In one week, it went from like 70 degrees to 40. Fun times. Nothing new going on with us. Just gearing up for the holidays. This is a picture of Gus waiting for bubby to get off the bus. Oh yeah. Gussie has a toddler bed now. I can't believe how fast he is growing up... Here is a video of my sweetie pie, Evan. I kept taking pictures of him while he was playing on starfall.com. He was super irritated with me. I told him to be nice, and he said "you are so beautiful." I asked him if I could take just one more pic and would he reapeat what he just said...I tricked him and videotaped him instead!
What is it about traveling that makes us so tired? I am STILL exhausted from last week! Don't get me wrong-it was GREAT! I don't know why I am still dragging, though. Cleveland was nice. Sus hired a massage therapist who does rachi (healing touch), and deep tissue massage. I needed it! I was almost in tears as I was getting my massage because it has been too long since I have been a priority. Kids become everything the moment you become a mom, ya know?
Hillary, Susan and I played board games, went to a farmers market and had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. Sunday morning I climbed in the car at 7 am and headed home. Long, lonely drive in the snow!
When I got home, I cleaned and hung out with the boys. Sunday night I worked. Monday was Kendall's birthday. I can't believe she is 3! Birthday party for Kendall and Addy Monday night, Tues-worked at Fitworks till noon and hung out with Craig. (It was his off day.) Wed-I had bible study and a baby shower for all the preggies (Aunt Ju!!!) and then worked last night. So far today, I have drank a pot of coffee and am about to get Evan on the bed. Then I have to ignore the effects of the coffee and try to take a nap while he is gone and Gussie is asleep. Teacher conference at 4:30. Work tonight. Friday-dr appt and work Fri night. Whew. Sorry for all the boring details....I'm sure we all feel like this!
One of my best friends has been in town visiting with me since Wednesday! Yay, Hillary! We didn't get to go anywhere fun, but we had a nice time just hanging out and chasing the boys. The boys love her! Evan is always cuddled up to her and trying to impress her. So cute.
The other night I was washing dishes and wished aloud that we had more space in our condo. Evan (my little grown up) said, "Mommy, if you got the new space saver bags, you could not only keep your clothes clean, but you have space to store them. You can fit 20 sweaters in the space it would take to fold one!" I laughed my tush off. He is so funny sometimes. And yes, we need to cut back on his tv time. He is already memorizing infomercials!
Well-I am off! Hillary and I drove up to Cleveland last night to visit with her sissy. Sus is AWESOME!!!! Can't wait to fill ya'll in on the happenings of Heather without kids! Fun times!
This past week, while working my once a week, 3 hour shift in playland at Fitworks (I get a free membership!) something funny happened.
It all started with Evan wanting a warm chocolate (kids hot chocolate from Starbucks- in Evanese of course!). No sooner than we parked at the gym, E dumped the remaining contents of his drink in his lap. It looked just like he wet his pants. (Embarrassing for anyone, but especially a five year old grown man!)
Since we were 20 minutes early to the gym, I felt like I had time to right the situation. I took off my hoodie and wrapped it like a towel, fresh from a shower! We ran into the locker room and I washed out his khakis. We threw the shorts in the sauna, praying for a miracle! No dice. Wet as ever. Defeated, we went back to the playland so I could do damage control. I didn't want anyone thinking my baby wasn't potty trained!
As I sat there waiting for the other children to arrive, my eyes drifted over to my fat little gefilte fish, Gus. His thighs are a marvel! Then it hit me! Evan is soooooo skinny! Gus is a buster!
Yep. I did it. I swapped out my hoodie for Gus's 2T shorts and let Gussie's ham-hocks go natural in full glory. Evan looked like a dweeb in his too-short, too-tight hot pants, but it worked! Gus loved going semi-commando, too!
I need it. I am terrible! Two noteworthy things happened already and I just got off work 2 1/2 hours ago!
1) I know all children are different. I know I can't compare them....But sometimes the enemy creeps in and gets my mind all mixed up.
