Single Mothering...

I know it is hard to imagine with their sweet looks but Ethan and Jack really know how to take me up to the cliffs of insanity and then nearly, ohh so nearly, push me off. That is why is it a good thing there are cups of weeds. Knowing their behavior had me almost to my wits end, EE knocked on the door "We know we were bad, here's a cup of weeds" I think they have mastered the fine balance, don't ask me how at seven and five but it sure seems like they know just the way to make my heart fall in love with them after just about anything. As long as there are cups of weeds, we should be alright!

These four feet...

There is not a park in the Valley that does not have a shore, a pond, a stream, or a trickle. And even the smallest puddle of murky pond water will draw these four feet in! This was after a "quick" trek to the park at the bottom of the hill. Five minutes of fun causes me two loads of laundry...Boys!

Caught One!

To bad it was the CAT! Good thing we have access to Shawn Buhler's tools and Simone and I are so very "remove a giant hook from a cat's paw" experienced!!! Hopefully next catch will be the kind with scales not fur! Geeesh.

A little fishin' a lot of Tulips and a Starfish...

And that will about wrap up Spring Break, aka as, "Mom, entertain us every minute!" week. We shopped for lures, we shopped for flies, and Ethan organized his tackle box with all his new gear. We asked around for fishing tips, and it is a good thing men around the fishing aisles are eager to share their genius! Bellie watched movies and painted her nails. We sat on the banks of our new fishing holes and played, quietly because Ethan is all business. "You'll scare the fish, be quiet!" Jeezsh, who knew I was going to have such an avid outdoors men!? E could literally sit there for hours totally satisfied with the feeling of fishing, the water, the casting, the whole atmosphere. No, we didn't catch anything...yet! Jack is too loud and busy to sit still quietly, even committing the ultimate fishing no-no, throwing rocks into the water. This just about sets Ethan over the edge. The boys made a fire pit in their boys only fort in the woods, very creative and clever. I have never ran so fast to hide the "fire stick", it is safely tucked away. Ethan was quick to ask "what kind of rocks make sparks" Great, good thing I don't carry about flint! I have spent many extra hours refereeing the screaming, kicking, punching, ax chasing (not kidding on that one) squabbles. I think to summer coming up quickly and find haven when I remember oh yeah, we will have our pool time back. Thank goodness. So here is to Spring Break. Despite the fighting and the constant need for entertainment I have to admit I am the luckiest mom on the planet to hang out with these three rug rats. To see more of "entertain us every minute week" adventures click right HERE...

Every year the tulips are the same but the kids in front of them keep growing and growing!
Skagit Valley at it's finest!


This is my Spring Break treat, isn't it cute?! Ethan asked "why does our whole life have to be rainbows?!"

Okay if you must send Ethan and Jack some MALE to their HOWS, please...feel free.

But please no teens because they have WEPINS!

Yikes hide the matches!

So please send MALE but no TENS and no matches to the ultimate club HOWS!

Check out my consequences if I don't take him! Perhaps a please would be nice?!

Jackers is always fascinated with the sea life!

Born to fish...seriously it is all consuming for EE. Hope we catch one soon!

We hope you too had a wonderful Spring Break!
A, E, I, and J

I Need God...

Is fake it till you make it still a familiar concept? I need God so much to live my life. I can't imagine living one day without him. I am so thankful for Christ and his sacrifice on the cross. Holidays stir up the past and stir up pain. Saturday was spent with the kids, making Easter special then because 2007 is odd- Easter Sunday was spent with their dad, leaving me alone. I have the most amazing, truly amazing, supportive friends. However there are some aches and some pains that can not be comforted by anyone. Only can I take it to God and let him work on my heart. I wish there was another way to put this, but I hate it. I hate divorce, I hate the fact my children have to be shuffled back and forth. I hate everything about this situation. So I do need God, every minute to send his loving comfort and the knowledge it is going to be okay. That He has a plan for me and for the kids. So it is a Happy Easter, how could it not be with Christ alive and living in us!

Izzy's Magic Shoes...

Forrest Gump ain't got nothing on us! We added to Isabelle's stylin pink ensemble this morning with her new braces. Again she took it in stride being more excited about the new pink shoes than the hassle of me having to pry her little feet into these things every morning. She actually took to them quite well, the tone in her feet and ankles is so weak that the extra support has to feel good. The hard plastic boot is strapped super tight around her foot with Velcro straps, the feeling of that if on my feet would make me crazy! After building up to wearing them all day we should start to see some benefits! More endurance and increased likelihood to enjoy hiking with me and the boys. Now she gets so tired she simply sits down on the trail and refuses to keep going. So add the Forrest Gump braces up there with her pink hearing aids, and pink glasses, it takes work to be such a trend setter!

Soccer Here We Come...

We entered the world of Soccer last Saturday at Ethan's first game. The skies gave us a break for the hour and waited to pour until we got in the car. This was much appreciated by mom and the other 900 parents on the sidelines! But I know with Spring Soccer comes rain, so I'm sure some soaking wet shots are to follow. His team consits of mainly boys from his class so they really have a fun time playing together being that they are so close. We even got to see Zachary from our old neighborhood! Although at this age there is never an official score taken, the team would tell you "We're Undefeated!!" As always Ethan's two greatest fans watch from the sidelines.
You can see more of the action here.