Guess who's six . . .

Deacon John!
He requested a chocolate-chocolate cake, and sprinkles and picked out which cake plate he wanted (oh the small things that make me happy).  He even chose a family favorite for dinner Spaghetti with Sans-Vodka Sauce.  He is wearing his new camo clothes from cousins Katie & Colton--he had worn an older camo shirt for gift opening, but when he opened the new camo he kept his old shirt on underneath.  Phil asked why, and said, "Aren't going to get hot?"  Deacon replied, "Dad, when a bad guy comes and takes my new shirt, I'll have my old one underneath and so I can smack him!"

(I took so many photos of Deacon with his cake, and yet he blinked everytime--but you can enjoy Bryce's smile in the background.)

Birthday Baby Shower

Phil's extended family rallies for family birthdays, and since Chrissy and I are expecting this Summer, they tossed us in with Kyle's 3rd birthday and Colton's 10th . . . so much fun! When we got home, we realized how crazily like Christmas it was: that cardboard thing is our new crib, and the other cardboard thing is a pack n' play. Kyle got heaps of toys . . . and as I made something (probably brownies) I cycled him through some new gifts, and caught photos of three items: the "latches board" thing from Aunt Becky is amazing--a total crowd pleaser, that you have to get for your busy toddler. Aunt Cathi gave him the LeapFrog fridge animal sounds game--he loves it. But my personal favorite is the peg n' hammer game (because as a kid --you'll soon understand what gem I was-- I had one; an unlucky playmate decided to join me at the pegs one playtime and I was having none of it. Apparently, even at two I was pretty mine vs. yours conscious, and quickly pegged him on the ol' noggin with the hammer. And, the next time our paths crossed I was "I'm sorrying" with the gift of a hard hat, so he knew it was safer to come play on my turf). We had super fun whirlwind, swimming, three-legged-race (Phil & I won), water balloon fighting, eating, gift-opening, chatting, day--and even managed to work in a vomiting highlight. Sunday or Monday we got the crib set up, with the baby's Nana blanket in a place of honor hanging over the back railing (the bright-stripey crocheted blanket--which you can behind Kyle's left side-- was my favorite gift for the little mister).

Happy 3rd Birthday Kyle!

 

Sunday Kyle turned 3! As always he woke up super smiley. Then he was introduced to special birthday sugar cereal: Fruit Loops--a three bowl hit. Oh how I didn't think that through: he was giddy, wound up, and pretty much Mr. Wiggles during church. Phil ended up taking him to the dads-with-wiggle-worms room at church, where Phil ended up holding him while he spun in a captain chair; which thankfully, finally put Kyle to sleep. And it was a good thing Kyle got a nap at church, because he had to be all rested up for his super fun day with oodles of busy-ness. Grandma Greta and Papa Glen came to celebrate along with Granddaddy, we had a great lunch followed by a massive gift opening session--in addition to Kyle's birthday gifts, Grandma had brought each of the boys a huge cellophane bag brimming with surprises, including clothes, books, candy, toys, more Fruit Loops, other "sugar" cereals, and more. Kyle loved it! Bryce and Deacon loved it! Then we had cake and two kinds of ice cream (Bryers: Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and Rocky Road--Bryce's excitement at the RPBC was contagious). Kyle blew out his own candles (very advanced for a three old) no spitting . . . as he blew them out with his nose! Now we have an abundance of sandbox toys, happy boys, and the cheerfullest, sunnyest 3 year old you ever saw!

Daniel is (almost) 6!

We had a super fun time with our cousins this week!  Daniel, Roman, Ava, and Lucy came to stay for two nights and we squeezed in an early birthday celebration for Daniel, who'll be 6 on the 23rd.  We love Daniel's happy ways, cheerful heart, and toughness.  He's a great cousin and nephew!

Daniel was my first nephew, and since the first day I met him--all 5lbs of him--I loved his cuddles and bright eyes!

Aunt Lori--do you recoginize the birthday candles - chocolate frosting - sprinkles combo??  You always made my birthday so fun when we visited each August!  And so I'm copying your tried and true Super-Aunt ways.

