celebrations

...Noah's school celebrated Oklahoma's Centennial Birthday last Thursday. They even got their picture made for the newspaper! Then they had a parade around the gym, waving Oklahoma flags, blowing on kazoos and wearing Wally the Worm glasses (he is the mascot of the school). I love that my boys get to celebrate the state's historical birthday. It is pretty cool.

Speaking of cool, the coolness factor went way down in our house on Saturday night. We went to a costume/birthday party and Seth got the idea for us to dress like nerds! The coolness factor went even furthur down when we realized it took us virtually no time at all to look like nerds. Seriously, no time.

I wish you could have seen the bottom half of our costumes. I had knee high socks and a kleenex sticking out of my shorts for allergies (unfortunatly, I really had to use it because my nose ran all night!) Seth wore white socks with his dress shoes and don't you love his teeth? (Oh, Krista and Mom, do you see my bangs? I wasn't lying when I told you I was going to get them! And when they don't look like this, I really like how I look with them. ;) )

Anyway, everyone loved our costumes. They even said we were the best couple's costume. After awhile, I took my glasses off and then I got a scare. Someone thought I came as Britny Spears! Aaaaahhhh! Hee. Hee.

The yellow things are my sons. Rhett is Frankenbob Squarepants. I made that little ditty myself! He wore it for exactly 2 minutes. Oh well. There is still Halloween night. Noah is Picachu from Pokeman. And no I don't know if that is how you spell that or not or even what Picachu does.

The boys have 3 days of school this week and then it is fall break! And they are getting a big surprise (well, they sort of know, but you don't, so isn't that still a surprise?) on Wednesday, hopefully. I will be sure to let you know when it happens. :)

Be sure and have a good day. And remember to recycle old magazines. I did that over the weekend and I feel so good about myself. Oh and I also made all of this week's meals on Sunday. I am so happy about that! Not only that, they are good for us! I'll have more about that another day...

Lastly, my nephew turns 7 today. Nicolas, I cannot believe you are 7 already. I still remember when you came to meet Rhett for the first time (you were 4 months, Rhett was 2 months old). Now you are a rocking 1st grader! You have a high coolness rating in our house. :)

i'm this kind of blogger

Blog Action Day is October 15. That's Monday! See you then!

just rolling along

...Let's see, this week

*Seth and I had a touch of the flu. His was really worse than mine (isn't that always the case thougth?)
*Both boys were in charge of snacks for a day at their schools. This is a big deal. Picking out the right snack is very important. You can make or break your coolness by bringing the right or wrong snack. Stressful.
*Rhett lost his lunchbox. Again. Sigh. This is because his teacher (God bless her) has a rule about no lunchboxes in their backpacks. Ok. I agree, sort of. In the morning, when their lunchbox is full of yummy, juicy things, don't put it in the backpack so no messes will take place in there. But, in the afternoon? After lunch? When the lunchbox is empty? And little kids can leave their lunch box here or there? Please can we put it in the backpack then? Please?
*I found out the reason Noah does not want to go to Enrichment. Because he misses me. Let's say it together now: Awwww. But, really, I am thinking, "Come on Noah! Go out and enjoy life, my sweet, sweet boy!" So today, he is going to Enrichment. Only because they are making cookies. So, yes, cookies win over time with mommy. And I can understand that. :)
*The boys started their third session in swimming lessons. And I am so excited for them. They are getting really good! No more staying at the shallow end for us!
*Noah's school is celebrating Oklahoma's birthday (100!) this week. I think the actual birthday is next month. Anyway, Noah comes home from school every day saying, "It's Oklahoma's birthday today!" Funny.
*Oh! Because of the dog show on Friday, which went very well, Scout was awesome, Rhett is no longer afraid of her or Brinkley. He is playing with them again and I am so relieved. His teacher really knows what she is doing. See, she sent home a paper explaining 6-year old behavior and one of the things on there was that a lot of 6-year-olds are afraid of dogs. So she had a whole unit on dogs and a dog show. Smart woman.

I think that is it for now. Have a wonderful Thursday!

What are they saying now?

...Today both boys learned about Columbus. Rhett even made a cool 3 boats on waves which I was very impressed with. So at supper, I asked them about ol' Christopher.

Me: What did you learn about Columbus today?
Rhett: He sailed in 3 ships.
Me: Why?
Rhett: Because he wanted to.
Me: Well, what did he find?
Noah: Indians! And you know what? They were naked!
Rhett: Yeah, because back then...
Noah: Rhett! Don't interrupt me!
Noah: You know what they wore back then? They wore skins of cheetahs, not clothes.
Me: Oh. I did not know that.
Noah: Yeah. Cheetah skins.
Me: So, what did Christopher Columbus find besides the Indians?
Rhett: Umm.
Me: Why do Americans celebrate Columbus day?
Rhett: Because he liked to sail?
Me: Was it because he discovered America?
Rhett: Oh. Yeah. Sure.

That is still the story right?

If there was a trophy, Scout would be a winner!

...I know my blog has been lacking any substance as of late, and that won't change with today's post. Sorry. :)

Today Noah and I are taking our boxer, Scout, to a dog show at Rhett's school. This is a little worrisome to me. Not that Scout is a bad dog, she is not. She is a very sweet, loving dog who sometimes gets so excited that she is around other people that she jumps on them. I also don't know how she will act around other dogs. I don't think she will be territorial because it won't be at her house, but I hope she won't bark or growl at the other dogs. I am also a little unsure of how Rhett will be. He has been a little afraid of dogs lately. Any dog, even ours. He doesn't like to be near them. Yet, he has told me over and over that he wants Scout there. So we'll see. But I do know that Scout is a beautiful dog and everyone who sees her loves her.

And, no, I didn't even think of taking Brinkley. I would be crazy to take that over-hyper, can't control even with a leash, slobbery, huge lab-something else mix. Love him but only from afar. Just kidding. I do love him. Really. But still not taking him.

Noah asked this morning if there would be a winner at the dog show. I told him I didn't think that it was going to be a contest, just a show. He was disappointed.

Rhett said he thought the whole school would be there at the dog show. Again, disappointment when I said that it was just his class.

I would take pictures, but with my sore arm (yes, still with that tetanus shot!) it will take all my strength just to control my dog. So you'll just have to imagine how things will go. Paint a good picture for me, will you?

hint hint

...This morning after Rhett had breakfast, I catch him dragging his laundry basket, full of his dirty clothes, through the living room. I look at him and he says, "Mom. This is getting a little full."

Hmmm...is that a hint or what? :)

a little catch-up

...I need some Advil PM. I just saw a commercial for it. Maybe it will help me sleep through the night. You see, every day since last Monday, my arm has been so achingly sore from the Tetnus shot that I got, that I cannot sleep through the night. Lesson here is: If you ever have to get a Tetnus shot, get it in your hip, not your arm.
****
So the new tv season is upon us. I am so glad to be watching new episodes of The Office and Grey's Anatomy. I also like the new show Chuck. It is hilarious. Pushing Daisies looks pretty interesting too.
****
My neighbor is having a Halloween/Birthday party for her kids next Saturday. The catch is that she wants the adults to dress up too. I haven't dressed up for Halloween in forever. So after careful thought (mostly thinking about what Seth would be willing to dress up if he will at all) I think I will tell Seth to dress as a teacher and I'll dress as his student or teacher's pet. That way he just has to wear regular clothes and I am going to wear those knee high socks with some black shorts and either a white shirt or a sweater and carry an apple. Good idea or no? Oh and by the way, I haven't told Seth this yet. Hee! Hee!
****
Tonight I am going to cook for the first time in over a week. I am looking forward to it. Seth had cooking duty this weekend. He made Peppercorn Turkey Burgers and they were delicious. I think we ate on those for at least 3 days.
****
Allergy season is seriously kicking our rears. We are tired, sneezy, stuffy-nosed, tired, tired, tired! I am ready for a good freeze to kill that ragweed. But on a positive note, my flowers are so pretty outside. The orange and yellow marigolds look so good with my pumpkins.
****
Have a great Wednesday!

questions

...Here is a sampling of questions just asked this morning by my 2 sons:

Can I move my ladder over?
Can I go to the bathroom?
Do I have to go to school today?
Can I have the doughnut with orange and black sprinkles?
Why does my brother always want what I want?
Can I have another doughnut?
Do I have to go to Enrichment?
Who is the Toys R Us gift card for?
It is a coupon?
What are coupons?
Are you sure it is not a gift card?
Do I have to wear pants?
Do I have to wear my tennis shoes?
Is everything in my back pack?
What do box tops do?
Do I have to wash my face?
Can you carry my lunch box?
Can you?
Can you put my coat in my back pack?
Can you buy me a blue light up light saber?
Can I wear my Krispy Kreme hat to school?
Can I watch tv?
Can my friend pick me up from school?
Can I go to his house?
Why not?

