Mystery Solved

A strange thing about me is that I hate cutting my fingernails and usually don't bother unless they break (or look like they ought to be used for doing cocaine.  Whichever comes first).  But at the same time, I also hate it when my toenails grow at all.  I used to cut them obsessively because I just can't stand when they scrape against the sheets when I'm trying to sleep (or read in bed or nap or whatever).  But recently, it's like I can't find the time to cut those blasted toenails!  And while I don't think they've ever gotten bad enough that any normal person would see them and think twice about their length, I've still sort of wondered what was wrong with me that this was slipping by the wayside.

And then Craig pointed out that I am currently in charge of keeping 100 toe- and fingernails at their proper length.

Well that explains it!

Pinewood Derby, Again

You may or may not recall, but last year we were kind of embarrassed at the Pinewood Derby.  It all started when Craig freaked out worrying that all the little kids' dads were going to build crazy fast cars and if Bentley lost every race, he'd be a mess and hate it all.  So Craig began doing research, buying weights to put it in the car, drilling holes for the weights, polishing the wheel shafts and all sorts of stuff to make the car as stream-lined, smooth, and fast as possible.

And then Bentley went on to win every single race, win all the races for the entire pack, and have to go to the district level to race (where he placed 1st for his age division).  And it was embarrassing.  We had inadvertently become the annoying parents that make their kid's car impossible to beat, even though Bentley didn't really do much of anything (except insist that Craig put a tiny R2D2 on top).  And although Bentley was thrilled to have won two huge trophies, we worried that we hadn't taught him a thing about how to lose gracefully, a lesson he could have really used.

So this year Craig was determined to not go quite so overboard.  And he held himself back pretty well, I thought.  He still did most of the work (Bentley's only seven, after all), but encouraged Bentley to do more.  And this time, if Bentley got bored polishing wheel shafts, then that was it and they were done.  And we were pleased with the results: Bentley won three of the four races in the first heat, and none in the second.  And then it was all over!  And he handled himself very well, which made me a lot more proud of him than last year, actually.

Overall it was a good experience!

And now, the pictures:

Watching his car race

Racing against his best pal, Peter

Ryder was very excited about it all

Colton was more interested in sucking his thumb and trying to scratch my face off

Happy after a win

Watching the 3rd heat with Peter, after they'd both been eliminated

His car received the award "Most Adventurous," which he was thrilled about

A close-up of his car, the Prime-8.  (Get it?)  Craig very sneakily didn't tell me that they were spending money to put a monkey on it.  Aren't chimpanzees just the creepiest things ever???  {Shiver}

Smiling with his Pack Leader

Now that I know what to expect from these things, I think it's all pretty fun, too.  Last year, when it was way longer (thanks to him winning so much), I rarely could find a chair, and I was super pregnant and not sure what was going on or what I was supposed to be doing, I didn't really love it.  But this time around when I knew what to expect, I found it all very enjoyable.  And I think there are a lot of great lessons to be learned here about winning and losing and sportsmanship.  Especially for the grown-ups.

Accomplishments

I just posted my most recent review on Goodreads and noticed that I now have 401 books in my "read" folder!  Depending on how much you like to read (or how much time you have for reading), this number is either amazing or embarrassing.  But it makes me happy, which is all I'm concerned about.  I've been on Goodreads since around 2006 or so, but it took me a while before I seriously began writing reviews of the books I read.  (Mostly because we didn't have reliable internet for several of those first few years, so reviewing books wasn't a high priority.  My biggest priority at that point was emailing baby pictures of Bentley to my Mom!)  Now, I feel as though I haven't truly "finished" a book until I've posted my review of it.  I like that it forces me to think about what I read and why I did or didn't like it.

I also enjoy seeing other's thoughts on those same books-- it's like having a quick book club session, except I didn't have to clean my house first.  And if someone is boring, I can just skim their comments. 

From reading other people's reviews, I've learned that it will NEVER be possible to write a book that everyone loves.  I'm constantly amazed at the books that I hate (and often couldn't even finish!) that people give five stars to, and the books that I thought were wonderful that other people couldn't stand.  You just can't ever make everyone happy.

Remind me of that fact some day when I write a book, okay?

