Baklava and the World's Fair

Bentley class participated in the 6th grade World Fair

at their school. Their class chose to focus on foods

from various countries (I can only imagine that this is to

make the parents' lives as crazy as possible and to be

as expensive as possible). Bentley was the last person to

get to choose a country, and the only spot left was on the 

Greece team. He tried to trade, but didn't have any luck.

He and his partners researched Greece, and decided

to bring Baklava and pasta salad. Bentley volunteered to

make the Baklava (probably because Mindy is such a pro).

I had never made it, so I was pretty nervous.

Mindy talked Bentley and me through it

(late into the night), and it all turned out okay.

I just hope Maxwell doesn't get Greece next year.

Bentley and co.

before baking

after baking

after syrup

ready to serve - after the people did a Greek dance!

Milo's Sleeping Chart (deja vu)

It has been getting more and more difficult to get Milo

so sleep at night. Once we get him in bed, he gets out.

Again and again and again and again and again.

A couple of weeks ago, Milo and I drove by Noodles

and Company. Milo read "noodles" and asked what it was.

When I told him it was a restaurant, he asked if we could 

eat there sometime. When he found out they have macaroni

and cheese there, he REALLY wanted to try it out.

So we made a deal and a chart.

He had to get in bed and stay in bed for 10 nights,

and then we'd go to lunch at Noodles.

And he did it!

So John, Alton, and I went to lunch last week.
Milo got Pa's number for our table.

Alton seemed to enjoy watching the people around us.

Milo enjoyed his lemonade and his macaroni.

Now we're hoping the "staying in bed" continues,
even without the chart and the macaroni reward.

Elizabeth and Ruby

Last Sunday, Elizabeth came over for dinner.

She and Ruby have been trying to coordinate schedules

for a sleepover since August (!!!!), and Liz asked

when Ruby's spring break was this year.

It's not till April, but Ruby said, 

"I don't have school tomorrow, so I could sleep over!"

And so she did.

They stayed up late watching a movie

(Ruby says it was probably MY bedtime).

The next morning, Elizabeth offered her cookies

for breakfast, but Ruby ate toast, eggs, and apple cider.

After breakfast, Elizabeth took Ruby to see Frozen.

Then, they ate sushi for lunch

(Ruby says she didn't like the sushi, 

but she did like the fish.)

Alton and I picked her up (late) and Elizabeth

hurried off to her voice lesson while Ruby wentto

her friend Elizabeth's home to play.

Thanks Elizabeth! Ruby had a great time!

Trouble

He blows raspberries while he's eating - which is awesome 

if you like wearing rice cereal and fruits or vegetables.

He has also learned to clap - when we say "Hurrah for Alton!"

he claps along. He is "really" crawling most of the time

(instead of his breaststroke scooting method).

He is so fun, even when he is trouble.

Multiplication Master

Jonah came home from school this past week with a certificate

naming him a Multiplication Master. He says this means that

all multiplication must bow down to him. I think it means that

he has mastered his multiplication facts for the numbers

between 0 and 10. He's been super excited and keeps proving

his mastery by having us all quiz him. Way to go Jonah!

It's hard work being a master of multiplication - 

luckily Jonah is able to get a good night's sleep

with his friend/pet Alpha. 

Basketball Version 2014

Basketball 2014 has begun!

This year we have three kids playing,

but luckily only two teams.

Jonah is playing for the first time.

He's on a 3rd/4th grade team and he's excited!

Sometimes. Sometimes he is just playing basketball

to stay in shape for soccer, and sometimes he loves it.

He's #12, which is cool because he was born on the 12th.

John stayed home with Alton (it was nap time) for the 

first game, but the rest of the kids went with me to cheer.

Jonah had some good passes and a shots at the game.

These games are always sort of crazy - the gym is packed

and the kids are still learning - but it was fun to watch 

Jonah play basketball.

Bentley and Maxwell are playing on the 5th/6th grade team,

and they have one awesome coach - their Dad.

They each got their favorite jersey numbers - 

Bentley is 4 and Maxwell is 11.

Our team was a lot shorter than the other team last week.

Hopefully that won't be a theme this season.

Both boys played hard and said they had fun.

I think Alton like the game. He sat and sucked his thumb

while he watched the game. Near the end he got a little

restless and started pulling Milo's hair, but it was really

easy to watch the game while I held him - pretty awesome.

Jonah and Max kept score for each other (there is no

official scoring - it's a rec league). Milo sat and watched.

He was really good. Ruby wandered and dribbled the ball,

but she didn't get lost, so all is well.

Apple Pie and Auditions

Today is the anniversary of my first date with John. 

And to celebrate, I took Ruby and Milo to audition with

Bored Shorts TV. Okay, the two things have nothing

in common, but in an otherwise overbooked (aka NORMAL)

Wednesday, that was the highlight.

Dave, Ruby, Milo, and Richard

Ruby and Milo had a 30 minute slot to get to know a couple
of the Bored Shorts guys, and to show them how cute they are.
 The kids were a little reserved at first, but eventually
talked about snow fort building and master plans
to defeat their older brothers in a snow war.
(Or something like that.)
Ruby and Milo were their adorable selves,
but only time will tell whether they will make an appearance
in a Bored Shorts production. They had fun and got
their first ever Frosty, so it was a Win for them regardless.

As far as our "anniversary," I haven't had time to make a
pie, so we're eating apple turnovers after John lifts tonight.
Hopefully we'll get a make-up date later this month.

Cheers!

Ruby started the New Year with a cheer clinic.

Bentley was at a friend's house, but the rest of us

went to cheer on the cheerleaders.

It was Alton's first basketball game, and he liked it.

He'd shake his arm and yell like his brothers

(when he didn't have his thumb in his mouth).

Here's Ruby with the cheerleaders, waiting to perform.

On the court at halftime.

The girls performed a couple of cheers, and then a dance.

Here's video of the first cheer,

and one of the dance.

(Just before the 2 minute mark she does her first stunt!

She told us there was a surprise in the performance,

and the stunt was it! She did great!)

She came and found us right after the performance,

but we went back to the cheerleaders to get some 

photos with our favorite OHS girls.

The stunt! Go Ruby!

A highlight for all of the kids was seeing Brutus - the mascot.

Last year (although we didn't know it at the time) Brutus

was our home teacher, Zach. Brutus came by to see Jonah

Maxwell, and Alton, but Ruby and Milo were at the top

of the stand so they missed him. Ruby fixed that!

Milo really wanted to talk to Brutus, so she took him

over and introduced them. Go Ruby!

Nine Months

Our Alton is 9 months old today!

He is a happy little guy who scoots all over

and likes to eat anything and everything

that he finds on the floor. It's awesome.

He is starting to pull himself to standing at the couch.

He tries to climb stairs, and will climb on anything

that is on the floor - a computer, rolled up rug,

box, game, backpack, whatever.

Sometimes he gets stuck.

He likes to play with his toys and to look at books.

He is quick to laugh, and slow to sleep.

He still likes his thumb, and he doesn't have any teeth, yet.

Alton follows me around when he wants me to pick him up,

 lays his head on or at my feet and waits.

He is a great eater and loves real food.

He is growing up so fast and we are all in love with him.

It's not hard to understand why, right?

Stuck

New Year, New Do's

No haircuts for the kids yet this year

(they usually get them in January),

but I saw Heidi, and John grew a beard,

and then shaved it. (I will have to get an "after"

photo of him - he'll love that.) :)