This was just in the first hour and a half of the day. My mind is frazzled. I am glad I have a few hours to recuperate until they are back. :)

Have a good day.

did you have a good breakfast?

...For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you're not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn't going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.--Andy Rooney

raindrops keep falling on my head

...Sometimes the rain (literally and figuratively) must fall. This morning it stormed and resulted in a very foggy start of the day. The boys thought it was cool. However, Noah's forehead was not, so he had to stay home from school today and accompany me to the doctor. I am hoping he just has a little virus and nothing serious.

My trip to the doctor was uneventful. He thinks that it is either contributed to allergies or low blood sugar. I have to go to a cardiologist just to be safe. So that is all I know right now. I am glad that he wasn't too concerned about it. I am tired of getting strange looks though as a result of the big cut on my forehead. I know they are thinking, "Who beat you up?" I want to just say, "You should see the other guy!" Hee. Hee.

I really am ready for the weekend. This week has been a hard one. My childhood dentist passed away, Julie Lyons is needing extra prayers, my husband is under mucho stress at work and I could go on but I won't. I will just say Thank God tomorrow is Friday!

I also am thankful that I have two boys that make me smile, even when it rains:

here's a story for you

...What started out as a normal Monday soon became something else.

Monday afternoon, I was outside talking with my neighbor while Noah played with her friend in their house. All of the sudden, I felt a little light-headed and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground, hearing my neigbor yell her husband's name.

I fainted.

Ok. That shouldn't be a big deal right? Except the fact that I went head first into the street. Except the fact that I had fainted a mere 6 weeks before that.

So to the ER I went.

That night, I came home and could tell the boys (and Seth) were concerned. Noah now keeps asking different questions about fainting. What is fainting? Why does God make people faint? Do little kids faint? This is a different thing to see Noah afraid about something real (not monsters). I don't know if he is scared because it was me that was hurt or he is afraid he will get hurt. And both have been easy criers about little things since this has happened.

Seth is worried as well. I didn't drive at all yesterday (Seth's orders, not the doctors).

Yesterday I was feeling a little down about everything but last night I looked at the positives that came out of this situation. Here they are:

*I have gotten my tetnus booster and now I am updated on my vaccines. I was just talking this past weekend about needing to get that done. This isn't exactly the way I had wanted to do it, but it is still done.
*The ER did a CT, an EKG, many blood tests including diabetes, hypoglycemia, anemia, ect and everything looked normal. Good news.
*I now have a primary care doctor. I have to go for a follow-up to get a holter monitor (to record my heart for 24 hours) and try to find out why I am fainting. I didn't bother getting a family doctor before this because I didn't need one. Turns out it is always good to have a family doctor.
*I have a wonderful group of friends here. My neighbors did everything Monday. They helped clean me up after my fall, one took me to the ER, the others took care of my kids, including feeding them supper. Another friend is taking Noah to school the rest of this week. I can really feel the love from them and although I knew they were great friends before, I really appreciate them in a whole new way now. I feel I can trust them with anything and that makes me so happy.
*I got an Ann Taylor Loft gift card in the mail yesterday afternoon from my sweet friend (thanks Chrisy!) and it came at exactly the right time. :)
*I am feeling better today. I am still a little sore (mostly from that darn tetnus shot!) and I look like I have been in a major fight, but I do feel better. I am ready for my doctor's appointment though. I want to know why this happened.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great day. I will get those pictures posted soon.

i'm 30!

...And I had a great birthday! It started Friday night. My sis, Krista and my mom went to the Melting Pot and had a fun time. We decided to just do the chocolate next time. It was fabulous!!!

Saturday my sweet husband and wonderful dad took care of the boys (including my nephew) while the three of us went shopping all day. Do you know how long it has been since I went to a mall and walked the whole thing? Taking it all in? Not having to rush? Too long. I think I bought the most but we all had a great time. Especially shopping for shoes.

We came back to the house exhausted (because shopping all day is tiring!) and got ready for a little neighborhood get-together at my house. Seth got bar-b-que and I had made cupcakes earlier in the week. Having everyone there that I have gotten close to this past year was special. Rhett had his first Coca-Cola and was WIRED the rest of the night. He was crazy! :)

Some of my favorite things:

*the boys getting me my favorite kind of flower (Gerber daisies)
*finding not one but two pairs of shoes that I just couldn't live without :)
*making my brother's day: Saturday morning, Cameron gave me a hug and said "Happy Birthday!" Seth asked him who else had a birthday. He said, "Aimee." Seth said, "But who else?" Silence. Seth: "Your daddy!" Cameron: "My Daddy? My Daddy!!" So we gave Casey a call and Cameron said, "Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!" three times to him.
*The Flaming Turtle at the Melting Pot. Milk chocolate with a caramel swirl topped with chopped pecans, flambeed. Do I need to say any more? Probably not, but I will. The dippers were bananas, brownie bites, pound cake, strawberries, Oreo-covered marshmallows, graham cracker marshmallows and cheesecake. Now you know why I said we just need the chocolate.
*All the birthday wishes and cards. Thank you everyone!
*Just having my sister and mom there. That was great. The only thing that would have made it better was if Jana could have been here.
*The fact that my husband did all of this for me. I love that. He makes me feel very special and deserving. 30th birthday or not. Thanks sweetie!

Check back later for photos. I will add them later today or tonight. I am just in a hurry right now. I only have another hour until I pick Noah up from school and I still need to clean the kitchen.

Have a great day!

some things

...I am turning 30 on Saturday.

3.0.

Thirty.

30.

I am trying to get used to the idea...

***
Noah, who normally loves going to afternoon enrichment at his school, refused to go today. I asked why (selfishly hoping he would change his mind because I needed to get a lot done today) and finally he said because when he is there, he gets in trouble.

me: What kind of trouble?
N: I sit on my knees when I am not supposed to.
me: You sit on your knees? Oh, at circle time?
N: Yes.
me: When you are supposed to be sitting on your bottom?
N: Yes.
me: Ah.

He was pretty upset about this so I didn't make him go.

***

Yesterday, I ordered Noah's costume online. He was so excited. Then he found out that it wouldn't get here until next week. We have had at least 4 conversations so far about why it is not coming today or tomorrow. And what 7 days is. And what a week is. And why it takes so long. And how I can do nothing about how long it takes. And how the costume is his, it just isn't here yet. I even showed him a map of the U.S. and said the costume was in a store in California right now (I don't know where it comes from...probably China) and it takes at least 2 days to drive there from here and since the mail truck has many places to go between here and there, that is why it takes so long.

I am regretting making the purchase with him knowing about it.

