We're baaaaack!

First of all, it's obviously been a VERY long time since I have blogged about anything.  I am sure people wondered if we just died off like the dinosaurs or something, haha!  Nope. Just busy.  And hadn't thought much about blogging to be honest.  I originally had started this as a way to keep in touch with Paul's parents while they were in Baton Rouge but now they're back here and just around the corner.  I guess there are some other readers out there...maybe...that might want to keep up too so I'll try to get back to it occasionally.

Summer has really started for us full swing.  The boys have about three more weeks of Joy League (baseball/t-ball) in the season.  This was Nathan's first year to participate, although he really is a little too young to know what it's all about, and Jake's last year because he ages out next summer.  They have all enjoyed their time, however, and are a little sad it's soon over.

Soccer try-outs were this weekend.  Jake was offered a position on the U13 Freedom and Matthew was offered a position on the U12 Eagles.  Both are right where they wanted to be.  It's nice to have that try-out part out of the way.  Practice starts in July after boot camp.

Summer swimming has also started.  Our first meet was last night.  Our team blew them out of the water (hahaha, I love puns!).  Our score was double the other team's score.  Both bigger boys got a double-best time.  Actually, Matthew had a triple-best but was DQ'd in breast stroke, something that shocked and surprised us all because he's never been DQ'd in breast stroke, even when he was little.  We are not sure what happened but he's gonna ask the coach what the DQ slip said.  He thinks the stroke judge may have perceived him to touch the wall with only one hand on the flip because he said his angle was a little funny.  He said he knows he touched with two but realized it did look odd.  So he's disappointed but ok with it.  His relay team finished first so that was fun. 

The bigger boys leave for church camp for a week on next Saturday. Their good friend is going with them this year so they are even more excited than usual.  Then they'll both have band camp and soccer camp plus whatever other swimming is on the schedule.  Summer break has been extended by two weeks thanks to some late legislation passed in Alabama so we have a little more time to stay up late and sleep late than we originally thought.  Jake is going to England with Paul's parents at the tail end of summer and he is super-duper stoked, albeit a little nervous about the flight.  I am sure it will be a trip to remember for all involved.  I hope he doesn't make them regret it!

I was going to try and upload some photos with this but apparently some things have changed since I last blogged and I'm not sure how to do it.  I'll have to experiment a little and get back to ya.

Yummy Strawberries

Surgery day

Curly had surgery Thursday because of his frequent ear infections lately. He got tubes in and his adenoids out. His doctor said he desperately needed this surgery. His was the most immediate need of the day we found out afterwards. Hopefully, he will be freed of his incessent cough and yuck runny nose. He came through like a trooper and actually didn't want to leave the hospital. All their big cars were a favorite of his for the morning.

My new hobby

I can't stop watching this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTPvEKi6Bwo

Merry Christmas 2009

Santa Baby

Today my baby turned 15 months old. He is quickly becoming a "non-baby" and turning into a rambunctious little boy. So tonight in the tubby, I gave him bubbles for the first time. We had just a tiny amount of baby wash left in the bottle and it just wouldn't come out well no matter how much shaking I did. So I let the tub water run into it a few times and filled the tub with bubbles. Curly LOVED it. He has decided to try and blow bubbles in the tub almost every bathtime. This time, he had suds everywhere. So, below, you can see the result. I think he makes the cutest little Santa anywhere.

The Halloween crash

So this is "the morning after"...Halloween that is.

The reason why...

Larry is in "Enrichment" at his elementary school which is, I suppose, the equivalent of the gifted or accelerated program. Anyway, his teacher, Mrs. Williams, asked the class to write an essay about why they were chosen to be in Enrichment. Larry wrote this:

"Well first I am in this class becuase she may think I am smart but thats just my thout I don't no its right. Well I am in this class because I love any proublums with math, since [sic. science], and evy thing els. But most of it is that I'm smart.
I would put friendship in this class and become better friends with people and do my best work. I will contabute my head to learning.
I want to lean some math, since, and evy other thing you teack me Mrs. Willyams. this class can help my brain grown when my brain grows I grow."

A little piece of heaven

On the way home from Mississippi Monday I suddenly noticed that the van had gotten very quiet. This is what I saw.



I just had to capture the moment digitally. Otherwise, who would've believed me?

Happy First Birthday

Curly had a big birthday on Wednesday. He turned one!! I can hardly believe it's been a whole year since that sweet little soul joined our family. We took him to a local restaurant for his birthday dinner and were served a gigantic piece of caramel pie to celebrate. He could hardly wait until it hit the table. When the waitress came around the table from the kitchen with the dessert Curly nearly jumped out of his high chair. She could barely put it down on the table before he had his mouth open waiting for a bite. It was hysterical and we all had a great time.

Then on the Friday we had a few friends meet us at a local ice cream shop for scoops and cake. My wonderful boss made the cutest cake for Curly. It was a big orange T-Rex with green spots. Curly was reluctant to dig in but finally did enjoy getting icing on his hands. He enjoyed his vanilla ice cream more than the cake, but then again, he'd never really had cake before and didn't know what it was. Ice cream on the other hand, is one of his favorite treats.

Welcome to my world

It's been a long time since I've posted. Life happened. My children are older, school has started back, work has begun, and I am sleepy. Most of the time. But it's ok. Surely by the time Curly starts elementary school he'll be sleeping through the night, right? In his defense, and in my denial, he has had some issues. Like his first ear infection. Big Stooge took him to the doc yesterday b/c his school teachers had said he hadn't been his happy smiling self for the past couple of days. (Believe me, I'd noticed!) And the doc said he was starting in a big ear infection. If we hadn't brought him in [yesterday] we surely would've [today]. I had the doc check him out last week when I took Larry in for his eight year old checkp up b/c of a cough and runny nose and he said it all looked fine then. But thankfully, we were able to start w/ some medication before it got way bad.

