Sage's birthday beach bash!

Well, another birthday under the belt. It's hard to believe our baby is four. Jack and I were just talking about how much easier Sage has been as a toddler than the boys were. It's not that the boys were particularly difficult but boy were they BUSY. With Sage there's been no broken toy of the day, no need for reverse locks on her bedroom door and no worries about her tumbling out her bedroom window. I know this probably means we will be in for it during those dreadful, hormonal teenage years when she'll probably be locking us out of her bedroom as she tries to sneak out her bedroom window but for now, we are enjoying the moment.

Since Sage didn't really have a particular theme she was interested in for her birthday party, I was stuck on my own trying to figure out what to do. A couple weeks ago (in the midst of our unseasonably, dreary spring weather) Sage asked, "When is the sun going to turn on it's light?" We all got a good chuckle but it sparked the idea for a beach themed birthday party! It's no secret the Roddy family loves the beach so this was right up our alley. Even if it meant pumping up the heat and hanging a tanning bed over the dining room table we were doing it. Thankfully the sun "turned on it's light" and the weather was beautiful.

I'm no baker and definitely no cake decorator but I have to say I'm really liking cupcakes. I love that I can test out an idea on a cupcake and if it doesn't turn out there are a couple dozen more I have as backups. I am far (and I mean far) from being a domestic diva but I have to say these cupcakes turned out rather cute! The boys were especially angry that I decided to again have Sage's party while they were away at school so I tried to make up for it by making them some shark cupcakes that were waiting for them when they got home.



No need to worry about blowing germs onto everyone else's piece of cake...just concern that all the candles get blown out!




How cute are these girls!!! They decorated sun visors, played pin the sunglasses on the sun and tested out their their water balloon tossing abilities!





One of my favorite images was watching all the girls gather tightly around Sage with their presents begging her to select their gift to open next. Boy, what a different scene this is compared to the one I use to witness when the boys attended parties at this age. It's bad enough having to listen to all the complaining beforehand about having to give a gift that they would want to always keep for themselves but compound that with the shedding of tears during the opening of presents and a full on tug of war between them and the birthday child over the gift, made for one ugly scene. Thankfully, those days are now a distant memory and a memory we didn't have to revisit with Sage.




Now I better run and start thinking about next year's theme...

16 years and counting...

I remember shortly after Jack and I were married, meeting couples who had been married 3, 4, 5+ years and thinking how long that seemed. The jury was out on if we'd even make it to two but wow, we've made it to 16! I feel this is a pretty amazing accomplishment considering the times we live in and the scarey statistic that says more than half of all marriages fail after the first 10 years. It's no secret that Jack and I were complete opposites when we got married but over the years we've figured out that we are actually more alike than we thought and that we actually make a fantastic team! I feel so lucky to have him as my husband. I can't imagine life without him and tell him often that when the time comes for us to have to leave this life, I better be the first to go.

As most of you know, we hardly ever go out to dinner. I figure we get enough of eating out when we vacation and I just can't stand to spend money on something that I have nothing to show for, with the exception of maybe a bigger belly. Besides I enjoy cooking. Well, Jack received this fat gift card from a colleague at work probably close to a year ago. It was for a restaurant in Seattle called Canlis which I had heard was amazing. Being that the gift card came in a leather pouch, I knew this was one to save for a special occasion. So at 2 p.m. on April 30th (our anniversary), I decided it was time to dust off the gift card and head out on the town. Thankfully the stars were aligned that night and within a few hours we had a babysitter booked and were on our way into Seattle. Oh my gosh, we are hooked. Canlis just beat out Metropolitan Grill for our favorite restaurant. The service and food were amazing. The owner took us on a tour of the place giving us the history behind this three generation hot spot. Hats off to their valet service who had our car waiting for us (and heated) as we walked out the door. They must have some undercover person that texts valet alerting them when you leave your seat. We've had some amazing anniversary dinners but this was definitely one of our more special ones. Now we just need to save up so we can go back! Cheers to many, many more...

Spring Break in Utah!

We always look forward to our annual ski trips to Utah in Feb. and April but this year we came close to missing out on both. Since we did the cruise in February, it only left the April break and with Utah having low snow totals for the year I worried it would be a bust. After reminding myself that I would then be responsible for entertaining the kids during their break here in WA with most likely yucky, rainy weather, I decided I'd be better off gambling on Utah's weather than ours. As things turned out, we timed the vacation perfectly because during the 10 days we were out in UT the mountains received over 80" of fresh powder. Fortunately Jack was able to join us for a week of the time which was great. The boys bailed on ski school this year but proved themselves very quickly. It became very evident that perhaps next year when Sage attempts ski school for the first time that I should consider doing the same. No longer can I keep up with our speed demons...

