A House FULL OF "SICKOS"!!!

Ok...so last Thursday Parker was diagnosed with strep throat...what joy that was! Of all my kids, he is definitely my easiest sick kid. He just goes with the flow. So, days of keeping him home while he was contagious were pretty enjoyable. Well...as luck would have it...today Rylie and Mason were diagnosed with it...AAAHHHHHHH!!!! You would think their heads are going to fall off or something! They are NOT good "sick" people. They are very "needy" sickos! It is funny sometimes to see how dramatic they can actually get when they are sick! So...two more days of home confinement for me...aren't I lucky! Poor Shane...tonight his team is playing one of the best teams in the league. Mason has been hitting really well lately...and he has no Mason tonight. Although it was tempting, we couldn't contaminate the whole team...that would NOT be good! So...off I go to deal with the sick ones. Thank goodness for Harry Potter, the Leapster, Dora, and the Game Cube!

On a side note, for those of you who watch American Idol...how did you like Carly's rendition of "Ken Lee"? I think Valentina's is much better!

Derby Champ!!!

Mason had his first Pinewood Derby last night. (Last year he participated in the Space Derby.) He had so much fun getting his car ready! He and Shane worked very hard on it...and needless to say, Thursday night was a late night of "spinning the wheels"! Mason named his car, "The Gator" and by 6:30 last night, he was ready to see how fast his car could actually go!

"The Gator"

Drilling holes to add some weight
Lubing up the wheels
"I'm really proud of this car!" (Mason's exact words as I was taking this picture!)

Mason said that he got really nervous the first time he set his car on the ramp...and none of us had any idea what his car would do. Well, lets just say that Mason's car being fast was kind of an understatement! His car FLEW down the track! It was so fun to watch! He ended up taking first place! It was a very exciting night!

The top 3 cars with their creators!

All of the boys did such a good job on their cars! It was fun to see how creative everyone got and what ideas they came up with! From a General Lee, to a car with it's own driver...the boys went to all the different extremes! Awards were given out for different categories after the races. Mason won "best paint job"...which is really funny...seeing how his car was covered with a body wrap instead of paint!

Our Cub Pack showing off their cars!

Mason loves scouts. Perks like the Pinewood Derby makes him love it even more! He's received his Wolf and his Bear and will be a Webelos in August!

Happy Birthday Shane!!!

Yesterday Shane celebrated the big 35!!! I promised myself that I wasn't going to rub in how OLD he is, since (unfortunately) I'm not far behind! We celebrated the big day by going to the Melting Pot with our friends Tim and Julie (who by the way, have NEVER been on a blog...so this is their BIG debut)! For those of you who haven't heard of it, it is a fondue restaurant. It was so fun!!! We decided that you definitely need to go with people you like...since there is "double dipping" involved, and that you need to have time on your hands and not be starving to fully enjoy the experience! It is a four course meal...including cheese fondue, salad, cooking your entire meal by fondue (which was very good, buy the way...Tim got the pink sticks...Rylie would have given him a hard time about that!), and then dessert by chocolate fondue! Julie and I thought this was the very best part, of course! We chose the Smore's chocolate...and we got to dip tons of yummy stuff in it! It is definitely something you should experience at least once...the dessert you could experience MANY, MANY times!!! We had a great time!

Getting ready for the big experience!

Julie "cooking" her dinner...it was so cool!

The CHOCOLATE!!! SO YUMMY!!!

When we got home, the kids were waiting up to have a little party with dad! Unfortunately, he needed clothes for work (he hates dressing up...would much rather wear jeans!) so his gifts weren't too exciting...but the kids were excited to give them to him! Mason, Parker, and Rylie loved singing the Madagascar version of Happy Birthday to him...and then they tore into the cake!!!

Happy Birthday Shane!!! We love you!!!

Sea World!!!

