Harbour Boys

Pajama Day Panic

2009-11-05T19:39:00.002-06:00

Today was Pajama Day at Max's school. At least, I was pretty sure it was Pajama Day. Until I was in the carpool line.

I was about 15 cars back and watching the line to see the kids in their cute pajamas. Only, no one was wearing pajamas. After about the tenth kid, I began to panic.

Is was totally possible that I got the day wrong. My mind started racing from how fast could I go home and get back with real clothes, to how much this is going to cost me in therapy when he gets older. Five more cars unloaded and still no pajamas. Finally it was our turn and I was totally sweating. I was so embarrassed but I managed to ask, "Isn't today pajama day?"

Much to my relief they told me it was. I just happened to be behind a lot of 3 year olds and they weren't having Pajama Day today. My relief was palpable. It's not that I expect to remember everything or make life perfect for my kids, but come on, showing up to school as the only one in your pajamas would be pretty bad.

So here he is at the end of a great day.

From now on, I think I'll start writing stuff down.

Scary, Spooky Sugar Rush

2009-11-02T19:16:00.001-06:00

Trick or treating was truly a treat on Saturday night. I boys are at such fun ages, we had a blast just watching them.

Luke was a Star Wars character (forgive me, I don't know which one), and Max was, of course, Scooby Doo. Here they are in getting into character for the big outing.

Even Scout got in on the action.

Ready to take on the neighborhood.

They had such a hard time waiting for people to answer the door.

The best part was after we got home. They set up shop by the front door and waited with candy in hand for someone to show up.

Of course, Max couldn't resist sampling the goods.

And then they were out.

Spooky House

2009-10-23T09:02:00.000-05:00

This year, I thought it would be fun to decorate a gingerbread haunted house. So Max and I went to the store and picked one up.

As we were beginning to decorate it, I noticed a piece of the top was loose. I told Max not to touch it because I could glue it on with icing. However, as I was mixing the icing I heard the "uh oh." I knew before I even turned around.

He said it was an accident, but I think he really couldn't resist taking a taste of the house. After determining that I couldn't fix it, I just let him have at it. When brother got home, he got in on the action too.

As it turned out, the house was much scarier than if we had put the decorations on it. And tastier too.

State Fair

2009-10-20T08:13:00.003-05:00

One of our family traditions is the State Fair. We didn't make it last year, so we really wanted to go this year. But, as the days went by and the rain seemed endless, it didn't look good. Finally, on the last weekend, the rain stopped, so we loaded up the kids and headed out.

After an hour and a half in traffic and a questionable parking spot (thanks Texas/OU) we made it. And because everyone was watching the game, we had the park to ourselves. So off we went for our Fair adventure.

For the past few weeks, all Max has talked about has been riding a roller coaster. So when we saw this, we grabbed him up and put him on. It was the first ride of the day and had I stepped back to really look at it, I probably would have made a different choice. The poor kids was terrified. When he got off, all he wanted was to go home.

Thankfully we found something a little more his speed.

I love that Luke is still entertained by bubbles.

Luckily for Luke, his mom loves the scary rides. M won't ride them with me so I'm glad to know I'll have a roller coaster partner in a few years.

Finally, we found the ride Max had been dreaming about. It went about five miles an hour and was perfect for him. He loved it and would have stayed on it all day. Luke is there too, but don't ask me why he is so far back.

To make the day even better, we went to one of the best petting zoo's I've ever seen. The giraffe is Max's favorite animal and it just doesn't get better than this.

Until the giraffe decides to start eating your shoe and licking your leg. I thought he would begin to cry but he was reveling in the giraffe's attention.

Luke got in on the action by bonding with the baby goats. He's never shown much attention to animals, but all he wanted to do was pet those babies. I love seeing his sensitive side.

To complete the day, we stopped by the cotton candy booth and indulged in some of the best I've ever had.

Max liked it so much, he licked the stick. If that stick was made of candy instead of paper, I'm sure he would have eaten that too.

And then it was time to go home. Despite the traffic and craziness, we had a great day.

And then we all went home for a nap.

Max's Turn

2009-09-10T17:50:00.001-05:00

Now it's Max's turn to start school. He seems so lonele on the bench by himself. We definitely miss having Luke around.

Max likes his class so far. It's small, five girls and one other boy, but he's having fun. It's hard not to feel nostalgic when I know next year they will both be in school. I have to tell myself to enjoy the year and not go around thinking this is the last Donuts with Dads, the last preschool open house, the last...

First Day of First Grade

2009-09-01T17:45:00.001-05:00

Wow. I can't believe I have a First Grader. He got so big over the summer.

Virginia Water Sports

2009-08-30T17:18:00.001-05:00

Merk went home early, so Dad and I were left to our own devices to keep the boys entertained.

Our first attempt was fishing. Dad's girlfriend Karen lives on an awesome lake and let us use her boat.

Max was more interested in the tackle box than actually fishing.

I know it's hard to believe, but there's a fish on that line. It must have been two inches long. We threw it back.

This one's a keeper!

The next day we took the boys sailing on the Potomac.

It was a picture perfect day and the river was gorgeous. I grew up sailing with my dad so it was great to be on the boat again. The boys were a little scared and were more interested in the bugs than being on a sailboat. All in all, it was a great trip and I can't wait to do it all again next year.

Virginia Camping

2009-08-15T16:25:00.000-05:00

Towards the end of the summer, we took the boys to visit my Dad in Virginia. We always do a lot of outdoor things there and the boys love it. Of course, they always love hanging out with Grandpa Joe. Here are some highlights from the camping part of the trip.

Max helped Grandpa Joe do everything. He was a little shadow the entire trip.

I still can't believe he fell asleep that way.

We went hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I love it there. It is definitely on of my favorite places.

I don't know if he was just tired or if he wanted to make sure we didn't forget him.

All tuckered out.

Summer Fun

2009-07-20T16:01:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. It's been too long. But what's the point of summer if you can't take some time off?

Here is a not-so-brief recap of our summer so far. Enjoy!

Water fun in the backyard.

Naps!

The loss of a first tooth.

Hiding in a closet during a storm and a dramatic change in our landscaping.

A trip to the beach!!!

Me and my honey!

A visit to the Blue Angels. It was 100 degrees that day but nothing could keep us from the air show.

Luke at his Little League All Star Game.

Fourth of July Parade.

Building Legos. We do this almost every day. At this rate, I think I may qualify for Master Builder status soon.

And that brings us up to date. Only one month left until school starts. By far, this is the best summer we've had and I'm loving every moment, despite the relentless heat. Thank goodness for good friends, swimming pools and slip-n-slides.

Cuteness in a Bottle

2009-05-19T07:54:00.004-05:00

Luke had his kindergarten music performance last week. He had so much fun. They sang about 20 Disney songs and it couldn't have been cuter.

Don't you love the ears? I couldn't believe my 6 year old boy, who is very into being "cool" thought it was super cool to wear mouse ears in front of an audience.

We've had such a great school year. While I was so proud of him, I was a little sad to think that this year passed us by so quickly. I seriously doubt he'll be wearing mouse ears in the first grade.

Talent

2009-05-15T12:01:00.001-05:00

I know many of you have young children with special talents. Maybe they can already read or are awesome at throwing a ball.

Mine sleeps standing up.

We are so proud!!!

You Did What?

2009-05-14T11:52:00.004-05:00

For Luke’s birthday, he got a Star Wars game for the Wii. He loves that game and plays it every weekend. It turns out that I like it too but Luke and I have very different game playing strategies. Luke is more interested in the color of his light saber and fighting the bad guys. I’m all about the money.

We’ve had the game two months and only play it on the weekends, so I was pretty proud of the 300,000 coins we had accumulated, especially since Luke and Merk are always charging ahead and never let me run around to grab up the money.

Well, yesterday, I was tired...bone tired. So when Max asked me if we could take a nap together, I jumped all over the idea. He takes about four naps a year, so I wasn’t about to miss a golden opportunity for some daytime sleeping, which we all know is the best there is.

To occupy Luke, I decided he could play on the Free Play mode of Star Wars. It’s easier for him and he can pretty much do it all by himself. Little did I know what that little rascal was about to accomplish in the next hour.

So Max and I napped and it was awesome. Every so often, I would hear Luke whoop and laugh. I knew he was okay and having a good time so I kept on sleeping.

Then, he comes charging in. He was so excited and kept saying something about Darth Maul. Honestly, I don’t understand Star Wars so it wasn’t enough to get me up, until he started talking about all the characters he had purchased. Purchased? What? That was enough to get me up.

So I go see what he has done. He was so excited he could barely talk, but managed to show me the roughly 20 new characters he bought...with MY Star Wars money. He used all 300,000 of it. You’d think I would be sad, but I couldn’t stop laughing. The clever boy figured it out and once he got started, he just kept going. Sounds like someone else I know.

Now the play money is gone, the kid was happy and I got a nap. All in all, it wasn’t a bad afternoon. But I suspect nothing’s going to get done around the house this weekend because mommy has to rebuild her Star Wars stash.

All That Is Easter

2009-04-22T16:41:00.006-05:00

I realize Easter was last weekend, but I just got my act together enough to put up a post. Nothing crazy, just a general lack of enthusiam on my part. Also, with school starting to wind down, it seems like every day I get a note about something that needs to be bought, sent or made for one of the boys. It's exhausting.

Anyway, here is our Easter. We hunted for eggs, had our faces painted, played with small animals and worshiped the rising of Christ. All in all, we had a wonderful Easter season.

We also took our yearly Easter photo. I'm proud to announce that the tradition holds. My kids will not sit and smile for an Easter picture. At other times of the year, they do great. But at Easter, well, it hasn't happened yet. This is a sampling of what we got instead.

What are you going to do? Even though they won't give me a picture, I still think they are great!

