Vander Linden Musings

OK- so since Gerritt was about 3 years old we have been battling to keep the Christmas myth going. When he was three he noticed the wrapping paper was the same. Every year since then, there has been something we have had to cover up. This year- he started to remark in front of his brother that the myth is not true. I figured it was time to tell him, so that he wouldn’t ruin it for the other two. I took him into BJ’s office, and we told him together. Gerritt sat there with this funny grin like- “Ha, I knew it.” Then I asked him how he felt about it (someone recently told me I should ask my children how they feel about things when a big event happens), and he started crying.

Now, BJ and I were stumped. I sat on the floor and held Gerritt and asked him what was wrong. He cried, “I didn’t want to know!”

Guess we screwed up! Later he told me not to tell his brothers as early as we told him. He also said, “Since I know, can I help you with the shopping next year?” As guilty as I felt- I STILL said no way! He laughed.

I didn’t want to tell my kids the myth- felt it was just a big lie- but we decided to anyway- and now we’ve screwed up our son!!! Oh the joys of parenting!

The boys’ school did their Halloween celebration today… don’t ask me why. Jake woke up at 5 am excited to get dressed- I sent him back to bed only to find that I couldn’t get back to sleep. At 5:30 I got up and woke Gerritt and Jake (not that they had gone back to sleep either) and started getting them ready. They were SO excited! Once I was done with them- I woke my child that received a “Needs Improvement” on his report card in the “listening to directions” portion. I still had problems- he couldn’t get past the needing to eat first- he wanted to dress first. AAAH! Well- we got through the morning. We did it, and I am so proud of us! Here’s my crew…

Gerritt was baptized today.  First he and Jake had a flag football game to win, then we quickly got ready for the baptism.  Ethan, Gerritt’s cousin, was also baptized today.  Gerritt loved to share this day with his cousin.

Here’s a few pictures from our day…

I just dropped Josh off at school.  He seemed very excited.  He saw the girl in his church primary class in line and a huge smile came over his face (I think he’s got a crush).  He’ll be sitting at the same table as her.  Now I get to clean the kitchen without interruption.  I almost feel lonely- even though BJ is downstairs.  I think I’ll blast my Debbie Gibson music and start cleaning.

Seriously what in the world am I going to do with myself???

Gerritt and Jakob are back in school today.  They both were really excited to be going.  After I exercised this morning, I went into their room to get a picture of them sleeping.  What I found was two very excited boys half way dressed already- it was 20 to 7.  Little stinkers!  Josh had his kindergarten open house today.  He wants to be in school now- doesn’t want to wait a week.

Here’s some pics from this morning…

We promised the boys that we would go camping this past Friday. Things happened where we weren’t able to go. Since that was the second time this summer… we had to do SOMETHING for them.

We decided to set the tent up in the backyard and make smores in our fire pit. The boys slept in the tent with our big lab, Jackson. I was a little nervous about that- but we figured Jackson would warn us if something went wrong.

Jake came in around 2 am because the wind wouldn’t let him sleep. Gerritt came in a 6 am since the sun was up- I told him to go to bed- I’m sure he didn’t (he’s not much of a fan of sleeping) and Josh stayed in the tent until Milo came and jumped on the tent to get to Jackson. Guess he figured it wasn’t fair that Jackson got to sleep in the tent and he didn’t.

While we roasted marshmallows Friday night- the dogs begged and begged for some chocolate. To no avail- poor guys. I gave them the crumbs from the graham crackers when we were done stuffing our faces.

Gerritt was an all star in his league tonight. He lost his first game but won his second game. He got a few doubles and made a few outs on first base. It was a fun night.

They’ll all be playing baseball again in the fall. The schedule is kind of hectic- but without the daily dose of some form of baseball, whether it be practice or a game, I’m getting bored! I don’t know what we did BEFORE the baseball season!

Tonight Jake got to play in an All Star game.  The way they do it in this league is the coach of each team picks the best players that they think could be in All Stars.  Three kindergarteners got picked from our team.  Josh was upset that he didn’t get picked- I had to explain to him that he was younger and his chance will be next year.

Jake was really excited that he got to play on a real baseball diamond and sit in a real dug out.  Normally they play on a grass field.   He got a new shirt to go with it- always love the free t-shirts!  Congratulations to Jakob!!!

Today our youngest turned 5. Unbelievable! Our Cinco De Mayo baby! We stayed home and got ready to watch the Jazz win. Which they did- WOOHOO!

All of the Vander Linden boys are Yankee fans!  Gerritt, Jakob and Joshua are all on my side!  It took awhile for Josh- but it happened.  In the begining of April- he was still liking the team that was winning their games- so he was liking the Red Sox more.  But his baseball number is 20 so every time the Yankees game would come on I would call him over to see Jorge Posada- the same number as him.  And we have a guy that sometimes plays first base- Josh Phelps- that every time he comes up- we say- GO JOSH!!!  He likes that!  Anyway- this past weekend when Boston beat up on the Yankee pitchers he was whining that the Yankees were losing!  And he asked for a Jorge Posada jersey- which he will be getting for his birthday!  I transformed him!  My sons don’t have to suffer being Red Sox fans!!!  Life is great!  BJ insists that they will come to their senses and become Red Sox fans- but I think I’m instilling enough hatred for the stinky sox that I think I will win!!!

GO YANKEES!!!