Where do I begin?

I was planning on blogging today about our lovely weekend and our family trip to the Cave Of The Winds. As a SAHM (stay at home mom), I am well-aware that I need to go with the flow. While I wake up each morning driven, ready and with a plan, things don't always go MY way. Take today, for example.....

The scene: We just got home from the car wash. It's a cheap activity/field trip that we don't even need to get out of the car for. Just roll your window down, hand the attendant $12.00 and drive on through. Yes, $12.00 is the most expensive wash, which also means it's the longest, thus taking the most time to get through. Are you catching on? Logan hates the car wash. It terrifies him. But, the look on his face as we drive through is very entertaining to the rest of the gang. I wouldn't want to spoil that, would I?

Jumping back on track.

So we're at home and I am painstakingly detailing the rims and tires of our suburban. You heard me.....DETAILING THE RIMS AND TIRES. I am a wonderful wife. I gave the boys each a scrub brush and a floor mat from the car to clean. Child labor laws went out the window and things were looking quite sparkly and clean.

Then it happened. Thing one and thing two began to fight. Next thing I knew, a water fight broke out and I had been doused with soapy water. What's even worse is the fact that my clean car had soapy water all along it's side. I immediately sent the guilty party into the garage to get a roll of paper towels to dry the car. I do not tolerate water spots and I'm not about to let $12.00 go down the drain. Inside the garage, a tug-of-war began....over a roll of paper towels and 'who found it first'.

Then something crashed to the floor. I glanced from the driveway (still detailing the tires) and made sure the crash did not involve a head, or any other form of injury. All was good. The guilty ones dried the car and we spent another 30 minutes cleaning.

We cleaned up our mess and headed into the garage. That's when I found this:

What's a mom to do?

Here's the lineup. Let me know who YOU think is guilty.

Business in the front, PARTY in the back!

I never imagined I would utter the words cute and mullet in the same sentence. Like oil and water, they just don't belong together. But I have to share with you a little secret...my baby has a MULLET and it is irresistibly CUTE.

At least to me it is.

I love to run my fingers through it's silkiness. I love how it flows halfway down his back when you wash it. I love, I love, I LOVE! But apparently, I am flying solo in this mullet love triangle. Derek has been pleading for weeks to give Wes his first haircut. I've ignored and refused his requests.

This weekend I took a family vote. Not just our little gang of 7, but a large pool of voters that included several members of our extended family.

The verdict was not in my favor.

Goodbye my sweet, silky baby mullet. I will miss you.

Look how excited he is! He has no idea what's about to come. Poor guy wasn't even granted a vote.

Not sure about the sound of the clippers. (Or the tears in mommy's eyes.)

The finished product. (I haven't seen the back of his neck since he was a newborn.)

It's a cute neck.

If you'd like, please tell me which style YOU prefer. Mullet baby or Jock baby? I'm anxiously awaiting your response.

This one made me cry.....

Yesterday was Thursday folder day. I LOVE Thursday folder day. If you've ever wondered what your child has been doing at school, Thursday folders embrace your answer.

This excitement makes the walk home from the bus stop on Thursdays seem like an eternity. As soon as we step foot inside our front door (and as soon as I've double-checked to make sure I haven't mistakenly left a child unattended in the garage....not like it's ever happened), I plop down onto the floor and begin the Thursday folder RAID.

As I sorted through Evan's, I came across an assignment he did the first week of school. A Bio-Poem, to be exact. Here's what it said:

My Bio-Poem

Evan

Athletic, nice, thoughtful and 48 inches tall.

4 brothers.

Lover of: Water, baseball and books.

Who feels: Heavy, tall and sleepy.

Who needs: Sister, new socks and new shorts.

Who gives: Learning to brothers, bedtime stories and time alone.

Who fears: Ugly spiders, toads and ugly plants.

Who would like to: Buy everything, to own everything and to be an Indian.

Your city: Highlands Ranch, Fox Fire Lane.

Last name: Olivas

(I just cried...again...as I typed that.)

To my son, Evan~

Yes, you ARE nice, thoughtful and 48 inches tall.

I LOVE that you love books.

I hope that you only feel heavy and tall because you are growing so quickly before my eyes. The sleepy part we need to discuss. An earlier bedtime, perhaps?

I wasn't aware that you needed new socks, but I just inventoried your sock drawer and you are correct. Sorry about the oversight, dude. I'll get right on that. I WAS aware that you desired a sister. This part made mommy's heart ache. It has been a life-long dream of mine to adopt a baby girl from China. I'm not sure if I've ever told you, but when my brother was born and I found out he wasn't a baby girl from China, I protested. I have grown to love him, but it wasn't always easy. If mommy and daddy could find a way to bring a precious baby girl into our loving home, we would do it tomorrow. Never say never.

You are, indeed, a VERY giving boy. Not a day goes by where I am not thankful and proud of the person you are growing to be. Your brothers have learned most of what they know from you and I know that they appreciate each and every bedtime story you give.

Your fear of spiders was a gift from me. Sorry to have handed that one down. As for the toads and ugly plants, I will do my best to protect you from them.

As far as buying and owning everything, as your parents, we are doing our best to give you everything your heart could ever desire...and more. However, these things are not items money can buy. LOVE, SUPPORT, COURAGE, RESPECT, WISDOM, EXPERIENCE, HEALTH....the list goes on. Do you want to know the best part? You can own as many as you want.....for free.

Since you were 2, you have always wanted to be an Indian. (This one didn't surprise me) While I can't promise you'll ever become one, I could take you to the library to check out some books about them. Deal?

You amaze me.