Evan has always been a talker. Ever since he was 8 months old and he muttered "mmm boob" at church (Yeah. I ended up nursing him till he was two!) that boy has talked nonstop! Gus, not so much. He just doesn't say alot. This morning, when I got off work, I climbed into bed waiting for the boys to wake up. The wheels started churning in my mind. He's 17 months! Shouldn't he be talking more? I know he understands....Could something be going on with him?
Well right as Craig was about to leave for work, he came into our room and dropped a very pop-tart smelling Gus onto my quilt. As he leaned over to kiss us both, Gus said, "bye Daddy!" I know it's not much-but IT WAS! I know God gave me that moment to knock some sense in me!
2) This morning while I was drinking my morning coffee (and trying to watch The Office from last night), the boys were playing in my room . They love my bed for some reason! After a few minutes, Evan came out and said, "I just rescued Gus. He almost fell off the bed. That's what I'm going to do when I grow up. I'll be a baby brother-sister watcher. I'll watch them so their mommies can get a break and watch tv!" HAHA! Talk about convicted. So, I turned off the boob tube and played with the boys. Gus is down for his nap now....so I don't feel so bad being on the computer!
I haven't really done much this week. I have been cleaning a lot. My Hillzie comes to visit on Wednesday all the way from VA!!! I haven't gotten to see her since thier wedding, so I am so excited! She has never even gotten to meet Gus! (Well, not outside my womb....) She did come down when I was a not so svelte 9 months pregnoid.
In election news, I voted and only waited an hour! (At 6:15 am! I thought I would be waiting at least 2 hours...) Right before Evan went to bed, he asked if he could PLEASE vote for Rock Ovama. I made a pretend ballad and let him vote for his choice of candidate. (Even though it was not who I was hoping he would vote for....) We cast the vote into Evan's memory box ( my collection of memorabilia from his childhood). I think it will be something cute to look back on.
Yesterday I took Evan and Gus over to Aunt Aimee's house and watched Kendall and Addy. We had a blast, but I am SO tired!!!! Those kids (especially Evan and Kendall) adore eachother! For one crazy second I felt wistful that Craig and I have decided to stop with the childbearing. Four was fun! I really do think adoption is in our future, but right now-I'll stick with my 2 little men! :)
We had an absolute blast on Halloween. Craig and I both took off work so we could hang out with the boys. Craig, Gus and I picked Evan up from school and drove straight to Louisville to trick or treat with my sis, Tonya. Aunt Ju, Uncle Joe and Superman Isaac met us down there. Tonya's son Gerrit was Buzz Lightyear and Ellery was a pretty princess. Evan was Darth Vader and Gus was Elvis. So cute!!!!
All went as expected. Evan and Gerrit raced house to house to grab as much sugary loot as they could carry. Joe and I lugged Gus and Issac and Ju pulled a wagon that Princess Ellery (and whomever got tired) rotated out of.
Funniest observations of the night centered solely on Gus. He was HYSTERICAL! The first few houses he snuck past the homeowner and checked out living rooms. After he realized the goods stayed on the porch he wanted to go to every house! He hooked his arm thru his bucket and wouldn't let ANYONE touch it! Not even the candy-passer-outters! They had to hand over the treat so he could put it in his own basket! Then he'd stick his hand out again for more! Soooo funny! The only time that bucket left the crook of his arm was when he accidently bumped into a gobblin figurine (exactly Gus's size) standing on the sidewalk. As soon as Gussie saw what he ran into he dropped the bucket and booked it outta there! HAHAHAH!!!!
So, yeah. We are so stinkin boring! Nothing to report about us at all this past week! Poor Gussie has a cold, with a nasty cough. Evan is wild as ever and Craig and I spent all day today rearranging our home.
