my very fun calling

I am a Cub Scout Den Leader (Wolves). And I L-O-V-E it!! This past week was the Pinewood Derby. I got to man the Computer and track each heat (I even got to use a walkie-talkie!). There are 4 Dens in our Pack...for a total of about +/-40 racers (?). It was such a great night...the boys seemed to enjoy themselves and I really enjoyed running the computer. I am looking forward to next year. Heidi took this picture of me so I could blog about the evening...so how could I resist? ;)

a 3 run HOME RUN!

Malcolm hit a 3-run home run this morning! It took a couple of bounces through the infield and then rolled out to Right Center Field...He was so excited!!! He said his favorite part was when all the other kids on the team crowded around him to congratulate him. It was his team's first home run of the season. Way to go, Bubba!

He also got to play 1st base...

and catcher ~ his favorite position...guess it must have been a long inning.

photos courtesy of Jason and Becca ~ of course.

sunny days

Despite the fact that the day started on a cloudy note, the kids finally got to break out the Triple Threat Bonzai Slip n' Slide that Hottie & Matt gave them for their birthdays. As you can see, they had a GREAT time!!

(pictures courtesy of our Assistant Staff Photographer, Jason)

track meet

Laurel participated in her first Track Meet today! She was chosen to be on a 4x200 4th Grade Girls Relay Team (you may not think it's a real event, but it was run multiple times today). She did really well and had a blast. It was very exciting to sit in the football stands at the high school and hear all the parents, friends and family yelling and cheering for not only their favorite ~ but for everyone. There are some FAST kids in 4th & 5th grade!!!

I was trying to take video and still pictures at the same time...I failed at both (even though I thought I was looking through the video camera lense, I was actually shooting video of my feet and coat). Here are a few of the better pictures...Her relay team took 2nd place in their race.

our own personal photographer

We are SO lucky to have Becca as our friend and neighbor...look at the pictures she recently snapped of our girls...

You'll notice there aren't any pictures of Malcolm this time...she says he won't stay put long enough. ;)

how's this for a small world...

Dana decided to arrive 4 weeks before her due date. Once we were settled at the hospital and we knew that she was definitely coming that day, Sheila called my Mom to let her know. Mom called me right away to tell me that my cousin Jennifer was having her baby at the same hospital!

Sure enough, my Nurse found her...in the room right next door to me. Not only that, but Jen and her husband had moved to our same town just a few months before. AND, she was also delivering an early baby (3 weeks early). We figure we were probably both driving to the hospital at the same time ~ and Dana and Cooper were born less than an hour apart.

We think it had been about 20 years since we'd seen each other. It was fun visiting each other in the hospital, comparing notes and laughing at such a weird experience.

We've only managed to get together a few times in the last 2 years, but it's so fun knowing that we had our babies on the same day!!

We had a fun Sunday afternoon with them this week...hopefully it won't be 6 months before we see them again. We sure have fun when we get together!

our boy the pitcher

I'm way behind on my blogging...Work is totally getting in the way of my "real" life. ;)

Last Wednesday Malcolm's baseball team switched to "Kid-Pitch" for the first time. As I was walking across the outfield (late, of course), I thought to myself, "Wow. For the first time pitching in a game situation, that kid seems to know what he's doing." When I finally got close enough I realized it was MALCOLM! He did a great job, and had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, despite the fact that he has a cup (yes, a real-life cup) he wasn't allowed to catch because of some odd rule that prohibits the kids from pitching and catching in the same game. Does anyone have any insight here? It makes no sense to me...

I brought my camera but realized that I didn't have the memory card in, and Becca brought her camera, but the battery was dead. Lucky for me, my battery worked in her camera! As always, the Kidd Camera saves the day! Anyway, here are a few pictures of Malcolm the pitcher...

birthday fun

Our family was invited to attend a friend's birthday party on Saturday...the weather was beautiful. The kids had a great time playing with the animals, racing around with their friends, getting each other wet, a great bbq, and just generally loving being OUTSIDE in the SUNSHINE.

Doug played Chauffer and raced the kids around the pasture.

Dana managed to fend off Davey from the driver's seat almost as many times as he beat her to the steering wheel.

Aubrey was super excited to hold a real-life baby chick...she couldn't get enough of them!

Laurel rode a horse bareback!

and Malcolm couldn't believe it was finally time to go home.

We hope the birthday boy had as much fun as the rest of us!!

GUESS WHAT?! (takes 2 & 3)

maybe she IS ready...

While we were at the Campbell's for Sunday dinner 2 weeks ago, Dana kept saying, "Poo-poo." We ignored it...but when she disappeared into the bathroom we figured we should pay attention. Aunt Sheila brought in a stool and Dana said, "I a big girl!" But aside from sitting there, nothing exciting happened.

But last week she was at Aunt Sheila's house and Dana told her, "Poo-poo, Eela, poo-poo" while tugging at her shorts and diaper. So Eela ran her to the toilet and got results! Can you read her lips in the second picture?

Dana may be ready, but we're not quite sure that WE are ready...Maybe over the long weekend we'll give it a shot.

big girl bed

Dana was On the GO today, and we knew she was exhausted, so we decided to take down the crib and let Dana sleep in the big girl bed. She cried when we took the crib down (Laurel had a similar reaction) but was very excited to snuggle in with her blankies and say goodnight...no tears, no trying to sneak out of bed and come downstairs or play with toys...she simply said, "Nigh-nigh, Momma" and fell asleep!

Thanks for letting Dana borrow your bed, Preston...she loves it!

