Does anyone know of a good plumber? Our dishwasher has a clog.....

What A Week!

I can't believe it's Friday! This week went by so quickly. Evan is home from school on summer break for about 13 more days, and I am loving having all of the boys together!

This week we did our best to keep busy and COOL! I helped the boys build wooden models and they had a blast painting their homemade toys! "We're just like elves!" Evan said. We made an army tank, a tractor, and a pickup truck. Yes, even Mom's can assemble models with their boys!

On Monday, Luke became the proud owner of a Ball Python. Potty training has been a rough road for Luke, and the normal potty training bribes were not enticing to him. We needed to speak straight to his heart. If we would have known a pet snake would have done the trick, he would have been potty trained at 18 months. Anyway, he named his snake Reggie and the whole family is in love with the new arrival. We can only hope the welcome will be this inviting when the baby gets here in two months!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Our Entomologist In Training, Luke...

This week was not unlike any ordinary week in the Olivas household. Placed high on our kitchen shelf, Luke tended to his bugs. This week, he successfully hatched over 400 (yes, 400) baby praying mantis's. Just in the last few weeks alone, Luke has hatched ladybugs & butterflies as well. Luke is in constant search of insects, spiders, or anything else we adults may refer to as PESTS! Luke needs to have his pockets checked for contraband on a regular basis. (I do my best to hide my fear of these critters from Luke.) He is the only kid I know who can pick up a stinkbug and thoroughly inspect it without getting sprayed. He keeps all of his specimens long enough to learn from them, and then returns them to their respectful homes. "Go feed your babies!" He says.

Look out, Jeff Corwin! You've got serious competition!

Messy, Mischievous Jack...

When I was asked last week, who out of the four boys was the biggest challenge, I didn't hesitate to answer. It's a no brainer...JACK! Jack needs to be watched 24/7. Jack does not like to be bored. Jack is in constant need of activities to keep him busy. Here are two pictures of what will happen if you take your eyes off Jack for longer than 30 seconds. The funny part is, even if I could 'tone him down' a few notches, I wouldn't change him for the world. Soon, I will look back and miss these days....

My baby is one!

I can't believe a year has gone by since Logan was born. Time goes so fast for us now! I feel like he's growing so quickly...too quickly. He's already into everything, crawling up the stairs, and trying harder and harder each day to imitate his big brothers. He LOVES wrestling, and he's good at it! It's about that time to take away his bottle and pacifier in preparation for the new baby. Even though he's taking 'baby steps' each day towards becoming a big boy, and even though he, himself, will be a big brother in three months, I am bound and determined not to let it happen too quickly. I think most Mom's can relate....once a baby, always a baby! Each in their own special way. (Just don't tell Dad!)

Friday Night Party Night!

Today is Friday, and at our house, that also translates to: Friday Night Party Night! We started a tradition (probably about 4 years ago) of having the boys sleep in our room every Friday night. We rent a movie, pop popcorn, eat M & M's, and drink Pepsi. Not the most nutritious time of the week, but certainly the most fun! When this tradition first started, we only had Evan and Luke (who was too young to participate), so Evan was the king of the party and got to sleep in our bed. Once Luke was old enough to join us, he slept in our bed as well. Things were simple back then. Evan, being the oldest, usually picked the movie, and we'd all sit on our bed munching our popcorn, while watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or another classic of the sort. The boys wouldn't last long, and Derek and I would soon find ourselves watching a movie of our own choosing, with two sleepyheads snoring peacefully between us. Here's how Friday Night Party Night unravels these days: First, we scramble all over town trying to find 'Jiffy Pop' popcorn. Our boys call it 'silly popcorn' and they love watching it expand as it pops. (They also love watching Daddy catch it on fire because he forgot to take the paper completely off!) This is the ONLY popcorn that they will eat on Friday nights. After finding the popcorn, we stop at the movie store and rent a movie for the night. Getting Evan, Luke and Jack to agree on one movie is like climbing Everest, but it usually works out. We take the 'silly popcorn' and the movie upstairs and get all the beds placed on our floor. Everyone has their own designated spot, sleeping bag, and pillow. (Little Logan doesn't yet know what he is missing, and is usually in his crib fast asleep by now) All the boys are given their own bowl of popcorn and/or M&M's, and a cup of water.....the Pepsi is only for Mom and Dad! They are supposed to stay on their sleeping bags, but we occasionally have the creeper A.K.A. Jack, who ever-so-quietly, sneaks onto the bed. Once everyone is asleep, (they make it through the entire movie now), Derek and I get up, brush our teeth, and go to bed ourselves. By now it's close to 11:00, and we're too tired to watch a movie. Our room is filled with sleeping boys and our carpet is littered with 'silly popcorn' spills. The perfect ending to Friday Night Party Night!