Isaac’s 6th Birthday

Isaac has turn the mighty 6! We had fun family “waffle night” party for him at Grandma and Grandpa’s house and enjoyed good times with cousins galore. We also had a party the night before at Nani’s house but those pics are on Rob’s camera so that post will hopefully be coming soon! I accidentally brought the camera bag without the camera inside it so you’ll have to endure pictures taken with my phone. Isaac got a really cool truck that turns into a dinosaur. He also got some Spiderman Legos, Star wars Lego pajamas and an Iron man mask that he so nicely immediately gave to Caleb who had lost his Ironman mask to the neighbor who never returned it.Probably safe to say the biggest hit of the party was the piñata from Bryson and Destiny leftover from Christmas. The kids were not deterred by the freezing temperatures in the garage and happily made a mad dash when Zeke busted it open.Isaac decided he wanted to have a Batman themed party and as I am too cheap to buy a custom cake I whipped up this cake with Isaac’s help. I was especially proud of my Oreo Batman silhouette in the middle. Isaac got to choose whatever ice cream he wanted to go with the cake and he chose Rob’s favorite…mint chocolate chip. Like father like son! All in all it was a wonderful little shindig and we’re so happy to have a big boy Squeaks in all of his sixness. A quick snapshot of Isaac at 6: Lego maniac, major bike rider, cabinet climber, fearless gymnast, persistent reader, scripture story enthusiast, Baby Noah helper, pizza smell hater, cheese stick and Pedisure inhaler, sweet smile and hug giver! We LOVE our Isaac!

Winter Update

I haven’t blogged for 10 months! I have a resolution to blog once a week this year and am already struggling clearly. But I shall try once again… Here is a blog post that I wrote last March that I am finally posting…

It's that special time of year again... A time of Christmas cheer, Valentine love, and little boy winter stir craziness. I will undoubtedly admit that "screens" as we call them at our house, namely TV, Wii, computer, and my phone, have undoubtedly helped me and the boys survive long cold days but we have attempted a few other things as well.  First a Zekie brag session is in order.  Zekie got his report card last week and got straight 4’s! which is the equivalent to straight A’s in Kindergarten.  Mrs. Thayer sent out an email to all parents letting them know that at this point in the year that a 2 was a good grade because they were still introducing a lot of concepts.  At Zeke’s parent teacher conference Mrs. Thayer told Rob that she just doesn’t ever give out report cards like that but she couldn’t help it with Zeke.  Needless to say we are so proud of smartie pants Zekes!  He also took another test and got 101 out of 102.  She said she’s supposed to test him again at the end of the year but what would be the point?!  Zekie told Mrs. Thayer that he was good at dancing and being smart and Isaac was good at climbing and wrestling!  That made her chuckle. Luckily Zekie is never bored and is still learning a lot at Kindergarten.  Lately they’ve been having a swell time learning about different careers and Zeke even convinced me to visit his class and tell them a little about Photography.  He’s also getting better at his writing skills and often writes funny things at school that make Rob and I laugh at his creativity.  He’s reading at a 2nd grade level and has busted through the whole Magic Tree House Series.  Every night he reads in bed until 9…or a little later if he “just not tired yet.”

Here’s some of Zekie’s homework that we’re saving… digitally.  I can’t believe how many papers come home EVERY day!

Meanwhile a Squeaks has been crafting up a storm!  Here he is with play dough he helped make, cookie cutters and smelly markers.  When he was done he said “Mama, I make really good creations right?!”

A proud moment for Isaac with his ice cream cone, star, car, plane and heart!

Isaac also make this lovely camera out of a chocolate box, paper, tape and a toilet paper roll.  You can open it up and find lots of cute pictures Isaac drew.  My favorites are the ones of me and my round circle prego belly.   If you look close at Isaac’s chin you can see that he surprisingly got a case of the chicken pox!  My theory is he got them at Kangeroo Zoo when he got an arm burn going down the slide and then the germs got smashed into his open wound.  He got a bunch a chickenpox all around his elbow, about 8 on his bum and legs, and maybe 5 on his chin and nose.  Luckily they didn’t bother him very much and they’re all healed up and gone now.  Plus he won’t have to get his chicken pox booster for kindergarten now that he’s had them.  A silver lining in everything.

