double digits

Oh boy what a birthday!  Double digits!  I cannot hardly believe we have had this wonderful human being in our lives for 10 years.  That's how long it took me to pay off my college debt!  He was born the year I had my 10yr reunion from High School.  He had a good real birthday day - went to school, took Oreo's so all the kids in his class could enjoy (allergies) and even shared with his teacher, a past teacher and the school nurse!  He wanted pizza for supper so we ordered Pizza Hut and then had soccer practice.  He got to open his presents from us - a new Yeti cup and a pocket knife.  I can't hardly believe we bought him that, but so far he's been very responsible with it.  We had a wonderful birthday party with the rest of the family on Saturday - everyone came to celebrate him and enjoy spaghetti, salad and pineapple upside down cake!

10 things I love about you Noah:

1. You are so patient with me - all my yelling and demanding "put this here/ or why did you do that?" you take it in stride and are so so patient with me.
2. You always love to try new recipes for healthy dinners with me - cooking chili with quinoa and egg & veggie frittata.
3. You are getting so much better playing and including and enjoying your brothers - both of them - they are both so different from you personality wise and have different levels of experience, but you continue to amaze me with your patience and kindness towards them.
4. You worry about everyone - from the kids in class who can't have milk to the kids that have been affected by Hurricane Harvey and now Irma.  You are willing to do whatever it takes to make the other person feel included (having Oreos) to buying composition notebooks to donate to Houston kids.
5. You are still a wonderful sleeper and always allow me to enforce naps on you if I feel like they might be warranted.  I love that you love sleep!
6. You are trying to hard to grow into a responsible young man.  Trying to think about what you say and how you act before you do it - practice makes you better right?
7. You take such good care of me and my diabetes - you always can tell if I am low and can even check my blood sugar for me if I need help - the blood doesn't bother you and you know what all the numbers mean.
8.  You are becoming quite the soccer player - I can see the growth in your running steps that you are trying to hard to keep with the other kids and play hard and really think about where the ball is going to go and what is best for the game.
9. You love your quiet time.  You are already realizing that sometimes being by yourself and quiet - mindlessly watching TV or reading a book in your room is good for you to make sure you are relaxed.
10. You are quite the artist - you really love to let your creative juices flow and create new patterns and draw things you see.

Noah turns 9!

Noah had a pretty good birthday!  Long weekend, lots of family time, plenty of entertainment!

9 years ago seems like forever ago... i was a different person... different mom... 

it's almost the same amount of time to pay off a school loan... or paying off two cars... 

Nine things I love about you Noah:

1. Still tries most days to make someone laugh...usually it's me, but no complaints here.
2. He is becoming a young man in physical appearance.  He's tall, and loves to dress like it... jeans, belt, nice shoes, tuck in a shirt.
3. He still loves playing with his little brothers.  Mark I think will always be closest to him...for a long time it's been the two of them together, playing tablets, running outside with the buddies of the neighborhood...they are the best of friends and can fight and make up with minimal effort.
4. He is wanting to help more in the cooking department - likes making and is really good at eggs!  
5. He is finding more things aside from "playing" that he's interested in...such as music and learning lyrics and singing out loud.  He wants to know the group's name or who wrote the lyrics.  He likes to be in control of the radio and helps me pick out fun upbeat songs to listen to in the car.
6. He still doesn't like being the center of attention... he loves a supportive role and is really good at it - guiding his brothers and friends in a subtle way.
7.  He is becoming more vast in his subject matter while reading...it's not just make believe / fiction that he's interested in... he chooses all kinds of non-fiction books to learn how and why.
8. He's still a momma's boy - He still needs hugs and me touching him even if it's just his hand or his foot...
9.  He is learning how to deal with and handle his emotions and how he feels inside about things when they are difficult.  Trusting himself and knowing that he can make the right decision.

You are a joy to me - every day... no matter the day...

too funny not to write down...

The big boys have wanted, asked for, begged for a dog for a long time.  Probably too soon after Zorro's death even...  Anyway we were driving home last night from soccer practice and we were talking about getting one... and what we would name it.  I told them I'd want to get a girl dog - for the reason that I am surrounded by boys...might be nice to have another girl in the family...even if it's an animal.  The boys both like Violet, Hazel and Sugar.  Violet is their number one right now.  When we get home - Mark asks Curt what he'd like to name the dog.  Curt says "Jake!".  Mark looks at him, with seriousness and responds "from State Farm?"!!!!!  we all died laughing... even Mark caught himself and realized he'd made a joke!  so now we pretty much HAVE to get a girl dog or it's name will be "Jake from State Farm"...

latest and greatest...