Roman's Roller Skate Birthday

 

Roman just turned five, and my sister for some reason thought Skate Plaza was in order. I secretly though she was crazy . . . but pumped the kids for it and showed up with lowest of low expectations. I pictured a passel of crying grammar students. But as soon as we entered the roller rink of my youth I got giddy with excitement and cursed myself for wearing sandals; which meant I was sockless. We found the birthday balloons and then quickly hurried to get the boys skated up.

Once they were laced up I turned them loose--with apparently no instructions, so I had to wrangle Deacon from the floor next to the sidelines (the only place you wear street shoes), and get him going with the flow. Bryce fell down 47 times in the first five minutes. This was the not the most fun activity of Bryce's life. Usually he's so athletic, so given to catching on enough to have a blast--even if the rules or point of the game elude him. Skating was tumbling onto hard floors and having your mother fall to pieces laughing over it all.

Feeling less than a gold-star mom, I decided that socks or no socks I was going to skate too, to ensure my kids' fun day. I even tried to sneakily hand the shoe-barrista my sandals as I hid my un-socked feet (which were probably standing on carpet that rivaled the number of years I've had a drivers license).

I laced up feeling all confident, then stood up (still) feeling all confident, then moved and wondered how much it would hurt a grown woman to fall flat on her face going zero miles per second. How was I going to move? How was I going to help my kids, when I need them to serve as human walking canes?

Somehow I staggered onto the wood floors, and tried to call my kids to come in my direction--you know so I could commence with providing motherly assistance. At this point I completely lost any interest in my own (lack of) ability to skate, and was absorbed with pride and amusement with Deacon's new found talent. He scooted, he inched along, he smiled from ear to ear, and as far as he was concerned he was ice-skating! That's right, he proudly asked if I noticed him ice-skating on his roller skates.

Life got even better. He skated along with his cousin Roman and soon they were hand in hand. Overcome with cousinly love Roman bestowed his special glow-stick my little roller skater. Then Daniel skated with Deacon, Bryce did not skate with him. Bryce was ever my shadow, and only meandered away from me when the call of the limbo rang in his ears.

Do you even have any idea what the criteria are for one to be qualified to be the roller-rink emcee? I'll tell ya: overly long hair, sneakily tight pants, an eighties cop mustache, and some crazy skating moves. This thirty-something captivated the kids. All the kids. Even the preteen fatties wearing Daisy Dukes. Even the older-then-me adults out on a 4:30 date night. Everybody limbo'd. Amusing doesn't even begin to describe my feelings, as I witnessed a bulgy-bear soccer mom in the short-shorts and a one-sleeved long-sleeved sequined tiger print tee . . . limboing.

Bryce came into his own when Aunt Adie passed out the arcade tokens. Hand over fist he collected tickets like nobody else. Grandma Greta chaperoned the boys game after game, and the boys would run madly over to where I was camped (with Papa Glen at the party table). After cramming their tickets in my hands and receiving tons of lavish "go get 'em" praise from me, they shot back out to win win win. We ended up collecting enough between the two of them for two candy necklaces and five army men.

Grandma & Papa had brought a Star Wars cake--so many happy little boys. Roman opened his gifts and loved them all (he's fun to give to). Bryce and Deacon's private school is a remodeled roller rink. Now I'm hoping that the school will relocate so we can reclaim the rink. I'll pass on the Daisy Dukes (you're welcome) but get that one-armed/one-sleeved sequined tiger print tee ready--oh, and my own personalized skates.

Blurry Marauding

 

Nana & Papa gave Deacon a pirate ship for his birthday. I want all of you to know that (just for fun) the directions for the 97-step, 8 thousand pieces of ship and accoutrements were soley in German (I think). This is the extent of my German (spelled incorrectly because I never took German, I only traveled there once, and mostly just ate chocolates--a chocolate tour, if you will . . . anyway, I give you my German:
Steusel. Dankeshein. Ich bin ein Berliner. Achfiederzhen. Danke. Eidelweiss. Ech shuul-di ghanhng, ich fhair schtay-uh nheisched. Eince, vhie, drhie, vriehr.
Note, please that none of above vocabulary came in handy when assembling the ship. So about two hours after I began the boys had at it.
It is amazing. It is soooo worth it. In fact, this is one of the best presents /toys /childhood equipment that the boys have ever received. If you haven't yet completed your Christmas shopping go to Toys-R-Us right now and become that amazing gift-giver you've always dreamed of becoming.
Also, the combination of German-only directions gives you a sense of over-the-top pride in yourself and your ability to Sherlock solutions.

