Rookie

Our lives have been invaded by T Ball. Three days a week. Today was the first game. During breakfast I told Tobin he was going to be playing the Giants. His eyes got real big and he asked, "about how big are they mom?". Tobin did well and told me not to cheer so loud, apparently it inhibits him to run in a straight line to first.

Here's some pictures of our Cub.

Conversations Worth Remembering

Tobin: age 5 1/2 

Me: age 31 11/12

Place: Mini Van en-route to MOPS 

When: Two weeks ago

Tobin: Mom, did you know that Beethoven was the first person to invent music?

Me: No, I didn't know that. 

Tobin: Beethoven is my favorite. Do you know why he's my favorite?

Me: (turning down Beyonce' to hear why on earth Tobin enjoys Beethoven) Why?

Tobin: 'Cause his last name's "Tobin"

My Carefree Weekend

Jill, Stefanie and I got away for our annual, "Get me the h*** out of my house" weekend. We usually do this pre-Christmas so we can call it a productive Christmas shopping trip but this year we waited a month for Ms. Ruby to be weened. This was the first time in four years that we have had our weekend baby free. Every other year one of us has been nursing. We had such a great time window shopping, drinking Starbucks, eating Miso Salmon, antiquing, giggling all hours of the night, and we even went to the movies! (Jill will have more on that!) Of course this was all possible because our husbands know the value of having refreshed wives and made every effort to assure us that they could do our job fine for a few days. Matt even took on the task of watching Mike and Stefs three little girls for the day on Saturday. He seemed completely confident in taking on the task and even told me he had a craft planned. I did forget to ask him what the craft was..... hum....... perhaps he had the pre-schoolers make semi automatic weapons out of toothpicks? Or maybe homemade napalm? I'll have to ask. Here's a little clip of his adventure. 

PS, Jill and Stef, I didn't want to call you guys with this news but Tobin has been puking all morning. I think all our kids have been together sometime or another this weekend so...... heads up. 

Bone Loss..... The Good Kind

Parents, 

I need your help. What's the going rate for a first tooth?

Warmly,

The Tooth Fairy

PCOS

I just realized that my title could refer to Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome but really I've just self-diagnosed myself with Post Christmas is Over Syndrome. It's a brand new syndrome yet to be in the DSM V.  Truth is I am sad the holiday is over. We hosted all the parties this season and I loved that my new house was bustling with all the people I love. The flow worked great, just as I had imagined it as I was scouring over house plans.  It's just so sad when it's over. The guilt free cookies, fudge, and whipped cream on everything. The threats to children to shape up or Santa won't come. The sparkly decorations and smell of a pine tree in my living room. And the snow! We had a white Christmas. First I can ever remember. It really put an authentic spin to the whole thing. And oh how I love a good  Christmas party. Matt and I even went to the city's police party where is was awarded police officer of the year! (He made me promise not to tell anyone cause he's humble and shy like that. So I am just going to WRITE it here for a few people to read. See I didn't say a word.) 

Here is Christmas 2008 review in pictures: 

The tree I just took down.

The stocking that are now in the attic. Oh and see that big clock I got for Christmas. It's so perfect. How does Santa know these things?

But my all time favorite gift was this!

 Angela and I exchanged ornaments this year and I may have mentioned that I really wanted a house to represent our new one this year. So Darrin made me this replica! Amazingly thoughtful. 

All Mike and Pam's grandkid in matching PJ's.

Don't you hate it when you get the perfect Christmas card photo AFTER you send them all out?

My grandparent loving watching Phoebe force feeding her baby doll.

Sweet brothers.

Cousin Mariko looking really happy for Phoebe's present.

Not only does he know the odds of successfully navigating an asteroid field, he does a mean Fire Marshal Bill face. (5000 bounce points to anyone else who know these odds.)

Daddy and Phoebe. Seems like she doesn't like the itchy whiskers. Join the club.

It was so wonderful seeing the twins really get into the spirt of Christmas. 

