Disconnected

Well, I have been without technology for several days. No home phone and no computer. I had to unplug to redo my floors. After a long hard back breaking weekend we are finished with the floors. YEAH. Chris has to put base boards up and we have to install new interior doors but other than that we are ready to move back in. Currently our bed room is in the carport, the living room is on the patio and the boys bedroom is scattered about. Their bed is in the lawn because I am refinishing it, dressers on the pation, mattresses in Max room......you get the picture. Today or tomorrow I will be starting on the boys room. I am taking down the wood paneling finally and hanging drywall. I am so excited about this b/c it will be the last room in the house to be remodeled. YEAH. I finally feel like we are coming to an end to our remodel projects which were started exactly two years ago on Memorial Day.

In other news (I sound like a tv reporter), Christian pitched in a baseball game last night. It was the last inning but he walked up to that pitching mound (full length cast and all) and pitched an inning. It was really cool of the other team to let him pitch b/c techinically he is supposed to bat too. He threw an 11 pitch inning. 3 up and 3 down. AMAZING. He was so happy. I on the other hand was extremely emotional. Maybe it is the lack of sleep from the weekend, but I started to cry. I don't usually do that but I think I wasn't sure I was ready for him to go out there and the other team let him play, it was all really overwhelming but he did a great job and I am sooooooo Proud of him. After the game he came up and gave me a big hug and said "do you still not want me to pitch?" I of course cried again.....blubbering idiot.

Well, off to work. I have several big days ahead of me if I want to get my house pulled back together. I am still working out how I want the boys room painted. I have a couple of ideas but if anyone has anything brilliant please share. Final decision won't be made for at least a week.

Jenifer if you are reading this you better start blogging. (Not you Jennifer!)

The Week in Review

It has been a crazy week. I had said for a long time I wanted the finale to be Jordin and Blake. When the finale came I have to admit I was a little dissappointed because the final song was written for the "Jordin's" of the world and it left little for Blake to work with. After the finale, I wanted Jordan to win so poor Blake didn't have to sing that Miss America song ever again!!!!!

Jack Bauer was also good. I was disappointed Ricky became blind. I liked him on the show. I hear they are taking the show less globaly next year and it will be a bit more personal. I think I will like that better. Chris and I started watching House this season and the finale also looks to be great. Lost was a bit odd but I can hang now that I know it is the beginning to the the end.

So with all my fav's in wrap up, I went to sleep. After our game last night I climbed in bed with Max and fell asleep. I think it was 8:15pm. Max likes to sleep with us and since we have had a no kid rule in our bed since Christian was born it rarely happens. He is so cute when he sleeps and he still lets me hug him like a teddy bear.

We are wrapping up baseball season with a four day break over Memorial Day. No baseball until Tuesday! I am glad. I am getting tired. After the break each team only has four or five games left so we are down to our final 15. Yeah. Each team is working hard and doing well. The kids are sweet so that helps keep me going.

As for the Duvalls we have a big weekend of work planned for us. We rented floor sanders and are planning on redoing the living room and finally doing the boys room and our room. I figure we may as well dry wall the boys room too and just get it done. Then I can honestly say we have done every room in the house. CRAZY. I have learned a lot and cried a lot so I am glad to also be coming to then end of the remodel. (that is until Chris goes up and out.....we'll see)! All we would have left is for Larry D to come help us with the baseboards, trim etc. I love it. I am starting to feel like it is a home again instead of a construction zone, well I start demo again in about oh.......55min. But whatever.

On a personal note I am so glad Blogger implemented auto save. I can't tell you how many times I have typed out a blog and bam, it deletes, I throw my hands up and walk away. I would say b/c of auto save I am successfully blogging more often. Thanks Blogger People.

Christian is insane (his Dad isn't much better)

So, Christian broke his leg for the second time just four short weeks ago. The Dr. said that as of today Christian was allowed to walk on the cast. Item number one on Christians agenda...Pitching. I am not kidding. Please note the cast on the right foot that goes all the way up his leg. Yes, I said all the way up his leg. The most insane part about this is A). He can throw a strike most everytime and B). His Dad let him. I personally wanted to sell tickets to passerby's. I think if we took this kid on the road he could make us some money!!!! Also, the nice thing about these Photos is it show correct pitching form (well as correct as you can get with a broken leg). I have now sat my child down and told him he is not allowed to use his leg for the rest of the night. I wonder if that is what the DR. meant when he encouraged us to have him walk on it after 4 weeks. He gets his cast off in two weeks and goes into a boot. He will begin physical therapy shortly there after. I must go American Idol is on. I LOVE BLAKE!!!!!