Battle Hymn

2009-04-10T09:01:00.007-05:00

My husband came home with a funny story yesterday. I laughed so hard, I thought it would be fun to post it here.

He was in a meeting with a bunch of people, including the president of his company. Towards the end of the meeting, the president stands up and gives a "go get 'em, we can do it" speech. In the middle of this speech, some guy starts to hum the Battle Hymn of the Republic. You know, "Glory, glory hallelujah".

Then he switches from humming to actually singing the words. Before long, the president joins in and they get louder and louder. So here they are, singing as loud as they can while the other people in the meeting are in shock. The newer people have eyes as wide as saucers and the veterans are shaking their heads. Outside the room, heads are popping up over the cubicles like gophers.

They finally wind down, the president gives this guy a pat on the back and leaves the room. Well, you guessed it, that guy was my husband. I would say I couldn't believe it but actually I can.

There are a lot of things I love about him, but being able to sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic in the middle of a meeting without any reservations is definitely at the top of my list.

Big Birthday Boy

2009-04-06T22:19:00.005-05:00

Max finally turned four last week. I say finally because he's been through with three for the last six months. If you asked him how old he was, he would say "I don't know but I'm not three." Well, now he's four and he's proud of it. He has told everyone he sees of his new age, and if you know my shy boy, that's saying a lot.

We had his birthday at a little gym and he absolutely loved it. Look at that smile.

All his friends wore themselves out.

This was the best part for them. He didn't know he was going to get to ride a motorcycle.

Happy boy, happy day. We love you big boy!!!

Ah-Ha

2009-03-30T09:47:00.001-05:00

My kids love to take baths. What kid doesn't? The actual bath usually only lasts about 5 minutes and then they play until the water turns cold.

Lately, Max has been begging to take showers instead of baths. For the longest time I couldn't figure out why. I mean, they're not really that fun, we don't have toys in there and the boys are at the height where the shower spray hits them right in the face. But every time, Max just begs to take a shower.

Well, now I know why. Look what I found in the shower this morning.

Apparently, Merk has been giving them candy in the shower. I guess that's one way to get the job done.

Birthday Boy

2009-03-27T10:04:00.009-05:00

It's been three weeks so I guess I should put some birthday pictures up. Luke had a super hero party this year, complete with a dozen friends in costume.

Here he is practicing his moves before the party. Actually we ended up buying a new bat suit the night before. We tried is old one on (the one he still played in constantly) and I discovered it was way too small. I don't know why I hadn't noticed. Anyway, his new suit has more "power" so he's pretty happy.

Everything was a battle. Bubble blowers were turned into guns and sticks turned into swords. They loved being "tough guys."

Merk put on a super hero training camp. He planned it out all by himself, down to the last detail. I think he had as much fun as the kids.

My proud six-year old.

Good friends.

I can't believe he's six. I can't believe he's almost completed kindergarten. I can't believe how much he acts like a big boy now. I'm very proud of him.

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

Scout the Adventurer

2009-03-26T20:00:00.000-05:00

This is our dog Scout. She is almost 8 years old and couldn't weigh more than 100 pounds soaking wet. We love our dog, even though she is a Goliath. She's also an escape artist.

So on Tuesday when I opened the door to a strange lady holding Scout by the collar, I wasn't too surprised. This isn't the first time she's escaped. One time she got so far, a lady had to drive her home. You should have seen Scout when she got out of that minivan. She couldn't have been more proud of herself.

Well, this time was different. First of all, the stranger turned out to be my next door neighbor, who I've never met in the four plus years we've lived here. Not once. Four years. It's not that we haven't tried, but they are extremely reclusive. The won't answer the door, kids are scared if the ball goes into their yard, kind of neighbor.

So here she is on my doorstep explaining what happened and all I could think of is "Are you really my neighbor. You don't look so scary. Why don't you ever come out of your house?"

Anyway she turns out to be nice and Scout was returned safe and sound. The funny part is, this neighbor, who I wasn't even sure existed, actually rescued Scout from a ledge in the alley.

Here is a picture of the ledge.

Somehow, Scout climbed up there and couldn't get down. I wish I could do a reenactment and take a picture, but she does weigh a 100 pounds.

So, at the end of the day, it turns out I do have a nice neighbor who is willing to physically pull my enormous dog off a ledge. I also have a very tired dog who is still afraid to go near the gate. SCORE!!!

Not Kidding

2009-02-28T11:25:00.005-06:00

This is how I found Max last night when I went to tuck him in. I can't believe he fell asleep like that. I guess he was just too tired to make it all the way into the bed.

The funny thing is, odd sleeping is not a new thing for him. Check out these pictures from the past few weeks...

Win Some, Lose Some

2009-01-09T18:04:00.001-06:00

Here are a few of pictures of the boys from Christmas. I say a few because our camera went crazy right before Christmas and only one out of every ten pictures came out.

After the initial sadness of not having many holiday pics followed by a heated argument about how our old camera should have been replaced a year ago, Merk brought home a new camera. I wish I had a picture of it because look what it can do. When's the last time you saw him so happy?

Happy Husband. Happy Wife. Happy New Year!

Sleepless Christmas

2008-12-30T20:29:00.005-06:00

The eve before Christmas Eve, my husband and I were given a priceless gift, an entire night to ourselves. Woohoo! The kids were sleeping over at their grandma’s. We gladly packed their Spiderman suitcase with more toys than clothes and sent them off.

With the kids safe and sound (and supposedly asleep), we decided to take full advantage of our short window of freedom. We called some friends and headed out to party like rock stars. Well, if you know us at all, you know we’re not that adventurous, but we did play Guitar Hero until well past one in the morning. And so, as we fell into bed around two, we were blissfully happy knowing we could sleep as late as we wanted without any middle of the night potty runs or water requests. That was the idea anyway.

The trouble started at 4 AM when my Mom called us to come get Luke. He was completely done with the sleepover and was coming home. So there I go, in my pajamas and slippers to rescue my five year old from the monsters that live at his grandma’s house.

He was so sweet standing there in his pajamas and coat, his eyes still red from crying. I couldn't be mad at him. So I grabbed him up and brought him home. Trying to salvage the night, I fell asleep thinking at least we only had one kid to deal with in the morning, no problem.

I realized I was wrong before dawn when Luke was wide-awake and very excited about Christmas Eve. In his mind, we had a lot to do to get ready for Santa. In my mind, I was desperate for sleep and couldn’t believe what was happening to our perfect night/day off.

Max joined us a little later but things weren’t quite right and they fought and fussed all day. It got so bad the “if you don’t behave I’m calling Santa” line was used more than once.

Finally, after they fell asleep during the Christmas Eve service, I called my mom and asked her when they went to bed the night before. “11:30” she said, as though that is the normal time for a 3 and 5 year old to go to bed. “What!” I screamed, my head spinning around about three times. “Why did they go to bed so late?” “We were just watching a movie,” my mom continued, confused that I was upset.

After five minutes of this, I gave up in defeat. I did, however, come to several conclusions.

1) No more sleepovers until Luke can drive himself home.
2) There’s no such thing as free babysitting.
3) I’m too old to stay out until two in the morning; I don’t care how much fun it is to play Guitar Hero.

How cool is this guy? I'm still smitten.

Christmas Standouts

2008-12-22T09:30:00.011-06:00

When I think about the Christmases of my childhood, there are a handful of memories that always come to mind. Hanging the stocking with my name glued on in felt, putting silver icicles on the tree and setting up the manger scene with half a dozen sheep who only had three legs (it was ancient even when I was a kid). There was also the gigantic Santa we put on our front porch. No one else in the neighborhood had one, so of course, I thought we were pretty cool. Now it would be considered tacky, but I still have very fond memories of that Santa.

With my own children, it's interesting to see the parts of Christmas that stand out for them. For Luke, it has been the song Angels We Have Heard On High. He is obsessed with that song and sings it constantly. When he sleeps, we put his CD player on repeat so we don't have to go in there every three minutes and turn it back on.

Max has been obsessed with the Nativity. Merk and I collect Nativity scenes so we have about 15 of them set up this time of year. In early December, I put one in each of the boy's rooms. Max now has four in his room. He would have more, but I had to put them out of reach. It took me awhile to figure it out, but he was taking figures from different sets around the house and setting them up in his room.

This may explain his funny behavior at his preschool pagent this year. They made the mistake of putting Max on the end, right in front of the living Nativity (pre-k kids). He was overwhelmed. He spend the entire show with his back to the audience and staring at the "real life" Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus.

We thought it was funny. I'm not sure the other parents felt the same way.

Luke was also very concerned this year that our tree wasn't up in time. He literally wore us down over Thanksgiving to get that tree up. These pictures were taken on Sunday when we finally gave in. Notice that there's no staging in our tree photos. Normally I would put them in Christmas pajamas and take a lot of pictures. Not this year. After Luke asked for the 100th time, we just put the thing up.

In hindsight, I'm glad we did it that weekend. They both love the tree and take turns every morning turning it on. The both have to do it, so one turns it on, then the other turns it off and then on again.

So now we're down to only a few days until Christmas. This has been a very sweet season for us and I pray that it is for you as well. Thanks for keeping up with us and we want to wish a very Merry Christmas to our dear family and friends.

Sleeping Issues

2008-12-16T08:58:00.002-06:00

If you've read this blog at all, you know that Max has sleeping issues. We've been through 25 stuffed animals in the bed to sleeping on the floor and the ever present sleeping backwards on top of the covers. Now, he's into the flashlight. Won't sleep without it.

The fact that my child sleeps with a flashlight doesn't really bother me. If it makes nighttime easier I'll vote for it every time. Now if I could just remember to go in and turn the stinking thing off.

It's a small price to pay except have you bought a package of C batteries lately? Robbery.

Fall Fun

2008-12-14T13:26:00.000-06:00

A few pics of our fall activities.

