larry the liger / weekend par-tay

Our little Larry turns four tomorrow.

In February he informed us he wanted a King of Beasts birthday party.

 

Then about a week ago he informed me I had a big belly.

 

A day later Tod informed me I have "body builder buns" which are "soooooo much better than pancake buns" but not as "huge as power lifter buns."

 

Where was I?

King of Beasts.

His theme fit him perfectly.



Awesome cake by my good friend Tabitha.  Note: Masks were purchased as well.  I make nothing.

This picture is one of my favorites.  He is pure joy.  He was born during one of the hardest times and just lit everything up.  He is funny, playful, affectionate, and happy to run errands with Mom all day.  Usually.  Almost daily he grabs a blanket, lays it over me and says, "Hey...let's snuggle." 

 

I hope his wife won't mind. 

Photos: Courtesy of the infamous Hannah Mainor, photog genius

Tod's contribution to the party: An arousing game of Pin the Tail on the Liger.  Check out that liger.  First -- educating the kids on ligers.  Wevers are alllllllllll about education.

 

The liger -- a mystical beast.

 

 This one observed and didn't enjoy the feel of grass on her legs.

As we left the park Lennon asked if this man was dead.  We weren't sure but told him probably not.  And then (naturally) we took a picture and left.

Last t-ball game the next morning

Tod's parents in town -- thanks for coming so far to see the kiddos.  Sorry two out of three won't pose for pictures.

Lennon - still in character.  Still in snow gloves.  Played entire game like this.  I love his confidence.

And this little peach snuggles with her dolls.  Hugs and kisses them.  So different from our boys already.

And finally Mother's Day today -- when I think of Ruby as a mother I get really emotional.  She has so far to go but then again, so does her mom.

 Happy Birthday Lar Bear and Happy Mother's Day everyone. 

weekend

Weekend was good. 

Friday night we saw Prince in concert for my birthday. Of course they didn't allow us to take pictures of the man (he barely allowed light to touch his face) but I was star struck.  Couldn't stop staring.  Couldn't believe he was right there...in his snake skin pants and black leather cape coat which eventually disappeared (like Prince magic) into a tight, leather black vest.  Naturally. 

 

Because there are two types of people in this world -- those who love Prince and those who love Prince secretly. 

 

And then there's Prince...who only loves Prince.

 

Although...our babysitter had never heard of him.  So four types of people.

 

Are we old?

 

Last week commemorated one month (on the 25th) of no yelling at my kids.  While this makes me happy inside and I feel like a very even tempered parent on paper, I now use a very scary whisper.  A whisper that is accompanied by a mean, mad face that could make a grown man cry.  I'm starting to wonder which is more emotionally scarring.

 

Saturday morning I had a long run so Tod took all three kids with him to a charity 5K.  Everyone made it back alive.  Although when I met them for breakfast afterwards, Larry was barely hanging on.  Burning up with fever...the poor boy overheated.  He wouldn't even eat pancakes and that was when I knew it was serious.

 

Tired mama, fever Larry

Not pictured: Ruby eating Larry's pancakes then running syrup fingers through her hair.  They were like, Get this homeless family out of our restaurant...they're scaring away customers.

 

We laid low the rest of the weekend.  Tod spent most of Saturday night and Sunday morning watching documentaries on Pompeii and Greece from Netflix.  He's good at watching movies that put me to sleep really, really fast.

 

Sunday morning after breakfast:

 

Tod: Did you know that people were frozen in time when ash covered Pompeii?

Me: Really.

Tod: Yeah!  And listen to this!  When Greece caught word that Persia was about to attack, their leader helped the entire city flee to an island just off the coast of ---

Me: Ooooooh...I just realized I am not listening at all.  Sorry.  This doesn't interest me.

Tod: ...so they fled to this island and watched the Persians SET THEIR STUFF ON FIRE! And that's when they sent a message ---

Me: Hmmmm...like I said....still not listening...

 

However, I was listening when Tod informed me my kitchen smells like cat pee.  We don't own cats.

 

Me: Well, I just made homemade bleach.  I clean the kitchen with it...maybe that's why?

Tod: Let me smell it (smells it)...ahhhhh!  SICK!  That is so gross!!!  What is IN THAT?

Me: Lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide.  It's safe for kids...

Tod: [gagging, tongue out...]

 

Why do I even try.

 

i am 32 plus a proof of purchase bandit on the loose

I was in California last weekend when Tod texted me:

 

Another proof of purchase...gone.

