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!