Here's Max as an Indian at his preschool Thanksgiving Feast.

The sandwich he's eating is as big as his head.

The kids had a blast with their cousins. In my opinion, you can't have too many cousins.

Especially if they have a drum set.

Even a pile of leaves can provide hours of fun.

Now we're ready for Christmas!

Christmas List

2008-12-12T17:10:00.001-06:00

It's official. Luke has made his list for Santa. We gave him a toy catalog and let him mark the things he wants. As you can see, he's quite optomistic.

Apparently he didn't get the memo on the budget. How many motorized cars does one kid need?

He's also interested in a couple of kitchens.

Let's not forget that we need two bounce houses, a trampoline and a pink playhouse. The playhouse was promptly scratched off when I pointed out that it was pink. He was so focused on checking things off, I don't even think he noticed.

Halloween Fun

2008-11-11T08:18:00.000-06:00

A little glimpse of our halloween fun.

The boys loved climbing this spider web.

We waited 30 minutes in line for Luke to have a turn on this slide. I don't know what we were thinking.

Their favorite part of the night...batteling.

A pre trick or treat cookout with friends.

Ready to go.

And they're off. They had a great time. Max really got into it this year. Now if I could just stay away from all that candy.

Fall Pictures

2008-11-05T15:47:00.007-06:00

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks.

A trip to the pumpkin patch.

Max exploring his individuality.

Luke and Merk's T-Ball team.

All Our Redneck Glory

2008-10-10T09:53:00.004-05:00

Growing up in the South, there's a soft spot in my heart for for rednecks. Merk, however, has never fully embraced my less than cultured upbringing ... until last night.

Here's what happened:

Late in the afternoon I got out Luke's old clothes to see what I could pass down to Max. One box had Luke's favorite pajamas, so he spent the better part of an hour trying them on. It didn't matter to him that they were almost uncomfortably small, he was just happy to be in his old Spidy pj's again.

When Merk came home the kids were still in the old pajamas. So imagine my surprise when he said he was taking them to see an old Jeff Gordon car, pajamas and all.

So yes, at 7 pm on a weeknight, my husband took our kids out in public in their pajamas to see a NASCAR. If that's not a redneck move, then I just don't know what is.

Here are the pictures to commemorate the event.

2008-10-07T09:13:00.009-05:00

I knew I was behind on my posting when I had to look up my Blogger password, but I didn't realize it had been six weeks until I logged on and saw that kindergarten picture. Wow. A lot has happened since then. Let me try and catch you up.

It all starts with Kindergarten. I can honestly say I wasn't prepared. For starters, coming off a lazy summer did not prepare me for getting a sleepy five year old up at 6:30 every day. And getting that same five year old into the bed and asleep an hour earlier, well that has been almost impossible.

But the real trouble has been with kindergarten itself. To say it wasn't what we expected is an understatement. I'm not going to go into the details, but let's just say it put me into a state of shock that lasted almost a month.

To add to that, Luke took a long time to make the adjustment. He cried every day for four weeks. Every morning he would beg not to go and usually made up an illness to make his point. In fact, this became so common that one morning when he said his stomach hurt, I didn't believe him. It was only when he started throwing up that I realized that he really was sick.

Where we live, you can't transfer a child until December so we've been forced to wait it out. I'm glad we did because he turned a corner a couple of weeks ago and is doing better now. Honestly, we were very close to becoming a homeschool family. Can you imagine that? It's amazing the things you will do when pushed against the wall.

So as soon as we passed all that, I turned 39. When did that happen? I still think I'm somewhere around 32 and am genuinely shocked when I see a new laugh line or wrinkle.

Adding to all this, there have been men in my house for the past month. The shower remodel that was supposed to take two weeks ended up taking three months and required a parade of big mac loving plumbers, tile guys, painters and a varied assortment of odd and end guys to get the job done. I stopped even trying to learn their names and just called them all Johnny since over half of them were named that.

So I've been preoccupied and getting through the day seemed like a big enough accomplishment. But realized that I would lose a lot if I stopped. How else will I remember that Max fell on the sidewalk and had a huge scab on his nose for his school pictures. Well, there may be proof of that one, but not how Luke almost broke his arm trying to kick a ball with both feet at the same time. Or how Luke got three Yankees out in one inning of his t-ball game and how Max wore snow boots to school on a 95 degree day.

So I'm back. And to welcome myself back, here are a few photos from the past six weeks.

I can't believe how big he's getting.

First day of preschool.

Look Ma, no tee.

One awesome birthday cake.

Snow boots in September.

Big Day

2008-08-25T23:37:00.010-05:00

We made it through Luke's first day of Kindergarten. I've said it a hundred times today, but I can't believe we reached this day so quickly. He's growing up so fast and I miss him already.

Slow down Luke. I know you are already so big and strong, but you are still the infant I held in my arms just yesterday. I know you are excited to learn, but I'm not done teaching you yet. You are racing towards the day when your friends will be more interesting to you, but I'm not willing to stop cuddling you.

There's so much about you that is ready to bloom. I can't wait to see the person you will become. But you have to forgive me, because as proud as I am of who you are growing into, it's the little boy with the blue eyes that I will hold in my heart forever.

Oval vs. Circle

2008-08-12T17:24:00.003-05:00

Luke, Max and I were lying in bed this morning, snuggling and enjoying one of our last lazy mornings together before kindergarten.

For no reason, Luke starts studying the space between the bed and my nightstand. Then he proclaims to Max, "Hey Max, your head can fit in here because your head's an oval. Mine won't because it's a circle."

What? Where did that come from and why is he thinking of fitting anyone's head into such a small space?

What do you want to be?

2008-08-04T11:46:00.002-05:00

The other day, I asked Luke what he wants to be when he grows up. He replied policeman.

Then I asked Max. "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Max's reply... "a grownup."

Middle of Summer

2008-07-31T13:14:00.006-05:00

It's the middle of summer and we're just hanging out. The kids are at day camp this week and though it's been nice to have some time to myself, I'm reminded that there's one month left until Luke goes to kindergarden.

Quite frankly, I keep asking myself if am enjoying Luke enough during what's left of the time that he's still my sweet preschooler. I think so because we are having a great summer.

Lots of swimming, two or three sunburns, playing with friends, board games, ice cream, very little clothing and a lot of goofing around. That pretty much sums everything up.

Here are a few of the latest pics. As you can see, it's go big or go home with these guys. They're either naked down to their skivvies or they're dressed head to toe in costume.

I'll never understand them but I sure do love them.

Double Longs

2008-07-24T07:55:00.000-05:00

For the life of me I can't figure this out.

It's summertime in Texas and my oldest son refuses to sleep in anything but long sleeved pajamas. There's no room for compromise here. He flat out will not wear the short ones. Even if I put them on him, he will sneak into his room and put long ones on again. It's a battle I've decided not to fight.

So here's to the tall, skinny (and apparently cold) kids out there who love their long p.j.s.

I threw this in just for fun. Wrestling is a daily occurrence around here.

Bedhead

2008-07-19T09:05:00.001-05:00

And I thought my hair was a mess in the morning. Max wins hands down.

Dragon Breath

2008-07-14T15:22:00.002-05:00

Max is doing great after his surgery. As you can see, he enjoyed his weekend on a pure sugar diet.

The only issue now is his breath. I never knew a sweet child could smell so foul. It's funny how it snuck up on us. Yesterday I went into his room to get him up from a nap and thought he had an accident in his pull-up. No, no accident, just dragon breath.

At least his sleeping habits are back to normal.

The Beach

2008-07-10T12:32:00.005-05:00

How do you boil down an entire vacation into one post. It's long, but I think this will cover all the basics. After all, what more is there to a beach vacation than some sun, sand and the ocean?

Luke and Max's first look at the ocean.

The first time to experience sand.

First dip.

Max decided he preferred writing in the sand to swimming in the ocean.

Crab hunting.

One of the crabs.

Brave Luke.

Merk and Max dug a hole.

It was huge. Merk even put in stairs and seating so Max could have friends over.

This is pretty much what we did every day.

Max got more adventurous as the week went on.

See, I really was there.

More beach fun.

A great time was had by all. Now we're ready to go back.

What?

2008-07-08T19:18:00.005-05:00

Poor Max. He can't hear. Over the past 6 months, he's lost 30% of his hearing in both ears. It's not really funny, but it has led to some interesting moments around here.

Last Saturday, Merk was getting the bacon out of the freezer. The kind we buy comes in a huge package that I fold to get into the freezer. As Merk was getting it out, he commented on how I folded it calling it a "book of bacon." Poor Max, he misunderstood and said, with all seriousness, "I don't want bugger bacon."

Tonight, as we were cleaning up, our dog Scout was being a pest and trying to lick the dishes in the dishwasher. I know it's gross, but at least they were dirty dishes. Anyway, Merk was tired of it and told Scout to move her nose. A minute later, we look up to see Max with a tissue literally wiping Scout's nose. He thought Merk asked Scout to wipe her nose and he was helping her out.

On Friday, Max is having tube and adenoid surgery to help with his hearing. They think he will get most of it back, which is a relief for all of us. But I will miss some of his little misunderstandings.

Blue teeth courtesy of a 4th of July bomb-pop.

Where Have You Been?

2008-06-23T15:59:00.004-05:00

Here.......

Just got back from the beach yesterday. At least we're home physically. My mind hasn't shown up yet.

We had a great time so there will be more to come. Prepare to be overwhelmed with the photos of the sun, sand and our children as they experience the beach for the first time.

Chores

2008-06-09T07:45:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I had a ton of things to do. Luke was standing next to me as I was making my list and I asked him if he was going to help with my chores.

He looked right at me, through the eyeholes of his batman mask, and said, "No, I'm going to save the world."

Well, I guess that says it all.

