Friday, December 18, 2009

Devin's Reading

It's really amazing to me because he went from not recognizing letters at all to asking for reading lessons at school.

He reads "Dot" as DUH-AW-TUH. Then he says it more quickly. The he says DOT!

The words are small, mostly three letters. He was pronouncing HAS as HOZ, but I think that's because the letter "a" looked like the letter "o" to him. It really did, too.

I know it's mundane because it happens everyday. But, it's amazing because it's happening now!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Devin read a book last night to us!

For real! He's really reading and sounding out letters and doing great!

Monday, December 14, 2009

@

Trevor has been waking up earlier and earlier. And, when he gets up early, he does entertain himself. He watches TV or plays video games on the Wii or on the computer. Reading Little House on the Prairie would probably be a bit too much to ask anyway.

But, this morning, he woke up at 3:30. And, he wanted to entertain himself, but he needed to sign into a new game we got him with my email address. And, he didn't know how to make the @ sign. So, he came into my room and asked me how to make the "a" with the circle around it.

I had no idea because it was 3:30 in the morning and had just woken up from a sound sleep to which I would not return. I didn't even know what he was talking about. Did it come in a box and was part of this complete breakfast? I just didn't know.

I tried to think, but it did no good. And, then I realized it was 3:30 in the morning. My brain started working for just a minute. I very politely told him go back to bed and stay in bed for at least another hour. He did. He stayed in bed all the way until 6:00.

And, then, I remembered! Shift-2, shift-2! That's how you make an "a" with a circle around it!!

New (and by new I mean old) pictures

I uploaded some more pictures over the weekend:

Spring 2009
This says Fall 2009, but I just get my seasons confused, and I can't figure out how to fix the album name.

Brigantine NJ 2009

All of my uploaded pictures

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Cat Scan

John is feeling a lot better. He got a cat scan yesterday, and they will review the results on Friday. He'll find out then if he needs pins or not.

On a different note, my favorite thing said at Thanksgiving:

Vikki to Amey: You've lost weight!

Amey to Vikki: No, uh, I just got tighter jeans!

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Monday, December 07, 2009

It is broken!

John broke his wrist when he fell! GANG-IT! (that's what Jena would say and I'm channeling Jena right now.)

He gets a CT scan tomorrow to see if they need to put in some pins, and he will go from there...

Sunday, December 06, 2009

I curse you, sky!!! (Fist-Shake, Fist-Shake!)

We got our second snow of the season yesterday. It's quite lovely. Powdery and light. In the middle of it, though, I was outside with the boys and the dog. The dog had snow balls attached to his paws and fur, so I tried to convince him to stay in the garage until the until it melted. He was patient, and I was bored, so I shoveled snow.

And, it kept snowing, and eventually I had removed enough snow so that I could see the driveway. Then, the snow kept falling, but it didn't stick. But, it did leave a thin layer of water. Which turned to ice over night.

(Also, the big balls of snow wouldn't melt on their own. I had to dunk his paws and chest into warm running water).

John was outside this morning on our driveway. The one with no snow, but a nice thin layer of ice. He fell, and he sprained (or maybe fractured?) his wrist. He'll try to see the doctor tomorrow. According to Utah Mountain Biking.com, wrist sprains can take a long time to heal.

Well, there has been talk of casts around the house. And, Trevor is very sorry that Dad has hurt himself. And, Devin did indeed curse the sky for allowing the snow to fall. I didn't tell him the part that I played with my ill advised snow removal and have thus far avoided any cursing directed towards me...

Friday, December 04, 2009

sticks and knives

"Mom, my school has really interesting sticks. Some look like pistols and some look like rifles," Trevor just told me.

Then, we had a quick discussion on the convenience of bayonets in wartime.

And, I shuddered a little, then told him to just never go to war.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Vaccinations

Just took Devin to the doctor. And, I love Devin's doctor. I don't want to marry him, but he's got a really great bedside manner, and a nice smile. I trust him.

But, he's a booger on the vaccinations. He looks at their vaccinations and starts out saying they don't need any. Oh, they need one. Oh, it looks like they need one more. Oh, just one more. Poor old Devin got THREE shots today.

And, it wouldn't have been so bad, but he had the knowledge about the three shots for about 20 minutes, and my powers to distract failed about 15 minutes into the wait. (OK, the truth is I got distracted myself and stopped trying.)

So, he yowled and he howled and also, the nurse was slow. I saw a nurse give 4 shots to baby Trevor in about 2 seconds. I take that back. I didn't see it. She was too quick for me. She had real, live superpowers. But, our nurse today, also a wonderful nurse with a comforting demeanor, was really slow. So, Devin yowled and howled for about a WHOLE MINUTE! And, I couldn't decide if I should laugh or cry. He usually winces and says ow! at shots.

But, he's back at school now. The bag of chips at the end made it all better.

He read his first book today. MAT. I'm hoping he brings it home tonight so he can read it to me.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Fortune Cookie

There are many ways to be hurtful, but only one way to heal. And that is through love.

After hearing his fortune, Devin told Trevor, "Trevor, if you have a really bad cut, you need love to heal."

Just happened 30 seconds ago.

