Mutton Bustin

http://youtu.be/au7DIRi9Bhw

County fair yesterday with the family.  We ate and ate and ate....oh yeah and Jack begged us to do Mutton Bustin so we entered him and he got 3rd place.  So proud of our little buddy.  Click on the link above to see the videos posted to youtube.  One is my view and the other is Flo's. 

Happy Fall!

paint paint and more paint - a way to pass the time until L-day!

Remember in one of the last blogs I showed you our current dining situation and said we were working on a project? Well it's done! So glad because it turned out to be quite a project - not super tough or anything but lots of steps.  So I was pretty glad that my hubby decided to help me since I'm trying to stay off my feet and I love the way it turned out.....

 so this was our old buffet and hutch and table set.....lots of black and spots of red. 

 It was nice (and cheap!) but just not quite us.... so I found an even cheaper set on craigslist, bought it and sold my old one for even more.  Made some money and spent a week with furniture on our back lawn!

 They started out dark green with a natural wood top to the table....but after taking the seats off, stripping the paint, sanding, sanding and sanding.  then priming, painting, distressing and sealing.... perfect country dining, just our style!

 The spray king. That spray gun saved me so much time!!

 and now I love how light and bright it is (especially with the cute white knobs with black Polk-a-dots).

 Definitely happy the project is done but happier that for $75 we have a new dining room that fits our style more and eating Cheerios off the tiny kids table is a thing of the past!

 this is me at 34 weeks!! officially 5 weeks from today until my C-section for Mr. Wyatt James and I am definitely feeling the aches and pains but getting excited to hold him in my arms instead of having him play the drums on my bladder!

 The boys are getting just a little excited too and picked out a small present for him for when he gets here... meet Bob the Bear.

 And,  the boy stuff just keeps coming.  I don't know why I am shocked.  They climb, spit, throw and run every where but after only 6 days of riding without training wheels Jack rolled by me down the street doing stunts already.  Remind me to double check our health insurance and make sure we have a good co-pay plan for the ER.

 And then this came rolling down the street after.....  matter of fact.  I need to carry bandages and cleaning solution with me at all times.

And just because I thought it was funny, this is what my third boy (Flo) does when blowing the grass off the patio after mowing... Jack's hair.  He looks exactly like little Jack Jack from the incredibles!

never a dull moment!

Training wheels? NO THANKS!!!

Proud Mama and Papa today in the the Florence household.... Jack Attack decided after seeing his cousin with no training wheels that today was the deal to lose the bike crutches. So now we have one kiddo riding a big kid bike and our other who just graduated to from a trike to a bike.... I guess its time for another baby since everyone in this house is growing up so fast!!

ps. this video was a total of 10 minutes after he learned

Labor of love

Two whole months again since I last posted? I am really slacking aren't I? May seemed to get eaten up with softball EVERYTHING! Between districts, regionals and state, practices and extra team and coaching duties we lived and breathed Titan softball for a month.  I had such a blast and was actually sad when it ended because the team was great this year (finished top 8 in state out of over 90 3A teams) but also just a great group of girls and the boys and Flo really got into as well and loved coming to the games to support myself and the team.

June....where did June go again? Jack finished up his first year of pre-school at Spokane Valley Calvary Christan pre-school which means I only have him at home for one more year until kindergarten. WHAT?!? Its hard to believe that he is almost 4 1/2 already.

We have been pretty busy now that the weather decided that its going to be summer by cramming in library time, sprinklers, parks, our kiddie pool, trampoline and oh yeah....a few projects or two!

 Coop graduated from the tricycle to bike with one impromptu trip to wal-mart when Flo was out of town and now he can keep up with walks and rides around the neighborhood.  He has made HUGE strides in pedaling and steering and can really cruise....braking is another story.  I'll keep you posted.

 The first of two biggest events in our house happened this summer (Cars 2 coming out and baby Wyatt James coming out - in the words of the boys).  Complete with popcorn, m&m's, licorice and new Cars 2 outfits. 

I took the boys downtown to support Daddy for Hoopfest (who's team got 2nd) on Sunday and between the life size otter pops and snow cones we made it.  And, yes that is me sporting my belly with 8 weeks to go (no officially less than 7!!)

And my labor of love so far this summer? Jack's new room down stairs. 

When buying the bunk bed two years ago we envisioned the boys sharing and bliss in our house.  The boys shared for the past two months and yes they loved it but were both so sleep deprived (especially cooper who is a light sleeper) that behavior and lots of happiness went to the wayside. Come to think of it I might know why I haven't blogged in two months....

 So Jack got his sports room in the basement and I spent 4 cans of paint, numerous rollers and brushes and mom hours and turned sold old pieces of furniture scored on craigslist into his cute little vintage sports room.

 That trundle bed and I spent many-a-hours in the garage together sanding, priming, painting and sealing .

 And after staring out like this! and with Flo saying "are you sure this is what you wanted" when the guy dropped it off.  I am pretty excited with how it turned out!

 His new nightstand (which is already getting lots of little trinkets and toys in the drawers as needed) with navy Polk-a-dot knobs.

 Cork squares to hang all his art projects and stuffed animal bin.

 And the monstrous dresser that I got off craigslist with navy knobs.  Built like fort Knox but with scratches in the wood it just wasn't the look I was going for....

 So I turned it from this into my country distressed version (that lets face it - if I don't distress from the start the boys will help me with that later and I will always notice that one or two scratches!)

 So there's his big boy room and for less than $300, instead of going into the bedroom to lecture and put boys back into bed well past 10 and 11 its now quiet again in our house and I am smiling for the first time since they started sharing.  Don't get me wrong....I LOVE LOVE LOVE that they loved sharing a room, but just couldn't take the repercussions it had on my sanity level.  Sleepovers will definitely still happen with a bunk in Coops room and a trundle in Jack's but not with school, or church or doctor's appointments the next day when they need to be little boys and not monsters!:)

so whats next on the agenda? sold the dining room table and chairs and using this for now...because I have my next project in the garage being worked on!!