Here's why:
Soon after last Christmas, I realized that our teensy home was crammed full with too many toys. We donated some, gave some to family and still HAD A BAZILLION TOO MANY! Craig and I decided to switch rooms with the boys and give them the master bedroom so they would have space to play with their toys. (All Craig and I need in our bedroom is a bed and dressers, so why not?) Then in August, wishy-washy me decided that when Evan started Kindergarten he would wake up the baby every night when he went to bed. (Evan goes to bed an hour after Gus.) So...I moved Gus's crib into the small room with us. Well-really me because Craig is scared of waking Gus up so half the time opts to sleep on the couch. I HATE THAT!!!!
So today we moved Evan into the small room (with Gus) and took back the master bedroom! Whoo hoo!!!!
Only now I am back to square one. I need to find a forever home for a bunch of toys! (not my casa!)
Monday Evan had a field trip to Benton Farms and I chaperoned. I should have known it was going to be a wild ride right off the bat. A few kids started singing that song " I have something in my pocket, it belongs upon my face, I keep it very close to me in a most convenient place"
Well, Evan and a few others had never heard the song before. You are supposed to guess what the children have in their pocket. The correct answer is a great big smile. See if you can guess which one is Evan! "cheese!" "an apple!" "chocolate?" "Do you have a banana in your pocket?"
Yep. Why does MY kid have to be the one to ask that? :)
Then we get to the farm and there is a jersey milk cow who happened to be brown and white. Evan raised his hand when the farmer asked what she made. "CHOCOLATE MILK!!!!!" Um, I wish! It was so funny!
Fast forward several hours to bedtime. Evan was brushing his teeth and came out into the living room screaming, "Oh no! MY TOOTHBRUSH WENT DOWN THE DRAIN! I was playing sink or float and it sunk and went down the drain!" No joke. Craig and I spent 10 minutes trying to dig it out with a knife and fondue skewer before I realized that we could hook part of it (spiderman's arm) with the fishing pole! HAHA! You shoulda seen Craig fishing for that silly toothbrush!
It worked, though. Ah....life with sons is NEVER boring!
Here is Craig Jr....I mean Evan. It's true what they say! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!
Here are a few pictures from last week when Niki and I took the munchkins to Kinman Farm. Gus and Makena went running off every second they saw us busy with Evan and Braden.
Yeah. Evan came home from school today acting extremely quiet. Right as we are about to go to his Chuckie Cheese fundraiser for school he dropped the bomb on me.
E: Mom? You can't vote for John McCain. If he wins, he is going to kill Kahled's family! Me: Evan. That is not true. Why would Khaled say that? E: It's true! John McCain is going to tear down all the buildings, too! Me: Evan. Khaled is just repeating what he hears at home. I promise you. John McCain will never kill Khaled's family. E: You have to vote for Rock Ovama. Me: Barack Obama. E: NO! It's Rock Ovama. Khaled said so. Me: (muttering) Shows how much Khaled knows.
I am speechless. Truely. I am so over this election and all the smear campaigning. I do not watch debates around my child because I don't think a 5 year old needs to be involved in politics of any sort. All he needs to know is the president's name. Uggh. I don't even know who I am voting for, yet my 5 year old thinks he does. Ridiculous.
We have had one of those weeks. Tuesday was great. I took the boys over to Cincinnati. We walked along the Serpentine Wall and played at the awesome park over there. Then we got to babysit baby Issac for a bit so Aunt Ju could go to the baby dr for her checkup.
Wednesday was bible study and that was sooo good! Then I got 4 new tires on my car! I really needed them, too. I hung out with my dad for 3 hours while we waited for my tires and it was sooooo nice. Then, at 7pm my tummy starting feeling gushy. I got sick at 730 and felt a little better. I took a nap and then went into work! I thought I got sick from a vitamin I took. So I got into work at 1030pm (mind you- I work with a baby on a ventilator) and wore a mask-just in case. Well, thankfully their air conditioner was broken and it was 79 degrees. I am thankful b/c that is probably why I got dizzy and went home at midnight. I might have stayed if conditions were more comfortable. I spent all night tossing and turning in bed, but never getting sick again.
