I picked up Lisa... loaded her buggy in my car, dropped the boys off at my mom's for the first time Drew's ever really napped at someone's house and the first time she's ever watched him and we headed east on I-20 to Canton!  Waaahooo hoooo... I was so excited to have some real girl time I don't think I shut up the entire time.  It's so easy to get turned around out there that it's just crazy -- even after I got a map. 

These chunky monkeys on their motorized scooters... get up and walk people!  I know we should have sympathy/empathy for those who are physically challenged but exercise is good for the soul, muscles, waistline... so get up and WALK!!!!! 

We kept finding this and that but both of our first purchases was a large bag of candied nuts -- pecans for Lisa, almonds for me (Andy got me hooked on those!)....

We wandered in and out of buildings... back and forth...around and around... until WOW... I found something I couldnt' live without.... BOOKS for the boys!  LOL.  Yeah, my first check was written to a book vendor.  I found three cool NFL first reader books... I knew Andy would be proud! 

I also bought three large tin canisters... large -- mucho grando!  (sounds like a taco bell menu item huh?) and a really cool "thing" to hang on the wall... it's a shelf... has hooks and also has the decorative aluminum wall tiles... no idea how to explain it... you'll just have to see it!

She found what she was looking for... we did lots of looking... ate some lunch...and soon it was time to call it a day... we picked up the boys from my mom's...

Josh is at that stage where he loves to try to interject into every conversation regardless of whether he understands the subject matter or not.  So we had lots of broken conversations.... and Josh trying to rat my mom out for trying to have Drew ride him like a horsey and he fell over the front of josh's shoulders onto his head on the ground (grass, not concrete)... no biggie... but he loves to tell!  :)

Dropped Lisa and her goodies off and we headed back to the house... I was ready to lapse into a coma... But, I got some neat stuff... was way under my "limit"... and got some time away...it was a good day.

Dr. appt today at 10am.  His weight curve is on its way up again... YEA!  He went from the 23rd to the 25th percentile in weight.  Maybe he WILL eat again.  The doc did say to grind up what he won't eat and put it in his foods.  So, I guess he won't LEARN to eat veggies, he'll just be tricked into it. 

We drove up to Andy's work to say hi and let Drew see him before naptime (and to KILL time) and he seems to gravitate towards William at the office because he's always got food (snacks) so what was his snack?  Oh, try about 1/3 a bag of chili cheese fritos!?! This kid won't eat a hotdog but he'll eat a freakin bag of chili cheese fritos?  What the heck is up with THAT!?!  It's maddening I tell ya!

He started calling me Mohh--yeeeee instead of mama... and Andy is Daaaaaayeeee instead of Dada.  Josh is "joh-shaw"  I have got to get some camcorder tapes to catch these cute little nuggets of personality that won't stick around long!  Andy started teaching him "get yer guns up"  (Texas Tech)... who KNOWS what he says then... and he's got a double barrel finger gun b/c he can't quite master the pistol.  LOL. 

We started off the morning with a bang -- literally -- of his head on the changing table.  Ouch... wipe it off and move on!  I made a hearty breakfast... biscuits and gravy, grapes, juice and milk.  To quote my kitchen diva -- Yum-O!  But alas, it was not worthy of Captain Pampers.... oh no... he acted as if that pile of stuff before him was suitable only for "Boo Boo" or "door" (Boomer and Thor, the dogs).  So I let him get down from his high chair and about 20 minutes later, we tried again only this time the food DID wind up on the floor for the dogs.  Oh well.  So down we went again.  And about 20 minutes I gave in (or so I thought) and gave him some Gerber oatmeal with a jar of fruit stirred in (this was usually what he preferred)... and he proceeded to give himself an oatmeal facial and hair treatment... He had a great time feelign the goo squeeze between his fingers... rub it all over the high chair arms... tray... back... OH yes, we had quite a lot of oatage going on.  So, to the tub we went.  Got him cleaned up... went downstairs because it was my turn for some liquid bubbles! 

