Vander Linden Musings

We had our second games today. Gerritt’s game was at 5 and Jake and Josh’s game was at 5:30. It was fun to try and get back and forth to let them all know THEY ARE LOVED! It’ll be nice when their games are on different days or at least different times! Here are some pictures from baseball…

If you are familiar with Les Miserables… you’ll know the part in one of the songs where Jean ValJean  sings 2-4-6-0-1 rather loud. Well the other day we were at Subway. I went out to the truck to get the boys’ soccer uniforms for them to change into. BJ tells me that while I was out there… Jake and Josh went into the bathroom together. Out of nowhere comes a loud rendition of 2-4-6-0-1. Everyone in the restaurant turned to see where it came from. I guess Jake and Josh simultaneously sang that as loud as they could. I wondered why everyone was smiling and looking at the boys. BJ told me this story when we were in the truck. Jake was in the back of the truck laughing his head off. Guess they enjoy my CD’s!

The season starts the 31st of March.  Gerritt has been practicing for a week.  Jake and Josh start tonight.

Gerritt is in a “league” that does machine pitch.  His coach has a machine in his backyard that I REALLY covet!  I would love to have one!  The boys would love to have it to practice.  So- instead of spending thousands of dollars on a pitching machine with its massive net that protects the neighbors…we went and got a pole that has a swinging ball attached.   Gerritt has a little quirk in his swing that has caused him to say-”I’m never gonna be any good.”  So we thought we would get him and his brothers this little apparatus so they  can practice- after all- if they don’t practice how can we expect them to go play with the Yankees???

Anyway- it’s been fun to use- I even love it!  BJ seems to enjoy hitting with it.  While I tried to nap today- he was out back swinging away with a pop pop pop sound that kept me from napping!

So- back to baseball season- they will have two games a week- plus practice!  I didn’t realize baseball takes up so much time!  There’s no set day for their games either- they are Monday through Saturday- makes life so fun (TIC)!!!

Jake came home yesterday wanting to lose a tooth.  He ate an apple- and forced his tooth out of its socket (it was barely hanging on)!

He got a paper towel for me, I gently pulled on it, POP!  He was SO excited!

When he loses his other bottom one we have to go to the dentist to have them pull his top two teeth so he has room for his grown up teeth to grow in on top.  Then he will have lost 5 teeth- he’s very excited about that number.  Gerritt has only lost 4 with no loose ones in sight.   They’re competing for that 5th tooth.   It’s kind of funny.   Gerritt tried this morning to use some “powers” to tighten Jake’s other bottom tooth right up.   They make me laugh.

Gerritt made it into the ALPS program in our school district. ALPS= Accelerated learning program for students. This program is not held in every school so next school year all of the boys will be changing schools. I’m sure Jake and Gerritt will have another adjustment period- making new friends again- but this will be good for Gerritt. The Utah school system seems to tailor to the children that need extra help- which is good for them- but not so good for children like Gerritt that thirst for knowledge. His teacher has been extra AWESOME this year trying to push him and get him to learn more on his own. She’s been great, but not all teachers are going to be so willing to work with him.

Anyway- he’s really excited. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts when he realizes he’s one of many smarty pants kids. I hope he stays excited!

Gerritt was sick last week- fever and cold and aches… I thought maybe it was the flu but it seemed to go away pretty quickly. A couple days after the fever- or maybe it was at the same time- his legs started hurting- he limped around for three days. This past Saturday Jake and Josh got fevers. Now this morning at 5 Jake comes in our room and says- Dad, my legs hurt when I walk. Josh woke up saying the same thing. Weird.

WHY CAN’T WE GET HEALTHY IN THIS HOUSE? I had a doctor appointment this morning that I canceled in case I’m about to get the flu- according to WebMD you are contagious the day before you get symptoms. And according to the same website- kids can be contagious 10 to 14 days after onset of the flu. WHAT? No wonder the flu flies through schools like wildfire. Gerritt is in school today- is he contagious still? I don’t know- but he’s not missing school- they actually keep track in first grade and he can’t get an award at the end of the year that he is working hard on if he is absent more than 9 times.

So- that’s what’s going on here- bunch of sickos. Grrr….

Well Santa came last night. The kids were excited despite Santa’s issues.
Santa brought Jakob a Lightning McQueen RADIO CONTROL car. We opened the box and there was NO radio control. We get to go to Costco in the mad rush of people returning things- I’m so excited. Santa brought Gerritt a HUGE Pirates of the Caribbean ship that had pictures of action figures ALL over the box… guess Santa should have read the little letters on the bottom… Action figures sold separately. I don’t think Santa would have gotten it if he would have known there were no action figures!!!  Santa also brought a hotwheels race track for Gerritt.  I just opened it checking to see which batteries it needs.  D batteries!  D batteries!  You think I have D batteries???  Again Santa should have read the small lettering!  What’s wrong with her I mean him???  At least Josh likes his bike that Santa brought!  So far he hasn’t complained that it doesn’t have a kick stand!
With these issues… I have decided that stores should be open on Christmas!!!

Anyway- Merry Christmas!!!

Today is his 6th birthday. I can’t believe he’s blessed our lives for 6 years already! That’s gone fast!!!

We were walking to the school today to pick Gerritt up… Jakob started saying how there is one thing that he doesn’t like about his birthday. I said- what’s that? He said, “The birthday spankings and the pinch to grow an inch!” I let him know that that is my FAVORITE part of his birthday!

Last night he came into our room crying inconsolably. After a bit he cried-”I have to go to the bathroom” So he went and did that but didn’t flush the toilet. We told him a bunch of times to do it and all he would do was flip the light on then flip it off. Finally BJ started sounding frustrated with him so Jakob cried, “I don’t know what you’re asking!” I asked him today on our walk if he remembered that- he told me I must have been dreaming. So I told him to ask Dad about it. He said- “If he tells me it happened- then you both must have been dreaming because I don’t remember it!” I’m still laughing about that!
I made a cake tonight for my six year old. This one actually took a little artistic talent- so it doesn’t look very good! I tried to talk BJ into doing it for me but he had to go do the manly stuff and put the bike together! Anyway- please don’t judge! I figure Jake will like it even though it kind of resembles a red and blue blob!!!