Thursday, I got a call from school that E had thrown up at Kindergarten! I was actually sick! And I gave it to my baby! And I went into to work with my little guy on a ventilator! I felt terrible. I brougth Evan home and he vomited every half hour or so until 7 pm. Poor baby! Thank goodness the pukies only last about a day. Friday Evan was bouncing off the walls. Saturday we had flu shots. (Another story for another day. Fun times. UGH.) Then went to the zoo for a little HallZOOween action. All in all, not SO bad.
The past week was pretty lazy. We didn't have alot going on-but some pretty cool things happened! I got to spend alot of time talking to Evan about prayers and God answering (and sometimes NOT answering them the way we wish He would.) It was great!
The Webkinz website was having major problems this weekend and Evan kept asking to get online to check and see if it was working yet. He was praying aloud, "God, I was wondering if it would please you to fix my webkinz? Yes or no. You do what you want!" It was so sweet!
Let me preface this by saying that I know I shouldn't have said it. Let me also say that it is nothing to joke about, but Evan DID know I was teasing him. There! Maybe you will dislike me less now... :)
Evan knows a few children who have divorced parents. For some reason this interests him in unfathomable ways. He talks about it all the time! So...Saturday night he brought it up again. He was telling C and I that if we got divorced he would have two rooms.
C: Evan! You don't want mommy and me to get divorced E: (with a smile) Uh huh! Then I would have somewhere to put my toys! C: So, you wouldn't miss me if I didn't live with you? E: Hello??!!? I would come visit!
That converstion was in the back of my mind last night. I was trying to put Evan in bed and he said he always watches a little tv AFTER Daddy gets home. THEN he goes to bed. (Here comes my naughty portion...)
Me: But Daddy isn't coming home tonight. E: Yes he is! Me: Nah...we got that divorce thing you were talking about last night. E: (giggling) Nu-uh! You're teasing! Me: Nope. Daddy found another girl he thought was prettier than me. E: Now I know you're joking! Me: Why? E: Because THERE IS NO GIRL PRETTIER THAN YOU!
I just love that boy! He just woke up and climbed in my bed to give me a kiss. He said, "Today I am going to give you love and respect. Just love and respect!" Then he moved over so Gus could come say hi. Gussie leaned in for what promised to be a very slobbery kiss and proceeded to clamp down in what I assume was an attempt to rip my lower lip from my face! OUCH!
Ahhh, Such is the life of the mother of boys. One second they are breaking your heart and the next they are making you swoon...
We had a pretty chill weekend. On Saturday, Craig and I took the boys over to my friend Sandy's house. Her and her hubby just built a house way out in the country. What a house!!!! Will someone please remind me if I ever build a house to remember to put the laundry room right next to my huge walk in closet? What a great idea! Sandy can take her laundry straight from the dryer and put it away in 3 seconds! We had dinner and Craig and Jeff did boy stuff like target shooting on their 100 acre land.
Today I watched football and cleaned. Come over! (You'd never be able to tell...) I emptied out a few drawers and threw away papers. (I am a paper piler just like my momma.) I did dishes and laundry. Uggh. That reminds me. My closet is nowhere near my laundry room. So I need to go fold it and put it away. Sorry nothing more exciting to report!
Actually, there is. I have a few friends on mission trips right now. Please keep Margie (Mozambique) and Steve, LouAnn and Stephen (Nicaragua) in your prayers!
I ended up getting into the Dr at 4:15 Monday-Which is EXACTLY when I wanted to go in the first place! Praise the Lord!
Yesterday, I ended up with Gus in his dr's office. Turns out he probably just has a cold, so that's good. He seems a little better than yesterday, but his nose is still a leaky faucet.
In Evan news: Lately he has been asking me ALOT about adoption. He wants to adopt a slew of kids (now!)even though I explained to him that Mommy and Daddy may do that someday- now is not the time. Yesterday when we were waiting for his bus we had a sweet conversation...
E: Mom, when I get big I am going to make a lot of money so I can adopt a bunch of orphans and buy them all the food and toys they want!
