Sibling Love

I could label about 1,000 posts with the words "Sibling Rivalry." So, I thought I would post a couple photos of Sibling Love! Please note that these photos were on two separate occasions!

In the photo above, the kids had earned popsicles because they worked together to pick up! Then Will offered to read to Gabi! AAAWWW....

Granted, this photo was taken at a birthday party (for Grandpa Valet) at Pizza Ranch, and they are probably euphoric on twist ice cream and dessert pizza. But the photo was captured nonetheless.

These two have come a long way in their relationship, and I think it will only get better. This fall will be a hard test when Gabi is off to kindergarten. We just might capture more moments like this one! :)

A Christmas story

Brandon with a bunny at the tree farm~age 6.

So this morning Brandon came into the kitchen and said,
"Hey Dad, you wanna hear a song I learned?"
"Okay," says Dad.
"Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Joker laid an egg, the Batmobile lost a wheel and the Joker got away."
Dad said: "Yep, I know that song."
B: "How did you know that song?"
Dad: "I used to sing it when I was a kid."
B: "YOU had Christmas when you were little?"

That was the end of that conversation.

Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George, and Grandma Georginia

Here is how we found the children on Sunday morning!
It brought back some memories of good ol' Willy Wonka!

Floodwaters ~ Muscatine

Here are some pictures from the "River front" in Muscatine. The waters were higher than this in 93, but the river had not crested when we visited last week...

Just after we arrived, we watched a train go by, on the Rail Road tracks...not quite sure how that was going to work for him, but he made it.

The kids are excited to play in the street.

A fun little game...

...and Will wants to make sure he gets his turn too!

But remember...
just don't drink flood water...

you could end up like this:

Jam Session

So what do you do if your older brother and sister own a guitar, and you do not?
You con your super creative older brother into making you one.
We LOVE Duplos!

Here is Will and Brandon putting on a concert on a Friday night at our house!

Look at that mic and guitar!

Here is a new spin on "smashing the guitar"! Team work and it gets done quick!

YEP!
That's better...ready to JAM!

Will is on for his solo!

SOCCER

It has been compared to herding cats. Take a look at preschool soccer!

Gabi gives an elbow jab only when needed.

Nope:

Not Brandon ... another redhead.


Brandon stands guard!

"Brick Wall, stop the ball!"

Will and Isa are in soccer, as well. So our week is:
Monday & Tuesday: Soccer games, either back-to-back or at the same time
Wednesday: Gabi and Brandon practice @6
Isa practice @ 6:30
Thursday: Will practice @6:30
And ... some Saturday games, as well.

Don't forget to eat dinner before heading out and follow up with a nice shower for each of them...
Aaahhh nice weather!

$12.

Meet QUACKER:

Will has saved up his own money to be able to purchase this Fur Real duck.

We all kinda like him!

A kind of funny side note for this duck, went down like this:
Sweet mother tone:
"Brandon, could you check to make sure the foyer is picked up?"
Son who doesn't want to be bothered:
"Uh Bubba, (that is Will) I will pay you my money if you see if the foyer is clean!"
Brother who wants money:
"How much Brandon? I only need 2 more dollars to get my duck!"
Son who still does not want to be bothered:
"Uh, OKAY, sure, I will give you $2."

Mother in background with jaw hitting the floor....
"You are going to give him $2, to check to see if the foyer is CLEAN?????"

Boys in "unison":
"Sure mom, it's okay", "Yeah, he can pay me if he wants to!"

2 seconds later Will returns to Brandon to report in "Foyer is clean". Brandon pays will, then reports to me...I am not sure if I am proud or worried?

easter pictures...

The INFLUENZA B has left, and we are back into being human again!
That still does not explain WHY I still have my Christmas cards hanging in the window
(behind Will)...
*Note to self: Take down the Holiday cards....oh, and the Gingerbread Wreath on the basement door....that should be it!*

Look at the concentration!!!

They are so proud of their accomplishments!!