Gathering up a huge tub of toys to keep him occupied as I showered, I spread them around on the floor but what was his toy of choice?  The buttons on the TV and VCR of course... or chasing the dogs with his plastic sword.... (why don't they like kids?  I haven't the faintest idea?!)  Got that finished and we headed out to Little Gym.

Things were going great until she broke out the balls.  They have ethese fantastically soft balls that the kids love to play with.  Drew was playing like it was a soccer ball and ran SMACK into the wall face first.  Talk about a rude awakening.  So, scoop him up with hugs and kisses... and let him go.... running head first into a kiddo, not once..but TWICE!  I think this was because his refusal to eat breakfast... he was so tired...and had no energy..that he was just a walking zombie.  So,w e went home, fed him a good snack... an entire banana and 4 crackers with peanut butter... a big glass of milk and we had a great nap. 

He woke up with lots of little bumps on his head but I guess that how they learn.  So after today's ordeal -- He is DEFINITELY a headbanger!

I've been in a funk all day.  I think it's just the rain... PMS... not getting a break from this place ever.  I mean, seriously, is a trip to the grocery store a "break"?  I don't think so.  It's a freakin whippin... a chore.  I need a break.  Just lots of nothing and quiet.  I'd love to go away for a weekend and just stay in my pj's and read and do NOTHING!  : )   I'd love to sleep in two days in a row... just come back refreshed and relaxed.  It'd be a dream. 

Drew and I went to see Mimi and Pop today.  He had a great time over there.  He has no problems now and just looks at me and says "bye bye mama" ... until I said, "I'm not leaving." we hung out for an hour or so just to spend some time there.  Josh is with my mom in Irving.  They went to Toys R Us today to spend his gift certificate he got from his Uncle Russell and Aunt Paula for Christmas.... and his booty?  He got a new skateboard (oh greaaaaaaaaaaaaat)  Josh has a friend on the street that has one so now he thinks HE needs one.  His friends has roller blades too... wonder when that will be on the list... he can't skate good yet... think the blades will need to wait!  They're kind of hard to figure out...and whoever the genius was that decided to put the break on the back of only ONE skate is a real rocket scientist... i mean, yeah, you're going Mach 10 down a hill and need to stop by leaning one foot BACK...what does that do?  It puts you in a spin and about Mach 7.... that'll make you have some graceful bruises on your backside!  (Trust me, this woman speaks from experience). 

Andy's out with friends again this night... that's twice in the last couple of weeks... what have I done?  Oh... nothing.  but I'm just not in the mood to... I just have no will do to much of anyything right now. :(  I'm in a funk.  It's 10 on a Saturday night and I'm home alone with the remote control... oh what a fun life I have.  Sigh.

Thank the Lord, Praise God... Folks -- Elvis has left the building!  Drew ate a GREEN BEAN tonight?!  So what you way... so what?  I haven't gotten this child to EAT A VEGETABLE in MONTHS!!!!!  He wouldn't touch the macaroni and cheese but lo and behold he ate a green bean!  Oh the simple things I get excited about now a days... lol..what has become of this wild woman's life!  :)  I"ll take my victories... ever so small... because adding them all up they'll be enormous!

:)

Drew is quite the little talker now... his verbiage increases daily.  He has just recently (as in... as of Friday) started calling Andy "daddy"... but it's more like... dah-yeee it's SO cute!  How can you just NOT do anything they want when they're calling DAAHYEE! 