The Sock Hop

Friday night was the schools sock hop. We took the kids and several of their friends. They had a great time playing, drinking rootbeer floats and dancing! One of my friends took his picture of Jonah which really says it all. Jonah is hilarious. I love it.

Sleeping In

It is 8:25 am. Christian and Jonah are still sound asleep, but who could blame them. Yesterday, Sarah took the boys to school b/c Max slept until 9:45. We have been so busy lately and the kids are consistently missing their bed times. Add in the beautiful sun shining in their bedrooms bright and early and you end up with a lot of missed sleep. This morning it is cool, damp and cloudy out. We have no where to be until the early afternoon so I am letting the boys just chill and sleep as long as they need.
On Thursday Chris took the boys to the Mariners game. They had a great time. Last night was the school sock hop and the kids rocked the dance floor in their usual fashion. Christian stayed in his wheel chair and made chair dancing a new fad. He has such great friends that stayed and pushed him around. They dressed in crazy wigs it was fun. Jonah was John Lennon last night and a dancing genius. Max hung with Annie and Connor, they looked like a gang.
Chris is golfing in the "Crying Shame" golf tournament (church sponsored). I am just hanging around drinking coffee, thrilled that we don't have to be to the ball fields until 1pm!!!! YEAH! Jonah has a game at two. Max and Christian have games at 4pm and we are doing a potluck with Christians team which should be fun. Hopefully, everyone will be rested and ready to go for a fun filled afternoon.

A Christian Duvall Original

MY MOM

The important thing about my mom is she drinks diet coke.
My mom is crazy sometimes.
My mom takes me places.
My mom lets me do sports.
My mom helps me when I break my leg.
My mom pays so I can go to piano.
My mom pays so I can go to school.
My mom loves me very much.
But the most important thing about my mom is she drinks diet coke.

Christian Duvall
2007

(I don't pay for him to go to school but I won't tell him that. Well, I guess taxes....)

Happy Mothers Day to me

I had a fabulous Mother's Day weekend that was busy, busy, busy and a whole lot of fun. Friday I wasn't feeling well so Chris brought home take out....Love it. He picked me a up jammies and a movie and gave them to me on Friday so I could just chill. Saturday was non stop baseball again and after the game we had a our friends kids over so they could go out. We made brownies and watched movies which was really nice. Sunday Chris made me breakfast and then we went out to the Horse races with our friends. They had so much for the kids to do: face painting, tatoos, pony rides, Bouncer etc. etc. It was all free!!!! I sat out watching the horse races and drinking margarita's. YEAH. It was a long day but a lot of fun. They boys fell asleep on the way home they were so tired and frankly so were we. The boys had all made me sweet gifts. I had such a nice weekend. Chris stayed home "sick" yesterday and we went golfing at Mt. Si. It was 85+ degrees yesterday. We had a nice afternoon together just hanging out. I had never really golfed before. It was a lot of fun. After we had more baseball. We have a game and a practice tonight but will have Thurs and Fri off which is unusual. It will be a nice break before all day Sat. games. It was nice to have some time with Chris b/c we have been non stop for so long that we haven't really hung out in a long time. I think our last date was in January. Hopefully we thing will get easier by mid june. Love it. Christian is healing well and is schedule to have his cast off June 5th. YEAH!!!

Jonah and Alex.

Jonah and Shaye

Jonah's First Communion

Here is Jonah and his good buddy Andy at their First Communion. It was a big day for Jonah. He was very excited and had a lot of fun. We went straight from First Communion to baseball pictures and games. After that our friends invited us over for dinner which was really nice. Jonah got a chance to celebrate some more with his friend Jamie and Christian played with his buddy Casey. Chris and I just kicked back and relaxed with our friends while the kids had a good old time. Over all it was a really nice weekend. Jonah is getting to be such a big kid. Thanks to everyone who sent cards and gifts. It meant a lot to us and Jonah was very excited with everything. I don't have a camera so I had to rely on friends for the pics. I will post a few when I get them. Thanks Dan for this wonderful shot.

