Happy Boys

I asked Nathan what made him happy today. This is what he said...
1) Going to school
2) Taking a walk through the woods (nature walk at school)
3) Playing with Brandon
4) It's daddy's Friday
5) Playing with his friends at school

Since Brandon can't really say what makes him happy too well yet, this is what I think made him happy today...
1) Playing with Nathan
2) Eating
3) Picking up Nathan from school
4) Eating
5) Playing in the bath tub

It doesn't take a lot to make my little boys happy. That makes me happy!

A great end to the weekend

The boys and I had another great day today. We went to visit my grandparents and then Nana and Papaw. At my grandparents house they played with the famous marbles that have been around forever. (I remember playing with them when I was a kid.) Then Papaw took us on a golf cart ride around the orchard. These are not just any golf cart rides, these are semi-dangerous rides. We take sharp turns that sometimes seems as if we are only on two wheels, we go down a hill that makes it feel like we are going 100 mph. The boys and I squeal and giggle as if we are on a roller coaster ride.
We get to sit and talk to my grandmom and pop-pop, they marvel over how big the kids are getting and then stuff us with apple pie and ice cream. We say our goodbyes and head on over to my parents house where Nana is waiting on us with open arms and kisses. When Papaw gets home he makes some awesome hamburgers on the grill and we all stuff ourselves senseless. We take a walk, play, and look through all the goodies that Nana found at garage sales this weekend.
On our car ride home I figured the boys would pass out, I was half right. Nathan was out like a light within a few minutes but Brandon talked, sang and tried to wake Nathan up the whole way home. "Bubba. Bubba. Bubba. BUBBA!" Since Nathan wouldn't wake up, Brandon decided to sing his little heart out. "Lalalalalalala mommymommymommymommy BUBBA!" As soon as we get home and I turn the car off, Nathan wakes up and asked why I turned his song off. Which song would that be, the one Brandon had been singing or the one on the radio?

She came and stole my boys' hearts...

Today Ginger (my bestest friend in the whole wide world) came over and spent the afternoon with the boys and I. We had such a wonderful time. We took the kids to the park and watched them play while we sat on the bench and talked. We talked about everything and everybody. It was great, I haven't done that in ages. Then we had lunch, came back to my house and talked some more. Nathan and Brandon really took to Ging. They had to show her all of their tricks and wanted her full attention, which she gave, and they totally fell in love with her. Especially Nathan. He drew her some pictures and painted a sun catcher for her. He gave her hugs and kisses and told me after she left that she needs to come over every Saturday to play. I have to agree with that.
Ginger and I have been friends since high school. We've laughed, cried, giggled, plotted, and have done some questionable things together. I love her like a sister and feel incredibly lucky to have her in my life. Who else would sit on the phone with me and talk for hours as I polish off an entire bottle of wine and still understand what I'm saying. That's what I call a great friend! ;)

It's Friday!

Yippee! It's Friday! Do you know what that means? Nathan doesn't go to school tomorrow, or the next day! I get my boy all to myself, no sharing with teachers or little friends. He's mine, mine, mine! Tomorrow night I may be ready to send him away, but for right now, I'm happy as a lark.
We have an exciting weekend planned. Tomorrow my bestest friend in the whole wide world is coming over and we are taking the boys to the park. I can't wait. I haven't seen Ginger since December. She lives on the other side of the world in Virginia. Ok, well maybe just a few states away, but it still feels like the other side of the world. Then Sunday, I think I'm going to take a jaunt down to my parents house and spend the afternoon. That's always a blast for us.
Oh, and did you know that today someone very special was born a few years back? Yep, it's our shiny Penny's birthday. Happy Birthday Penny! Hope you are having a wonderful day!

