The Outdoorsmen

Today was one of those days I've dreamed about lately... Warm weather, sun shining, list checking, boy playing, coffee having, kind of day. The to do list was big, and by days end nearly everything is done, and we even had time for coffee breaks and resting! Yeah baby! We've been outside since 12:30 or so, when the boys went down for naps. They came out with us when they woke up, and we stayed outside until 6 or so. It was great. Our backyard is really shaping up these days, and it was so nice to actually enjoy it, instead of working on it. We even "golfed" with the boys. Of course, Weston's idea of golfing was chasing Wayne with the club, and Wayne is quite smart, so he was running away from Weston as fast as he could. I'm sure the neighbors three doors over could hear their squeals of laughter!

Here's our new patio set... it is sooo nice! We just love it, and it helps us to use all the outdoor space we have!

I got my pots planted too! Only two more to go.
We replanted/rearranged the flowerbeds surrounding the dog kennel too. We needed some serious cover up. I got the maple tree at Haggen's, of all places! It was a steal of a deal too.

Weston is so happy outside. He just runs all over the back yard, playing with the dogs, in the sandbox, and everywhere in between! Poor kid still gets a rash from being out there, but it's not as bad.
Both boys have spent LOTS of time in their sandbox. Grandpa, we may be needing a sand refill at the rate they are going!

What a bunch of goofballs... Wayne was "hiding" from Weston, who was chasing him with the stick. Classic.

Guess who found Wayne?

Weston, doing his very favorite thing... SWINGING! The higher the better, he has no fear, and evidently doesn't get motion sickness like his mom! Weston's favorite things these days are Mom, Blankie, Binky, Swing.

Love those blue eyes and that naughty look.

Wayne got a new haircut today. His very first *PAID FOR* haircut! He sat in the chair like a perfect little cherub, and knocked the socks off of Tyler and I. Who knew?

take the long way around...

Just a Silves update to keep you all informed...

It is currently 64 degrees outside, with no wind. Humidity is 35%. It's not raining, but it's not sunny either.

The Hampton is closed just past the Northwood Rd. as they are redoing the bridge further down, just before you enter Lynden. The detour adds 5 minutes of time to the current commute to Lynden, so be warned!

Also, while going through Lynden on the detour, you may run across several cherry picker's working on the power lines of Grover Street, as Lynden is widening that area this Spring and Summer. There is a flagger there who takes is job VERY seriously, with motions and general flailing about that is rather entertaining (as if we couldn't tell by the two cherry pickers sitting in the middle of the lane that it was single lane traffic, and that since there were 10 cars coming at me head on, it wasn't my turn to "go.") Anyhooo...

Oh, and per the baby Silves info box to the right, our baby #3 can now cry. Great. I guess it's not all bad, since I can't hear it! :-) Those days will be short lived.... Wayne likes to hug and kiss and "rock" the baby. "I wock it, Mom" is usually followed by a firm hand on either side of my stomach, giving a good little rocking/shaking motion. Too funny. Weston's still not impressed with his little sister/brother... He doesn't appreciate being kicked when he's trying to snuggle mom. The baby is trying to reserve a spot on my lap for after it's born, by growing big enough to nudge Wayne and Weston off!

time flies when you're having fun

Can you believe we've reached the end of April? Where did the month go? I have no clue. I don't even remember the first two week so of April, with the exception of Tyson's wedding. The week after the 15th is a blur too.. nothing but project doing, list checking, go-go, and relaxing going on! It seems like no matter how hard I try to "simlify" our lives, that never quite seems to happen. My plate is always full, sound familiar? By no means do I think that I am the only one, but it does take my breath away to know all I can (or can't!) accomplish in a short period of time. Whew! Our days have slowed down around here, but they've also picked up with coffee dates, work meetings, and helping folks with things that I've put off doing until "after tax season." That time is finally here, and I am such a stickler for follow through that I have to actually FOLLOW THROUGH on my promises. If I haven't scheduled a coffee with you yet... don't worry, I will!!! I'm giving myself until the end of the week to get them all scheduled.

