Painting our house!

So we're done with phase one of our painting...woo woo! I didn't realize it took so long but I love the results. Jess did lots of the painting while the kids and I were in DC. (he's a nice guy that one!) And last weekend we did our living room. Who knew 14 foot ceilings would come back to bite us? Ha! Thanks to some friends, we were able to borrow a giant ladder and it wasn't a problem. ANYWAY..lots of people have asked to see the results so...here we go!

We initially thought we wanted orange for our focus wall in the front room....it's nice and lively right? Well, it was a bit too much--imagine a pumpkin patch....or home depot. So Jess with his heart full of love for a wife who changed her mind AFTER he'd done it...did it again. AND I LOVE the new color. It's called "powdered brick". It makes me smile. Now we just need to get some curtains and stuff on the wall and we're set! (anyone who has any sort of sense of what would look nice is WELCOME to help with that!)

AND HOORAY!!! I've always wanted a yellow kitchen and this yellow color was perfect! (It's called "bagel" but for real, that's a lame name...it's just "pretty yellow" to me)

Also, those are sunflowers on the table that we grew ourselves. We don't have anything pretty on the outside of our house (due to laziness and lack of funds) but Luke and I through some sunflower seeds from our bird feeder into a corner to see if they'd grow. They're taller then the boys so that's cool. We've had 4 vase-fuls of pretty sunflowers so far. Awesome and without much effort! I'm totally doing that again!

Next is the boys room...it's blue. They love it. They said they wanted an outerspace room....I'm not crafty at all, and am not sure how to go about this....so...if anyone has any ideas...we'd love to hear them!

Kade's main mode of transportation lately has been rolling around the ground....I don't really know how else to say it...he just rolls from room to room some days....ha! he's silly.
Here's a shot of our orange wall before we painted over it. We painted the other 3 walls and the hall tan (or "Arabian sands") and now are just deciding on our bedroom. I know Jess is WAY done with painting..but I can't wait to do the rest of the house! Woo Woo!

Summer Hair Cuts!

The boys just got their summer haircuts--i.e. buzz cut! (not too different from every other hair cut we give them...) Jess decided to teach the boys how to buzz each others heads. They loved it, but not as much as the spray down they got before they came in the house. (Jess just hosed them down...they were running all over the place--nude as nude can be---just laughing.) We'll probably make it a tradition...great entertainment!

Jess sent them in the house with Mohawks...telling me they were done. Not a big fan of those--faux hawks yes..but I was relieved when they went back for more. I love Luke's focus in this pic.

Incidentally---I LOVE OUR BUZZER. We got one with a little vacuum that just sucks the hair right on in so it doesn't fall on the ground. For trims we do them in the house--heck we could have done this in the house too but would have missed out on all the fun!

So...I know other people have entire blogs dedicated to the things they make and are crafty with....I am not crafty at all! But I was proud of these aprons I made for one of my friends getting married. That's all....I just liked them. (seriously, they're reversible...cool right?)

Trip to D.C.

Last week the boys and I drove up to Virginia to visit my sister Nikki. It was sooooooo fun!!! The drive was fantastic, the boys were great, and we did so much fun stuff!! (not to mention that this year the kids all remembered that since they're related, they should love each other! They played so well together!)

Each day we woke up casually, left for a museum downtown, or a park, or something freaken great, ate lunch, and came home to relax and play and eat Nikki's great food!

Dad was even working in Baltimore that week and we got to steal some time with him before we left. It was such a great trip and my boys haven't stopped talking about it. I can't wait till next year! Thanks Nik!

A#1--I don't know how to work my camera so all the inside museum pics are pretty bad...but B#2--how awesome are dinosaur bones? WAY! The kids liked this part a lot. One of the days we went and saw a part of the museum that had a whole bunch of human bones as well....when we were almost done, Luke said, "Mom, can we leave, this place is kinda creepy!" and it so was. I was surprised it took him that long to say it.