Me: That's wonderful honey. You would make a great daddy someday.
E: Well, I might bring a baby home tomorrow. I think I will name him Jacob Disco.
Me: Hmm...I think that would be hard to get a brother tomorrow. Plus, wouldn't it be nice to NOT get a BABY, but maybe a little boy or girl who is already growing up and really wants a family? They would already have a name, too.
E: Yeah well, they might have a name, but everybody loves nicknames! I am going to call the kid Jacob Disco no matter what!
HAHAHA. He is so sweet, but a smidge stubborn! BTW- Jacob Disco is the name Evan wanted to legally change his name to last year! So funny he remembered that. Don't be surprised if you run into him years from now and he has a child named that! He's really hung up on it!
I feel like absolute crud. I worked all night and now that it's noon-I finally get to go to sleep. The problem is that the only opening my dr had was at 2:15. I had to get Evan on and off the bus at noon and 4, so I couldn't really go until after 4. They said if I can't go in at 2:15 (which I totally cannot!!!) then I will just have to go to urgent care. UGGH!!!!!! I wish he would just call something in for me! Why on earth would I wanna abuse antibiotics?!?! Crazy.
I stole an idea from a blog I read recently about mixed tapes. It brought back fond memories of me with my childhood BFF. We used to go into her big brother's room and make tape after tape (then cd after cd) of our musical affections. I have given and recieved several mixed tapes at times....some were of the "I love these songs and you need to broaden your musical palate" variety and some were the heart-wrenching "I think about you all the time and if I was able to express myself the way I wish I could-this is what I'd say" type. In either capacity-mixed tapes, to me, are an intimate encounter. Someone thought about me! OR vice versa, I am thinking of/praying for/loving someone!
Anyhooch, I decided to make an Ultimate Mixed Tape of my life thus far. 13 songs that have meant something to me and have shaped me in someway...
1) Daddy's Girl , Red Sovine- All my poor daddy wanted was ONE stinkin son and he got FIVE daughters instead! I remember sitting on his lap and singing the chorus to this song. I am still, at 29 years of age, a Daddy's girl... " I know I'm daddy's number one,for he loves me like I was his son.." http://www.ourweddingsongs.com/father-daughter-songs/daddy-s-girl-lyrics
2) More Than You'll Ever Know, Watermark- Awesome song that reminds me of my sisters (biological and in Christ). If I need them, they come running! (With food, cleaning gear, etc.) It's so nice to know that they get on their knees and pray for little ol'me! It sure takes some of the burdens off you shoulder when your friends carry your load for you! http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/watermark/more-than-youll-ever-know.html
3)Cold Water, Damien Rice- Three years ago, my step-grandmother was killed in a tragic accident. It hurt so much to think about her being a new story and something people were talking about everywhere I went. She was such a lovely lady. A few days after her funeral, I remember being stuck on a bridge over the Ohio River and hearing this song. I can't even hear the song without thinking about her.
5) We Thought You'd Be Here, Wes King- Craig and I had two miscarriages before we had Evan. It was such a hard time for me. I kept thinking God and I were on the same page, only to find out we weren't even in the same book! Craig and I knew we were meant to be parents we just didn't know when... This song was my torture and my hope. I would curl up in a ball and listen and cry, listen and cry, repeat...Pitiful, I know-but it helped! (And you know we all do it!)Anyway, this artist had gone thru a similar situation with his wife and wrote this song about their journey.
6) The First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes- I love this song. It reminds me of what it felt like falling in love with Craig.
I haven't blogged in several days mainly because nothing has happened. I've been working full time nights and taking care of the boys all day. Most days consist of me wandering around like a zombie until Evan gets on the bus. That's when Gus and I go down for our naps. :)
Here are a few pics from this past Sunday when we went to the zoo with Grammy. It was Gus's first time on the carousel and he wasn't all that impressed. I took a video. Check out how excited big brother was to be on the shark!