He knows animal sounds:

cow - moooo

horse - neeeeee

sheep - baaaaaah

pig - uck  (hey, it's close to oink... that's a tough one!)

duck - kak kak

dog - you have to remind him on this one to say bow wow wow otherwise he starts to just scream RAH!  (surely imitating Boomer/Gidget)

chicken - bock bock

he knows the sounds of an airplane without seeing it and will proclaim "Aaaahr paaah"

He knows what the moon is and says Mooooo

He knows star and says "tah"

He knows Boomer - boo boo

Gidget -- did-gee

Thor -- doooh

He knows his Mimi and Pop and Pawpaw... usually says Mama for grandma though

he knows milk (in sign language) otherwise it's "mik"

cracker (ka-ka)

He knows where his elbows are... toes, knees, belly, chest, head, hair, eyes, ear, fingers, hands, feet, mouth, nose... he knows socks and shoes  (sheeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwz)... and his coat  (coke)  :) 

He's coming around... he loves to talk on the phone (who would have though MY child...likes talking on the phone!)  LOL

I can't wait to see what's next on his list... hopefully it's something that's rated "G" :)

Those were the last words I heard tonight from my little man.  When I tucked him into bed... lay his little head on the fleece liner that will keep him snuggly wuggly... pull his blue silky blanket up beside him.... show him where all 5 of his binkies are so he can choose the perfect one for his bedtime switch-a-roo ritual (where you give him one but he wants to pick the one HE wants to suck on)... show him his duck and bunny to snuggle with and then ultimately pull up his blanket, turn on his aquarium to that all familiar bubble music... and watch him  turn ever so slightly onto his side... I said... I love you... and he repeated I ya ya.... and then I said... night night... and he said... ni ni.... and rolled over a little more. 

My days may be mass hysteria, loud, chaotic, but in the calm of the mundane, I find these little nuggets of ... wow... these moments simply take my breath away. 

It's unbelievable the things Mother Nature can send us -- tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, heat waves... and then there's the balmy summer-like conditions we've been having (sunny, slight breeze, 80's) and then she thought she'd mix it up a bit and LOW and behold, it's 35 degrees outside with a chance of wintery weather?!  What the heck is going on out there?  If people weren't sick before, this shock to their system surely will make them that way.  Good GRIEF Charlie Brown!

I'm supposed to go to my Uncle Leon's graveside memorial this morning but I'm not sure I'm going to take my 19 month old out into this cold for that... just don't think it'd be fair to him since he's just getting over a cold. 

We're also supposed to go to a birthday party for my cousin's little man -- he's turning THREE!  But with bad weather possible, I just don't even think I want to go out in it so we may just be homebodies this weekend. 

I know Josh will because since being in a tad bit of trouble for continually losing his star at school and just being really apathetic about it, he's grounded -- from sugary sweets, gum, television he wants to watch (the TV can still be on if someone ELSE is watching it), playing with his friends, video games.... so he's going to have to earn those back...but is still getting a minimum of 1 butt paddle for lying today.  I don't do well with lying... talking in class... I can forgive and forget... you lie.. you pay.  Being a parent just is hard... but not as hard as that paddle!  Hopefully it'll be a wake up call to just tell the truth.  Kids just lie about the weirdest things... I gave him like 4 opportunities to make better and say "I'm kidding" but he finally fessed up that he was lying.  UGH...OK Pinocchio... bend over... this is going to hurt me worse than it hurts you!  Is that like... cannibalism for wooden dummies -- if you smack a wooden boy with a wooden paddle? 

Hold onto your seat folks, he's at it again.  Captain Pampers (a.k.a. Drew) refused his breakfast once again.  He's so hungry but when he sits in his highchair, and surveys the spread, he looks up at me with this "you think I'm gonna eat that" look and I'm like... yes... eat.  He pushes it around with his fork before waving his arms and professing his "aaahh daaah" (all done).  He was given biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs with ham slivers covered in melted cheese -- a breakfast suitable for a king!  Did he eat it?  Heck no, he didn't touch a single bite.  Little toot! 