See Jabe's cute long locks? I just cut them off before his nap. Looking at this picture, I totally regret it. 

And now let the long, cold, wet winter resume. May spring be here fast. 

Right of Passage

Every household/culture has one. A symbol of coming of age. For some it's a Bar Mitzvah others a Quinceanera  or maybe it's the first swig of beer. From the moment the radiologist said, "it's a boy"  Matt had one thing on his mind. Hunting? Shooting? Baseball? All good hypotheses but all would be wrong.  Matt has been waiting (not so patiently) for Tobin to be ready to watch Star Wars. Star Wars has played a major theme in Matt's life. Falling in love with them as a boy and memorizing every word, line, hatch number has made him the freak-show of every party. After being pronounced husband and wife we even walked down the aisle to the Star Wars theme song. To reveal the sex of our first child we had our friends and family solve a puzzle that read, "I am a Jedi, like my father before me." And this year under the Christmas tree lights, Tobin woke up to his own set of original Star Wars trilogy DVDs with a note from Santa that he had proved to be a brave boy and would be able to watch these legends that his Dad had been preparing him for.  So nap time at our house has been reserved for Tobin and Dad time on the couch, with amazing snacks and eye popping thrills. I don't know who is happier? Tobin, Matt or me cause I've had Hans Solo in my living room for three days?

A Thank You Note

Dear Cousin Stacey,

A big sarcastic thank you for leaving your magic thigh growing homemade Christmas cookies at my house after our family party. Because of my thighs secret plot to take over the world they will not get wasted.

Love,

Can't stop eating them at 11 pm,

Becca

What You've Been Waiting For

The people have spoken and I will deliver. I have been putting off posting pictures of the house cause....well, cause I wanted to take you though each agonizing step. See the studs, the dry wall, the windows, the porch....and I have the photos I just still need to edit them, and put them in order. Maybe someday I'll put one of those fancy side bar slideshow of the whole build job. I have been needing to take down that poll I put up a bunch of months ago on how often you all make your bed. Can I just say that after analyzing all that data I have come to the conclusion that you are all a bunch of liars. Anyway onto your demands. The house. K here she is. 

Well just the outside. I 'll take you in soon. Just let me get a few more of these cardboard boxes out of the way. 

Almost Home

The house is ...... finished. Our house. The home that we will live in for ..... forever. Tomorrow Mikey, (builder/brother-in-law) is having an open house. Then after that it is all mine! As you can imagine the next few weeks will be hectic. And I am real sorry I don't have pictures for you today. Soon. I promise. Better yet come see the place tomorrow. 

PS It is beyond fantastic. 

Picture This

A few Wednesdays ago, I had an over-scheduled day. I had booked myself with appointments, birthday dinner, Tobin's pre-school, taekwondo, and I was teaching Bible Study and speaking at our evening MOPS group at the same time. The hardest part of the whole day is just getting out the door [on time] in the morning. Trying to anticipate what everyone might need though out the day. Sippy cups, snacks, diapers, extra clothes, small toys, Tobin's show-and-tell and lunch, purse, cash, keys, lip gloss, extra barrette, and a partridge in a pear tree.

That morning while getting the kids dressed, I had no clean jeans for Tobin. Only shorts and it was a blistery fall day so shorts wouldn't do. I dug real deep and found a pair of overalls. Now overalls are perfect when you're two or eighty-two but not five. Tobin is a tall kid for his age and these overalls just plain look silly on him. They barely cover his ankles and kinda ride up his crack a bit....can you picture this?

But really I had no choice so I thought I'd just go all out and pick out a bright yellow John Deere shirt and call the whole thing a farm boy theme day. I knew his teachers would smile and think, "awe Tobin dressed himself today, how sweet." I took a long look at Tobin as we were leaving the house. This lanky kid in Dennis the Mennis overalls and uncombed hair with breakfast on his face and said a little prayer that the other kids wouldn't tease him.

My day flew and finally it was time to pick up Tobin from school. I was happy to see that he looked like he had a great day. When he jumped in the car he announced, "Guess what mom, Today was PICTURE DAY!"

