Spring Break Project

Hmm, posting these pictures turned out to be rather messy. So I'm now typing, not because I don't firmly believe the adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" but, because if I type then at some point I may have enough words to figure out how to get the pictures to quit invading other pictures space.
And quit bugging other pictures.
And quit looking at other pictures.
And quit taking other pictures stuff.
And quit messing up stuff that other pictures are going to have to clean up.
And quit hogging the other pictures computer game when I just asked him to help me and now he won't let me play.
And all the little pictures are bugging the big picture.
And the big picture is being mean to all the little pictures. And seeing as how the precious hour or so this project was happening was about the most peaceful together time that we all shared during Public Educators Revenge on Parents break I think it's only fitting that the frickin' pictures should all cooperate with each other and be nice and not fight on my blog.

For those not familiar with the joys of trying to upload multiple pictures on blogger I won't bore you with too many details, needless to say if you don't do it right, and occasionally even if you do, pictures are all over the place. Sometimes adding text will line them up and keep them in place. This time I was forced to delete all seven pictures and start the upload over.

Finally for your viewing pleasure all seven of the pictures are lined up down the side of my blog in no particular order, not unlike my sons who seem to be catching a nasty virus with fevers of 102 and higher in no particular order, adding to the joys and length of spring break(aka, Public Educators Revenge on Parents Break, for those of you who didn't get it earlier).

Good To Know

There is some really important information that falls under the category, 'Vital to know' these would be facts such as: Income taxes are due on April 15, or that smoking causes cancer, or, you can't have a gun in your diaper bag, or formula or finger nail clippers if you're going to fly. Other useful tidbits of information fall in the category of 'Good To Know', info in this category might include such items as; wash, rinse, condition, rinse, dry, style and that the word wholesome is meant to be tongue-in-cheek as a description of Hostess treats. It's been awhile since I did a family update; most of this information falls in the category 'Did I need to know that?' I'll do my best to categorize correctly.

Vital To Know:
When Adam gets mad enough to run away he's not headed off to join the circus or even over to Grandmas house, Adam is, "running away to the fridge". The smile is his automatic camera face, if you look closely there is a tantrum tear on his right cheek.
Jacob made Chamber Choir. This is the elite choir in his High School. The conversation went something like this.
Jacob: Chamber Choir tryouts are tonight after school so I'll call you when I need a ride home, (as he's getting out of the car at school one morning).
Mom: Are you ready? Have you prepared a number? Do you want us to come? Are your grades OK? (As he shuts the door and walks away shaking his head at my audacity in thinking that any of these questions might be relevant enough that he hadn't thought of them.)
Fade to after school that day.
Mom: Well how did it go? Did you make it? Were you nervous? What did the Choir Director say? When will...
Jacob: Mom, it went OK I guess. I'll tell you when I know more. (No expression or inflection)
A week and a half later.
Jacob: Did I mention that I made Chamber Choir? (as he waits for the traffic light to change).
Mom: Wow! Cool! That's Awesome Hon! When did you know?
Jacob: I dunno like a week or few days or something, I was gonna tell you guys but I guess I forgot.
Mom: Are you excited about it?
Jacob: Well Duh! (rolls eyes)
I thought this was Vital info, Jacob would probably not rank it so high, such a coooool teenager.
Good To Know:

My herb and veggie cleanse was interrupted by Benjamin's birthday mint brownies. It got me back on track though and I'm eating a little better.

When Adam tells you he wants a crapper, he's not looking for a redneck toilet. He wants a cracker. On the other hand Richard and I have added some fiber shakes to our diet, we affectionately call them poop shakes, when we ask for a crapper we mean any toilet and it would be best to evacuate the immediate area.

Benjamin advanced out of cub scouts with his Arrow of Light. He's also got straight A's

Did I Need to Know That:
Fish now has a name. Joseph decided we should call him Knuckles, why you ask, seeing as how fish have fins not fingers hence no knuckles? Joseph is into Sonic video games and having everything make sense. Knuckles is Sonics video game buddy. He looks like this:
Our Fish, Knuckles(formerly know as Fish) looks like this...makes sense to Joseph.All our other sons have called, when absolutely necessary to refer to them at all, my breasts boobs, or boobies. Adam refers to them as Squisheys...I like your Squisheys Mom, Can I play with your Squisheys Mom. "Mom, this is your mommy squishy and this is your dad squishey", at least he didn't call my belly the baby squishy (yes one of the girls is a little larger then the other, but, that's a topic for an entirely different blog). No forty-something women needs any part of her body called squishey even if it's true.

Sleddin' Baby!

Grandma and Grandpa Smith invited us all to come sledding at Jolleys' Ranch up Hobble Creek Canyon today. Grandma brought awesome chili and Grandpa brought a can of WD40 because... umm, thirteen kids and seven adults on a sledding hill can never have enough speed?

We had a blast, Benjamin, Amanda and Hayden were about 6 feet from the top of the very steep hill behind us before we yelled at them to come down. Benjamin was really bummed about not making it to the top, he'd rather climb then sled.

Once Isaac figured out how fun it was he never stopped even for food. Josh and Miah were kings of the hill, Josh got in trouble for trying to go up and over the embankment at the bottom. Jacob was the official push off guy. Joseph and Adam were fearless snow warriors and by the end of the trip Adam had all the little girls on the hill carrying him and his sled back to the top, charming little devil.

Susan had fun taking pictures and took a couple of runs down the hill. Richard took a couple turns on the sled can't get shown up by the teenagers.

After an hour on the hill we gathered at the pavilion, ate chili and drank hot chocolate, oh, next time you make a mug of hot cocoa try dropping a handful of butter mints in it, very Good!

Baby Dorothy was the cutest part of the day. She was completely covered by a pink snow suit except for her chubby little cheeks and gorgeous face. (Of course I didn't get a picture)

We missed Jamey she was doing laundry...come on girlfriend, snow melts and laundry is never done, never, never done! Brian brought the fastest coolest sleds so we were glad he was there.
Grandma and Cori Ann hung out by the fire and Emmy and Amanda hung out in the truck, smart women, dry and warm.

Fun times!