Lucky US!

Lucky for us the ER doc gave us bad info. Christians leg is broken in the same spot. That changes everything. The ER doc told us it was in a different spot and that potentially posed some problems for Christian. However, we got good news yesterday. Christian broke the leg in the same spot which just happens some times. Unfortunately for him he was one of the unlucky ones who re-breaks. We are happy to be in a cast and on the mend with no real issues to deal with. Like all mom's I was paniced by the what if's and I am very relieved that everything is ok. Christian is back at school today with a new BLACK cast. Chris drew a Blue Jay on it which is the name of his team. The kids at school were happy to see him and Christian was glad to be back. He is so blessed to have such great friends.

Jonah is celebrating his First Communion this weekend. He is so excited. He is doing such a good job in school and is becoming a great little ball player. I am so proud of my Jonah.

Max is doing well also and playing ball. He wants to be a dirt bike rider and we are trying to make that happen for him.

Another Bad Break

Yesterday while Christian was at school he was running and he slipped. When he fell he heard that ever distinctable sound of a crack. His friends went for help immediately. I was called and so was the ambulance. Sure enough he broke his leg. The ambulanced us to Childrens in Seattle where they x-ray'd, splinted and gave him pain meds. He will go for his cast in the next couple of days. His spirits are good. Friends have brought us dinner, ice cream and chocolate. His team got him balloons and a card and they gave Chris and I mini tequila and malibu rum. I am so appreciative of all my friends who have helped me out over the past 6 months. I started writing a list of all the people who need Thank you's and I am just amazed. I don't know how I will be able to thank them all, and since I am the worlds worst Thank you card writer (30 years running) I am now at an extreme disadvantage. I told Christian yesterday two things: #1 God never gives us more than we can hanle and #2 I know it sucks that he broke his leg again but I told him how blessed he was to have such great friends. He had calls all afternoon and parents were calling with their concern. It is such a comfort to me that I have great friends but it is even more comforting that he has great friends who support him. God really new what he was doing planting us here in Snoqualmie.

Happy Birthday Chris

Chris turned 33 yesterday. Looking good! We had a fun filled weekend of baseball. Friday was my grandmothers funeral. After that we the kids to the capital state building and they were allowed to go into the House of Representatives and vote. They took our picture with our Representatives and everything. It was a total fluke, a case of being at the right place at the right time. Saturday Chris woke up and went golfing and then we had baseball starting at 9am. We had back to back games all day and didn't leave the field until after 5:30. Christian had gone to a Husky baseball game and we went out to dinner. Sunday we went to Church and then out for Breakfast with some friends. Christian got to be the bat boy for USC and they told him he could do it on Sunday as well. So we all went to the Husky baseball game on Sunday and Christian and his friends got to be bat boys again. They got their baseballs signed by both teams and had a fantastic day. After, we took Chris out to dinner for his birthday. It was a great day. Busy weekend but overall really nice. I have a picture of Chris that I am trying to post but it is in the wrong format so once I figure it out, I will post it.

Isn't Max cute

So the story goes like this....

"Max, what did you do today?"

"I went to recess."

"Who did you play with?" I asked

"Oh, with Hannah." He innocently replies.

"What did you and Hannah play?"

"Well, all Hannah wanted to do was kiss me." he says with a shrug "so, that is all we did."

When Chris came home he told Max to stay away from girls. But if he is going to kiss someone it may as well be Hannah. Isn't she darling.

Things are going well. Baseball season is off to a good start. I am immensly fatigued. Chris says it is because I am not used to doing things all day long. Nice.

We are hoping to make it home to the tri-cities this weekend. Hoping, Hoping, Hoping. Christian and Jonah both have practice in the morning and then we are going to hit the road.