We have lots of errands to run so I get ready and get him strapped in his car seat, start up the car and it sounds and runs like a crank-um-up-jalopy.  So, I immediately drove it to the dealership.  I'm like... charge me extra to upgrade my rental -- I do NOT want a car so, my rental?  A freakin H3!  How cool is that?... love these big mean cars.  I need one!!!  Okay... "need" is a bit much but it's so freakin cool!  Love it!  I'm in an H3 but I'd rather have an H2.  I like that they're wide enough for THREE carseats (should I require one)... hee hee... and still have cargo room to spare!  My Envoy needs to be a little bigger... and a dvd player! :)  

But, on the way home, after the entire car chug-a-lug episode and the hummer pick up, it was late, lunchtime, naptime so I stopped at those beckoning golden arches and got drew 2 things -- a 4 pc chicken nugget and a cheeseburger (forgot to say hold the onion)... so I get home and he starts eating chicken nuggets?  Good GRIEF Charlie Brown it's about time.  He ate 3 chicken nuggets!  Not a "meal" but it's a start.  He didn't touch the cheeseburger... oh well... at least I figured out SOMEHTING he'd eat!  He loves french fries but he didn't get any of those until the nuggets were gone. :)  He only got 4 fries. 

Tonight is the visitation for Uncle Leon.  UGH... I hate stuff like this but will definitely go.  He was such a sweet old guy.  I'll go running around, too, to get the birthday presents for Sterling, Gabe and there's something else I was supposed to do... hmm... don't remember (shocker)

--- later today

OK... so I took my car in...got the H3.  Feeling all sassy driving such a mean machine until I get the call from the dealership.  Bad news.  Mice apparently chewed up the wires in my car.  It has nothing to do with the fact that two weeks ago I went through a brushless carwash with the gas cap off and the freakin door wide open.  What a total bonehead move right?  I was sure that I'd fried my first and only favorite car I'd ever owned.  Who waits until they're 33 to screw up a car?  That's something you do when you're 16 trying to put on makeup, change a tape and drive at the same time while talking to your best friend about your ex boyfriend and the ugly breakup as you stuff french fries from McDonalds in your mouth.  No, I never did that but I've heard it's happened before.  Hee hee...So the damage... $200.  Ok... $200 fix it.  She said, that's just if it's this one section... if they've gone deeper into the manifold (or something like that -- I don't speak "car") then they'll have to remove the entire engine and that'll be quite expensive so at this point -- hope for the best and she'd get back with me.  Two hours later, she calls back with more bad news... yes, the mice have apparently made a nest in my engine... dogfood stored up for the winter and all. :)  Nice huh?  Chewed all the way through (the wires) and oh yeah, try the battery cables too.  The total price tag (so far)  oh try ... abotu a grand (that's inclusive of the $300 30K mile tune up it was getting.  So, Andy has declared war -- as we didn't even realize we HAD A MOUSE PROBLEM!  I'm just so horked off those freakin little bastards have taken up fort in my vehicle.  I'm going to park on the street from now on!  UGH!#~@#~

On another note, went to the funeral home... saw some family (not sure who they all were...but they were family none the less)... saw Uncle Norman (had wisdom teeth out today and is swollen like a chipmunk -- poor dude) and Aunt Bobbie, Dad, Mom, Estelle (used to be Bumpass but I don't know her new married name) and some of her kinfolk.  It's just going to be a simple graveside service tomorrow... oh, and did mention the weather...tomorrow's high is going to be 38 degrees... possibly rainy.. ick.  So, depending on that we will or won't go to the funeral.  IT's at 11 am (Drew's naptime) so we will just really have to see.  I was glad to see quite a few people there.  I know that Uncle Leon is happier now.  He really was so lost without Aunt Ruth by his side.... I guess once you find that special person in your life, it's just not worth living without them.  YOu're just existing... not living.  I Hope that as I grow and experience more in life that I touch many people so that when my time comes, it's a true large celebration of life... it makes you realize how humbling death is... how fragile life is... how much we take for granted... and how we want our matters handled in the end.  I hadn't seen Uncle Leon in quite some time... years... but I thought of him all the time when I'd gone back through pictures... he was truly a hoot.  I remember him fondly... and I guess all I can say is that is how I'd like to be remembered too, so we're okay.

