Lesson Learned

Never think that you can "just run really quick" say, to pick up your oldest from football practice with one of your little ones looking like this:

Because the minute you think you can, your car will break down, as it did to me tonight. Luckily, we were just about a block from the house and I got a message to Niles to wait for me. My mom came and saved the day (after we walked home in a Spiderman costume and no shoes on either child, what a delightful story that makes) Anyway, Sawyer's assessment of the whole situation is "We need a different car, a fast car, we need a firetruck!!!"

Just moments before the shoe-less walk, Fletch came up and showed me this:

You probably can't see what that is exactly, it's perfect little arm with perfect little teeth marks in it. The conversation went something like this:

Fletch: A spider bit me, see? (thrusts arm a half an inch from my eyes)

Mommy: frowning, That looks more like a Sawyer bite to me.

Fletch: No, it isn't!!! A spider bit me.

Mommy: Did you really bite yourself?

Fletch: No, a spider bit me.

Mommy: Are you going to turn into Spiderman now?


All I can say now is bring it on, Green Goblin.


With all of the car frustrations, I really realized how lucky we in this family. We rarely have to deal with headaches like this and we always have somebody to call if something as minor as this happens. I really am thankful for the wonderful life that I have. My husband goes to work to provide for a family that he loves, my kids keep me laughing and constantly on my toes, I have parents and siblings and in-laws that would move Heaven and Earth to help us how ever they can. And I have this kind of silliness to tuck me in at night:


That's my dirty-face Sawyer shorts head, cheese ball extraordinaire.

It's clear to me that God loves me and I'm just so grateful for that love.

picture happy

Sorry about this, I just like sharing pictures of my children and how crazy, silly and funny they are. So if you don't like looking at crazy, silly and funny children, I'd leave now if I were you...otherwise, enjoy:

Story time (last night):


The funniest part of this picture is that Niles is posed, he's gotten so sick of me taking pictures of him, he's made it into a little game (I told him I was going to tell everyone he was picking his nose):



Playing around in the yard this evening (they saw the pictures of me jumping at my crop, looking ridiculous, so of course they wanted to try it:):

Niles looks pretty graceful in this, and man has he got some leapers (that's leapers, not lepers, I just want to be clear on that, but I'd be very proud of him if he dedicated his life to caring for lepers)


At dinner tonight (no this is not my dining room, Roy wasn't home tonight, so we went out for dinner, we so rarely do, that is sarcasm folks):

This is more posing on Niles' part. Sawyer is genuinely laughing, Niles is being silly.

Fletch and Mommy (in my defense, he started making this face and then stopped as soon as I started taking pictures, oh well, it's not the first time I've looked silly and it sure won't be the last time):

So there you have it everybody, lots of fun at the Elsholz house. I hope you have a great night or day:)

What happens when crazy scrappers get together...

My brain is a little fuzzy today. Yesterday I drove to Grand Rapids to meet some girls for an all day scrapbooking extravaganza and let me just tell you...those women know how to kick off their shoes and party:) I had a great time and I feel extremely grateful for their friendship and the laughter they provided. I don't have a fancy camera like the rest of the girls and since I have "camera envy" I kept mine tucked away so I don't have any photos to share (but there were PLENTY taken;)

Roy went to Sandusky with Fletch and Sawyer to visit Grandma and Papa. He also got to spend time with his friend Jessie and his son Jacob (no pictures there either.)

The other day we did snap lots of photos during a busy fun day.

Thursday we:

Practiced cutting and coloring

Fletch seems to have a dark side


We had (another) little dress up session:




And of course, the boys did each other's make-up (boys love to look pretty):

Very nice job boys (encouragement is important)

Don't forget the bottom of your foot:


And Niles stayed up WAY late last night playing video games at my parents, so he is just delightful today:)

Hope you have a great night.

See, they do sleep

And see, I even have pictures to prove it!

These boys made it very clear early on (like at 3 or 4 months) that they did not want to sleep in the same crib, but for some reason last night, Fletch asked if he could sleep in Sawyer's crib. I figured it would last for at least a full 30 seconds, instead, they fell fast asleep and I couldn't resist getting photos to prove they can be similar (see their arms?) and that they like to spend time together.

We had a great time tonight, Roy played a song that said "OLAY, OLAY, OLAY (and so on)" and the fellas (all 3) thought it was the bee's knees, we all had fun singing and laughing, until about the 4th time listening to it, then I'd pretty much had my fill...the boys wanted to keep the party going, but hey, it's better than listening to "Jessie, The Yodeling Cowgirl" until my ears bleed.

Have a great night and day:)

(By the way, my sister Ashley commented that that was not a very flattering picture of her from the last post. I want to state for the record, I'd be fairly hard pressed to find a picture of her where she wasn't making some version of that face)

Umm...we're cool?

I'm not totally sure I'd get too much backing on this fact, but I do know we had fun pretending we were cool last night at the Beastie Boys concert (this lovely picture is not actually from the concert night, but I blessedly forgot my camera, I think my mind must have known in advance what I'd look like by the end of the night) I had a little accident (okay, I ran into a cheeseburger-- ALL DOWN THE FRONT OF MY SHIRT) And I think it could be scientifically proven that I am not a good driver, Ash will gladly attest. Despite the mishaps (that mostly just made us laugh), we had a really good time. The concert was so much fun and I danced the whole time, but I know Ashley's impression of me was COMPLETELY off base. And today when Niles asked why there were flies buzzing around the back of the van, where there was red stuff, I was actually glad we ran over a dead deer, because I didn't want to attract flies any other way. (This was, by the way, a completely sober trip)

Picture day (smile!)

Remember school picture day when you were a kid and it seemed like you always had a huge pimple or a crazy haircut or you got smacked in the eye the night before with a kickball? Well, luckily Niles escaped all these horrors and all we had to focus on was getting a good smile. He kind of has an issue with smiling for pictures . When there is no camera in front of him , he has the most beautiful, radient smile, but when a camera gets pointed in his direction, he turns in to Chandler from Friends...fake smile city. We were laughing practicing this morning. Pretty good result:

Sorry I didn't post this weekend, we have been going a little crazy around here, I thought it would be good to get into the routine of school, but we're still working on getting into it. We had a football game on Saturday, where there were no bathrooms and each little boy had to go (at different time, of course) Luckily, Daddy was there so I could just enjoy the football action. Niles became a free agent;) and joined a different team, he's playing running back (which I think is supposed to be cool) He did look cute out there.

Last night Aunt Ashley spent the night because we're going to a Beastie Boy's concert and the boys thought it would be nice if she would get in Fletch's bed and read a story and as Fletch said "do some funny stuff" They did have very fun time and I think Fletch could almost breathe even with a super-tight tank top on (Aunt Ashley's p.j. choice)

Yay!!!!! It's Friday!!!!

I'm still not feeling too groovy, but I'm on the mend. I even had almost 2 whole hours where I didn't have to get anyone any juice. The little fellas went on a field trip to an apple orchard today and it sounds like it was a lot of fun for them.

The BEST news is my husband has tomorrow off!!!!! I can't believe I get to see him for 2 days in a row, that's got to be a record.

Niles has his first football game tomorrow and he seems pretty excited, he's running back (I think probably the cutest one).



I am a little sad because my obnoxious new brother-in-law has to go back to England and I hate to admit it, but I think I'll miss him a little, I know my kids (especially Niles) will. I'm sad for Kimberly too, because I know she was so happy he was here. I think the only way to ease the pain is to watch her nephews for a couple of long period of time:).