This is me

when I was about 15. Notice my AWESOME Cure shirt. I wonder what happened to that shirt - I think I wore it constantly for my whole high school career.

The other day Xander and I went to Zia Records. As soon as I walked in and smelled the incense a wave of nostalgia hit me. My favorite thing to do when I was in junior high and high school was go to a record store. Zias and Stinkweeds were favorites. I also loved Shirt and Things (I'm pretty sure that's where I got that Cure shirt).

I went to my first concert (The Throwing Muses & New Order) when I was 13. What was my mom thinking??? To her credit, my older cousin Kevin took us and was in charge of us. (hey mom remember when you took Heidi and I to see Oingo Boingo at the State Fair - I have so much love for you for doing that). I have loved music as long as I can remember. And I love all types and kinds of music: The Beatles, The Cure, The Smiths, The Killers and I even like George Strait, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake. I don't limit myself to liking one sort of music.

The other day a friend and I were having a conversation and I told her when I am sad or bad thoughts come in my head, I sing a little song. Usually it's "I am a Child of God". It works every time.

Here are my top 5 favorite albums (right now) (in no particular order):

The Killers: Sam's Town

The Format: Interventions and Lullabies

The Cure: Head on the Door

Motion City Soundtrack: Even if it Kills Me

Jimmy Eat World: Chase this Light

Coldplay: A Rush of Blood to the Head

I guess I can't keep it at 5 :). It warms my heart that Xander is really getting into music. We don't like all the same bands, but at least we have similar tastes. Good music makes me so happy.

P.S. Those glasses aren't real - I just really wanted glasses

P.P.S. Doesn't Ben look like me?

Yes, I realize I have 3 other kids too

While we are on the subject of Max...did you know that he is double jointed? It's bizarre. Check out his leg in this picture. Scary, huh? He can also bend his fingers at freakish angles. He loves to do it to gross me out.

Other Max facts:

-He has an unusually high threshold for pain. One time Ian was out playing football with the boys and Max fell HARD on the asphalt. He got right up and was mad he missed the ball. He ended up with scabs on both knees but didn't cry or complain even once. Nevermind the time he bit his tongue almost in half and cried for about 5 minutes total. The doctors were impressed.

-His nickname should be Pigpen. Seriously. There is so much dirt on that boy every single day. Even on Sundays he manages to get dirty. I scrub his knees, ankles, feet and elbows regularly because if he does it they stay dirty.

-While he is unusually tough, he is also super sensitive. You can punch him and he won't blink, but call him a nerd and he crumbles like a bad souffle.

-He loves babies and toddlers. He'll be a great dad someday.

-Max is obsessed with numbers. He loves to add and subtract dates and different numbers.

-He is shy until he gets to know you. I recently had a conference with his teacher and she was excited because she finally had a conversation with Max. I told her that means he's finally decided he likes her :)

-He has the best sense of humor. He is the wittiest kid in the family.

Max is such an interesting kid. I love being his mom.

Ice Cream

Ben and I love ice cream cones. Last Saturday when we were looking for shoes Ben wanted to stop for an ice cream. I got Ben and Max a cone, thinking there was no way Max would finish his and then I could eat it. It was a good, solid plan. Max has never once in his life finished his ice cream cone. Wouldn't you know that Max decided that this was the day he was going to finish it. He kept saying, "I am going to eat this whole cone, even if it takes until tomorrow." DANG IT! I wanted some ice-cream!

Also, Max is the slowest eater. It took him over 15 minutes to eat the cone. I'm not kidding. Finally Ben and I got cold and went in the store and watched him eat the cone outside. It sounds mean, but we were making faces at Max, having a good time.

This might sound weird, but it reminded me what awesome boys I have. They can make the most mundane tasks fun.

shoes

Last Saturday Ben and Max needed shoes. Desperately. I always try not to enforce my shoe opinion on the boys but I was really hoping they'd go for some Converse or Vans. Or any kind of awesome looking skate shoe. But Nikes were on the brain that day. Did you know Nike makes a pretty cool skate looking shoe? The boys weren't impressed.

Ben found his Nikes in the men section. My baby wears MENS SIZES! It kinda depressed me. Max found some he liked but they cost wayyy too much. So we went to another store.