Happy 5th Birthday Deacon!

 

Our brave, adventureous, muscle man is 5! Here he is the morning after Thanksgiving enjoying a gooey cinnamon roll and a Starbucks cake pop (Aunt Adie made an early morning coffee run for me--she's the best). Deacon had such a great day: morning playing with his CdA cousins, hugs from Granddaddy Dan, birthday lunch (he requested enchiladas) at Opa's followed by an ice cream cake like Papa Glen's (those mini ice cream cones are a hit!, Deacon even found mini-icecream cone candles for his cake) . . . then presents! Which included some pretty fantastic ice skates--Grandma Greta wants him to be a hockey star.
Deacon is such a hoot of a kid. Camo-wearing, happy, hard working, snuggly, hug-giving, excited, adventurous, imaginative, guy who love-love-loves his big brother! We love every minute of being his parents and sorta wish he'd stop growing and stay our little buddy forever!

Happy Birthday Papa Glen & Opa's Funhouse

 

This past Saturday was Papa Glen's real birthday (50!) and how can you pass up another chance to celebrate and have Baskin Robbins ice cream cake? The boys and I drove up to Coeur d'Alene and enjoyed a rowdy time of cousin-fun. And we captured a rare nearly-all eyes on the camera shot--perfection!

Grandma Greta outdid herself with this cake (my camera was really busy in my purse, so I missed a photo of it). And mom thought we were ridiculous for making such a crazy fuss over the ice cream cake, but it was amazing. Atop the round yellow number, around the perimeter of the cake were six mini ice cream cones filled with six mini ice cream scoops--pure genius! After Papa Glen blew out the candles, I handed each jumping kiddo a cone, and was left in peace to cut gigantic slices of cake for us all.

After festivities, I took all four boys to the fireman hat park near Cherry Hill (a new favorite we re-discovered the day I missed the freeway entrance and had to take 15th Street to Hanley). Then we popped in to Daniel and Roman's house and then hit the road headed back to Moscow by 3:30 sharp. I budgeted jusust enough time to make it back to Moscow as the darkness was becoming inky.

Alas, by the time we were between that elk farm and the casino 95 was sleeting and icy, and I was slipping. Other suvs were slipping . . . off the road even. I let Phil know we would later than 5pm. By the time I made my white-knuckled way past Plummer and was closing in on Tensed I was freaking out. Driving about 25 at most I had become part of a chain of terrified, surprised drivers (seeing cars slipping off the road doesn't do much to inspire confidence in your own skills). Barely outside of Tensed I called Phil, "Please meet me in Potlatch I cannot do this". But somehow hearing his voice, and knowing that he was on his way to rescue us gave me that safe feeling of relief and that safe feeling of I don't have bare this burden alone so I think I'll start that slippery decent into being a useless puddle of a wife. The poor guy ended up having to wait on us (even though we were maybe five miles from our rendezvous point). First, one of my buddies had to do something out of car-ish. Next, a snow plow appeared behind me and I couldn't figure out how to pull aside for him to pass, so I could take advantage of driving on plowed road (I called Phil and he condemned my plan to, "just pull into the oncoming traffic lane so the plow can pass"). Finally, we met Phil at Ireland's Inn, at which point I oh so helpfully I burst into tears. Ridiculous!

I'm recording this little incident to keep me from mocking all those new-to-the-Palouse college drivers who will drive me insane come February by inching along the highway . . .

Birthday and Carnival Fun

 

We celebrated some November birthdays early so our Coeur d'Alene cousins could join us for the Fall Carnival. This month Ava will be 2, Papa Glen will be 50, and Deacon will be 5!

The kiddos had such a good time playing. Deacon learned not to push a baby's face into the carpet, and Lauren (that's me) learned that every time she has company she will indeed spill something in the oven and smoke out the kitchen! (If you're keeping track, this time it was ridge-less homemade pizza.)