Hello, Good bye Spring

I know its been a while since I last posted...no excuses just lots of changes around our house and little time to cuddle up with the laptop at night to post pics - including the impending arrival of our little man Wyatt James due around the middle of August.  Lots of interesting changes being pregnant the 3rd time including never ending morning sickness and headaches but the on the upside, the boys have kept me so busy that I haven't had time to focus on any of that!

Our lives have been pretty go go this Spring with Flo traveling quite a bit, have Maggie living with us - and adding transportation multipliers to our schedules, volunteering at preschool, watching two other boys a few days a week and softball 6 days a week.... I think we are just trying to keep ourselves so busy that when we actually have 3 kids, we will think its a piece of cake!!

 That pic was taken just this last week. at practice.... yep, that is the theme of this Spring.  Never know what you are going to get.  We've been in the gym as much as outside but the good news is we are ranked #1 in state for softball and I have been having a great time with this team - as are the boys who are regulars at the games this year!

 Jack and Preston (his buddy) getting made up with painters tape as super hero's at a dinner with friends.

 Cooper's 2nd ever dentist appointment.  It was a MILLION times better than the first!!! So proud of him.  Two kids who are cavity free and love the dentist. 

 Playing with their air-rockets on one of the few sunny days....

 Cooper on Easter (barfed on the helper at church during the service) and spent the next 2 days sick.  Pretty much the only time that he wants to snuggle all the time with us, so there was an upside :)

 Horseback riding and baby chick holding at a friend's property.  LOVE the farm life!

 Because of the long winter/spring we became mobious members again and the boys have been totally digging the new construction exhibit.

 The two kiddos have become super good friends and seem to come up with the funniest games to play from sitting on Santa's (jack's lap) and handing out gifts to race car drivers to super hero's....

 all boy.  nough said.

 And today's big addition.....the trampoline.  They jumped for an hour and napped for 3.  I would say that's a good investment!!

Couldn't get enough of sitting in the back yard watching them play after we got it put together - especially since its supposed to rain so much this next week!!! Enjoy it while we can!!

So much has happened but we are so busy living life and making it through each day that the spring seemed to get away from us!! Playoffs are here next week and then June will be here before we know it.  Aaaahhhh summer :)

Stay-cation

Nothing exotic, expensive or super flashy about this past weekend but with Kenny out of town and Maggie spending the weekend with my sister and mom, we had the house back to the four of us this weekend and had a blast! We kicked off the weekend with tubing at Bear Creek Lodge with Jack's pre-school class families and decided on the spot we are going to go back every year! We might not be a big ski family (partially due to cost and time and having young kids) but we can be a snowshoeing/tubing family in the winter.  It was awesome! Secretly I almost peed my pants down the first run because it was crazy fast and took my breath away but slowly I learned to relax and had a blast.  The kids took less time to relax and were soon riding down the hill on their own in their own tubes.  I gave birth to dare devils I tell you!We left amongst tears from the boys and promises that we would return soon (and great parenting skills of distraction by promising a special treat on the way home). 

On Saturday morning we went to visit Big Grandma and Grandpa (Flo's grandparents) and had a great time visiting with them and the boys. I think we get too caught up in our daily lives and the GREAT GREAT distance from the valley to North side that we just don't go up there enough...that is going to change.  After seeing how much fun the boys had visiting, we definitely are going to make it a point to visit more often.

A weekend complete with church, playing outside, wrestling time and complete control of the remote! We decided to cap off the weekend and reward ourselves and our marriage and go out on a date night.  The kids had a blast with their sitter and we got to hold hands and eat our meal sans fights or diaper changes.  Happy boys, happy parents.  The Florence fab four had a great great weekend overall.

 Cooper learning to pedal - still a process!

 Testing out the swing set in the great weather and really improving on pumping his legs.

 Pre-tubing hug....

 At the top of the hill before we sent them on their first run by themselves...

 Walking back up to the tow line (notice the snowball in Jack's hand?) He was eating the snow the whole time!

 Cooper and Daddy riding up the tow line.

 Putting Daddy to work....

Littlest rider on the hill was going alone and yelling "weeeee" as he went down.  I wish we could have recorded it!

Watch out! We have a 4 year old on the loose!

Maybe its because he is finally talking more (like all the time) which we thought would never happen when he was still our little cave man at 2  and only grunting in different tones and lengths....or maybe its because he seems to have grown a ton in the last couple months and I was just ordering a few size 6 (I repeat size 6!) shirts for this summer....or maybe its because I just can't believe that the past 4 years has gone by and we now have a full fledged independent 4 year old on our hands

Oh yes, independent, opinionated, super helpful, quirky, silly, energetic4 year old - who is already telling people that next birthday he will be turning 5.  SLOW DOWN!

I remember when he was a tiny super chunk of a baby, and the nurses jokes that the next line-backer for the Denver Broncos was just born...

 Our first baseball game at the Rockies....

 his contagious laugh and silly smile that made Flo take a few more than a few half days so he could just spend some time with his little man....

 moving home with our little red tornado...

going on road trips....

 
 thinking that life doesn't get any simpler or better when he would do something funny or make a silly face....

 or be a clown (I'm convinced his picture will be next to "class clown" in his high school year book...

 continued to surprise us...

 We love this little guy so much!

 Here's to 4 years by and MANY MANY MANY more to come and celebrate with!

We love you Jackson David Florence! You are the best big brother and son two parents could ask for and today you can have all the ice cream you can eat, hall passes on a few slips in your manors and too many hugs to count from me!