In other news, Lent was officially over last night after mass. Today is a day of fasting and abstainance. I am trying to decide if I can still have my diet coke. If I am fasting, I would still drink one and diet coke is not meat. I have resolved myself to think that I am ok in having a diet coke. (Sarah said I could). Chris is crazy busy and he has a deadline Monday which he is trying to get done today so we can go home free and clear.

I am excited for Easter and excited to see the family even if it is only for a couple of hours really. I have to go get a couple things for the kids' easter baskets this afternoon. My work is never done. So much for not doing things all day long.

Juxtaposed

Our days have been so incredibly strange. I take the kids to the bus then Max and I come back to the house. We usually just clean and pick up. If it is a good day then I will make dinner and be ready for the evening. Once Max goes to school, I finish cleaning the house. I will eat a quiet lunch maybe take a shower if I haven't already. There is plenty to fill up the three hours, whether I am preparing for practice or taking 10minutes to myself. Then in the afternoon as if supercharged by the joy of their education my children arrive home. I then quickly stuff food in their throats and shove them quickly in the car. Last night we had practice at 5 and then Chris had practice at 5:45, then Jonah had first Communion classes at 6:30. After class we went back to the fields to help Chris clean up his stuff. Tonight I will pick up the kids from school take them to piano, then straight to Max's baseball team. I am not sure at what point our kids are going to eat today but I am sure they will sooner or later. The point is My days are busy, then they are calm for just a moment then the storm hits out of nowhere and I am left wondering if I can handle eleven more weeks of this. I can do it, I can do it. I can do it. I have been thinking a lot about my kids and their friends lately. I have been thinking about our priorities and the life we have made for them here. I know we are busy, busy, busy but the kids are really happy. The only downside I can find is that we have not seen family in what feels like forever!!

The Three Piggy Opera

This morning when Max woke up he climbed in bed with me and reminded me today was the three piggy opera.
"I know"
"I'ts at 2:30-" He said
"I know"
"Mom, you have to get there early if you want to get the front row."
"I know."
My point is this is the first time I can ever remember Max counting the days down to anything. This little opera is so important that at 6am he is reminding me to get there early so I can have the front row. He is the brick peddler and has a small solo. My friend is loaning me her camera so I can take pictures and post them. In the mean time only 5 hours left til the three piggy opera.

Baseball season is here again.

It is always so shocking to see the change that comes over this family in baseball season. The draft was just two weeks ago and we are already in full swing. Christian had baseball practice in the rain last night. Chris had the boys practice sliding out in the grass. They loved it. I always enjoy seeing the team dynamics and we are so blessed to have so many of our "boys" back on our team. I received an email last night about Jonah's team, we should be up and running next week. YEAH. Jonah has three of his best friends on his team which is fantastic! I think Jonah is going to have a great time this year. The league informed us that we will infact be coaching Max as well. He is so excited to play ball and it is nice for us that we get to be a part of each boys team. (Even if that wasn't what we signed up for). The league is working really hard on scheduling so that we aren't triple booked. Max will have games every mon/wed. Christian and Jonah will probably alternate tues/thurs games and they will both have a game on Saturdays. Which leaves us baseball free on Fridays and Sundays. Plenty of opportunities for people to catch games.

Jonah will be celebrating his First Communion on May 5th at 10am, Christian has a game following at 1pm and Jonah will more than likely have a game that afternoon as well.

Busy Busy Busy but all worth it. Just know if we aren't communicating with everyone it is not because we don't love people, it is because I have three boys and baseball.......By the way I picked that picture from Chris' Mt. St. Helens hike because it was peaceful, which is how I anticipate my life being in just 11 short weeks from now. But who am I trying to kid. Oh yeah, Max is going to be in the three piggy opera at school next week and he is soooooo excited. March 20th at 2pm. Love it.