'cause she's got PERSONALITY!

Terror on the Trampoline

(warning...this blog post contains blood and close-up eeeewwwy'ness)


It was so beautiful today! The clouds finally burned off and the kids were loving the day. We decided to BBQ with the Kidd and Munk families in the Kidds' backyard. When I got home from work, the kids were on the trampoline; Jay was ready to throw the burgers and hotdogs on the grill; and Becca was putting out chips and "accessories" for the burgers.

Suddenly there was a whole lot of screaming and wailing going on in the backyard. My reaction was to tell them to STOP the insanity...but when I looked through the window, Malcolm was COVERED in BLOOD...Laurel, Meagan and Ethan and Audrey and Aubrey were all crying hysterically. Malcolm said he fell off the trampoline. It was a scene of complete and utter chaos and confusion. Laurel was crying to me, "I don't want him to DIE, Mommy...I don't want him to DIE!" Audrey was so upset; Meagan and Aubrey were very upset. Aubrey told Malcolm that she loved him and would pray for him...Ethan was beside himself with worry and grief.

Once we got the bleeding under control, Jason assisted Doug in giving Malcolm a blessing, and then I took him to the Urgent Care. I was in such a hurry that I didn't even grab his shoes or a change of shirt.

Malcolm was adamant that he didn't want to get stitches. He was worried about going to school because he couldn't remember what happened on the trampoline and he was worried that meant the kids at school would laugh at him because he would forget everything else, too. The Nurse put some numbing stuff on him and left us for 20 minutes...but it didn't work. So when the Doctor came in he had to give him several shots...Malcolm tried to be brave, but it hurt!!

When we found out that because the cut was in his scalp, Malcolm was getting Staples instead of stitches you should have seen the worried look that flashed across his face...suddenly his chant of "No stitches" turned to "No staples! No staples!" But the Doctor won out, and Malcolm got 4 staples in his head...He's now quite proud of them.

Sadly, it's supposed to be close to 90 degrees tomorrow, and we had planned to break out the Bonzai Triple Wave Racer. But in honor of Malcolm's poor head, I think we'll hold off until the staples come out (in 7 to 10 days).

Malcolm and Ethan have been best friends pretty much from the day they first met over 4 years ago. They spend so much time together that they are more like brothers than friends. So it shouldn't surprise us when they fight and argue with each other so much. But after Malcolm's accident tonight, Ethan was worried sick about him...so much so that he apparently couldn't sleep...he came over with Jason when we got home close to 11. You could see how happy they were to see each other, and how happy Ethan was that Malcolm was going to be OK. Earlier he made this card for Malcolm...it's good to have an occassional moment to make you grateful for what you have.

Shake it and cake it, baby!

Maximum Sassitude!

You know it and you show it!

Happy Birthday!

Matt & Hottie found this card for the girls' birthday last week...It's so much like the two of them that every time I look at I just laugh and laugh! It's now framed and hanging proudly with our growing collection of look-alike-art.

good night, sleep tight...

my favorite flowers

Crocuses are the first sign that winter will (eventually) come to an end...that seems especially important this year...

Lilac bushes remind me of a home we lived in when I was in kindergarten. There was a lilac hedge that divided our yard from the next, and it smelled SO good when they bloomed that year.

Little purple pansies touched with yellow gold, growing in the corner of my garden old...they are very tiny but must try, try, try ~ just one spot to gladden for you and I. When my Grandma died a few years ago, she requested that her grandchildren sing this song at her funeral...now when I hear it I get teary...

Roses make me very happy ~ especially if I can cut fresh blossoms so I can enjoy them inside, too.

I know that driftwood and tall grass aren't flowers, but I love that when I see them I can hear the waves crashing into the sand and smell the salty, sea air.

We took a vacation to Cape Cod with Doug's folks one summer. As we were walking to the beach late one afternoon, Momma suddenly dropped to the ground. When she came up her eyes were a bit teary and she said, "These are the flowers on our ring, honey! My mother always had them in her yard, but I could never get them to grow in California." She was referring to the wedding ring I wear ~ which she gave to Doug and me when we got engaged. For 5 years I'd thought the beautiful little flowers were tiny tulips. A couple of years ago I took the plunge and bought some to plant...I was so happy to see them come back this spring! I hope there are enough blossoms for me to smell, because they have a heavenly scent!

fun with Jeff

Doug is starting to get booked for days with 2 different TV stations. Sometimes he doesn't get much notice and because I'm working full-time, we have to scramble to get childcare. We have the BEST friends who have been so supportive during this time. The afternoons are relatively easy, but when we both have to leave for work before the kids get up, it's been frustrating. Today we hit the jackpot and Jeff was able to watch the kids for us. He woke all 4 kids up, got them dressed, played with them, and he even made them a great breakfast well before the school bus got there. Then he came back after the big kids got home from school ~ they watched some of his great homemade movies, played hide & seek, and just generall had a great time. I felt bad breaking up the party.

Malcolm, especially, adores Jeff. He is very sad that he'll be turning 8 and will be too old to attend Cool School. Malcolm talks about him, prays for him, and misses him when he's away at college. I don't know how he'll make it through Jeff's 2-year mission. I am grateful that Jeff is such a good kid ~ I'm pleased that Malcolm wants to be like him, and I hope Jeff's mission makes a positive impression on Malcolm (and all the other Cool School Reunion Kids).

Thanks for a fun day, Jeff! The Dillons love you!!

if you're wondering why Malcolm looks so glum, it's because this was taken just before Jeff left for the day...he was pouting.