My new Ivory Silk Lilac

I'm so excited! For Mother's Day this year, I did something I don't think I've ever done before. Jim asked me what I would like, and I actually gave him an answer! I am usually content with happy kids, a clean house, being together... not having to make dinner. This year, I got all of the above in addition to a lilac tree.

I've known my whole life that lilacs are my mom's favorite flower. It wasn't until lately, that I really wanted one. Not one with the traditional purple blossoms, but a white one. Jim searched high and low, and really surprised me with an ivory silk Japanese lilac tree. Better yet, he planted it with the boys help! It feels like a new baby and I find myself checking on it several times a day just to make sure it's still there... I know, I'm crazy!

Pick of the Week

At first, I thought the deep purple (almost black) were my favorite color. They remind me of the beautiful tulips years ago in my cousin Laura's yard. I thought they were the most beautiful flower (Laura's) I had ever seen. As an Alaskan gal, I think this was the first time I had seen them other than in the stores. It was love at first sight!

Then, as the ivory bloomed, they were definitely my favorite! I like the pink, but last week my red ones showed their color and delicate scalloped edges! My north side has been the last to bloom and this week was the biggest surprise.

I have striped pale yellow and pink ones. They're my favorite for sure! I love how Coleman and Caden put them among the reds and pinks. They really do blend well- I would have never mixed them! I don't even remember buying this variety, so they really were a surprise! I just love them! I've had a different arrangement on the table every few days and they're still blooming!

I finally figured out how to load this video clip of Caden. Coleman was being a punk, but Caden was pretty cute. He loves this song (so does his mom) which means we've listened to it a zillion times!

Baby For You- Caden's Favorite Song

Sunny Days

Our sunny days are here- our back porch hit 90 yesterday! I'm so excited, I just love feeling the warmth of the sun... and a good tan! All four of the boys and Jim spent a bit of time outside this last weekend and have started browning up already. I had to catch up on a little work inside, and felt a little anxiety to get out and enjoy the nice weather. I had to remind myself that we have LOTS of sunny days ahead. They're not short lived, but just beginning! Justin's the first with a little burn on his shoulders... didn't feel so good at the track meet Monday! After Tyler's bad burn last summer, he's determined to NEVER forget the sunscreen. We'll see!

I've spent so much money and time on tanning beds in my life... it's nice to feel the heat of the real sun. I just love being tan!

A little disciplined?

Yesterday was my cleaning day. Not because I always clean on Mondays, or it was on the calendar. Caden was my reason. He decided to empty a tube of Spiderman blue gel toothpaste all over the bathroom. Why does he have to torture me? I think he should about be past the point of these messes. For some reason, we think he's going to be the cause of many headaches to come...

I'm always asking friends how they stay organized and keep up with a household of kids. I'm fascinated with organization, but can't seem to stay organized and on top of it all of the time. In Jr. High, a good friend's mom (Carinne) once said Thursdays were her shopping day. At least, I think it was Thursday. I remember distinctly thinking I was going to be like that when I had a house and kids. I love the idea of the routine and the same thing every week. I just don't do it.

A couple of weeks ago, I got to catch up with best friends I've had since 2nd grade. Of course, I ask how they keep up with kids and keep their houses clean. Krista said Mondays are her day. I thought a lot about this. Maybe Mondays could be my day. When we got home, I told Jim how much I'd love to have a routine like that. He quickly and lovingly said something to the effect of, "Oh honey, you'll never stick to that... you're not that disciplined." I didn't take it negatively, because he is right. My husband knows me pretty well. I feel like I clean all the time, but never on the same day. The idea of a schedule sounds great but yes, he's right it's probably a little too routine for me. On the same note, I do pretty well at budgeting, but don't tell me I can only spend so much... it's too much pressure. I guess I just can't handle the commitment.

So for now, I'll keep on changing our sheets every 5 or 6 days, or when they're a little too wrinkled... cleaning bathrooms here and there which is about every 3 days... and vacuuming when I get the energy up for it. I think I'm a little disciplined even if it's not on a calendar.

Tyler

Tyler had his fill of running at this meet. He ran both the 200 and 400 sprint races and two relays. He was a little nervous since he had never competed in a relay, but after a couple practice runs with the baton (and one bad wreck) he did great. He slept really well that night!

Justin

More track pictures... Justin's competing in shot put, discus and an occasional relay. He's so focused!

Picked

Like most moms, I love it when my little guys bring me flowers. Usually, dandelions or other wildflowers in the yard. They're so proud and excited to make my day. We get the little cup of water out and set it next to the sink.

I was a little less excited this week when Coleman and Caden decided to pick some flowers for me- my tulips! Tulips are my favorite flower and for the first time, I've been able to enjoy them in our yard. Each day, (sometimes several times a day)I go out and check the three spots I have them planted in to see what new blooms have shown themselves. I love them- the ivory ones are my favorite.