***
Rhett wants to be something scary for Halloween, but I can't bring myself to let him be Dr. Zombie or any thing with a scary face, so he is going to be Spongebob "Frankinbob" Squarepants. I could have ordered this costume too, but seriously, if I can't make a sponge costume, then my grandmother and probably my mom would be so disappointed in me. :) Rhett is pretty excited about making it, so that is good.

***
My sister comes here tomorrow! I am super excited!!

***
Have a great day!

answers to faq

...I finally got an answer to the question we ask every time we are at the eye doctor for Rhett.

Will Rhett have to have surgery to correct his eye-crossing?

We have asked that question every time we have gone to the eye doctor since 2004. And every time the doctor (each time a different doctor) has said, "I don't know," or "Maybe."

Today, the new doctor said, "No."

He said that since Rhett's glasses fix his eye crossing, then to have the surgery would be pointless. Because he will need to wear glasses for his far-sightedness (80%) and the glasses would make his eyes cross outward if they were to correct his inward crossing with surgery. Oh.

I also asked if his eyes would always cross. 50% chance it will get better with age. Not good, not bad. Toss of the coin kind of thing to me. But the good news for Rhett is, that when he gets older and is weaned off his bifocals (that is the doctor's goal), he will be able to wear contacts. So, I feel good. Usually I feel...like I didn't learn anything. That we still don't know anything. Today I know something. Rhett will probably always have to wear glasses, which is fine, and he may always have a little eye-crossing action without his glasses or contacts. But he will not always have to wear bifocals. And surgery is not an option because his glasses correct the problem. God is good.

we got our kicks on Route 66

...A giant 66-foot soda pop bottle, over 400+ kinds of soda to choose from, a cafe that apparently had such great food that it was impossible to get a table, a convenient store and a gas station all make for a very unique landmark on old Route 66. Best of all--it was so much fun! We headed to Pops on late Saturday afternoon and although it was too crowded to eat the burgers and fries, we each got to choose our own soda pop. (Although, it is very hard for me to use the word "pop" because I grew up using "coke" for everything. "Do you want a coke? Sure, I will take a Sprite.")


The giant soda pop bottle lights up at night. We'll have to catch that next time. It is only miles from our house you know. And the boys thought we should come back every week. They were that impressed.

Rhett chose root beer for his drink. He first chose Grey's, but after paying for it and opening it, we realized it was diet. Seth and I are totally against diet drinks, especially for kids, so Seth went back in and bought him a Frostie's Vanilla Root Beer. Rhett loved it: It tastes like ice cream!

Different kinds of soda pop line the glass walls of the building. It was pretty amazing really.

Jolt is the drink Noah wanted. Because it has twice as much caffeine as Mountain Dew, we said No Way! He has enough trouble going to sleep as is! :)

So, he chose Jarritos Pineapple soda instead. It is made in Mexico and it tastes just like a pineapple life saver. Yummy! Noah really liked it.

Seth chose Boylan Orange Cream, mostly because it was sweetened with pure cane sugar. Have you ever had an Orange Dreamsicle? If you had, then you know what this tastes like. Not too orangy but very creamy. Seth and I traded half way through our drinks.

Let me tell you why. I chose Stewart's Ginger Beer (a ginger ale) for my drink and while I loved it, after a while, the spicy ginger taste really started burning my throat!! We looked at the ingredients and saw it had Quillaia Extract. We thought this might have something to do with the spiciness. We were right: I found this on the web: Quillaia Extract occurs as a reddish light brown powder or brown liquid, having a characteristic pungent taste. It actually comes from the bark of an evergreen tree native to China. There you go.

And the last picture is of the Sopranos pop. It is an Italian Soda and I liked the color. And what a tribute to that show! :)

We just thought the experience was neat and although we won't be going back every week, like the boys want, we do want to go there again. Good old fashioned fun is what that was. The world needs more of that for sure.

Have a great Monday!

do you feel that?

...That cool breeze? The rustling of the leaves? Isn't it just wonderful?

Fall is coming. I can feel it. The mornings are getting cooler, the afternoons are breezy and warm and the evenings are beautiful.

I love Fall.

Do you know what this means? It is time for another list!

Reasons I love Fall or Autumn:

1. Back to School time: As a kid, I loved September. The newness of school was exciting--who was in your class, who was your teacher, wearing your new clothes. This newness wore off quickly, more quickly with each passing year. Now I get to experience the same thing through my sons' eyes. Cool.
2. Warm Blankets: So by now you must know I have a fondness for blankets (since I've talked about them for 2 posts in a row) but isn't it great when you can put your warm blanket or bedspread or quilt back on your bed at night? Cozy.
3. New TV season: I love tv. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. I don't watch it all day. I do love watching it at night after the boys go to bed though. Especially when the new tv season kicks in. I love discovering new shows, getting back into my old faves and the fact that there is something on besides reality shows really makes me happy. Although I really do like Top Chef on Bravo...
4. Back to cooking: Admit it, during the summer, your oven stays cool most of the time. But during the fall it is so great to have the want to to turn it back on for meals. Casseroles, pies, breads and cheesy pasta dishes all start sounding good again.
5. No more shorts: At least for me. I know people wear shorts thru September and on into October, but not me. And thank goodness. I love wearing jeans. They are comfortable and you don't have to worry about any of that extra stuff: white legs, unshaven legs, ect... :)
6. No more bugs: Yes, they are still around. But most of the annoying ones are gone. The flies are becoming scarce and so are the locusts. The june bugs have come and gone. The rest are thinking about hibernation. Yay!
7. Lots of celebrations: My nephew's birthday is tomorrow. Jana's is on Saturday. My brother's (and mine) is a week away from Saturday. Then in October there are 3 more birthdays (my nephew Nicolas, Dad and Great-Gran), November is my mom's and my brother's-in-law birthday and December we celebrate 3 more (Mallory, Rhett and Noah)! That is a lot of celebrating. There is also the fact that 12 years ago in September, Seth and I officially became a couple. (Do you remember that, sweetie? If you don't, let me remind you. We had been talking more and more and started hanging out together again, after being on a break (ahem) from the previous Spring, and during a JV football game, where I should have been watching my brother play, I was walking with you in the parking lot and we pass a friend and she says, "I am so glad y'all are back together. You are such a cute couple." We looked at each other and that is what pretty much sealed the deal.) Also, Oklahoma is celebrating it's 100 birthday in November and that should be a pretty cool event. It will be neat to experience that with the boys.
8. The trees: The colors that are present in the fall are absolutely breath-taking and just make me so happy to be alive. God really knew what he was doing, didn't he?

Have a great weekend. Happy Birthday to Cameron and to Jana!! I love you!

truth in advertising

...I was flipping through some coupons sent by direct mail this morning, and I found these words, "Your Comfort is Important to Us!" on top of an advertisement. It was from a heating and air conditioning company. Those words struck me though and I thought, "Yes. Isn't it though?"

Comfort. Doesn't everyone want to be comfortable? Comfortable in their own skin, comfortable at work, at school, in their clothes, outside, inside, in bed? Isn't comfort food the best? Nothing beats a great big bear hug or a warm fuzzy blanket or a big, gooey, chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven. There is nothing better than being just right, not too hot, not too cold, not wet, but just right.

When you are wearing that pair of "too-tight" pants, your whole day is ruined because you feel so uncomfortable that nothing else matters.

When you have to do something that is "out-of-your-comfort-zone," it creates anxiety and makes you feel like you would rather be anywhere else but in that moment.

But if you stayed "comfortable" all your life, and didn't venture outside your comfort zone, would you not miss out on some of the best things in life? Some great opportunities come along and even though it makes you scared and uncomfortable, shouldn't you try it? Wouldn't that be expanding your comfort zone?