Cousins just get along so well, the adults can pretty much relax and chit-chat. Over the present chaos it was especially fun to Ava open all her little girl presents! She got a pink vacuum, and she was almost as excited as I was when I got my Dyson.

Before the carnival I tried about a million times for a good couch photo--and this was the best one! We had Roman the Roman Solider, Deacon the Pirate, Ava the Witch, Daniel the Pirate, Bryce as Thor, and Lucy the Ladybug!

Magic Bike Rodeo

 

Bryce and his classmate, Clive, have very close birthdays, so this year Clive's mom and I decided to share the love and do a double birthday party. We roped the dads in, with Clive's dad putting on a magic show, and Bryce's dad organizing an obstacle course for the bikes. I think both dads were pretty pumped.

Phil thought it was awesome, and when I was breaking the news to him about what I'd signed him up for I helpfully said, "You know honey, use ropes and things and the hose to make some bumps . . ." Phil looked at me [sort of aghast] and assured me, "Yeah, I think I've got the idea". You'll note a rumble strip, bump (?), and small jump, along with cones . . . and conspicuous by their abscense: no ropes or garden hoses. The kids arrived and had a bike and scooter free-for-all; which was a hoot to watch. After a good long run of zero major injuries, we lined them up and rearranged things for the obstacle course; even hootier to watch!

We followed this up with the Magic Show. So fun. Espcially the kids comments. One of the boys was not to be taken in. After every trick he'd loudly remark, "I don't belive in magic tricks!" Finally, after the finale [ropes through the magician's body trick] the boy shook his head in awe, "Well, I guess I believe in that magic trick". (Note when Phil asked the boy's sister who was about 7-ish if she'd liked the magic show, she shook her head in confident disbelief, "I don't believe in those looney-tunes magic shows".)

Hmmm, magic show and obstacle course--I tried to come with a cake that would go with Mackenzie's idea of a watermelon ice-cream bombe. Spaghetti cupcakes! Remember this? I called Rachel (while actually already en route to her house) to borrow the Hello, Cupcake! book (I'm planning to get this for my niece, Katie, for Christmas). And it was worth every bit of silliness--see Bryce's face! We worked the cake into the magic show and today I heard from another mom that her son reported that the, "cupcakes didn't even taste like spaghetti anymore!" So if you're 4, 5, 6 years old, then Mr. Miller is pretty amazing.

We had so much fun! Husbands really make the party: can you imagine us moms doing a magic show? or my wanh-wanh-wanh rope & hose obstacle course?

Bryce is 6!

 

Bryce's wildest dreams came true Friday morning as--thankfully for his parents--his heart's deepest desire was affordable, the orange bike at WalMart!

Usually, before school the boys busily run between their cereal bowls, cartoons, sword-fighting, and cuddling with Mom who is pretending that her kids actually didn't wake her up before 6:30am. But on his birthday, Bryce and Deacon got dressed in play clothes faster than ever, and spent their morning racing around on bikes; Deacon having inherited Bryce's silver one. Bryce was so excited for school since he got to bring birthday treats for snacktime: M&M cookies, and when he realized that his birthday fell on Friday-Tie-Day, well, he beamed brighter than ever and it was really cute.

At school pick-up he quickly showed Deacon and me his silver dollar coin from principal, Mr. Whitling, and toted that treasure around all afternoon (until I finally had the sense to realize it was only luck that had preserved that coin from a lost fate thus far, and we quickly designated a treasure spot near his framed school photo).

Lucky for us, Bryce had requested a delicious birthday lunch: tomato soup, garlic-clove bread, Boursin cheese, and . . . chocolate milk. Followed by some more M&M cookies.

Our five year old is six! What a sweet, wonderful, creative, loving, brave, adventurous, monster-truck-noise-making, athletic, strong, rhyming, almost-reading, little man we have!

I'm 32

 

Late last month I turned 32! And have thus far managed to draaaaggg out the celebrations which began August 6th . . .

A lovely dear friend treated me to a scrumptious breakfast at a new place, Bloom. Then Phil surprised the boys and I by meeting up with us at school pick-up to zip us out for lunch. Later he wined and dined me at my favorite restaurant ever, Swilly's, where he ordered my favorite dish since I wanted to branch out by trying the special--and then we traded and I got eat my old favorite too. What a husband!