Easter morning brought out the best in our nutrition habits! Cadbury Eggs and Peeps for breakfast!

YUMMM!!!!
*Note to self: Trim Brandon's fingernails!*

On Saturday, we went to Grammy and Opa's with Uncle A, Aunt K and Mr. T....we got lots more candy and some really great FUN things ! We also had an Easter Egg Hunt in the lovely 30's...that we thought we were past!
On Sunday, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's with Uncle B, and soon to be Aunt J...and little Peanut! We ALL took nice long naps, slept like babies...it was so nice! OH! Wait, all the ADULTS - except Grandma-....oh, and my 4 children! That's right! I almost forgot!
Well that just means that I TRUST her enough, to LET her watch the children while I get some sleep. Isn't that thoughtful?? I am sure that she now feels special! :)

It helps to have some...

~Will (7) and Sassy (12)~
The whole point of this blog was to capture some of the daily happenings or goings-on, if you will, in our house. And a great way to keep our family and friends in tune with our kids, and their individual personalities!
So with that here is what was said this morning as I was trying to get a point across!
Will came up to me and said:
"Mom, I'm really not that good at juggling"

~GREAT CHANCE FOR ONE OF THOSE LIFE LESSONS/PREACHING....~

"Well, Will what is it going to take to get GOOD at doing something?"



"Balls!"
(he is referring to being good at juggling)

Right....on more level than one!

KY Jelly, Drs Appointments, and Culinary “School”:

It has been a couple of busy weeks around here!
We have been to therapy appointments, 2 Doctor appointments (4 shots for Gabi) and a medication for Will (Guanfacine).
Our pictures posted today are of Will helping with lunch ~actually he made the whole meal~ of Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wa) . He cooked with wine, added his own chopped veggies, and added spaghetti sauce! It was yummy!!!

Will(son) and I made a trip to the pharmacist this week, to purchase his new medication. This antihypertensive is supposed to help with Tourettes, ADHD-like symptoms, and anxiety….
While we were waiting, I was looking through the shelves of medication for Advil Cold and Sinus, the only thing that can cure what ails daddy that 1 or 2 times a year he chooses to finally take medicine.
So I am looking and looking, and Will was just down the 6 foot aisle, looking as well, and then I noticed that he had popped the lid on something and was smelling it (he likes to sniff, and taste things….)
and he said
"Mom this one smells good"
—proudly holding up a bottle of KY Jelly massage oil!
I am kind of frozen at this point...like I have just seen a rattlesnake wrapping itself around my child's leg...don't move to fast,~ slowly~, don't alarm anyone...no one will get hurt. I started to have images of the KY Jelly falling, and then the dreaded announcement "Clean up in aisle 12, KY JELLY MASSAGE OIL , Bring something to soak it up." Then a small crowd starts to gather to see if they can "help" or rather figure out who spilled what! THEN the Wal-Mart talk will begin,
"Was she buying it?" "She let her son pick it out??"

MOM-"UUHH, put that back,please and come down here…."
SON-"I wanna look at these."
And the "great" thing is that NOW he can read, so before he starts spelling out TROJANS (this stuff is all at eye level, is that not wrong??), I am able to get him near me, and quickly we leave the over the counter aisle.
This will be a great story to pass on to him, in his 30’s!

Piggy-Back Races

I cannot believe how much FUN I was having, and my shouts of "DO IT AGAIN!" This was simple hysterical!!!
The older kids were in charge of giving piggy-back rides to the younger two! The pictures are not the best ...because they move pretty fast when they are falling....but you will get the idea!

1st up..the girls: This doesn't look SO hard...right?? Well let's look and see the process involved :

Call in reinforcements: Brandon you steady Isabelle's head.

Okay..."Isabelle balance yourself-use Will's knee if you need to-Brandon your in charge of the bottom!"

You gotta get down somehow!

Maybe will Will be lighter!

BOYS!!!

This isn't so hard - is it!?

And down they go!!!