just a typical breakfast with Kosty

after gathering a matching bowl, cup, & spoon, (a mandatory pre-requisite)...and insisting that there be "no holes" (aka space between pieces of cereal)...

he decides that it is a little too soggy for his liking. So one by one he scoops the mini wheats and performs the finger poke test...

and then carefully discards the soggy pieces onto his napkin. One by one, into the soggy pile they go...

until there is just one lonely mini wheat left in the bowl. And then he says, "Hey! There's only one weft!!"

easter

On Easter Saturday, we dyed eggs of course...

Then we went to our trusty Christian church across the street's annual Easter Egg Hunt. It is normally amazing with so many eggs and so much to do, but this year because of the rain, they cancelled the egg hunt, and had everything else inside the tiny crowded gym of the school. My kids were so upset that there was no egg hunt. They still passed out eggs, but it just wasn't the same.

This is how Kosty (& I) felt about the cancelled egg hunt.

Brayden, on the other hand, was nice enough to at least gave me a forced smile.

After a few games inside, we headed outside to eat and check out the fire truck. Both the boys perked up quickly after they got some popcorn, hotdogs, & cotton candy into their bellies. Amazing how that happens.

Brayden was being such a goof and I love how Kosty is so easily amused by him.

Ah, happy boys at last.

Since Easter Sunday was my real birthday, my little sister Erika came over to babysit at 4:30 while Jer took me out for some fun.

We didn't get home until 10:30. And I was so lovingly greeted by two boys sound asleep and this giant handmade banner.

We got Brayden some new sunglasses since he always tries to wear Daddy's. He was such a crack up, totally full of himself as soon as he put them on.

Easy there, Mr. Macho!

Kosty threw an hour long tantrum because he wanted to wear his vest with nothing underneath. Yowza. Thank heavens he changed his mind 5 seconds before church.

After church, we went over to the Figgins for dinner and bubble blowing, and then to my dad's house where we hung out out back and roasted marshmallows in the fire pit. Oh, and my Grandma Joann made me my favorite death by chocolate cake. It was a fabulous day. Am I really 27? Whoa.

Star of the Week & Read-a-thon

Brayden's turn for "Star of the Week" finally came...its cute how excited these little ones get for their special day. He came right home and completed his poster on his own. Then I got to go with him and watch him present it to his class.

I am: 6 years old.
My favorite color is: green
My favorite animal is: a cumelean
My favorite food is: chicin
My favorite place is: Disneyland
When I grow up, I want to be: a astrnot
My favorite thing to do is: play vido gams
If I had one wish, I would wish for: a dog

There was a Read-a-thon a few weeks ago at Brayden's school, and for whatever reason, Brayden was not interested in participating. And frankly, I didn't push him because I already make him read every night, he loves reading, and it was just one more envelope that this new school wanted me to stuff with money! Well it turned out that one of his friends in his class was one of the finalists and got a limo ride to Peter Piper Pizza as reward. This friend read for about 40 minutes a night for a few weeks. When Brayden found out, he was so disappointed in himself that he didn't participate, and vowed to sign up for anything and everything from here on out! He came home and read for two hours straight for three days in a row, then he decided to read every book in our entire house which turned out to be 76 books. Man, this kid is somethin else!

My new little nephew

Tyson Scott Williams

April 18, 2009
8 pounds 1 oz
20" long

Oh, he could not be cuter. My older sister had her baby boy today, and I am so happy for her. Now she has a boy and a girl. He has Libby's nose and mouth, but surprised everyone with his cute blond hair. Welcome to the world baby Ty!

Dinosaur Museum

We took advantage of our free culture passes and went to the museum in downtown Mesa.

Kosty started crying hysterically when I told him to "get in jail"...I only wanted a picture Kosty!

Panning for gold. We found 4 nuggets. We're RICH! Oh wait, you need a microscope to see em.

Brayden's favorite room was the Mars room, he is so fascinated with space. He stayed in there forever.

I love how happy Kosty is in this picture. (Above, not below).

Here is Kosty in his famous pouting pose. He was ticked that I told him no rice krispie treats until the Pageant. After the museum, we still had about 4 hours to kill before it even started. We hit Pioneer Park for a while, then ate at Mangos, then finally went to the Pageant, where we scored close seats for once (thanks to our neighbors)! I was grateful to go because otherwise I really am convinced my kids would think easter is only about bunnies & eggs.

Max & Ruby

Kosty's all time favorite cartoon is Max & Ruby. But unfortunately, he has learned a lot of naughty things on it. And he LOVES reenacting Max's shenanigans. He even reminds me of Max, with his one word answers, and that little mean face he makes every time something doesn't go his way! He's recreated the wrapped in ribbon scene several times, he has left Popsicles in random cupboards to melt just like Max does, and then this...

there were handprints on just about every single wall. but when I found him, he said, "ALL CLEAN!" Its very hard to stay mad at this face.just after I posted this last night, I awoke to him covered in blue marker. I asked him what happened, and he said, "I was twying to wook wike MAX!"

pre-teen

Brayden decided he looked like a teenager when he put on these glasses, his sweat band (which he told me he wears for "style" not for sweat), and filled his little wallet with coins. Of course this is the face that teenagers make, DUH!

AND, he always begs me for a foot long sub at Subway, and of course me being the selfless mother that I am, promptly kibosh his request because I want the other half. But this time, lucky him, I wasn't hungry, so he finally got his dream foot long & ate the entire thing! Oinker!

mess

I don't consider myself a clean freak, although maybe only because I have friends who are far more anal than myself ;) But... to me, a messy house feels like pure chaos. It feels uncomfortable & out of control, and it sets a negative tone to my home as well. It makes me irritable too! I feel like I am constantly cleaning and at times it feels completely pointless. The odds seem to be stacked against me with no end in sight. Today was a crazy day between Conference, a bridal shower, a birthday party for my niece, and my stepsister's baby being born (whom I didn't get to see!)... by bedtime my house looked like a bomb went off. I started telling everyone to pick up their stuff and take it to their rooms. Kosty went into the family room and picked up one teeny tiny toy of his, and while he was taking it into his room, he turned and looked at me with a sweet smile, and said,

"Momeee, can you be happy now?"

I felt horrible. I thought I was being all good & under control by not yelling, but he could tell my demeanor. It seems like a never ending struggle. I need to learn to let go, but I also want my boys to learn to clean up after themselves, a very important skill/life lesson! How do you balance this?