Mid afternoon the boys decided make birthday cards for me. Bryce asked me to write out some words for him so he'd know how to spell them in the purple card he was making me . . . after, "Happy Birthday" said he also needed to know how to spell "Beautiful" . . . is there a better gift than that?!

Lauren's Birthday, Take 1!

 

I snookered Phil's family into tossing me into the Thomas-McMurray birthday party mix with the early August people: Great-Uncle Dale, Cousin Megan, and Uncle Ian . . . thus, getting to enjoy my birthday gifts a nearly a whole month ahead of time!

We had a blissfully relaxing, shady day at a grassy riverside (read: delightfully breezy) park in Richland. It was amazing in itself, and had one of those over-the-top kids' playgrounds with multiple slides, boat, and monster-sized fish to climb for starters, plus a huge kiddie pool complete with a fountain. However, my kids are used to Palouse living, and as such overgrown trees were a draw in themselves. Deacon and Haylee spent the first hour attempting to climb every tree in our proximity, while Bryce hammed it up Kade (who's no longer Baby Kade--he is such a talker!), and lucky for Baby Ethan, Grandma Pauline and all the Great Aunts were there to cuddle him. We had a simple, yummy potluck of pulled pork with an array of sides, and a dessert bar, and then got to just sit back to chat and relax (and take seconds and thirds of Grandma Pauline's fantastic cake).

We also observed two weddings at the park (one inside, one outside) and heard some amazing 'special music'. Also, to quote Dennis Miller, If you're built like a tank, don't wear the top.

4 Years Old Thanksgiving

 

Deacon's 4th birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year (and boy are we thankful for this little guy)! First thing (even before waffles) he got to open his gifts from us and Grandma Greta & Papa Glen. Grandma had sent gifts for Bryce too, so all the little people were happy from the get go. Deacon opened his birthday card and immediately distributed three of the four dollars to Phil, Bryce, and me--so we could all go to the Dollar store together! Such a sweetheart! Then he breakfasted with his birthday Dragon sword by his side . . . and we quickly dashed for Coeur d'Alene to visit Opa and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving kickoff!

Grandpa Dan, Aunt Adie & Uncle Bart hosted a great Thanksgiving--complete with the best ham Phil said he'd ever had (yes, there was turkey too, and it was oh so good!) In lieu of his own cake, Deacon had a red velvet cupcake with a candle snitched from the dining table (and when I went to replace the candle into the elegant candle stick, I forgot to rinse off the frosting . . . honestly, can you take me anywhere?). My sister had all these great activities for the kids to keep them happy in between times: decorating ornaments and cocoa mugs . . . within minutes all the adults were busily crafting, while all the children played in the rec room!

Friday, we celebrated Thanksgiving and the birthdays of Deacon, Nana, and Chrissy. Such good food! Judy managed to combine elegant and cute and the table looked wonderful. Each kid had their own Mayflower ship, filled with M&Ms--which served as my children's appetizer of choice. We surprised Nana Judy with a fancy knife set--and she was really surprised which made all our planning (and slew of white lies on my part) that much more worth it!

That night, we stayed over at Nana & Papa Ron's house, with the Dezember crew; thankfully cousins Katie and Colton were able to stay around long enough to thoroughly wear out Bryce & Deacon and Baby Kade! The boys loved using their sleeping bags from Grandma Greta & Papa Glen--and Bryce has lobbied to sleep in them every night since. It was great to wake up with a houseful of happy people, before braving snow flurries and very slippery roads, with Judy and Chrissy, to shop our socks off. So much fun, and I'm rooting for a repeat next year, complete with a cozy hotel at the end of day!

Birthday Bryce: Treasure!

After a super fun lunch party with fellow preschool guys, Bryce relaxed with his Cowboy Scavenger Treasure Hunt loot! Somehow he managed to convince me that sampling candy was a good idea (a child after my own heart).

Birthday Bryce: Cousins!

Bright and early--after polishing off two bowls of Cocoa Crisps and just as he'd begun a cinnamon roll--Bryce was thrilled to get a birthday phone call from cousins, Daniel and Roman . . . lots of squealing for joy! And he loved saying, "That's right! I'm five today!"