Poor Weston broke out with a nasty rash and was on Benadryl for a few days. As best we can tell, it was a reaction to the great outdoors... He always has been my sensitive boy! Hopefully he will adjust as Spring wears on and he is outside more and more.

All for now, the little dudes are calling!

Our little fisher-boy!

The day finally came. I thought it was so far away. Wayne went on his first "opening day" fishing trip to Silver Lake today with my Dad and Tyler. There is a LONG standing family tradition in my family of going with Dad on opening day. Dad, my brothers and I would get up before the crack of dawn, and head up to the lake to go fishing (that way you didn't have to wait in line to put the boat in. Oddly enough, Dad told Tyler that last night as they were figuring out what time to leave!!!) We'd stop at the gas station in town and pick up donuts and Cheetos and other things we did not normally get, except with Dad, and we'd head to the lake. Every once in awhile the weather was nice, but most times it was cold, wet, and we didn't care. We scrambled the night before to find enough old, warm clothes, and enough boots for us all. Now, I was all excited about these annual trips, until I turned 15 and was still going. Not so much fun to hit a fish upside the head with a stick and get blood everywhere, at least not for me. Fortunately for me, by the next year, Tyler was "in the picture" and after a brief meeting between Dad and my brothers, Tyler was invited along to take my place on the boat. PRAISE THE LORD! And so, the tradition has continued without me for the last 10 years. Three years ago, when Wayne was born, Dad brought a fishing pole to the hospital for him, and said that when he was no longer wearing diapers, Grandpa would take him fishing on opening day. See the Spiderman pole? Three years later, Grandpa came through on his promise (although after the fact, I think he might believe that 3 might be a little "busy" to go fishing!) Tyler woke Wayne up around 4:15am, and Wayne knew right away, "I waked up, I go fishing!" He was bleary eyed, but SOOOO excited to get dressed, go potty, and go. Breakfast could wait, there were donuts and orange juice waiting for him at Grandpa's!

So cute... Tyler took a few pictures for me to document the occasion. Once they were settled and had poles in the water, Wayne reeled the first few fish in. After awhile though he was getting a little bored, at which point he told them, "I all done." He settled for his binky and blankie, snuggling with his Dad in between fish on the line. They caught their limit, and headed for home.

When they got back to Mom and Dad's, my Mom asked that since it was cold, maybe Wayne wanted to come to the house with her. "No, I go with FISH!" he told her. So he went out with Dad and Tyler and "helped" gut the fish.

Hard to believe, my baby went on a boat. Oh yeah, and in the middle of it all, told Tyler he had to go potty, so Tyler taught him how to do it, "fisherman" style. Boys will be boys! Wayne came home talking a mile a minute about his trip, and he was absolutely exhausted! Even after taking a nice nap, he still looked a little rummy this afternoon, and both boys will be down for bed by 7pm!

So, what did I do while the two oldest men were gone? Well, Weston hung with mom, and we did some "fishing" of our own! Plant fishing, that is. Weston was up at 5:30am, so by 7am we took off to pick up Aunt Tanya from Lynden, and head out. After a coffee pitstop, we hit Walmart for a return, then Target, Lowe's, Haggen's for a receipt adjustment, then to Lynden to VanderGiessen's, and we finally returned her to her family. Fun, fun! Weston was a good little boy, teasing her and playing hard to get for all he was worth. If she ignored him though, he was soon motioning for her to pick him up. What a turkey! I picked up a sidetable to go with our patio set (you have to have something to put your coffee down on!) and then a bunch of plants replace some struggling ones around here, as well as annuals for my patio pots and for the pots at the cemetary. Now I just need to get to planting everything! I got one flower bed done this afternoon, and the rest can wait. I have to pace myself! :-)

37 degrees... but climbing!