After talking with Josh's teacher... he's apparently FALLING ASLEEP IN CLASS... ok, maybe not THAT bad but he's saying he's tired, putting his head down on the desk and she's having to coax him to sit up straight, breathe and get himself alive and kickin' again.  Maybe I should give him a Red Bull before breakfast? 

She did say it was especially bad on Thursdays -- and that's probably because he's not in bed until around 9:30 on those days because we've been going to AWANA.  So, until I can keep it from affecting his school day, AWANA is no more.  I'm hoping a 7:30 bedtime will curb this and he can again go to AWANA because he really loves it.  If they could just start at 6:00 instead of 6:30, I think that'd make all the difference in the world!  UGH...

Dad came over and we picked up Josh and Jackson from school and then Dad took Josh to Mi Pueblo for some post-Valentine sopapilla (sp?)...they make them THE BEST!  They're hot and covered with cinnamon sugar and caramel... mmmm... I gain 10 lbs just thinking about them.  I was feeling like death warmed over so I didn't go (not that my arse needed a sopapilla anyway)!  I can smell those and just think... you know, I just might as well sit on it and rub it in b/c if I eat it, that's right where it's gonna go!  So, thank God for small favors like a sinus infection.  Josh nearly ate 2!  So he had a pure sugar rush for a little while afterwards...which was why I couldn't get him to lay down and take a nap.  I knew he needed it.  But good grief, he would NOT be still.  I was about to go postal... Between him laughing and shaking the entire bed every time Drew said something and he heard it thru the monitor or kicking his feet, patting the bed, tossing and turning I'd finally had enough and said... ok... that's it... get out... next time you're sick and need to lie down, you're going out to run laps!  UGH.  I'm so not friendly when I am sick and need sleep.  Drew kicked and talked and screamed and whined and babbled and clapped from about 3:45 to 4:20 then he crashed out.  Why is it when you NEED sleep there is just no opportunity for it but when you don't really need it, you just have every opportunity but no reason to just lie down?  I hate Murphy's Law and how my life rotates around it.  Freakin Murphy... one of these days I'm going to hunt him down!

We got ready, took Drew over to Mimi and Pop's house.  He's so funny now... he used to cry and pitch a fit being left over there... now when we drive up he's literally trying to pry himself out of his car seat just saying over and over and over   Mimi Pop... Mimi Pop... Mimi Pop (get the idea?)  yeah, it's annoying. :)  He runs across the grass, up the path... grunts for you to pick him up to ring the doorbell then he knocks and stands there until someone opens the door and he looks up, smiles and runs in.  Before it was like trying to pass off a Tasmanian devil... now he's like... Oh, you're leaving?  Don't let the door hit ya in the butt on the way out! 

BUT... while there... he ATE!  An entire PB&J sandwich, 1/2 a mini pizza and an entire cup of vanilla pudding.  So, we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Criz called me before we went into church... Uncle Leon passed away.  He was old, sick and just tired of living.  The men in our family really just don't know what to do without the women in their lives.  He was never the same after Aunt Ruth died.  I'm glad they're together again.  They need one another.  God bless you Uncle Leon.... I hope you’re a happy man now. 

Valentine's Day started out quite well.  I woke up to go wake up the little man (not the littliest man... just the little one)... to my surprise he was ALREADY AWAKE and dressed!  He said it was my Valentine's present.  How awesome is that?  I have a 6 year old that already knows how to please his momma!  Woo hoo.  He was so excited about it being a "party day" at school, I feared he'd lose his star again and he'd have to suffer the consequences.  So, I finally got the littliest one down and then started finishing up on party ware. Andy got home to rest while Drew slept and I headed off to FWC to see Josh and party.  We made snowglobes, had a puzzle contest, ate treats... and of course, played in the Valentines!  It was a lot of fun.

I came home with Josh and we got everything ready for dinner -- Lisa, Jackson and Wyatt came over for dinner -- fettucini carbonera -- YUM-O!  And we just pretty much made a big ole mess with sprinkles as they decorated their Valentine's cakes. They left about 7:30... the boys were upstairs getting bathed and ready for bed and it was lights out.  WOO HOO! 