We had a little chat about NOT picking mom's tulips and put them in several small glasses since they picked as close as they could to the flower. They do look beautiful on the dining room table. Caden very convincingly said to me, "Mom, I promise not to pick your tulips again." We'll see. He promises every night that he's going to sleep in his own bed and that rarely happens. Can I really believe a two-year old?

My Arthritis Work Out

I finally did it. After wanting to join our local YMCA for months, I finally took the tour and wrote the check. It's a beautiful facility just up the street, with a water park outside that looks like too much fun. Childcare is less than $5 a week... that's for 2 hrs each day! Can't beat that.

Over the last several months, I've been wanting to work out. I've had so much motivation.

1. I love watching The Biggest Loser. Justin and Ty love to do push-ups on commercials while they're watching TV. I don't know where they got the idea to do that, but they've been doing it for years. I prefer to sit (or better yet lay) in bed while eating my black cherry frozen yogurt or ice cream.

2. My sister just ran a half marathon. Half, or whole... I'm super impressed! 13 miles... only in my dreams. I am so proud of her, and really admire her for being in top shape!

3. I read about the miles and miles and miles and miles that my best friends growing up- Krista and Traci, swim. They both have kids... Traci has 4 and Krista has 5... and they still make the time to work out. Not only that, they usually do it at 5 or 6am!! That's about the time I'm finally getting my REM sleep, I'm sure.

4. Track meets are great. They're long, but so enjoyable to watch- especially since I get to watch my kids compete. I know I didn't do track in high school because I HATED to run, but I don't know why I didn't ever watch track meets. My brother Seth was an amazing track star, and I keep telling Justin and Ty they're on the right "track" to do phenomenal things. Watching these kids almost makes me want to take up running.

5. I want to be skinny again for my hubby! More than skinny, I want to be toned and lose the flab that I gained with having babies. I'd love to get back in to the bikini I wore one of our 1st trips we took to Vegas. For now, it will remain buried in my drawer!

Yesterday, after taking the big tour and signing the papers to join, I looked over the classes available. Being a little timid, I decided to start out slow and try out the Arthritis Water Work Out. Couldn't be to bad and it's still a 1-hour water work out, right? I thought I was being brave by getting in to a swimsuit and taking the plunge. Needless to say, I was the youngest in the class by probably 50 years. It was good for a laugh, maybe good for my self-esteem, but I think I'll move up the pace a little today. Maybe, I'll try the real water aerobics or even a step class... something to get my heart rate up.

On your mark...

I learned something new yesterday. Fall sports are much warmer than Spring sports! The boys had their first track meet yesterday and it was chilly! I was sipping my hot chocolate, trying to stay warm! Not the sunning weather I envisioned when track season started.

Justin did discus and Ty did sprints. It's a new experience for both of them and they're doing great! Caden hasn't forgotten how much he loves walking on the edge of the bleachers. All the way to the top, of course. He's just asking for another injury.

Another Storm

I guess we won't be using the trampoline today. A storm last night decided to move it from the back yard to the south side. If it's not too beat up, we have to figure out how to anchor it down.

My Big Planters

I feel a little guilty as I'm starting to write today... my parents let me know they received 11" of snow this weekend... dad was out shoveling... Sorry, Mom... come see our flowers! Our 1st tulip bloomed this weekend as well... exciting news at our house!

I love working in the dirt!!! Love the smell of cut grass (especially since the big boys can now mow), planting flowers, picking out weeds- I love it all! This weekend, the boys and I put our planters together. I think it was the 1st time I've ever had their help and it was so much fun. Justin jumped right out there to work with me, Ty preferred to jump with the little guys on the tramp. Oh well, it did keep them out of my way!

I put six of these big pots all on the front porch and couldn't be happier with them! Justin mixed my dirt with the steer manure (a big deal for Justin to get dirty) and filled all six of them for me. First with bricks, then pea gravel, then my dirt mixture. It was quite the process. He didn't complain, but did mention more than once... "Mom, you sure picked out big pots..." I love them and can't wait for them to fill out!!

Harden Off?

I'm so confused! Actually, I just think it's going to take a while to change my thinking from Alaskan to Kansan. While shopping at the boy's favorite farming store last week, they had plants and flowers out for sale! Of course, I can't go by them and not buy. I picked out a few, but got home and didn't know what to do. Do I have to harden them off? Can I really put them in the ground now? I haven't even heard the term "harden off" mentioned here.

In Alaska, it's against the law (the Master Gardner Law) to plant anything in the ground until Memorial Day weekend. Even then, you have to slowly adjust them to the outdoors over the span of at least a few days. That's still 7+ weeks away. I've never touched the dirt in April. Oh well, the little guys and I went ahead and planted away. We watch our tulips every day- they're about to bloom. Coleman loves learning the names of what we've planted. Caden just loves the mess and the dirt.