The Hair Fix

After exploiting my child to numerous photos and phone calls telling people to look at the pictures on the blog I decided something should be done to remedy the disaster before the day ended. Thankfully I live by a beautician and although it's not my mom anymore it's great that B is comfortable with Nancy fixing his hair. I think Grandma would have cried the whole time if she would have been the one giving him a new "do". The minute the clippers past the first swipe I thought he looked just like his cousin Mark. Here I thought he was more from my side than Ken's. Pray that it grows fast or I am afraid his head will freeze this winter. He doesn't have enough fat to keep it warm. I thought I would include a picture to show that he's not getting into trouble all the time.

school party and parade

I helped out with the Halloween party for Gavin's class this year and made a stuff the scarecrow game for the kids to play. It was fun to see all the costumes and watch the kids parade through the gym. Just a few photos Gavin aka Batman, Jackson aka a Viking minus the horned hat!

Halloween

The fun on trick or treating. Jackson and a friend from class got way too much and I had to take a huge bucket to work to get rid of it! Could we just make it the 6th food group?

When will I learn? or alternate title do not leave children unattended

You would think after 3 boys, being a mom for 8 1/2 years, and just the nature and history of Brenden I would learn to know where he is at all times and SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND ME ALWAYS! Well, I haven't learned it yet. The only thing I have learned is to keep the camera close to me. Enjoy the latest Brendenism via photography!.

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The Great Pumpkin Hunt

The trees are just starting to turn here in the Corn Country and every other day there is a hint of fall but today the weather was in the high 70's and windy. Nonetheless a pumpkin hunt we were on. A quick stop at Blimpies for lunch and here we come a huntin'. I saw an advertisement for a church fall festival in a near by town and thought that might be just enough to get a fall fix and a pumpkin. I found the church as we slowed down and realized a fall festival in a converted gas station church was not going to do the trick to get me in a treat mood. "So let's just keep driving on this country road until we find something." About 5 miles down the road was the perfect pumpkin hunting ground. A farm house with pumpkins encircling every high pruned maple tree in the yard, lots of friendly wooden spooks, gourds, Indian corn, a corn maze, a pony, some goats, and cows. Jackpot! We unload and checked out some pumpkins and then decide to walk around. We entered the corn maze long enough for Gavin to get hot and tired and exited out the way we came in. We have yet to complete a corn maze from the start to the correct finish. The big boys checked out the huge round bales of hay jumping from one to the other and Brenden and I checked out the animals. We got stuck by the cows. Brenden bee-lined for them waving off the thousands of flies in his way so he could watch them eat. We stayed there for a while and they got comfortable enough that they tried to see if we had anything to give them. Their noses are pretty wet and their tongues are like sandpaper when they lick you. I tried to get B close enough for him to feel but their size got him a little timid. Waving good bye to the Moo-Cows and waving off the flies again we ventured back to find the rest of the boys. They made quick time of picking out their perfect pumpkins and back home we drove. I am ready for some Trick or Treating!

Happy Birthday, Brenden!

Two years seem like a blink of an eye when I think about Brenden. He is magical, funny, happy, smart and a textbook definition of the baby in the family! That child can work a room faster than anyone I have ever met. He always has a smile to flash at people and a twinkle in his eye. He loves to help mommy and clean up his messes. He loves to be tickled and will ask it frequently "tickal, mommy". He loves to jump and spin and tumble. He loves his brothers and going bye-bye. He has to sleep with his blue blanket and his green one from Grandma Mardell and his monkey and his Captain Monkey too. The music monkeys have to be on and if you forget he'll turn them on by himself. He wants to do things by himself but if you ask nicely he will always extend his little hand for you to hold. He'll talk your ear off about his cars and "big trucks". He claps when the song is over and if mommy is in the kitchen with music playing you will hear "up, Mommy" so he can dance with me. I can't believe that 3 years ago I said I think two boys are enough for me but I know now that I would have missed out a a ton of fun. I am excited to see what kind of person Brenden turns into as he grows each year. I am thankful that God had a plan for me that I didn't control myself! Happy Birthday, Brenden! May you continue to put a smile on our faces and a giggle in our voices.

