Henry Turns 10!

Somehow, without my permission, Henry turned 10 on Friday. For it being such a big milestone, he kept things very simple. 

He chose doughnuts and chocolate milk for breakfast. The hardest part about that breakfast was choosing which two.

I forgot about the chocolate milk until 9pm the night before. I also forgot at Erica's birthday too. Justin and I went to Walmart at 9pm.

Awww. Sibling's birthdays can be so hard.

Then he opened presents. James gave him some paper hearts he cut out all by himself.He got a new game

A new football (this kid can never have too many footballs.)

A practical joke book and two more Calvin and Hobbes books. He also got a penny board and a bunch of snacks.

His idea for a cake was really simple too. I baked the cake and made the frosting and then after school he helped me frost it. He picked out chocolate sprinkles to make the football brown.

He also picked out his candles.

He got a friend party this year. He wanted to invite 14 kids and I let him. Since we're moving I couldn't say no. I didn't know half of the kids. It was as loud and crazy as you would expect it to be. They played trampoline dodgeball outside and then they had pizza for dinner. After presents and cake Sarah led them in a real-life game of Among Us and she did a great job. Then they watched a youtube playlist created by Henry until their parents came. I didn't have to do much at all. I like these older kid parties.

It was definitely loud in there. He had a lot of fun so I guess that's what matters.

Here's his birthday interview

My 10 favorite things about Henry

1. He doesn't mind if I hug him.

2. He is always up for playing a game.

3. He is really creative coming up with activities for his siblings to do--exercise routines, games on the trampoline, etc.

4. He tries his hardest when playing sports and games.

5. He's a math genius. I was trying to figure out how many carpet runners to buy for the new house and I said out loud, "27 divided by 4" and faster than I could type in a calculator he quipped, "6 and three quarters." He was right. 

6. His school teacher loves him. I don't get it. He must use up all his good behavior at school.

7. He doesn't merely like music, food, sports teams, movies, etc., he loves them. He gets that from his dad.

8. He has a sensitive heart when it comes to movies. Pirates of the Caribbean, Mask of Zorro, Count of Monte Cristo are too much for him. He loves National Treasure and Night at the Museum.

9. He likes to cook. He'll start the grill for me and wants to learn to grill a steak all by himself.

10. He's a super clever and funny writer. His class loves it when he reads his stories.

Mother's Day '21

For Mother's day this year: I made a pie, Justin made me french toast, the kids gave me candy and cards, Justin gave me a new pair of pants, I cleaned up a pee-soaked bed, I gave Justin a haircut, I watched youtube videos about paint colors, we were nearly late for church, I ran around like a crazy lady the second hour of church (I subbed for the primary secretary), I watched more paint videos while Justin slept next to me, we ate dinner with Justin's mom and brothers, we ate dessert with my mom and sisters, and then we went to bed.

Some of us could handle the sunshine better than others.

James never even tried.

May is off like a shot!

The other night after dinner right up until bedtime, Erica and James were building with Legos in Erica's room. They created the cutest little house with so many fun details.

It was hard for me to make them stop and go to bed. It's now sitting on her dresser for the past week because they love it too much to take it apart.

Henry "accidentally" hit James in the eye with a nerf dart when James wasn't even playing. For payback, Henry let James have 9 free shots, point-blank.

Such a boyish way to settle a misdeed. Henry laughed a lot for being in such pain.

April 30th we closed on our new old house! James had the honor of seeing it before the other kids during the final walk-through. He walked around the house narrating and explaining what he saw--almost like he was giving me a tour even though it was his first time seeing it. 

After dinner, we took the rest of the kids up there to see it. Corey met us there with a couple of lawnmowers (they only live like 7 blocks away). After poop-scooping the yard and curing their desire to have a dog, Sarah and Henry started mowing. I can't watch Henry mow. He's all squirrely going back and forth, this way and that, with no rhyme or reason. I tried to explain to pick a method--up and down or round and round--or he would just waste time going over places he's been. He didn't listen. 

Inside Corey and Justin had an impromptu demo sesh. Just to see how hard the tile was going to be. They thought it wouldn't be too bad but turns out they picked the easy section.