Well, today is the last official day of Spring Break...boo hoo! We have had an awesome break...with not too much to do, other than baseball! Thursday we were able to sneak away for the day for our little "vacation"! We took the kids to Sea World! They loved it!!! Of course, when we woke up, it was overcast and chilly (the only cloudy day of the break so far...go figure)! As we were driving to San Diego, we drove through fog and rain...but it ended up being a beautiful day! Of course, Parker and Rylie didn't have hats, and we didn't put on any sunscreen...so hats were purchased, long sleeves were removed, and we all got sunburned! I'm such a great mom, aren't I?!!!

At Sea World...FINALLY!!! Rylie went back to school last week. When I told her she had to go, she freaked out and said, "but we didn't go to Sea World yet and you said we were going on spring break!" Needless to say, she missed school on Thursday to go!

The kids loved feeding the dolphins!

They named this fish, "THE BIG UGLY"!

Of course, they loved Shamu! (But, Rylie made it very clear that she did not like the movie at the beginning!)

The boys both had games yesterday...they both won! (Even though we "don't take score" in Farm...we know that Parker's team won!) Parker made the 3rd out with bases loaded and kept a few runs from being scored...and was awarded the game ball! It was very exciting! Mason got hit by a pitch in his game...the ball hit his arm thank goodness! He was a great sport about it and joined the other half of his team who were hit yesterday as well! Did I mention that in Minors it is kid pitch for the first time, so a lot of these boys are just learning. I'm sure Mason will have his fair share of hit batters...especially if he is anything like his dad! (Yes, along with all of the many positive records my husband has held...he has also held the record for most hit batters both in high school and college...if I remember correctly!!!)

On a side note, Mason and I finished the second Harry Potter book today!!! We loved it just as much as we loved the first one! We're excited to watch the movie tonight! Now on to book 3!!!

Baseball Season Has Arrived!!!

Well...it is official...baseball season has begun...thus...life as we know it is a thing of the past...for the next 3 months anyway! With both boys playing, we will have a minimum of 4 games and 2 practices a week! Good thing we love it so much!!! (Rylie doesn't love it as much...she hasn't gotten down the sitting in the stands watching thing...she'll come around...it's amazing how much more she enjoys the games with a lik-a-maid in her hand! Shane knows I'm desperate when that candy comes out!)

Opening ceremonies were this past Saturday. Shane and Mason attended...Shane is the manager of Mason's team again this year. They are the Mets and are playing in the Minor league. He's coaching with a great guy named Shawn...they coached together last year in Farm.

Parker plays for the Cardinals. He has great coaches and is really enjoying his team! His team opted out of opening ceremonies on Saturday. He made the Farm league this year...which is machine pitch for the first part of the season and kid pitch the last part. No T-Ball this year...thank goodness!!! (Those games are a little too slow for mom...she likes the action!) He had his first game on Monday night! He did awesome!!! He had a shot down the 3rd baseline! I thought he'd be nervous...but he never let on if he was...he just went out there and played ball! He's one of only a few 6 year olds on his team...but it doesn't bother him one bit! His team won the game...it was great!

Parker's very first at bat in Farm...he did awesome!
Parker is one of the catchers! He can barely walk let alone bend in the gear, it is so big on him, but he is a natural behind the plate!
Mason had his first game tonight. As I mentioned, he is playing in Minors this year...which means kid pitch and stealing...all new to he and the many other 9 year olds on his team! Mason did great! He had an awesome hit just over the 3rd baseman's head! He even got to pitch. He was NOT too thrilled about that. He's still learning, so he struggles a bit...but he's a trooper and we keep reminding him that it will come if he keeps working at it! Mason was the last pitcher Shane brought in...very nerve racking...especially with how close the game was! The game ended up in a tie...so I guess we'll be playing an inning to break the tie later in the season. Of course, quiet little me got it from the other team's manager when I told him that the league said they couldn't end in a tie...but what would the season be without me getting myself into trouble, right?! (Last year I was a little too vocal after one of the calls during the tournament. I'm really trying hard not to do that again!) This one wasn't my fault...promise! Just ask anyone who was there! It really wasn't that big of a deal...it was just funny...me telling this older man not to shoot the messenger...and then everyone coming up to me saying they'd heard he'd yelled at me in front of everyone! Baseball can be so dramatic sometimes!