If only you could consider it that they were sleeping and not just RECHARGING!  :)

Do I live a lavish style?  Do I stay current with the fashion trends?  Do I have a chef?  Do I have my nails done weekly?  Do I have perfectly coiffed hair meticulously highlighted to look natural?  Heck no!  But, am I pampered?  Yes... why?  Because I have a pooper scooper.  :)  God bless the man that comes over every Monday to pick up my doggie's disposal.  Though I love those little guys, it's just such a dirty job... glad someone else is there to do it!

I hate shopping now.  I'll admit it.  I was once a shop-a-holic.  I got a high everytime you hear the beep beep beep of the UPC codes being read by the little laser scanner.  But now, I HATE shopping.  Is it because of my ever-constant companion who won't let me try on more than one thing without going into "I hate sitting in this flipping stroller and you're not moving me" mode?  Possibly.  What about the fact taht after squeezing out a freakin watermelon -- or as Robin Williams puts it -- it's like a wet St. Bernard coming through the cat door -- yeah, this 10 lb little kill-joy (just kidding -- well, some of the time) has completely ruined my figure!  So, I've decided to (when he's better) go back to the gym, starve myself and get back to skinny!  Hey, I'll be a healthy anorexic... I fully intend to take a multivitamin!  I'm so sick of all the clothing makers making everything for little waif chicks.  Do they not realize that women with curves want cute jeans too?  I don't want to have to break out the Huskys!  Come on!  I went to the Gap... my 10s (transition jeans from having a baby) are too big and the 8's are too .. well, they didn't have any in the style I wanted so I tried a different style.  Which, obviously I didn't like or I wouldn't have been writing this.  Can't they come up with a transitional 9 for me?  :)  It only seems fair -- especially if they're going to hav ethose big ole 12's and 14's and 16s!  I think a 9 is just a small thin gto ask for!

I got the boys something for their photos this week. :)  I never had Josh's 6 year photo taken... and he's going to turn 7 in a couple of months... and Drew will get his 18 month photo. :)  And of course, my cute pictures of them together.   Love those. 

I also went to see my good friend Travis.  He lost his mom last year... beautiful lady.  It's so hard to see someone you care about have a broken spirit from having a piece of them missing.  I helped him move some furniture around his new house so that it looked liveable (why do men always want to put everything just on the perimeter of the wall?  I just don't get it.)  I hope I helped him know that he is loved and cared for.  That he is important... that his friends can be family -- even though not related by blood.  I can't even imagine the feelings of going through your most loved, most treasured person's belongings... knowing that they're not here anymore.  It just breaks my heart.  T -- you're in my prayers... you're such a special person... don't let anything keep you down like this.  You're better than that and you know your beautiful Mama wouldn't want it to break you down.  Chin up and live for today!  I love you and tomorrow is another day.  Have strength in God because there is nothing he won't give you that you can't handle.  And if you need to reach out to a friend to get you through something... that's why we're all in one another's lives.  Remember that!

Sigh... off to watch Desperate Housewives.

Peace out

My husband sent me this today and it just cracked me up so I had to share and make comments!  :)

Ten Peeves that Dogs Have About Humans
 
1. Blaming your farts on me... not funny... not funny at all !!! 

-----yes, dogs have fur but mine are spoiled, pampered short hair dogs that need the extra fluff!

10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth, you're just jealous.

Now lay off me on some of these thing's, We both know who's boss here!!! You don't see me picking up your poop do you ?

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most fashion forward type of girl.  I tend to stick with the pieces of clothing that fit me best and look best on me.  I've never been so overly concerned with the trends, but why some fashion trends re-emerge as "new" just floors me year after year.

