Destination Imagination

Saturday we headed up to Ames, Iowa for the State Finals in Destination Imagination. Carmen Long, Paul, Jett Keller, Jason Cruise (coach), Wynn Keller, Adam and Thomas Cruise did a marvelous job presenting skits and demonstrating a structure they had built. Hopes were very high that they would win and get to go to globals in Knoxville.
Yep. The whole family went this time. This picture is more than a little depressing for me... I guess I'll have to start wearing high heels everyday instead of just Sunday if I'm going to stand by Paul anymore.

They got second place which was totally AWESOME, but I think initially everyone was a little disappointed when the team name was called.
I think as it sunk in everyone was really happy with the great job they had done and they were very happy to show off their cool medals. CONGRATULATIONS GUYS!!!

Easter Boys

So, the problem with a baby is getting the the other three boys to keep looking at the camera while Jude goes everywhere. As you can see, Noah was having the hardest time holding his smile. This was the best we could do.

Paul is looking so big, this reminds me of a senior picture. And to be honest, I think my days of putting him in coordinating outfits are numbered.

Adam looking like a little man, cute as ever.

Noah. Sweet sweet, dramatic Noah.

Jude was looking particularly serious this day. Normally he is all smiles and laughing, but his straight face is pretty adorable too.

Random Stuff

Kendra and Emily found out how difficult it can be to change a diaper. Emily started the job and she had to call in reinforcements. Jude was NOT in the mood!

I know Grandma will hate this picture, but I think it is sooo cute. Jude loves to have someone nap with him. Grandma fits the bill perfectly.

Noah got new "fast shoes" for soccer with the cleats in them. He challenged Alan to race and he accepted. Noah was having a great time off the line, but of course Alan had to surge ahead to beat the 4 year old at the last minute. I wouldn't have expected anything less!

And this is why we don't let the boys have bb guns.

It ain't Colorado, but it was a good time.

We had so much snow this winter that we headed out to Mt. Crescent a couple times last month. It seems a bit of an exaggeration to call it a mountain, but it was perfect for us. All the fun of the bunny slopes in Colorado (where I spend all my time anyway) with a nice 20 minute drive instead of 10 hours. We all had a blast.
Paul and Adam trying to get it all figured out. Paul LOVED snowboarding and got to be crazy good. He was pestering Dave to do the Black Diamond runs. He knew better than to even ask wimpy me!

Adam seemed like a natural right off the bat on a snowboard. The second time we went he wanted to skiing instead. He was absolutely crazy on skis. He went straight down, whizzing by Dave and I. He told us he wants to be an olympic skier. Hmmm. Don't think too many come from Iowa, but dream big little boy!

Dave had heard that boarding was easier than skiing so he wanted to give it a try. After a couple runs down the slops he was dripping sweat and went and traded back in for skis. Can't say that I blame him. But props for giving it a go!

Noah didn't want to ski, but managed to have some fun anyway! Cute boy.

Walking Baby Jude

This is a video of baby Jude walking. He started at 9 months! Too many big brothers to keep up with, I guess. This one was taken after he had practically become a pro. Now he is unstoppable and really only bothers to crawl when he chases Smokey under the bed.

Gotta love the orange socks!

My Kitchen Counter

Ok. I am bizarrely excited about this one. I cleaned off my kitchen junk counter. I mean cleaned it OFF. It was stacked with every 'important' paper from the past three years, at least. Well, it turns out that after three years, very few things are still important. So, hello recycling bin! This may not seem like a significant post, but honestly, this is monumental and must be documented.

In fact. I'm gonna take a picture of it right now.

Destination Imagination Champs!!

Saturday Paul, Adam, and I went to Carroll, IA for the regional competition of DI. They are on a team with four other kids from church; Jet and Wynn Keller, Thomas Cruise and Carmen Long. I can't believe I didn't bring a camera... I always bring a camera.

There were a lot of surprises for the day. There was a mix up with the structure, theirs didn't have a big enough hole in the center. All the props had to fit in our container... they didn't, so we had to lose some. It took way longer to put on the newspaper costumes than expected. The best surprise of the day was that Team DInamite won 1st Place and is headed to STATE!!

They acted out a newspaper story about a soccer game and then did a fishing skit and finished up talking about the winter olympics. Then in the afternoon there was an instant challenge where they had 5 minutes to build something then 2 minutes to present a skit.

It's just awesome because the kids really had to do all the work. They came up with the idea, did the work, did the research and memorized their parts. I am so proud of them and can't wait to go to Ames on April 10th!!