The Pinewood Derby

This past Saturday was the Pinewood Derby for Pack 52. After days and days of sanding and more sanding and painting and more painting and stratically placing stickers, Corbin's car was finally complete. His vision had come to life! Do you not love where he placed the round stickers to make him look sponge? Right over the mouth and between the eyes. I had a mental flash of Austin Powers staring at the mole on that guy's face (in Goldmember?) going, "Holey Moley" and "Moley, Moley, Moley, Molllleeey". I'm sorry, it just literally had me rolling on the floor laughing. Corbin said he didn't do it, but um, no one else placed those stickers, so that made me laugh even more. The reason why I find it so dang funny is because you can create your own Mii's for the Wii and everyone of Corbin's players (and there is close to a dozen to choose from) all have a mole right over their mouths. Weird, but I'm giggling hysterically as I type this b/c it is so far in left field that it's hilarious to me that he puts moles on his creations and always right above the mouth. Back to the Derby. Matt and Papa were the judges at the finishline. There were about 12-15 cars racing, so there was a pretty good crowd there. Everyone was really excited to see what their cars could do. I would like to say that events like this bring out a certain competitive spirit, but it's mostly in good fun. Mostly. ;) Everyone wants their kid to do well, ya know? Corbin's car won like 3 heats and got to the quarter-finals. He had a pretty fast little car. He was so sure he would win... until he started racing the other winners of the heats. He just couldn't beat the Super Mario Car. It was just a hair faster (this car was super shiney and it was sanded almost completely flat in the front- meaning crazy aero dynamics, I think). He raced this car probably 4 times and couldn't get past him. :( So Super Mario ended up moving on to the semi-finals (?- I can't remeber the order) leaving a VERY dissappointed Corbin. They were awarding trophies and he just wanted one so bad. I think I wanted it worse for him. So I told him to cheer for Mario and we would get it next year. The race was so exciting, they had a first, second, and third place winner, and then a Grand Champion. Guess who won? Yep, Super Mario did. During a break, Matt found Super Mario's dad and exhanged some small talk. I think Matt was already planning for next year. Bwahahahahaha! **putting fingertips together** We're not competitive or anything in this house. :) In the end everyone got a certificate and a plastic gold medal. Corbin gave the medal to Hunter who was ecstatic to have it. So until next year... Bwahahahahaha! Had to get a picture of Matt and Corbin after the race next to the track... if you can see it.

Funny Pages

Just over the last week or so- the kids have been saying some really funny things. Thought I'd share some:

Corbin: Dane, do you want to be a big brother?
Dane: um, no. I want to be a tiger. Rar!

We've been taking advantage of this great weather (that is, until the foot of pollen landed on us) and going outside a lot. Corbin and Hunter like to race even though Corbin shows no mercy with his younger brother. Hunter still gives it his all and keeps on doing it in hopes one day to beat him... so before one particular race, Hunter says to Corbin in all seriousness:

Hunter: Corbin, you go in slow motion, I'll go in fast motion this time. :)

Corbin: Mom, I think Dane is a German baby.
Me: What? Why?
Corbin: Because when I showed him a picture of himself when he was a little baby, I said, "Dane, who is that?" and Dane said, "das baby."
Me: LOL

Dane accidently ran over Hunter's foot with his plasma car and Hunter got really mad at him.

Hunter: Dane, you're a dummy head!!!
Dane: (With crunched up eyebrows) No, Hunter! I a bear!

I like to keep these little things recorded because it's always nice to go back and read how awesome they are...

In other quick news- Talon is getting bigger and moving a lot more. I'm feeling him in my ribs now and he especially enjoys using my bladder as a pillow. I'm pretty much into whatever I can eat- anything noodly is sufficient. I'm nesting like crazy and it's causing me a certain amount of anxiety because I want it all done last week and there's really nothing I can do about it... at least not all at once. I have to keep telling myself this. Life is good though. The Lord is really blessing us all and I'm thankful.