Hooray for museums and free entertainment!!!

Here are the kids on the train--my boys loved it!

Nikki and her friends often go to the Opera, and one of the nights I was there was an Opera night....so...I got to go to! I love the theatre!!! I love getting all dressed up and the music and ambiance... It was a neat experience. I did realize that I appreciate listening to English mostly--on account of--I understand it. They did have subtitles we could read (I'm pretty sure it was in Italian?) but one sentence would be written, and then they would sing for five...I missed a lot of the story I'm sure...which--if anyone is familiar with Turandot...the story is a little rough--our group came up with an alternate ending in which the main character dies and we were all much happier with that! THAT BEING SAID. I loved every minute of it and I'm so glad I got to go! Thanks Nik!

Nikki has a great neighborhood with so many little kids! In the evenings they all come out and ride their bikes. At first Kade started without his training wheels on....turns out it's hard work to teach your kid to ride a bike. Basically all I did for 10 minutes (that's all he wanted turns out) was run, holding on to the back of his bike, balancing him as he pedaled as fast as he could. I didn't dare let go...we'll try again another day. ANYWAY, after riding, the kids always found this great climbing tree before going in.

And on the right is their tinker toy musical performance....it was pretty amazing!

In the American History Museum, the basement is dedicated to kids. There is a big area about inventions and science. The kids got to do some experimenting with a group. They learned all about carbon dioxide (who knew that dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide???) and each got their own flasks and glasses and everything. In the end the guy had them all wash in the funnest way. He added soap to the flask of water, and dropped in some dry ice. It bubbled out, but when you smashed the bubbles in your hand--they turn immediately to smoke--coolest thing ever. Kade loved it!
Lucas is finding out what he and fire have in common (they both need oxygen...)

In the Smithsonian there is an insect portion....The kids LOVED IT! We got to see a tarantula eat a cricket, visit the insect petting zoo--giant caterpillar seen below. It was all very interesting but I realized that the next time we go there with Jess--this will be his section with the boys. I really do get so grossed out by bugs. Yuck!

In the gems and rocks part of the Natural History Museum, Kade found a rock (quartz I want to say, on the left middle) that looked exactly like an Oreo...and wanted me to take a picture. It was pretty awesome!

And here are the Brysons and the Winns at Great Falls State Park. This place is gorgeous!!! The kids ran and played and climbed and got so insanely muddy...it was a great great great vacation and I had so much fun with Nikki and her family! Thanks guys! See you next year!

AFTONS HERE

Yay--Jess' sister had her baby last week and we're so so happy! And how cute is this name: Afton Dawn Anderson--SO cute! So anyway--good job Emily on the no drugs thing--you're my hero (whether you meant to or not) and welcome little Afton! We love you.

MARINE MUD CHALLENGE/ Pre-K GRADUATION

Last Saturday me and some friends did the Marine Mud Challenge on base. IT WAS AWESOME!

It was a 4 1/2 mile run with 17 obstacles throughout it. It started with an army crawl under mesh in the mud (while overhead marines sprayed you with a giant hose), jumping down a muddy hill into waist high water swimming under logs, climbing over logs, getting up 8 foot walls, tire runs, running through a river....

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME. I can honestly say I would run so much more if it was on a course like that---aka--not boring. We had so much fun! Jessica's husband came with the intentions of taking a picture at the beginning and end, but ended up joining us mid way through and running along with us (in his uniform--he's a trooper--thanks Adam) So we got some great shots. Plus, they made a video of it. I'll try to load it, but here are some pics of the event! YAY!!! Jess and I are totally doing this again next year!

Sarah's bum totally would have been shot off....ha ha

See how I look kinda stuck--it took a bit to get over that--turns out those logs were a bit higher then I'd thought--HA

Sarah's like 4 foot nothing, she needed a little boost from Rachel

If the video works--on this obstacle--I pulled out the "penguin slide" It rocked!

