Let The Races Begin!

It's that time of year...time for the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby. I had no idea that it was such a big deal (mostly to the dads) and taken so seriously (mostly by the dads). Since Cub Scouts is "Brian's thing" with the boys, I let him be the one to put in the effort to make the cars (with minimal help from the boys). We figured this was our "practice" year, since we were novices.

Here is what we learned: start making the car well before 4 days prior to the race (the neighbors don't really appreciate us using the table saw at 9pm on a week night), use weights for speed (Garrett's car without weights came in dead last), let the boys decorate their own cars (they need to be able to do something to contribute), and don't expect the babies to sit happily in a stroller for 4 hours and be entertained watching the cars. Live and learn.

I would say this year was successful for Brian- I mean, Blake. He won a Bronze Medal for coming in third overall in his den, won an award for "Best Themed Car" (Cub Scouts theme), for which he can take full credit, and even won some movie tickets in a drawing. The good news is that while Garrett didn't fare as well (although he did win the award for "Best Use of Flames"), Brian now has some experience under his belt and next year is sure raise the bar for competition.

Let the best man- I mean boy- win!

Run, Run Just As Fast As You Can

Blake has found a new passion for running. Actually, sprinting is a more accurate description. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since the biggest motivation to get him out the door in the mornings is to get school 20 minutes early so he has time to run laps around the field. Some days he even runs a mile before school starts. And he's racked up over 35 cumulative miles now. Blake has always been a child who needs a physical outlet for his thoughts and feelings and running seems to fulfill that perfectly (for now).

So while he's decided to forgo baseball, soccer, tennis and any other after-school sport because he's too drained from learning all day (who can argue with that?), I had been growing a little concerned that by not playing an organized sport he might be forfeiting his future opportunities to play competitively. THEN he ran a 5K charity run and he's discovered he LOVES running...competitively. He's already asked me when the next one is and informed me that he wants to run a marathon.

And while I'm glad that we can help guide his new found passion for running, he is too young to be doing it on his own...which means Brian and I will be lacing up our running shoes and trying to keep up on the weekends. I have no doubt that Blake will someday run a marathon if that's what he chooses to put his mind to. In the mean time, I am sure he will get the rest of us in better shape as we run laps around the park, lake or wherever (as if the challenge of keeping up with two 30+lb toddlers wasn't enough!). Now if I could just get all my kids to run in the same direction....

Big and BIGGER

One

little

girl

with

a

BIG

personality


and

one

little

boy

with

an

even

BIGGER

smile.

Once Upon A Time...

Life with Aunt Nee Nee is never dull. There's the castle she built...out of popsicle sticks.

It's still a work in progress, but apparently she would do anything for her nephews who requested it. And now we can add it to our collection of other popsicle stick models by Renee- the pirate ship and the race car.

That's when she wasn't being the teacher, adventurer, builder, scrapbook artist, gamer, biologist, chef and play mate. And surprise guest reader. Renee surprised Garrett and Blake by being the guest reader in each of their classes.

Renee reading Giraffes Can't Dance for Garrett's class

and Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs for Blake's class.

The boys tried to play it off as if they knew (like how they know everything), but the stunned looks on their faces, blushing and constant and proud smiles gave them away. Unfortunately...I wasn't able to capture that on camera (note to self: check camera settings before trying to capture a memorable moment).

And they learned happily ever after...

Garrett and the Grinch

This one really amazed me.

I still haven't decided if Garrett really captured the Grinch or if the Grinch embodies Garrett... Either way, pretty impressive for a five year old.

The Wilcox Bowl

Who wants to sit and watch "bowl" games all New Year's Day, when you can actually play them? For the past several years we've made it our family tradition to go bowling on New Years. It's something we all look forward to all year long (at $40 a game- not including the twins- it is sure to remain a novelty) and it's a fun and memorable way to start the new year. Here are some fun pictures of my super-bowlers.

You can't really go wrong with a guide and bumpers...maybe next year we can convince the boys to try it without the guide.

But for now they like their sure-fire knock downs. Blake's victory face.


It was Garrett's idea to play boys against girls (and he got to be on the girls' team). Smart boy...the girls (me and Renee) won by a long shot. Here's Renee in perfect form.

Our own personal cheering section. Chella got to run around about halfway through (another perk of New Year's Day bowling- we have the place to ourselves in the morning) and especially enjoyed the glow in the dark arcade.

Stay tuned for the Wilcox bowl '11.

Our Twelve Days (or so) of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true loves gave to me...

TWELVE Christmas cookies (happily eaten by Santa...see #4)
ELEVEN cups of Via (my new favorite craving)
TEN days off school
NINE (or more) tournaments of Boggle- our new obsession
EIGHT toys for donating
SEVEN thousand more Legos (because we didn't already have enough...)
SIX new vocabulary words (including the cutest little "cook-y pees" you've ever heard)
FIVE (grand)parents visiting
FOUR extra pounds
THREE rounds of colds (and trips to the doctor)
TWO weeks+ of help and fun projects with Aunt Nee Nee
and...

