Sunday, October 23, 2011


Our Saturday mornings have been all about football for Tyler lately.  He mainly plays defense and he is really liking it.  He says he wants to play next year.  Basketball comes next and then baseball for he and Brandon. 
Things here have been going along like normal I guess, Jace is getting really big.  He is really happy and is starting to laugh and talk and skwak and all that.  He makes all kinds of really funny noises that make us laugh.  The boys really enjoy playing with him it's very cute.  He really loves them too, if he is fussy I can just lay him in the middle of whatever the boys are doing and he is entertained by the sounds of their voices and especially if he can see them.  The weather he has been sooo great, I wish it would never end! 
We are gearing up for Halloween, costumes are ready.  Actually they wear them to play in each day after school it's pretty funny.  I am hoping that they will be intact for Trick or Treating.
The boys are really doing well in school.  Tyler is older so his progress isn't as obvious sometimes but for Ethan and Brandon, wow!  Brandon is learning to read and write so much more and he is very motivated to learn and eager to do school work.  Ethan is the same way, wants to know how to write and sound out all his letters.  I am amazed at what he already knows because I don't remember teaching much, I think he just learns by being around and watching the older boys.  I am happy to say that they always get very positive reports from their teachers about their behavior.  I am not sure if the teachers are just really happy that they are good kids or if they are completely AMAZED by the fact they can be good and still come from a crazy family of ALL boys!
They can be crazy at times but they really are well behaved at school.  I wish that was always the case at home but whatever, they are pretty good.
I have started a new system in our house that seems to be working fairly well.  I bought a ton of chocolate gold coins at wal mart and put them into a candy jar.  Each boy has his own little jar that he can put his earned coins into.  He has a choice to either eat the coin upon earning it, or he can save it and cash it in at the end of the week.  Each coin is worth .$25 so at the end of the week they have a couple dollars (unless it's Ethan and he pretty much eats his when he gets them) : )  It has been a great way to have them earn some money which they love, get chores done, and teach about tithing.  Everytime we cash in, we take out 10% for tithing.  I had tried a few other systems before that work for a while and then fade out.  I am hoping this one sticks because money is the best motivation I have found.  And for little little ones, chocolate is just as good or better.  It is also possible to lose a coin or two or ALL if you are naughty enough.  This has already happened just so you know.  It was tragic let me tell you.
The picture of the pumpkins is just to show how funny our boys can be.  Pretty sure Brandon is behind this one but do you see how they are kissing?  Oh the laughter when they showed me.  Some of the other pictures...I canned pears with Carla and Grandma Patt.  They helped me do it actually so that was really nice. The other pictures are of the boys digging for potatoes that we grew in our garden.  I wish that I would have used all three planter boxes for this.  They had so much fun digging these out and it was just about the only thing that survived the cold nights here.  We had a few tomatoes and some lettuce but not much.  They dug up enough to feed us as a side dish to three meals!  Exctiting isn't it?  Well it was to us.  Brandon told me he wanted to be a potato farmer!  He really is funny. Ok the last set of pics are of Ethan and his legos.  He came to show me his wake surfing guy that he had made....pretty cute. 
















4 comments:

Verenice said...

That wakeboarding ensemble is pretty cool! Boys can be so creative. I can't believe Jace. He really is looking older. And he seems to be looking like his own little person. I almost want to say he looks a lot like Brian. What do you think? And your potatoes look pretty yummy. I bet that was fun for the boys to dig them all up. Oh, watch out for the pooperoo.

John and Cathryn said...

Look at Tyler all big and tough looking!! Those pumpkins look hilarious "kissing". I'm excited to see their costumes :) and the coins was an awesome idea..you're a fun creative mom!

John and Cathryn said...

Oh I love the wake surf by the way :) you know what he watches. A lot Haha

Kat and Steve said...

Gasp, I love the coin idea! We might have to try that. Genius.

The boys look like they're getting pretty intense with the shovel and the potatoes. They take their work very seriously, huh?