Human Ladders--Go Team Work!
ha ha--I totally thought this was going to be waist high...turns out--not so much. I look pretty here.
Finishing up.....
Our Muddy Finish

Who wants to join us next year????

PRESCHOOL GRADUATE!!!

Kade graduated preschool a couple of weeks ago. They had a great little ceremony where they sang an adorable song about how grateful they are that God made them (I love private schools :) and then "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" in spanish, and then all the other stuff-- He LOVED school by the end and I'm so glad he did! WE LOVE YOU KADE! (for real--is this not the CUTEST pic ever? I love this boy!)

Cari

It's a shame that we don't have those "ah-ha" moments more often. I often talk to my mom about the kids experiencing these great leaps in logic or emotion, but we recognize them far too infrequently in ourselves. They certainly occur; I truly believe that most of our 'growing up' is done well after we consider ourselves 'grown up.'

You may want an explanation. An "ah-ha" moment is one of those split seconds in time when a completely new idea makes perfect sense. They are often hard to vocalize as adults, but we have a very vivid illustration in our children. Any parent can think of a time when they've looked into their child's eyes and noticed something...different. Something grown-up. Something complex. Something new and beautiful that the child wasn't capable of before. One day, without me doing anything about it, they just grow up. Their brain goes, "ah-ha!" And they GET it.

Sometimes I'd like to think I'm more complex than a child, but I've proven that to be a stupid lie. I get little "ah-ha's" just the same as they do, and all the sudden I'm the smallest bit more grown up. And in those moments I get a brief glimpse of exactly how un-grown up I truly am.

But this post isn't about me. It's about Cari, and my "ah-ha" about who she is.

I had one of hundreds of "ah-ha's" today, and I think it led to a bigger "ah-ha." I'm not in the business of airing my dirty laundry, so I won't say more than that Cari and I often disagree about things, the way all married couples do. It was in the midst of one of these speed bumps that I discovered something: Cari is the single most important tangible blessing I have in my life; and she's the reason that I feel like I have a chance at 'making it.'

In all marraiges there are speed bumps. They keep us honest, and serve to temper love over many years. However, it occured to me that in our marraige I'm causing the speed bumps. Probably not all of them, but a good portion of them are due to things like greed, immaturity, lack of confidence, conceit, etc. on my part. Ouch. Cari has stood by me, strong and immovable in her love and values, every step of the way. Double ouch.

I have no foolish intention to fix all our problems today, but I'm going to put a pretty big dent in them. Today is the last day that I mistake 'affection' and 'value.' Affection is just liking something. Value is understanding why you like a thing, and doing what's in your power to preserve it's continued effectiveness. I love Cari. But I can do a much better job valuing Cari.

Cari manages to keep our family from flying apart. She keeps our house a home instead of a domicile by making sure the Spirit is here and that each of us is doing our part. She blesses the lives of every one she touches; usually with laughter. Her laughter is like sweet summer air and hints of jasmine in the evening. It brushes against my soul so gently that I almost don't feel it, but when I stand still and breathe it in it fills me with unforgettable moments and peaceful rest. I'm nearly positive that I won't ever meet another soul who has such an overt gift; she spreads happiness like an uncovered light bulb. She's wonderful to be around, as she casts her beautiful glow on everything she touches, but to look directly at her is to be overwhelmed by the staggering strength of her light. She works relentlessly. She probably doesn't tell this to anybody, but I don't think there's been a single day that's passed since she's been called in which she hasn't done something for the primary kids. She keeps saying that things will calm down once she's more on top of what the group needs to be successful, but I know she's lying a little bit. She finds some hidden joy in devoting herself to service, regardless of how. Sometimes it shows in silly ways; extra thick lamination or five pictures instead of three, but status quo is never experienced here. Those kids, and a good chunk of their parents, will never have any idea what she does, but she'll never care. She'll laminate and glue and type and call and cut and color until she falls asleep on the floor, then she'll put the kids to bed the next night and start again. She's always enriching life for our family. As a mom who's busy with regular mom stuff, she manifests herself again in small things. A new receipe on Tuesday, a Slip-n-Slide party on a random Thursday afternoon, who knows what she'll do to make life an adventure. You know, she's never given up on that adventure? It's true. As we leave childhood behind most of us give away our childhood dreams in exchange for trinkets of adulthood like cars of moustaches or fancy jobs. But Cari kept her childhood intact somehow. Come to our house sometime, and I'll prove it to you. Cari is first in the blanket and kitchen chair fort and happy to play the dragon or super villain. She's laughing the loudest when there's a game of tag or an impromptu pillow fight in the living room. It's common knowledge throughout the Winn clan that mom makes the best Play-Do snakes or finger paint pictures. She blesses my boys' lives more through her imagination than I think she knows. I don't know how she can keep that adventure alive, but it's beautiful...it's the reason her eyes shine.