I love my kids. And I absolutely love being a mom. That said, there are days I wish I could just lay in bed and not get out. I literally dream of sinking into my mattress, loaded with my soft quilt, flannel sheets and down pillows and feel the fan cooling my toes peeking out beneath the blankets. I want no responsibility. No noise! No sticky fingers grabbing at my nose. No tushies that need to be wiped. No husband asking where the scissors are. No 5 year old cutting up my couch with the scissors daddy provided....
Hmm....How's this for irony? The boys are the ones in my bedroom right now. Gus is just waking up from his nap and Evan must be entertainging him. Gus is squealing with delight. I imagine Evan is playing peekaboo. Maybe he is even underneath my soft, cuddly quilt. Perhaps he's even pillow-fighting with the down pillows....More likely though, he is cutting something up with those darn scissors! Ahhh!!! Better go check on the babes!
Evan is scared when his bathroom door is left open. It's a new fear, but every night like clockwork he says ,"um...you forgot something! THE DOOR!!!" Nothing Craig and I say can convince him there aren't aliens hiding in the dark corners of the bathtub, just behind the curtain.
Well, I just got the boys out of the bathtub about a half an hour ago and Evan is playing in his room. He just ran out here a few minutes ago and said, "Mom! THE DOOR!!!! You left it OPEN!" When I reminded him that he was the last person out of the bathroom, he responded with, "No. It was you. Check the video."
HAHAH!!!! How sad is it that the norm for our children is that everything is being taped? Walgreens, Target, street corners...and apparently my five year olds's room!
Gus and I went up to Mason Elementary for the Susan G Komen Race for the cure. A bunch of my friends met up to walk with our friend Jami. She is such an amazing woman. She has been through so much the past two years...I can't even believe how strong she is! She just had a nasty reaction to chemo this past week and the skin peeled off the bottom of her feet. We all said we would carry her or push her or whatever was needed to get her thru the 5k. Well, she walked the whole thing! I even saw her run! (That's her in the picture with me.)
After the race I went home to watch the Bengals and we had the worst wind storm I have ever seen! Some places nearby registered 82 mph winds! The siding is gone on the side of my mother in laws house, my dad lost shingles off his and our garbage cans ended up about 30 yards into the woods! I am thankful though, that we have electricity. I know so many people are out.
Whew! We have had a busy week since the wedding. Craig was on vacation all week, so I picked up a little extra at work to help the family I work for. It was nice- BUT BOY AM I TIRED! Craig and I took the boys to the Newport Aquarium today and they had so much fun! Gus couldn't believe the big fish! Evan and Craig were all about the sharks. I loved the jellyfish. Man, God created some awesome sea creatures!
I have to go to bed early because I am doing the Race for the cure in the morning!
Wow. We had bible study today and it was SO good! We are studying 1Timothy and I am learning so much about listening to God and also about discipline. God is telling me I really need an attitude adjustment when it comes to my relationship with my husband. I just want to control things! It's my nature! I want things done how and when and the way I want them. I have to let Craig lead in our home. Pray for me. It's really hard! I am seeing how my bossiness and anger dictates our entire day. If I am quiet and yielding to God's will and also to my husband (under God's authority) then great things happen! We are all happy! :) It's crazy how my grumpy butt can bring the whole family down....
Happy wedding day, Hilllary and George LaMay!!!!! (It is also the 8th anniversary of their first date and the 2nd anniversary of their engagement!)
When I woke up this morning, I just had to trust God. I prayed for His will be done. It was POURING outside! It was magnificent and terrible. The wind was blowing so hard trees were bending over. We got our hair done at 9am and when we left the salon I actually had to pull into the shopping center carport to get the bride (dryly) into the car! You shoulda seen us all huddling underneath umbrellas with our hair all fixed up! It would have been funny if it wasn't us and a wedding in the midst...
Hillary kept her cool all day and we were all praying for the sun to come out. We got to the venue amid the deluge and went inside and practiced for an indoor wedding. All the while trusting God was bigger than the storm, but not knowing what he had in store.