He narrowed it down to two choices.

He studied each carefully.

Pointed out flaws and features of each.
He sat and studied those shoes for a good 15 minutes. Ben and I were really patient. He finally made a decision (HALLELUJAH!).

He had a blast showing them off to grandma, Kimmy, Joe and Uncle Sean. I'm just happy he's wearing shoes.

p.s. excuse the blurry pictures - I took them with my phone.

Phoenix Children's Museum

On Thursday, despite me being deathly ill (or maybe I just had a cold), I went with Evan on his preschool fieldtrip to the Phoenix Children's Museum. When we got there we saw this HUMUNGOUS structure that looked like a giant tree with airplanes and spaceships attached. It was for each child's (and parents) climbing pleasure.

We climbed. And climbed. Thank goodness Rowan got there because I was getting really sweaty. In a bad, smelly way.

Ruby was grumpy at first (notice the dirty look), but she quickly warmed up.

So sad that this picture is blurry. Dang you, camera!


The kids got to ride tricycles and go there a "car wash".

My favorite was the noodle area. We went back and forth through there more than a few times!

There was a nice quiet area to read books and relax. Evan stayed there a whole 2 minutes.

Ro and Evan served "ice cream" at the ice cream stand for quite a while. Ruby was their first customer.

Evan's favorite part was grocery shopping, checking out and making food (all pretend of course).

We were in there for a good hour.

I loved all of the recycled art and decorations. I need to take Ian. He'd love it. You can't tell from the picture, but some of the art and light fixtures were made out of forks and spoons.
Evan had so much fun. We were there for over 3 hours and the time flew by! A friend at work told me that the first Friday of every month from 6-10 is free. I think we'll be going back with all of the boys.

I love my sister

Sometimes I am sad and feeling sorry for myself and feel like nobody loves me in the world. Then I remember I have a sister.

Who has loved me my whole life and who understands me in a way that no one else does. Plus, isn't it a rule somewhere that you have to love your sister?

We have so much fun together. Sometimes just doing nothing.
Also, I love it that she laughs at all of my jokes - no matter how inappropriate or lame. And that she likes to do puzzles with me. And will gladly make a fool of herself with me doing Just Dance. She's awesome.

I love you so much Kim!

I heart legos

The mess doesn't bother me. because Evan played in his room for 2 hours.

TWO HOURS, PEOPLE!!!!

I am so in love with legos.

B-ball

First let me say that these pictures should've turned out better. I blame my camera.

Anyhow, last Saturday Ben, Max and I went to see Liam and Christian play basketball. I love those boys as much as I love my own nephews. In fact, I love all of Jason & Tiffany's kids like that. Maybe it has to do with knowing them their whole lives, but really, they are all pretty awesome.

First we went to Liam's game. That boy has got some major hussle.


His shoe kept coming untied. One of Tiffany's friends jokingly yelled, "Whose kid is that anyway?" It didn't bother Liam. He'd just sit down and tie his shoe.

After the game, Liam came over for a little while. He is such an entertaining kid. I love to listen to him and Max talk and plot.

Then we drove out to Glendale to see one of Christian's game. Christian plays on a club team. His game was fast paced and so fun to watch. Max and Ben were mesmerized. Although Ben was a little occupied with all of the African American kids playing. At one point he exclaimed, "Black kids are AWESOME!" I thought for sure we were going to get beat up. There was a kid on Christian's team named Jordan, who also happened to be black. Ben said, "Is that the luckiest kid or what? He's black and named after Michael Jordan!" The boy's parents were right behind us.

Christian was awesome! He looked so intense and focused.

On the way home, both of my boys were saying how much they want to go see Liam and Christian play again. And then Max said, "Our car isn't as fun without Liam in it." It's true. That kid had us laughing the whole ride over.

We did stop at the Cerreta's chocolate factory on the way back. I love their milk chocolate armaretto chocolates. Mmmm...

When we got home the boys' immediately started playing basketball. After hearing about the games, Xander and Ian want to go next time.

And now the boys want me to sign them up to play basketball (except that Max only wants me to sign him up if he knows the coach...another story for another time).

We had a great day!