And then there’s Caleb Nicholas.  I talked to Caleb’s primary teacher yesterday and she told me Caleb informed her that her phone was boring and not fun like mine.  Her comment was that’s how you know technology’s hitting them young when the 3 year old’s a critic.  You can see in this picture that Caleb’s “swiped” my iphone once again and begs me daily to put new free games on for him.  He was turning to quite a junkie so now I have a password and he can only play after he’s done a chore.  He’s getting pretty good at emptying the laundry and the dishwasher .  He also banished the nick name “Baby” now that Noah’s on the way and Caleb’s a “big boy”.  He also informed me that he no longer has a funky name.  I’m sad that his days of proudly introducing himself as “Bebopalicious!” are over.  And so clearly as his mother I took it upon myself to give him some new nick names despite his pleadings that he was “just Caleb”.  There’s lots of fun things that rhyme with his middle name of Nicholas.  When he picks his nose, which unfortunately is way too often he become Caleb “Pickalas”, when he tricks me by saying that he IS NOT in “poo ball magician” (poo ball position is sitting on the floor or hiding behind the chair or the pantry), he become Caleb “Trickalas”, and when he kicks his brothers he clearly become Caleb “Kickalas”.

The latest on baby boy number 4, who we’re naming after one of brother Brian’s aliases, “Noah” is that he’s happy, growing and kicking up a storm.  Above is a picture of his brother’s waiting in my OB’s waiting room for it to be my turn.  I forgot that it was president’s day and I would have 3 boys with me instead of 1 so the screens came along to make the time go back faster.  Thank you DVD player, Leapster and iphone for making an impossible visit very quiet and calm.

Incase you were worried that my boys did screens all day and never made it out about I assure that is not the case.  Here’s our three monkeys at gymnastics…

Caleb at the mall practicing his karate moves…

Twin 1 helping Twin 2 out at the library.

Some of our other random activities have been decorating cupcakes, visiting the children's museum, too many trips to Chickfila, and various crafting. We have done a few other things but that at least covers the pictures. I'm so grateful the it has been a mild Winter and the boys have been able to play soccer in the street with Bella and Nate, and jump on the trampoline occasionally. Here's to one more crazy month of survival and then on to greener pastures!

Sledding up a Storm

I decided since this might just well be the last snow of the season that we should take advantage and go sledding.  In typical Utah fashion, most of the snow was gone by mid afternoon when school, preschool, and gymnastics was over but that didn't stop us from going...uh...slushing.  Even better, we had Isaac's friend Tiki come along for the ride. :)

At first Zekie was convinced that this sledding trip was incredibly lame and that he couldn't get his sled to work.  After a lecture about not giving up which had approximately zero affect on him, it was the "I'll give you 50 cents if you can sled down the hill one time." that did the trick. After that he was a master sledder the rest of the afternoon!

I remember when I tried to take Caleb sledding a couple years ago to this same hill and he was tired, scared, cold and miserable. BUT now that he's a vewee gwown up thwee year old he had the time of his life!  He kept me laughing the whole time at his crazy tricks, stunts, flops and rolls...all in attempts to get himself and the sled down the hill.  This kid's hilarwious.

Isaac also had a fabulous time. He's all about becoming one with nature and refreshed himself with snow snacks between runs.  He and Tiki were having a hard time taking turns until I convinced him to be a "reindeer".  Then the strong Squeaks was more than happy to take his friend and brothers on some wild rides!

Here's a picture of our incredible hill.  Just the ride size for 4 small boys and we had it all to ourselves.  It even came complete with a drain at the bottom that clearly had alligators living in it.  It all added to the thrill of the ride.

Tan Tiki and three whitey winter Bachman boys cheezin' it up and having a blast! 

Happy Valentine's Day

We have had a very happy Valentine's Day thus far. Zeke and his friend Kortnie had a lot of fun at their kindergarten class room party making these HUGE valentines for all their candy to go into! Caleb and I got to help with the party too and saw all the festivities...bean bag toss, bird house painting, starburst game "don't eat Pete", story and cupcakes and of course Valentine card making. Zeke loves his friend Kortnie and has been dying to have her come play so it only seemed appropriate on this day of love that she should come over for their first playdate.

