Sorry Mom...

We are on vacation this week and the weather is FREEZING. So, it doesn't surprise me that we have had some cranky moments in the past couple of days. We have never really had summer yet!!

But, tonight the crankiness and fighting reached an all time high. After repeatedly telling the boys to stop, find your happy heart, be nice, etc - I had had enough and sent them upstairs to their room.

They sent Ty down to apologize and when that didn't work in getting them out of their punishment they resorted to a very inventive way of getting my attention...

The boys had been painting earlier in the day and I hadn't put away the paints yet. So, I was sitting on the couch in the living room when I hear this loud clunk on the awning over the picture window. Then out of the sky drops a paper with the words "Sorry mom we love you" painted in yellow poster paint dangling from a jump rope. It bounces around in front of the window for a few moments before being hoisted back up into the boys bedroom.

Now, I ask you - HOW CAN YOU STAY MAD AT SUCH CREATIVE BOYS?!?!

I am truly impressed by their creative way of apologizing to me for their behavior and wonder what they will think of next.

Sleepovers & unknown kids...

So we are heading into our second night at the sleepover house.

The boys wanted a sleep over with Anthony last night and of course I couldn't refuse. So the fun began with a chocolate milk shake that blew the cover off of the blender early in the evening and progressed from there. Kurt woke me up at 12am to tell me that the boys were painting their toe and finger nails. Then we were woke up at 2am with the boys playing hockey in the kitchen. Eric came up at 5am to let me know that the ducks were keeping him up. And, finally the alarm woke us up at 6am to start the day.

I didn't realize that sleepovers took so much energy!! Thank you mom, for putting up with my sleepovers when I was young!!

So Anthony spent the day with us today and on the way in from the lake the boys put on their best "we are so cute that you can't say no to us" faces and begged for Anthony to sleep over again tonight. And, since I can't seem to say no this week - so begins night two of sleepover madness at the Mattila household.

Unknown Kids...
The boys were outside playing laser tag while I was doing the dishes tonight. 4 boys were running in and out of the house through the back and front doors and I wasn't really paying close attention to them. Then, all of a sudden I turned around and saw Nick and Ty run in from the back door through the house and out the front door. Following close behind them - 3 unknown children laughing up a storm. Who are these kids and where did they come from?? I have no clue, but like I have said in previous posts - our house seems to be the neighborhood's central gathering place and at least everyone was having fun. And, on the kids next pass through the house I'll try to catch their names...

Good night and sweet dreams to all...

The Cardboard Boat Regatta...

I have to say that this past Saturday was one of the best days of summer so far.

My mom and Eric decided to enter the cardboard boat regatta sponsored by the local VFW. Well, somehow the little boat project turned into a big boat project and Kurt got involved. So, working each evening on the boat all last week the three boat builders built this...

"THE GENERAL LEE"
(did you really expect anything else from Eric??)

It is made totally out of cardboard, duck tape, packing tape, and paint.

The day of the event came and the boat was put in the water along with the other entry. Kurt and Eric climbed in and The General Lee immediately began to take on water in it's left pontoon. Technically Kurt was supposed the peddle the boat and Eric was supposed to steer, but once they started to take on water and sink plans changed... Those of you who know Kurt know that he will not quit and was not going to be defeated so being the super dad he is he jumped out of the boat and kicked his way to the finish line. (there is no rule against this - it only states you can have an electric/gas powered motor) Nick was standing with me on the shore and ran into the trailer, stripped down and changed into his swim suit and swam out to help. Eric stayed in the boat and enjoyed the ride!!

By this time the other boat couldn't steer very well and they were going in circles and our boat was sinking. It was so funny that I had tears in my eyes.

After a long swim the boys crossed the finish line for 1st place. They also won the "titanic" award.

I have to say that the VFW really put on a great day for the kids. The entire event was catered to the kids. Along with the boat race they had games, smores, hot dog roasting, a pinata, ice cream bars, and so much more. I huge thank you to this organization for hosting another fun family activity in Ely. We can't wait until next year!!

Ty Ty

Found these two pictures of Ty and had to share.

He is always so happy!!

JUMP!!

Tyler's "girl" Jessica and her family invited us to a horse show that they were all participating in on Saturday. The boys had a blast riding the horses and playing with the kids. And, of course Ty got to spend some quality time with Jessica!! Eric, rode all by himself. He did a great job, but kept getting "stuck" and had to have an adult slap the horse on the rump to get it going again.

Ty on Jessica's horse.

Even nick enjoyed this non-motorized type of transportation.

If you are in the Embarrass area on the 2nd Saturday in August or September I highly recommend checking the next horse show out.

A chip off of the old block...

Nick is so much like Kurt it's almost scary. If it has a motor, is sports related or you can jump it off of something Nick is all for it!!

Kurt and the other watercross racers always skip under a local bridge on the 4th of July and then spend the rest of the day playing around on the water at the party. (yes, for those of you who are looking at this picture closely trying to figure it out - IT IS A SNOWMOBILE ON WATER!!)

Nick begged and begged to go for a ride and I finally gave in. Kurt and Nick did 3 laps before landing. Nick was on cloud 9!!

So, I guess I have another watercrosser on my hands. I can predict alot of gray hair on my part from this child as he has no fear and pushes things to the extreme - just like daddy!!

Birth Order Of Children...

Preparing for the Birth:

• 1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
• 2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
• 3rd baby : You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

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The Layette :

• 1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
• 2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
• 3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

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Worries:

• 1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby
• 2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
• 3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

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Pacifier:

• 1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
• 2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
• 3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

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Diapering:

• 1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour,whether they need it or not.
• 2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
• 3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

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Activities:

• 1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing,Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.
• 2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
• 3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

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Going Out:

• 1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter,you call home five times.
• 2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
• 3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

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At Home:

• 1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
• 2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
• 3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children

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I found this on another blog I check out often and had to pass it on to you. Pass this on to everyone you know who has children .. . .. or everyone who KNOWS someone who has had children. ...

Deep Thoughts by Ty...

"If you don' t have any kleenix you can use a leaf to get the boogers out of your nose."

Never thought of that one until Ty told me and meme that at the baseball game last night complete with a leaf nose wiping demonstration. Very creative I must say.