A sparkly ring from a very proud five year old

(Next time I need to remember to take the picture before it rusts, breaks and scabs my finger...but the real gift was seeing how much heart Garrett put into shopping and how excited he was to give it to me).

Here's wishing you a happy, healthy and sparkly 2010!

Garrett 10 Months Post Surgery Update

We have good news and okay news. First the good news. Part of Garrett's recent round of testing included a VCUG to study his reflux (see "Have You Seen This?" for definition) and a urodynamic study which measured the pressure exerted by his bladder when he "goes" to make sure that was not contributing to his reflux. So, the good news: his bladder is normal. Phew! One less complicating factor in an unlucky streak of being in the <2% population. One other note of good news: Garrett does not have hydronephrosis, as I had originally thought. Apparently there is a difference between his kidney being saturated in urine (caused by his reflux) and his kidney being swollen and/or impaired drainage (which he does not have).

Which brings me to the okay news (I dare not say "bad" news, as it could definitely be worse). Garrett still has unilateral grade II reflux on his left side. This means his urine is still backing up to his kidney but is not applying high-grade pressure on his kidney (as it did with grade IV). This is still unusual following the type of surgery he had (ureteral reimplantation) and still not ideal, but, like I said, it could be worse.

His doctor felt that the best course of action at this point is no action. Garrett will go off prophylaxis (antibiotic) and we will "wait and see". The hope is that he doesn't develop any UTI's or kidney infections (which we will check for periodically) and we will reassess his kidney function and reflux in nine months. At that point we should have a better idea as to whether his kidney will either show further atrophy or potential for growth, which will determine what steps we take next. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the mean time, Garrett is happy (but I'm happier) to not have to worry anymore about taking his morning medicine. And he's especially happy about not having to be catheterized again for a "long time" (hopefully). And we can all sleep a little easier knowing that while we don't have all the answers we have a few less questions. We will keep you posted with updates.

Happy Birthday, Blake!

Seven years...how fast time flies. We remember the anticipation and excitement of Blake's arrival, our first born. We knew there would be diapers to change (and, yes, we took classes on how to do that), lots of feedings and plenty of crying. We read the books, learned infant cpr, and had all the modern conveniences for babies. We were set. We were trained in the science of parenting...but not the art. Like most parents, we quickly learned that parenting is always evolving and takes years of practice. And since Blake is our first born, well, he gets most of that practice. While we always have the best intentions, we have made plenty of mistakes (and learned from them), but Blake loves us anyway. We are truly blessed.

Blake was born an old soul and still is today. He prefers spending time outside, kicking around a soccer ball or hiking, enjoying the outdoors and just...contemplating. He's quiet (usually), kind (usually), exceptionally hard working, a good student and is the best big brother anyone could have. There is SO much for which to be proud and thankful. Happy Birthday, Blake! We love you!

A Week to Remember

After months of planning and weeks of excitement the "big boys" (Blake & Garrett), Brian and Renee (Brian's sister) made their way to the Arizona desert for a few days of visiting and some good old-fashioned camping.

The first stop was spending time in Phoenix and getting up close and personal with some amazing animals at a raptor rescue and rehabilitation center, thanks to "Aunt Nee Nee".

Barn owls

The boys getting to face to face with a Great Horned Owl


A Red Tail Hawk

Burrowing Owls

A Spotted Owl (currently on the 'Threatened' list)

After some time in the city, they headed off to their camping site at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. This particular park offers log cabins at the campsites (ideal in 25 degree weather) complete with electricity and beds. And while they didn't "rough it" in tents, the plumbing was across they way, so...still camping in my book.


One of the many highlights was getting to THE meteor crater. Come to find out, it's pretty spectacular. A crater two miles in radius, more than 500 ft deep and solid iron fragments weighing 1400+ lbs is pretty impressive. That, and the fact that it came from outer space.


Not too far from camp was the Montezuma Castle National Monument. These are the cliff homes of the Sinagua that were built right into the mountainside and required ladders to enter. It's amazing that what seems like archaic times still has people of modern day mystified. Apparently, we're smarter than we look.

There was plenty to do around camp too. There was hiking. A LOT of hiking.


And fishing. But not as much fishing as hiking...and even less fish.

THE fish.

There were trees to climb, a soccer ball to kick around, Legos to play with (yes...Garrett's obsession didn't stop just because he was away from home), meeting real cowboys, making man-made fossils, putting walkie talkies to good use

and learning the fine art of whittling. Blake earned his first big boy pocket knife and spent much of the time whittling a long stick which he ultimately decided was the perfect walking stick.
SO Blake.

And my little geologist didn't miss the opportunity to find a heart-shaped rock which was my prized souvenir.

The grand finale was passing the test and being sworn in as Junior Rangers.

Like I said, a week to remember. The bar was set pretty high on this one and somehow I think camping out in the back yard just isn't going to cut it in the future. As for the twins, well they are guaranteed an unforgettable guided tour of the Arizona desert....in about four years!