One of Ty's favorite things to do is ski amongst the trees. I get a bit nervous at times because I can't see him much of the time and worry that if he tumbles in the deep powder or gets stuck, we may not realize he needs help but most every time he'd still beat us down. He's also constantly on the hunt for any bumps or jumps to catch some air on. Connor loves to head straight down the mountain at record speeds with his hands up above his head. Surprisingly, he has complete control and can stop on a dime. A special highlight for me this year was enjoying a date with just Ty on the slopes. Jack had flown back and another batch of fresh snow had arrived that I couldn't refuse to miss. I had hoped to take both boys up but Connor said he wanted to sit this day out and just hang out with Grandma and Sage. Ty, on the other hand was just as eager as me so we headed out. I think I may need to do more of these one on one ski dates with the boys. It was a totally different experience that I'd love to have more frequently.





Of course spending time with my family is a huge reason for these trips. With the exception of Steve who lives in San Jose and couldn't make it out and our nephews Teagen and Chaz (or Chase as we call him ...wink, wink) who were with their mom, we got to see everyone else. It was great that it coincided with Easter/Conference weekend. Poor Paul had to have his gall bladder removed while we were out so he was unable to hit the slopes with us but after some hardcore arm twisting we got Uncle Sean to spend an all expenses paid day away from his office with us. Gary, Kelly and the kids are temporarily staying at my parents house so it was great to have them around the whole time. The cousins all loved waking up and greeting one another. I was so proud of Connor and Tyler for being such good entertainers to Boston and Preston. Ty loved making fun balloon animals and swords for all the kids with his twisty balloon kit that he got for Easter. We were so impressed how he figured it out all on his own. I think he has a career in this... Also the boys were excited to get the other half of their birthday presents from Grandma and Grandpa, these fancy remote control cars. Of course it was up to me to figure out how to get them home safely in my suitcase...






We love Sundance. This year we returned to our favorite sledding spot here. It's not as easy as the place in Midway that tows you up a hill and you glide down at crazy speeds (but they close earlier in the season anyways) but it's far more beautiful and peaceful. You can see that on one of the days, the weather was so beautiful that Ty felt the need to go shirtless. We also brought Grandma along on this day and Ty tried to talk her into sledding. Grandma felt more comfortable taking the 5 foot walking path as her hill... some things never change...






Thanks again mom and dad for being such wonderful hosts! We love you and we'll see you soon!

Oh the drama...from fish to pinewood!

So the other night Jack stands up to go put his dinner plate in the sink when there is suddenly a loud crash. Somehow his plate had slipped out of his hands and nailed the side of Connor's fish bowl which was sitting in the center of our kitchen table. Surprisingly the plate didn't break but within a a couple seconds I notice all the water is out of the fish bowl, pebbles are flying everywhere, and we have a missing fish on our hands. At about this same time, Connor is screaming "my fish, my fish". At first, I was completely confused because from the angle I was staring at the bowl, it appeared to be completely in tact until I noticed the perfect hole on the side. Because Connor's fish is blue and our kitchen table is black, it was hard to find him but luckily he ended up right next to my plate...limp. I quickly grabbed him and tossed him into a cup of water that Jack was preparing. I have to say I'm completely amazed he is still alive considering the shock of both the actual incident and the shock of being placed in a cup of warm water. Still not sure who had the near death experience...the fish, or our sweet Connor. I can say that the amount of water on the table, chairs, and floor seemed far more than what appeared to be in the bowl. Here is Luther in his new home. We decided on smaller quarters this round in the case of another flying plate...



This past Friday marked the boys' first Pinewood Derby. Scouting is something new to us since the boys just barely turned eight but boy were they looking forward to this. Surprisingly, the one person in our house who is not a fan of scouting (I won't mention Jack's name) seemed just as excited as the two 8 year olds. You always hear that Pinewood Derby's are more about the dad's than the kids so we tried not to have that be the case. The boys took their chunks of wood and drew across the side of them what they wanted the profile of their cars to look like and Jack did the cutting. They completely painted them all on their own and Jack did the weights and wheels. Since this was our first year we figured we'd let them design them whatever way they wanted even if they risked picking a design that wasn't considered aerodynamic. Overall, it was a great evening. Ty placed 3rd and Connor came in 4th. There were only 6 boys competing since about half couldn't make it but we were happy with the results. This was definitely not like the days in California where you'd have 40 kids competing in a big stake race (or should I say 40 dads...)! I guess some parents had voiced concern over the stake race because the same "dads" seemed to win each year and it was taking the fun out of it. In the end, we were just happy that our cars made it past the finish line with their wheels still attached. Our Scoutmaster was great and had made separate awards for each of the kids that didn't place in the top 3. Connor ended up getting "sportiest design" which he was thrilled with. Thankfully Connor is a really good sport and wasn't upset that Ty barely beat him out for third. You'll also notice a third, pink car. Jack decided to make one for Sage. I picked the design and with the exception of the racing stripe down the center, Sage painted hers and applied all the stickers. At the end, they let hers race. Let's just say it would have placed higher than the boys'.