Do Not Fear

2008-06-05T07:58:00.001-05:00

This is what Batman does on his day off.

Yes, it was 95 degrees outside, but Batman must always be ready.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!

2008-06-03T14:04:00.006-05:00

I can't believe it's been eight years. I've been thinking about you a lot today and feeling very nostalgic. So, in honor of you and our life together, here are the top 10 reasons I would marry you all over again.

You are just as handsome as you were when we started dating.

You make me laugh, even when I don't want to.

You will sit through a stupid tv show just to sit next to me for an hour.

You are an amazing dad and always have time to play with the kids.

You never make the kids feel like they have to work to get your attention.

You don't complain when I serve you peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner, again.

You're idea of the perfect date is a trip to the mall (so is mine so this works great!).

You spend time listening to me, even though I know you're tired and have a million other things on your mind.

You bathe and get the kids ready for bed every night so I can have a break.

You let me stay up reading and never complain that the light keeps you awake.

You have a tender heart and put other people's needs before your own.

You have a heart for God and have been an incredible spiritual leader of our home.

Okay, so that's actually 12, but who's counting. I could go on but I'll stop there. I'm so glad you're my husband and my sweetheart. I'm glad to share my life with you and couldn't ask for a better partner.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!
xoxoxo

2008-06-02T12:25:00.001-05:00

Thursday was Luke’s last day of pre-school. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard. We really enjoyed the past four years of Mothers Day Out/Preschool and it seems like a whole chapter of our life has ended.

The funny thing is, we were never supposed to go to the Heights in the first place. When I quit work, I enrolled Luke in a different Mothers Day Out program. But halfway through the summer, they called to tell me that they closed his class and I would have to find somewhere else. I panicked. School was starting in 5 weeks and I had to find a program. After calling all over town, the Heights was the only place with a spot for him. Obviously, we took it.

What a great decision. Max goes there now and a year and a half ago, we became members of the Heights. Sometimes I am amazed that we found a church home that we love, all because they had a spot open in their CDC back in the summer of 2004. I shouldn’t be amazed, God works like that.

Here are a few pictures taken by a sentimental mother on her son’s last day. They remind me of such a sweet time in his life.

Night Moves

2008-05-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

Max has trouble sleeping. Every night we tuck him in and he pretty much stays in his room. He doesn't cry or beg to get out or extend his bedtime. But when I check on him before I go to sleep, I discover that he's been busy. Often very busy.

Sometimes it's just a few (or a dozen) animals he brings into his bed. Sometimes he empties the entire contents of his closet. Other times he takes everything off his bookshelves or opens his windows. We don't know why he does this, but it's turning into a running joke around our house.

Here are some recent pics of his nighttime activities.

Look At This

2008-05-15T19:20:00.004-05:00

About a month ago, I was working in the yard and found a bunch of bulbs in the bottom of an old pot. I was actually going for the dirt (you get desperate when you run out of potting soil) and found them by accident. I didn't know what they were but planted them anyway. I thought it would be a fun surprise.

Well, all that came up was leaves. Big, tall leaves. No flowers or identifying marks. Just leaves. I finally gave up and resigned myself that I planted leaves in my back yard when I saw this:

Look at that. There really is something in there after all. I just hadn't waited long enough. We all know there's a lesson in there, but I'll let you think on that yourself. For me, I'm going to go outside and spend some time with my leaves.

Hairspray

2008-05-14T20:27:00.003-05:00

I was putting my hair into a ponytail today when I discovered that I needed hairspray. Not much, just a little to keep the shorter pieces out of my face. So I begin my search. I was pretty sure I had some, even though I hadn’t used it for several years.

After about 15 minutes, I realized it was probably lost forever. Because I was somewhat desperate, I decided to check Merk’s side of the bathroom. Voila! Not just hairspray but the economy size.

It pays to have a husband who is interested in his appearance. But one who uses more hairspray then me? I have to think about that one.

Big Mistake...Huge!!!

2008-05-13T21:56:00.004-05:00

Warning! Don't read if you have a sensitive stomach! However, if you like to hear about gross stuff happening to people like me, by all means, read on.

I learned a very important lesson today. We've had trouble before with our water efficient toilet and Max, the 3 year old who loves to use half the roll when he takes care of business. This is a combo I'm aware of and solved with the permanent addition of a plunger in the bathroom.

However, today I failed to consider a fairly significant change in the above routine...Augmentin. Yep. You guessed it. My Max has the D word. Add in the previous two factors and you have me, screaming at the top of my lungs for the toilet to please, please, please not overflow. Max is standing next to me crying because I'm screaming at the toilet and then at him to GET OUT OF THE WAY. Max made it in time. I was not so lucky. Neither was my bathroom, which was flooded. At one point it was so bad that I caught myself thinking, "If only he had thrown up on me. I'd be out of the shower by now and this would be over."

Everything is cleaned up now and thoroughly sanitized. If you come to my house in the near future, you will notice the complete lack of anything in my bathroom. There's no longer a basket with reading material (you know you have that too). No spare rolls of toilet paper or even a plunger. I threw it all away. I would have burned it, but I don't think the city lets you do that anymore.

Max is now banned from my bathroom and I will be having nightmares about this day for a long, long time.

Mothers Day

2008-05-12T09:29:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was Mother's Day and it was great. Pretty typical really, beautiful flowers, gifts, lots of hugs and kisses.

But the whole time, I kept thinking about how lucky I am and that Mother's Day is not a day to celebrate me but a day for me to be thankful and celebrate the gifts that I have been given. And I've been given a lot of them.

A husband who is sweet and who treats me like I'm special all the time. Who lets me sleep in when I need it and is happy to make a peanut butter sandwich on those nights when I just can't pull dinner together. Who never lets a day pass without telling me he loves me - I couldn't ask for more than that.

And yet, there is more. Two boys who, though challenging, make me smile on a daily basis. Who amaze me with their growing minds and sense of wonder and humor. Who are always there with a hug, even when I didn't know I needed one. Who let me relive the beauty of life through their eyes and let me see that there is joy in the simple things.

So yesterday was beautiful and I am thankful. Thankful to be reminded that no mater how rocky my life gets, I have more blessings than I will ever know.

I Feel Safe

2008-04-25T23:23:00.005-05:00

A few pics we took the other day. The boys are serious about their super heroes.

Yes, those are Snoopy's goggles Max is trying to wear. I guess once you suspend reality, anything goes.

I'm Back

2008-04-20T20:55:00.004-05:00

Just a quick post to let you know that I am back. Thanks to a little storm that hit Texas almost two weeks ago, I have been in computer no-man's land. No e-mail, no internet, nothing. I have to admit that it was nice to take a break for awhile, but I am definitely glad to be up and running again. And, on a brand spanking new computer no less.

Yes, we are now the proud owners of a Mac mini. We were mac owners before, but when we took the old one in to get repaired, they told us to forget it. So now I have a computer sitting on my desk that's smaller than my Bible. Unbelievable. Compared to my old mac, this one is like driving a Cadillac. You'll have to forgive me if you see little smiley faces pop up from time to time. I'm just that happy. :)

Taken Out

2008-04-10T19:56:00.004-05:00

A sweet friend of mine is letting me use her computer to post a quick message.

Last night's storm took out our modem and it will be next week before the new one gets here. I guess Merk and I need to update our technology a bit, but I'm from a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" family so it takes things like this to make me realize how out-of-date our electronic stuff really is.

I'll be back online next Monday or Tuesday, I'm sure with a lot of interesting things to say. It might even be more interesting since I'll have a lot of time to make stuff up.

:)

Strange Addiction

2008-04-07T08:03:00.006-05:00

I'm usually not one to air my dirty laundry on the Internet, but in the hope of getting help, I'm stepping out there with this one.

If you know me at all, you know that I love to read. I don't like horror or romance, but give me a good novel about almost anything and I will read it. Last year I even read a book called Thirteen Moons about a Civil War soldier who goes to live with the Indians. Sounds good doesn't it? Well, it's not unless you're a 65 year old man with a fascination with Indians and the Civil War. But I read it. All 400 plus pages.

Lately, my Mom introduced me to Philippa Gregory and I'm now hooked on historical fiction. Specifically Henry VIII and his many wives and children. I can't get enough of it. Not only am I reading whenever I get a chance, (at the moment, it's The Queen's Fool), but now I'm seeking information from additional sources.

Last night, when I should have been in the bed, I was on the Internet. Merk came in and asked what I was doing. I had to come clean because it was on the screen. I was looking up Queen Elizabeth. He just shook his head and left.

Yes, that's right. Instead of searching for some great strappy sandals or sundresses, I'm reading about historical figures, who they were related to, who they married, killed, had children with and of course, what they wore.

All of this is addition to the several movies I've seen lately on the subject, not to mention a certain Showtime program that I have to sneak over to my Mom's to watch because we don't have Showtime. I am truly addicted and for the life of me I can't figure out why.

Hopefully, now that I've admitted my problem, I can get out of the sixteenth century. I've only got 100 pages left on my book, and since the kids no longer take naps, it will have to wait until tonight. Once I finish, I will take a break for a while. I promise. It's the last one. Really. No more. Scouts honor.

All About Max

2008-03-31T07:52:00.006-05:00

In honor of his third birthday today, here is a post dedicated to the things that make him uniquely Max.

His favorite color is yellow and his favorite animal is the giraffe. In our house, we are constantly asking which came first, yellow or the giraffe. To this day, we still don't know if Max likes giraffes because they are yellow or the color yellow because it's the color of the giraffe.

He has three security items...coo-coo, coo-coo and snuggie. Yes, I know there are two coo-coos, but hey, they are his so I guess he can name them whatever he wants.

Coo-coo, coo-coo and snuggie go everywhere. And they are a set, to they usually go everywhere together. Thank goodness he's content to leave them in the car.

