Vander Linden Musings

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!!!

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.

So- I woke up this morning sicker than a dog (not sure what that means). I’ve been able to get out of bed a few times- and none of those times was it to take care of the kids. I’ve found that when you are sick their voices are not the first thing you want to hear!

The boys have gotten their own breakfast, lunch and dinner today- poor things! If BJ weren’t on his way to some country far far away- he would have been able to take care of them- and ME! I was starting to get hungry and I lacked the energy to get up and get something. I could have asked the kids- but they would have gotten me cereal- and that just didn’t sound like my stomach would like that!

I’ve banished the kids downstairs pretty much the whole day- I should get the Mother of the Year award!

Only now have I felt good enough to get up and sit at my computer chair. That is most likely because the hubby is supposed to be checked into his hotel in the Philippines and getting online with us- so I am waiting- since his device (cell phone for those of you unfamiliar with the Helio lingo) won’t work over there.

So in the last couple of weeks, since BJ has been out of town- I have found two reasons to keep him around- shoveling and taking care of the kids while I am sick!

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!

I found a posting of a cache that we would like to get to this weekend. It is a beautiful tribute … I think all would enjoy. Go to www.geocaching.com and where it has a GCXXXX click on that box- the XXXX will disappear. Type in these letters and numbers… R206. This will take you to a cache named “Tour of Duty” Just thought I would share that one with everyone. Read and enjoy!

All right… so BJ left for California Sunday night. Pretty much as soon as he left- the snow started falling. Knowing I would have to shovel I set my alarm early for Monday morning. Ok- so I had to shovel- not so bad- I like to do it… when I don’t have to get the kids to school.

So- before school today- no snow. Thank goodness. As I dropped them off- it started snowing. One hour later- I walked outside and we had 2 inches with really no end in sight- It was coming down like crazy.

I have to go pick Jake up from school at 11:18. The question then becomes do I try and shovel beforehand so that my car does not press the snow into the driveway- making it impossible to shovel- or do I wait until it’s done coming down? You know this would be easier if BJ were in town. I would say to him, “You go shovel now and I will shovel later.” But no- he’s in California on the week where we have to shovel more than once.

I’ve decided this is why we keep our husbands- so they can shovel.

Luckily BJ will be back Wednesday evening- then HE can shovel after the expected Thursday storm… I bet it won’t even snow!