Watch Garrett & a little bit outside

The other day I had to run to the other room really quick and I asked Gavin to watch Garrett.  When I came back in the room, this is how I found Gavin watching him.  He climbed up on the dressing, put his legs around him, holding his hands, and singing him a song.  It was so funny and sweet.  Gavin said to me, "You told me to watch him and this is how I thought I should."  Such a smart boy...

 Gavin and Griffin had TONS of energy one day and I read it was warm out.  So we buddled up and headed outside.  Garrett was nice and comfy in his stroller.  It was a little bit colder than I thought but the older boys got some really needed energy worn off.   

Since we didn't really have a winter, the boys are really ready for Spring to come any day now.

Valentine's Day

This picture just makes me laugh.  Gavin was not thrilled about me taking his picture and Griffin was all about it.  Gavin's Kindergarten class is working on the letter E this week and last so they have been talking about elegant.  Mrs. H. decided to have an elegant dinner for their Valentine's Day where the boys escort the ladies to their classes and chair along with practicing good manners and other such like things.  The kids had to dress up so Gavin wore his Sunday best!!  He was so excited, although you truly can't tell from the picture.  And guess who he got to escort to all the classrooms and table, yep you are right, Courtney (his girlfriend)  Courtney works at the school in the morning for the senior class program and he was the lucky enough to get her.  Gavin was absolutely thrilled (she was just as thrilled)and he grinned ear to ear.  I have a picture, but it is on my phone and until someone teaches me how to get it off of there, so you will have to wait to see it.  Although Gavin broke his tie within 15 minutes of being in school, he still looked super great for his Elegant Valentine's Dinner in Kindergarten. P.S. Don't you think the boots make the outfit.  LOL!!  You can't go off the payment at school until you have boots on even if there is the smallest amount of snow on the ground.  Hence the reason for the boots. 
Griffin had a Valentine's party too at his school.  He told me he got 1,000 Valentines'.  He couldn't wait to get to Papa Old Tractor's house to show him all 1,000 of them.  Super cute. 

80th Birthday Party

We had a 80th birthday party for Kerry's step Grandma on Saturday.  A good friend of Kerry's brother is an awesome photographer and he snapped several pictures while we were there.  I love love this picture of Kerry.  Man is he handsome or what....  He has a dimple on his cheek just like Garrett.  You can also see his blue eyes just like the three boys have.  I just fall in love with him more everyday. 

 Kerry won't get in the picture but I think this is a pretty good picture of Mommy and the three boys.

 Look at that adorable face and pretty blue eyes.  He got passed around quite a bit but he didn't mind.  He just hung out.  Garrett is really starting to look just like the other two, they are all so stinkin cute, just like their daddy.

Clean Finger Painting

I found a pretty cool activity the other day on pinterest for finger painting without the mess.  Sunday evening I thought I would try it out.  I told the boys that we would be finger painting, as you can see they rolled up their sleeves and was ready to get dirty.  It was a little late in the evening so I told them we are going to do the "clean" version today.  Here is how you do it:  You take a white piece of paper and tape it to the table.  Then you take a zip lock bag and place two primary paint colors in it.  Next, take all the air out of the bag, zip it together, and tape the bag to the table.  Last, let the boys have at it.  I think they would have liked the real finger painting but this was good enough for a Sunday evening. 

 They did learn when you combine two primary colors together that they make a new color.  They thought that was pretty neat.  Of course, Gavin has to do a silly pose.  Love that boy....

 About a month ago, I got tired of my refrigerator being swarm by all the boys' art work and then having to take it down or it would fall down.  Don't get me wrong I love their projects that they do but it can really consume a space rather quickly.  One of my good friends made these boards for her boys so I decided to make them for my boys.  They are magnetic dry erase boards so you can write on them as well and post all their art work.  I bought their letters for their names at Hobby Lobby, they painted them, and then I put magnets on the back of them except for Garrett's name was painted by Griffy.  I call it their "wall of fame" and they love it.  I also put words on Gavin's wall of fame so that he can practice his sight words for reading.  I will also put on there if either of them have something coming up that I need to remember.  I love love love these boards and it gives the boys somewhere that is theirs that they can showcase whatever they want and they are proud.  Every month we clear it out and put what we had up there in a keep safe box and then we wait for the next artwork.  It gave great color and flavor to the a very dull wall. 

Griffin & Garrett

Griffin is big into holding Garrett and talking his picture while he is holding him.  So yesterday was no exception, Griffin asked if he could hold him and then asked for me to get the camera.  LOL!!!

Courtney's Senior Night

Courtney's (Gavin girlfriend) had her senior night this past week.  We have been planning to do something for her as a surprise for a while.  Little did I know that I would get extremely sick two days right before her big night.  It was NOT ideal conditions for me to go but the boys were so excited and wanted to be there for her big night so we went.  Most of all of the daycare kids were there for her on her, I just couldn't let the boys or myself miss it.  I met the Curls there.  Jeff loves babies especially his Godson.  They chilled for a while.

Here is the crew.....all sitting except Ellie isn't in the picture. 

Our big surprise to her was shirts that said, "I heart #15" on the front of them.  Our loving daycare provider, Tracy, got an awesome picture with them. 

 On the back it said, "Somers 'Fan'nies"...  Don't you just love love love it....  Gavin obviously thought he was suppose to turn around.  Our boys are definitely the ornery ones of the bunch.  I wonder where they get that from.

 And then the shinning star.... Courtney and the gang....

 Courtney and her boys....  I love her smile....

Again they were ready to run the gym and not take any more pictures.  I just wish I had half of their energy.  We have been to several games of Courtney this year and we truly love watching her play.  We wish her and the PC ladies the best of luck next week during regional. 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Early in January I made my own powder detergent and I would say I really like it.  Even though Kerry does most of the laundry in our home, when I do do the laundry I like it.  It cost me $17.44 and should last me over six months.  Here are the ingredients:

1- 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

1- 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle

1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

3 bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent isle

2 small containers of oxyclean or store brand oxyclean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.

I found the recipe off of someone on Pinterest and they had a cute huge container to put it in but ours just sits in a bucket.  Something worth trying and it will save you money.  The "hard" part about is shredding the Fels-naptha soap which isn't hard at all just time consuming.  I shredded mine with a cheese grader.  Hope you try and enjoy.