Okay, today is all about the positive people. We have so much to be thankful for and appreciative of... I am feeling a little bad because by the end of yesterday I was a little crabby and whiny because of the little peanut #3... He/She is around 15 inches long, and weighs around 1 1/2 pounds, which means BONES! Especially sharp, heel bones. The baby moves most of the day, it's rare when I can't feel it. But yesterday, it was just constant, and most of the movement was heel kicks and rakes across my right side! OUCH! But today, today is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!!! The sun is shining, we have lots to do but are in no rush to do it; Tyler's off work, my niece and nephew get to come here tonight for dinner, I get to check things off of my to-do list, Weston's down for a nap (it's 8am!) and we have a high of 62 degrees predicted for the day! Better yet, THE SUN IS SHINING! Just before the end of tax season I was driving with the boys and Wayne started yelling, "mom! mom! MOM!" When I asked him what was wrong, he excitedly pointed and said, "I see the sun! I see the sun!" I hear you buddy, I hear you.

ear wax

Okay, you can't say I'm not up front about the topic of this post... read at your own risk! :0) Big news around the Silves house... I cleaned Wayne's ears with a Qtip for the first time! I have been ultra paranoid to do so, ever since reading that it's bad to clean kids' ears for them. You are just supposed to wipe them out with a damp rag, and leave the rest until it forms a ball and "rolls" out. However, when Wayne and I were in the middle of our nightly snuggle, I could not take it anymore. I went and got a Qtip, and told him his ears were dirty and mom needed to clean them out, but he had to sit still. He said, "okay mom!" and lay perfectly still in my lap, as long as I let him see the dirty Qtip coming out of his ear with all the junk. Afterwards, he told me, "My ear feels MUCH better! Thanks Mom." Doesn't get much more precious than that folks.

a little scrappin' here, a little scrappin' there...

Thatch until you drop!

Hey all! It's almost 10pm, and we are TIRED. What a day. It started about 6:00am when the boys woke up, and Tyler and I finally sat down at 9:30pm. Among other things, we did laundry, thatched our lawn, aerated the lawn, cleaned up the thatch and plugs, I overseeded the lawn and put Preen in the flower beds. I ripped up a bunch of mature bushes that were no match for the winter of 2008-2009, we delivered the thatcher to a few others who were a part of our joint renting "venture," we went to Bellingham and picked up a new patio set, did laundry... those were the highlights. Shoot, if my mom reads this, I'm toast. I told her I'd taken it easy today when I talked to her tonight, and I thought I had. But reading this list.... hmm.. However, I did take it easy in doing those things, and Tyler did anything with major lifting or grunting involved. Thanks babe! The boys just enjoyed going for car rides and being outside. Weston could swing for hours at a time, and Wayne is really into playing with his tractors in the dirt. I had a flashback to our early married years, when I would let the dogs run in the backyard and Sadie would run in the "trough" of my flower bed, where the dirt meets the grass. Today, while Sadie was in the kennel, Wayne took over the role with his tractor, plowing through the trough as well. Too funny!

He is risen; He is risen, indeed!

I was so excited for Easter this year. Tyler was off, which is LOVELY for me, and I didn't have to work at all until the evening! :0) We started out getting ready for church, and I made food for our lunch party. The boys were so cute in their outfits that we had to have a quick photo shoot before piling everyone into the car to head to church. So cute... this little look melts Mom and Dad's hearts every time! (P.S. Weston is well aware of his affect on us...)

After church, we had an all church brunch. Wayne was thrilled with all the muffins, and wanted to try them all. He settle for one with orange juice. Weston ate a banana.

Tyler took the boys home, then came back to church with coffee for his dear sweet wife in dire need of it. Wayne stayed with me and we watched the nursery kids for the second service.

Wayne and I got home, and 20 minutes later were headed out the door to the DeGroot gathering at my parents' house. Wayne is really into saying "cheese" when I take his picture, but in doing so, it's hard to get a good picture!

Mmmm.. Homemade buns from Nana!