Although comfort is important, I think the uncomfortable is just as important. Not the "too-tight pants" kind, but the "I'm a little scared and not sure what is going to happen" kind. That kind is exciting, life-changing, freeing. That kind can make your life better, more-fulfilling.

I am turning 30 in a week in a half. And it is scary. Definitely uncomfortable feeling. I am finding wrinkles that I didn't notice a month ago. I am realizing that I am no longer considered a "youth." I now have to check that next age group box at church. When I read magazines, I can no longer skip the section marked "Skincare for your 30s."

But it is exciting too. I can feel a little more confident with who I am. I can try new things and try not worry about "not knowing what I want to do after the kids go to school" because I am sure that I will be satisfied with my life no matter what. I have beautiful, kind children and a loving, supportive husband and a wonderful family and super friends and the knowledge that Jesus loves me. What more could I ask for? Everything else will be like that extra frosting on the cake plate.

So here is to stepping out of your comfort zone but always knowing where your fuzzy blanket is.

Have a beautiful day.

i remember

...going about my normal day with my 9 1/2-month old son when Seth called and told me to turn the tv on right away.

Hearing Seth tell me that the World Trade Center was hit by planes and looking at the tv and seeing only 1 building left standing, shocked me. I remember asking him, "Aren't there supposed to be 2 tall buildings?"

I remember Seth coming home from work and we spent the rest of the day in front of the tv. I was totally envious of Rhett because he was sweetly obliviuos to all of it.

I remember the next morning waking up and hoping that it was all a dream. I turned the tv on and saw that is was not.

I remember the fear that I felt, knowing that terrorism can strike anywhere and at anytime. I remember the sadness I felt because I knew that Rhett would grow up in a very different world than I did. I remember the pride I felt to be an American and proud that Americans were brought together by this tragedy. I remember feeling hope because of the many ordinary heroes that risked their lives for others.

Six years later, I feel fear because terrorism is still a very real part of this world. I feel sadness because America is no longer united. I feel pride because of the military that risks their lives every day for us.

And I still feel hope.

Hope for brighter days, hope for a terror-free world, hope for an end to a war, hope for a kinder place to raise children, hope for my sons and while I am at it, hope for world peace. Why not?

Have a kind, peaceful day.

just another manic monday

...whoa whoa, I wish it were Sunday...

Woke up late...had to fix both pairs of Rhett's glasses (hoping they will make it through the day)...fixed Noah's lunch for afternoon enrichment at school...found out later, there is NO afternoon enrichment at school on Monday...had to reassure Rhett his hair was awesome because some boy made fun of it...then once we fixed it, had to reassure him that it was still "sticking up" every 5 minutes until the bus came...took Noah to school after making him very upset because he could not have chocolate pudding in the car, much less in the morning...went straight to the dentist to have some cavities filled and no more needs to be said about that because we all know how much fun that is...picked Noah up and guess what? he is upset because there is no enrichment today.

So now we are home, he is watching VeggieTales and eating the lunch I packed him and I even gave him a chocolate pudding too, and I am eating VERY carefully a lunch that I cannot even taste because my mouth is still numb.

But I am already feeling like this day is looking up. There is nothing like listening to a talking tomato and cucumber telling you how special you are and how God loves you very much. :)

...Thank you for all your kind words. Rhett is cool and I plan on telling him how many people think so! :)

Today is a It's-Friday-and-It's-Cloudy-Outside-and-I-don't-feel-like-doing-much-of-anything-kind of day. This week feels like it has been longer than most, don't know why. But I am glad it is the almost the weekend. Noah must be tired too. He was glad he didn't have to go to school today and he is really liking school!

Anyway, I am ending this non-inspiring post. Have a great weekend!

r u cool?

...Last night at supper, Rhett said he wished he didn't have glasses. My heart tightened. I asked why.

R: Because you aren't cool when you wear glasses.
me: What makes you cool then?
R: You know, when you have dark hair that is kind of long, wear dark clothes and are tall. {He described this neighbor kid who is in the 4th grade and oh so cool to his little brothers and all the little boys on our block}
me: Rhett, what you wear or what you look like or whether you have glasses or not does not make you cool. It is who you are that makes you cool. Plenty of people that wear glasses are cool. Daddy wears glasses and he is cool. Grandad wears glasses and he is cool.
R: Daddy is cool because he goes to work and Grandad is cool because he is strong. But I am not any of those things.
me (about to cry for my sweet boy): You are cool! You are cool because you are such a loyal friend, you are kind, you are smart, you have a big heart and you are funny! That is what makes you cool.
R: But I have a big head.
me: What?
R: B {the previously described boy whom I dislike more and more} said I had a big head.
me: When?
R: On the bus. I turned around to look at him and he said, "Dude. You have a big head!"
me: Well. I think he is uncool for saying that. I know he didn't mean it to be unkind. {Yeah, right} But he shouldn't have said it and I am sorry that he did. You don't have a big head. Your head is just the right size for a 6 year old boy.
R: Okay.
me: And I think you are one cool little guy. And I know I am not the only one who thinks so.
R: Thanks.

And that was the end of that conversation. But oh my gosh! One little comment that an older boy made, that he probably said to get a laugh from his friends, has made my son feel uncool. Unspecial. And now, I want to punch that kid in the face. I won't. I won't even say anything because that would totally not be cool.

But I am so angry. Kindness is something they are teaching in school this month. It is their word of the month. And although you can tell people to be kind all you want, you can shove kindness down their throats even, if someone does not want to be kind, they won't. Especially when it is a choice between being kind or being cool.

I want to know who decided being cool means being unkind? But isn't that an image that is protrayed on tv? The uncool kids are always the nice, smart kids. And the ones with the glasses. Remember Urkel from Family Matters? Glasses, uncool, but a heart of gold. Gretchen Prunella Grundler on Disney's Recess is intelligent and wears glasses, but not considered cool. Arnold of The Wonder Years is a nice guy, not too cool but really not because his best friend is the oh so uncool Paul, who wears glasses. Andrea of Beverly Hills 90210 is smart, but fairly uncool. She wears glasses. Milhouse of The Simpsons is Bart's best friend. He is geeky and clumsy and yes, wears glasses. Family Ties had its own geek: Skippy. Growing Pains had Carol. I am sure there are others, even more recent ones. These kids all have big hearts that are constantly trampled on by the much cooler crowd. I just hope that these images won't get Rhett down. I hope he sees that it isn't that way in the real world. Or at least it doesn't have to be that way.

I did notice this morning that Rhett said nary a word to B. Usually he tries to talk to him. But nothing this morning.

Rhett has figured out something that we all have figured out at one time or another in our childhoods: Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words hurt even worse.

***
On a lighter note, here is an entry from Rhett's Dictionary of Big Words

infessed v. 1.To talk about one thing all the time. 2.To be obsessed. Example: Noah you are so infessed about cheese!

Have a cool day.

Noah's First Day of Pre-K!

...Look at him, he is so excited he is clapping!! He has been looking forward to this for 2 weeks, so yeah, a little excited! He is such a big kid! Now look here for a look of what Noah looked liked last year. Wow. http://familyhouston.blogspot.com/2006/09/noahs-turn.html.

Also, big news for me: Seth went to IKEA for me and got my new stuff for my "office/craft room/kids' room/still a dining room when we have a lot of people." I need a better name. Anyway, here it is:


2 nice big tables for workspace. One for the boys and one for me. My table has legs that raise so if I want to work standing up, I can and if I want to slant the table, I can do that too. We have cool chairs and their table has 2 drawers that swivel for their extra stuff. I love this layout because if we need extra eating space, we have it! I also love the white. It just looks clean, even though it probably won't be most of the time. I'll try though Seth! :)

Here are my shelves that sit behind my table. They are already filled up with stuff. How did I get so much? Hmm...

