The flying man and his wife....

Every night when we tuck our kids into bed Jason does what we as a family call the "ni-night train".  After stories have been read I give a train whistle and Daddy comes up stairs to load his passengers.  Last night was probably one of the funniest times ever.  So the story goes.. 

Each of our boys has a cross or two in their bedrooms, strategically placed next to the door. We're not overly religious,  I just believe that it's someone to watch over them and keep them safe as they sleep.  Jack has his Sugga's cross and a small blue cross he received at his baptism from his Great Grams.  Brady has a cross from his Great Grams and a symbol of The Virgin Mary that was in his Dad's room as a child.  I had thought we've addressed who they were and what they were.  I even have a children's bible that we read - after last night I'm guessing it didn't get through to my sweet little Brady!  

As Jason tucks Brady in he always wants to touch something, like the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling or the fire truck mobile hanging up - something.  Last night he asked Jason if he could touch the flying man.  It took Jason a second to figure out who and what he was talking about, but because Brady was reaching to the door he quickly figured it out.  Jason said "that's not a flying man, that's Jesus on the cross"  and of course Brady says "why is he naked?"  So without laughing Jason tells him he's dressed and then tries to quickly change the subject.  I go in to do my part and Brady says - I like Jesus, he doesn't have any clothes on and he's next to his wife!  Oh man.. we need to take these kids to church sometime!  I explain that Jesus is dressed and that Mary is his mother.. I'm pretty sure he's confused and has more questions but I leave it with the fact that they are there to watch over him and keep him safe at night.  I always just assumed that he knew it was Jesus, I didn't have the heart to tell him he died  on the cross for us.  I think that would have confused the poor kid even more!  Christmas Eve Mass could be really interesting with that great big naked flying man at the front of the church.  Oh lord, please let Brady keep his thoughts to himself.  Please let it be a secret that we are truly (every other year) Christmas Eve Catholics, and don't let him know that we haven't even baptised him yet.  Maybe I'll bring a pocket full of candy just to keep him quiet!  You never know what he's going to say!

He's recently started talking about girls hips.. again it took us a while and then he pointed to his chest and said "I have small hips, not like Mommy - hers are big"  Oh man.   Where does he get this stuff?!  To all the ladies out there.. I apologize in advance if my son talks to you about your "Hips" - he's a funny little Bird.  

On another note:  The tooth fairy visited last night and brought $1.40.  Big ol' sucker - that's what he is!  He just couldn't leave it at $1.  We got a wake up call at 2:30am from a very excited 6 year old.  He was giggling nervously and running back and forth from our room to his.  We finally told him to get in our bed and go to sleep.  He's been asking when and what he gets to buy with that money all morning long.  So cute!  Last night he asked me if his kiss felt different without his tooth.  Aww.... so sweet.  I'm not ready for a change, I hope I can handle it.  He really is a Big Brother.  His hands will not stay away from it!  Ewww... I hope that changes before he goes back to a Kindergarten classroom... imagine the germs!  Ugh.  

Love, Michelle

All I want for Christmas is a new front tooth!

                                 Calling Papa and Sugga to tell them the big news!

Well.. today it happened.  My little boy became a big boy.  He lost his first tooth...  Oh my goodness!  His looks are going to completely change!  He was playing Legos with Daddy at the new Lego table that they built today, and all of a sudden he pulled it out!  He came running in and yelled  "I just pulled out my tooth!"  I am shocked, he has been working on that sucker for weeks!  Of course he had to call Papa and tell him, he could not stop talking about it and wanted to call over and over again.  Mommy and Daddy are both a little teary eyed.... he is going to change so much now!  Good thing I got those nice expensive pictures this spring to capture his babyhood!  What a big day for us,  we were already a little sappy at the Christmas present he brought home from school.  It's an ornament with his little hand print on it.  We are completely crazy when it comes to these guys... our poor little girl.  The only girl and the baby!  Needless to say our kids are not hurting for love and attention.  

Jack got a new little tooth holder in his advent calender last week and will be using that tonight.  I wonder how much the tooth fairy pays these days.. we're a bit cheap - so I'm guessing not more than a dollar.  I mean a dollar would be an enormous payout - right?!  

Time to get ready in case the power goes out.. it's blinked 2 x's.. oh man!  It's too cold for an outage right now!  

Have a happy and warm evening 

Love, The Muths -   

Where is your Mother?!

A few days ago I sent my  boys up to their rooms for rest time.  Now keep in mind that Brady is really good at this time, he enjoys a little time by himself, keeps quiet and plays really nicely.  With the exception of this day.... I was downstairs doing dishes and such when he comes to the top of the stairs and says "Mommy, my soccer necklace caught a little fire and I had to throw part of it away"  Hmmm.. that's weird, how does a necklace catch fire in a 4 year olds room one might ask?  I haul my pregnant self upstairs to evaluate the situation and here is what I find - Brady standing there with this medal he got from school and it appears part of it is missing and has been set on fire?! Before I go any further you should know that I am super big on decorating for the holidays and try to give each boy a special thing in their room, this year it happens to be santa night lights... so cute!  However Brady's regular nightlight has an off and on switch and Santa has a light sensor.. which leads us to this!   