Baby Maddie, not looking like such a baby! She was also really into her shoes...

After lunch, both boys crashed upstairs and slept for awhile (I even snuck away for a 15 minute power nap!) Then, it was off to the Scheib's. Tyler went up and got both of them, and carried them down in one trip (was he nuts? I think so!!! They weigh 50 lbs. between the two of them, at least!)Paaaartaaaay! Wayne had great fun opening his easter basket from Grammie and Duane with the other kids. Weston.... not so much. He's had 4 molars coming in all at once, and had the flu earlier last week, and despite a good two hour nap at my parents', he was not a very happy little boy (although he was a very CUTE little boy! :0)

We made it back home, and quickly changed Weston into his jammies and did their Easter baskets from us. Weston was in bed by 5:45pm, for the night. (Not that surprising, that's been pretty close to his usual lately. Last night he stayed up until 6:30, what a rebel!) Wayne, doing his "cheese" move again....

So it was another packed holiday for the Silves family. We did miss two parties though. While we would love to go, it's just not fair to the boys at their ages to pack 'em up and haul them around. Maybe someday we can do it again, but not in these early years. Easter is my favorite holiday I think, even more than Christmas. I love spring, and the new life, and fresh look it provides. I love the hope that Easter brings. I hate that a man, my savior, had to die a painful, cruel death because of me and all of my many, many sinful ways. I hate that a father had to watch his son endure that. But, I love my savior and my heavenly father for thinking I was worthy of that, and for writing my name in the book of Life. I pray that he too will guide my kids in His direction, and use me as a tool to teach them.

"God has made a way, to all who live and breathe. Death will never be the end, if you just believe." - Hope, from the Veggietales movie, "the Easter Carol"

Oh the things you say and do...

Hey Wayne!

This one's for you dude. I hope that one day, when you are a strapping 6'4" and hanging out at our house with all of your friends, you all come across this and they get a good laugh at the things you did when you were three!!!

First off... You've had a runny nose lately. You are not one of those kids who doesn't care about snot running down your face, or even into your mouth. At the slightest touch of a drip, you freak out. You come running to me, screaming "Nose! Nose! Wipe now Mom!" And I, being the ever loving, doting mom, who has completely given up staying snot, poop or urine free for an entire day, will help you by finding a rag or something for you to wipe your nose on. Problem is, the weather's been nice, and sometimes (okay, a lot of the times) we have been outside. There is no snot rag out there (my hands are full getting you and Weston and all your toys and my garden tools out there!) So what does a good Mom do? I give you my shirt. You don't like to wipe it on your own shirt, that would be gross. So of course, when Auntie Breanne was over, and we were enjoying our coffee and girl talk, you walked right up to me, smeared your precious snot all over my good shirt, and walked off as if nothing had happened. Breanne just sat there in shock... did that really just happen? Yes, it did, and just wait until her little boy does it to her!

Next up... The binkie. One of these days I need to get it away from you, and as much as I respect the SuperNanny and she says you are too big for it, I just don't care. It's not a battle I'm willing to wage at this point, so, whatev. However, I do take it from you during the day when we're at home, because I like to understand what you are saying! It was almost naptime, and you were very, very tired. I bent down to give you a hug, and you asked for your bink. I told you that I didn't have it, and you asked, "Mom, hide it?" I said no, and before I could blink, you pulled my shirt down to see if it was hiding in "the girls." Now lovey, I know that I occasionally put Weston's binkie there when I have no hands and no pockets, and I've OCCASIONALLY forgotten about them until late into the night, BUT... I guarantee you I will not put YOUR binkie there. Ever. I promise. So go look for it in the drawer, cabinet, or Dad's pocket, that will be a much surer bet.