And here is Noah, digging out paper. (He was also in the top picture). I put their paper and supplies in two rolling carts underneath their table. I figured it would be make it easier for them to get things out and also easier for them to put away. The boys like it and I love it! Yay!

And happy September to everyone! It is one of my favorite months of the year. I wonder why? Hee! I am really looking forward to my big day because I am going to get to see my sis, Krista!!! She and my mom are coming for the weekend, for a little girl time. This is my husband's idea, isn't he great?

Love you Seth!!

Have a great day!

do you need a laugh?

...Well, then, you've come to the right place!

Have a fun Friday and a great Labor Day weekend!!

A Tale of Three Little Dogs

...There once was a little dog who belonged to one little boy. It was a gift from his great-grandmother, given to him on Valentine's Day when he was two. It was white, had a red collar and a heart on his eye. The poor dog was left alone for awhile, but one day, out of the blue, this little boy found it and it became his wonderful friend. He would sleep with it, take it places, and yes, sometimes even lose it. Most of the time, thank goodness, Little Dog would be found.

The little boy's mommy, thinking one day Little Dog would be lost for good, decided to order two more on the wonderful world wide web, just in case they needed a replacement. If not, she thought it would be a great gift for the little boy when he grew up and had children himself. (The mommy is such a nostalgic cheese ball sometimes.)

So, for two years, Little Dog would accompany Little Boy everywhere. Some nights the parents would look high and low for it, because, apparently, it really liked to play hide and go seek. One night, however, it could not be found. After searching for many minutes, the mommy decided to go get one of the replacements. Knowing she could not pull off "Here is Little Dog!" because he was so new and white (and Original Little Dog was no longer white--maybe a grey?) she said he was Little Dog's cousin. Little Boy agreed that Cousin Dog could stay.

A few days later, Little Dog came back. Much rejoicing was had at Little Boy's household. But, now, what to do with Cousin Dog? Never fear, Little Brother was here to take Cousin Dog, now named Little Dog, and love him like his own.

Two years later, two boys are growing up and, surprisingly, still love two Little Dogs. Not-quite-so-Little-Anymore-Boy isn't so attached anymore but still sleeps with his Little Dog. Growing-up-to-fast-Little Brother really loves his Little Dog. Unfortunately (did you see this coming?), one day, in the not so distant past, Little Brother's Little Dog decided to play hide and go seek himself. No one could find him. So, out came the Third Little Dog, looking new and white. This time, mommy said that this was her Little Dog, but Little Brother could borrow it until his Little Dog could be found. She asked that he take good care of it (because mommy still had her dreams of giving it to Little Boy and his child someday).

One month later, Second Little Dog was found stuffed in a shoe basket. Not-so-Careful-Little Brother rejoiced and gave mommy back "her" Little Dog. Unfortunately, the third Little Dog will no longer be given as a gift because his little nose has remnants of blue Spongebob band-aids that won't quite come all the way off.

Sigh.

And they all live happily ever after. Or at least until Little Dog or Little Dog decides to hide again.

The end.

i'm free

...of recipe clutter, that is. No more pages torn out of magazines, no more newspaper clippings, no more scraps of paper with recipes written on them...they are all in the recycle bin where they belong. Whew.

Now, before you get all proud of me, I have to tell you what I did and what made Seth look at me like I was crazy. I typed all my favorite recipes (from said clippings and magazines) and then printed them out and put them in a binder. One notebook full of things that I have tried and loved or am dying to try. It took me about a month, working on and off, but I am done with my recipe project. And hopefully, I will keep up with it, so instead of piles of recipes cluttering my kitchen cabinet, I will just type it out and keep it on the computer. Hopefully this will really make me stop and make sure I really want the recipe. Do I really think it is type-out wonderful? Will we really eat this ever again, because if not I am not wasting my time typing it out! :) Yes, I realize this was not the most efficient way of handling things, but it worked for me.

And the Berenstein Bears would be proud of me--I re-organized the boys closets and toys, putting them in catagorized boxes and even finding missing items (like Noah's Little Dog that was missing for 2 months.) There rooms look great and I will not be losing my cool anymore like Mama Bear did in The Berenstein Bears and the Messy Room.

So, I feel a little more free today.

back to his old self

...Noah is feeling so much better! Friday, I took him to the doctor and she diagnosed pneumonia. Apparently, little kids can take this hit and keep on ticking, because he never seemed super sick. He was tired and I could tell he didn't feel well, but by Sunday he was back to normal.

****
Rhett loves school so much he said on Saturday that he wished it was a school day!

****
My husband worked hard all weekend to build a fence on the side of our house. It looks awesome! Our old fence was at a low height and a little rickety. This new fence is made of cedar (sniff--ahh!) and is tall and will keep our dogs inside our backyard. Yay!

****
And me, well, I am going to clean house and do laundry.

Have a great Monday!

back to the doctor

...This time for Noah. He woke up with a fever, sore throat and cough. Ugg. I shouldn't complain, because they both have been fairly healthy for about a year, but no parent likes when their child is sick. And to make it worse, Noah does not want to go to the doctor at all and is already mad about it.

But on the bright side, Noah is really doing well at swimming lessons. He has learned how to float on his back for 10 seconds and is almost swimming by himself, so that is great! We are just going to let him continue next month and Rhett will finally get to join him as well. Rhett missed out because of his illness the first of this month.

So we are just going to hang low today. Yay for Friday.

an anniversary to remember

...Here is Seth and me, right after eating his present. Ha! Actually, I cooked a short ribs and rice dish for him and then baked him a Blueberry Cheesecake. Both delicious!

I wish I was a better food photographer than I am because this picture does not do this cheesecake justice. It was the easiest recipe and although I don't know all the tricks on baking a cheesecake, it turned out so yummy!

Now, on to my gift. Seth may not like me telling this story but it just shows how cute he is. The other day he said he had already picked out my gift. Then, a little later, he said he wasn't sure I would like it. So he showed it to me online. It was a beautiful James Avery necklace but I decided to be honest and say that I don't think I would wear it that often because it was too dressy. I felt bad about deflating him, but I didn't want him to get me something and me not wear it, you know?

Then I was asking what gift you should give for a 9th anniversary and we looked it up and saw leather. So I said, "You should get me a purse!" He laughed and said, "Yeah, right"

Fast forward to Tuesday night. I had dinner with friends, so I dropped the boys off with Seth. When I got home around 9:30 pm, Seth said he found my present and he knew I wouldn't like it but I could return it. He removes a purse from a Dillards bag! And, I am going to sound so mean here, but I started laughing because as cute as I thought he was, I did not like the bag! I actually said to him that it was an old lady bag! Hee! But it was all in good fun because I knew by then that he dragged the boys to 3 different stores looking for this thing: Coach, Brighton and Dillards. So I really appreciate his effort because how many men do you know that would look for a purse for their wife without her there? I don't know many. :)

So, yesterday, Noah and I went back to Dillard's to return the bag and find one I liked better. And here is what I found, on clearance, no less, so I bought 2!

A beautiful Kate Landry bag that has a soft lining and many pockets and places to put things. I saw this and instantly loved it! It is fun and different. Seth just shook his head and said he would have never picked that out in a million years. :)

And my second bag (also on clearance) is a Flora Bella beach bag. It is huge and will carry more than one towel, unlike my old one. It just makes me happy looking at it!

So thank you, Seth, for my bags! I think I had more fun picking them out than you did, but I love that you thought of buying me a purse, even when you knew it would be impossible to find one I liked without me!

We had a great anniversary. Thanks to our parents for the cards and thanks to you all for the happy wishes!

