Boyers out of the box

Saturday, April 10, 2010

COUSINS AND ALLIGATORS....DOES IT GET ANY BETTER?

With cousins in tow we headed out to see the alligators. We wanted to wow our Wisconsin visitors.

Sometimes the alligator dies. That's what we said anyway, when the kids asked why he was upside down. A little disturbing. Not really what we wanted to see at Brazos Bend State Park.

Our kids match up in age exactly except Sydney, but we have discovered that to be a blessing, she acts as big sis, wise older friend and babysitter all in one. These kids honestly behave like siblings except without the arguing, seriously, it is about as perfect as it could be!

This picture screams out each personality to a T.

We weren't at all disappointed in our search for the alligators. Seems ironic that on our last day with Dell and Marche we actually ate some!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

SUMER SKUL

Well, it's done. I'm a little freaked out, but trying to remain calm. I just stayed up till midnight to be sure that I got registered for the classes I want this summer. Going back to school, what am I thinking?? I have to retake Anatomy I, the last time I took it I got a C+ because my ex-boyfriend was in the class and I skipped constantly to avoid seeing him. At least those issues are put to rest. How do you know after nearly 20 years if your brain still works that way? If yesterday was any indication I am in deep trouble. I went to Home Depot and realized at the check out that I was missing my Amex card. I panicked until I figured out the last place I used it was Chick-fil-a. I rushed over and went through their drive thu to get it. At the window the very pleasure filled guy unpleasurely said he didn't have it. To which I said, I have my receipt right here and it says I was here one hour ago at 12:26, and I know this is the last place I bought anything! He calmly looked at the receipt and said, it also says at the bottom that you paid cash..... Oh, oops, I'd better go start looking somewhere else, um thank you....."my pleasure." 30 seconds later I remembered where it was..... in my pocket. I wonder if they offer a weighted grading system for senior students who have lost multiple brain cells from childbirth? It's now 12:40am, I can feel the brain cells seeping out by the bucket load.....

ONE LAST TRY FOR OUR SOCCER STAR!

The female gender in the Boyer household has a history of fearing the soccer ball, or at least avoiding it at all costs. Sydney played soccer for 2 years in Bellingham out of sheer determination to be with friends... she was horrified if the ball came to her. Olivia did a beautiful job of orbiting the ball at a near perfect 10 foot diameter while simultaneously sucking her thumb. And now we are completing the job with Rachel. In her defense, as you can see from the picture, she is the youngest and smallest (except for maybe some minorities on the team who seem to be born with wings on their feet in order to play soccer, guess that's why they are named Angel). She actually doesn't seem to be afraid of the ball so much as apathetic toward it. She did make one goal on game 2, after which she told me she has made 12 goals.

Her favorite part of soccer? Brock and Chayse (and Allie, not seen)

The one time you will see her connect? Kick off.

Where she really wants to be the whole game? Sitting with sister and friends.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

LONGHORNS RULE! (until next season when we get a new name)

Lance and I finally gave in (images of drooling, steroid pumped opponents and snapping of birdlike bones aside) and signed the boys up for tackle football after 4 seasons of flag football. So far one game in and we are still in one piece. Daniel and Thomas loooooove this game, they are on cloud nine, even at practice. And we love watching it just as much, so fun! We had a friend in the car when we were dropping them off to practice one night, it was raining and Lance was explaining to them that unlike flag football, real men in tackle ain't afraid of no rain. Suddenly from the back seat we hear, "hey, I'm in flag football, and I'm a real man!"....oops. Daniel and Thomas play corner back, which they've informed me means they will intercept the ball.

At the end, we were killing the other team so bad that the coach put second string in and the boys got to play offense.

Known to all coaches as "the Boyer boys"

No first initials....Really?

Proud but a little scared of some of our friends who happen to be die hard A&M fans.

Monday, March 29, 2010

SYDNEY'S GOOD NATURE

Here she is, the one and only! Ok. Her mom made her do it. And true to her good nature, Sydney did it, without complaint I might add. I signed her up for a KVPAC show choir without even asking her. I just wanted her to try it and see what she thought. She is talented when it comes to performing, especially since she never ever gets nervous. She has always had confidence in public speaking/performing, something her dad and I do not have, even a little! Last Saturday was their first performance at a family festival at La Centera's outdoor central square. There were a lot more people than I expected! She did great despite the problems they had with their audio equipment. I am proud of her for going each week to practice even though she didn't know anyone and was one of only two people her age.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

ROUGHING IT HAS NEVER BEEN SO GOOD

Spring break has become one of our families most anticipated events (finally!). Thanks to our friends the Richards who organize a great camping trip every year. This year the weather was amazing and we partied till late in the night, playing cards, making smores and chatting around the fire.... heaven. I'll just say that what happens (or is said) in the Bachrach's trailer stays in the Bachrach's trailer.