Mommy: How did this happen?

Brady: I was turning my night light off and on.

Mommy: And then what happened?

Brady:  It just broke my necklace and I had to throw it away.

Mommy:  Show me where the other part is.

Brady: In here (takes me to the bathroom garbage and digs it out)

Mommy:  Why is it black?  And how did it break?  (at this point I'm a little freaked out.. what the hell has he been doing?)

Brady: I was just doing this (shows me that he was taking the medal part - the soccer necklace is like a dog tag) and waving it in front of the sensor.  And then he says " it just caught fire"

Mommy:  That is really dangerous and you will not be allowed to have a nightlight if you do that again!  

I go back to my work and later when it's time to tuck him in for bed (hours and hours later!) I notice the nightlight isn't working.  So Jason and I take it out and find black char marks on the outlet and the nightlight!  Holy Moly!!!  

Daddy:  Brady, what did you do?  

Brady: My soccer necklace catched fire...

Daddy: Did you see flames?

Daddy: No, just a little lightning.  

Daddy: Did you get shocked?

Brady:  Just a little up to my pitty.. (that's his armpit!)

Daddy: (trying really hard for Brady not to see him/us laughing)  That is very dangerous, you could get hurt or catch the house on fire!

Brady: (head down)  I know.. it was just a little lightning!  

Daddy:  Don't do that again.

Brady:  I love you Daddy...

We finish tucking him in and then laugh hysterically.. not because this isn't a serious situation but because he really was just curious and he really did see sparks and get shocked but was too scared to tell.  Note to self.. you are never too old for outlet covers in your room!  So we are back to (we were going to be anyway) making sure the outlet covers are plugged!  And poor Santa has been retired.  Maybe next year he can come out to play again!  

This is really one of the many differences between Jack and Brady - Jack ever so cautious with most things in life and really (most times) a true, blue follower of rules, I'm not talking little rules - all major rules in life Jack follows and makes sure we know when we are breaking them!  Brady, not so much!  He walks around with his head in the clouds and pays the price later.  He is a free spirit willing to try and do anything ( I like to say Jack is a mini-me and Brady is a mini-Jason).  No fear, all in, kind of kid!  I have to believe that when they are out in the big world Jack will always be the one keeping him in line and reminding him of the rules,  the question will be whether Brady follows them or not!  Oh.. one can hope can't she?!  

I should get back out there and make sure the Christmas tree is still up and not on fire!  

Love, Michelle (keeper of the boys!)

A few days of snow and a lot of CABIN FEVER!!!

    Brady slowly making his way down the hill

Jack going up the hill for a ride

This past week has been crazy.  We have had a snow shower almost every single day and for 3 days straight school was cancelled.  Since my boys go to a private preschool they have decided to shut down for the rest of the year... this means an extra week of Christmas break, last Friday I was just telling the mommies at school how much I was looking forward to Christmas break... careful what you wish for!!  I feel bad for the boys because this means that they didn't get to bring home any Christmas decorations or presents that they have worked hard on for us.  Jack's class does a holiday workshop with the parents - what a bummer to miss out on this.  It's a morning of crafts, eating cookies and drinking cocoa one on one with Mommy and Daddy.  So sad, the school puts a ton of thought into it and works hard to make it really special.  Maybe they will reschedule for after the new year.  

With all the snow came really, really cold temps that made it super icy too.. so Mommy has been in the house since Saturday.. oh man!  Lucky for us we live in a neighborhood with tons of kids and a pretty good sledding hill.. don't think this doesn't send me into anxiety mode!  Of course Jason is the one out there most of the time and of course Jack is wearing his ski helmet.  Brady isn't on the fast track yet..  I was close to making him wear his bike helmet but Jason told me no.  Still I walk outside every few minutes to make sure everyone  is still in tact!  Our hill has been the hotspot for days, from teens to small kids we have had someone sledding nonstop all day everyday.  And at night it turns into some kind of grown up winter wonderland with snowmobiles and Atv's.. you would think we lived in Maine or something!  It's for sure when it comes to snow, we are all a bunch of little kids!  

Here are some pics of the last few days - hope you are all staying warm and cozy!  We have been - today is our first day to venture out!  What fun!!  

With Love, The Muths

A really Yuppy Christmas... This is a long one.. maybe you should get a drink!

