Little brothers.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ....

I should be packing ....

I'm headed out of town tomorrow for four days to attend a social science conference in Salt Lake with some colleagues and students. I am always excited about these types of events two months prior when I sign up for them ... but then the night before I leave ... I start to miss my kiddos madly. I know that they will have a FABULOUS time with Daddy. In fact, I fondly remember the times my mom was out of town and Dad was in charge. This afternoon I had to run a few errands to get ready to go and so as we were driving I was telling the kids that I would miss them to the moon and back. It prompted a long conversation. Ultimately Mylie decided she would miss me to Pulto (she can't quite say Pluto) and back. Blake said he would miss me to the duck poop in the pond and back (seriously?) Other miss you locations included New York City, Walmart, and Disneyland. I do have to say how grateful I am for Jeff. He supports me completely in everything I do and is an awesome and amazing father. I am a pretty blessed girl.

Spring Soccer Time!

Spring soccer started back up today and let me just say, it was COLD!! This Blake's first year in soccer. We thought he was pretty excited. It has been one of his main motivators for getting potty trained. He has a new yellow soccer ball. I'll let you guess if he was excited: He spent more time on Jeff or I's lap than playing. Sigh. Of course, after his team was done and we were waiting for Mylie's team to start, he was all over going out and kicking the ball around. Figures!

Mylie, seriously, that girl is a soccer rock star. Didn't complain about the cold once and played her heart out. I can see improvement in her from fall. Plus, isn't she just so stinkin' cute! I think so.

Hopefully it warms up soon!

Six Weeks?

Seriously? I just realized that I haven't blogged in six weeks. Six weeks in blogshere is paramount to a lifetime. Now that I sit down to write something that isn't related to the criminal justice system, I realize how much I have missed blogging, and in fact how much I need it. But first a recap ...

This one, amazes me every day.

• She loves school and continues to do very well.


• She impresses me with her reading and I can tell she will have a lifetime love of reading like her parents.


• She started spring soccer (it is cold) and is adjusting. She is on a different team this year and doesn't know any of the kids (most of them are older than her, she has mad skills).


• I am learning that it is getting a bit tougher for her to adapt to change. (She had a substitute bus driver the other day and for some reason she had a tough time with that.)


• She packs her and Blake's lunches every day.


• She would craft all day long if she could.


• Recently went to her first hockey game.


• Loves IKEA and going out to eat (also known as a perfect girls weekend!)

This one, makes me laugh every day.

• He is potty training like a rock star.


• He starts soccer on Saturday (with his "lellow" soccer ball).


• His fashion idol is Napoleon Dynamite.


• Would watch cartoons (mainly "Olivia" and "Max and Ruby") all day long if I would let him.


• Thinks every baby he sees is "Baby Terling" (his new cousin).


• Is obsessed with superheros (and underpants with superheros on them).


• Likes shooting "bad guys, witches, and chickens" with his gun.


• Still loves to snuggle his mommy.

This one, still makes my heart pitter-patter.

• He is figuring out what he wants to be when he grows up.


• He is gracefully and professionally dealing with politics and politicians.


• He is riding his bike and grateful for the days of sunshine.


• He is doing PX90.


• Which means he is losing weight (20 pounds so far).


• He is reading a lot.


• He likes to shoot baskets in the driveway.


• He is taking Mylie to a math night at her school tomorrow.

And me, well, what to say about me ...

• I am tired ... but I have used 10 pm - 2 am as workable hours for so long, it is hard to give them up.


• I am excited that spring is getting close. I can hear birds chirping in the morning.


• I am behind on grading ... but may have accepted the only time I will ever be caught up on grading is at the end of the semester.


• I am feeling creative - I just can't find the time to do much about it.


• I think about taking pictures a lot, I just don't do it a lot.


• I love picking up my kids from school every day.


• I love visiting prisons and am looking forward to taking students on field trips this month.


• I am not sure if I am looking forward to taking 8 students to a conference out of state next week.


• I am wondering how my home office got so cluttered again, when it was spotless two weeks ago.


• I am *slightly* addicted to Angry Birds, but have been stuck on level 12 on my phone for days now. Sigh.


• I have been streaming Law and Order SVU at night while I grade papers.


• I am slowly losing weight (17 pounds, but many more to go).


• I have cut down on diet coke and LOVE mango peach crystal light in my water bottle.


• I am realizing that my personality traits may always cause me to struggle with finding balance in my life.


• My favorite show on TV is Parenthood.


• Jeff mocks that fact every Tuesday night.


• I hung up crime scene tape in my cubicle this week.


• I like my new haircut.


• I just ate 3 jello cups.


• I shouldn't do self portraits at midnight.


• I have probably bored my blog readers (all 2 of them).

Til next time ...

Yee-haw

I have too many funny Blake stories to remember them all, but yesterday, we were at Coscto. We were walking down an aisle and Blake sees an older gentleman wearing a cowboy hat. At the top of his lungs he yells, YEE-HAW!

Oh Blakey.

Willing Spring ...

We had a spring teaser last weekend. It was beautiful, like 60 degrees beautiful. After church we took the kids over the playground at the school. Mylie took her scooter, though she got the scooter when she was two and a half, she is a bit too big for it now. But she still had fun.

She was so proud of herself trying the monkey bars. I love this look on her face!

Blake stayed pretty busy on the playground.

We took Blake's bike and Jeff was helping him ride it. I love these next two pictures.

Of course, the spring teaser was just that, a teaser. It has snowed, been windy and cold for the better part of this week. Sigh. It was fun while it lasted.

Happy Birthday Blakey!

Three years ago it was superbowl Sunday. Instead of watching the game at home and partying, we were watching it at the hospital. I don't remember who played or anything about the game, except that during the 5 o'clock hour a big bundle of joy came into our lives. Blakey (AKA Bubba) was a whopping 9 pounder who stole my heart and has not given it back.

Before having Blake I could not imagine how I could love another baby as much as I loved Mylie. I couldn't comprehend how my heart could hold that much love. But it does, it just happens.

Today we celebrated Blake's 3rd birthday. He got to take cupcakes to school to share with his friends. When Daddy got home from work tonight we opened presents.

Taking a call from Papa.

Wondering why Lila got him a bike bell?

Mylie was so excited for him to open his presents from her. She got him batman silly bands, books and a coloring book.

THIS is my favorite picture from the whole day. We told him to close his eyes while we got his other presents.

Then he decided to just cover his eyes, except he was peeking.

Daddy brought in two surprises for him. A new big boy bike!! He was so excited.

And a new gun. Let's just say that Bosco may need therapy someday. He is Blake's favorite moving target.

Apparently all boys like guns that make noise and light up.

Blake picked Carl's Jr. for his birthday dinner. So after opening presents it was off to there. The kids had fun playing. We came back home for birthday cake.

I think Blakey had a great birthday. He certainly has added so much to our family. He is such a funny little boy and I can't help but laugh every single day. He is a cuddlebug and a momma's boy, and I like that. He is also a daddy's boy and his sister's best friend.

Trying to hold up 3 fingers ... its kind of tricky!! Happy Birthday Blake!