And I am just today taking his eleven-month-old picture. Now that he's almost a year. Oh well. It was the toughest one yet. He didn't want to sit OR smile OR be beside his dinosaur. So what you get is what you get.

Future Olympians?

Our boys are fabulous and talented swimmers, if I may brag a little. They have both been on swim team for the past three summers and absolutely love it. We all do. The meets, although sometimes long and hot, are a lot of fun. It always seems the season ends just as we're getting into the groove of things. This season, the only competition remaining is Senior County. For it, a swimmer's personal best time must be as good as or better than a particular standard. The meet we had on Tuesday of this week was the Divisional meet. All six teams in our division swam against each other. Our team placed 2nd overall and got a nice trophy.

Larry and Moe had awards of their own and did very well. We are so proud of their efforts. Both are considering trying year round swimming.

Happy Ten Months Old

I can hardly believe it's been ten months since I gave birth to Curly. The time has simply flown. I almost can't stand it. It's hard to think he'll be one very soon, especially since he's still pretty small really. I know several babies younger that are several inches taller and several pounds heavier. I know he's fine;he's just short. Like his daddy. And his grandaddy. So, happy birthday, Curly!

The Final Countdown

Larry's eighth birthday is one week from today and he is counting down the days, I'll tell you. This weekend we were at my parents' house in Mississippi and he and Nana decided to make a cake to celebrate. He got to help make it and ice it and decorate it. Poppa bought the mix and icing so he got the flavors he wanted but Larry really isn't picky so it worked out well. And we all had fun eating it. He wants to have a laser tag birthday party and if I can get it together we might actually do that. Nana and Poppa also bought him a portable CD player when he told them he'd listened to mine on the drive over to their house.

Happy 4th of July

We're in Mississippi at my parents' house. The boys have been having a blast with my brother. We saw Mammaw and Pappaw today and my uncle D. I took the boys to Wal Mart and they bought a few Pokemon cards. Why, oh why, do I let them do that? Anyway, I guess it's fine.

Curly had an extremely difficult time going to sleep tonight. Actually, he went to sleep easily around 8 p.m. but awoke suddenly about an hour later and was inconsolable. Finally he crashed back out around 11 p.m. I guess. I actually fell asleep with him in the recliner for a while so I don't know when he actually went to sleep. I hope I don't wake him when I get into bed. He's on a nice little soft pallet on the floor.

We will probably try to get Larry a cake for his birthday either tomorrow or Sunday. He will turn eight years old in ten days. I remember July 4th, 2001. I was home alone while Big Stooge had Moe out of town for a family reunion. I was due with Larry any minute and therefore wouldn't make the trip. (I think I was really due on 7/24 and nobody wanted to believe I might go into labor early but I wasn't taking the chance). I sat on my back patio (actually it was the neighbor's patio but nobody lived in that apartment at the time) in the rain and watched the local fireworks display and hoped that I wouldn't go into labor early. I didn't obviously, luckily for me. Can't believe that was eight years ago. My little Larry is growing up. They all are.

Hope your celebration is decked in red, white, and blue. Thanks to all my fellow Americans in the service. I appreciate what you do and have done for me! God bless America!

Three at the pool

Today we went to the pool for swim team stroke clinic and stayed for a couple hours after just having fun until Curly got really tired. I finally remembered to bring the camera to get him "swimming". He is so funny. He absolutely LOVES to swim. Apparently I wasn't moving fast enough getting him ready and he saw the floatie and just flipped out. Eventually we got into the water and he was just fine, even getting splashed in the face.

Home again, home again

When we got to Camp Maywood to pick up Moe, he and his group had just gotten to the pool to swim. He told us that after swimming he HAD to play baseball and then basketball so he couldn't leave yet. We opted to get a late lunch (which we had originally planned to do anyway but just thought he'd be ready to have something besides camp food and would go with us) and come back to get him. Luckily, when we returned he was ready to go, having apparently missed the games he wanted to play by opting to swim instead.

He got in the car talking about what he was going to do next year and what he needed to bring. I knew he would love it. And Larry's ready to go, too. He actually wanted to stay on Sunday when we dropped Moe off. We told him he'd have to wait until next year for his turn.

Moe said he only took a few photos this week. Since we didn't get home tonight until 7 p.m., obviously we haven't had those developed yet. Tomorrow is a swim meet (invitational) so we'll be at the pool most of the morning I am sure. When we get the pix back if there are any "good" ones, I'll post then.

Camp

Today we took Moe to camp for the first time. He was very excited but also very nervous. We met nearly our entire family there b/c most of the children of my cousins are going to be there this week as well and everybody showed up to welcome the kids to the wilderness, so to speak.

Moe wanted a top bunk but we got to camp and checked in just late enough that only bottom bunks were left. I think he was disappointed but didn't even complain. I left Larry to do the job of photography and we only got a few decent shots that weren't ridiculous. Oh, and I won't even mention the video he got of Moe in the bathroom!

So, we'll go pick Moe up on Friday, only a few hours short of when camp is over anyway, because the boys have a swim meet (invitational) on Saturday. I sent three disposable cameras in the suitcase and can't wait to see what kind of photos we land from those.

The elusive great white

...teeth, that is. I have been trying to capture Curly's first two teeth on photo with no success. Today is his nine month celebration and in taking his monthly photo I captured a glimpse of those elusive pearly whites. Enjoy!



Also, I have been remiss about taking Moe's nine year old photo. Everytime I think about it it's not been a good time. So today, I finally got it done. Only four months late. Voila!