I Love Yoga

I started this blog talking about being unnecessarily stressed and yoga relaxing me when my computer has now bliped twice and I have lost my post twice. Go figure. Anyway, what I was saying that got erased is that I have been waking up early because of Chris and today I did yoga. I love my yoga and since the flood I have gotten out of the habit of doing it. Which is probably the time I should have done it more. I just couldn't get out of bed to be ready by 6am. This weekend was a big one for our family, it was draft time for little league. Christian had to try out in his boot and was able to run which gave him a zero in one whole category. It didn't matter though because he received a perfect score in all three categories, except one coach marked him down (his dad) in one category. The amazing thing is even if he had received an average score in running he would have been in the top couple of kids...but as it was he had to settle for the top 20- booted leg and all. That kid is amazing. (shameless bragging) Today is a big day for him because his boot comes off. He is so excited. He ate breakfast, took a shower, got dressed and is practicing piano and it is only 7:30. In contrast Jonah just went flying over the coach in his p.j's being some sort of crazy guy, he has been asked to get dressed three times. Ugghh. I went to spy on Jonah in his class yesterday and I couldn't find him for what seemed like the longest time. Then I spotted him in the corner head down, focusing and working really hard. I was so proud. Jonah has been practicing two numbers for the talent show in June. We will see. Max got up this morning, he and teddy did yoga with me. The don't get the quiet yen thing yet but we are working on it. Max was stretching his legs and the muscles were pulling and he puts his hand under his knees and says very seriously "I don't know if I should be doing this?" He was very concerned. It just makes me laugh. You should see his triangle pose. It is awesome. Baseball starts this week and I am gearing up for a crazy season!!!! I will post a game schedule for all the boys in case anyone wants to see a game. I believe Max will be every Monday and Wednesday starting in April. Thats all for now.

American Idol

Chris and I have never watched American Idol before, we have seen a few of the older seasons but never sat religiously and watched. We have a couple of Fav's and a few we don't really care for. Chris has a highly technical way of deciding who to vote for. Any contestant that resists the urge to promote themselves by holding up their fingers gets a vote from Mr.CSD.
The kids did not go to school again today because of the snow which bring us to two full weeks of missed school due to flood, power or weather. Tack that on to the end of the year and we will be going to school until July 3rd unless something is done about it. LOVELY! The good news is the mountain got more snow which leaves us with some more spring skiing. Yeah!
Christian has been grounded since Monday for refusing to eat his sloppy joes and then vomitting. That was a fun night. Jonah and Max are being hobbits right now and I just keep following them around picking up whatever they drop on their trail. My life is truly riviting.

The Skull Shredder

In an attempt to post more regularly I decided to write about yet another sno-boarding extravaganza. First of all I think people would pay good money to see me shred the mountain side and I am seriously looking into creating a new reality t.v. show starring myself. Second it is important to remember that my last outing was seriously traumatic. It is also important to note that while I am up for most anything, I am cautious and sensible.
So Claire and I went sno-boarding yesterday........
Lets just say we got off to a rough start, mostly I was scared shootless. But never fear, I am amazing and after several runs I was back to my old self again. Once confident in my skills I felt it the perfect time to break for lunch (I brought girlscout cookies). So Claire and I went and had lunch in the bar and since it was early and we had several hours before driving or kids we decided to have a Margarita..... I also think it is important to note that I gave up Diet Coke for Lent. Anyone who really knows me also realizes they probably don't want to hang with me until after lent. So I have been drinking bottles and bottles of water but I haven't found that thing that quenches my thirst like the diet coke does. So anyhoo, Claire and I have a rather large lunch, a big sandwich, a bag of chips, four girl scout cookies....I however, was still really thirsty and not responsible for operating any vehicle at all for the rest of the day. So yes, it is true, I had a second Margarita. (which oddly enough was quenching my thirst) So Claire and I left the bar laughing our butts off after changing our ring tones and calling ourselves over and over so we could hear the songs we put on our phones....I think you know where I am going with this. So then Claire and I went back to the bunny slope where we are famous for our styling. At this point my cousin Tanya, who I have been playing phone tag with calls. So of course, I take the call. I mention to her while talking on the phone and sno-boarding down the mountain that I indeed had a couple of drinks and now I am a super duper talented sno-boarder.....great!! She mentioned that may not have been a good choice....hmmm...I wonder if she has something there????? So at this point I get off the phone and convince Claire we are ready for a big kid slope. So we sno-board over to the highspeed Quad (may be a clue?) and we get on. As the chair starts moving up, I realize a key point about myself which I forget.....I am afraid of heights....So here I am on a lift I made Claire go on, and now I am having a small panic attack...AWESOME. Claire is doing what any good friend would do in that situation (Laughing hysterically). We made it successfully to the top of the mountain and began to ski down. We go the way we think looks easiest down a mild grade hill when we come to what appears to be a straigt down drop off, after another small panic attack we have no choice but to head down the mountain. Which we did, I went left, I went right, I went front edge, then back edge, I rocked that mountain like nobodys business, Claire was also rocking an rolling on the mountain and when we were done all the people stood up and cheered (ok there weren't any people but had there been they would have cheered). We came, we saw, we kicked that lifts a**. The point is last week, I was broken and defeated never wanting to shred again, but now I know I was born to shred. I was made to shred and I also should get fully loaded before going....... That end my totally irresponsible adventure sno-boarding. For those of you who are now seriously concerned about my mental stability know that I never sno-board without a helmet. Isn't that comforting.... The other point of the story is that in observation of lent I am sacrificing diet coke which I love and is difficult for me. It is a nice reminder for me to pray instead of drinking diet coke and is particularly nice at 1pm, when the kids are at school and I am sitting down to relax instead of diet coke, I am having a nice quiet moment....However, the down side is the one thing I have found to quench that thirst is a margarita....I am not sure that is an appropriate substitute or anywhere near what Jesus had in mind. Pray more, drink more. Just throwing that out there.

