earlier in the day that Steve and I have round tummies and that we should have 'flat' tummies. (We think so too, its just not that easy to wish them flat at this age.) After a moment of guilt, anger, and embarassment I thought to myself, "Maybe she doesn't realize that being fat has a negative connotation but she is just stating a fact". The Chinese people used to say "You are fat" all the time but to the Chinese it is just like saying, "You have blonde hair", it is just a statement of fact. So I asked Aubrey if being skinny/fat was bad or good. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that my five year old is well versed in the doctrine of today's tabeloids. She is not even the little bit of Chinese that I would have wished. So after spewing off something about eating so that we are healthy and making sure that we are active, and well-after dropping her off, I was still stewing about it. A little later I came to the conclusion that this might be the opportunity to teach the children that it's not what is outside but what is inside that counts. And that goes for all types of appearances. I found the "Loving your Neighbor" lesson in the Family Home Evening manual and then was reminded of a song from a Strawberry Shortcake episode that we have recorded. The girls in the episode are playing dress-ups and put on the play "Strawberella". I will share the words of the final song. Perhaps you would like to use them. I think they are inspiring. It turned out to be a great lesson for our family.

You are not your clothes,
You are not your hair,
You are not the dress
that your mother made you wear.

Rich or even poor
I couldn't really care
You're simply beautiful you.

You could be a prince
with the finest clothes,
But it wouldn't make you any nicer...I suppose.

If you looked down on us
While turning up your nose
You would not be beautiful you.

It's not how much you sparkle,
That makes you like a star.
It's what's inside your heart,
That tell you who you are.

Clothes don't make the kid,
It's the other way around
This is what I've finally found
That it's not about the way you look
It's about the things you do,
That makes you beautiful you

I am not my clothes,
and I am not my crown.
And I am not my rags,
'Cause in my heart I wear a gown.

So let's go out and play
like we've never had a care,
About the things we think
we're supposed to wear

'Cause it's not the way you look,
It's the things you say and do
That make you beautiful,
That make you beautiful,
That make you beautiful..you!

Random Favorite Photos

Okay, I obviously update this blog in fits and starts. The past couple of days I have been updating but I have some pictures that don't really require their own blog...just more grandma bait..

Trumpet lessons

Steve dusted off his old trumpets and gave Alex and Hayden a lesson. Who knew that making a decent sound on a trumpet could be so difficult? Hayden was a natural. He instinctively knew how to hold it and made a good sound the first time he blew into it. More importantly, he loved it and kept asking to play it everyday until we finally just put them back into storage. I don't know if I'm ready for trumpet lessons yet.

Aubrey is 5!

I'm just going to come out and say it...I have "housewife hangover". Its that when-the-party-is-over-there-is-too-much-to-clean-up-and-no-one-left-to-party-with feeling that I have been having all day. We had a great long weekend with Steve home and lots of fun with Aubrey - spoiling her like crazy. She got a new bike on Monday so we had to have a family bike ride. Tuesday we took the family to the pool for a family swim/birthday party. Then we had crazy pink bunny cake for dessert. (Not one of my greater acheivements in cake making but it wasn't around long anyway) Happy birthday to our blessed little girl!