And finally... the bodyguard. Little dude, you are Weston's biggest protector and advocate. You stand at the bottom of the stairs, blocking my way, saying "Weston no go ni-night. He not tired. Stop Mom!" Of course, I still put him down for his nap, but it's cute you try on his behalf. You share your snacks with him, and often I here you stopping him from getting into trouble by shouting at him "Wesson no, no, big owie!" Thank you for loving him so much, for looking out for him, and for being such a big helper. I so love that in you, and how compassionate you are when he does get hurt. You pat him on the head, give him a hug, and then bring him a toy, usually one of YOUR favorites.

I guess there is one more thing... We've been working on the potty training thing since mid January, and you are doing GREAT with going potty on the pot, and are even starting to tell us when you have to go. But Wayne? Please, please, please could you use the pot to go stinky too? It's just gross cleaning you up. You are too big a boy, with too big of ____ to keep going in your pull up. As soon as you figure this out, I'll let you wear your Thomas the train undies all the time. But until then... ain't happenin!

All for now dude! You and Weston are outside with Dad, and I'm going to go join you. Maybe you could give Weston another ride in your truck!

I'll love you forever Wayne!
Mom

Saturday night...

Saturday night we had Tyson and Breanne's gift opening at Mom and Dad's with Breanne's family. We were there a little early to do Easter for the kiddos, and the boys both LOVED what was in their bags! Wayne got a new farm addition to his train set, and Weston got a car and tractor (he loves them... I'm not sure if it's the color, the sound, or the wheels!)

Like father like son... Baby Maddie playin' away in her excersaucer.

Weston was a very nice, helpful cousin and gave her her binky back when she dropped it... even if she didn't really want it back.

Weston was still having his lower end "running" issues, and despite having had MANY already that day, had another blowout... His outfit was already dirty, and he took care of his pajamas! So, what is a naked boy to do? Borrow jamma's from his cousin, that's what! Weston is very secure in his manhood...

But he sure would make a cute girl too! :-)

Chillin' at the dinner table after burgers with all the fixin's.

Helping Grandpa BBQ. This is definitely his domain, and he makes amazing burgers.

Sign the return, write your checks, put 'em in the mail, cause tax season 2009 is HISTORY!

Celebrate good times, come on!!! It is done, done done!!!! These words on this page can't express... Woooo-hoo!!!

More later, I'm off to clean Weston's room, it's a pig sty in there!

busted...

If you've seen Amanda's comments on that last post, you'll know why I'm *busted!* Today has been a much needed dose of good medicine... Relaxing! After a 12 hour day that ended at 1opm last night, I am DONE with my tax season. Praise the Lord! I know that He will never give me more than I can handle, even at work, and I trusted in that SO MUCH over the last two weeks. He gave me strength and energy to get through, and amazing people in my life who are so supportive and helpful. I also love the people I work with, so it makes the end a little more bearable (sp?). Coffee helps too.


I did 8 loads of laundry this morning, cleaned/reorganized Weston's room, did 2 loads of dishes, paid the bills, caught up on a few things on the computer, took care of the boys, and went for a walk in Lynden with the boys (Wayne on his scooter!) It was BLISSFUL. I have to admit though, for awhile I was on project ADD overload... I had 7 things going at once, and decided I better focus on completing one thing before moving on to the next. I was too excited to have time to do things! Both boys were exhausted, and were in bed by 7pm. It's been a long, quiet evening, and I can't believe it's just 8:50pm!

Tyler has the next two days off, and there's lots of playing with the boys, playing/working outside, and getting caught up in store! I CAN'T WAIT! This weekend is for scrapping too, I'm ready to get back into it!

Night folks!

We interupt this fabulous blogging...

... for a 3 day hiatus. As we type, there are 32 1/2 hours left of tax season, and I won't be blogging for those next 32 1/2 hours! BUT, when I return, I will promise to have lots of great posts, pictures, and stories of the boys. Until then.... toodles!

Just a few more pics...

l.o.v.e this one! Breanne looks soooo happy.

Sorry, Kara, you made the blog!

The wedding boy and grandma, dancing the night away

Breanne left the dance floor, and Wayne had to pull her back!

During the ceremony, thanking his mom and dad.