2 Brothers

Baby E Jack actually doesn't like this play mat at all, probably because he gets molested every time he's on it. He didn't seem to mind Booch all that much in this case, due to Mom's close proximity.

 

 

Home from the Cabin, Snow

One of the main points of the trip was to play in the snow, and thankfully, Flag got some. We took it easy in the morning, mostly because no one got a good sleep, then headed out about 1130, again stopping for lunch in Flag, this time at a Mediterranean wrap shop. We pulled into a park south of the airport that had sufficient snow, with the added bonus of being free. Yes, we looked like total Phoenicians up to play in the white stuff, but who cares.

MM and Owen LOVED it. They had been talking about a snowball fight all weekend, and now that the opportunity presented itself, they took it with full gusto. It was great to watch them and play myself. JoJo and Moose, not so much. JoJo cried a fair amount, walking off by herself for a while, and Moose whined a lot. In his defense, he got picked on a fair amount by Booch and I. MM got me real good with a snowball in my back pocket.

 

 

 

 
 

We made it home at a reasonable hour and immediately washed everything in nice hot water, including The Dog, which felt great.

To the Cabin, Bearizona

Since our weekend at the cabin was cancelled before, we took advantage of the MLK 3-dayer to try it again, although only for one night and without any friends or family, just the seven of us. We stopped for lunch in Flag, where The Dog stood watch in the Sequoia. After checking in at the cabin, we headed over to Bearizona to use our membership. It was cold and rainy, but the bears and wolves were out, which was neat. That place never disappoints. We made it to 5pm Mass, then home to take it easy before the fire and a gourmet chicken dinner from Safeway. It was a long day that involved a lot of chopping of wood and setting the kids up. Baby E also had a blow-out that necessitated a new outfit right before church. We hoped for snow in Williams, but alas, it was only really cold rain.

 

New Chickens

Bobbins got rid of two of our old chickens because they hadn't been laying eggs in a long time. Don't worry, they went to a old chicken farm (seriously), not the butcher's. It was a little sad for the two departing from their friends, whom they've lived with for over a year. She got two new ones from a kid from Prescott living in Phoenix playing basketball and selling birds for money. She will have to tell you the type. I just hope they start earning their keep sooner rather than later.

Helping Papa

We went downtown for a birthday party, and before the festivities started, Owen helped Papa with a little yard clean-up. Aunt Patty made a delicious dinner and one of the best cakes I've had in a long time: banana with cream cheese frosting.

3 Boys at the Park

 

All that swinging with his brother tuckered poor Baby E out. That's him asleep on the pink blanket. I'm sure Moose was yelling at O for some reason in the above pic's.

Boys and Their Thrones

What is This Thing You're Pointing at Me?

He's Ready for the Range

Restricted

Thanks to an old "friend" trolling this blog to cause trouble, we've had to restrict it to invited viewers only, with log-in's. I know it's a pain, but we need to protect ourselves. Maybe someday we'll be able to open it up again.

3 Boys Before Dinner

Cancelled Weekend

We were supposed to go up to the cabin this last wkend to play in the snow, with the Schaefers, but all four kids were sick. It started with Moosy on Thursday, vomiting everything out, then suffering from a fever. Booch and JoJo got it Friday, with JoJo bouncing back the fastest. It finally hit MM Saturday night. Thankfully Bobbins, baby Jack, and I avoided it, at least for now.

It was actually one of the hardest parenting moments we've had so far. By Saturday, I was ready to tap out and run away. The two boys couldn't control themselves and where they threw up and pee'd, requiring a ton of clean-up and laundry. And Moosy was waking up at 1:15am those morning, inconsolable, which meant little sleep.

We made it. And might still try to hit the cabin soon.

Mesquite Tree Removed

Last week Bobbins hired a dude to remove the mesquite tree on the west side of the house. She actually hired him to trim it, but I upgraded to removal. It was only another $100, and the thing was dangerous and a nuisance. It was too big, growing into the power line that feeds the street lamp, and at risk of blowing over and on to our house (or the neighbor's) in a storm. This guy and his buddy spent a few hours over a couple nights cutting and digging it out. I don't have a before pic, just these two after pic's. Booch loved watching them work (out his bedroom window) and was half tempted to go out there himself.