He's very mechanical and loves to build things.

He's also my helper and is the first one to pick things up when it's clean-up time.

His favorite tv show is Dora the Explorer. We don't know why. Thanks goodness for Boots or we'd be worried.

He loves all things having to do with art. Stickers will entertain him for hours. He also loves to paint on real watercolor paper when he goes to his Babbie's house.

He is very literal. If you say, "How's my little monkey?" Max will say, "I'm not a monkey, I'm Max!"

He's deathly afraid of the dark and monsters. He sleeps with two nightlights, a lamp and his closet light on. He also brings most of his stuffed animals into his bed as protection against the monsters.

He adores his big brother and follows him around constantly.

He has a smile that usually gets him what he wants. Shame on me, but I just can't resist.

Happy Birthday Max. No matter how big you get, you will always be my baby. You have delighted me since you were born and you grow more special to me each and every day. I pray that God will watch over you and protect you and that you will continue to grow in your knowledge and love of Him. I'm so proud of the boy that you are and can't wait to see the man that you will become.

0 and 5

2008-03-24T09:04:00.006-05:00

0 and 5. Yes that's a sports reference. However, being so completely not into sports, I'm not sure I got it right. I think you get the point.

For five years now, I've been trying to get a good picture of my kids at Easter. Even when we just had Luke, we never got a single good picture. Now that there are two, it's impossible.

In theory, it should be easy. They're already wearing the nice clothes and there are baskets of candy lying around to use as bribes. Really, it should work...but somehow it never does.

Here are the results of yesterday's efforts.

Okay, not bad. Maybe this will be the year.

Two frames in and already tired. This is not looking good.

And now it turns into a game.

The candy bribes are not working.

Even a change of location didn't help.

And the record holds. It's a good thing I'm an optimist. I'm sure we'll get one next year.

Spring Break? More like Spring Broken.

2008-03-20T09:32:00.000-05:00

I was so excited for Spring Break this year. The kids didn't have school and I had plans. Plans to get together with friends from other schools, plans to play outside and general plans to have fun.

This year, it wasn't meant to be. On Friday I came down with bronchitis. Actually, I think I had been coming down with it for the past two weeks, but it hit on Friday. And when it hit, I was down.

How I long to use this post to detail all my ailments, to go on and on about the ins and outs of my five days on the couch. But that's not what this post is about (you're welcome). For me, it's about watching my life but not participating in it. It's a really odd feeling. So, from my drug-induced haze, here's what I observed.

1. My husband rocks.
2. If you eat every meal out of a paper bag, the sink is always clean and the dishwasher empty.
3. The trash is a different story.
4. Noggin and Disney have children's programming on ALL DAY.
5. Children can function nicely and have a great time even if their clothes don't exactly "go" together.
6. When held captive on the couch, one can watch too much Nascar.
7. If you're not careful, toys cars and super heros can become permanent fixtures and even seen as decorative items in your den.
8. Children, when left unattended, will not hesitate to "color" the tablecloth on your dining room table.
9. If you forget to put a pull-up on your child before he goes to bed, you will have twice as much laundry the next day.
10. Men are capable of washing mounds of laundry. They are not, however, capable of folding it.

Those are the highlights. I'm sure I could have thought of more, but my cough syrup had codine in it, so much of my memory is bit fuzzy.

I'm back on my feet now and getting back to normal. If you see Merk, make sure you give him a high five. He deserves a gold medal for his performance last week. At the very least, I hope to make him dinner tonight, but I'm not sure if he will see that as a treat or a punishment. Ahh, the plusses and minuses of getting back to normal.

Punching Not Allowed

2008-03-15T16:47:00.003-05:00

Here's the conversation I walked in on today.

Merk: "Luke, did you just punch your brother?"

Luke: "Yes."

Merk: "Go to the naughty chair, now."

Luke: "But I didn't punch him very hard."

Boys clearly have a different perspective on right and wrong.

All About Luke

2008-03-10T09:07:00.004-05:00

In honor of his 5th birthday today, this post is all about Luke. Here are a few of the things that make him our Lukie Pookie.

His favorite color is blue.
He sleeps with a blue pillow named Snuggie.
He loves Nascar and his favorite driver is Kurt Busch.
If Luke rides in the car after 4 pm, he will fall asleep.
He loves football and can name most of the teams by looking at their logos.
He likes to "verse." In a sentence..."I can't wait to play soccer today. We're going to verse the Mustangs."
Everytime he plays t-ball, he thinks he's going to be on tv.
His favorite food is macaroni and cheese.
He likes things scary now. He won't let me fast forward through the scary parts in movies anymore .
He loves to snuggle and is easily the best snuggler in our family.
He doesn't like art or art projects.
His favorite toys are super heros and power rangers, followed closely by dinosaurs and hot wheels.
He likes numbers and can count to 100 on his own.
He hates wearing clothes and takes them off every chance he gets. This goes double for church clothes.
He wears a super hero or power ranger costume almost every day.
He loves milk and would drink 5 cups a day if I would let him.
He loves to sing "rock and roll" and his favorite CD's are The Backyardigans and U2.
When he grows up, he wants to be a daddy.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy. You are so unique and special, you amaze me every day. I pray that God will watch over you and protect you. I pray that as you grow, you will continue to grow in your knowledge and love of Him. I am very proud of you and love you with all my heart.

Rite of Passage

2008-03-07T16:14:00.009-06:00

Before it gets away from me, here are a few pics from Luke's first soccer game. His team is the Tigerbats, which Merk thinks is impossibly cool.

Soccer is a strange animal to me. Growing up in Atlanta, it was practically non-existant. I didn't have a single friend who played it so I don't quite understood the fuss. However, in Texas, it is the thing to to, so we're doing it. Actually, I want to expose Luke so he can make an educated choice.

So far, he likes it. He doesn't understand much yet, but he seems to be having fun.

I'm also proud of him for staying on the ball and going for it, even though once or twice he went the wrong way.

Watch out or he'll block you.

A few karate moves thrown in just to mix things up.

Snow Tastes Good

2008-03-04T07:55:00.005-06:00

What a fun morning we had in the snow. Luke was ready to go out as soon as we woke up. In my book, 6:45 is a bit early for romping around in the snow, but since we seldom get the chance, we jumped, literally.

The first thing Luke did was throw his body on the ground and begin making a snow angel. I didn't know he knew how to do this, but if you didn't know better, you'd think he was a pro.

Then he went face first. I'm not so sure that was a good idea.

We had a couple of snowball fights. They were'nt entirely fair. Luke would come up to me and ask me to make him a snowball. Then he would throw it at me. He was having so much fun, I didn't care.

Max finally got brave and made his own snow angel.

Now we're drying off and getting ready for school. I am tempted to keep them home so we can play some more. But for me, preschool is like gold, so they're going. By the time they get home, it will all be gone. At least we had a very happy morning.

From the Mouths of Babes

2008-03-02T14:01:00.002-06:00

This afternoon, Merk and I were cleaning up the house. I just finished one project and was trying to decide what to tackle next. As I was thinking through my options, I made the comment that I should do the dishes, but I really wanted to do something else because it seems like I'm always doing dishes.

I didn't realize Luke was playing in the floor behind me until I heard, "You can always do the laundry."

I'm Not Ready

2008-02-27T22:41:00.004-06:00

And so it begins. And I'm not ready. I'm so not ready.

Here's a note I found in Luke's backback today. It's got the word love on it and I have to admit, I'm a little freaked out.

I do think it's cute and probably perfectly normal for a 5 year old girl. But we're just not there. Not anywhere close.

Thankfully, for now, Luke is completely oblivious to stuff like this. These days, the only way a girl could get his attention is if she dressed like batgirl and knew how to fly. Hopefully, we can keep it that way for awhile.

Anyway, anynomous girl, whoever you are, I think you've got good taste. And just so you know, I love him too.

I Got Played

2008-02-26T22:18:00.000-06:00

I just got played by my almost 3 yr. old.

I’m minding my own business watching a little TV with Lea when the gentle voice of Max echoes down the hallway, “I need to go poo-poo. Ah yes, the one phrase that’s a free ticket out of the covers and on to the commode. Freedom from the shackles of sleep. (And yes, before I continue, I do realize that every time I blog it’s about #2. What can I say… It’s my muse ☺) Anyway, Max played the “poo-poo card” and bought himself another 30 minutes out of bed when he should have been asleep a long time ago.

After perusing a stack of 8-10 books, I pried him off the potty only to find nothing in the toilet. He even leaned over awaiting toilet paper as if I wouldn’t notice his little scam. Although he said nothing, his eyes said, “Sucker!” as he scurried back to his bed.

Beware of the “poo-poo card”. It’ll get you in the end. Get it. Oh well…

Merk

Boy Talk

2008-02-25T07:53:00.002-06:00

At lunch yesterday, Luke asked me if he could be excused. Obviously, I asked why. He said it was because he wanted to look in the mirror. Again, I asked why.

"Because I want to see what color my food makes when it's all mushed up in my mouth."

How could I say no?

Whew!

2008-02-22T10:42:00.003-06:00

Finally. Here's my latest quilt. It's a combination of all the quilts I've made so far. I really love it, but it took forever to make, probably because I seldom got more than an hour to work on it at a time.

So it's off to the long-arm quilter to do the actual quilting. I'm a little sad at this part because I'd like to do the whole thing myself. Unfortunately, my machine is only big enough for baby quilts. Anyway, I'll be snuggling under my new quilt in a couple of weeks. I'll also be back to blogging since I won't be so preoccupied. Hopefully.

Manners Need Work

2008-02-04T15:06:00.000-06:00

Yesterday Merk and Max were snuggling on the sofa. Max dropped his pillow and said, "Daddy, I dropped my pillow. Get it."

Merk's says, "Max, what do you say?"

