Happy 4th Fireworks

The boys have discovered that along with the Fourth of July come fireworks. Alaska is a little too light in the summer, and never worth the money to blow since you can't see them very well. Down here, everyone on our road had them... crazy to me!

Tyler was the most excited- I think he must have inherited the gene from his Uncle Steele. The little guys couldn't stay up until it was dark, but we did let them do sparklers and a few before they headed to bed. All four of them had a blast! It's Grandpa Burgan's birthday as well... Happy Birthday, Dad!

Price of Popularity

For the record, I'm really against kids having their own cell phones. They don't really need them, but want them. That being said, both Justin and Ty now have their own phones- I lost. Justin's been begging for two years and was in his opinion truly the only kid in the whole eighth grade without his own phone. That didn't change my mind. Grandpa Mike entered the picture, sending the boys his old phones and the rest is history. We put both of them on a plan with 500 texting minutes and told them they have to pay the $10 month for that as well as any minutes they go over. Seemed fair. We reminded them a few times to watch their messages, those overage minutes add up.

The first bill came this week and Justin's not a happy kid. Not only did he go over, he went over by a lot- 946 messages to be exact. He had a total of 1446 messages this month alone. So, his overage bill was $94.60. That's a lot for a 14-year old for one month- a lot of messages and a lot of money! He's taken it pretty well, and has decided he's not too fond of cell phones any more. I'm not sure if he's going to keep track of his messages, or keep his phone off all together. I think he's still deciding. Ty didn't have the same problem- the few friends he texts are on Verizon... so he's not charged. Yes, he's been rubbing it in. More fuel to the sibling rivalry fire that's always going on around here. Not what I need!

Back in the Pool

He wanted to head back to the pool before even getting his chin stitched up... unfortunately, he had to wait a couple of days. Other moms thought I was crazy letting him swim with stitches still in... Yesterday, we had his stitches taken out after just five days. Amazing how fast the face heals. Caden broke down as soon as we pulled in to the Doctor's parking lot and was even more terrified when the doctor came over to chat with him in the waiting area. Poor kid is probably scarred for life...actually, he really is. The other three were pretty excited to get back in the water as well. What did we ever do before summer days at the pool?

Our Little Tough Guy

Our poor baby! After a morning home working, we finally got out of the house and headed to the pool. Caden's so proud of himself that he puts his head under all the way- loves to go swimming. I had just finished slathering the sunscreen (50 spf for my little white boys) and Caden split his chin open on the edge of the pool. He wasn't even in the pool a minute. Another injury- another scar. I think he has more crying and hurt photos than the other three boys combined. His bruises, bloodies and crashes keep us worried for what's next. No doubt, he's our fearless daredevil. Good thing he's the baby. If he was first, I'm sure we would have been turned in for child abuse by now!

This deep gash across his chin resulted in 5 stitches. Jim didn't do so well watching his little guy in pain. As they were stitching him up, Caden just cried, "It's burning, mom," " hold me dad". I'm usually the one who gets weak and can't handle hearing details or watching any kind of medical anything. Much to my delight, the doctor even asked today if I was a nurse- since I held myself together so well, I'm assuming! Jim's still in disbelief- I just laughed. He was too weak to defend himself.


He was upset as soon as we got to the clinic- he wanted to go back to the pool. Instead, he grabbed his bike the minute we arrived home. Crazy little guy.

Happy Birthday Uncle Seth!!

Very Hungry (and now dead) Caterpillars

Up until yesterday afternoon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar was one of my favorite books. Cute little caterpillar eats through everything and he's still hungry...

With what was our garden still knee-deep in water, we switched our focus to our tomato and pepper plants in containers on our back deck. We've had to baby them and they've survived the hail, high winds, transplants and tons of rain that has come our way. We've pulled them in on stormy nights even to shelter them from any more abuse. They've started perking up now that the weather has calmed down- much to our excitement!

That is until yesterday when in the space of less than an hour- they were invaded and chewed up by the biggest caterpillars I've ever seen. They're huge and vicious! Poke them with a stick and they freak out wanting to attack. They blend in so well with the leaves, it's no wonder they chew through without being noticed. I'm furious and determined to kill them all. How are they getting on our back deck? That's what I'd like to know.

Our Little Swimmer

I couldn't resist- I thought this picture was so cute of my little guy.

