Chess Heads

The boys have discovered chess. Since I knew nothing of strategy or rules or anything I started taking them to a chess club at the library. Joey has actually gotten pretty good at it. He has beat me twice and Jared once. For a long time he was just frustrated because he couldnt win any games (unless we let him) and I kept telling him that there will come a day that I won't be able to beat him anymore. He's got that detailed, analytical brain which makes a good chess player, and which I certainly lack. Jason's pretty good, too, but has been banned from playing recently for unsportmanlike conduct (throwing a tantrum when his queen got captured, and crying and refusing to play if he doesn't get to be white). It's ok, though, because he really likes playing by himself. He always wins.

I hate this cake

Tyler submitted his request for another R2D2 cake. I convinced him we should do it different from Jason's though--I thought it would be fun to have him standing up, a 3D sort of cake. I had grand plans; I was going to rig up a stand so he'd be off the ground with just his legs touching, like the real R2D2 is. Unfortunately on the day of the cake-making I was too tired, all out of energy, and so that didn't happen. It required two 9x13 cakes, one of which was really crumbly and unusable, though still delicious we discovered as the third cake was baking. Then I had to stack all the layers and ice it, and when Jared walked in the kitchen not too long after I had started the decorating I told him "I hate this cake! If anyone ever requests another R2D2 thing, the answer is an emphatic 'NO'!" I hate all his little butttons and switches and whatever else those things are. After 2 costumes (one of which ended up in the trash before it was finished) and 2 cakes, I've had enough. No more.
Joey summed it up when he said "It's not as cool as I thought it would be." Luckily Tyler was absolutely thrilled with it.
And Joey took a picture of his presents, because Grandma West wanted to see them. As you can tell, he likes "little" things. The things at the top right corner are Star Wars underwear. That white and blue hotwheels car is really cool. You put it in cold water and it turns blue, but it stays blue at room temperature until you put it in hot water. Then it stays white at room temperature. Isn't that amazing?! When we were kids you'd put those sort of things in ice water, then 5 seconds later it would go back to the original color.

I love this video, and can't get enough of it!! Is it because I'm Canadian, or is it just really beautiful? Whatever it is, I love it. And mom, will you get me some of those mittens? I love them.
I don't know how to post a youtube video, does anyone else? Here's the link anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v0o27BPIIk

I saw the torch once. Back in '02. We found out it was going by 1 block from our house, so we bundled up and joined the crowd gathered nearby. A lady from our ward had made this humongous, beautiful banner that was set to drop as the torchbearer ran by. There was a band ready to strike up. Everybody was ready. The torch was going to come by at 7:32, give or take half an hour. This struck us as very funny--7:32? Why not make is something sensible like 7:30, since it was give or take 30 minutes? Anyway, soon enough, two guys came running down the street with the torch. The banner was dropped, the band played, everyone cheered, and then they were gone. Something didn't seem quite right, though. Shouldn't there have been security? People who looked official and important? And didn't it kind of looked like the guys were wearing long johns? Everyone was leaving, and we were standing there saying "Was that it?" And the guy next to us said with a smile "That wasn't the real torch." And we realized it was all a big gag. Imagine the nerve of those guys, to run down the street and get all the glory for carrying the torch! We had a good laugh over it, and to this day it brings a smile. The real torch came soon after, but I don't even remember it. The joke was too funny.

Kids Reading: Fiction and Non-fiction

I really like teaching my little kids how to read. I had a lot of fun with Joey when he was little, and he went to kindergarten able to read simple words, and I was very proud of myself. My goal is for my kids to never wonder if they're smart--I want them to have an easy time in school right from the start so they have a good self-esteem. Jason, A.K.A. The Neglected Child, for various reasons has had very few reading lessons in his short life, and so I thought it was time to start. I heard about a book called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons," and that many people have had success with it, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
I also have been thinking lately about how censored things like blogs sometimes are. You know how it is--you're not going to post a picture of yourself yelling at your kids, or a video of them whining--it's all about how great a time you had on vacation, and the cutest pictures of the kids, etc, etc, and I don't know about anyone else, but I sometimes start to wonder why everyone else's life is so perfect and mine, although great in general, has some stinkier aspects. Of course I get why, we should be positive, and nobody wants to hear kids whining. But still.