Currently, my son attends a private school.  May of the parents there are well-to-do.  Many of the moms there are older than I am.  Many of their fashion decisions have been over-ridden with the need to fit in and be trendy.  When does keeping up with the Jones' DAUGHTER become so important?  When do we as women realize that OUR age needs to be accounted for at least half of our fashion making decisions?  There is a boy whose mom (I'm assuming?  she could be a grandma? who really knows) picks him up and the other day she was sporting trendy jeans with a decorative sparkly motif on the thigh and down the leg made from rhinestones/sequins, high heeled black pointy toed boots, a tucked in white button up dress shirt with a black short sleeved sweater over it and a hip hugging chain link belt that hung down in two lengths on one side to mid thigh.  She literally was a complete fashion nightmare.  It's like that age-old question -- when you're losing it..do you KNOW you're losing it or do you just feel like everyone ELSE is?  I think the same scenario is mirrored here.  When you're getting on up there in age... do you REALIZE that you shouldn't shop in the junior's department?  If this woman had purchased something simple and tasteful from say, Ann Taylor, she could still be trendy and fun but would have been much more tailored to her age and wouldn't age her further by making it appear as a weak attempt to "fit in".  I just don't "get it". 

Why is this even on my mind?  Oh tonight is a mixer at a local martini bar and I don't have a thing to wear.  But why do I care?  I guess because I still want to look nice... so yes, I'll trek out and find something fun to buy (that's the only reason I find TO shop now is these once a month shin digs), butwill it be from the junior department?  Heck no. 

Drew loves to try to move things that are much too heavy for him.  When he fails to initiate any forward momentum it usually results in a fountain of frustrated crocodile tears. 

Fresh from the shower, I was toweling off in the closet while Drew giggled and laughed as he tried on my fuzzy slippers.  Then he spied it... the 5 gallon Ozarka jug overturned with its spout up so that it was the world's best piggy bank.  Boy what an interesting thing -- I think I need it -- I'm sure that's what he was thinking.  He tried and tried to move it... no success. I, of course, was telling him that it was too heavy and that mommy wasn't moving it.  It got quiet and then I just assumed he accepted my "mommy knows best" response until the wail of the century came.  Did I respond? Of course not... I calmly told him that I wasn't going to move it that it was too heavy and that he needed to leave it alone.  Did he listen?  No.. he kept screaming... louder and louder and louder... until I realized.. this was something other than I can't move this big freakin jug of coins... he was stuck!

Yep, he was stuck like a pig and just screaming blood curdling screams to me.  I calmly removed his hand from the spout and looked at the pretty purple impression he'd made from trying to bend it in a direction it wasn't intended to go.  He was like... "oh, was that all I needed to do".. come here mama...let me wipe my runny nose on your shirt.. I need a hug. 

If that only made life all better for everyone.

Yep... I gave Drew his first haircut today.  And, yes, I cried.  My 3 foot goldilocks is no more. :(  I just loved his adorable little locks.  But, they were getting to the point that after a brief carride, they'd get matted from the carseat.  His little dred locks were already starting!  lol... sometimes they'd stand straight out from his head as if they anticipated being in motion just by their very presence on HIS head.  So... it's a sad day.... he's so old he's needing a trim.  But, big boys still need their momma's too.  :)

Yes, Drew is a strong willed child.  This morning, I made him a delicious bowl of hot steamy baby oatmeal with 1/2 a jar of apples/blueberries stirred in.  Usually that with some real diced banana is a feast for a king (well, to HIM anyway).  This morning, he was I was making waffles for Josh so HE wanted one.  Yes, I let him have one.  He'd never had one for breakfast.  He ate an entire waffle... I could tell, however, that it didn't give him the energy he needed as he was tired soon thereafter.  Nap time.  Lunchtime was another battle of the wills... I wanted him to eat a grilled cheese sandwich.  I even made it with NO butter so the bread would be toasted but not soggy and the cheese melted JUST right... would he eat it?  Heck no!  I warmed up a corny dog... would he eat that?  Heck no... I tried to give him some of the pasta shapes from Josh's Jimmy Neutron chicken/noodle soup would he eat that?  Heck no.  He went without.  He tried to suck down an entire glass of juice but when I realized he was doing THAT instead of eating -- he got water.  He was pissed. 