Mean Mom

I'm a mean mom. I try not to be, but I don't know what else to do. Today marks the 7th day in a row that Corbin has forgotten to bring his Word Study words home. His assignment is due on Thursday and it's a pretty time consuming homework assignment. Over the course of the last few days, he has had his DS taken away for a week, his beloved Pokemon game taken away for 2 weeks, no phone priviledges, he has to miss scouts tomorrow (obviously to finish his assignment), and I made him write 30 times "I will listen to my mother" and then 20 times "I will not forget my Word Study again" in one sitting. So this obviously isn't about just the word study. I guess it's the straw that broke this camel's back. He broke the news to me today that he forgot again with... a smile. A smile. My face just burned up. Yes, my hormones are in overload, but I had to just walk away from this. I came downstairs to be greeted by a backpack, a pair of shoes, and a lunchbox thrown on the floor. Steam began rising from the top of my head.... And then I cried. As I cried, I went through the daily questions: Where do your shoes go? What do you do with your lunchbox? Where do you put your backpack? Where do you hang your coat? I know he was expecting agitation from me, but my gasket blew and I was all waterworks. I know I shouldn't do this in front of my kids, but I felt like an absolute failure for not being able to properly teach simple concepts to a 9-YEAR-OLD.

Well, homework got finished and the only thing I haven't tried for a punishment was sitting in the corner. So I moved a chair to the corner of the kitchen and told him to sit down until I told him he could get up. That was 2 hours and 1 minute ago. Yes, he has been in the corner for 2 hours. I gave him a book to read and I gave him a nice supper on my best tv tray. I also opened a blind for him to look outside. I had a nice talk with him and he seemed to actually understand why he was sitting there. He did have a mild tantrum 42 minutes in and I almost caved. Almost. Yes, I feel horrible to doing this, but I feel like this punishment will be remembered more than a spanking or getting yelled at. I've had to leave the area here and there to cry some more because I felt bad, but then I had to remind myself that he wasn't tied down or gagged or starving or whatever. He was taking that pill that needed swallowing. Am I a mean mom? Probably. Do I love my son?! More than anything. But sometimes being mean is the only road to take.

A Random Funny

I usually post funny sayings of the kids on the side panel, but I just had to share this one. The boys are getting used to the idea of having another boy added to the mix. They desperately wanted a sister... at least Corbin and Hunter did. Dane doesn't care, I don't think. Anyways- Corbin and I were studying together for a Science Test last night and we took a break for a minute... This is how the conversation went:

Corbin: What are you going to name the baby?

Me: Well, we've decided to name him Talon Barrett. Did you know where Barrett came from?

Corbin: Where?

Me: Well, since Daddy likes guns so much, he got it from a gun called the Barrett 50 caliber.

Corbin: Blankness in his face

Corbin: What does "Talon" mean? It sounds familiar.

Me: Talon is like the claw of an Eagle, ya know. (I'm laughing now because his face is so distorted from hearing this information)

Corbin: Why would you give the baby such a violent name?! You named him after an Eagle claw and a gun?

Me: Well, it's a cool name and we didn't name your brother after an Eagle claw... What should we have named him?

Corbin: Claude Fedrick Wilson. (My late grandpa's name)

I just enjoyed this little conversation. It made me see how really tender Corbin is under his facade of testosterone. He loves his brother already and said to me that he is glad that Talon will be with us soon. He and Hunter are even talking to my tummy now. Hunter calls him some weird made up name with an Indian sound to it. I know, kids are weird, but fun!

Drum Roll Please....

Today was the ultrasound for Baby #4.... da, da, da, da, daaaaa (I couldn't figure out how to spell a drum roll) We're having another BOY! Yes, we all know that a little girl would have been great, but I have developed a profound sense of gratitude with the coming of this news. I knew in the depths of my mind that this was going to be a boy, but I hung onto hope of a little girl (plus, I get so distracted by those cute hairbows little girls wear). When the technician said "he" I felt... honored. Shocked too. But really, really honored that Heavenly Father would trust me with another of His sons to raise during increasingly trying times here on Earth. My boys are going to be future Priesthood holders, missionaries, Husbands, Fathers, upstanding citizens... That's a lot to think about and a big job to undergo, but one with purpose! It brings me great happiness to know that the Lord has confidence in my abilities as a mother and confidence in Matt as a Father and roll model for these guys. I look forward to what's to come and I am excited to meet my new guy in the next few months!