Fiction:
I can't believe how quickly Jason and Tyler are picking up reading! They're so dang smart, I wonder how they're my kids, lol! And not only am I giving them the priceless gift of literacy, but we cherish the time together, and our love and respect for eachother has increased. Tyler just turned 4, and already he can read, I'm thinking he might have to skip right to 2nd grade. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime we'll be reading some some great books! We flew through Dr. Suess, and are starting in on Harry Potter. I think next I'll start them on a classic like Moby Dick or A Tale of Two Cities. So much fun!

Non-fiction
When I announced to Jason and Tyler (in my most excited, postive voice) that I was going to start teaching them to read every day (Won't that be fun?!), their first reaction was a very whiny "Why???" and "I don't waaaaant to!" Followed by a lot of crying. I got mad and left the room. I had to come up with a plan, so I fell back on old reliable: bribery. Yes, I bribe them with candy, Air-Heads to be exact, and it's the only reason they tolerate it. Oh, and I think a more appropriate title for the book would be "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 lessons Which Are Sometimes Easy But More Often Make You Grumpy and Annoyed and Sometimes Make You Wonder If Your Kid is Kinda Dumb."

They are learning to read (at least I'm pretty sure they are), and it is rewarding to see them learn, I just thought I'd present the true story, for your reading pleasure.

Who needs cats?

Jared got this laser light thing in his stocking for christmas and pulled it out one day and was shining it around the room. The boys started chasing it, and I commented that they were like cats chasing the little light, and so they started making their version of cat sounds, which are actually quite annoying, and don't really sound much like cats at all. They looked cute and were having so much fun I captured it on video. Of course it's all fun and games until . . .

Christmas in Canada

We braved the scary winter roads to spend Christmas with my family in Canada. It was totally worth it, especially since I got to see my new adorable niece Catie, who is a little angel baby, never cries and sleeps all night. The boys had a blast playing with their cousins Riley, Gage, and Brenden. At least, they had a blast when they weren't fighting. What do you expect from 6 little boys, right? We got to go ice skating, something I really love, and haven't done for about 15 years. Joey pretty much hated it, no surprise there, though. Jason had the time of his life and says he wants to play hockey now. That will never happen since I'd have to get up at unholy hours of the morning to take him to practice, and fork out a fortune for equipment and ice time. Tyler also liked it a lot. We'd like to go again sometime, but who know when, since we learned that it would be virtually impossible withouth the help of many adults. It takes 2 just to keep them on their feet.
Me and my brother-in-law, Brad with Jason.

This picture of Tyler is deceiving because it looks like he can do it himself. Really we propped him up for a few seconds and took some quick pictures. This is more like it.
We also got to visit my Grandma West, which was awesome, since most likely the boys won't get a chance to see her again since she is not in very good health.

Tyler went for a ride with her on the wheelchair.

Christmas was fun, and Santa even found us at Grandma's house. No surprise, since Santa is Canadian, after all.
Jason got a ball launcher thingy that he's been asking for for months, Tyler got a train set with puzzle tracks, and Joey got his dream come true, a Lego Star Wars video game. They also got a million other toys that they can't get enough of--no boredome these days!
I love Christmas, and especially with all the family. If only we didn't live so far away. Alas.

New family pictures

I've been dying to share these gorgeous pictures my incredibly talented friend Katie took of our family. I've had to keep them secret because I made my mom a calendar using all these pictures and I wanted them to be a surprise for her. Now that christmas is over I can finally post them!

Years ago, actually at a baby shower my ward did for me when I was pregnant with Joey, at the host's house there were adorable pictures of her kids all over her house. Ever since then I've dreamed of having such pictures. These really were a dream come true.

Such cute boys!

Thanks Katie, you really are amazing!!