Then, changed and ready to go to Josh's basketball game.  We were almost late -- made it just in time.  Drew took forever getting dressed -- wouldn't let me put his socks on ... kicking me so his pants couldn't be pulled up... it was just about maddening!

Then the game was on... they did a great job.  Josh's team only had 5 players present which is how many plays at a time so he got a lot of action which is GOOD!  He needed it.. AND he scored his first basket!  :)  I got it in video!

Andy finished putting together his ESPN game center and he was playing that until I called his dad in Iowa and made him talk to him... put drew down and came down to plan my scrapping time this evening! :)   Andy's at the gym... i'm going to go take a nap... I think Spring Creek BBQ sounds good tonight! :)

Yes...an entry that's a triple threat!  It's about Drew... Josh... AND Me -- Oh MY!

The search is on for a preschool for Drew.  Man alive is finding a preschool hard!  Do you want a faith-based lesson plan... montessori... do you like the curriculum... do the teachers seem nice... do all the kids have snotty noses... is there a place for them to play indoors if the weather is not nice (yes, it DOES get hot here in Texas in the summer).  There are so many questions to answer!  UGH!  Some are way expensive... some are 5 days per week... some are 2 days per week... some are 3 days per week... how many kids per teacher... will Drew be eating real food by the time it is supposed to happen?  (No.. he's not THERE YET!)  I know that God will lead me to the right path for this little guy of his that I'm taking care of.  Honestly, it's not the money, it's the type of environment... curriculum and staff all in one.  I know that I'll get that "good feeling" when I find the right place.  I'm almost sure I already have but we'll still have to wait and see.

Josh... He and I were channel surfing tonight and I stopped on a channel where they were having a one-hour pledge drive for St. Jude's Children's hospital.  There was a story about a little boy... cute as can be undergoing chemo.  It showed his father talking about how each day really is a gift.  How he knows that his son is terminal...that the brain tumor will come back although his chemo sessions were over but that he had fought the good fight... how he sees his son not worried about it because he just is enjoying life and wearing a big smile... so he said that he was going to enjoy life and wear a big smile just for his son... until the day he took his last breath... that last breath came a short six months later when he died in his dad's arms.  Josh just broke down.  The reality of death hit him that it is such a sad thing for those left behind.  I tried to comfort him as best I could and explained to him that while it is sad that he's with Jesus and he's not sick anymore.  How he didn't have to be poked with needles... no chemo treatments to make him sick... how he was healed completely now and while it is sad that he's not here with his family... they'll be together some day.  It's so sad to know that in life he will have to experience grief.  As a parent, we spend our lives trying to protect them... and then to have something totoally out of our hands that we can't just "fix"... I just can't imagine.

Today was a good day.  I'm trying to get my life in order to have a fun little "home school" area for my little Drew and also for Josh to use on the days we do bible study at home. :)  Gotta find a good curriculum to follow since he'll be in a public school next year so that I can still keep this as a main focus in his heart. 

I'm off to bed! :)

Andy's good friend Greg and his wife Heather have an adorable little munchkin named Evan.  Andy watched Drew one day while I was helping with a class party at Josh's school and they went over to play at their house.  Today was our turn to host -- Heather is a homebody like me so she's trying to get out of the house more.  Drew and Evan had a great time.  Drew got an Aquadoodle pad for Christmas... he loves to suck and chew on the pen.  Evan came out of the playcloset downstairs with the pen in his mouth and Drew walked up to him and said something (I'm sure it was like.. hey buddy... that's my pen... what do you think you're doing?) and took it from him and walked away with it in HIS mouth.  I totally know kids don't know how to share at this age... heck, Josh still isn't good at it and he's nearly SEVEN! :)  SOOOooooo.... you try your best but I'm jsut going to let him work it out on his own.  He's 18 months... he can handle confrontation .. right?  LOL