To not go on is a disservice, but there's not enough whatever-bytes in the world for me to paint a descent picture of what valuing Cari means. So I'm done undervaluing my lover. I'll never stop loving, that's never been an issue. But if I want to safeguard what I have affection for in order to preserve it, I have to change. More thank you's is a good place to start, but I get the feeling that won't cut the mustard. As a beginning measure, I'm going to stop assuming that she ever has anything but the best intentions. She's never given me a reason to doubt her decision-making or motives, and I can't imagine that she ever will. So I really ought to stop acting like it.

If Cari truly is the most important tangible blessing of my life (and she is), I need to care for her in order to show my gratitude; just like any other blessing. More back-rubs and dishes and errands and long kisses. Less pushiness and conceit and manipulation...sadly enough all things I should have been doing/not doing before anyway.

For someone like me to end up with Cari is already a huge stretch of what most would consider feasible. No more screwing up, then. You've already had your lucky break, Jess. If you mess this one up there's no mulligan. No more silly mistakes, no more stupid crankiness, no more senselessness.

It shouldn't take "ah-ha" moments to make me realize that I can't do with without Cari. It ought to be simple to know that she's incredible, and that everybody around me sees it. It should be easy to see her value, and to appreciate her for it naturally...but I suck, so none of that happened.

I'll never be happier than when I'm living the gospel with Cari at my side. I'll never be more likely to make good decisions than when Cari is with me. I'll never be more motivated to improve myself than when I see her exceeding the mark. Life isn't easy, but being with a girl like Cari makes it the happiest challenge one could ask for. A pretty simple formula.

Cari is a blessing in my life. I must value her as such ("Ah-ha!"). I've wasted too much time not doing that, to include writing it down here. I think maybe an unsolicited cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows is as good a first step as any...

Karate Kade

Well, it's official, Kade got his yellow striped belt last Friday. He's so great at Karate and tries so hard and is just so cute in his gi. I just love him! CONGRATS KADE!




When we were leaving Kade said, "Mom, this is a pretty big deal huh?"

Kade got the Special Plate and McDonalds--woo woo

Luke wanted his picture taken too, so he did his prettiest picture face.

Here's our little class! Is he not sooooooo cute and little!

Eating Soap

So... here was the problem.....

and here was the consequence.....

If you'll notice Luke swiped like 10 strawberries, and tenderly took off all the green parts, and took one bite out of all of them...and placed them in the cup. Now...that's kinda cute right? Well, Not when it's like the 50th item he's swiped without asking this week. Here's the list:



Tortillas sprawled out in his bedroom from the food storage
Ritz crackers (only barely opened before I got there)
Raisin Bran all over his floor--he was sharing with friends
That cheese business awhile back...not the only time..there's been several cheese block bite instances
Fanta (all over the kitchen floor)
Apples (ALL THE TIME...I'll find half eaten apples under his bed, in the fruit bowl, in the bathroom)



It's not that we starve him...he'll not eat his lunch, and the rule is no food until dinner right....so he gets hungry and gets something. I really should be praising his pro-activeness. See, here's the thing though, I know he knows we say to always ask, but in his young little mind, he doesn't understand why--he wants it so....he'll be a pal and get it.