Max replies, "Quick, quick, quick!"

Who has been teaching this kid manners? Oh yeah, it's me. It looks like I've got some more work to do. :)

#2 Minister

2008-01-29T22:49:00.000-06:00

Max is learning to serve. However, I have to say it’s a service that’s not always wanted. Seems he’s building a ministry of sorts within our house, traveling from one bathroom to the next. Yes, he’s a #2 Minister.

If you have to “take care of business”, he often times magically appears and pulls up a stool to keep you company. He even brings his own books as to not make you uncomfortable or self-conscious. Although, he often asks you to read because you are a captive audience.

I’ve seen his ministry flourish with his older brother. It’s not uncommon to see Max retrieve books, toys and even remove his brother’s socks upon request all while Luke is… er, um… pre-occupied.

So, the next time you invite us over and you need to excuse yourself to use the facilities, beware if the door cracks open. It may just be our young pastor of poop calling, doing a little outreach work. -- Merk

Atlanta - Part One

2008-01-28T09:43:00.000-06:00

In an attempt to break out of the winter doldrums, I'm going back a few months to our trip to Atlanta. We go there every fall to visit my family. The boys love it. Here are some highlights from the trip.

These are real pictures. We were the last ones off the plane in Atlanta and the pilots invited them to sit in the cockpit. I thought the hat was a nice touch.

They actually have fall in Atlanta and the Luke couldn't get enough of it. Here he is admiring a tree.

My Gran has a great backyard. This is the swing that my Papa built for me when I was a little girl.

Gran reading to the boys. She's so special to me. Luke and Max love her as much as I do.

I've Got Nothing

2008-01-21T19:29:00.000-06:00

I don't know where I've been for the past two weeks, but it obviously hasn't been on the Internet. I don't know what happened or how I let so much time go by. So, in an attempt to put something on my blog I came across these pictures from early January. Notice the shorts and t-shirts. Hard to believe, considering how cold and dreary it's been lately.

Anyway, these are some pics from when my Dad and Karen came for a visit.

More presents.

The boys adore my Dad and this picture is pretty much what went on all weekend.

I don't know for sure, but I think he secretly likes playing with their toys.

What a sweet twosome. Max wouldn't take a nap that day because he was afraid of being away from his Grandpa. He finally passed out in Dad's arms.

This has nothing to do with my dad's visit, just Max being silly. Notice the sunglasses are on upside down.

A Few More Christmas Pics

2008-01-06T10:30:00.000-06:00

Cousin Harley giving Max a haircut.

Ready to join America's Team.

Tired lion.

It's hard to find a place to sleep at Babbie's house.

Luke and Max with Gran.

Animal Planet Gone Wrong

2008-01-02T23:34:00.001-06:00

Have you ever watched a seemingly harmless show on Animal Planet only to realize a little too late that the beautiful lioness that you were pointing out to your children is about to do something terrible to a poor, unfortunate animal? You know how it goes…you’re watching and then all the sudden you’re scrambling for the remote while at the same time jumping up to stand in front of the tv so your children don’t see the bloodbath that’s about to happen.

Well, we had a real-life showing at our house this afternoon and my children had a front row seat. Here’s how it went down.

We were playing in the den when we heard our dog Scout making a lot of noise on the back porch. Obviously I went to the window and just as I pulled back the curtains, there’s Scout grabbing a rat in her mouth, twisting and shaking it as she is doing the death dance. I screamed at the kids to move back, but of course they didn’t. I ran outside and made her drop the rat, but I was too late. The poor thing was seriously hurt and it was clear, it wasn’t going to make it.

We called Animal Control and they took it away. Of course, Luke was standing in the windowsill to get a better view of the recovery. Then he asked for a better look at the now-dead rat in the cage as it was being carted out of our once peaceful home. He asked the guy, “Is it dead?” He said, “Sorry buddy, I think he is.” Then Luke said, “Okay.” And that was it.

I’m still not going to let my kids watch Animal Planet unsupervised, but they seem to have a better grasp on the circle of life that I thought they did.

As for Scout, she’s gained newfound respect from Merk. He’s so proud of her. Finally, she got her dog card.

The Christmas Season

2007-12-29T22:45:00.000-06:00

We survived. Although it was busy, chaotic and at times a little insane, we made it through. Here are some of the highlights.

A few days before Christmas, we decided to take in the lights. We made it all the way to Deerfield and sat in traffic to see what was supposed to be an amazing light display. Unfortunately, one street in, we hear Max say, “I have to poo-poo.” That was the end of the light show.

On Christmas Eve, we got the kids all dressed up and took them to the Christmas Eve service. They were very excited, but 10 minutes into the program, they both fell asleep. Normally, I wouldn’t mind, but I had hoped to get them to bed early so Santa could come.

Speaking of Santa, Luke was so excited, he couldn’t sleep in his bed. He literally slept in the doorway so he wouldn’t miss anything. Very cute.

Santa finally came. I don't know who had more fun. Luke and Max are at the perfect age and we loved watching them take it all in.

We had a great morning. My family came over early for breakfast and to watch them play.

Later we ate dinner at my Mom’s house and Max spilled water on his pants. Thank goodness it was warm, because even on Christmas Day, Max found a way to run around without clothes on.

To top it off, we finished our Christmas with a trip to the emergency room. On Friday, Luke and Max were playing swordfight and somehow, Max picked up a non-sanctioned and approved “sword.” Three hours later Merk and Luke are sitting in Acute Care. Thank goodness for Dermabond.

All in all, we had a great Christmas. We hope you did too.

Taking A Breath

2007-12-23T10:04:00.000-06:00

For me, this is the best part of Christmas. I know, Christmas Day is still three days away, but for me, this is it.

It’s the quiet, the calm before the storm that I enjoy so much. Everything major is done. Presents have been bought, wrapped and are sitting under our tree. Cookies have been baked and baked and baked. The house is clean. Cards have been sent and received.

All the hard work is over and I can sit and reflect. It’s when I look at my kids with wonder at how God created them. When I look at my husband with gratitude for who he is and not what errand he can do to help me out. When I can savor my family, who I know will drive me crazy before Christmas Day actually arrives.

This is the day when I really appreciate the meaning of Christ’s birth and what that means to me. When I sing Christmas Carols with gusto and feel joy in my heart. After today, I have a hard time sifting through the chaos. Not that I don’t have moments throughout the Christmas season, but only when it’s really quiet am I able to listen and really worship.

So today I’m listening. Tomorrow I will be running again. Family will be here. Cooking will begin. Gifts will leave and more will arrive, begging for a place in my home. The kids will be tired and overwhelmed.

So, Merry Christmas to my dear friends and family. If you’re reading this you know how much you mean to me. My prayer for you is to experience quiet in the midst of the chaos and the joy of Christ as we celebrate his birth.

Hairy Ornament

2007-12-20T20:38:00.000-06:00

The other night we were decorating the tree and I found my favorite ornament. It is orange and yellow with feathers that stick up everywhere.

I was pointing it out to Merk, saying someting like, "I really love this ornament." Out of nowhere, Max busts out with, "Hey, that looks like my hair."

Except for the orange, he was right on.

For reference, here's a typical picture of Max.

Birthday Boy

2007-12-14T18:33:00.000-06:00

What a cutie pie. Can you believe he just turned 40? Yes, for the two people out there that haven't heard, Merk recently had a big birthday.

I thought Merk might have a hard time with this birthday, but he's handling it pretty well. He decided not to color the gray, but is holding fast to the decision to continue shopping in the Nordstrom's youth department.

I love these old pictures of him. He's absolutely adorable. He has so much personality, even as a kid. Luke's just like that now. I'll be very proud if he grows up to be like his Dad.

Merk and his younger brother, Boyd.

I have so few pictures of the two of us, but here's one we took recently. I have to say, he still looks pretty good. More importantly, he's a great Dad and an awesome husband. I'm a very lucky girl.

Happy Birthday Sweetie! You have my heart and all of my love. xoxoxo

Crazy Busy

2007-12-10T14:26:00.000-06:00

We had a very busy weekend. Can you tell?

Thanksgiving

2007-11-30T09:41:00.001-06:00

Here are a few pics from our Thanksgiving. This year was a little off for us. Max was sick for the entire week. The only time we left the house was to visit Merk's brother and his family on Thanksgiving day.

Here's Luke at the kid's table. He was sitting on a low chair, so there were times all we could see were his eyes and hair peeking over the table. But we couldn't get him to move because he was attached to his cousin Will the entire day.

Max slept through Thanksgiving. Poor guy. When he woke up, everyone was having dessert. So Max started his dinner with dessert and we fed him real food later. I don't think he minded that arrangement at all.

Here the kids are tackling Uncle Boyd. He was such a good sport. They must have done this for at least half an hour. Merk got in on the action too, but I'm sad to say there are no photos of that.

Atlanta - Part Two

2007-11-29T10:28:00.000-06:00

You just can't get a decent pile of leaves in Plano. In Atlanta, they are everywhere.

Buckeyes never get the credit they deserve.

Where's Max?

2007-11-28T23:34:00.001-06:00

It looks like Max was busy tonight.

I wonder what he was going for?

Now I've got to go in and clear all that out. What do you think my chances are of getting him back under the covers without waking him up?

UPDATE - He did wake up. It's no wonder. Here's what I found in his bed:

24 small animals (thanks to the Little People Alphabet Jungle he got last year - it looks like he's missing two animals), six Little People, five stuffed animals, two Little People pirate ship things, a camera, three books, two cavemen, two pirates, one dragon, two pieces from a doctor's kit, two balls and my favorite, a bus with a hippo hanging out of the back.

In the morning I showed him the pile and asked why he put all that stuff in his bed. He said he was scared a monster was going to eat him. I guess all the stuff was his form of protection. Poor guy.