Eighteen Days

It has been 18 days since I last blogged which is crazy to me since I feel like I post everyday. As per usual nothing slows down here ever. Jonah has his last basketball game today. I love watching him play basketball because he is so happy and has such a good attitude. Chris and I took Max and Jonah night skiing the other night. The mountain kicked my butt in a big way but the kids had a great time. They are amazing jumping and racing, just having a good ol time. Max gotten taken out by a huge snowboarder racing down the mountain. Chris chewed him out and then Jonah scolded Chris for yelling at the boy. He told his Dad that he should "treat others as he would want to be treated" and he reminded Chris "the other boy could have been hurt too." Chris felt bad, it was a bad crash and he was really scared for Max but in the end Jonah taught him a good lesson. Jonah is seriously the most thoughtful child. He is soooo nice. Max is doing well, he is my cuddle boy. I took the boys swimming and Max just likes to hang with me. I used to think he was a Daddy's boy but I think he likes me OK. Christian is doing great. This whole broken leg has brought out quite a bit in Christian.. things I've noticed are #1 He doesn't talk much, people will talk to him and ask him questions but he won't talk to them. He answers them but he doesn't talk to them. (anyone who knows chris knows what I am talking about, unfortunately I can't give Christian a beer to fix the problem..HEEHEE) I am surprised to see he is a little shy because at home and with his friends he is NOT. #2 a softer side to Christian, he is hugging his mommy again. We went to visit my grandmother yesterday and he sat in my lap the WHOLE time. He was playing with my arms and driving me crazy but the fact that my nine year old boy was cuddling me outweighed the irritation from lack of personal space. He holds my hand when walking and just basically relies on me where for a long time he had thought he had outgrown me. #3 Private Christian, poor kid. He has been so private for so long but not any more. I guess when mommy has to take you potty and give you baths you just kind of loose that. I think overall he just is a little more vulnerable which might not be bad for a kid who is as confident and "naturally talented" as Christian. But never fear that driven Christian is still there. A week after he took off his cast he was swimming, playing basketball, practicing baseball and alter serving. He can stop wearing his boot at home next week and the whole thing comes off on the sixth.

As for me and Chris we are doing good. We miss our family and are really feeling the pressure of our busy schedule and how it affects the extended family. I have had the flu and Chris came home from work to take care of me. I love him. I went to Olympia yesterday to see my grandmother. Her health is failing and I have been really wanting to see her. It was a crazy day, my mom had all my brothers and their kids over at her house so the boys had a nice time with their cousins. We went to grandmas and spent an little time with her until she got too tired. It was nice, I hadn't seen her since my grandfather passed away a couple months ago. It is nice to see her spirits are up and despite the fact that she has cancer she was doing quite well. I missed seeing my grandpa sitting in his chair beside her. It was bittersweet.

It is snowing here again, I think we will just make a fire and stay in. Jonah has his game and then it is p.j time for us. Yeah!! I love relaxing.......