The infamous dirt pile, no idea why it was there, but became a main attraction.

The long board, I was shocked when we made it through the week without an ER trip. Can't believe we forgot helmets.

Chili was in his element, dog heaven I think. His bed didn't fare so well, during one of our great parenting moments when the pack of boys were lighting a fire (think Lord of the Flies), it somehow made it into the fire, even though they snatched it out fast it was pretty singed and went in the garbage. A minor thing considering the many other items that could have gone in!

Our kitchen, notice the flowers in the paper cup compliments of Olivia, always the beautifier. And the empty Diet Coke cans.....

The Jenkins place became the sports bar, the men never had to miss their ever so important games.

QUIPS N QUOTES

Daniel came home from school yesterday and said he was playing on the volleyball team. Apparently in 6th grade you just sign up and they take everyone and split them into groups. Then they just pit them against each other. So, Daniel tells me that he got stuck on a team that was all girls and 2 boys, therefore he knew right off he was going to lose. He was sure that girls sucked at volleyball. They played their first game during advisory and he says he was so surprised because the girls could actually play! They won 72-33! He then told me that he had noticed that the cute girls couldn't play worth crap and the not-cute girls were usually pretty good. His theory on that was that the cute girls spent way too much time worrying about how they looked and not enough time playing volleyball. That he differentiates between the two is a first here. But I can tell we're a long way off from the obsessed stage since he stated the observation like he was postulating a science experiment.

I watched my favorite show, actually my whole families favorite show except Lance, last night, Design Star. Daniel and Thomas were with me and we were loving it. I started to worry a little when I heard one son say, "I don't really think Courtland represented his flower well, I mean where was the structural aspect?" What 11 year old says that??? But then he quieted my fears by saying, "That Nina girl bugs me, I want to punch her in the face." Ahhhh, much better!

The dilema: Do I send Thomas to scouts without his scout shirt or wearing it so wrinkled it's almost unrecognizable? How did that happen you ask? After a 15 minute search for the ever elusive scout shirt and having given up I finally told him to at least get his scout book from the scout drawer in the kitchen. Lo and behold, there smashed in the corner was that stupid shirt. In the drawer???? I think I'll make him wear it with a sign on the back reading: My mom is not responsible for the way I look, I am 9, I am always wrinkled.

The school served breakfast today for all of the student counsel members. Daniel was stoked and even though he was starving, he passed on my breakfast this morning and went hungry. He came home after school and asked, "who gives 5th graders fruit pizza for breakfast?" He was so put out, and this is a kid who really does like fruit. My question is, "who gives 5th graders fruit pizza for breakfast?" Duh.

On the way to preschool Rachel informed me that she now likes the boy in her class that she hasn't liked all year. I asked her why and she said, "Oh, I just do what he tells me to now, and now I like him." I have mixed feelings on this one. How do I tell a 4 year old she is being a door mat? Or is she just learning how to get along with others? In the end I relied on the ole' mommy standby answer, "that's nice honey."

Driving home late last night after taking the kids to Benihana's we were all tired. The car was quiet, not even the radio was on. We pulled up to a red light waiting when a "gansta" car pulled along side us with it's windows rolled down blasting music (you know, the kind where the bass rattles your teeth.) I thought everyone had fallen asleep when I hear Rachel say, "Hey! I like this song!" The entire car was instantly laughing, hysterically. Sydney said, "Rachel you don't know that song!" So we drove on still giggling when I hear Rachel mumble, "I do not think I know that song, but I know I like it." She's my first child to have any rhythm, so much that she can't hold still when anything is playing. She either dances, or at least moves her head to the beat. Gotta get that girl in dance!

Many said it couldn't be, and many said it would take an act of God, but actually all that was needed was time. Time away from travels, commitments, children and any stress..... okay, an act of God. So here we are blogging! Even I am surprised, not really sure how or why but very glad to begin. I'm already going crazy trying to do this with Rachel jabbering in my ear, question after question....she never stops. Lance and I just took an amazing trip last month to Cabo San Lucas and when we got home his parents, who are always so kind to take the kids, their first comment was that Rachel talked them into the ground. They took turns sending her back and forth between them, when one would reach their limit of endless retoric they would tell her to go find the other. I know, one day I will miss it, but today I'm done.