Basketball, Bachelor, and Birthdays...

So it's been a busy first few months of the year. The boys just finished up their second season of basketball. Phew! Here's the rundown. The good: It's an indoor sport! In Seattle, that's always a good thing. We were also happy to see some big improvements over last year's at times painful year of triple dribbling or running to the wrong basket. This year the boys were the older of the bunch since they combine 1st and 2nd graders and it was nice to see them feeling confident and acting more aggressive. The not so good: Nothing screams "bad mom" louder than when your kids make a basket, look to make sure you're watching and then approach you and ask if talking with friends is more important than watching them make baskets. And finally, the ugly: Jack giving the boys advice that included "elbow back since they're not calling foul on him" and "cover that one guy that no one seems to cover". Connor was not happy with dad after getting a foul called on him for guarding the wrong player and elbowing back. Perhaps Dad needs to brush up on kids basketball rules as he's learning they aren't quite the same as the NBA. :)



Bachelor season has ended! I'll miss my Monday nights with the girls at least until May or June or whenever the next season begins. I won't miss waking up Tuesday morning with a sick stomach from all the junk food we down. I'm also promising myself that I will never ever read realitysteve.com again. Sadly I knew who the final four were going to be right as the season began and knowing Vienna would be 'the one' weeks before it was televised was awful. Still trying to figure out that one.

Finally, the most important news: On Feb. 27th the boys turned 8! This is an exciting birthday for a couple reasons. The first and most important being they are now old enough to be baptized. We have yet to determine when or where this will happen because there is an ongoing debate in the household about this. Jack and I thought it would be such a neat thing to do it in the ocean in Hawaii since we have many great family memories in Hawaii. Ty thinks this idea is "awesome" but Connor told us "the ocean is not a house of the Lord so I'm not doing it!" Next we thought about going to Utah since we have a lot of family out there and it would make it convenient for most everyone to get there. This seemed to be a good option until they realized that their friends here wouldn't be able to attend. In the end, it comes down to what the boys want and depending on the day, what they want changes. So this story will be continued in the next few months.

The second reason this is an exciting birthday is because Jack and I feel this is also a time of cleansing for us. As parents we find ourselves reflecting on all those poor parenting moments. You know, those times when you angered quickly and reacted perhaps in not the most impressive way. Like the time I went ballistic when I found a couple four year olds playing in a puddle of food coloring that they had found and emptied out onto my cream colored family room carpet (right in the center of the room). Let me remind you that when you mix all the colors of food coloring, it forms BLACK. Not only was there a puddle the size of a basketball but there were footprints coming out from the puddle in every direction. The moment is actually a blur to me but I'm certain it involved almost ripping arms out of sockets as I dragged them up to their bedrooms, a horse voice from all the screaming I did, not to mention a couple pink bottoms. Well, when Jack and I started to think back on our earliest childhood memories, there are very few, if any that either of us have that took place before the age of 8. So we're thinking that around this time the boys memories of their busy, busy, childhood should be starting to fade and in the meantime we're hoping that from here on out we will never raise our voice, swat a bum, threaten soap in the mouth, forbid a treat permanently, or bribe our kids again! I'm at least hopeful that the carpet coloring incident will be a blur in their mind... while at the same time I'm hopeful that all the wonderful family memories we have created here in the home or on vacations will be imprinted in their memory forever!!!

Being that they are now eight I thought this would be a good time to post eight things about each of them that immediately come to mind when I think of them. Here is what I have to say about our sweet Ty:

1. I love that Ty always comes to find me in the morning to give me my morning hug.
2. I love the way he naturally takes it upon himself to look after, take care of and play with his sister.
3. He is a problem solver. If there is something that needs fixed or done and the conventional way of doing it isn't possible, he will figure out another solution.
4. He's an amazing builder with a ton of creativity. The things he builds whether by following directions or making up as he goes along absolutely amaze us.
5. He is very well liked and people just seem to gravitate towards his contagious personality.
6. He is the protector of the family. He feels others pain and takes it upon himself to fix any pain others are feeling.
7. I love that when Jack is having a heart to heart with him whether it be directions or discipline or just conversation, Ty will look straight in his eyes and not look away until the conversation is over.
8. He is indeed our daredevil, whether it be on his bike, skateboard, skis or scooter. He is always working on new moves and tricks, challenging and testing himself.
Bonus one that I had to include: He loves to share his testimony at church, usually focusing on events and stories from his life while ending with how much he loves his family.