Have a great day!

in the last 9 years

...I have

*loved more than I could have ever thought possible

*had the two greatest boys ever with a man who is such a wonderful dad

*moved at least 7 times

*bought 5 different houses and sold 4 in a great amount of time

*have gone to at least 3 major baseball games

*lived in 3 different states

*been to the ER 6 different times (3 for me, 2 for Seth, 1 for Noah)

*been late countless of times because of my sweetie and no, I don't think it is ever gonna change :)

*cried and laughed more than I ever have

*baked at least 15 poppyseed cakes, 10 apple pies, 5 million dollar pies, and 3 key lime pies (Seth's favorite desserts)

*not yet baked one of his very favorite desserts: punchbowl cake. I will leave that up to his mom!

*gone to sleep feeling safe and secure every night

*not ironed more than I have ironed.

*done more laundry than I had ever cared to do.

*learned how to use a drill, a lawnmower and an edger

*but still not learned how to tip correctly ;)

*fought about the silliest things and really believed it was worth it

*been on this roller coaster of ups and downs with a man that happens to like roller coasters. :)

*known that every minute, every day is worth the effort

Seth, I love you even more than the day we were married 9 years ago. I remember walking down the aisle of the church, crying and thinking how strange it was that I was crying because I it was the first (but not last) time I cried when I was happy. And you do make me happy. Thank you for loving me, for being an awesome dad and for being you. Even when you do make us late. :)

Happy Anniversary sweetie!

a good day

...Rhett got off the bus smiling big yesterday. He had a really great day! He was excited to go back! He loves riding the bus both ways too. Especially now, since he found out he does NOT have to sit in the same seat every day. :) He was shocked to find this out:

A: Did you sit by your friend C, today, on the bus?
R: No. He sat by the older kids. He must like them more than me.
A: No, I doubt it. But I am sure he just wanted to sit by them--to be cool, you know?
R: Yeah.
A: You do know that you don't have to sit in the same seat every day right?
R: I sat in the same seat I did last year.
A: I know. But you don't have to.
R: I don't?!?
A: No. I mean, the bus driver didn't tell you that did he, that you have to sit in the same seat?
R: No. I just thought we had to!
A: No! You can sit anywhere you want!

So, this morning, he picked a different seat and waved at me from an open window! So exciting!

Noah had a really great day yesterday too. He watched Sesame Street and loved it, which is great because I really wanted him to watch an educational show in the morning when Rhett was at school. He talked about it all day! Funny that a show that has been around that long can still capture a kid's' attention.

No pool though. It only opens 5-8 pm now until the end of August. Then it closes for the season. Bummer.

And, as for me, I had a great day too. It is amazing how much one can get done if one drags herself out of bed a little earlier in the morning! Seth told me not to over-do it--he doesn't want me to get burned out! Ha. Ha.

Today, Noah and I are going to do a little shopping. I do have an anniversary tomorrow with my honey. :)

Have a great day!

seeing it all

...Today is Rhett's first day of First Grade!! Can you believe it? I can hardly myself. I think he thinks he is going to be at school forever and never get to come home because he keeps saying things like, "I'm never gonna get to play with my friends again!' or "I'll never see you!" so I try to assure him that he will be home soon. :)

Rhett is such a creature of habit. On the bus, he sat in the exact same seat as last year. He sat in that seat every day last year. I'll have to ask him if he thinks he has to sit in the same seat every time.

If you want to really see how much he has grown, then look at this post: Rhett's First Day of Kindergarten. Amazing really. I am excited for him. I think he will have a great year.

****

This was taken on Saturday. If you saw the news, Oklahoma had unusual weather early Sunday morning. But it started out normal enough: just rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin. I told Seth I thought it was so weird knowing that the rain was from a tropical storm, us being so far inland. The boys had fun in the rain, playing in the puddles. It rained on and off all day Saturday.

Then, the "remnants" of Erin formed into a tropical depression right over Oklahoma! This happened right around midnight and Seth and I ended up watching the weather on and off all night long. Honestly, I had never seen so much rain fall that hard for that long in my life. It just wouldn't stop! I think it rained hard from midnight to about 7 in the morning. It is funny that even living in Houston for two years, I had to come to Oklahoma to experience a tropical storm. And now I can say I have seen almost every type of weather here--just in one year of living here!

Luckily, we weren't flooded. Areas around us were and still are. Some schools cancelled their first days because of the high water. Which is amazing--they already had to use a snow day!

****

Now the sun is shining and hopefully, the hot hot weather is gone. It still will be hot and humid, but maybe not over 100 degrees hot. I think I'll take Noah to the pool a little later today to pass the time before Rhett gets home. (Just do me a favor and don't mention that to Rhett, kay?)

it's somebody's birthday!!

...And that somebody is Pop (aka Sammy)! Actually, his birthday is the 19th, but I didn't know if I would be on the computer tomorrow, so hence his birthday wishes today. Rhett wished you could be here so we could have a party and Noah agreed saying he wished you were here to have cake. So although we miss you, we hope you have a fantastic birthday!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Pop!
Happy Birthday to you!

We love you!

last day of summer bliss

...for Rhett anyway. He asked yesterday how long he would have to go to school and was shocked to find out that it was everyday, all day. He asked: But when am I going to see you, Mom? Sweet boy.

I, personally, am ready for school to begin. (Doesn't every mother say that?) Rhett and Noah are finally sick of Spongebob (especially after last week when they watch a lot of tv because of Rhett's illness), it is too hot outside to, well, be outside, they are bored of playing and bored of coloring and just bored. So guess what? They are always following me around while I putter around the house trying to get things done! I won't lie to you, it is annoying. :) So I think school will be nice for them. For Rhett. Noah still has two weeks to go...

****
You can tell Rhett is getting older. He is trying to use big words and use sayings that he hears adults use. It is pretty cute. This morning he wanted me to look up the cost of what a Game Boy and a Playstation would be because he is saving his money. When I told him the price of a Playstation 3, which is over $300, he said, May God help us all! I almost burst out laughing.

****
Noah is taking swimming lessons at Seth's work and is doing so well! Yesterday was the first chance I had to watch him and I was so impressed. He is learning basic strokes! I am excited for him. I really never learned the correct strokes so when I swim, it is pretty hilarious to people watching me, I am sure. I told Seth to sign me up for swimming lessons too!

****
All in all, I think that this has been a great summer. Lazy afternoons at the pool, getting to see cousins, playing with friends, neighborhood bar-b-ques, watching lots of cartoons, trip to St. Louis, getting to sleep in (ok, that is more my thing, not the boys. Hee!), it has been fun.

And I know that this school year will be a lot of fun too.

Holly's happy day

...Look here for Justin and Holly's happy news. Congratulations friends!!!

Scrapbook Tuesday returns

...Here is a sneak of a layout I created for yourscrapbookstash.com. If you want to see the whole thing, go the gallery (link is on the right). I just wanted to show Krista her beautiful daughter's picture and the journaling along with it. Phoebe loves her mama and did not seem to care for the rest of the adults at all (Seriously, she would give me these "evil-eye" looks and when I would try to hold her and talk to her, she would stick her lip out and cry silently!) until her mom and dad went to Lubbock to celebrate their anniversary. Then a whole different Phoebe emerged. She laughed, she smiled (even at me) and she had the most fun. So, I created this layout as proof to her mom that Phoebe did have a good time in Friona with her cousins. :)

joy and a concern--updated

...Just a quick post today. I am trying to get Rhett back into the doctor's office today...his fever keeps coming back and now he is coughing so badly, sometimes it seems he can't catch his breath. I hope it is just bronchitis.

But I did want everyone to know that Christy and Casey had a beautiful baby boy Friday morning. His name is Connor Reese and he weighs 7 lbs and is 21 inches long! I talked to Casey and he said that his little one had some red hair on his head. I can't wait for pictures! Christy, I am so excited for you!

