Mother knows best!

Have you seen "Tangled"? If so, then you know that the evil old woman that says she is Rapunzel's mother and raises her, likes to sing a song along the lines of "mother knows best".

Well, Ocelia has taken to wanting to watch this show alot and now tromps through her day singing "MOTHER KNOWS BEST" at the top of her lungs with a rather angry look upon her face.

Worried?
Just a bit.

Today she responded to a request I made of her with, you guessed it, a hearty "mother knows best" chorus as she went on her way to do my bidding.

Why couldn't she choose one of the sweet, carefree songs? Something innocent and charming?

Maybe some music therapy or music behavioral interventions are in order. I should get on iTunes and download my "Tangled" musical choices and play them to her all day long.

Think it will help.
Probably not.
Rather strong willed this one.

Well, at least she is unconsciously stroking my ego. I do know best.

A Moment of Silence

I realize that it has been a week since I have written anything. Sorry.
Life has been happening.

It does that sometimes.

Well, we have wrapped up freestyle wrestling season this past weekend. Finally.

We do enjoy watching the boys learn and show their skills. However, we also really enjoy when the season is over.

This year we had three days of tournaments. Thursday was Isaak wresting folkstyle. Friday was Ellis' first tourney. He did great! He lost both matches, but he smiled the whole time. Saturday was Isaak and Avery wrestling freestyle. They wrestled tough kids and were done by late afternoon.

On Friday when we got home Brad sat Celie and Ellis on the stairs to go upstairs and change their clothes. 2 minutes later, this is what they looked like. They were OUT! We all felt like that.

Don't tell me you have never felt this way.

Peace...

Dirt, dirt, and more dirt

Well, with Spring finally in full gear here (notice I did not say full bloom. We won't see anything really bloom until around May 5 or so) we have been able to get our full daily dose of dirt. It was mud until this weekend. Now it is dirt.


Brad brought out the dirt bikes for the boys this weekend and they barely took time to eat or do anything else all weekend. Unfortunately, Isaak's bike has an "issue".

So, Avery was kind enough to take turns with Isaak. But, Avery did make Isaak work for it. He would slow down as if to stop and give Isaak a turn, then quickly punch it and circle around him a few time.

That Avery is such a stinker!
I think he actually gave a classic evil villain laugh as he drove off in this shot.

Think Isaak is getting impatient?

Av is full of spunk and life. This is his typical response when he sees me with my camera, "Mom take a picture of me!"

Ok, I will.

Who could resist that, really?

Happy Spring, and happy ridin'!

Gotta love mornings like this...

It doesn't happen often. But today is one of those days. All children have been fed, dressed, beds made, packs ready for school, and instruments practiced before 8:00. I have fed children, dressed some, packed snacks (we have errands to run this morning), completed a load of dishes, done a load of laundry, and have had time to write this post all before we leave for school at 8:20. Wow, things are looking up. We'll see how it holds up today. Cross your fingers...

Break UP!

It is April and that means break up. Everything starts to melt and we are on high mud alert. However, this is what we had 4 days ago and again 2 days ago. I started to look for property for sale in Florida. Then my kids reminded me that they have hurricanes. So I started to look in Texas. Tornadoes don't phase me.

This is the only picture I have from wrestling 3 days ago. Ellis took third, Isaak took third and Avery took second. Great work!

Today is Tuesday. The snow in the previous pictures melted later the same day and now we have mud.

Of course the boys love it. The garage floor and my washing machine don't.

Tonight we found some lawn chairs and sat on the front porch and watched the boys play. Celie spent her evening sitting at the dinner table complaining about dinner. Eventually she made it outside.

Cross your fingers that Spring continues to warm the earth and that the mud dries up quickly.

The Gater Pit

Our new property has a natural pit area to one side of our house. Brad and the boys decided that Brad could even it out with some equipment and during the winter it would make a great snowboarding pit. I did. They called it the Snake Pit. Now that the snow is melting it has turned into a nice pond. I told Brad that would happen. His slope was way off. He didn't believe me. With the 45 degree temperatures, the boys decided to us our jet sled to boat around the pond last night. Here is what transpired. And sorry for the dark photos. It was very cloudy and nearly 8:00 at night. Isaak braved it alone, and found the crack that leaked, and soaked his pants, and got into his mud boots.

He convinced Avery to get into the boat too.

He just had to row to shore.

And get some help from Avery to stay at shore.

Come on Av, get in.

We'll use this stick like a paddle. I'll push us around.

And Ellis just watched.

And Celie fell down alot in her suit. But she said it was ok. Her suit was puffy and kept her safe.

Oh yeah, they renamed the pit. It is now the Gater Pit. I don't know why.

Let's get ready to WRESTLE!!!!!

The boys had their first wrestling tournament for the season. I forget how long they take. Now that Isaak is older, he doesn't start wrestling until the afternoon. So we are now officially there from 9:00 until 6, 7, 8 o'clock. Long day. Ellis wrestled for the first time. He placed 3 out of 4 wrestlers in his weight class. He stayed right in there and wrestled tough. Avery took 2nd! He lost his first match then pinned his next 3! He was amazing out there. He was also awarded the wrestler of the week at practice for his positive attitude no matter what the outcome during the tournament. Way to go! Isaak didn't place this weekend. He lost both matches. But that is typical Isaak. He bombs at the beginning and comes out on top at the end of the season. I'll post pics when I can..