Homework Nazi

I'm pretty certain I've become the homework nazi in our house.

"I don't have any homework."

"Well, let me check the school website."

...Or, maybe I have trust issues.  :-)

One of them does have a social studies test tomorrow and apparently didn't know about it... So he studied and he did well.

The twins... I went through the youngest papers in the folder and found these documents:

That one says, "I show fairness when I play with my twin."  :-) 

This one says, "I am caring for my twin."  :-) 

The last one says, "I have loyalty my twin." 

I wonder if his twin brother knows how much he cares for him and how much he thinks about him... So much so, he does his class work about him!   :-)  

It's super cute. 

Now THIS Hotel Knows...

Now THIS hotel... THIS hotel gets it... 

If you're not sure what I'm referring to... Please read this blog here... 

Thank you.

The end.

nite nite

I was going to write a really great blog. But, I'm too exhausted.

8:19pm, going to sleep now. Goodnight.

Blue Apron

Phil and I received our first Blue Apron food box this evening. Blue Apron is a food service that sends you healthy/fresh meals for two for three different dinners and instructions how to prepare it. They even send you the required seasonings!

Phil got home before I did, so he made dinner for the boys and then opened the Blue Apron box to start checking it out.  When I got home, we selected which meal to cook for the evening.

The boys had finished dinner and were ready to go outside to play... So we sent them outside. Every now and then, a boy would come in and chat... then go back outside.

I put in the noodles and Phil was working on the cod when one of the twins walked in. He asked us, "What are you guys doing?"

I said, "Oh, we're cooking our dinner now."

The twin said, "You're cooking, Jennifer?"

"Yes! I am cooking. Doesn't it look like it??"

And he said, "No. It just looks like you're standing there."

Well yeah, I was just standing there! I was watching the noodles! 

... which is kind of like watching grass grow...

One Month as a Stepmom

One month ago, Phil and I got married on Grandview Drive.  So one month ago, I became a Stepmom of five awesome boys.  :-)  Where has this month gone??  My goodness!

Not much has really changed... but, here are my observations:

1. The boys think that I have more "authority" as a stepmom... but they still really don't listen.
2. I've started leaving the toilet seat up... because let's face it, I HATE sitting in pee. (We do keep teaching them about this though.)
3. We all LOVE ice cream. OMG. There goes my race season because I eat way too much ice cream.
4. Every time I give them the choice to clean or go outside... they always go outside.
hmm...
5. Icees, Slushees, Ice Cream, Shakes, etc... Make very good bribes.
6. They like to talk. A LOT. "Jennifer... Jennifer... Jennifer..."
7. They like to ask a lot of questions. "Why...? Why...? Why...?"
8. They play a TON of Minecraft. Now that we're having nice weather, I've been starting to kick them outside more though.
9. We are all really looking forward to our summer vacation! Phil and I booked a trip this summer to Myrtle Beach with the boys.
10.  People really just think I'm crazy for jumping into this.  But, as a three time Ironman and 100-mile trail runner... Wasn't I already a little crazy??   :-)

Just like anything else, we have our ups and downs, but the ups are awesome, the downs are temporary, and the boys are a lot of fun. I've been enjoying their inventions with Legos (as much as I hate stepping on those!), looking at their creations on Minecraft, and watching them play their sports (no matter how boring it really truly is).  :-)

Baseball season is just getting started, so maybe I'll have some "baseball and... burps?...bloopers?" stories soon...

Throwback Story

At the end of last summer, Phil and I went on a date. With the twins.

It was towards the end of football season, The Bigs had a late football practice, so they stayed the night at their moms house.

Phil and I took the twins to Bass Pro Shops for some bowling, food, and fun. Then Phil dropped me off at my house before going back to his house for the night.

As Phil dropped me off, he gave me a hug and kiss goodnight and I went inside.

When Phil got in the car (where the twins were), the twins let him have it!

Chris* said, "Dad... you kissed Jennifer like 10-TIMES! Are you going to marry her 10-TIMES???"

And that's when it started... the idea of marriage was put into our heads...

The first time we heard wedding bells...   :-) 

* Name changed for story.

Only Three

On Friday, Phil and I received a text from the boys' Aunt about taking one of them to Northern Illinois for some football fun on Saturday. We asked if she could take two and she accepted!  (Thank you!!)

That's when I said it, "We only have three boys on Saturday."

And then I said it to one of my friends also, "We only have three boys on Saturday, so we're going to the Peoria Chiefs baseball game."

Definitely enjoyed the day!

Amazing how having five kids makes three seem so easy.