Last night we let him keep his door open. This morning we found him with just three little animals. I'd say that's progress.

Four Going on 40

2007-11-21T08:31:00.000-06:00

It's been three weeks since Halloween and my kids are still craving candy. The pumpkins have been put away and the candy hidden, but they still ask for it every day.

Last night, Luke came up to me and told me that he hadn't had any candy all day. I told him that he did have candy, he had a lollipop and fruit snacks and that was enough.

He looked at me for a minute, smiled, then said, "Well, you got me there." Then he left.

More and more, I feel like I'm talking to a little Merk.

Now if only I could get little Merk to take out the trash.

T-Ball

2007-11-09T21:08:00.000-06:00

Last weekend was our final t-ball game and I'm a little sad. For eight Saturdays in a row we were up early for Luke's game. At first, he mainly loved wearing the uniform. He liked to bat, but he could barely stand to be in the field. He spent quite a few hours playing in the dirt and asking if it was time for snacks.

As he learned to field and throw the ball he started having fun. He even made up a game where they got points for fielding a ball. Towards the end of the season, t-ball started to look a lot like full contact football as Luke and his friends would tackle each other to get the ball. Honestly, it made it a lot more interesting for the parents as well. T-ball is not the most exciting game to watch. There are no strikes or outs, just lots of encouragement.

Merk ended up being one of the coaches so he and Luke were together on the field. I think he secretly loved it. It must be part of reliving his t-ball days. The only drawback for Merk was that we played the Red Sox every game (this is what happens in the fall when there are fewer teams). It was like the movie Groundhog Day except even worse, because the Red Sox are Merk's favorite team and he was forced to root against them every Saturday.

Max is not a big t-ball fan. He would clap really big when Luke came up to bat, but other than that, he was pretty hard to entertain. He was more interested in lollipops and snacks than baseball.

The funniest part of the season was Luke's earnest belief that he was going to be on t.v. As we left for every game, he asked, "Am I going to be on t.v. today?" Of course, we would tell him he wasn't going to be on t.v. but it never stopped him from asking.

Manners?

2007-11-06T08:12:00.000-06:00

The boys were playing trains this morning as Merk went in to say goodbye. Granted, they were a bit distracted, but here's how it went:

Merk, "Bye guys. Daddy's going to work."

Max, " Bye Daddy. Thank you for coming."

Ouch.

Halloween

2007-11-03T08:57:00.001-05:00

It seems like Halloween lasted forever this year. Between two fall festivals and trick or treating, the kids were getting used to dressing up and getting candy about every three days. Luke loved it because he dresses up all the time. Poor Max was getting tired of being a giraffe.

Luke as Captain America. He couldn't get over having muscles.

Max coloring to pass the time until it got dark enough to trick or treat.

Going through the neighborhood with our friends Ethan and Emily.

I thought this picture was so cute, mainly because you can see all four of them. Luke and Ethan were so excited, they would run to the next house before Max even made it down the sidewalk of the last one. But Max hung in there and eventually made it to every house.

The boys enjoying their haul.

I hate that this picture is blury, but this was Luke's favorite part of Halloween. At our church's fall festival, he had a chance to fight a storm trooper. He thought it was the absolute coolest thing. He did it twice and then we practically had to pull him away because he couldn't take his eyes off the storm trooper. I have to admit, it was pretty cool.

One More Time

2007-10-29T11:27:00.001-05:00

We’ve all heard it a million times. We’ve probably sung it at least half a million. But when your child is doing the singing, well, that’s just priceless.

Here’s Max’s rendition.

Notice how independent he is. He gets upset when Merk tries to help him with the hand motions.

By the way, this was probably the 20th rendition we heard that morning. Each one was followed by “one more time.”

I love it!!!!!

The Weather

2007-10-22T17:45:00.000-05:00

In Texas, we're notorious for having crazy weather. The past three weeks have been georgous. Cool enough that you know fall is coming, but still warm enough to spend a lot of the day outdoors.

Unfortunately for us, we seem to have been under the weather more than we've been outside enjoying it. For the past three weeks, at least one family member has been sick. This weekend, we were three for four. Not good.

Things are looking up though. The weather finally turned cool and I only wiped one nose all day. Spirits are running high and we are looking forward to the Fall Festival this week at our church. The kids will put on their costumes (Captain America and a giraffe) and we'll collect more candy than we need.

Stay tuned. Cute halloween photos to come.

Boy's Mom

2007-10-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

I hate to admit it, but lately, I have been struggling to be a "boys mom." I know that's an odd thing to say since I've been a boy's mom for 4 1/2 years now. But lately, I look at my little boys and see aliens. As adorable as they are, little boys are so different from anything I have ever known.

I don't know exactly how it happened, but I was raised in a family of women. I have close bonds with the women in my family, but the men weren't around much and they certainly were not a significant part of my life.

So here I am, the lone female in a house full of testosterone and I find myself lost. All I've ever known is girl stuff. This crazy, energetic, jump off the furniture because you think you can fly, stick spaghetti up your nose because you think it is funny, beat your brother up because you want to practice your punches, world is so foreign to me.

Did you know that Spiderman and Superman are not on the same team? That Lex Luthor can't fight Captain America but can fight Superman or Batman? I just learned all the names of Thomas' friends and now there are dozens of superheroes with complicated relationships that I have to figure out. There's also Nascar, Rescue Heroes, dinosaurs and sports. Who can keep up with all that?

Max is still into things I can understand. Right now his world revolves around the zoo and farm animals. But he's right there on the threshold of boyhood and his brother ushers him deeper into that world every day.

My saving grace is both of my boys are snugglers now and I am a world class snuggler. My favorite time of day is when they crawl up into my lap for a good snuggle. Most of the time, I let them stay as long as they want.

I'm grateful for my little boys and they crazy things the do. I know it's a part of who they are and I love that. For me, the bottom line is I want to be a part of their world, even when I don't know how. It looks like it might be time for some personal growth.

Anyone have an encyclopedia of superheroes?

Luke playing Rescue Heroes. Yes, I know they never have clothes on. They always start out with clothes, but by the end of the day, this is usually what we've got.

Luke's so proud of his muscles.

Max is showing his feminine side, cooking in camouflage.

Luke is pretending to be the Statue of Liberty here. I'm not really sure why.

Irony

2007-09-26T12:38:00.000-05:00

When I was in college, I had a roommate with a lot of allergies. She used to zip everything up in plastic - her mattress, her pillows, her clothes - everything. Poor girl, we gave her so much grief for that. Especially me, since we were in the same room and I had to hear the rustle of the plastic every time she moved on her bed.

Fast forward almost twenty years and now I'm the one zipping everything up. Luke is allergic to dust mites so of course, we have all the covers with zippers to keep them away from him. Life comes full circle sometimes. I love it.

I have to laugh at the irony though. I also laugh, because now, no matter what I do, my mind goes back to my first apartment at Baylor, my sweet college friends and some seriously fun times, every time I change the sheets. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

HSN

2007-09-25T23:49:00.000-05:00

For anyone who wants to be amused, check out the Home Shopping Network tomorrow (Wed, Sept 26) at 1:00 and 5:00 Central time. My awesome husband will be selling watches.

I think he does a great job, but the whole HSN thing is a mystery to me. The only time I watch is when he's on, but somehow I always stay tuned for the next show. The crazy thing is, if I watch it long enough, I really start to think I do need a new loofa.

Good luck Sweetie. We miss you!!!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Weekend With Grandma

2007-09-11T12:03:00.000-05:00

The boys spent this past weekend with both of their grandmothers while Merk and I went to a marriage retreat. Yes, it took both of them to manage the weekend. I'm glad we only have two kids.

Overall, I think the weekend went well. I did come away with a couple of observations...

Grandmothers will not read or refer to your notes. They tell you they don't need the notes, because after all, they raised you and look how well you turned out. I think that is still up for debate, but it's their position and they will die defending it.

Grandmothers are going to give the kids a bath, whether they need it or not. I don't know why they like to do this, but it appears to be one of their favorite activities. Both of them bathe the boys every time they babysit them at night. I know little boys are messy, but I didn't think they were that dirty.

Happy Meals are the go-to food for Grandmothers. In fact, as my Mom was leaving on Sunday she told me, "I wouldn't feed them Happy Meals for awhile." No kidding. Now I'm in the process of throwing away all of the toys. I have to do it one at a time so they won't notice they've gone away. Don't even get me started on the nutritional aspect.

All kidding aside. We had a great time and are grateful to have loving moms who will help us out. xoxoxo

Running in Circles

2007-09-06T18:47:00.000-05:00

Running in circles completely describes our lives right now. The past few weeks have been all about running around, but not really getting anywhere and ending up just plain tired.

The kids started school this week - more about that at a later date. Luke also started T-Ball and choir. All in the same week.

At the same time, my Gran and sister have been here. I really enjoyed seeing them and spending time with them, but there comes a time when a girl just wants to be at home.

And it's almost here. Merk and I are going to a Marriage Retreat this weekend (again, I know it will be fun, but right now it seems like more running).

Soon though, we will be home and I plan to stay here for a good long while. I plan to cook meals for my family, watch my kids play and get reacquainted with my house.

I've got so much to write about the past couple of weeks, but it's just going to have to wait. Bear with me. I'll be back soon and I promise not to be so overwhelmed and bitter.

A Few More Pics

2007-08-23T10:33:00.001-05:00

We spent out last afternoon visiting my Dad's friend Karen (such a sweet, warm lady). Here's Luke driving her boat on the lake.

Max was tired and a little frustrated with his life jacket. He wasn't even amused by the family of ducks that trailed us the entire way.

Grandpa Joe and Karen gave the boys a few dancing lessons.

Luke and Max had so much fun playing with my Dad. The testosterone level was a little high for me, but they all loved it.

