Sky Jam

David finally got his long-awaited birthday party, one month after the actual day.  He picked the local trampoline park as AJ had for his 8th birthday.  This was one hundred percent fine with me, because it is one of the easiest birthday parties I have had for kids to date.  The boys were at the age where they can play games by themselves with the half-tuned in help of a high school kid who works there. Dodge ball was the hands-down favorite.  And I think it was the loudest rendition of Happy Birthday that I have heard to date.  The kids at our elementary have appended the following ditty to the end of it: "Ooh la la...pizza rocks!...hiya!...eat more chicken and don't get fat!"  The last piece is totally bizarre.  I would love to know how it ever developed.  But now it has stuck and is sung at all local kid birthday parties.  Except for birthday celebrations at school, where the extra part has been banned.

Uh Oh

 Ever had one of those days?  

Illustration courtesy of Julia.  Caption courtesy of AJ.

Thawing Out

The water was 57 degrees, but given that it was -27 at home, hey--we'll take it!

Jules plays glow golf with Grandma and Papa

A dolphin watching trip

There was a crazy, -27 windchill in Iowa this weekend, so we decided to thaw out for 24 hours in South Padre, Texas.  Uncle John lives an hour and a half away and Papa and Grandpa Francie are spending six weeks there this winter, which made it the perfect spot.  My favorite part of the weekend (besides shorts and swim suits) was visiting a sea turtle hospital where injured sea turtles recuperated.

Uncle John and Johnny introduced the boys to laser tag this weekend, and it is safe to say they are hooked.  Uncle John also bought each of our kids their first comic books, which provided great reading in the airport on the way home.

Air Hog

Remote control helicopters are all the rage over here.  Santa brought one and then David got one for his birthday.  Duck and cover is all I can say.  And whenever the boys leave the vicinity, sissy is sneaking into their room looking for this remote control.

E.T. Phone Home

The boys have been begging for their own cell phones.  Specifically an iPhone.  They started making their case around Thanksgiving, telling me that "everyone" at school has one.  Being a good lawyer, I probed for a definition of "everyone."  Turns out it is approximately half of third grade kids who have some sort of cell phone, iPad or iTouch device of their own. I asked AJ why he possibly would need his own phone.  His response?  Games, texting friends and the ability to ask Siri any questions that come in his mind.  I wondered what he possibly would text with friends about.  After talking with other parents, it sounds like nothing much.  Which sounds like what I discussed with my friends on a corded phone.  Starting in about sixth grade, though.  But it is the internet connectivity that bothers me.  Plus the expense, which seems extravagant to me.  I would rather they play.  Joe and I declined to get the boys phones for Christmas and advised that Santa likely is not bringing phones either.

So then the kids decide to make their own phones.  Out of paper.  Here is Julia's (front and back).  This I can live with.

$econd $et

Last August was an expensive visit to the dentist for us.  Dr. K. informed us that both our third grader and our first grader would need orthodontic consultations for a cross-bite.  Several appointments later, the result was not one, but two sets of braces, one for AJ and one for David.  They both have "baby braces" just on the top teeth with only four brackets to help straighten out the wonky way the two big front teeth came in.  I had a million questions about exactly what baby braces do, whether the boys would have to wear retainers when they are done (not wanting to be in charge of the follow through on that one) and whether this would eliminate the need for more braces down the road.  The answer to that last one was no.  There will likely be braces in their junior high futures as well.  Lucky my wallet.  But they are awfully cute with their baby braces.  David got to show his class and explain what braces are, which he reveled in.  And I am reminding myself how grateful I am (1) for modern orthodontia and (2) for my good job that helps pay for all of this.

Happy New Year! From Three Adorable Pine Cones.

Happy New Year from these cute little guys that my mom made for the kids, courtesy of Pinterest.