Live from my house, this is Tricia reporting the daily cuteness.

DON'T TOUCH IT!

On Thanksgiving Day, we went to Grandma's house. John and William took the kids for a walk in the woods/junkyard. Always an awesome time. At one point, Logan fell and scraped her knee, and it bled a lot.

Devin was energized by this. He started marching towards Grandma's house as quickly as he could and began yelling at everyone to hurry up. They had to get back!

Once back to the house, Devin went inside and got a tissue and began asking everyone for a band-aid. When I went outside, he asked me if I had found a band-aid. I didn't because I didn't realize that was a task he had assigned to me.

I went back in for a wet paper towel so Logan could wash off the dried blood and Devin went back to staring intently at Logan. When I came back out with the wet paper towel, Devin kept up the intense vigil every now and then yelling out, DON'T TOUCH IT!

We think that with his mobilization and medical instincts, paramedic may be a good career choice for him.

I wish...


that the camera had been pointed directly at him for this picture.


This state of of lying quietly with eyes closed for 90 minutes is not a nap.


His face was positively filthy. All of them had filthy faces, in fact!


She's cute, but she thought she would be cuter with make-up. I think she's cute just like she is.


Contrary to the look on his face, he wasn't about to pop me in the mouth.


They played so well together. Logan is an awesome playdate. She plays by Trevor's rules and doesn't make up her own. She certainly could make up her own, but she seems to know that Trevor wouldn't have fun if she did. She seems to sense the needs of others. She's awesome that way.


Isn't my dog cute???


We have 100 pictures of Socks looking like this. This is the most recent.

I hate the house across the street

I just hate it.

It's too high up and it needs steps put in.

The landscaping is crap and needs serious attention. They have more weeds than grass in the side and back yard.

Those electrical box things are all cattywhumpus and dumb. There's an electrical cord running from one of the boxes to the house. How do you mow around that?

There's tape residue on the lamp post from the month long garage sale the last residents had. I'm going to clean that off one of these days.

The sticker that came with the windows when they built the house? They still have one attached to one of the garage windows. Why won't they just take it down?

It's empty. Of course it is. See above. In addition to all of that, it's overpriced.

The deck on the back, while I'm glad it has a deck since it's not finished in so many other way, is a strange and awkward design.

The wrought iron fence required by the neighborhood bylaws? There's no fence.

It's nice inside if you could figure out how to get inside without walking up a steep hill or even steeper driveway.

I just hate that house. I want the builders to fix it and then sell it, not RENT it, to someone who will keep it fixed. They should take a loss to get out from under it. It would better for everyone. Especially me. Really, especially them. Especially the whole neighborhood really.

There. I feel better now.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Boots is like Murray

Not that he's old with long toenails and can't look at people. But, he likes to take his food far away from his bowl to eat it, too. Just like Murray. Also, his food isn't cut up weenies.

Murray is a good old weird dog.

Monday, November 30, 2009

New Videos

They aren't fantastic. I took them with my phone. They really ought to be edited before I share. No one was harmed during the making of these videos.

Youtube

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Permanent stick

Because we won't be with them for christmas, mom and dad had Christmas at Thanksgiving for us. Vikki's girls and little Miss Jaci also got to partake in the early Christmas bounty. They each got a HUGE peppermint stick in their stockings. And Trevor has been reading absolutely everything lately although he gets some words wrong.

Suffice it to say, he was more than a little intrigued to get started on his permanent stick.

And also, to use it as a weapon and/or drumstick.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

van truck



Devin: "can we get on that truck?"

"Would the truck notice if we got on that truck?"

Thursday, November 26, 2009

picture it

It's a cool, but not too cool, fall day.

4 kids. 2 boys, 2 girls.

3 scooters, 1 skateboard.

Adults chit-chatting while the kids zoom around the park on their wheels.

Oldest boy zooms by the vaguely neglectful adults saying, "Jena fell on her own!"

Zoom to Jena who had indeed fallen hard. Scraped hands and knees. Lots of tears. We don't really know what happened. But Trevor had little to nothing to do with it.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Thanksgiving Spirit?

Trevor has been finicky lately. I'm actually a little concerned. He won't eat things that he thinks he'll choke on. He choked once on a piece of candy, and he wants to avoid the experience all together going forward. He also won't eat things he doesn't like. So, if we eat at home, he'll eat tacos, and that's about it. I've been making these fabulous new meatballs, and forget about it. He won't eat them.

So, he was picking at dinner tonight, like he's been doing for the last few months, and he was talking about how he really likes honey on his rice. The sauce over the beef and vegetables had a little honey in it, so I asked if he wanted more sauce. He didn't really answer. So, I asked if he wanted a little honey on his rice. Still, he didn't really give me a clear answer. So, I asked if I could do anything at all to make his dinner better.

"Well, I'd like a turkey leg," he deadpanned. Except he didn't know he was deadpanning. He just really wanted a turkey leg.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Oh, sit.

Sometimes, kids will talk strangely. Both boys went through an odd "L" phase. I couldn't explain why it was weird, but I didn't like it. And, I tried to make them stop. Because I didn't like it.