****
So after spending all morning at the doctor, I can now say that Rhett has (we think) walking pneumonia and (maybe) the beginnings of asthma. Yeah, it doesn't sound like I know anymore than I knew before. The doctor took an chest x-ray and said it could still just be viral, but with the fever, it probably is w.pneumonia. So, antibiotics for that should take care of the infection. But then she said that he was taking breaths the way asthmatics do. So she is treating that as well with an inhaler and a steroid. (In case, you really don't want to know all of this, I am sorry, but it is so helpful to write all of this down.) I asked her if he has asthma and she said she wasn't sure but she thinks so. Then she said, We always need to have the inhaler on hand so it does not get out of control again. Yikes.

So, right now, I am just trying to soak everything in. When you hear pneumonia and asthma in the same breath, it boggles your brain. At least it did mine. I don't want Rhett to have to deal with asthma but I am trying not to think about that right now. We go back in 2 weeks, so we will see what she says then.

Anyway, that is our story.

what a beautiful morning

...and I should know because I have been up since 5:30 am. :)

This is why:

*My parents and brother got up that early to drive to Tulsa, OK so they can attend the PGA golf championship. I think Mom is more excited than the other two! I am worried about the heat, so I made sure that they had plenty of things to keep them cool: big umbrellas for shade, misters for their faces, sunscreen, water, frozen grapes...Never mind that they can't bring any coolers in the tournament, at least they'll have some of it for later...

*Casey's son, Cameron, is an early riser. I went for a walk at 6:30 and when I got back, he was already awake and watching tv. So no sleeping late for me today no matter what!

*Christy is supposed to be having her baby today, at 7 am, so I have been wondering about her. I am anxiously awaiting...

*I was worried about Rhett and hoping he wouldn't have "the fever" today. (That is what Rhett says: "Uncle Casey, I can't go to swim lessons because I have the fever." "I can't jump on the trampoline because I still have the fever." Very funny. I keep thinking Dance Fever whenever he says that.) Anyway, I was going to have to call the doctor back and was not looking forward to taking 3 boys to the dr and not looking forward to Rhett not being well for another day, poor guy, but happily, the fever was gone when he woke up. Yay! (And now that I have spelled the word "fever" so many times, it looks funny to me. Has that ever happened to you?)

*Seth is going to Dallas today to meet his dad and brother so they can watch baseball this weekend. I am excited for them. I hope they have a good time!

So all these things made it impossible for me to go back to sleep when Seth's alarm went off at 5:30 am this morning. But I did get to enjoy 70 degree weather while walking and that was nice, because it won't stay that way for long.

I hope you had a good morning and have a great weekend!!

what today means to me

...First, there is no reason, really, why today means something to me. I do know an old friend that has a birthday today (8-8!), my mom is coming today, I did a little walking this morning, these things are great and are special. But my title does not mean that today is a very important date.

I am just trying to focus on the things in my life that are real, the here and now. Why today? Because yesterday was a blah day. Because while I was at the doctor's office with Rhett, the doctor said that we need to watch for pneumonia. (He is fine and she thinks he just has a cold but she said she has seen many cases lately, so we just need to be aware).

But I think that is when I jumped out of my blahness. I have been thinking a lot lately of who I am and how I think I am a bit flaky about things. I get excited about something, jump head first without thinking and then a few months down the line, am disappointed when it is not working out like I had hoped it would. I have done this more times than I really want to admit. So I had been feeling a little disappointed in myself that I am this way. I don't want to be like that anymore.

So right there at the doctor's office, I decided that I was going to first, enjoy my kids more. We are so lucky that we have two healthy kids that are close to each other and are active and are so alive with energy. I appreciate that so much. I don't always appreciate myself, though, and I should. I love being a stay-at-home mom. I need to stop thinking I need to "do" something else because I feel like I am not doing enough. Being a mom is tough. It is the hardest job I have ever had. It is also the most fun! I want to enjoy it.

Second, I am going to get focused. This is where I become flaky I think. I just don't always see the big picture because I just want to see the end result. I am very thankful for Seth because he always tries to slow me down and help me to see everything that goes in to this project or that idea. He grounds me. So I am slowing down. Again, enjoying life.

So today is a new day.

***

Did you know that I have been blogging for a year now? Thanks for reading my thoughts and sharing my life with me! I appreicate all of you so much and hope you have a good day!

blah

...Rhett has a cold, so today I am making him rest, drink plenty of fluids and yes, watch tv. That is the only way he will actually sit down and rest!

I, myself, am feeling a little lazy these past few days. I usually try to go for a walk/jog in the mornings before Seth goes to work but I haven't in a week. Just haven't felt up to it, no energy. Of course, if I start again, then I will have the energy I need to get through the day, so it is a vicious circle.

So it is a blah day here. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better...

loving

...

1. Steve and Barry's : I have heard a few things about this store over the years, but most recently when Sarah Jessica Parker put her own clothing line in the store. So, being a SJP fan, I had to check it out. Bummed that they didn't have an online store, I immediately became excited when I found out there was a store in OKC! So yesterday(Tax Free Day) we went to a mall, a little out of the way, a little run down for our taste, but it was so worth it for me! I found jeans, I found t-shirts, I found nice shirts...everything under $20. Everything good quality. Love it! I will be going back...especially since we found an outside entrance to the store. That way we don't have to go into the mall itself.

2. My friend/neighbor and her comment that she thinks Pottery Barn is trying to take over the world because they now have Superhero bedding. :)

3. Noah being just like me. Last night I went into his room and found that he had written his name on his nightstand. I asked him if he did that, he nodded, looking scared, and knowing in my heart that I could not discipline him for it (because I, yes me, did exactly the same thing as a kid--maybe not on a nightstand but I drew on my sisters' dolls, I wrote my brother's name on the walls, you get the picture) I told Noah to go get daddy. So Seth had to discipline him. When will those kids learn--write your brother's name, not your own! :)

4. that my best friend is having a baby on Friday! Christy has a c-section planned for this Friday and I am so excited to meet her little boy! Keep her, her husband and that sweet baby-yet-to-be-born in your prayers that everything goes as planned and the baby and mom is healthy and safe!

5. that my dad and mom are going to go to a PGA tournament this weekend. I am so excited for my dad! I hope they have a good time. It is in Tulsa, so they (along with my brother) are coming here for the weekend. But, of course, it if finally getting hot (upper 90s) and no rain in sight to cool anything off, so I hope there is a lot of shade at Southern Hills golf course.

Have a great Monday!

i have photos!

...Good Saturday to you! I have been trying to do 10 things at the same time but thought I would take a little break to post some pictures (long-awaited, I am sure!) here.

This is my buffet. If you had ever seen it before (white-washed, different colored doors), you know there is a big difference. I really am enjoying it because it has freed up some very needed space in my kitchen! Yay!

This is my entry way view from the front door. I really wanted to show you the paint color. It is neutral but it looks so much better than it did! No more dirty walls, no more spots of mismatched paint, just nice and clean looking. Usually, the chairs are where I place my purse and other things so it looks a little messier than this!

I just wanted to show you a picture of this beautiful sky. About a week and a half ago, the sky became very dark and I looked out the window and I saw all these clouds, rolling by. The picture does not do it justice because it was absolutely breath-taking. It looked like waves of clouds, moving so quickly. 20 minutes later, it began to rain. And that was the last rain storm we have had. A record for here! :)

These last pictures remind me all of what was great about summertime growing up. Locust skins! I can remember going to our willow tree in the back yard and finding these skins (although we never found this many at one time!) and placing them on our shirts. They would attach to almost anything. About a week ago, I was out by our neighbor's willow tree and found these all over our fence. I showed the boys what they were and what they could do with them and ever since then, they have collected skins almost every day! They have a cupful. It is kind of creepy looking at all of the skins in one place but I have to laugh because the boys have so much fun with them.