This past weekend the 4 of us went to Sunriver for the night, we had decided that on our way home we would find a fun Christmas tree farm and get one.  That meant bringing it all the way home from Central Oregon - a good couple hour drive.  Usually not the way we do it - but we thought it would be a fun experience as a family!  While in Sunriver Jason logged onto his laptop to scout out our destination.. much to our surprise there really weren't any U-Cut farms near by..  this was disappointing considering the fact that there are several within a 2 mile radius of our home!  But he kept searching and finally found some outside of Eugene.. this means that we are going home through LaPine and making a full circle back to Salem - Great!  What fun!   Early Sunday morning we load up the kids and the dog for our Christmas tree hunt.  Keep in mind that I suggested we bring boots and Jason thought this would be silly... you can see where I'm going with this - right? After all we do live in the Great Northwest - the cold and usually pretty rainy Northwest - yep that's the one!  As we are driving the highway (I don't even know where we were!) the skies are pretty dark, no rain really.. until we hit just on the other side of our destination.  Then it starts to rain and I think to myself "hmmm... we don't have any boots, and I have a wool peacoat and white puffy vest"  What is a girl supposed to do?  My clothing is limited people - I am seven months pregnant!  Coats are a little tight around here!  But I make do - I haven't found the need to purchase a maternity coat - that would be insane.  I mean really why would I need a coat?  I'm not outside that much!  But as we get closer it occurs to me - I wish I had a maternity rain coat!!!  Or Just a sensible coat.. of any sort.  Not a stark white puffy vest and peacoat!  But I hold my head up high and think this is still going to be fun.  It isn't raining that hard and as I'm thinking somewhat happy thoughts I realize I have on White (yep, stark white again!) Nike Shox.. not really meant for muddy Christmas tree farms.. and the boys are wearing Nikes and leather Pumas... we really aren't that way.. we were just really ill prepared on this day.  So let me paint the picture for you.  I am wearing a pair of white Nikes, black velour sweats with my very white puffy vest, the boys are wearing nice jeans, brand new winter coats, leather pumas and Nikes... Jason has on some Nikes and a pretty nice jacket from REI.. none of which belong down on the Christmas tree farm.  I start to panic a bit as I realize we look ridiculous - I mean absolutely out of place!  Did we just stroll in from So Cal for our tree or what?  I was really only missing some big sunglasses and that would have completed the picture!  To make matters worse it's cold so Jason buys us each a latte to carry around the U-cut farm.. Oh man.  Do we stand out or what?!  We load on the tractor and head out to the farm to pick our tree.  We get to the field - complete mud pit and I start to get off the tractor when the young college helper says "those are some really sweet shoes, you should stay and I'll help your husband"  Of course I take him up on it, because how could I carry my umbrella and latte while helping with a Christmas tree?!  The boys all truck out in the mud - Jack not such a big fan.. Brady a huge fan!  Running through the trees yelling "I love to get muddy!"  And Jason latte in one hand, saw in the other, to pick out our family tree.  I did give my input, they could hear me yelling yes or no.. and when the final decision was made, Jason put down his latte and started cutting (he was completely waiting for the guy to offer up help - didn't happen!) if you know Jason at all it's pretty funny - because while he doesn't mind doing that kind of thing - he would rather not!   So here are our family pics of the Christmas tree farm.. Enjoy!  Now that it's over and done - all shoes are clean and coats are washed - it was a really fun experience as a family and a trip to the tree farm I will never forget! 

Love, The Muths

1 little, 2 little, 3 little, 4 little indians...

Brady, Luke, Kheller and Jack.. performing "The Brave Little Indian"

Jack gets a little stage fright.. he did however read the whole book in front of everyone. 

Thanksgiving was great!  We had tons of food and people, it made for a very fun and entertaining day.  We finally got to meet Miss Kylee Jo Wilson (Tom and Stacie's little princess) and I have to say Brady is in love with that baby.  I can't imagine how he will feel when his sister arrives... who by the way has been officially named Olivia Ryan Muth.  Nope, that's not going to change it's set in stone!  For those of you who don't know Ryan is my Dad's mother's maiden name - so there you have it.. she has a name!  It was a long day for a big, fat pregnant girl like myself but well worth it.  On Friday Jason and I did a wine tour with some friends - no I wasn't enjoying the yummy Pinot Noir of the Willamette Valley, I was driving.  But I did eat some good cheese and chocolate (Esther I know you would have appreciated the really good cheeses - wine too)!

Saturday was a very interesting day and not at all how I planned, we had a major toilet flood in our guest bath - Gross - I know!  But it is what it is.. the day ended well with a great win by the Oregon Ducks over the Beavers - Sorry Uncle Mike.. Jack is totally waiting for his payout!  As Jack says.. Ducks rule, Beavers Drool!   

Now it's time to start the Christmas season.. whew.. the holidays are flying by, Enjoy!

Love, The Muths