Is dribbling a talent?

Ethan had his very first talent show at school last week..woo hoo. He brought home a paper a couple of weeks ago which stated that the first grade was having a talent show and to please help your child pick a talent to perform. Well...let me tell ya... the Bolingbrokes do not have talents. We don't play the piano, or an instrument, or sing, or dance or whatever it is that talented people do. So...as I'm pondering what it is that my little one can do, I decided that he can do what he does best...play a sport. On Friday Kev and I showed up to watch our youngest outshine all the other children. We were entertained by the other children singing, lip synching to their brothers CD recording, perform back handsprings across the entire floor, perform a Brazilian tai chi dance (not kidding)..and listen to a child who read an entire story that they had written and illustrated themselves. Blah Blah Blah...talent shmalent. Ethan..of course...went last and stood in front of all the other kids and started to dribble like he had never dribbled before. He dribbled in a circle, and in a straight line, and even dribbled under his leg once or twice. We were so proud. Who needs to have impressive musical ability, or have the gift of flipping backwards 50 times, or sing to your amazingly talented musical brothers CD. Ethan can dribble people...that's right...dribble!! Good job son!

Baseball or die

So my little sister Carrie sent me an e-mail telling me it was time to update my little ole blog. It has been a month but I swear it feels like a week since I wrote last. My problem isn't that I don't have time to update, the problem is that the only thing that is going on in my life is a little sport called baseball. I know I wrote about this a couple of blogs ago but this sport absolutely consumes my life. When my friends call me on the phone, the first thing they ask is "are you at a baseball game?"...and 80 percent of the time I am. This last weekend we spent our days and nights in a pleasant, peaceful, tranquil, quiet city I like to call Poci...which is short for Pocatello...as in Idaho. Yep...we had a lovely baseball tournament there and I can't tell you how wonderful it is to watch your boy play on a field that looks like it was built by third graders for a class project. I also love when the field is smack dab inbetween a farm and a working railroad track...very soothing. But...all in all it was a pretty fun tournament.

Notice the amazing field...we were lucky there was dirt to and from each base...

Connor playing in regular season...

Jackson playing in regular season...

Ethan playing in regular season...

Debate

In December of last year, Connor came home from school and we had this little conversation.

Connor: Hey mom, do you want to help coach debate for my class?

Me: Umm, well I have never done debate Connor, so I don't think I would be that much of a help.

Connor: You would be great mom, and besides, you would have help from some other moms.

Me: O.K..well let me think about it.



1 Week Later



Connor: Hey mom, so did you decide if you would help coach debate

Me: Umm, if your teacher needs help then I would be happy to help, but remember I have never done debate so I hope the other moms know how.

Connor: Cool, I'll tell my teacher you'll do it



Next day



Connor: Hey mom, umm so I told my teacher you would help with debate

Me: O.K.. so who are the other mothers helping me

Connor: Well, ummm.. you're it

Me: Excuse me, what did you just say?

Connor: Yea, I guess no one else can do it, so you're it

Me: Say that one more time, because I could have sworn you just said that I am the only one who can coach debate, and as we both know, I have never done debate, so therefore I couldn't possibly coach by myself, so please tell me you are joking.


Connor: Uh.. nope..not joking, but if you don't want to do it, you don't have to...but if you don't do it, we can't have a team, and I really want to have a team.

Me: ................this is me saying nothing.......................Fine, I'll do it but..........oh.........fine.


So here I am 3 1/2 months later, still alive and kicking and nearing the end of my volunteering. We ended up meeting once a week for 2 months, twice a week the last month and every day for the last 2 weeks. Not quite sure how to describe it except that it was moments of pure agony mixed with moments of wanting to murder 7 six graders, followed by some great times getting to know these great kids. Long story short...2 out of my 4 teams won region and are now heading to the state competition on Friday. I guess I can follow a debate manuel...who knew? Actually Kevin says he knew..apparently I am pretty good at arguing, debating and getting what I want...hmmm...aren't most wives and mothers? Wish us luck...we could really use it!!

Take me out to the ballgame.. or 9

This past couple of weeks has been a roller coaster of baseball games and baseball practices and baseball everything. Just this past week I counted 5 practices, 9 games and 1 rain out. Now I am not complaining...not really...but when 4 of the games are held in Spanish Fork, Utah and they are umped by Spanish Fork High school baseball players and you end up playing a Spanish Fork baseball team, tensions can surely get the best of me. Lets just say I blew a cork at the ump and it wasn't pretty people. Anyhoo...this week should be a tad bid better, I think I only have 4 games and a handful of practices...love those boys!!!

