Showers and Farts

Pin It Now!
Shiloh's conversation with Elijah (7-year-old) last night . . .

Shiloh: It really bothers me when u don't obey me and instead argue with me.

Elijah: It really bothers me that I have to take a shower 3 days in a row.

And in the car tonight I had a 10-minute conversation with Elijah about how much he farts in class. Almost every day. And it's loud. And the kids laugh and the teacher tells them not to laugh. Because it is natural and everyone does it. And how (according to Elijah) it earns him 1000 popularity points. And the conversation wrapped up with Elijah saying something along the lines of, "I just have some special abilities when it comes to farting."

Boys.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Best Basketball Program in the Bay Area

Pin It Now!

If you have read my blog for a while you know that my son loves basketball. It's his thing. During the school year he goes to a weekly class through Triple Threat Academy. He's also been to several of their camps. I blogged about their camps last spring.

We are not a do-a-million-activities family so basketball is his main dealio. We are so thankful to have found a great program in Triple Threat Academy. They offer all sorts of classes and camps for various ages and various locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. This might sound like an advertisement . . . it kind of is. Except I am not getting paid for it. It's just sometimes when you find a good thing, you want to share the love.

So if you live in the Bay Area and have a kid who is interested in hoops - check out Triple Threat Academy!

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

NBA All-Star Weekend Preparations

Pin It Now! I'm always happy when I can make a fellow mom feel better about herself . . .

This past weekend was the NBA All-Star Weekend. Elijah was beyond excited when I told him we were going to go to Grandma and Grandpa's so he could watch the game. Two days before the game, I called Elijah to dinner and he asked if he could finish setting up his NBA All-Star stuff after dinner. Huh? This is what I later found. I love him.

The preparations: Handmade All-Star poster, outfit (Michael Jordan jersey, of course) including socks, basketball silly bandz, and his handmade Michael Jordan "Buble Book."

Saturday, the day before the actual game, and the day of his pictures for his YMCA basketball team I found him in the bathroom getting his tattoo work ready for the All-Star weekend.

When Elijah showed up for pictures day with tattoos on his neck and forehead another mom said to me . . ." I was stressed that my son was wearing black socks with his white shoes. Then I saw Elijah and his tattoos and felt much better."

You're welcome.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Elijah is Seven

Pin It Now!
Our oldest son is seven today.

Elijah, I love your sensitive and thoughtful heart.

I love how passionate you are about basketball and sushi and Lara Bars.

I love how social you are and that you would have a playdate every day if you could.

I love your thoughtfulness for those who are poor.

I love how excited you get about gum and tic tacs.

I love how you ask God to have angels surround our house every night when you pray.

I am amazed at how you never get cold even when it is 50 degrees out and you are wearing shorts and a basketball jersey.

I am amazed at how your little body can easily intake a double-double from In N Out burger.

I am amazed at how good you are at math.

I am honored to be your mom and please remember that you have promised that you will always be willing to cuddle with me.

And when you have your birthday party this weekend when we have nine little boys playing video games and eating In N Out Burger and sleeping over, I love how you will keep them all calm and will help them to go to bed at a decent hour.

Oh wait, you're not God. Forget I ever said that.

The rest of you can just pray for me this weekend!

Happy Birthday Elijah!

8 pounds, 15 ounces

First Birthday Party

Two Years Old (first haircut)

Lovin' Switchfoot and singing his heart out at 3 years old.

Four Years Old

On their birthdays we let the kids sleep wherever they want. For his fifth birthday he chose to sleep on the floor of his baby sister's room.

Six Years Old

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

No Fresh Air

Pin It Now!

This is a conversation I recorded 2 years ago, but am just now getting around to bloggin' it. So this was from when Elijah was 4 years old.

Elijah told me he suspected he might have a hearing problem and that we should probably take him to the doctor. It would make complete sense to me seeing as he often "didn't hear" me. When he was explaining why he thought he might have this problem he topped it off with this convincing and totally unrelated evidence:

Elijah:

And if I am under a blanket, I don't have fresh air even if there's cracks.

Mom: You need to tell the doctor about that?

Elijah: Yeah.

No fresh air under the blanket even with cracks? I called 911.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Pin It Now!

Remember this awesome hair?

It's gone now. Elijah wanted to shave it for his "Fun Run" at school. It's hair. It grows back. And it doesn't change his character. If your kid asked you for a shave-a-roo would you comply?






Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Elijah's Hair

Pin It Now!

Elijah's hair has enjoyed many different styles and lengths. He did not have his first haircut until he was two years old. And we have shaved his head more than once (his request).

This is where it is at now. Along with the lunch box I got him on Ebay.

Love the shaggy boy.

