Family Pizza Night

We drove downtown for the FAME festival a couple weekends ago.  Trent's school participated by singing a few songs.  It was fun to watch him sing and look at lots of artwork!!

We thought we'd just make a night of it and try a new pizza place, Pint 'n Slice.  Mike had heard many friends rave about it.  It was a quaint little space...we got to sit UP in the window.  Just as soon as we sat down and ordered a continuous flood of customers streamed in.  I snuck outside to snap a few pics.  It was good eats and good laughs...a night to remember for sure!!  I love my boys!!

What do you do when...

you have 3 days off from school?

During a BLIZZARD?

Play outside, of course!

A little B-ball action...

Trent and Drew have started playing basketball at the Y.  Mike is having fun coaching both teams, so it makes for a busy day.  Mike, shall we say... repeats himself A LOT...so that's "fun" (ahh the joys of teaching...I just smile as I remember back to my own teaching days.)  It's definately a job to keep 10 kids on track while teaching basic skills and coaching the game, but we are both glad he has the opportunity to get involved.   I'm excited to see how much they'll improve over the 10 weeks or so!  Here are just a few pics I was able to snap of the boys last week.  ENJOY!!
**Be sure to check out what's been  happening since I last posted in October.  I will date my posts about the time they occurred, so make sure you scroll down to see what we've been up too!!**

The Wedding!

My brother Perry and new SIL Julie were married December 10.  Drew and I traveled to Ohio early to help with some last minute details...i.e. about 250 cupcakes and the rehearsal dinner :)  It was a lot of fun!!  We got to see family from out of town and hang out with my grandparents for a few days.

It was a beautiful ceremony and just an all around FUN weekend!!

Wish I had more pictures to share!  But here are a few...

 Yes, we took pics outside in the COLD...can't wait to see the professional ones!

STR-I-I-I-I-K-E!

Trent has enjoyed pitching a couple innings for his team. I just love how the ump gets into it! It's going to be a fun season!!







Getting on his catchers gear. The black patches for under his eyes have come in handy...we bought these a couple years ago to wear for Halloween with his football costume. :)
Mike coaching Trent at 1st base.

School's OUT for SUMMER & Teacher Gift Tutorial!

Here is a comparison from the first day and the last...think he grew?  Well, he for sure grew 4 new teeth :)

Like the pink bag Trent's got?  Keep reading to see what's inside...

I made Trent's teacher a special end of the year "Thank You" gift the eve of the last day of school.

I found the idea here.  It went together very quickly...cause you all know I'm a major procrastinator!  I think it turned out great though!  Trent said she REALLY liked it...I would have liked something like this...a lot more that the little chachkies I got from the dollar store when I taught 4th grade!  Just sayin!

I found the 8X8 inch shadow box at walmart for about $8.  I printed off his teacher's name on a piece of card stock then trimmed it down to size.  I also printed off a separate piece of paper with an "L" to help me trim the crayons to the right size and shape.

I hot glued them in place.  I put the hot glue right on the paper of the crayon and it worked well.  I wasn't sure if it would melt the wax, but I didn't have a problem at all.

I think I'll be making lots more of these in the coming years!

(I googled these crayon shadowboxes and I found an Etsy shop where you can buy them for 40 dollars, yikes!  Mine cost less than $10 and was super easy and quick to make!)

We also wrote her a note and sealed it to the back with contact paper.

So, what do you think?  It would be cute in a craft or kids room, too!

Oh Brother!

"I am smiling because you are my brother. I am laughing because there is nothing you can do about it!"

"First a brother. Then a bother. Now a friend."

- Unknown

And so SUMMER begins...

Let's PLAY BALL!!

Mad Ants Clinic

As partners of the Y-Ball league, the Mad Ants (NBA D-League) offered a free clinic for the kids.  Our boys had loads of fun!  The kids were separated by age and then they rotated to different stations lead by one of the Mad Ants players.

Rod Wilmont lead the shooting station.

The coach helped with the ball handling.

Practicing lay-ups.  Trent scored...just in case you were wondering :)

I got a kick out of the pants tucked into the socks showing off these Chuckies!

A spur-of-the-moment shot...to bad the camera woman didn't quite capture the moment.  Drew's lookin' away and Trent's looking out from behind the lovely ant's antena.  Oh well!

It

was

a

day

to

remember!

It will be fun to go to the game this weekend and see the players we met.

SNOW DAY!

No school for 2 days in a row...the boys took advantage and spent some time out in the snow.

Trent built this high wall.

Drew's hadiwork!

A lil' bit o' Christmas

(The new football jerseys!)

Didn't want to pass up on a couple cute pics of my boys from Christmas.  I know it's long overdue!  I've gotten really behind at posting, life just gets too busy somedays.  We had Christmas with my mom and brothers at our house and then headed to Michigan for Christmas day.  My dad also came over to spend a short day with us.  We were actually home for New Years - first time in 5 years!  We even had an extra little guy with us.  We watched our friends son so they could help chaperone our churches jr. high retreat.  Our boys just loved having him follow them around!

(with Grandma!)

(The grandkids + a few significant others = 29)

(Ringin' in the new year...2010...in case you didn't get the hand gestures.)

(Drew playing cars with our guest...they played cars alot!)

(Trent gave great sled rides!)

B-BALLin'

Trent & Drew have been playing b-ball at the Y.  It has been loads of fun to watch them learn and play and SCORE!  Here are a few pics from the last few weeks.

Tooth Fairy...

Trent lost both of his front teeth within a week.  His first tooth came out at school with a little help from the school nurse.  She put it in a little treasure box for safe keeping.  After getting off the bus, Trent realized he must have left/lost his tooth at school.  In passing, trying to reassure Trent all would be fine, I said he could just write a note to the Tooth Fairy.

Fast forward to bedtime...I was tucking Trent in and he pulled something out from under his pillow. The note was SO SWEET! He did it all by himself! I read it, tried hard not to laugh, and ran out to the living room to show Mike.  The sticker attached to the bottom of his note was the one he got from the nurse and proudly wore all day.

The next morning as I was packing his lunch, I found the treasure box in his lunch bag.  He had not yet looked to see if the tooth fairy stopped during the night and so I snuck in and put the tooth under his pillow too.  When I asked Trent if he had looked under his pillow, he was SO shocked to see what was there with his money.  He said, "How did she find it?  She must have searched and searched all over ____ Elementary!  How did she know to bring it to my house?"  He was so excited.  Can't wait to laugh about that with him in a few years!

The other tooth came out after much convincing to let me JUST wiggle it.  I promised that was all I was going to do.  As I wiggled it forward, barely touching it-I might add, it just fell right out on my finger.  What a relief, I was getting really tired of hearing how it "hurt" when he ate anything.

I just LOVE this TOOTHLESS grin!

Music Concert

Trent's grade had a music concert.   It was cute, and he was so excited for us to hear him sing.  He wouldn't sing anything for us before the concert, but I could hear him singing it in his room or just when he thought we weren't listening.  His teacher told us she was so proud of him.  She said she could hear him and that he really "sang his heart out!"

Trent's class performed on the pouy-sticks.  After the concert we broused some of his artwork.  He painted a city and made a pinched clay bowl.  Man, he's growing up.