Dripping Cones

If there is one place my little guys will fall asleep it's late in the afternoon while driving. Usually, the later the more likely. When they do, it makes bedtime horrible because they're not ready to go back to sleep. We're ready for them to be in bed at 7:30, but they're not! Generally, we do whatever we can to keep them awake if we see them starting to fade.

On our way home from the pool yesterday, ice cream cones were my way of keeping their eyes open! The first half of the way home, we were looking for McDonald's. The second half, their ice cream cones kept them busy. Worked well. It was another reminder to me of the stages that are passing with Caden being my last baby. Just last summer, I was still having to lick around Coleman's cone to keep it from dripping all over. He's somehow figured it out over the winter. Caden's was a mess, and no matter how many times you tell them to lick around the perimeter. They just don't get it. Why? Next summer, I have a feeling I'll have to buy my own cone- no more babies!

Beauty in the Clouds

I took these two pictures within the same hour. Crazy how our skies change so quick. I think the boys are a little excited these days I've taken more pictures of the sky than of them! It's just beautiful- even as it's still storming!

The Storm

Here are a couple of great shots our neighbors across the street took over our house last week as the storm was passing. We weren't the only crazy ones outside taking pictures!

So Tired

Usually when I'm a bit sleep deprived, the corner of my eye gets red and a little irritated. During my last two years of college, I don't think it never cleared up. It's a physical sign that I'm really tired. Now, it's a reminder of too many nights up with little guys. Boys who are MORE THAN old enough to sleep through the night! Again, we can't figure out how to get them to sleep better. Yesterday, I had a new sign telling me that I'm just a little tired after this long week...

While driving around, Jim at the wheel and me in the passenger seat, I looked down at my legs (propped up on the dashboard) only to realize that I only shaved one leg the previous night. One leg. I don't think I've ever done that before and it bothered me the rest of the day. Yikes- I think I'm losing it! I'm hoping this week is better in spite of Jim being forced in to 12-hr shifts for 14 straight days... again, gotta love the military. I still don't know how they can do it and expect loyalty and a high morale. It's horrible- I think we're on the count down to getting out. We'll see. I'll try not to do a "what I love about the military" post this week!

More Clouds

There's a break in the clouds today, however our road is a little washed out!

Wicked Clouds

We're starting to wonder when this severe weather season is going to end! Last night, after putting the little guys to bed, I decided to step out on our back porch to try to get some lightening pictures. Jim immediately looked at the sky and said, "those are pretty wicked clouds." He's a little more cautious than I am- goes without saying. A bolt of lightening actually scared me, and the thought crossed my mind that this is how people get struck by lightening. I got my pictures and within minutes we were waking up Coleman and Caden and heading down to our shelter (Thanks, Uncle Dana) to wait out the tornado that was spotted.

Surprisingly, our satellite (TV) didn't go out, so we cranked the volume up on the TV and listened to our meteorologists as they told exactly where the tornado touched down- only a few miles down the road. I don't think there is any damage, but it was a little too close for comfort!

Dark Clouds

We're still having severe weather... as they call it in Kansas and throughout the Midwest. Thunderstorms that shake our house, flashes of lightening that light up the sky and rain that keeps our backyard swamp nice and full! We had our first tornado warning over the weekend and actually went to our shelter. No damage here, but it was a little nerve wracking! I wasn't too nervous until Jim let me know it suddenly was calm outside (he could see out the peek hole). I didn't know if that was the calm before the storm... or what! Luckily, it had passed!

Melons

Until I met Jim, I don't think I ever met anyone that didn't like watermelon. I thought it was one of those foods that everyone loves. I was wrong- so wrong. Not only does Jim not like it, his mom and both brothers don't do melons either. No cantalope. No honeydew. I was even more shocked when Coleman turned it down as a baby. Could he have inherited this dislike from his daddy? It's definitely not from my side... we ALL love a juicy melon!

With summer here, I bought my first watermelon last week. Couldn't turn it down for just $3.99. Coleman acted excited as I was cutting it up. I was even more excited thinking that it was a fluke that he gagged and spit it out the last three summers that I've put it in front of him. He happily took his wedge out on the back porch to eat. I was about to let Jim know that his boys were ALL enjoying it until I realized that it was quickly handed off to Caden to eat. Oh well, three out of my four boys love it! It was yummy!!