P.S. Elijah cut his own bangs yesterday. And he wants his head shaved for Halloween in order to fully embrace the role of the "Last Air Bender." I only have a few more weeks to enjoy this look. Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

First Day of First Grade

Pin It Now!

Elijah started first a few weeks ago. I think it is much harder than kindergarten. For the mom. He in school for almost 6 hours. But I know he will love it and he will grow so much.

He will eat lunch at school out of his Michael Jordan lunch box.

He will come home and question why all the other kids get to eat chips, bars, juice boxes, and junk food every day for lunch.

He will play basketball at recess with the big kids.

He will become a proficient reader.

He might even play boys chase girls.

He will make a lot of memories and friends.

He will have days when he doesn't want to go.

He will talk to the other kids about God.

He will beg to buy the cruddy school lunches and I will allow him to once a month.

He will be missed by his mom.

I love my first grader!

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Sarcastic Parenting - Don't Try It

Pin It Now! The other day Elijah was whining because I turned off the movie he and Lydia were watching because we needed to go somewhere. (One of these days I will post about how evil and awesome and necessary and bad-attitude producing and helpful television is for children.) So I said sarcastically, "Elijah, why don't you whine and cry about it?" So he threw a mini-fit. He threw something and yelled, "AGHHHH!"

So I sent him to his room for a time out for throwing the toy and for losing control and for having a bad attitude. We talked about it later. That's when I realized . . . oops.

He told me that he really thought I meant to to "whine and cry about it" and so that's what he did. So I apologized for my sarcasm and explained to Elijah what sarcasm is. He told me not to do that anymore. I apologized again and agreed.

Later that night I told Shiloh and he laughed really hard and said, "Are you kidding me? You can't use sarcasm on Elijah like that. Now that's bloggable."

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Jesus and Michael Jordan

Pin It Now!

What do Jesus and Michael Jordan have in common? Elijah's affection.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Elmo on the Brain

Pin It Now!

I think Elmo might be the anti-Christ. We have introduced him to 22-month old Jordis and she wakes up in the morning calling for him. When we put on Sesame Street for her she digs it -- so long as Elmo is on the screen. When they put on real life people or another monster . . . "ELMO! ELMO! ELMO!"

Big brother Elijah drew this picture for Jordis.

She loved it.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Courtside Again

Pin It Now!

Once again we got hooked up. Thank you Kim and Tammy for the amazing gift of courtside seats to the Warriors game! And this time the Totally Desperate Mom got to go!

We were that close.

Before the game we needed to get some dinner. We headed for the pizza stand. Elijah said, "Mom we don't need to buy pizza. You can get it for free. We just need to scream really loud."

Bless his heart.

Not too stoked to stop for a picture before the game.

He gave me this shot though.

I think he had a good time.

The only bummer was that mom only got him one treat. Dad usually gives him enough to puke.

We were on TV twice. Check the videos below if you are our true friends and blog bridesmaids. Make sure your sound is turned up for the first video.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Al Caffodio Basketball

Pin It Now!



And here is a video of him in his YMCA basketball league. It killed Elijah that they could not really play defense. When they were on defense they had to stand on the X's and put their hands up. That's it. Let the kids shoot. You can see how this tormented Elijah so he stayed on his X and blocked and stole the ball. Watch his reaction as he takes the ball down the court.

This is his headshot for the NBA.

And here he is doing some cross training.

P.S. What is Al Caffodio? In the town I grew up soccer was a very popular sport. I never played and never knew much about it. All I knew is that if you were really good, you were on Al Caffodio. I am pretty sure that there is no Al Caffodio basketball, but maybe Elijah can change that.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan

Post Office Field Trip

Pin It Now!

Last Friday Elijah's kindergarten class took a field trip to the local post office. I volunteered to go because what's more fun than that place? Maybe DMV, but otherwise there is no place I would rather field trip to with my kid.

The post office is not far from his school. We walked there.

I was responsible for the health and safe return of these four boys. We named our group the "Darth Mario Slam Dunkers."

They were to walk shoulder to shoulder in groups of two . . . as you can see that went over without a hitch.

The kids looked longingly as we passed through the park. "No boys, we're heading to a place where the term 'going postal' originated. Much more fun than the park. Keep moving."

While we waited to go in I explained to my group of boys about anthrax. Kidding, kidding.

The kids were thrilled to be able to sit in the mail truck. Seriously, it was Elijah's favorite part.

Highlight of the trip:

Before the post office lady took the kids into the back workroom she asked them if they knew the rules at the post office. One boy immediately shot up his hand with confidence and passion. When he was called on he said with gusto "No guns allowed!"

The next day we received the letter that Elijah had mailed to us. I loved it.

Not that's true love.

Pin It Now!

Be a Fan