Seth put these on Noah's shirt to "freak Mommy out" the other day but what really freaked me out was when Seth caught a live locust and started chasing me around with it. It was making a loud crazy noise (the locust, not the husband) and its wings were moving as fast as they could and I could not take it! :) The boys thought it was hilarious!

I think the boys are learning more and more about their mom all the time. They already know so much about me and the things they know...

For instance, the other day I was cleaning the house. I was trying to really clean it because I hadn't done that in awhile. Rhett, out of the blue, asks if Grandmom is coming to our house. I told him, well, not right now, why? He said, "Because you are cleaning!"

Have a great weekend! I am going to clean the house--because Grandmom is really coming in less than a week! :)

miss do-it-yourself

...Yep, that is me. At least that is what I thought last night, while trying to finish my buffet cabinet. I was just pretty darn proud of myself. Then, the unthinkable happened--I had problems! The doors wouldn't all fit because the hinges were too big. Frustration building, I went in from the very warm garage from where I was working to the nice cool house where Seth was and asked him what he would think if I left some doors off. I wanted him to say, "That is a fantastic idea, Aimee. I think that would look very cool!"

Uh, no. That is not what he said, as you can imagine. This is engineer Seth, you know. He said basically that doors would be better.

So back to the garage. I thought a little and figured out a way to fit them. And I finished it. It looks pretty good-not professionally done-but pretty good. I will show a picture when I have it in the kitchen (right now it is still in the garage). And I still am proud that I did it all by myself and that I didn't hand the project over to Seth when I became frustrated.

Now that this project is over, I can safely say that I am glad it is done and I am glad I don't have to do anymore sanding and drilling! And I think Miss Do-It-Yourself is putting her tool belt, paint brushes and sandpaper away for awhile.

a date with mom

...This morning the boys and I had a breakfast date. The reason: we were out of milk, frozen waffles, pancake mix and poptarts. So after getting dressed, we headed to Panera Bread (and thanks to a gift card from a friend, it was a really cheap date!) and had bagles, cinnamon rolls, chocolate milk (boys) and Chai Tea Latte (me). We ate outside on their patio and fed the birds, who, in turn, fed their babies. We had fun and it was really nice.

Rhett starts school in 20 days. Full day, 5 days a week, no more lunches at home, kind of school. He is a little nervous, I think. But excited too. So this was a nice memory for us to do have a breakfast date. Maybe we will do it more often, because knowing me, we'll run out of milk again. :)

more on rhett

...I love this picture, even though Rhett is riding right out of the frame. I love his face, so excited to be showing his mom how good he is on his scooter. And he really is. He has lost that fear of falling that he had last year when he first learned to ride his bike. Now he goes down the hills fast on his bike and scooter. He is even learning to ride a skateboard, his dad's no less. It is huge for him but he still loves to ride it.

Rhett is very technical and wants to master things right away. He does something over and over again to make sure he understands it. I think that is one of the reasons he asks questions over and over too. I know part of it is because of his age, but I think he just wants to make sure he knows what is going on and why and when and who is involved and where it will be...you get the picture. If I don't answer something, it drives him just as crazy as it does when he does all the asking. So I am trying to not let it bother me so much. But I do have to share this story:

The other day I was making dinner and was trying to open 3 cans. But my can opener would not work properly and it was making me mad. Mad that we only have one can opener, mad that I could get it to kind of work for a second then it would stop, mad that it was only a few months old! When Seth walked in the kitchen, I told him we needed a new can opener.

Why do we need a new can opener?

What is wrong with it?

Have you tried to open a can with it?

Have you tried to fix it?

Let me see you try to open a can with it.

Here is the funny part. I would expect these questions to come from Seth, that is just like him to question it like I didn't mean it. BUT, the questions were from, you-know-who--Rhett! Just like his daddy. I looked at him, then I looked at Seth, who was laughing, and I just shook my head because it is so scary how alike they are.

one after another

...It is finally warming up. Woo. This morning, I let the boys go out to the front yard and play while I sanded my buffet cabinet at 9, and by 9:15, Noah was ready to go back inside, siting that it was just too hot to play.

The buffet cabinet is the one that was in my craft room. I am repainting it black and putting it in the breakfast area of the kitchen. I am excited about this project because I really need more storage space in the kitchen.

All of my scrapbooking supplies and the boys' art supplies are crammed in the office right now. I am going to repaint the craft (dining room) room, entry way and hallway and then I will be ready for a trip to Frisco, TX. Why? That is where the nearest IKEA store is and that is where I want to get my tables and bookshelves for the craft room.

And are you wondering how I am getting all of this done? Well, I am sanding a little bit a day because 1) it is really hot out there and 2) sanding really makes my arms tired :) and I am going to start painting today at 5 because that is when the boys go to a party for 4 hours and I will have uninterrupted paint time. They are very excited about this party because "no grown-ups are allowed" except my neighbor, whom every kid thinks is the coolest mom ever anyway. And she really is.

Anyway, have a great Monday!

friend or foe?

...I love neighbors. Just the idea of them makes me smile. Today my neighbor and friend got locked out of her house with her two kids. So she came here. I love that we can feel comfortable enough with each other that we can go to each other's house, early morning, when we all still have our pjs on, and ask for help. It is nice.
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So I am in major re-do mode around here. We are talking, seriously, about hardwood floors in a couple of our rooms, making over the craft room and Seth is going to be building a new fence soon. I want to paint our entry way and craft room (otherwise known as formal dining room) and then, you know what? I will be through painting our house! Except the garage. Which will not happen while it is still hot outside. But yay! how exciting! Now if you talk to Seth about this, I don't think he would sound excited about any of this. We are different, he and I. He likes to talk about it, I like to do it. You know? Sometimes I move too fast for him, sometimes he moves to slow for me. Most of the time, we even each other out. Which is good.
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So my son Rhett is into this stage where he wants to know exactly what is going on every minute of every day. If the phone rings, he immediately asks who it is. If Seth and I are talking about something, he jumps in with a question or comment about the subject he thinks we are talking about (he rarely is right). He is always asking if he can play with this friend, or go to this friend's house or call this friend. He is always making plans with friends before asking us. And. it. is. driving. me. crazy! Don't get me wrong. I love that he is so inquisitive. I love that he wants to know about things. But because he asks these things all the time, I sound so negative.

No, you cannot play with your friends right now because you aren't even dressed yet.

It is no one you know that is on the phone.

Daddy and I were not talking about anything you really want to know about.

That is really none of your business.

No, you cannot call your friend yet. It is suppertime.

Maybe later.

Maybe later.

Maybe later.

Not right now.

No!!!

You see what I mean? I don't sound friendly at all. Now I do let them play with their friends. Everyday. They know the important things. Really. And I do say yes a lot. Ask Seth. :)
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a prayer request

...A while back I think I mentioned one of our friend's friends, who has cancer. Her name is Julie Lyons and she has melanoma and recently they found lesions on her brain. You can read her story here: http://www.lyonsfamily.org/.

I ask for prayers for Julie as she goes through a tough procedure tomorrow. She has 3 small kids. She is only 34.

About a year ago, my sister Jana lost a high school friend who was around that age to lung cancer. She had 3 small kids. I think about her often because I am around that age, with small children. So are my sisters and most of my friends.

It makes me scared. Sad. Frustrated.

So I pray for Julie mostly because she needs to be there while her kids are growing up. Children need their moms. When I pray for Julie, I know in my heart I am praying for all moms and dads with illnesses.

best.book.ever.

...When a package arrived Saturday with this sticker on it, I knew it was the book.

Harry Potter's last book!!! I was so excited. I am still so excited. I finished the book yesterday, but I am already rereading parts of it. Amazing. I will say no more. :)