All of the closets have these clothespins glued inside. Why? I will forever wonder why.

It is so strange and a little creepy.

The kids had fun exploring and picking their rooms and commenting on how ugly everything is. Just like I thought they would.

Henry got the first pick of rooms and picked the basement bedroom with its own bathroom and right next to the family room. Erica had next pick and picked a room in the front of the house with a window seat. James picked the room next to her that is identical. That left Sarah with last and no choice--the square room with the walk-in closet. Those were the rooms I thought they'd choose.

Saturday was demo day and we had so much help, it was great. The dumpster was a few hours late getting there (the truck got a flat tire) so we created a big pile of rubble in the driveway. I never thought I'd say excitedly, "the dumpster is here!" We tore out all the carpet, most of the linoleum and tile, removed toilets, trim, curtains, clothespins, and staples. So many staples. I was so busy I didn't take many pictures.

Well I did take a picture of the doorbell to remember it before I tossed it in the dumpster.

My sister found a scrap of what we think was the original peach carpet from 1988.

This tile floor was a beast to take out. Pretty sure it would withstand an earthquake.

I discovered that the paint on the kitchen cupboards peeled off on some parts. Since that wouldn't hold up to sanding, they are getting stripped instead of sanded before painted. 

After the kitchen counter was tossed, we discovered that the cabinets were faced with some sort of laminate and then painted.

We decided to remove that too so that the painter could paint the actual wood. Sarah helped me with the heat gun for a while and then Henry helped me for even longer. I think the kitchen is going to look so much better stipped down before painted.

Here's how things looked Monday morning while I sat on the floor for 3 hours pulling up a thousand staples.

All the while normal life continues on at home the best we can.  Henry was thoughtful enough to take this picture of the kids drinking orange soda with their breakfast. The kids are taking advantage of my time and attention being a little split these days.

With Mother's Day, Henry's birthday, end of school year stuff, and our anniversary May is always a busy fun month. Throw in a house remodel with new problems arising daily and my mind is just constantly spinning. 

Flooring and countertops are next week!

Random Story Saturday: That Time We Committed Mail Fraud and Still Chuckle About It

 This is my sister Mary Lynn and I.

This is also my sister Mary Lynn and I. We fought like crazy as kids because she was mean and I was annoying. But then we stopped fighting because we were too busy being hilarious together.

The night of the above picture started out innocently enough. I think we were going through my mom's box of greeting cards for a real purpose. Then the wheels started turning and absurdities from each of our brains built upon one another (as all good ideas do). "Wouldn't it be funny if we sent random people we found out of the phone book a card?" "Or if we signed it from other people we didn't know? Wouldn't that be so funny?" But then we stumbled upon a card of sympathy and suddenly we had the perfect idea for a prank. It's a little complex so follow me.

We signed the card something like, "I am so sorry for the hurt I've caused. Please forgive me. Love Karen" We have an aunt named Karen with a good sense of humor. She's the victim of the prank.

We addressed the envelope to our other aunt Leanna (her sister) and for the return address we put Karen's. But we don't put a stamp on it.

The plan is that the card then goes through the mail system but never gets delivered to Leanna because there's no stamp. The card will be "returned to sender" which is Karen but she didn't send it and she will be all sorts of confused. Like what the heck? I didn't send this and what is the hurt being referenced? Did I offend Leanna and someone is trying to meddle and mend it on my behalf? (Besides coming up with a great prank, we figured out how to send letters for free.)

Mary Lynn and I took the picture with the card before we sealed it up. I think we were going to send the photo to Karen like a week later so that her mystery is solved. But I don't think we ever sent the photo.

And then we waited and wondered. What if the card made it to Leanna and the prank didn't turn out? Did it make it back to Karen as planned? We laughed every time we thought about it. Imagining her confusion and the frilliness and seriousness of the card is just so dang funny. 

And then I forgot about it. Until Karen came up behind me at the next family gathering and kicked me in the butt. She figured out it was us after being totally confused. That was the best part. She thought of us first.