I'm baaaack

yo ho yo ho, it's back to bloggin I go...well sort of. I had a nice long bloggin break but I'm glad to be back. I must now condense the last few weeks in one little blog so here goes.

I spent a great weekend in Arizona with my sister Carrie and my mama...we shopped and shopped and oh lets see...we shopped some more. I think Visa called me to make sure someone wasn't making fraudulent charges...but no...it was all me!! Thanks little sista for a great time..you sure can talk!

Then it was on to St. George for a week of baseball tournaments and fun in the glorious sun. Man I miss that sun and warmth and sun..oh and did I say sun? Connor and Jackson are both on super league baseball teams so we spent our days watching about 4 games of baseball and chowin down on hotdogs and gatorade...yummm..

I took the boys to all my old high school haunts...like the Dixie mountain.....my friends and I used to lay out up here on this rock...yep...we did. So pathetic!

Then we spent a fun afternoon with my best friend from high school...Liza...my little Liza..miss you my friend!

And for the rest of my time not blogging, I spent entertaining children...lots and lots of children. These are just a couple of my nephews and my boys at Classic..good times during spring break! Hope you are all doing well, and I cant wait to read and comment on the rest of your blogs!!

Arizona..here I come

I'm off..to a little sun, a little fun, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and I get to do it with my lovely sister Carrie and her hubby Joel..and of course their two adorable children. I cannot wait to get out of this chilly weather. Tyson and Ray Ray..look out, your aunt Chrissy is ready to party !! woo hoo

Birthday boy

Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday I was in the hospital delivering my second son. When I delivered Jackson I knew immediately he looked nothing like me and was 100% Kevin in looks and mannerisms. My first instincts were right on. I miss my little boy. But as all kids do they must grow up, so we celebrated today exactly the way Jackson wanted to. He and I woke up at 7:00 this morning and went to IHOP for a yummy breakfast. To top off his crepes the waitress served up 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream. Yep..an ice cream sundae for breakfast...yumm yumm. During school I brought his class cookies and they sang happy birthday to him..very cute. After school he and I headed to Toys R Us so he could pick out his birthday present. I realized a long time ago that the best way for my boys to get what they want is to pick it out themselves..it works great!.. After an hour of scouring the store he finally decided on a remote control something...I am not quite sure what it is..but after an hour I really didn't care. To top off his day he decided what I was to make for dinner. Of course he chose steak and broccoli on the side. Happy birthday Jackson..I love you! Now stop growing up!

I remember thinking Jackson was so cute, and he wasnt scrunchy or bruised, he was just perfect.

He loved to play fireman

When he was little he had blonde curly hair..he passed as a girl more then once...and he loved corn on the cob!

Nothing like an ice cream sundae for breakfast...

Oscar night

I do enjoy oscar night, even though I cannot stand most of the movie stars out there...especially those who think I want to hear their political views. Note to all movie stars...Christine does not care in the slightest who you think I should vote for or who you like or dislike in politics. I prefer you just kept your mouth shut unless I decide to spend $7.75 on a movie ticket, then you can go ahead and speak your lines...but that's it...get it...got it...good!! Man that felt great. Anyhoo, back to oscar night. As I said, I do enjoy the oscars...I enjoy looking at the clothes the women wear and I absolutely love it when someone does a fashion DONT..it absolutely makes the evening. I especially loved the fact that I was able to Tivo it. I thoroughly enjoyed skipping through all the hoopla..(thank you speeches)..and enjoy what is most important..(watching and hoping that someone would trip over their dress getting to the microphone). Anyone else with me on this?

While the show was on I pulled out a Gingerbread Christmas train kit...that we never got around to doing during the holidays...and a Valentine cookies kit...that we never got around to doing the week of valentines. I figured they would one day come in handy to keep the boys busy...and what better time then last night. I am the best mother ever!!


The boys building a gingerbread train... and not bothering their mother so she could watch the oscars...



the boys pointing out their valentine cookies which they made without bothering their mother...so she could watch the oscars...good boys!!

American Idol..here we come!!

Ever since Christmas our X box game of choice has been guitar hero...of course!! I must say that I am pretty darn good at that game and have been named Numero uno out of everyone in my house. That's right people..I am that pathetic..and proud of it! Well today I went and purchased a new family game..American Idol. Anyone bought it yet? Let me tell you, it is pretty darn fun. The song choices are great and if anyone likes to Karaoke, you will love this game. The best part is that as you are singing, you are either getting booed or cheered on depending on how well you can hit the notes. At the end of the song, you get critiqued by Simon, Paula and Randy. Simon still says incredibly mean things, Randy says "yo dog" alot and Paula makes absolutely zero sense when she talks...Hilarious!




