Friday, December 25, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Happy Birthday Buddy!

The newest member of the 7 year old club...


Nathan had the "greatest birthday EVER!"
A chocolate, whipped cream covered Army soldier birthday cake.
Friends and family.
Cool presents, video games, go-karts.
Crazy uncles that make you laugh until you cry.
No much can top that.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I can still see you!

Brandon. Russell.
This is said many, many, many times a day. And every time I say his name in that "mommy is not happy" voice he covers his big brown eye's with his chubby little hands. I know what he's thinking...if I can't see her, she can't see me.
Sorry buddy, it doesn't work. But it does make me smile.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Top 20 list of things needed to grow a boy

These are a few things you will need to grow a boy...

1.) Patience
2.) Superhero knowledge
3.) Stain remover
4.) Popcorn
5.) Patience
6.) Lego's
7.) Cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, boats
8.) Sunshine
9.) Dirt
10.) Water
11.) Soap...lots and lots of soap
12.) Patience
13.) Band-aids
14.) Fireworks
15.) Root beer floats
16.) Books
17.) A huge imagination to keep up with their imagination
18.) Glue, in a it's forms, super, wood, Elmer's, for all things broken
19.) A low gag reflex (boys are gross)
20.) Lots and lots of love, hugs and kisses

That's pretty much it. And if I forgot to mention it before, patience.

Fun times

The boys and I have been very busy this past week. School's out, our poor Charlie Brown Christmas tree was carefully put up, ornaments needed to be made, some presents were bought but most have been made, and yummy goodies have been baking away, so many bowls and spoons have been licked clean. We love Christmas time. The boys always make a new ornament for the tree every year. This year we were ambitious and made two, candy cane's out of pipe cleaners and beads, and foam cutout ornaments decorated with glass beads and tons of glue. With the exception of garland and a few selected ornaments, the boys made everything else on the tree. It looks absolutely beautiful! I tried to get a picture of the boys in front of the tree but that didn't work out so well. Nathan stood at attention with a perfect little smile across his face the entire time, but Brandon, well he was just being himself. Every picture he either had an ornament in front of his face or he was a complete blur. He doesn't stand still for more than a second. So, if you are not fast, you are not going to get a good picture of that boy.
Nathan's birthday is in two days. He is going to be 7 years old. Today we picked out an Army soldier birthday cake and finalized birthday party plans. He doesn't know it yet, but we are taking him to a new pizza place here in town. They have indoor go carts, bumper cars, video games galore, bounce house's and of course an endless amount of pizza. Brian and I can't wait to surprise him!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Independence

This word should not exsist in my children's vocabulary. I know that is a horrible thing to think or even say out loud, but, dang! Why do my little boys want to grow up so fast? Nathan will be 7 yrs old in a few short days that cannot come fast enough for him. Baby Brandon will be 3 yrs old one month later. I know I sound like a broken record. I'm always wishing and hoping I could just freeze time so they'll stay little forever. But as hard as I try, they keep pushing foward. I guess I should be happy and proud that they are finding thier own way in life, it just hurts. Nathan has now decided that we don't have to tuck him into bed anymore and that he needs an alarm clock so he can get himself up in the mornings. Everything Brandon does, he has to do by himself. Don't dare try to help or WWIII will break out. Believe me. I've seen it for myself. It's not a pretty site!
Nathan knows our normal daily routine and has it down. I don't have to tell him to brush his teeth after breakfast or put his coat in the closet when he gets home.
I don't have to tell Brandon to put his underwear on under his pants anymore or not to brush his hair with his toothbrush. They do what they are suppose to do when they are suppose to do it.
Most days anyway.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Papaw, Pinkeye and Pancakes

All week long, Nathan has been so excited for today. This morning at school he was going to have breakfast with Santa with Papaw as his special guest. He wanted to show Papaw his classroom, his teacher, where he hangs his jacket and book bag. They were going to have a fine dining experience at his schools cafeteria and feast on cinnamon rolls, fruit cocktail and runny eggs. Papaw was even going to drive him to school. It couldn't get any better than that.
Then the unimaginable happened. He woke up this morning with the dreaded pinkeye. Oh the horror! His little heart was broken. No school today. No breakfast with Santa and Papaw. No cinnamon rolls. Tears started to stream down his face. Think fast mom, whatcha gonna do?
To fix the tears Papaw and I decided we could take the kids to McDonald's for breakfast and eat inside. They never get to eat inside, that's reserved for special occasions. Like today.
After eating three pancakes, some sausage, half of Papaw's biscuit and a big orange juice, Nathan's tears were all dried up and a huge smiled was plastered across his face, along with some syrup. Nathan declared this was a lot better than eating at school and we decided we need to do this more often. Brandon was a pretty happy camper too. He tagged along, ate three pancakes himself and guzzled an orange juice. He also has pinkeye. I'm sure we all looked pretty special this morning.
Thanks for the great morning Papaw. You helped turn a very bad day into a special treat for the boys and I.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Yesterday was too good to be true. Brandon brought me right back down to reality this afternoon.

Busy, busy bumble bee

I love having a purposeful day. Yesterday was one of those days. Bright and early I woke up before children stirred in their warm blankets. I packed a field trip brown paper bag lunch for Nathan and an extra one for Brandon even though he couldn't go. They decorated their bags the night before with stickers and markers. Nathan even swiped Samson on the butt with a green marker. He looked like he belonged on the Fruit Stripes bubble gum wrapper.
I let the dogs out before their bladders burst then got all fancied up for an interview. Painted my face and put on something other than raggedy jeans and a stained t-shirt. I woke the boys up, got them dressed and packed Nathan's book bag. Brian finally got up to finish the morning off with toaster strudels and o.j. I bounded out the door after many hugs and kisses. I haven't had a ''morning drive to work'' in a very long time. One forgets how frustrating traffic can be when the only place you go in the morning is less than a mile from your home. I arrived to my future place of employment and met my future boss (hopefully), went through a very good interview and walked out of there with a little spring in my step.
Next on my list...field trip. I met up with Nathan's class at the Children's Museum and played for the next four hours. I love watching kids explore and discover. What is better than watching a child's imagination flourish?
After watching the kids load back onto cold yellow school buses, I headed home to my other two guys. Stopped to get us some Korean food, dropped it off at home so Brian could get it ready for the boys, and picked up Nathan from school. After dinner, Nathan, Brandon and I snuggled on the couch for a quick little power nap and then we were refreshed for the rest of the evening to play, read and watch cartoons.
Yesterday was a great day. Plus the kids were on their best behavior all day long! What else could I have asked for?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

No...

Lately our home has been full of No's.
No! I don't want to go to bed.
No! I don't want to eat that.
No! I don't want to listen because I'm tired and hungry.
No. No. No!
My patience has been tested. Tested hard. Tested to the point I left the house as soon as Brian got home, walked around Kroger's for an hour only to return home with a gallon of milk.
Brandon is full throttle into his terrible two's even though he is almost three. And Nathan thinks that he is old enough to do whatever tickles his fancy.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't seen it yet, but I know it's there. I see the glimmer of compliance in Brandon's eyes every once in awhile. And Nathan figured out the other night that he actually does need me. You know for bedtime stories and root beer floats.