Just because I'm already bragging anyway, I'm also going to point out that I don't bother recording on Goodreads books that I start but don't finish.  It was a truly liberating moment when I realized that I was no longer in college and therefore no longer obligated to read anything that I didn't want to read.  Since then, if a book isn't holding my interest (as evidenced by an increase in time wasted reading failblog and other such crap because I'd rather do that than read a boring book), I eventually put it down, return it to the library, and find something else to read.  Life is too short and there are just too many books out there to waste time on the boring ones!  But somehow the idea of marking these lame-o books as such on Goodreads seemed a little too spiteful or something.  Although I sort of wish I had a record of them all, now...

Anyway, but the point of this post (if a blog post ever has a point) is that with four kids, I still manage to be a reader.  And that makes me extremely happy.  I sometimes worry that I could get a long more done if I read less.  But then I realize that there just isn't much out there that I find more worthwhile than a good book, so why change what's working? 

And as my friend Laresa used to quote in her tagline at the end of her emails, "People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading."

If we're not friends on Goodreads yet, are we even friends at all???

It Snowed Here, Too.

I'm sure you heard about the big snow storm on the east coast.  Between the two snow days and President's Day, we're enjoying a 5-day weekend here!  And since last week felt crazy busy, I am more than happy to kick back and just stay home with everyone for a few days.  But this sure is bad for my whole "I'll diet during the week, but allow myself to eat sweets during the weekend" plan-- I may have to rethink that one...

Anyway, I finally ventured outside for a few minutes today, mostly so I could take pictures:

Making good use of our baby bunting!

When Craig shoveled snow yesterday, he piled it all up in one spot so they could build an igloo.  See Ryder's boots poking out there?

Helping Daddy dig it out (while Daddy holds on to his boot in case it collapses)

Kendra with the igloo

One more of Ryder inside the igloo

The snow is just icy enough that the kids can sit on top of it without breaking through.

Ryder enjoying a chance to be outside

Colton, however, is done being outside.

I think I was out for ten minutes and then Colton and I headed back inside.  That's enough for one winter!

A Bunch of Pictures of Colton

I'm addicted to taking pictures of my sleeping baby.  Mostly because a) cell phones don't make noise, so it doesn't wake him and b) usually I'm going in there to wake him up anyway so even if it did, that wouldn't be a problem.  And I HATE waking him up, so this is something I do to stall.  It is in no way a creepy thing to do.

Colton has finally joined the wall of baby portraits.  (He's the one with the hat on!)

I already admitted I have a problem.  Can we just let it go already???

Think of these next four shots as being part of a series.  Like in a photo booth or something...

This one especially cracks me up!

Picking the big kids up from school (the reason I'm always waking him up).

He really does love sticking his tongue out.  It makes him happy.  And me, too.

So happy!

Except when he's not!  I have no idea what he was so upset about, but it was kind of funny.  We are not glamorous criers, my kids and I!

I finally let him have goldfish crackers.  He was delighted.  Naturally.

"I can't put my arms down!  I can't put my arms down!!!"

And that's my baby!  Although he won't be a baby for much longer-- in just two days he will officially be 11 months old!  My, but times flies, doesn't it?

Happy Little Surprises Along the Way

The interesting thing about having kids is that they think so differently from grown ups.  And sometimes that can be pretty frustrating, like when nothing I say or do can convince Ryder that he needs to PUT HIS SHOES ON so we can leave the house.  Or when I find peanut butter smeared, well, pretty much anywhere (hand towels, doorknobs, sink faucets, walls, the toilet...  etc...).  But sometimes it can be absolutely delightful.  Like when I come downstairs and discover that Bentley is still excited about putting toys away, and he and Kendra have cleaned up the back room for me! 

So here are some of the fun surprises that I have run into.  (I usually don't bother to take pictures of the not fun surprises.  This being the big exception to that rule.)

Everyone enjoying watching Bentley play video games while they eat breakfast

Colton waking up from his nap looking like this

Bentley totally excited because his Pinewood derby car award was "Most Adventurous"

Wearing a bee headband and a cowboy hat.  And thinking they look pretty awesome!

Learning to stick out his tongue

Finding Elephant like this and learning he was being "punished because he was being bad."  Oh, dear...!

Having fun sitting in a laundry basket

Laying on the floor playing with cars

After I told him he could feed himself, sighing and saying, "Weawy, Mommy?"

When they randomly decide to wear Daddy's t-shirts (I thought I was the only one who liked to do that!)!

Finding Elmo all buckled and ready to go!

Wearing fire hats as they eat breakfast

Almost makes up for all that peanut butter I keep finding...!

This. Just, this.

If this doesn't make you laugh, then I don't even know why we're friends...

Thanks, Tracy, for sharing this one with me!