SNOW!

What.a.crazy.week!  It started with the boys having Monday off and me having meetings all day (President's Day).  Then we had a couple of days of school.  On Tuesday when I picked Mason up, I asked him to help pick up the toys he was playing with before we left.  He kept saying "I didn't get that out.  I picked up what I got out."  He was refusing, and started crying, then ran out of the room.  I tried to get him back in...kicking and screaming...and I ended up helping pick up.  It was so out of character for Mason to do that at school!  Thankfully Mary was there at the same time, saw "the look" in my eyes, and offered to take Mason for a few hours.  That was a blessing!!!  She also took Bryce later on, so I could take Zane to his cub scout meeting.  Thank you Mary!

 

Before bed, Mason and I sat down to write an apology letter to Mrs. Dawn.  I was so proud of him!  I helped him by saying the words slowly, but he did all of the rest of it on his own!!!  The next day he gave it to Mrs. Dawn right away, and she told me she about cried!  She was very touched that he would do that!

 



Dear Mrs. Dawn,  Sorry for not picking up the toys.  (There's a second page that says "Mason" and on the back he had Zane draw a train).

The weather forecasters got it right this time!  They were calling for lots of snow...and we got just that.  I haven't seen this much snow in KC for some time!  It started about 7:15 Wednesday morning and it came down hard and quickly!  Our snow day was actually called the night before because if the forecast, which ended up being a very smart move!  Matt decided to work through the night Tuesday so he could be home with us Wednesday.  However, that didn't turn out like we thought it would.  He left work around 9:30 and his usual 35 minute drive took him 5 hours!  I was so worried the entire time he was driving home!  And I was also glad he had the Tahoe instead of his car, or he NEVER would have made it home!

Passing the time on a snow day...

They told me they were playing "Bowser" (from Mario)

Of course we had to head out into the snow!

Snow angels!

Zane took a moment to just stand in the midst of it all first!

Dressed to impress...

 

We ended up with a second snow day on Friday, so we also used the snow to make ice cream!

 



YUM!

It's good, mom!

Want some ice cream with those sprinkles Mason?

Saturday we had a cub scout banquet.  It was a dinner and awards ceremony.

Zane's pack dressed as sailors!

Receiving his badges

Getting congrats from Frank, his den leader

The boys from his den

Brotherly love!

The evening got quite long...here are #1 and #2 being silly!

Today we went to church then had to go to Sam's for a couple of things.  We can't get much in the cart with these hoodlums!

We turned a few heads there!!!

Then we came home and Mason begged and begged Matt to go ouside, until he finally gave in!  They had fun making this snowman!

 



Zane wasn't pleased with the buttons...but was the only one who would pose for a picture!

Going down the "slides" they made!

Mr. Mason

Zaners

I ran to HyVee for a couple of things tonight and I just found this sight funny...seriously...not one single loaf of bread available!  Everyone is prepping for round two of snow...predicted to start tomorrow afternoon into Tuesday, and accumulating to 10 or more inches!  I don't know where this snow will go!  I know it's inevitable that we'll have another short week...but I am just not a fan of snow days!  They are not nice and relaxing like you all think they are...they are a lot of work.  Keeping three boys entertained...inside...because it's too cold and/or our car can't get us anywhere!  We've made it through two days without harm...so hopefully we can make it through more!  :)  Honestly though, I'd much rather be home in May when it's warm out and we can play!!!

Ready for the storm!

Catching Up...

As you'll soon see...by the lack of photos...it's been a little crazy around here lately!  So I'll just go with the photos I have and give you a few updates...this post is heavy on Bryce pictures...thanks to Jo...cause I got them all from her daycare website!

 

Speaking of Jo...a couple of weekends ago her oldest daughter, Erika, had her birthday party and invited us to go along.  I had Erika as a kindergarten student.  She was then, and is now, an amazing person!  Erika just turned 14, and for her birthday, she invited friends and family to do a community service project!  We went to Harvesters and packaged meals that get delivered to elementary schools every week.  In about an hour and a half we packaged 1,060 meals!  We had a lot of fun and it was a great lesson on service, giving, and compassion for Zane!  I'm so proud of Erika and pray that my boys turn out to be as great as she is! 

 

We were in charge of instant oatmeal and cheerios!

And then there's Bryce...here are some fun pictures from Jo's house...

Peek a boo!

Happy little fella!

Ready for naptime!

Three cheers!

Can I go outside Jo???

Hello!

She said he ate this entire mess!

Monday afternoon I left for St. Louis with my boss and another co-worker to attend a technology conference.  It was hard to say good-bye to the boys and know I wouldn't see them for 2 days, but it was also nice to sleep knowing noone would be kicking me in the ribs (Not Matt...Mason)!  The conference was good.  We learned some things we can bring back and share with our staff.  The worst part is always the travel time.  I got home Wednesday night and was completely exhausted.  I think I was in bed by 8:30!  That's EARLY for me!!!  We are super lucky that Grandma Keeta was able to come and stay with the boys from Monday-Thursday.  It was SUCH a big help to Matt as he's super busy at work and would have had a hard time getting everyone picked up in time while I was gone.  I was sure the boys would be very mad when I came back because it meant Grandma would leave.  They didn't seem to be too upset...yet...

 

Thursday was Valentine's Day and I had great plans...all red/heart shaped food, gifts, love, and then Bryce had a fever when I picked him up...UGH!  I was feeling completely overwhelmed...and behind...at work, at home...in life...and then this!  So instead of me making fun things for the boys, all I could muster was driving through McDonald's.  Apparently Grandma wore them out...from our house to McDonald's, this was the result...

 

Bryce and I were the only coherent ones!

Thankfully my parents were able to come down Friday and they kept Bryce at home so we could resume our normal schedule.  We were so thankful!  I'm still feeling behind and have so many things to accomplish, but I'll get there!  It would have been worse to have to do sub plans after already having been gone two days!

So a special thanks to our parents!  We appreciate that you would change your lives completely to help us out!

Our First Pinewood Derby

So this was the day Zane Matt had been researching, planing, preparing, and waiting for!  Our first pinewood derby!  It was on Saturday morning.  Zane and Matt left ahead of the rest of us for "weigh ins."  We got there JUST IN TIME to see Zane's first race...which he won!

 

1st race!

Guess what!?!

He WON!!!

They race "heats," or "rounds" and they go by time, not finishes.

Next round...

2nd Place!

 

I'll spare you, I didn't take pictures of every single round.  But it really was fun watching Zane (and Matt) watching his car!  I wish I would have gotten a picture of Zane cheering when his car won!  It was priceless!  He was throwing his hands in the air and waving at me!  :)

 



My littlest and biggest boys watching the races!

Zane's pack

The results are in...he got 5th!!!

Trophy time!

One proud boy!

Dad, Zane, and their car!

Zane and his buddy Tyler "buffing" their cars!

Zane and his buddy West with their cars

All that work, and worry, and measuring, and aligning, and in the end they just want to roll their cars around the gym floor!

As glad as I am that these races are over, it really was fun to watch Matt and Zane working together on the car!  I'm really not sure which of them was more excited...and though I say it's over...the "research" is already beginning for next year...ha!