High Phlegmancy Words

No, that's not a typo up there. High phlegmancy words.

I have been working with my middle child on these. Well at least that's what he calls them. High phlegmancy words. Or would it be flemancy words. We're not talking about the repsiratory system or mucus or even coughing anything up. Ewww gross. I remember my older brother doing that on purpose when he was a teenager though. Ewwwww gross.

Good grief, where is this post going? How many readers have I lost? Oh, do come back, I'll get to the point.

You know, high phlegmancy words. Words like the, and, a, is, in, it, you, if, it and so on. You know, the most commonly used words in the English language.

Well, we all call them high frequency words! Apparently I need to spend an increased amount of time with him on pronunciation as well!

*on a side note, my oldest took this picture of his brother. It's SOOC, I didn't touch it whatsoever. i thought that was pretty neat!

Winter Aerobics, Kid Style

This kid is here to show you how to get the ultimate winter workout. Your thighs will be burning. Your lungs will be begging you to stop. Here we go....

You'll need a trampoline and snow. Snow is really what gives you a burst on the aerobic activity.

It doesn't take much snow and you'll be feeling the burn in no time.

You need give it your all and try to jump as high as possible.

Even though you'll try to jump for the sky, you'll be lucky if you get even two inches off the trampoline. The snow is so heavy it will barely let you get any lift. Ahhhh, but your thighs and lungs will be feeling it!

The next time you have snow on a trampoline give it a try. Your thighs will hate you and your lungs won't know what hit them but think of the great exercise!

A new sport

Last winter Lineman was working in Durango, Colorado. Lots of snow, lots of mountains and a childhood memory of snowshoeing. He bought himself a new set of snowshoes and had a fun time last winter.

About a month ago I got a set for myself. Lineman went back to the store and got two more sets for each of the older boys. It was so much fun and let me tell you it is a workout! Our middle son went with his dad and had an absolute blast. Fun stuff I tell you!

Bringin' out the big guns for #5

The middle boy turned 5 and wanted to have a Laser Tag birthday party. Knowing this won't be possible once we move I really wanted him to have the chance to do this kind of a party. It worked out great.

Here he is with the Laser Tag outfit on.

One of the dads putting on a vest. I think the parents that tried it had a blast.... I know I did!!

The vests were a little big for the smaller kids but it still worked out okay.

Or some had the adult wear the vest with the child shooting. I tell you, it was fun being an adult in there!

The vest records the amount of times you have been hit by other players and how many people you hit. Afterward you get a printout telling you how you compared to the others in the group. It was in a dark room with black lights and blinds to hide behind. They had some cool music playing but it was really hot in there.

After Laser tag the kids had pizza and cake.

I have never seen this face before. He must really want that cake. Actually, he doesn't like people to sing Happy Birthday to him, so that is probably what this face is. I think I'll go sing to him again now.

He wanted a pinata also. Both the older boys have always wanted a pinata and I had never gotten one, until this party. I had the kids go in order from smallest to tallest. So of course I had to have Little Man give it a go first!

Who doesn't love whacking on a pinata. In fact, my birthday is coming up very quickly, can I have a pinata? Filled with Photoshop and lenses? I suppose whacking on lenses may not be the best thing, so how about chocolate, chocolate is always good in my book.

I think they all had a fun time, maybe for my birthday we'll go back and do some ice skating. That is, unless I boycott my birthday. Which is very possible.

From 4 to 5

What an amazing year it has been for my middle boy. Looking back throughout the year it's amazing how he has grown.... in many ways. In February we were just trying to burn off energy at gymnastics lessons. We learned that no matter how much energy he burned there was always an excess of energy.

By March they were playing in the coulee's. We learned that he can take a fall, get hurt and get right back as if nothing happened.

By April the snows had melted and the puddles were deep. We learned that even the smallest puddle would ALWAYS call his name. We were even more helpless with the big puddles.

By May we learned that he would do anything for a laugh. Even putting on his dad's glasses with a Cheetos mouth.

By June he was in the fields, picking flowers for Momma. I learned that even though he is very ornery, he is incredibly loving and kind and thoughtful.

By July we couldn't keep him in the house. We learned that he had a love for the animals and a love for motocross. We figured by the time winter rolled around he might come inside.

In August we watched him have a ball in vacation to the Black Hills. We already knew this kid would and did soak in as much fun as possible.

In September he made me very happy. He learned to put that ball in the back of the net like it was second nature. I knew then he took after his mom and I was thrilled.

By October he was getting bigger. I learned he was not so big that he couldn't still fit in a baby seat.

In November he was driving my golf cart. I learned that he found another sport he enjoyed. I also learned you should never let a 4 year old have complete control of a golf cart!

In December he showed a complete lack of fashion sense(please notice goggles and slippers as well). I learned that this boy that likes his hair done and likes to look "cool", also finds a way to look totally wacky.

We also learned in December that he really, really likes to cook. He made incredible cookies like he had been doing it for years.

Now we are in January again and his birthday is here. It's been such a wonderful year and I can't wait to see what another year of growth and learning will bring us.

Happy Birthday to a wonderful son!

Lineman in Training

Our middle punk is full of spunk. And energy. And go. And energy... you get the idea. This is one way he shows his true colors - that he is a B-O-Y.

Sometime last year I walked into the boys' bedroom and there was our boy... climbing this post in his bedroom. Ever since then he has said he's a Lineman and he's climbing a pole. Here is what it looks like....

First you put a pillow down, I guess that makes it easier in case you "burn a pole" Burning a pole is pretty self explanatory, it's when you are up on a pole and you lose your grip with your belt or your gaffs, the sharp metal points you gouge into the pole. Needless to say you go down the pole, in a hurry, and I've been told it hurts. A lot. Especially when you get to the bottom.