Just another reason why I need to started writing things down in a date book.

I'm back

I have taken quite a hiatus from posting. I've never wanted my blog to be a place of guilt over not writing and lately I have just simply had too much on my plate. But I must write again because my kids are getting older everyday and Tobin has given me too much material to sit on and I must share it with the internet and future high school girlfriend.

I don't have time to write much today but I wanted to show you the picture that I just can't stop looking at.

Phoebe.

Age: Barely Two.

I see me, shrunk in a dryer. Kidding. She does look a lot like me but I truly do know that she holds so many mysteries. I am really looking forward to getting to know her better. What do you see when you look at it?

Super Mom

I have hi-jacked Becca's blog to publicly announce how much of a super mom and wife she is!   I had surgery on Wednesday and have been unable to care for myself, let alone help out with the kids much.  I have seen first hand these past few days something I think I already knew, but never really saw up close or appreciated, my wife is such an amazing woman!  I thought my job was hard, I mean I really thought my job was hard, but it's a freekin cake walk compared to the shananigans I've seen these kids pull these past few days, which I'm told are common practice.  Becca is full of love, grace, patience and compassion for her family, I feel so honored to be her husband and for her to be the mother of our children.  I'm somewhat speachless on how she deals with the screaming, the whining, the begging, the throwing of food, toys, and each-other.  She always comes into the room with a smile and asks me if she can get me anything and apologizes for the noise.  There's just so much chaos, biting, crying and pooping, I just don't think I can take it anymore, but somehow, becca fights back with a smile, a soft comforting voice, stern discipline when necessary and even a laugh or two.  I've decided to put her in for a Super Mom blog award!  I felt compelled to write this to let you all know what you all probably already knew, my wife's a stud, and she's hot!  I know some of the guys are going to make fun of me when they read this, they're thinking that I'm just trying to suck up to get some more action or something, I know how you guys think!  Anyway, that's it, love you babe!

Bring Your Babe To Work Day

Lucky you that I brought my trusty pocket camera with me to one of Matt's SWAT training days. I got to drive with Matt in this monster of a vehicle to an area of town that has all these abandoned buildings. The team uses them to practice realistic scenarios of crime and general unpleasantness that our society can bring. These building are really really gross. Lots of broken glass, rodent droppings, and graffiti. Oh and did I mention that it was smelly and the whole time I was hoping that my tetanus shot was updated? I was so exciting spending the day with Matt at work and watching the process that this brotherhood of men have perfected to ensure their safety and ours. They really do move together like a synchronized ballet. A ballet with automatic weapons. I even shot some video but Matt said I couldn't post them on the (high) chance that some drug dealer reads Glory Laine and is taking notes on the SWAT teams tactics using their secrets for evil and not good. I complied but am sad. Maybe if you all protest in the comment section he'll give in to your deepest wishes and forsake his safety for our enjoyment. (Can't hurt to try.) Anyway on to my pictures......

They don't look so tough carrying their baby dolls, do they.

Check out this sniper. He was all comfy in his position until I pointed out that he was laying on an ant hill. Boy those SWAT boys can move fast. This one is cuUte.Other SWAT babes.OK so I warned you these building were gross, right? They have been inhabited by run-a-ways, drug users and well, people who don't spell well. In case you don't speak jive, sNIfer is a major insult. This is Jet. He is an amazing animal. I was so impressed with all the OO7 technology that these guys use. This is a camera that looks like a gun. It captures images in rooms without having to send an officer in. They also had these round rolling camera that they can throw down a dark hallway or room. They call them (ahem) SWAT balls.

I know I look like I could do some damage with this bad boy. But in reality it took one of the guys five minuets to position each of my fingers so that I could play off this picture. I'm a lover not a fighter.

Framed

I know, I know all of you tens of readers have been waiting for house pictures. Well here are a few more. Please note that it's much further along now. In fact it should be all framed tomorrow! Walking tour to come.