Anyway, so we decided time outs weren't working with this particular offence, so now it's soap...and it's...working okay...I think? I just hope he won't develop a liking for the soap like my cousin Kae's kids. Oh the joys of parenting. Anybody have good "consequences"...time outs have seemed to loose their effectiveness.

YAY! FAMILY VISITS

So last week my mom and dad came out to see us. It was so so great. It was so nice to just play and relax and play. I think my favorite part was watching the boys drink in all the love from them. I couldn't help but cry when they left thinking of how nice it would be for us and the boys especially to be closer so they could know them better....As I was feeling sorry for myself, Kade ran into his room and came back out several minutes later with a card that he'd made for me with hearts all over it. He wanted to make me feel better...then Luke was adorable and sweet and I realized how blessed I am. Being away from my family is hard, but the joy I feel everyday from my boys and husband makes it hard to feel sorry for my self for long. I'm sooooo glad you could come out mom and dad! We can't wait till next time!

Doesn't this picture look like mom is slamming Kade's head into the ground....ha ha...I'm not entirely sure what was going on, all's I know is that they were both laughing.

We all went to the zoo, and can I just say that I love our zoo--it's small and perfect for my kids. It was sad that the bird house was being remodeled or something, and we missed the time to feed the giraffes (I love feeding the giraffes) but we had such a great time. And grandpa bought us all ice cream...and Kade wanted this gigantic sucker...Grandparents are so cool--they never get that kind of stuff with us!

When we got home we had burgers out back---mom bought the boys these little foam dart shooter thingys that were so so cool, so dad got shot all through barbecuing, it was cute. And this is Jess' average photo face. He does it cause he knows I love it.

So the Easter Bunny brought the boys a slip-n-slid...so mom and I pulled it out the next day. Turns out it was pretty chili and the water was just so darn cold....and apparently we don't have a sloped backyard. There was a lot of fast running and ....thudding---not sliding--ha ha, the boys liked it though.

Like I said, this picture gives the allusion that they were sliding, but most of the time mom or I had to push the little one down the slide. Fun though!

So the next day we checked out Wildwood Park cause mom saw online that it has "sandy beaches" Now, I was skeptical because it seems like all the lake-side's have are red-muddy beaches. But turns out they sectioned off this little part and brought in sand. IT WAS AWESOME! We're totally going back. The boys had a riot and it was so nice and warm. I can't wait to go back!

Then we finally got to Putt Putt for Luke's b-day. It was much busier then the last time we went which is tricky with kids cause--I don't want to go fast....I like to just wait and watch and laugh. They had fun and Luke did his usual--hit the ball, then move it right next to the hole--then hit it again--so he totally won the rest of us! Also, we made a discovery...did you know that Superman Ice cream is just vanilla ice cream? (at least we think) it has mega food coloring which is quite impressive and small bubblegum flavored thingies, but the flavor--vanilla---who would have thought!

Here's a pic of Luke and Dad in the backyard. Luke wanted to spice things up with the soccer ball instead of the wiffle ball. woo woo.

I think part of what helped me not be sad when my parents left were the cinnamon rolls mom and Luke made. That was nice!
We had a great time mom and dad! WE LOVE YOU! THANKS FOR COMING TO SEE US!!!

oh, and I had some requests to see the AMAZING LIGHTNING MCQUEEN CAKE-and since I have a habit of doing things that are embarrassing, or rather, telling people about embarrasing things I've done so in case they found out another way--they'd know I was okay with it--you know--own it!--ha ha---here it is in all it's amazing glory!