I think this blog has turned into a quarterly update.  I look at this thing every single day and read about other people's lives...there going's on...and I think that I really ought to put something down to keep track of what has been going on and then I get busy with work, with home life or just think "oh there's too much to write about".  

What's funny is if you looked at the pictures on my phone you'd see that I am doing a pretty good job at documenting what has been going on.  So maybe I should just post pictures and give little explanations... that might make me feel better about blogging.  

From where I left off last post (Christmas tree was up...) - the weeks were hard.  Curt was working PEAK and traveling which left me to do e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  I do mean it literally... referee, butler, chauffeur, chef, maid, banker, lawyer, negotiator, tutor, librarian, mom, cheerleader, coach, all of it.  I don't know how families do it when this is the norm.  This 'norm' about broke me.  I was so glad when Christmas Day came for the mere fact that it meant no more time away from Curt and schedules would go back to normal. But then... Christmas Day did come and it was hard also.  We had to visit both sides of the family that day.  Its just the way it worked out.  It was what was best for every one's schedules.  By the end of the night we were all over stimulated, tired, hungry, annoyed - you name it.  I am hoping/praying we don't have to try and swing both sides again...maybe when the boys are teenagers it would be OK?

My birthday came... Mark very earnestly asked "Mom are you 73?"... glad you know your numbers and know that is the number from what you are looking at, but goodness... do i look 73?  I hope when I'm 73 he is there and can ask me again, "Mom are you 37?".

For my birthday I asked for under cabinet lighting and lighting above the cabinets for ambiance...because that's how we roll at the Wilson house - it's all about 'how you feel'... bah!  It was relatively inexpensive thanks to Amazon/prime.  And because my husband is super handy especially with anything electronic it was merely a couple of weekend adventure.

The boys treated me well that day - I think this was my birthday where Seth was vacuuming.  'gotta start 'em young' - 'you're welcome future daughter-in-law!'.

Also for my birthday my folks got me gift cards & baskets so I could make our pantry look 'pretty'.  I know - 1st world problems, but it makes me feel good to walk into that room and know exactly where something is, how much of it I have and everything grouped together that needs to be.

Also in January we started a new program with the older boys - "Wilson Reading program" which really means "read your minutes through the week and I'll let you play your tablet uninterrupted all weekend!"  They are doing really well with it - some days are harder to encourage the minutes, but for the most part they love seeing on Friday that they've read all they need to and can enjoy the "commission" of tablet play.  As a side note, just so I don't think back and think that it was a complete free for all - we had to adjust the tablet rules to just one day / weekend because no one was listening or paying attention... go figure.  learn as you go though.

My best friend sent me a picture of her youngest.  She cut her own bangs.  Pretty short.  I did this to my sister when I was younger, although I don't think I stopped at the bangs.  I think it was all over chop.  Pretty funny.

One of my cousins is going to play college football for a division 1 program.  I guess he's "walking on", but I really believe in my heart that this kid will get to play and play a lot in the future.  He's got incredible determination.  

In early February we had some sickness going around - typical coughing / slight fever for the older two.  Then poor Seth got it bad...like awful.  Puking from a Monday night to a Friday morning.  He just could not keep anything down.  Finally got him eating again / drinking milk...then the following Tuesday he woke up screaming at the top of his lungs...no consoling, no comfort.  He stayed home all day with Curt, but when I got home we ran to the Dr... good thing we did - poor guy had 2 ear infections.  After 10 days of the good ol' pink stuff we are back and raring to go!

he had just pooped and it literally knocked him out...no energy after pooping...

Funny thing happened at Wal-mart...said no mom ever... it's not usually funny...but stressful, chaotic...but this was pretty funny.  Seth was walking around (instead of in the cart) and was loving every minute of it.  Suddenly he says "Mom!  Mom!  Poo Poo" and then just sits down on the makeup aisle floor.  He was serious.  I felt bad for the teenage girl walking through - trying to buy some new nail polish... free birth control in the make up aisle!  ha ha.

Next - took a day off in late February and went to hit golf balls.  I had never done this before.  Apparently I'm not half bad.  183 yards.  

And finally... I have made a quilt.  Yes - me...with a mother who hates to sew... not sure where I get it...maybe it skipped a generation?  But yes a full King size - quilted quilt.  It's lovely.  I am pretty proud of it.  My mother in law who helped me exponentially with it is pretty proud too...

and for all the mother's out there - saw this...laughed and thought of us all at some point.

the big # 8

We got to celebrate Noah's 8th birthday the day before the actual day, but it was a long weekend so I don't think anyone minded - especially him!

This kid I tell ya is the easiest kid ever - easy to please, easy to get going, just a good go with the flow kind of guy!