Ethan practically eats the microphone as he sings...

I love watching them sing!!

love my new scanner

So I finally went and bought our family a scanner..after 10 minutes I am not sure what I ever did without one. Our family went on a vacation back in December and I have had these pictures that we paid a small fortune for but had no way of posting. Now with my new toy...I can scan these little beauties and finally document part our trip...woo hoo.




This picture is my alltime favorite...This is a classic Bolingbroke candid photo...I am in the front row enjoying every minute...Jackson is leaning back with a small smile on his face...Connor is posing for the camera...Kevin has a huge grin but is reserved and Ethan has his eyes closed..not wanting to see a thing. My favorite part is the boy sitting next to Ethan..he not only has his eyes closed but is in a full I hate this ride position..not looking or enjoying a thing.



We went and ate breakfast with the Disney characters on our last day at the parks..Once Ethan got his Mickey ears, he did not take them off.

Dont you just love the fake background shots

And finally...we had to buy a picture of us at dinner. Our digital cameras battery died and of course no one had a charger!! Good thing Disney only charges $24.99 for this little beauty..gotta love it!!

HAPPY LOVE DAY!!

Five Alls for dinner and a box of sees chocolates(caramels only)...what more could a girl want? I love you Kevin...thanks for a wonderful day!!

MELISSA IS GREAT!

My cute friend Melissa and I were hanging out on Friday and I made a comment that I needed to get my car detailed because it was so disgustingly dirty. Melissa then decided that she was going to do what only the best of friends would do and that was to take my car and detail it for me. Now...I can keep a clean house, my laundry stays updated, my kids are bathed on a regular basis but for some reason my cars cleanliness gets away from me. I begged her to please not do this for she may hurl when she sees what is under my seats...but she was stubborn and took my car anyway. When she returned my amazingly clean, wonderfully smelling car a few hours later I was so excited that at first I didn't notice the little tokens she had left for me.

Ya'll see the pictures hanging from my sun visor and over my cd player....well Melissa happened to give me these pictures and copies of these pictures for each one of our friends displayed in the pictures. The problem is she gave me all these pictures like....oh I don't know...maybe a month or so ago and I was supposed to make the delivery to each one of these wonderful girls. Well as Melissa found out as she was cleaning my disgusting car...I never made the delivery. Oops..bad girl. Anyway...so sorry Missy Lou...never trust a friend with a dirty car...it just gets blended with all the other crap on my front seat. Now do you see the little note on my steering wheel...it says "Melissa is Great"... yes you are Melissa, thanks again, I love the smell of citrus...mmmmm

spoiled!!

Ipod, cell phone and remote control...all at the same time...I have nothing else to say

Basketball anyone?

My Saturdays the last 5 weeks have been all about basketball. I'm not a huge fan of basketball...O.K.. i'm not even a little fan of basketball...O.K..I absolutely do not like the game called basketball. So my dilemna lately has been how to put on a smiley face for my three boys who all play the stupid sport. Stupid is a harsh word and I don't even know if I hate basketball so much as I hate the smelly gym my boys have to play in. By the time Connors game comes up around 4:00 or later, the gym smells and feels like a steam room or sauna that has not been cleaned in a really long time. What to do? I figured out that if I bring a magazine or a book of crossword puzzles and Kevin tells me when Jackson, Connor, or Ethan have the ball, I only have to look up for a second to see the shot made and then I can continue on with my article or puzzle.
I would just like to point out...for the record...that I love all other sports...especially football and baseball, and I still support my boys even though I would sometimes rather have a soup can dropped on my big toe a couple of times...there..now I feel better


Ethans game in the smelly gym at 11:00 am

Jacksons game in the smelly gym at 1:00 pm

And finally...Connors game in the smelly gym at 5:00

Love that grandma

So...It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I feel bad that I am so late in posting about my sweet grandma who passed away a little over a week ago. It was a passing that brought tears of sadness and happiness all at the same time. Part of my sadness comes with knowing that the generation that went through all the World Wars are passing away. They were and still are one of a kind that went through more then we may never know. At her funeral, my grandmas brother mentioned that when my dad was born, my grandpa was stationed somewhere out of the state in training for WWII. In order for my grandparents to be together before he was shipped off, my grandma would leave my dad with her mother and leave him for a few months at a time before she could see him again. I cannot imagine having to leave my children for months at a time because it was not safe to travel with them. I cannot imagine watching your husband, son, brother, father etc. being shipped off to a war where so many never came back. I cannot imagine wondering every day which one of your friends husbands may die or go missing. Think of your best friends and then put yourself in a position that these women, including my grandma had to go through every day for years. We are so blessed. Love you grandma!!