Here are a few things we love about Connor:

1. Choosing the right is a priority in his life. He is always encouraging everyone around him to do the same.
2. He loves to read and is very good at it. I love popping into the boys room at night and seeing them cuddled up next to each other on their bed with Connor reading to Ty.
3. His vocabulary is huge. We are impressed with some of the words that come out of his mouth. It's like talking to a grown up.
4. He's always thinking of others feelings.
5. He loves to compliment me whether it be the way I look or the food I've prepared. He knows just what to say.
6. He is a natural master of video games. That's his thing and he's proud of it!
7. He has an amazing memory. He can watch a video or hear a story and there is no part that he can't remember. (Hoping this is just selective memory and those not so good moments we talked about above will become a blur for him...)
8. He's an observer. Connor is completely content not being the center of attention and just being an onlooker taking it all in.

No doubt they can both challenge our patience but they continue to love us unconditionally even if we do not live up to being the parents we dream of being 24/7. What I find the most fulfilling are the wonderful compliments we receive from others about the boys. Whether it be a teacher, parent, friend or neighbor, for some reason they both always have and continue to leave positive impressions on those they interact with. At times I wish those same "Tys and Connors" would always exist in our home but I'm happy to hear that outside of the home, all the things we teach them seem to be paying off. I don't know what we did to earn the right to be their parents but boy do we feel blessed. We love you Connor and Tyler.

The Birthday week, as we like to call it since birthdays never seem to be just one day long included a class party, family birthday celebration, and the birthday party with friends. Here's how the week unfolded:

Ty's class party! Sage and I surprised Ty with cupcakes for him and his classmates. The kids LOVED these and although baking is not my thing, I'm taking a liking to making cupcakes. Sage wanted to sing a birthday solo so you'll see I included a photo of her singing her one hit wonder to the whole class. Like Ty, Sage doesn't seem to have a shy bone in her...



All week all Connor could talk about was how excited he was for his class celebration that was to take place the Friday before his birthday. Unlike Ty's class, Connor's class doesn't allow food. Instead, each child either chooses to have an extra recess, a special art project or a parent come in to read. They let the class know what they have selected on their designated "birthday" day. They have a special poster that is signed by the family and all the kids in the class and is then laminated and given out on this day. Connor was devastated when his birthday wasn't celebrated on the day it was originally planned. When he came home that day he was in tears. Ty was at a play date but the moment he walked in the door and Connor told him what happened, Ty was in action, planning his own mini celebration. I could hear him busy in the kitchen and when I came downstairs to see what was going on I came upon a yogurt "cupcake" with blueberries and candle, and a "trail mix" of Connor's favorite cereals. Then he quickly made a sign. Less than five minutes after arriving home, this is what Ty had put together for Connor... Nothing makes me more happy than to see my boys feel each others pain and celebrate each others happiness. Thankfully his birthday was celebrated the Monday following his birthday and he has selected me to come read to his class even though he realized his class will be "upset that he didn't pick the extra recess". I love that he finds pleasure in having me come to his class. I know these days are numbered.



This year when we asked the boys what they wanted for their birthday they stated "fish". I have never lived down the last fish we had which apparently I'm to blame for it's death from "not cleaning the bowl frequently enough". The boys have really wanted dogs but since we like to travel, it has become a debate on whether they want to continue going on fun vacations or get a dog. We will get a dog at some point but I'm hoping to buy a couple more years of freedom so thankfully out of the blue they started mentioning how much they wanted fish. Fish it was. No complaining on our end. After a sweet $15 spent at Pet Smart, their birthday was complete... Jack was mortified that this was all we were doing but if something isn't broken, why fix it? The kids had nothing else they wanted plus when you add the gifts from grandparents and friends, it ended up being a very satisfying birthday. We topped it off with our once every four years surprise trip to Chuck E Cheese and Krispy Kreme for donuts since we were cupcaked out...

Finally, the boys celebrated with a party with their friends. This year they wanted a movie night. I was bummed that the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid wasn't coming out in theaters until a month after their birthday so we decided instead to do a pizza/movie night here at the house. There ended up being nine boys and Kiara (a sweet girl that's been in the same class as Ty since Kindergarten). They all had a blast. They had pizza, watched G Force and we did an intermission with glow sticks and popcorn and then it was cupcakes and ice cream and present time. As they walked out we handed them their popcorn container full of sweet treats and popcorn packets for them to unleash at home. I wasn't daring enough to get then all hyped up on that amount of sugar in our home. So we bailed on our concession stand idea that we originally planned. Always glad to have this annual event done with!



Leave it to Ty to get his gifts all displayed neatly!