Well, guess what!!?!?!? GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS!!!!! Right at 5:30, when the wedding was to start, the sun came out! Hillz walked down the aisle (OUTSIDE!!!) about 20 minutes later. It was perfect. The ceremony was perfect as was the reception. It all fell into place. I am so happy for them!
I woke up this morning and went to tea with the lovely bride and all the bridesmaids. It was SO fun! One of my favorite people (in all the world!!!) Michelle, got me into tea and tea houses a few years back. It is such a way to squeeze in girlie fellowship and also enjoy yummy tea (and scones and dainty sandwiches...I could go on!) Hillary picked out the neatest little tea house where we could browse the antiques and english goodies.
After tea we went straight to the rehersal. We practiced for an outside wedding! I really pray that is how it turns out! Once we finished our practicing, we caravaned to the rehersal dinner. It was the site of Hillary and George's first date! So cute. (AND SO DELICIOUS!) I had crawfish and shrimp beignets for the appetizer, new york strip for dinner, and chocolate cake for dinner. It may have been the best meal I have ever eaten! I will be daydreaming about those beignets for years!
I am off to bed as this is the eve of the wedding. I really hope hurricane Hanna decides to stay AWAY! (Although it is already pouring...)
Craig and I got up at 2:45 this morning and left! CRAZINESS!!!!! We got into the DC area around 1pm, took a quick nap and then it was time for me to go meet the gals for manis, pedis and dinner. Craig met the groomsmen for TOP GOLF. (He wants to buy a franchise now!) http://www.topgolf.com/
Fun was had by all, but I didn't get to see Craig until bedtime and I have to get up early in the morning for a bridesmaid tea! How fun!!!
In Ky news, Evan is trying to switch out Gus for my friend Shannon's baby Alex Emily. He loves Gus, but he really wanted a baby sister! HAHAH!!!!
Craig and I leave tomorrow, Wednesday, to go to VA. I am in the wedding of our dear friends Hillary and George. I am so excited!!!! Please pray for great weather. They are predicting rain from hurricaine Hannah will arrive just in time for the wedding. That is definitely an uninvited guest!!!! :)
I will try to keep up with the blog this week, but it will definitely be a time issue....
I picked Evan up from school today and there was a muslim woman who walked past us and went into the office. I didn't give her much thought until Evan got really excited and started pressing his face up against the office window. He started shouting, "Mom! There's a lady who works with orphans in there!!!! Do we have any toys to give her for the kids?" I had NO CLUE what he was talking about until I remembered the woman with the shawl over her hair. Evan thought she was a nun! I thank God everyday for Evan's heart. He is the sweetest boy I have ever met.
On the way home from Kroger last night, Evan and I were talking about what he is learning at school. He said his teacher went over all the colors and shapes, but everyone already knew them all. They are learning to count to 100 by tens which is something Evan has been working on for a bit... I asked if they still did the pledge of allegience everyday like he did in preschool and he said, "nope. We haven't said it yet." (I am guessing because it's afternoon K? They didn't ban it from public schools did they?) I asked him if he still remembered it and he did! Here is what he said!!!
"I pledge allegience to the flag,
of the United States of America-
and to the republic
for which it stands,
one dalmation, under God
indivisible with liberty
and justice for all."
Now, let me say in his defense....he DID watch 101 Dalmations over at Grammy's yesterday... :)
Evan rode the bus to school today! He loved it....although Craig and I freaked out a bit. I was more emotional today than yesterday (on his first day of school- EVER!) It just reinterated how big Evan is and how much he's grown up. CRAZINESS! Here are a few pics from today along with a video of Evan's interpretation of a bus dance. HILARIOUS!!!!!
Today was Evan's big day! KINDERGARTEN!!!!!! I thought I would cry and be my typical emotional self-but I was pretty calm. It helped that Evan literally forgot all about me the second we entered his classrooom...