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Lemon Meringue Philosophy

As it rains today and a hint of Autumn chill is in the air, I have been trying to figure out why this type of weather seems to make me more aware of the frailty of life. Is it simply because flowers die off and the leaves change, or is it that the feeling of cold in the air makes you want to retreat and stay inside, or maybe it's that I am getting older and with each year and each life that I see pass by I realize that Earth is just a holding place for us to get "it" and be ready for eternity? So I ponder these questions, secretly knowing that the answers will be revealed to me, but not today and hopefully not tomorrow, but some day when I have gotten "it" right and ready and the Lord has said "well done".
I was reminded of this frailty last night at work. My patient delivered a baby who was shocked by how fast she entered this world and so shocked that breathing wasn't even a reflex for her. After a quick whisk off to a warmer-bed and some help with oxygen and a really great, fast NICU team she cried a little whimper that said "OK, I am here and ready to participate in this life." It still amazes me how resilient these creations of God are and teaches me too that HE IS IN CONTROL.
After a shift like that its hard to unwind when I get home so I went to check on some blogs that I like to read. I found a new one that was started by a family who just as the summer was starting had lost their daughter in an accident. As I read each entry of how they are creating their "new normal" I was in awe of the faith and strength that they have to move forward. How it reminded me again that this life is not the end, that the life to look forward to is in eternity and to live each day here with passion and patience for the coming. How wonderfully thought out He really is.
So today as I look for something to do besides clean my house and fold the laundry I decide to make a lemon meringue pie for Jackson because he really likes them. As I am stirring the saucepan waiting for the lemon sauce to boil my mom says on the phone to me "Grandma used to make lemon meringue pies". I never knew this about her. My mom said Grandma could really get some thick meringue. Well, mine is not as thick as hers but maybe some day it will be. Once again it shows me that families and generations come and go but deep under all of the hullabaloo of this life we are connected to that one string, the cord that God created to allow us to feed off of our moms, who fed off of theirs, who were wonderfully created to touch each other in simple ways like a pie or with the magnificent impact of life and death on Earth. All of this philosophy from a single day with rain and a hint of fall.

The Block

Earlier this summer we had our first annual BLOCK PARTY! The cul-du-sac was blocked off, the tables were set up, the grill master's took their places and the kids were ready for some serious play time! It was a great party getting to know the neighbors. In this fast paced world it is nice to know that good old fashion friendships can be found in our 'hood.

School Days

It feels like it starts earlier every year but this year it was a double start! The boys were very excited and eager to start school. Jackson kept asking when he could go to school so he could do some math problems. He is now a big 3rd grader with a new teacher, new classroom and a locker for his things.
Gavin,now a kindergardner,was anxious to meet his teacher and was so excited when he got the same one that his big brother had. He really enjoys school and is pretty tired by the end of the day. He even walked to his own line on the 3rd day of school. I guess they are all spreading their wings and flying just like they are supposed to.

Happy Birthday Gavin

I am now the mom of 2 school age children! Where has the time gone? Gavin had 2 parties this year: one in Florida with some family and one with his friends here. It was his first friend party and they had a blast. Lots of water sliding, water balloons, food and laughter. I am so excited and anxious to see what Gavin does in life and all the fun he has living it! Happy Birthday G man!

Summer 2008

Here are the pictures from our road trip this summer. Janay and the boys along with Aunt Dena and Carson made the trek down to Florida and then Daddy met us and drove back. Our family pit-stop with the most pictures is from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The whole trip was filled with lots of great memories. Enjoy! (You'll need to scroll to the buttom of the page first and pause the music that is on the site before you play the slide show.)

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Everybody's Goin' Tubin'

Our neighbors have a pontoon boat and invited us to go out a few weekends before the floods started. Jackson had a birthday party to attend so Gavin was excited to be the only "big boy" going. He couldn't wait until we were loaded and on the river. Shortly after getting out of the marina Kiana(Scott and Nancy's daughter) and Gavin were wanting to go tubing. I wasn't so sure that he would be able to hold his body weight while to tube went over the waves but he did awesome. I think he would have stayed on all day but just like when Winnie the Pooh's tummy gets a rumbling and needs honey so does Gavin's tummy and he needed a food break. He also was sporting a dragon tattoo for the occasion.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Jackson played rookie ball again this year. I was at the first practice they had before the season started and thought that it could turn into a very long season of boring games but I was happily surprised at the way the kids picked up quick on the game. There were a lot of great hitters on the team and Jackson usually got a hit and to base each time at bat. He played center field often but I think enjoyed seeing how far he could through the ball in when the infielders would miss it.

Mrs. Wilson's Class Presentation on Butterflies

The last presentation for second grade and Jackson was one of the MC's for the class. He did a great job for the first time doing public speaking. He really liked presenting information on butterflies but I think he liked being "in charge" most of all.

Wheeled Pack-Mule

My husband has decided to take up bicycling not just for some fun but to get to work. A 24 mile round trip! The first time he set off for the other side of town was last year. I was to meet him at a gas station after taking the boys to school but by the time I finished the drop off he was all ready waiting on me. I thought for sure I would have met him on the route to work but I underestimated his ambition. Since last year he's tried out 4 bikes with the lasted "Wheeled Pack-Mule" as the keeper. One side of it holds the computer the other side his clothes but for now he had to rig it since the store didn't have the right computer bag. With all the crazy weather we've had so far the practical side of me is still debating this question: will we have saved any money riding to work by the time the snow shows up again? Or should I just buy him a raincoat and a plow attachment for the front?

I Caught Up

Finally, my blog is just about current! I guess if the scrapbooks don't get worked on the least I can do is the computer generated one for everyone. The May posts span about 3 months!

Bring On The Joys Of Summer

The ice cream truck made it's first stop of the season and I couldn't say no.