Thanks Dad. We had a wonderful trip. We love you and miss you a lot.
xoxoxo

The National Zoo

2007-08-23T10:25:00.001-05:00

While we were in DC, we made a visit to the National Zoo. This was our third trip to a zoo in four months. We’re four for four if you count Sea World (which I do because it’s very zoo-like).

Not all zoos are alike and lucky for us the National Zoo is one of the better ones. For starters, it’s free. A personal thank you to all our fellow taxpayers. We had a wonderful time!!!!

The zoo also one of the few with panda bears. This was definitely a highlight for all of us. They were taking a nap while we were there, but it was amazing to see them.

The best feature about the zoo was by far the web-cams. We have been watching these animals for months now. We know all about them, their names, their habits and their personalities. It was neat to see them in person after stalking them via computer.

With all the animals and cool stuff, the kids had the most fun in the misters. It wasn’t even that hot by Texas standards, but they jumped into the water every time we saw one – which was about every 10 minutes.

We also got to experience the DC Metro system. The kids are still talking about riding the train. On the way there, they were constantly changing seats and looking out different windows to get a better view. The way back was during rush hour and a totally different experience. People aren’t nearly as nice or accommodating towards the end of the day.

Great day, great zoo and a great time was had by all. If you’re ever in DC, this is an awesome thing to do.

Lessons Learned

2007-08-19T14:01:00.000-05:00

Things we learned on the plane...
(the kid in the hat is not ours)

You can never have too many snacks.

Play-doh and airplanes do not mix well.

Skimping on the time needed to charge the DVD battery is an unforgivable mistake.

Benedryl is not always a good thing.

Putting a two-year old, who is scared of heights, in a window seat means you have to make the whole trip in the dark.

Don't order a Dr. Pepper unless you plan on wearing at least half of it.

Just because you lug a car seat onto a plane, doesn't guarantee the child will sit in it.

All newly potty-trained kids will need to go as soon as the fasten seat belt sign comes on.

Those seat pockets hold an incredible amount of stuff, but don't stick your hand all the way to the bottom to dig out a crayon. It's best to sacrifice the crayon.

DC Trip

2007-08-18T19:16:00.000-05:00

We made it! We just got back from our big vacation to visit my Dad in Washington DC and had a fantastic time. We took our first plane trip in almost a year. That's saying a lot because it took me that long just to recover from the last time we put Max on a plane. But this time, with a backpack full of entertainment and snacks, he did just fine.

My Dad has a huge yard and the boys had a great time just running around. He also has a sizable garden in the back. Just to show you what city folk we are, when the kids saw the garden, they asked where the cows were. They thought he lived on a farm. It's obviously not a farm, but he has more land and trees than they will ever see here in North Texas.

On Sunday, we went camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I can't really describe the beauty of these mountains - wild and natural. It felt like a completely different world - one where you saw the presence of God everywhere you looked.

Luke and Max loved it. They were superheros and adverturers. They hiked and climed and scouted for animals. They searched under rocks for bugs and played racecars around the camper. We couldn't keep them out of the woods which lead to a few encounters with prickley bushes and bugs that I could have done without.

They boys were facinated with the animals and everywhere they went they would shout for the animals to come out. Wouldn't you know it, they often did. We saw a chipmunk right ouside our camp and ran into some bucks on a hike.
In the evening, half a dozen deer came right up into our camp. They were so close, we could almost touch them.

The bear, yes that's real. He was about 60 feet from us. They boys were so excited. I was happy to keep my distance. Fortunately, he turned and went the other way. He was pretty small but still, a bear is a bear.

All in all, we loved the trip. Merk is even talking of taking some camping trips around here. Texas is not the same as the Blue Ridge Mountains, but we both want to spend more time outdoors as a family.

Check back later for part two of our trip.

Superman

2007-08-03T23:28:00.000-05:00

Today we went to McDonalds after swim lessons. Yes, even the best of us succumb to a Happy Meal from time to time. This time our Happy Meals had Superman!!! The boys couldn’t believe it. For them, it was like winning the lottery.

As you can guess, we played superheros all afternoon. Luke was Superman, of course. I was Supergirl and Max was Superbaby. We had a lot of fun and I must say, this is probably one of the only times a Happy Meal actually made me happy.

I always check on the boys before I go to sleep and tonight, I found Luke sleeping with Superman clutched in his hand. I don’t know why, but this was really touching for me. It’s just like Luke to be so excited about something that he has to physically hold it while he sleeps.

He’s done this a few times before with special toys, but this is the first time I was able to get a picture. Don’t ask me how we did it - yes flashlights were involved. I still can't believe we didn't wake him up. Merk still thinks I'm a little crazy.

I just wanted to capture him in this moment. My sweet little boy who completely melts my heart.

Baseball Game - Take Two

2007-07-28T08:14:00.000-05:00

We went to another baseball game this week. This time it was a minor league game. It was close to home, in a smaller stadium and much less expensive so we decided to take Luke and Max. I should have known better - we only made it one hour.

Everything started off great. We got our hot dogs and sat down. Max wasn't interested in the game, so the food helped get us through the first inning. During the second inning, Max noticed my Dr Pepper. It was sitting in the cup-holder on the seat in front of me. He asked if he could have some and I said no. He said okay and I thought that was the end of it. About five minutes later he starts making "mmmming" sounds. I look down and he's sticking his fingers into my Dr Pepper and then licking them. What? I can't believe he did that. I have to be honest, I'm a little concerned that he's so resourceful.

The Dr Pepper gets moved and Max starts to get restless. Thankfully, the Chicken comes out and the boys are entertained for another 15 minutes. When the Chicken leaves, things start to go downhill with Max, so we get some cotton candy hoping to hold him off for a little longer. But Max and Luke had no idea what to make of it. At first, they wouldn't eat it, they just wanted to pet it. We finally pulled some off and put it in their mouths, but they didn't like it. Again...what? Who doesn't like cotton candy? Apparantly, my kids don't so Merk and I ended up eating the whole thing.

Max made it to the top of the fourth inning. Luke was having a blast and would have stayed longer, but Max had started a major meltdown and we had to go. We'll go back, but it may be a while before we take Max again.

Bad Hair Day

2007-07-25T09:49:00.000-05:00

And I thought I had crazy hair in the mornings!

Summer Blues

2007-07-25T09:01:00.000-05:00

It's amazing the difference a few years makes.

I ran into a neighbor friend this week who has two children in grade school. We were talking about summer and soon realized how differently we thought about it.

For her, summer is about spending more time with her kids while they're not in school. It's enjoying concentrated time with them with the added bonus of family vacations, swimming and baseball games. She is dreading the beginning of school and wants to squeeze every last drop out of these hot, lazy days.

As the mother of preschoolers, I have a very different opinion. No question, summer is fun and we've done some neat things. But the day in and day out of summer is torture for me. We do playdates and see our friends, but the kids are basically sick of me. We've been together non-stop for 9 weeks. All the creativity I had at the beginning of summer is gone. We've done all the fun things I had planned. We've done all the crafts and read all the books. I'm out of ideas and we still have 5 1/2 weeks to go.

There are some good parts to our non-structured days. I'm embarrassed at how many times I've let them stay in pajamas until past noon. They've barely worn shoes since May. We've had more than our fair share of ice cream and we keep running out of sunscreen because of so many days spent at the pool.

So here's to summer and to the final stretch. I'll do my best to enjoy these last few weeks, but my heart really lies in the fall. We all need the structure, they need to spent time with people other than me and quite honestly, I need a break.

Potty Talk

2007-07-23T18:39:00.000-05:00

For me, there are few things worse than potty training. Sure, the first time they go, you are filled with a special kind of pride and excitement. But it speeds downhill from there.

First, there’s the self-imposed isolation while your child runs around naked for about 5 days. This was the hardest part for me. Max loved it, but we’ve already established how much he loves “naked.” Luke of course wanted to get in the game and I spent the entire week telling him to put his underwear on.

Then came the questions. Will he be able to do it again? Should I use pull-ups? Would that confuse him? What about Church? There are about 16 kids in the class and I’m not sure the teacher will remember. What if he has an accident in public? How long can we be out in public before I have to start looking for a potty? Will he ever learn to poop in the potty? It’s overwhelming and all-consuming.

The worst was when I took the potty with us when we went to visit friends last night. By the end of the evening, he must have made 10 trips, four successes and six false starts. To top it off, he couldn’t decide where he wanted his potty to be, so he kept moving it around their house. It was everywhere, including in the kitchen while we were having dinner. By the end of the night we were all tired of Max and his potty.

But, that’s were we are. We’re in the second week now and things are looking up. Hopefully in a few more weeks, we’ll be free and clear. Then I’ll be crying about how sad I am that I don’t have a baby in diapers anymore. You can’t win.

Poor Scout

2007-07-19T12:15:00.000-05:00

As we were eating breakfast this morning, I noticed that Luke only had his pajama top and underwear on. So I said to him, "Luke, we need to put your clothes on."

Max gets out of his chair and goes to take a look. He gets an angry look on his face, points a finger at the dog and says, "Scout ate your pants."

Poor Scout.

Cupcakes?

2007-07-18T07:14:00.000-05:00

For some reason, Max is obsessed with cupcakes. He asks about them every day, probably around 30 times a day. For breakfast, he wants a cupcake. For a snack - cupcakes. If I ask him if he wants to take a nap, he responds, "No I want a cupcake."

All day long, he talks about cupcakes. The funny thing is, he's probalby had five cupcakes in his whole life. I don't know where this is coming from, but it's starting to drive me crazy. Except when he calls me Cupcake Mama. Then I think it's cute.

On Saturday, Merk is taking him to a cupcake store. We just got one in town. Who knew we needed a store that just sells cupcakes? Anyway, while Luke is at a birthday party, Max will be having a party of his own - with lots of icing.

Let's just pray he gets it out of his system.