Lucky Number 7

What do you get when you add three birthdays in one week . . .

Seven dozen cupcakes of various themes, shapes and sizes . . .

and . . .
10 best-buddy cousins all hopped up on sugar and nitrates?

You get a three-ring circus! And one tired mom.

We had an awesome time celebrating one big birthday in March: Kolby turned 34, June turned 7, and Lyra turned 3.

Lucky for us, Our Bott cousins flew in for the big surprise. June came home from school and they jumped out from behind the couch. You would think there would be screams, cheers and hugs, but these kids just got right down to business and played hard.

Except for this boy, who had to take hourly breaks from play to eat four times his weight in chips and candy.

On the day of celebration, we headed to the bowling alley for some rowdy fun. Who knew you had to make an appointment a month in advance to get a spot at the lanes? We learned the hard way and had to dash across town to find another alley that would take us in.

So we bowled . . .

and bowled . . .

And bowled some more.

Then we headed back to Nana's circus tent and loaded up on bowling ball cupcakes, popcorn, and hot dogs.

Even these boys got in on the cupcake action.

Now mom is all cup-caked out. Seriously, I never thought I'd see the day when I couldn't stomach one more cupcake.

And so this little lady is 7.

Junie B. She's getting tall and skinny like a bean pole. She's a book-reading fool who never misses an opportunity to get a bug or plant under her magnifying glass. She's a helpful big sister who's learned the art of rolling her eyes rather than lashing out at her pesky siblings when they get into her stuff. She's a mostly-patient teacher to her sister who wants to be her mini-me. She's a singer in the car on her way to school. She's Dad's study buddy and Mom's fellow cook in the kitchen. She's our one and only June Bug and we love her like a son-of-a-gun.

Grandma time

True to form, I'm playing catch-up again. Let me take you all the way back to January. Grandma Ivie packed her bags and came for a nice long visit to see all her kids in Oklahoma. It's been such a long time since we got to have a real visit - We're usually lucky if we get to spend a holiday with her every couple of years. I hope she enjoyed her time here as much as we did.

Grandma has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things culinary. She taught Tish and I how to make homemade chocolate cake and sourdough pancakes. Priceless skills! We also took a day and went to the temple as a family to do some work for some of our ancestors. The kids also had a ball playing with Grandma. June's still working hard on the homemade coloring book that Grandma brought. It makes my heart happy to know that my kids have finally gotten to know my Grandma Ivie.

Monthly Update

Is it me, or are these kids just growing up too fast?

Well, it's the end of February and this boy is just about on the move. He likes to get up on his hands and knees and scoot across the floor on his face. Not the easiest way to get around, but it works for him.

This girl and this boy spend a lot of time playing together while big sister is at school. Winn has mastered the art of waving a toy in front of Klive while she keeps an eye on her cartoons. Such multi-tasking!

These kids have been thoroughly enjoying the freak snow storms that hit Oklahoma this month. June even learned to snowboard on our backyard hill! 8 snow days out of school seems awesome until they tell you that you have to add on 40 extra minutes a day for the rest of the school year to make up the time. BOOOO!!!

Winn found a new way to get her veggies - from this awesomely delicious green drink.

And Klive found his new true love - The Little Mermaid. He spends several hours every day sucking on her face and I once caught him with a purple seashell in his mouth. That Ariel, she's so trampy!

And all of these kids had blast when Yaya and The Babe came for a visit. They brought us a car in exchange for letting them entertain our children and enjoy our 80 degree weather.

Oh, and I turned 30. I'd post a picture to mark the occasion, but the only recent one I could find was my "before" shot for starting p90x and that's one for the incinerator. I am working on being 30, flirty and thriving - just like in the movie. I'll let you know how it goes.

Funny Girl

Winnie is so awesome. Seriously, she is. I'll tell you why. She's hilarious, just like her Daddy. I wish I wasn't such a slacker and wrote down all the funny things she says every day, but I figure if I get a couple of them down, that's pretty good for me. Here's a sample of her skills:

Winnie: "Mom, did you know that Klive was born in Fargus?"
Mom: "What? No, Klive was born in Oklahoma."
Winnie: "No Mom, he was born in Fargus - you know, June, July and Fargus?"