Last, but certainly not least, this is our buddy Wyatt. He's making his blog debut! He plays baseball for Yucaipa High. He's awesome...and quite the athlete if I do say so myself...and no, I'm not saying that because according to Rylie, he is my future husband! (Rylie is on this kick where she thinks she is going to, in her words, "get that ring" and marry Shane. One day I asked her what was going to happen to me when she married her dad and she said, "you're going to marry Wyatt!" I should mention that Wyatt is Lauren's older brother...so he's practically family! (Lauren is Rylie's sister from another mom and dad...they are VERY BEST BUDS!!!) Wyatt's brother Dallin is also an awesome athlete...but I don't have any pics of him right now...so he will be making his blog debut later! I would however like to wish him a VERY HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY!!! We love you Dal!

Happy Baseball Season! Wish us luck!!!

This and That!

Just a bunch of random stuff today! First of all...the Spring Break Update! We are still having a great time! We took the kids to John's Incredible Pizza last Friday...it's a HUGE step up from Chuck E. Cheese...it has rides, glow in the dark bowling, bumper cars, games, prizes (of course) and all you can eat buffets! It also has theme rooms you can eat in! We ate dinner in the cartoon room...and watched Scooby Doo, then ate dessert in the sports room so that I (I mean Shane) could watch the NCAA basketball tournament! We all had a great time and got back in time to watch Shane play some church basketball!

The "dizzy" ride...I can't do these!

The bouncing ride...Rylie loved this one...it was called the Frog ride, or something like that!

Bowling!

Ski Ball...Rylie is starting to get it...only a few balls went flying off the ramp!

They had LOTS of tickets...meaning lots of toys! Rylie's favorite was the Whoopie Cushion...such my little "lady"!

Mason and I have been doing lots of reading this spring break! Mason has read Eragon and Eldest, and yesterday we both finished the first Harry Potter book! We loved it!!! We were supposed to only read one chapter a day...but that quickly turned into 3, 4, 5 and even 6 chapters a day! Mason has the same problem I do with reading...once we get into a book, we don't want to put it down! We have already started book 2! I told Mace that as we finish the books we can watch the movies, so we stayed up until 12:30 watching the first movie last night! Parker watched it with us. I don't know what he liked better, staying up late, or the movie! When it was over he asked me what time it was. When I told him that it was 12:20, he said, "yes...I finally stayed up past midnight!"

Speaking of reading...I started one of those book shelves on line. It's on my blog. I'm only putting on books I've read since the first of the year. I'm actually quite amazed with myself. I'm not a reader, as you all know, but I am finding it rather enjoyable! Sadly to say, I've read more books since January 1 than I've read since I graduated from college! Please don't laugh at my book choices...you will quickly see that I read for LEISURE...not for knowledge! I'm not into if it is a great writer or not, or to gain all sorts of new found information. I read mainly to relax and enjoy a story...I'm just that simple minded these days! Raising 3 kids and living my crazy busy life is stimulating my mind enough for now!!!

Just a bit more...Christy came over with Mason last night...here is the first picture of Mason and Mason...so cute!!!

Mason Alexander and Mason Cory...both named after our grandpa (little Mason is my cousin Devin's baby! Devin's middle name is Mason too!...just a little bit of family trivia for you!)

And, for those of you who have expressed a desire to see the front of the wedding dress I love so much...and for my mom who can't get enough of them...she is my mom after all...Alli posted a few more pictures. Here are my favorites of the new batch. I probably won't post anymore of them...click on Alli's link if you want to see the others!

You can't see all of the dress, but this is at least a front view of it!

The baseball glove is in honor of Shane! Alli is so creative!!!

April Fools!

I wish I could come up with a really good April Fools for you all...but alas, I'm not that creative! Sorry to bore you all!!! Anyway, I found a link to the Top 100 April Fools Hoaxes of All Time! They are kind of funny! So...here you go!!!

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

Here is a preview! Enjoy!!!

#8: The Left-Handed Whopper
In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

Have a great day! Hopefully you aren't as gullible as I am...I have already been tricked and it isn't even 9 a.m. yet!