What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!!

My brother, SuperMan, posted this on Facebook this morning and I love it. This totally makes sense to me (bad sense). WE have GOT to work this out, USA!!

H-P is sick and puked all over me twice so far. Buck cried because he didn't want to go to school. But Thunder started dressing himself and I came out of H-P's room to see that he was totally clothed down to a jersey and underwear! My 3 year old baby is growing up!
RKZ home today. I can not wait.

"Let me come alive! Come on and ..."

RKZ is on the East Coast this week (Mon to Fri), so we're finding things to keep us all busy (ha. ha.) I have 2 days of volunteering at school, so my cousin has been and will be coming over to take care of the little ones. I was especially grateful for her these days. I was thinking that if we'd moved closer to the beach (like we planned), she never could have driven all the way out every day.  I feel so blessed to have someone who loves my boys watch them when I can't. More signs that it all works out for the best. 

Today, while H-P naps, Thunder and I have been constructing a dream home of blocks. Thunder is very imaginative. He loves to spend hours building and creating. Ironically, when it's his big brother who is building, Thunder would rather destroy (that's made this week a bit challenging). But when left to his own devices, Thunder creates. 

 This is definitely, "after." So cute, though! This is our TV room by the way.

Only in California (maybe Florida and Hawaii), would they assign a snowman for show and tell. Buck had to make a "California snow-man." The boys created this guy, Smiley, and he was due on Monday. Of course, that was the one day it rained here. It was a sight, me with the three boys and a big styrofoam snowman pirate. I was jealous of the mom who's child turned in a bag of water with two buttons and a carrot inside. Brilliant.

"Life is like a song - at last"

I never usually post just a picture of RKZ and I, but Saturday (yesterday), we went to the Santa Barbara wine country for the entire day all by ourselves!! Well, with about 90 other parents from Buck's school. It was a fundraiser and we had a really great time riding buses and having drinks and playing games. We were able to eat and talk and just laugh, which is so rare for us these days. My cousin, S-dog, took care of our kids for the 12 hours we were gone, so we weren't even worried! My only sadness is that this one picture we took wasn't better of the two of us. Oh well, can't have everything.

It was interesting to get to know some parents from the new (still, to us) school. We were one of the only parents of Kindergarteners there, so we were nicknamed "the young ones." funny on so many levels since many of the "older" parents are younger than the two of us...

RKZ leaves for the week tomorrow morning, so we have so much to do we couldn't even sleep off the wine today. Such is our suffering! :)

O the bitter winds are coming in and I'm already missing the sun...

We had a totally average day yesterday, so I decided to post it so that I can remember what these days were like in 5 or 10 years. It was a good day. 

 Buck's favorite food is bagels with butter. It was also breakfast. 

 H-P always smiles for pictures. He screams for food and attention, though. 

 Thunder loves to wear other people's shoes. Here he is trying to wear mine as we leave to drop off Buck for school. 

 Another of H-P because he's so free kin' cute. 

 SERVITE's son, JeeP, came over to play so we went outside. It was warm yesterday (sorry Calgary). Thunder is obsessed with taking pictures with his new camera (a Cmas present from Uncle and Aunt S)

 Jeep (15 months - or so) 

 Our yard is filled with paraphernalia (sp?) for nearly every sport imaginable. Here, Thunder tries to figure out how he'll play hockey in our grassy back yard. 

 Our pool - just for the people who haven't seen it yet. 

 More sports. Basketball is a favorite of JeeP's (wonder why!) 

"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears..."

We went to Disneyland today. RKZ took a 1/2 day and met us at the park. It was crowded (because it is a holiday) and a bit cool (low 50's) but there was no snow or rain, so I have no complaints! 

 RKZ thought that the boys looked like thugs in this shot. It's just Thunder's hat. How many thugs wear R2D2 mouse ears or drink formula straight from the can? :)

 Small World is always a big ride for us because H-P can go on it. We lucked out with the first seat in the boat! Also, the ride is still changed for Christmas, so it was all new to us!

 H-P held on tight the entire ride and screamed (happily) through most of it. He's LOUD already.

 1,000s of Canadians visit Disney every year (probably 100's of 1,000s) and this is the one shout-out to them in the entire ride. It always gets me.

 Toon town takes up about 60% of every visit. It's because there is so much hands-on activity.

 Boys behind rubber bars. Usually it's mommy who needs rubber walls.

 I can't get over how big H-P looks next to his brothers. He's only 8 months!

 Thunder and H-P already have an interesting relationship. They adore each other and fight like puppies.

 LOVE this face. This is who H-P really is -  I'll swear it. Little Bohunk/Irish bugger :)

If one picture had to typify my life right now? This is it. Anyone looking at me in this shot? Anyone doing what he's been told? Anyone care what mommy is doing anyway?

"I see that you've come so far to be right where you are"

I am very excited to have a new computer, but because of some Direct TV technician idiocy, our internet isn't working and my nice new (supposedly quick) computer is still on WiFi until we can get it sorted out. I have to complain because I want to officially say never get Direct TV unless you are obsessed with the NFL, like my beloved husband. 

 Here in So Cal, we've been incredibly busy. I volunteered at Buck's school yesterday and helped 30 kindergarten children make lady bugs. At least there were only a few tears and two discipline issues. It was funny to spend an hour saying, "On your bottoms, please." A lot of energy in that classroom. 

Thunder is coming along slooooowwly with potty training. He is completely in charge of his own bathroom times now as he will simply refuse to go if he feels affronted in some way. Yesterday, we had a conversation where he started crying and said, "I scary (scared)" and I said, "of what?" and Thunder answers, "You." I had been doing nothing but sitting on the corner of the bathtub and watching His Royal Highness on his throne, so I don't even know where that came from. Finally, HRH tells me, "I need privacy." and I was allowed to wait outside while the blessed pooping event happened. 3 year olds (humph)

Here are a few more Christmas shots: 

One of my sister-in-laws (Hoonka) is a celebration person. She always comes up with fun things for the boys to do on holidays. She is Buck's soulmate. 

My Grandma is 93 years old. Here is her beautiful self...I love her. 

 My mom's brother and his wife, S. 

A picture of H-P asleep in the corner (yes, we DO put baby in the corner)

Ma Joad bought the same shirt for all 5 sons and sons-in-law this Christmas. It was very funny. 

Hoonka and Teags (he is nearly 2)

The finished "Santa cookie." Santa only ate a few bites of this, but finished off the beer (and more). 

The older Grady boys showing their smiles. 

We've been joking that this is the number of kids my parents had in almost the same age order. Yikes! Here, RKZ and Hoonka read a Christmas story before Santa comes. 

The boys are: H-P (8 months), Buck (6), A-man (5), K-man (4) and Thunder (3). Teegs (2) must have been asleep. Also, my youngest brother has a 1 year old son who completes the set of one boy a year for 7 years - bring on the girls, I say!! 

H-P is the only child that I have dressed with holiday gear. I love the "rain deer bum" on these PJ's. 

The boys (minus Teegs) looking cute in their Christmas jammies!