Caleb's getting in on the love. He's lucky to have older brothers with cute girl friends that let him tag along.

Last night Zekie lost his 6th tooth! It seems fitting since he is 6 and all. He cut the tooth fairy a break and said that she didn't have to get him the lemon cookies he requested until later the next day...perhaps during his gymnastics class she'd have time.

Isaac usually give me a hard time about going to preschool but not today! He put in some long strenuous...minutes, the day before writing out each and every member of his class's name on his Valentines for them. He also got to be the *star student* big helper in his class today and for his show and tell bucket items he brought the rocket ship clock and a race car. In his Valentine bag he received a plethora of suckers and pencils.

Our fantastic neighbor and babysitter made these beautiful cards with our boys a week before Vday hit. They've been sitting on the mantle and Zeke made us promise to wait to read them on Valentine's day. They had reasons why they loved Mama and Dada.
Mama's Card: Caleb - Loves you because you sleep with him and kiss him good night. Love you Mama. Isaac - Loves you because you play with me and kiss my tummy. Zekie loves Everything about me.
Dada's Card: Caleb - Loves you because you watch sports with me and sleep with me and your hugs are awesome. Love you Dada. Isaac - I love wrestling with you and when you put me to bed. Love Isaac. Zekie - Loves you about taclen (tackling).
We LOVE our boys!!
My dearest Valentine Rob gave me this incredible bouquet of flowers from Costco. He wanted to make an extra big bouquet out of combing a bouquet of long lasting flowers and a bouquet if red roses. Lucky for him no one questioned him about if the bouquets were for two different women or one ;). And lucky for me to have such an incredible husband and father by my side. Love you Rob!

Random Acts of Kidness

Here is a picture Zekie drew of himself as Hulk and a few items he and any other super techy 5 year would like. An iPad, Xbox, Ipod, bowl of candy ... and a pig!

People keep telling me I'm going to miss the days of small fingerprints around our home. I'm not convinced.

In an attempt to teach our boys some responsibilty we've been working on chores and allowance..complete with banks with dividers for "fun money" aka ice cream truck money, mission fund, and tithing. As you can see here, laundry is the clear favorite in the chore department.

Behold the side of our refridgerator, complete with super hero and candy chore charts, preschool calendars and the ever important Box Tops envelope. It's a boy, boy, boy, boy world!

Twins

 

My favorite story involving the twins lately goes a little something like this. Caleb wanted to know if he could go across the street to our neighbor "Sammy's" house. I said sure, but to make sure he looked BOTH ways before he crossed the street and that Isaac and I would be watching through the window to make sure he did. He said OK! and set off. Sure enough he approached the street and very deliberately looked left...then right...and then DOWN...and did his usual fist punching to the sky dance the rest of the way across the street. That kid's hilarious, but the best part of the story is that Isaac starting busting a gut saying "Did you see that?! Caleb looked DOWN. Like a car was going to come up through the road and hit him! Hahahahaha!" I love that Isaac thinks Caleb is as funny as I do :) Ahh, twins.

Caleb's first day of preschool!

 

Caleb is in preschool!!! He has been waiting his whole life for this moment. Literally. I had him on the waiting list for Ms. Holly when he was still in the womb. He has been watching and waiting anxiously as his older brother have gone and has been sooo excited to go!

 

This morning I was in the shower and Caleb surprised me when he threw back the curtain and shouted TODAY I GET TO GO TO PRESCHOOL! It was the first thing on his mind. Then of course we go to drop him off and the nervousness set in. He was not about to get out of the car. Only the promise that I would take him to his favorite place in the world (Maverick gas station) got him out.

 

One of the reasons Caleb was shy was because he saw this cute black boy and said he was nervous about his "fuzzy" hair. At the end of the day however I asked him who his favorite friend was and he said "I love the brown guy!" Glad he's decided diversity is awesome afterall :)

 

I love my funny Bebopalicious! Such a grown up boy who was sooo excited to have his very own glue and scissors. Score!