He made my job super easy - "Momma let's have spaghetti for my birthday!  With bread and salad!"...um yeah - super easy - noodles and sauce and warm bread and Costco salad... so easy!

I love this boy so much...
1. I think he tries most days to make someone laugh...usually it's me, but no complaints here.
2. He is getting so tall.  He's almost to my shoulder... at 8... I'm 5' 8"...so that makes him almost 5ft right?
3. He still loves playing with his little brothers.  No matter how old he's getting he still likes getting down and pushing the trucks/trains around and fighting with stuffed animals and riding bikes in the cul-d-sac.
4. He is a great eater - he will try almost anything - including pesto (green stuff!) and said he actually likes it.
5. He's a great sleeper - this kid has reached the age of sleeping in... it's lovely for this momma...I can't wait until all his brothers are in the group.
6. He is so eager to learn and questions everything - how does that work, why did you do it that way, what about this way?
7.  School is easy for him... sure he gets into trouble occasionally for being off task or goofing around, but the actual school work is a breeze for him - he knows how to read, knows his math fundamentals...
8. He's still a momma's boy - I think he probably always will be.  He likes to be comforted and hugged and still cuddle on the couch with me...

Happy 8th birthday big guy!  We sure do love you!

that was the birthday boy's finger swipe!

1st day of school

We did it!  We had the 1st day of school and everyone was super excited and happy and relieved and ready to go back for a second day!

I was emotional, obviously, my second son was off to school.  It felt "real" like all the other stuff he's been doing has just been pretend or fake.  School seems to make it "real"...everything - going to bed early / sleeping well / getting up in the morning / getting dressed / eating breakfast - there is a purpose now - have to have energy and ability to focus on learning and oh my goodness the volume of that word "learning"... its enormous.

I feel like with Mark it's all new - new process, new format, new rules, new friends, new expectations...  he is a good "new" person - i think he likes new stuff.  new shoes, new lunch box, new path to school...he is non-judgmental so anything different is just that 'different'... he will accept the different and usually embrace it.

With Noah its intensity this year.  He knows the rules, he knows his responsibility, he knows the expectations of going to school.  Everything is just more intense.  And i do not mean intense in a bad connotation.  No more excuses anymore - you've been in school for 2 years now - this is your 3rd year in this format - you should 'just know' how to exist there and with that knowing we are going to expect/demand MORE from you... i think he will do fine, great...he is a people - pleaser like his momma so i do think he will rise to the challenge.

It should be an interesting year.  Noah will have homework - starting on Monday - 2 sheets of language arts and 2 sheets of math - his teacher flat out said "math program is intense - if you need help, please let me know"...i'm wondering to myself - how hard could it be - i "got" the stuff last year - it made sense to me...in fact i thought how would my education have been different had i been taught like this - maybe i would have done ever better...this core curriculum made sense to me... and a lot of folks it does not.

Mark's homework starts in September - the teacher said "its not required"...how is that even a possibility?  How can we expect our kids to know / do better when there is no practice at home...I do believe after having Noah in school and going through "homework in the evenings" that it does make the kids smarter / better equipped to have their parents 'do it with them'... it will be 'required' for Mark in our house.  We will make the time.  We will make the effort.  The expectation is that this is what is required.  And we will see...


First day pictures were amazing - I thought the light looked great and the boys looked awesome in their new clothes/shoes in front of our amazing home.

Pony Party... otherwise known as the Wilson's going away party...

some family members are moving to Hawaii... yes, yes  Hawaii!  I am jealous, flat out jealous.  Only for 2 years.  Its going to be great - I think so anyway.

In honor of them leaving the continental 48... my in-laws threw them a going away party, complete with miniature horses to ride for all the kids... they were all pretty happy and excited.  I told my mother in-law she set that bar so stinking high, from now on if there are no ponies involved you're going to have a hard time getting my kids there...

here are some my cuties enjoying the day!

Noah's Fun February

Noah had a great February...  First there was the Pinewood Derby put on by the Cub Scouts in the area.  He had a blast helping Curt put the car together, painting it with family friends and also racing it.  He actually won two trophies that day, 2nd in his Pack and 3rd overall (all packs included).  He thought he was hot stuff for sure.  Mark got to put together a car with the other half of Noah's wood plank.  He also raced that day, but we weren't there to watch...he was more worried about getting the car back so he could play.  ha!

Also Noah had a school program (3 of a Kind) - it was pretty cute - songs and a little story.  I think some of it was wearing on the kids as they had been practicing for some time - some of them looked bored and sick of singing the songs... Both grandparents made it and I think it was nice for them.  Mark had a blast - I swear the boys love to sing...love music...love LIVE music...he was enthralled with the show!