 Around Thanksgiving time we started noticing we were missing Proofs of Purchases on our cereal boxes.  I'd ask Tod if he'd done it...he'd ask me if I'd done it...we'd stare at the kids wondering why they'd do it.  No answers.  And now we've noticed another one -- GONE.  Unless there is some kind of POP bandit on the loose, it's someone we know.  Will the guilty party holding the scissors please stand up?  It's more out of curiosity now than anything else. 

 Other news: Tod and the boys concocted a bird trap this week.  The string runs into the house so that when a bird goes underneath for seeds, one pull and it's trapped.  They've assured me it's only to observe the bird then release.  Because heaven knows we have one too many animals around here (more on that HERE)...

 I've officially moved all Lego activity and pieces into our garage.  Because HOW ELSE DOES ONE KEEP TRACK OF LEGOS AND KEEP THEM FROM ENTERING THE MOUTH OF BABES?  I can be heard several times everyday saying: JUST GO PLAY IN THE GARAGE. 

 

Bar's getting real low around here.

 

This little one just wants to play.  So badly.

 

Card: Courtesy of Tod

 Also news: I turned 32 on Wednesday.  We celebrated by eating out. As a family.  On a week night.  It was fun.

And finally -- little Ruby melts me.

wevers don't lie

Today during lunch:

Lennon: Mom, Larry said a swear word out in the garage.
Me: Which one?
Lennon: List all the swear words.
Me: I'm not going to do that. 
Lennon: He said dammit.
Larry: I didn't say dammit.  We BOTH said dammit.
Lennon: Yes you did!
Me: Okay...someone is lying.  And I know who it is.
Lennon: How?
Me: Because moms always know when their kids are lying.
Lennon: Tell us who.
Larry: Yeah!  Tell us who.
Me: Larry, you're lying to me.  You said dammit. 
Larry: I only said it because Lennon was trying to hit me!

 

(I pictured this and almost peed my pants.)

Lennon: I didn't hit him and I am NOT lying.

 

Tod walks in.

Tod: You guys want to hear about the first time I lied to my dad?  He took me into my room and did something even worse than spanking me...he told me he was disappointed in me.  He told me he didn't lie so neither should I.

Lennon: Have you lied since then?

Tod: No.

We started laughing and couldn't stop. 
Tod whispered in my ear, "That story isn't true."
Crying-laughing now.  Boys are just staring at us.

We are good parents.

yankee doodle: stop the abuse

Today I looked over at our turtle (Yankee Doodle) in his "habitat."

 

Lately he's seemed really depressed.  This morning he was actually trying to scale the walls of his Amazon box home and escape.  He wanted out.  Even though we used a BBQ grate to keep the birds away.  Even though we sometimes remember to give him water.  Even though his box almost blew away last night so I let him sleep inside.  Ungrateful turtle.

 

The weird thing about this story is that I hate animals.  Go ahead and feel offended but I don't believe animals and humans need to mix.  I know you love your dog and your sick, smelly cat...but I'd rather clean up after people. Less fur, less smell, less sneezing.

 

I still wanted to help the turtle.  He requires very little contact and stays outside.  We drove out to the desert.

 Dug up some rocks and dirt.

 The boys even gave me my own pink shovel to match my pants.

I loaded it into the car singlehandedly.  I hope there were no witnesses.  My back still hurts.

 

And now Yankee Doodle is quietly sitting in a pile of dirt.  Guilt is gone.

 

Good luck little fella.  You're on your own now. 

 

PS.  Still no yelling.

strawberry cake for our little strawberry

 We tried everything for a smile.

BTW the outfit she is wearing is a 3-6 month old size.  Tiny.

 

We gave up.

Not pictured: All the birthday presents we bought her.  Because...we didn't buy her any.  Ask her if she cares.

and this little ruby turned one

My baby girl is one today.  Her name is Latin and means "light."  And seriously...light is an understatement.  She is like having a glowing rainbow in the house all day everyday.  Most days.

Her nickname is Ruby or Ruby Tuesday.  People ask what they should call her.  Either works; somehow she is both names at the same time. 

She was born on a beautiful spring Friday.  I knew she was smart the moment I met her.  She already has a sense of humor, can drop a serious dance beat and tries to claws her brothers' eyes out if they get too close.

Genius.

 

 

Happy Birthday Lux Alana Ruby Tuesday Wever.