::::

Cute.

::april by phone photos::

Hot tub:

We not only got one, but we had to install a little cement pad for it to sit on and move some trees around. It's very fun to sit out there in the quiet dark and look at the stars.
Poor Sandy was really sick in the middle of the month, some sort of stomach bug. He threw up and threw up and it lasted several days. He even threw up in the produce section of Albertsons--buckets.

On the way back from the doctor's office.

Not enjoying my attempts to cheer him up by playing cars with him.


"Pick me up! I can't walk, my nummy huwts."

Making cookies when he finally felt a little better. (only a little at this point as you can tell.)

And last but not least, Max with tissues in his ears to block out the crying at dinner. He's holding cauliflower in his hand. His facial expression I take no responsibility for.

::::

Sultan got brushed (thanks to Kris). And this is what happened:


It was like a whole other dog there on the ground. Ewww. Maybe now I won't have little hairball dogs all over my carpet, at least for a while.

::pinewood derby::

OK here are some pictures for you from the derby itself. We were just lucky to be in town when it happened, and we were lucky Kris worked his tushy off to get the car done in time.

Max with box of supplies. He was very excited and nervous.

Chocolate covered Sandy.

The competition.

Sandy with his own special car and also a special friend.

These things always last WAY too long.

You can see Max's nerves in his face. It was funny to me that he got so nervous! His car did great, winning any race when it wasn't placed on the lane with the big bump in the middle.


Recoating the wheels for speed!

Sandy was absolutely fascinated. He just wanted to get in there and put cars on the track. Desperately.

I think this was about the last run--hallelujah!

Ta Da! Max won the award for being the fastest in the Bear den. He was also fourth over all. He was PROUD of himself and told his Grandma later that he "pretty much won the whole thing." Pretty funny.

::pinewood derby prep::

Kris helped Max make a plan which included car shape and color, and then he and Max spent some long hours in the garage putting it all together.


Kris had to even put some long hours in all by himself getting things rolling along.


Personally my favorite part is the safety glasses. Finished product:

Pretty nice, huh?

::three trees::

We're fixing up the front yard a bit right now. Our landscaper came to put in three new pine trees the other day and luckily the boys and I happened to be home. Max watched a lot and even got to help install the small one in the very front planter. He was quite proud of himself. I love how we have so much more green in front now. I was a little skeptical of putting in desert pines, but I'm very happy with them now that they're in!

::classic::

I captured some classic brother behavior the other day while trying to catch a cute moment.

"Oh! You boys are so cute riding on the plasma car together! Hold on, let me grab the camera and take your picture!" "No wait, Sandy, stay on the car." "Sandy, wait!"

"Oh no Max, don't squeeze him." "I know you're trying to help me get a picture but..."

"I know you're tickling him Max, but he's screaming. Can you stop?" "Smile Sandy so I can take your picture!"

"Oh dear."

"OK Max, thanks for trying but we'd better stop now."

"Awww, brothers. You two are cute." Sandy "LET ME OUT!!!!!!!"
OK now looking at this I'm thinking it's more of a classic Mom & boys interaction. But also brothers too. Sandy is easily annoyed with Max because Max is so much bigger and stronger. It stinks to be forced to do things you're not in the mood for--even if you were in the mood for those things 10 seconds ago and just suddenly aren't feeling it anymore. But they are wearing matching shirts, and as far as I'm concerned that covereth a multitude of sins.

::picture window::

This particular window in our living room shows us the most amazing sunsets. If we can bear to keep the shade up through the part when the sun is drilling right into our eyes, we are often richly rewarded.

::cub scouts::

Cub scouts, Oy.

This is Max with a huge bag of garbage we picked up right around our house-for scouts. Who knew there were so many bud light cans and bottles hiding in the desert.

Unfortunately for me I found out that the ability to earn Cub Scout awards is based on age. Such as, if you turn 9 and haven't yet finished earning your Wolf, you're out of luck.

Max was turning 9 and I found this out, so I had to abjectly beg the young guy that's in charge of the program at church to give me a month extension. Not being someone with two children and two plus businesses to run he was not impressed, but grudgingly let me have it.

Anyway, we worked our buns off. BUNS OFF. And then the pack meeting he was supposed to get the awards at got postponed and we were out of town. So he still doesn't have the dang-nabbed patch. Anyway, it's a good thing he loves Cubs and had a great Wolf leader because it's been a source of great frustration and stress to me!
We'll do better with his Bear. I won't let him lose the book for six months this time.

I just keep thinking that if Cubs is this hard, how's it going to be when he needs to get his Eagle? 

Whatever, at least he's cute. I love the garbage bag photo.  He was so proud of himself.  And I guess that's the point of all this, is getting the kids to do things they wouldn't normally do.  And to make them want to do it again.  Which he did, the crazy kid.