My heart bleeds purple kool-aid

Yesterday was Brian's last day off for the week. He started back to work this afternoon. I hate our "Mondays." The kids really have bad daddy with-drawls and I do too. I don't know what it is, but we have such a hard time getting back into a routine. When daddy's home we just go w/ the flow, do whatever tickles our fancy. This past weekend was especially fun. We got to see Harmony (Happy birthday Harmony!), Uncle Joe, Aunt Lauren and our cutest little cousin Kelila (she's such a hoot!). Then last night we had a "thank you for letting us borrow your car... again" dinner with my parents. And we finally got Brian's car working right. So now the kids and I are back to our normal "without daddy mode" for the next 6 days. Do you feel sorry for us yet? I'm having my own pity party for myself right now. Would you like to join? I'll put on a pot of some good coffee (thanks dad) and make some banana bread.
Oh by the way, the "my heart bleeds purple kool-aid" title is courtesy of my dad. He use to tell me that all the time when I would whine and moan over stuff. Can you feel the love?

Green doesn't always mean go...

Today on the car ride home from school Nathan informed me the he got in trouble at school today. Most children wouldn't volunteer this information freely but my boy cannot keep a secret (he gets that from me). Our normal after school conversation includes questions like "how was your day?'', "did you have fun?", "what was the best part of your day?". After these questions are answered Nathan will usually fill me in on all the other stuff they did during the day. But today he got quiet. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw him looking out the window, quietly. First off, Nathan is never quiet. My little social butterfly is always talking. I ask him if he is ok. He responded with a small "yes" and then got quiet again. All of a sudden he started spilling his guts. "Mommy...I got in trouble today. " He got in trouble for, what else, talking. His teacher has a stop light system in their room. Everyone starts off on Bravo blue, if you get told once to stop doing something and you don't listen then you get put on the green light, followed by yellow and then red. Nathan got put on the green light. His little heart was broken. As we pulled into the drive way he begged me not to tell daddy. I told him I wouldn't tell daddy, but he had to. Oh, the horror! He walked into the house with his head down and proceeded to tell daddy what happened. Brian had a firm talk with him about listening and being good at school. Then the worst punishment ever was handed out...he had to call Nana to tell her what he did. Nathan and Nana are extremely close. The sun rises and sets in Nana's eyes. Nana could do no wrong, Nana is the bomb! I get my phone and tell him to call her. His eyes get big and he pleads with all of his heart "don't make me tell Nana!" Sorry Charlie. He dials her number and tells her all about his day, except the part about getting into trouble. He tells her bye and hands me the phone, I hand it back to him, he tells her with tears in his eyes. He promises her he will never do it again, tells her he loves her and then runs to his room. He was more heart broken to tell Nana than scared to tell his daddy. I don't know if that is sad or just sweet.

Fire Trucks and Army Soldiers

Today the little Harvey's and I went to a fund raiser. Our neighbors sister is the one that organized it, her son is autistic and they are wanting to raise some money for sensory integration rooms for their school. We had a blast. They got to climb on a fire truck and talk to the fire fighters. Nathan had to make sure that they knew his Uncle Eric is a fire fighter and wanted to know if they knew him. They didn't and Nathan wanted to know "why not?" Everyone should know Uncle Eric! Then he spotted the army guys and their army trucks. We ran (literally) over to them and climbed into the Humvee. They showed Nathan where the guns usually are and they all (including the soldiers) pretended to shoot the gun. Then Nathan wanted to know if they knew his papaw...no..."why not?" Everyone should know papaw too! Next he saw the bounce houses and ran (literally, again) over to them. Nathan climbed in and jumped like there was no tomorrow. Brandon wouldn't get in and wanted Nathan to get out immediately! "Bubba out! Bubba! OUT!" We ate hot dogs and chips, danced to the band, watched the square dancers do their thing, played games, ate popsicles, blew bubbles and let balloons go. Brandon's cheeks were getting really red so we decided to head home. After a 2 hour nap, the boys were refreshed and ready to go again. Unfortunately it has started to rain so we are confined to the house for the rest of the night. We'll see what type of mess we can make. I bet my kids can make a bigger mess than you can!