Flag Football

We started flag football in October - Noah has played in a 3-4 games and so far is loving it.  The boys seem to be catching on to rules and "plays" and are having a good time.  Honestly the roughest thing has been to get our cleats on before practices and games, but we are working on it... ;)

so excited for the first game!

look how tough!  give it 10yrs and we'll see if this is any different when in high school?

he's just to the left of the ref... getting ready for defense!

Noah's Golden Birthday

Noah had his 7th birthday... on the 7th of September...it's the middle of October... better late than never right?  I should re-title the blog "better-late-than-never-blog..."

It was an awesome day.  Sunny, cool, still warm enough for shorts.  We had his party at a local park - because 1) it's huge and outside and I didn't have to clean my house or cram people inside, 2) we do easy food (cinnamon rolls, juice, etc) so very easy clean up... throw away pans anyone? and 3) a giant playground that entertains all the kids for the entire time... it's a win-win for all!

Oh Noah I know I write this every year, but how are you this old already?  I mean what happend... you are no longer in a car seat, but a booster... tying shoes is no big deal... you get up / get dressed / get your butt to school with little to no help...you are the sweetest to your little brothers and to you dad and I...always giving hugs and telling everyone that you love them.  I am so proud of you...I KNOW I say that every year, but I am.

Seven things I love about you:

1. your smile... losing teeth doesn't cause you to have any less of a beautiful smile!

2. you are so silly with your brothers and LOVE hearing them laugh at you!

3. you are STILL willing to try anything..food / sports / meeting new people / going to new places.

4. you still like when I pick out your clothes... you love to look nice and show off your style.

5. you are becoming an amazing reader; the words and sentences you can read without hesitation astounds me and makes me so happy you enjoy such a great activity.

6. you are willing to help... help if and when i ask... the "chores" don't seem so much like chores to you as you see the cause/effect it can have on people when you help.

7. even at 7...you still love to be tucked in at night... hope that lasts a little while longer :)

love you peanut.

career day and a cutie

Today is career day at Noah's school.  All week they've been talking about jobs and careers and what that means (getting up and dressed, working all day, how some jobs are very busy everyday and others are not...) I can just imagine what they talk about and what they say their parents "do all day"... 'my mom talks on a cool phone with her computer and has an awesome headset"...yep that's what i do all day.

So for his career choice - he decided he wanted to be a cowboy... thank goodness for amazon prime for mother's who don't plan as well as they should... got two cowboy hats ordered on Wednesday and at my door Thursday (only $3.99 extra)... granted they were at U.S. toy - i totally could've gone there myself and got them, but shoot...it would have been more than $3.99 in gas to get over there... PLUS how do you deny a kid getting something in the mail...the joy that brings ha!  We had to buy two...of course we did...

And because I can't leave him out...my little helper today...knows tons about MAN rings and setting up topologies for traffic on a WAN... he's a smartypants!

Wilson Spring Break 2014 - day 1

Day 1 - Sea Life Aquarium:

Well we always start off with a bang don't we?  Our first official spring break should be no different.  Curt took the whole week off to enjoy having fun with Noah and Mark...sleeping in... doing fun things...growing a vacation beard... ha!

We didn't tell the boys until that morning - Curt kept them guessing...  Mark as usual was over the moon about it...he loves animals..anything to do with animals...doesn't matter what kind... or what type of activity it is...as long as there are some sort of animals involved he is game.

Curt said Mark would barely look away from the tanks to take a picture - you can tell from the pictures he's afraid he's going to miss something.  When I got home they both had new stuffed animals... a manta ray (for Mark) and a black tipped reef shark (for Noah)...when I asked if they got one for Seth... they said "no he didn't go momma"... well i guess that's the life of the 3rd born...you don't go, you don't get a toy.  rough.

everyone ready to go... notice it was St. Patrick's Day, but we had to wear our "shark" shirts
so the aquarium knew we were supposed to be there...
who am I kidding - Mark would wear this shirt every day if I had it cleaned for him.

Enjoying being "in" the tank... I am sure Mark would jump in if someone offered that as an option.

See Mark...barely looking...probably got yelled at for that... I told Curt to take lots of pictures.

They look tired don't they?

Curt said they were so tired afterward. He took them to Fritz's to have lunch...Noah laid down in the seat...Mark told him to just have it quiet in the car on the way home... What wimps I have... 1st day and they are tired from a 2 hour walk around to see some fish.. I hope by the time Seth is Mark's age we can go somewhere really fun and get through a whole week of activities...

Stay tuned for today's adventure... the Lego Movie.