Adventure

The last two weeks have been packed full. It has me appreciating days like this:

Once we dig out from under out mountains of laundry sorted in the kitchen (it seemed like a good idea at the time) we will probably venture out more, but for now, I am reliving the last two weeks. Some of the memories are through mosquito bites that seem to never end.

We started our two week adventures visiting my cousin, aunt and uncle. All of my extended family is in Ohio, so we go every summer and spend a week hopping around the state. They have always had an open door to me, and have been my only connection to my dad's family for years. My uncle actually stepped in for the father/daughter dance at my wedding.

My cousin was kind enough to let us invade for two days, and for only seeing each other once a year for a couple days, the kids were very patient with each other and got along very well. Lauren is such a sweet girl to let us use her room when we come!

They took us to COSI, a science museum in downtown Columbus, and it was three floors of pure fun learning. I would love to have a great science museum so close! The kids and the adults were beat by the time we were done, so we rewarded ourselves with ice cream.



The myth buster's truck, not sure if you are allowed to climb on it, but I have 2 boys...

Preston loves to explore their yard because they are in woods, so there are tons of creatures running wild and lots to explore.

We packed up on Tuesday and headed straight to my Grandma's to see her. By the time we got there she was in bed, so we met my Aunt Janie, cousin Jake, and his daughter Alanna. We had dinner at the pizza place near them, and took the extras back to our hotel with us and crashed. Side note- I don't think Preston fell asleep before 9:30 all week!

We got up the next day and decided that we would head to my Grandma's nursing home and hang out and entertain her. The boy's definitely put on a show for her, we brought some toys, and sidewalk chalk. She requested that I draw some flowers, so I lined the sidewalk for her. Preston found a grasshopper, and was so happy to impart some bug knowledge to her.

We checked out the Cleveland Zoo the next day. While we were in Cleveland I wanted to go see the house that my grandparents owned. I couldn't believe that the new owner hadn't changed a thing, and it looked exactly the same. He wasn't home, but the neighbors still lived there and they let me take the boys down to the creek (pronounced: crick) and show them where my cousins and I used to spend days at a time building forts and making up games. I have so many memories at that house, I could write a whole post. If I could collect houses...

We spent most of the day trying to find our way around the zoo (there is one huge hill) and called it a day after we finally found the gorillas. 

We had dinner (and a cold swim) at my Uncle Bill's. I haven't seen them in close to 15 years, but managed to track down an e-mail address earlier in the week, and got in touch with them, so we had a last minute visit. It turned out that my cousin was playing for the county baseball league, and we made plans to see him play once we got home. It was good to reconnect with another side of my dad's family.

We spent our last day visiting with my Grandma some more. It turned out that an Aunt and Uncle that live in ID were also visiting that weekend, so we got to spend a couple hours talking to them. We decided that next year we would try and plan a better family reunion and maybe invite more of the fam dam!



Proof that I was there!

Next up- the beach!

Six

I need to get this out. Holy Crap.

Okay, how did we get to six already? How did we get here so fast? I know the time passes quickly, but I had not idea how fast six years can rush by. I felt like at 5, I could still almost pretend that he was still little. Six, though? Nope, he grown. He knows how to swim under water and ride a bike without training wheels.



He has pushed me to new understandings and helped reshape me and every opinion I thought I had. I know so much more because of him.



He has blessed us in more ways than I know, and he continues to push me and teach me. I am so glad that God gave this boy to me. All his quirks and stubbornness.



He is so smart and inquisitive. He knows all of it and doesn't miss a thing. We have been spelling words for years, but that time is quickly coming to an end.



He is my sensitive soul, and he needs you to choose your words carefully. It all goes straight to his heart, and I hope that the world never "toughens him up." He will be so much better for it.



Last night as he was getting out of the bath, I said to him, "last bath as a five year old!" He smiled and I reminded him that he waited from the time he was three to be five. I asked him if it was all he thought it would be. His response? "Six will be better."

Yes, my dear, it will be.

