I Spy

Nathan has always loved to play I Spy. He has some I Spy books, he has watched the cartoon and we play it in the car, at home or on our walks around the neighborhood. It's how I taught Nathan his colors, shapes, numbers and letters. Now Brandon is starting to fall in love with the game. He hasn't quite grasped the concept of it though. He understands when I ask him to find something blue, he looks for something blue. But when it is his turn to ask me to find something, he blurts out what the object actually is. He'll say "I spy my white socks" or "I spy my red cup." It cracks me up. At least he knows his colors and shapes. Now if he could just identify his letters and numbers we'd be golden. I spy with my little eye future geniuses!

Finally, the weekend!

This week has been a little hectic. Tuesday Brian woke up and didn't feel that great. He went to work anyway but a few hours later he was on his way to the hospital. Now, if Brian goes to the doctor for anything, it's because he thinks he may be dying. So when he called and said he was going to the hospital I was sure he was a goner. He told me he thought it was his appendix but wasn't sure so he was going to go get checked out. Four hours later it was confirmed that his appendix was the cause of his tummy ache and surgery was scheduled for sometime the next morning. I hate when they say "sometime" the next morning. That's a twelve hour period! At 6am the next morning Brian called to tell me they would be taking him back for surgery within the hour. The boys and I were out the door 15mins later (everyone dressed, hair combed, toys and snacks packed, and waffles in hand) and on our way the hospital. We get there, race up to his floor just to find out we missed him by two minutes. But the lovey nurse called the other lovey nurse and told her to wait so we could see him for a few minutes. We got to see Brian before surgery, kissed him, hugged him and told him we love, love, love him. 45 minutes later the doctor came out to the waiting room and told us Brian was just fine. He appendix did not burst, it was just a little inflamed and he should be able to go home the next day. Sigh of relief and a hallelujah was heard around the room.
While Brian was in recovery, the boys and I raced back home. I got Nathan ready for school, fed the dogs and let them out, took Nathan to school, then Brandon and I went back to the hospital to welcome Brian back from la-la land.
A day later with a few stitches and pain medicine in hand, we were bringing Brian back home. He's a little slow on his feet and a little cranky (that's pretty normal for him anyway!) but feeling better.
Brian has some of the greatest friends and family on this earth. They called me to make sure the boys and I were ok, the guys he works with sat with him at the hospital when I had to go home to take care of the boys, my parents and our neighbors offered to watch the boys or take Nathan to school for me if needed. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to know that we have such amazing people in our lives. Thank you all!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

It is always bittersweet to say goodbye to summer. No more long days to soak in the sunshine. No more playing outside in the warmth from son up til son down. (heehee, get it? Sun/Son. I crack myself up!). But I absolutely love, love, love autumn. The crisp cool weather, leaves changing colors, carving pumpkins for Halloween. Love it!
Nathan is also torn. He hates that it's getting dark earlier outside but is so excited for Halloween. G.I.Joe is all the rage with him right now so of course that is who he wants to dress up as for Halloween. Brandon says he wants to be that too, but Iron Man keeps coming up every now and then. I'm sure he'll change his mind a hundred times before the big night comes around.
We will be making Fall/Halloween decorations this weekend to welcome the change of season. Ghost and skeletons will be lerking around our front yard. Bats and spiders will dare you to ring our doorbell. And a fat pumpkin will be proudly plopped on our front steps saying "two crazy kids, a mummy, mad hatter, and two devil dogs live here. Would you like some candy, my sweet?"

Tooth Fairy

The tooth fairy paid a visit to Nathan last night. He lost yet another tooth. I told him we won't need to get any pumpkins this year for Halloween, I'll just sit him outside with a flashlight and he can be our jack-o-lantern. He didn't think that was very funny.
Anyway, when he woke up this morning under his pillow were two crisp dollar bills, two shiny quarters and one rough looking half dollar coin. He promptly put the dollars in his billfold, the quarters in his piggy bank and the half dollar in his treasure box. Boy, oh boy, does that tooth fairy know exactly what my jack-o-lantern looking child loves.

Monkey in the tree

Three branches high.
There must be courage in those leaves.

Road Rash

When we were on our neighborhood safari with our lovely neighbors the other night, Brandon decided to trip and fall on perfectly imperfect pavement. He actually did this two days in a row, the same exact place, almost the same exact time but not the same outcome. The first time he fell, no little hands reached out to brace the fall. This is the result of that fall...road rash. His forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, elbow and little hands are all scraped up.

The second time he fell he reached out to catch himself.

A little giggle followed.

A lesson learned.

Fun fun fun

It's only Saturday and this weekend has been an all out blast. Friday before Nathan got out of school, Brandon and I put up a small tent in the backyard. It's still amazes me how easily amused my children are. As soon as Nathan got off the bus Brandon was dragging him to the backyard to see their new man cave.( Sampson thinks it's a deluxe doggie bungalow and drags his toys in there to play with the boys. )

So last night we invited our neighbors out for ice cream and by the time we got home it was just starting to get dark. We all piled into our backyard with flash lights, glow sticks, a "camp" fire and we also had a safari hunt around the neighborhood. The kids ran around the backyard with their lights, they hunted for crazy yellow birds (Brandon's big bird chair) and played red light, green light. They ran for 2 straight hours. They were sweaty, dirty, exhausted and ready for root beer float popsicles. And of course they had to eat those drippy popsicles in the already steamy tent. Oh well, what's a little mess among friends anyway?

Today the boys slept in a whole hour and then they were ready to go outside for some more fun. They played in their tent all morning then Brandon took a two and a half hour nap to recharge and was off again like a speeding bullet. I wish I had their energy. Maybe if I took a two and a half hour nap I would.

Take me out to the ballgame

Last night my dad and I got to go to a baseball game all by ourselves. Shhh...don't tell the kids. Nathan would probably blow a gasket and Brandon would pout all day. We usually take them with us but I was ready for some alone time with my dad. The air was crisp, we ate hot dogs and popcorn, we sat in cold hard seats and watched foul balls zip over our heads. It was great. I love baseball but usually only make it to one game a season. And then we never stay for the whole game. Either the kids get restless or it gets late and the kids get tired. Even last night without the kids we only stayed until the 8th inning, I wanted to get home so I could put them to bed. That's pretty sad. But my dad fully understands.
I don't even know who won last night but I had a wonderful time just sitting beside my dad in those cold, hard seats saying nothing at all.