(in tears again)

Love,

Mom

PS-I'm sorry I had to send you to bed last night with no dessert. It's tough being a parent and trying to do the right thing. You've earned a double-scoop tonight.

Dear Diary...

Dear Diary,

As I tucked two of my boys into bed last night, I saw things that made me ponder. OK, Diary.....if there is anyone I can be frank with, it's you, right? So let's cut the crap. These things were a bit disturbing to me.

The first, and probably the most freakish, was my oldest son who I found attempting to sleep in a box that was 1/4 of his size. Covered up with his favorite blankie (shhhh, don't let his homies know), he was well on his way to dreamland. I asked why he chose to sleep in a box, to which I was awarded the proverbial 'I dunno'. I offered a lecture about the hidden dangers of sleeping in a box and included a motivational speech titled, " You can do so much more with your life....honestly, how many famous contortionists to you actually know?" I closed my arguments with a kiss and said good night.




As I moved across the hall, I came to my son, Jack's, bed. There I found a pile of stuffed animals that would make the Himalayas pale in comparison. We managed to shove the pile the the far corner of his bed in an effort to create enough room for him to breathe as he slept. The twisted and tangled heap no longer looked like a beautiful mountain range, but quickly resembled that of a pet cemetery. Although he is our animal lover extraordinaire/stuffed animal hoarder, I hear by ban all friends and family members from purchasing anything 'stuffed' for Jack until further notice. All who break this rule shall suffer a S L O W and PAINFUL death. (OK, forget the death part, but may you at least feel some sort of pain.)



Thanks for listening, diary. Until we talk again,
Amy

Quick trip...

Due to my lovely sinus infection (happy summer to me), our trip to my Dad's house in Westcliffe was cut short by one day. We were there less than 24 hours, but that didn't keep us from doing each and every activity we normally do. We had a great time visiting with Dad, Annette, and her two daughters, Jillian and Emily.

The best shooter that ever was......ahem.

Custom bench built by Dad to ensure safety for all who desire a tractor ride.

Insects galore.

Kisses galore for all the little grasshoppers.

More tractor rides in hopes of tiring 5 little boys. (no such luck)

Uno games with your new Aunties (or sisters as Jack prefers)

Yes, more tractor rides.

Until next time!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To School We Go!

The Big Kindergartner!

Watch out, 3rd grade....here he comes!

(Thank you, Stephanie, for saving me with your camera!)

Can you believe it?

10 days of summer vacation and then starts a new year of school.

What a rip off. A little part of me would like to move to a city that provides a conventional school calendar. My boys deserve to know what a true summer break would be like.

Yesterday was Evan and Luke's first day of school. 3rd grade for Ev, Kindergarten for Lukey. Derek raced home early from work so that we could pick them up together at the bus stop. (The bus stop that has now been moved to a gazillion miles from our house......don't even get me started) As we walked home (a gazillion miles) we asked the boys to tell us something about their first day.

Evan-Mrs. Harwood says 'High five' to us and then we all put our hands in the air and listen. She is nice and told us that chocolate isn't a good snack to bring to school. I showed her the pretzels you packed me, mom, and she said those were fine. Oh, and Isabella hit someone on the first day of school. I think that's all.

Luke-My favorite things were recess and riding the bus home. We get a really long recess. Like 4 minutes. My friend is Zach and my girl's name is Caroline. Don't pick me up from the bus tomorrow, mommy. I can walk home all by myself.

So there you have it. The first day of school.

Without a hitch.

Note to Luke: See you at the bus stop, dude.

I'm Baaaaaack!

All 7 Grandsons at the Veterans Memorial in HR. Evan's big catch at Uncle Big Dan's house.

I think I'll spring for tubs of night crawlers more frequently. Kept them busy for hours. Snowflake catching....summer style.

Before we start, I have to make something clear. The title of today's post must not be confused with the "I'm baaaaaack" eerily spoken by Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Please refer to the song Back In The Saddle (Aerosmith) as you read this post. Perhaps the lyrics will move from my head to yours. Thank you.

I'm apologizing from the get-go. I feel as though my thoughts (and as a result, my writing) are dull and boring. My birthday was last week and my creative flair seems to have left along with the number 33. Bummer.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. Dec, Lorie, Braden & Ryan came to town and we had a wonderful time with them. Our house was bustling with 7 little boys who kept us very busy. We took two day trips while they were here, one to Grand Lake (fishing at Uncle Big Dan's house) and the other to Estes Park (shopping and eating purposes only). It's hard to believe that their Colorado visit is already over and that we'll have to wait forever until we see them again.

Side note: I just looked down at Wes and noticed he's wearing a pair of handcuffs. Do I stop blogging? Do I take a picture to show you? They're actually keeping him quite intrigued. I'll keep typing.....

My Dad came for one night and the boys were super-excited to see him. It's almost been a year since we've seen him - way too long! We're planning on heading to his house this weekend. Have I mentioned before that EVERY time we're there we encounter a bear? Sometimes they're on the hill watching us. Other times they're on the front porch (mama and her two cubs) sorting through the dirty diapers to get the good trash. I could really do without the anxiety this brings.

Today Derek and I took Evan & Luke to meet their teachers. School starts on Wednesday. They got a whopping 10 day break in between school years. Oh how I loath year-round school.

Just as I'm getting into my blogging groove, I'm noticing it's time to start dinner. You know my routine. I've got 10 minutes until Derek gets home and things need to be Cleaverish before he arrives. Not for him, but entirely for me. It's how I like it. It's just how I roll.

Thanks for reading. Hope I didn't bore you. I'm off to grab my apron.

PS-I'm shouting out to my peeps at US Airways. To Lisa and any of my other loyal readers - thanks for making me feel wanted!