You get a good grip and then it's just a leg up at a time.

Once you get to the top you admire the climb you just accomplished.

Then you sit back and relax for a few moments.

And then you climb - or jump down and marvel at your accomplishment.

Isn't it amazing the things a boy can think up.

A Boy + Winter = Anything crazy and dangerous. That's the way it is at our house anyway. How about your house?

3 of 52

Alternate Title: I am a Dork

Of course I got myself into this predicament.... Might as well take care of it. Since some of you are "chanting" for the picture I guess I had better produce it.

I hated the idea of having the same son in back to back "52 weeks" pictures. While on the other hand I also liked the fact that I could get it out of the way since we are in a new week already.

So here it is....... I told you I'm a dork.

I can't believe I am about to show you this...

Alternate Title: I think I pulled a muscle.

Alternate Title: I lost my mind to show you this.

Phew, what have I gotten myself into?

For Christmas I got our second punk a great little book, "The Superhero Starter Kit". It is a great book and he is having fun with it. It came with a neat red cape, wrist guards, masks, and stickers to make your superhero logo on your shirt. He has been running, leaping, dodging and diving ever since he put the cape on.

I thought he might like more variety for masks so I made more masks out of felt. I also made more wrist guards. And I am such a good mom that I did all of that for his dog "Bolt" as well. He goes around the house, he and his super dog, saving any stuffed animal or brother that needs saved.

So when I was going to get a picture for one of my "52 Weeks" pictures I thought I would incorporate his superhero character. I made a mask for me and put on the best super hero outfit I could think of. I have pictures of us jumping in the air and looking tough. I think I pulled a muscle in there somewhere too. When I looked at the pictures I had taken I thought there was NO WAY I would EVER show that to ANYONE.

That's it. End of story.



But I said I would show it to you, so here is ONE of the pictures.


Wait, no, I can't.



Fine - here it is......

But I'm NOT showing you one of me jumping in the air. No Way!

I still can't believe I showed you this.

How to spend an afternoon

Lineman enjoys taking a Sunday afternoon nap once in awhile. When a boy will join him that's even better. It took only minor convincing for the middle boy to cuddle with Lineman. It didn't take long and they were both zonked out. I love how Lineman threw his hat over our boy, probably makes him feel just like his daddy.

I loaded up the Little Man with some Tylenol and he is finally napping. Last night was just horrible with him.

Our oldest boy is a reader so that's what he's doing. Awfully convenient he is reading my new book. Lineman asked what I wanted for Christmas and I told him I wanted a Baby Blues comic book. Of course after peace, love, an end of war and all the family time we could squeeze in. After that I wanted Baby Blues.

How lucky was I that I got two Baby Blues books. Woooo Hooooo lots of reading for me! My mom was laughing at me the other day. We were both in a recliner reading while the Little Man was napping. I was reading Baby Blues while she was reading a 12,158 page book that she had to bring in on a dolly. Well, it's a big book, let's just say that. She was trying to read but I guess I was making it a little hard on her. I would read and then bust out laughing. More silence followed by more laughter. More silence and yet more laughter. Then I would have to read the comic strip aloud so she would know why I was laughing so hard. Boy it's going to take her a long time to get through her book if she keeps reading next to me!

Heights Anyone?

Lineman sent me these pictures yesterday morning. There is something about watching a lineman climb a pole. It just seems so foreign. So unnatural. So unnerving. So frightening, yet so thrilling. Linemen are different than most people. They can be more than 100 feet in the air with up to 100 pounds of equipment and tools on their body all supported on a two inch piece of steel jabbed into the pole. Comforting? I don't think so. But this is their way of life, they become accustom to it. It becomes natural. Fear is taken away when the job must be completed... and completed safely. As my middle boy and I looked at the pictures that Lineman had e-mailed over to us, I noticed a look on our boys face. That look. It was unmistakable. It was a thrill in his eyes. He caught me looking at him and he grinned. That is when he said it for at least the hundredth time... "I want to be a lineman when I grow up, just like dad".

I believe him too. Later that day we were outside while I stained the fence. I look over and he had found a way to climb to the top of a shed out back.
He walked around up there for about 20 minutes.
Afraid of heights? I don't think so.
A thrill seeker? Probably.
Cut out to be a lineman? Definitely

Wrangler, the official soccer partner

I packed up all of my middle sons soccer gear so he could change in town for the evening game. When we arrived to the fields I told him to get his gear on in the back of the Suburban. I looked in the back where he was changing and he still didn't have his shorts on. I yelled something about hurrying up and to get his shorts on. Still no shorts, apparently the shorts were not included in the soccer bag. Poor kid, he must have some irresponsible parent that is unable to pack all of his soccer gear. Oh, that would be me. Uh, forget that last sentence then.

So he played in his Wranglers. Don't all great soccer players wear Wranglers? Yeah, I thought so!

Is it really that hard?

I am wondering... is it really that hard to just stand still, smile, and let someone take your picture? My two (too) cool nieces and my oldest boy are nice and ready for the picture. My middle boy? Pulling out all the funny business once again.
I thought with a "take two" on the picture we might get a good one. Nope, he is goofing off, still.
On to some individual pictures. All I want is just a quick photo to remember our time at Mt. Rushmore. Pretty easy I think. My cool niece shows us how it is done. Nice smile and we are done. Thank you. Next. Another awesome niece has no problem with the task. Stand in front of Mt. Rushmore, smile, and we are done. Thank you very much. Next.

My oldest son. I love this boy. He is always happy. Always ready to please. A quick smile, *click*, thank you oldest boy. I love you! Next.
Oh no. What do we have here? Just a smile is all I need and then we are done. Please. Just one smile?


I GIVE UP!