Roman's Dinosaur Cake (aka: store bought cakes are better)

Last week we enjoyed having our Cd'A cousins stay overnight in Moscow (we're not crazy, they slept at a hotel). Roman's birthday was a couple days after their visit, and at three years old he's super into dinosaurs--so Bryce, Deacon and I excitedly whipped up a dinosaur cake. I thought to myself, as I dusted the pan with shortening and cocoa powder, "you are such a great aunt--this is going to be so great".
Luckily, unlike his parents who laughed heartily at the sight of the T-Rex, Roman was really excited (as was Bryce whose should be known as Mr. Sweet Tooth). But I think I need to abandon all hopes of ever turning out a great dinosaur cake--and also, five gallons of dragon-green dye do not improve upon store bought frosting.

Happy Birthday Papa Ron!

 

Papa Ron rang in his 62nd birthday a day early (he was so nice to celebrate on Epiphany; which was the day I'd chosen to fix our Christmas ham--thanks Wayne!). The boys had loads of fun helping Papa open his presents . . . Bryce literally would completely open a gift and then announce, "You got a nice shirt! Look!" and then throw it on the floor.

Here is Papa modeling the headlamp that Phil picked out. A hit! After opening most of Papa's gifts, Bryce tore apart a bow and began working at tying Papa's leg . . . and Deacon was thrilled over the head lamp batteries (why do we buy him toys?). A very fun evening with Papa and Nana . . . if only they lived closer!

Happy Birthday Grandpa John!

Yesterday we had a great little fete for my grandfather. He turned 77, and he was treated (by my mom and step-dad) to Brunch with Santa at some delicious patisserie in Spokane--in good company with my sister's brood. My mom being the sort of person she is, sweet-talked the live entertainment to salute Grandpa with Happy Birthday. Unbeknownst to Mom, the chanteuse mixed things up and spun the song into three choruses, complete with a cha-cha-cha rendition (if only I'd seen Grandpa's face at that).

Phil, the boys and I got to catch up with folks later, at Grandpa's house in Coeur d'Alene, and got him what every 77 year old needs: a tankard of J&B (which, despite what some might think, was terribly well-received, and inspired a Christmas cognac request).

I'm blessed to be close to both my grandfathers. Grandpa John has the sweet distinction of having taught me how to drive (perhaps that's when the affection for J&B began . . .). At fourteen and a half years old, I'd join Grandpa in my grandma's car (an '88 LeBaron with my name it), and off we zoom for Farragut State Park's spidery roads, and then later (once I wasn't a societal threat) Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive.

Patient, kind, patient, kind. A pendulum when it comes to talking (reserved or loud as hell-fire). Grandpa John has been a constant personification of love pouring out one's fingertips. He is a manly man, who fought courageously in Korea (signing-up and shipping-out 17), loved my grandmother all her life, and loves his family with steadfast devotion, embodying that same patience and kindness he showed to a brake-happy fourteen and a half year old.

Grandpa John is the sort of man that you'd want with you if your plane crashed on a deserted island. He'd calm nerves, organize things, and keep everyone laughing. He is the man I most wanted my "future husband" to resemble (years and years ago when I was single and praying for the man I knew God had up his sleeve, earmarked for me).


Here are two of my favorite Grandpa John quotes; which showcase that pendulum thing I fore-referenced:

At my dear grandmother's deathbed. "Bev, I love you with every drop of Greek blood in my body."

At a shoe store in Bismark, ND negotiating a clearance price on new stock: "Are you trying to Jew me?" (at this point my grandmother and I were sprinting for the far side of the mall)

Happy Birthday Grandpa Herb!

My wonderful grandfather celebrated his eighty-third birthday today. He is an incredibly driven man--a man that you're thankful is up there on the family tree. His career was strong, and even in his retirement he continued to work diligently, advising businesses in Russia, Ukraine and Iraq (and other places too, but those really stood out to me).

My wonderful grandfather holds such a dear place in my heart, and for that matter my mother's. Once he and I (what a glorious team) made our way into my house to fill up the hall bathtub with tadpoles. Wasn't he a child's best friend? The good times I recall with him are endless . . .

Happy Birthday Grandpa!