Then, last week, they were going through a phase where they replaced "sh" for the "s" sound.

Then, they told Boots to sit.

Hilarity. Ensued.

Then, I asked them to stop because it's not appropriate to tell your dog to sh-tay or to sh-it.

When they asked why they couldn't say sh-it, I told them it was because it was a naughty word for poop. And, that was that. Or, so I thought.

The next day, Devin tried again. He told Boots to sh-tay. Sh-tay. Sh-tay! Then, he said, "mom, what is that other word for poop?"

I didn't tell him.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Devin saw the devil

On the day before Halloween, riding in the car, Devin looked out the window and saw the Devil. he was red and had horns. I didn't see him, and I thought that maybe it was just a guy in a costume. But, Devin said it was really the Devil. So, the Devil does exist. Just in case you were wondering. I'm guessing he's a student at Penn State. That must be it since his permanent address is Hell and all.

Monday, October 26, 2009

You Tube Videos

Youtube videos

let me know if this doesn't work. It's all the videos I've uploaded lately. Click the HD button to see a clearer picture.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Another one!

it may be horrible! I haven't even watched it all the way through.

Video

It's not edited. It's not even precious. But, here it is:

More summer pictures

Early Summer 2009 pictures

Saturday, October 24, 2009

I'm moving out right after my party

Devin was upset earlier. Trevor has no patience for Devin's tears. And, he doesn't cry a lot. But, when he does, Trevor is apt to cry himself, yell, or try to reason with him. I don't know, but it sounds familiar. I think I do the same thing.

Tonight when Devin was upset, Trevor made this solemn threat to the one who calls him his best brother.

"If you keep crying at every little thing, Devin, I am going to move out as soon as I'm old enough. Right after my party."

"If you stop crying, though, maybe I'll stay a couple of more years."

This is from the kid who plans on going to Penn State so he can be close to home, and who plans on living in the neighborhood when he's all grown up. This, of course, totally works for me. I think.

I love it when...

...the kids run through the house playing a game to accompany a story that they are making up as they go. It's improvisation.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Hershey park, labor day weekend



Devin misses his brother.



The day couldn't have been any funner!


See who Trevor is sitting next to?


It's not Devin. Devin saved his a seat.


And this is how he was the entire ride. Looking towards Trevor, wondering why he wasn't in the seat he saved for him.


Trevor must have felt the intense stare and closed his eyes to it.



Rides are just more fun when you ride them together!


The Hershey Factory


The park


the crowds




The Mom


That bear he's holding is the one that John and I won together in the Big, Huge, Crain Game!


Devin strikes back for Trevor's decision to not sit next to him on the Frog Hopper.


These rides mildly freak me out. And, I think I'm just done with Ferris Wheels. Too scary.


Where he is now.


Where he hopes to be next year.


Where he is now.


Where he hopes to be next year.


Chocolate World

Climbing an unclimbable tree






(His shirt says "Future President.")

Trevor's first day of school 2009



Saturday, October 17, 2009


He looks like me.

This may just be easier

Summer and Fall 2009

Here's the 800+ photos. They're not completely uploaded as of yet.

Also, Memaw, there are some fancy dresses in this album. Jena would like it if you could make those for her. 'mkay?

Photo Backlog

So, I've been on facebook. I think I must have a certain amount of time to dedicate to things computer-ish, and being on facebook keeps me from the blog. But, it's been good to reconnect with old friends. And cousins! I'm such a bad cousin.

Anyhoo.

In addition to being a blogger slacker, I've been having computer issues. It all started this summer when my hard drive crashed. Unfortunately, it was my work computer, and work got me up and running, but it was slow. That was no good. And, I lost my connection to the drive where we keep our pics. And, then John upgraded to the latest version of Windows, and we lost our online picture database. So, now we have to use a different online picture database. We're choosing live.com.

Anyhoo.

As with life, live.com photos has a learning curve. Plus, I was still having issues with my computer until this week. But, now. I think I am good. I think I can start posting photos again. But, I have a backlog. So, if you look out your window and see snow, like I see snow out my window right now on October 17th, and then look here and see a picture of Trevor on his first day of school and feel a little weepy for the passing of summer into winter with only a fleeting taste of fall, I apologize. Technology can make you cry...

On with it...

We went to Florida in August. We drove to Ocala from here all in one day! We spent some time with our dear Grandma Roth.


She's just as pretty as a summer day. Tell her I said so.


Here, John helps Aunt Louise with her new phone.


I love Devin's blue gray eyes. He's a handsome devil.


Sometimes, Trevor takes a picture that doesn't look much like Trevor. This is one of those. Silly. But, his eyes! I love his HUGE blue eyes.



After Ocala, we went to Disney World with Vikki and her family. Awesome. Disney is always more fun with family and friends. What wasn't fun, though, was waiting. And, waiting is part of the Disney Experience. While we waited, we made the kids make faces, then we took their pictures:



Logan


Trevor and his tonsils


Jena


Devin


COUSINS

That's it for now. It's going to take a few hours to upload all 810 pics, so I had better just go find something else to do.

Check back soon for First Day of School photos, Snow Day photos, and of course, pictures from Devin's 5th Birthday.