Afterwards, on the way home, I asked him about his day. He said he had fun and his teacher was really nice. I asked if he got in trouble at all and he said, "well, a little bit..."
"What did you do?"
"I hit a kid."
"EVAN!!!! Why would you do that? That is NOT how you make friends! WHY DID YOU HIT?"
"The big devil."
"WHAT?!?!?!"
"The big devil made me do it."
"Evan-that is not a good enough excuse."
"Well...I did use my brain."
"How? You didn't use your brain. You used your muscle and that's not good!"
"NO! I used my brain! I was looking at that big, tough kid and all I could think was wrestle!"
AHH!!! It took everything I had to keep myself from laughing out loud!
Wow. Tomorrow Evan starts Kindergarten. I can't believe it. He is SO excited. Thursday we had open house at school and as we were leaving the house to go up there I looked at his shirt. There were three big wet spots on it. I was really annoyed since I had just handed him the clean shirt 5 minutes before....I was about to make him change when the strong scent of Axe body spray wafted up my nostrils.... EVAN PUT ON "COLOGNE" to meet his teacher!!!! He is so cute sometimes I can't stand it.
Gus is a tank. Seriously. It is so funny to watch him lumbering around because his belly sticks out SO far! (Think: overweight daushaunds who have back problems from their tummies touching the ground. ) I figured he would lose weight once he started walking-but that was 5 months ago and the kid keeps packing on the lbs! He recently started pulling his shirt up and rubbing his tummy. It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen! I keep thinking about that episode of Friends when Joey wore maternity pants to Thanksgiving dinner!
When I look at those chubby fingers, thigh rolls, triple chins and beachball-shaped waistline I praise God that my baby is healthy and yes-fat. I am thankful for the nourishment that is provided and the fact that he never goes to bed with a grumbly belly. I can't imagine all the poor mothers who cry in bed wondering how they will feed their children the next day...Or worse yet-there are mothers out there, without even the luxury of a bed, holding a baby dead from starvation. It's horrible to think about how much I take God's blessings for granted....
I detached my retina in four places in high school so I figured it was time (11 years later) to really take care of my eyes and go in for an eye exam. Dr said my vision wasn't terrible, but I do need glasses to limit the strain I am currently putting on my eyes every time I read/drive/watch tv. I took my script and went to look for frames. I had NO idea they were so expensive!!!!
I called Craig and told him the prices on the pair I kinda liked verses the pair I LOVED...He told me to get the ones I loved since we were already spending so much money-I may as well be happy! I love that man!!!!
Little did I know the other shoe would drop a week later....
I had to take Evan in this week for his Kindergarten (!!!!) eye exam. Yeah. He is blind as a bat! I didn't have a clue! He has an astigmatism (little spasms in his eyes when he tries to focus) and is far-sighted! Poor baby! He has to wear glasses at all times while awake. So after he got his exam, special convex lenses, bendy glass frames with special coating on the lenses b/c he is SO rough on stuff- I had to spend over $450! Uggh. That makes $700 spent on our eyes in the last week.
Last night Evan and I were laying in my room. The tv was on, but we were talking about our day. A commercial for St. Jude's came on and I wasn't sure if Evan noticed the children on the screen.
About 10 minutes later Evan asked me why the dr's were "pressing on that kids belly." I was trying to minimize what it was he actually saw (I figured an of exam of some sort) so I rubbed his tummy in a ticklish kinda way and said, "like that?" And he said, "No, it was more like they were trying to take his gallbladder out, or something."
HAHAHAHAH!!!!!! I had no clue he even knew what that was!!!!! So FUNNY the things that come outta that kids mouth.
Oh yeah. Gussie has a toddler bed now. I can't believe how fast he is growing up... 
Here is a video of my sweetie pie, Evan. I kept taking pictures of him while he was playing on starfall.com. He was super irritated with me. I told him to be nice, and he said "you are so beautiful." I asked him if I could take just one more pic and would he reapeat what he just said...I tricked him and videotaped him instead!
Gussie had his first hay ride of the season!