It gets better. Yesterday, I was killing myself to get through a p90x workout. Winn really wanted to watch cartoons, so she decided to sit on the couch with the egg timer and give me a count down. Well, the big workout was winding down, and Klive was starting to fuss. She headed over to console him and said, "It's okay buddy, mom's almost done." Unfortunately, I had to break the bad news to her: "I've still got 15 minutes to work on my abs, Winn."
Well, then Klive really cut loose. Winn, being the sweet big sister that she is, took care of things: "Hang on little buddy, Mom's gotta work on her ass."

Sadly, so true.

Klive's new workout

This is how Klive spends his mornings while Mom and Dad do their workouts. He's working on his thigh meat. What can I say, a guy can only take so many wise cracks about his leg rolls swallowing up his private parts.

5 months and going strong

This baby boy rolled over today for the first time. Baby number 3 sure seems to sprout a lot faster than the other two! We've been having so much fun watching Klive do a few new things, I figured I'd better write this stuff down before I forget it.

He had a check up this week and he's a 15 and 1/2 pounder. Sadly, he's put on enough chub that we can no longer find his wiener - so embarrassing! And he hasn't forgotten the nurse that gave him his first batch of shots. He was as cool as a cucumber while the Doctor looked him over, but the minute that nurse set foot in the room, he let her have it! She gave him a second dose of reminder why he hated her in the first place.

At home, he's been sleeping like a little angel - right through the night. He's also been telling big stories, chewing on anything he can guide into his mouth, laughing at his sisters, and planning his escape as soon as he can get his arms and legs to cooperate. He's not much of a fan of the tummy time, and shrieks to let us know it, but I think he'll be a man on the move by February.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We had a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas 2010. As usual, the season flew by too fast, but we tried to do all the traditions, make a few new ones, and take as many pictures as we could to capture the memories.

Klive got to open his present early so that he could get as much bounce time as possible. They grow so fast, you know. Thanks Mom, Dad, Nana and Papa - these babies are pricey!

But Santa didn't forget the little guy either. He got one of those awesomely-simple ball poppers - the ones that you see at your friends' houses, enthralling all the kids from 2 to 10. It is sure to create hours of fun!

Winn and June were bouncing off the walls on Christmas Eve. They couldn't wait to dive into the presents. So, like the good parents that we are, we made them sit beside the tempting mountain of wrapped goodies and quietly listen to the story of Baby Jesus. Then we let them open one and head to bed!

Klive kicked and flailed all morning as he watched the paper fly. Isn't he cute in his new sock monkey hat? It's nice to know people who crochet!

June gave mom the best present of all - A Chinese throwing star, a letter inducting me into the Mickey Mouse Club, and a promise that she would be good forever. Glad I got it in writing. She also made us a beautiful calendar at school.

June spent the morning as a unicorn, and Winnie as a hippo. They are now wearing these hats everywhere. And Winnie couldn't fight the urge to measure every new treasure with her best new buddy - Mr. Measuring Tape!

These kids are so loved, and so, so, so spoiled! We had a room full of great new stuff from all the Nanas, Papas, Grandpas, Grandmas, Yayas, Aunts and Uncles (Buck!). Don't worry, the homemade thank-yous are on their way!

The face says it all.

Daddy got some manly movies, a manly tool box and tools, and some, um, kind-of manly running shoes that look like toe socks. His feet were cramping immediately, but he sure thought he looked cool.

Mom got lots of treats (which were promptly eaten before the new year weight loss goal setting) and this wicked awesome Michael Jackson game for the Wii. It is soooo hard! Makes me wish I was still a good dancer, and not a chunky monkey.

Klive did his best to be a part of the action, but it turned out to be too much for him. He had to take a little cat-nap in the wrapping paper mess.

June is totally into arts and crafts. Santa brought her a real sewing machine, and she got lots of beads, knitting supplies, drawing tools, and some math games to help her in school.
Winnie asked Santa for "real-live hair-do stuff" and that's exactly what she got - a beauty salon complete with hair cutting and coloring tools. I'm going to take some good pictures of her in action when we get it all set up. Knowing her, she'll be charging her sister for a haircut in no time.

In the afternoon, we bundled up and headed to Nana and Papa's for more presents, some shrimp and some prime rib. I think Nana's pillow pets were the biggest hit! The day was totally fun, and I'm sad to see the holiday go. You know it's a good day when Winnie asks on December 26, "How many days until Christmas?"