One down, 12 to go!

It is officially summer vacation around here, but the rain started on the last day of school and hasn't let up since... We had our water balloon fight on the last day of school in the rain. I used warm water, so the balloons were welcome!



Preston has grown up so much this year. He has gained lots of new friends, new phrases, reads like a pro, writes his own books, and has navigated through the first year of school. There have been challenges in finding out that friends aren't always right and that sometimes you need to lead by example. We have encouraged friendships of kids that need some friends.



Our boy grew so much this year and has matured so much. He will now wear a shirt that has something other than a superhero on it. He has moved onto Star Wars and camouflage.



Meet Humphrey the Hamster, a project from school this year!

He is still happy to entertain himself, but loves the company of his brother, even if Grant doesn't do exactly what he wants.



He has really grown and come out of his shell with the help of Karate. He is still shy at times, but he is beginning to speak up as well. He volunteers every lesson to go to the front of class and lead them in their opening. He has earned his orange belt and now wants a karate party.



I can't put my finger on exactly how he has changed, but he is not the same little boy that wanted to be a boxer on the first day. Now we have moved on to either ninja or soldier depending on whether he has just left Karate. He has matured, and grown this year. He has made us so proud of all his accomplishments, and tough lessons.



We are looking forward to a summer filled with pool trips, a zoo visit, hopefully another trip to the water, Jedi training, and lazy summer days! First grade can wait, I have been looking forward to time with my boy.

Two

My number two is two. I think at one, you can still consider them babies. Two they are toddlers. So this makes me a little sad. He has looked like a two year old though since he was one, so I guess maybe I have dealt with the fact that I don't have a little bity. There is nothing little about him. He can't even lay on the scale at the doctor's to be measured anymore.



We had a Mickey party with lots of little kids, and celebrated over the weekend. We had a great time playing carnival games and eating cake.



When he was sung to, he bashfully looked down. He has learned to be shy and looked down and hide from anyone and everyone, including Brandon and I at times. But never, ever Granddaddy. Granddaddy is still gold.



On his birthday, I took him to the park to play. Even though it was 50 degrees. He didn't care, he was happy to run and play.



He loves this playground and he happily found an extra ball to hoard.



Silly boy bumped his head on the horse and thought the horse had gotten hurt and was sure it needed a kiss. My boys are sensitive souls.



The annual sleeping picture:



We finished the day with a cake he picked and sang for him again.



We have been working on "two" for a couple weeks now, and I finally got one!



God made us learn patience before he gave us this gift. We understand why we needed that lesson now. He is completely different from his brother, and is making his own way. He is very determined to be big and do it all. He is my cuddler, but independent in his own right. And he always keeps us laughing.

Sprummer

Warm weather has arrived. As I type this though a cold front stormed in last night and we are back to the 60s for the next couple of days. I feel like every March I go stir crazy willing warm weather to come and then we are suddenly blessed with 80s, and partially end up skipping Spring heading straight into summer.


We have already had many trips to the park and ice cream for dinner. We have the best park in town and Preston has made it tradition that when we go to the park in the afternoon, we have dinner at a frozen yogurt bar. Who am I to say no to that?

We got cheated on Spring Break, though. We had big plans to take a quick trip to the beach with another mommy friend and her three kids. The two moms were going to be out numbered! Preston caught a bug that was going around and got sick early in the morning before we were suppose to leave. Darn. He was so disappointed, he even offered to just throw up in the sand and bury it. We made plans to go in the summer, when we have more time and definitely warm weather.



We missed out on any fun through Christmas break, as well. We all were sick for that one. So I am counting the days until Summer break and having Preston home and being able enjoy time with him. I think he is ready for some serious down time, too. He really seems sick of getting up and rushing out the door. He is a slow riser and used to love waking up really slow. He misses that. I do, too.





Memorial Weekend will give us a better taste of Summer. We are going to visit Grandma & Granddaddy at their beach vacation. We are going to miss some school days, but we aren't going for perfect attendance. We will shoot for average, prefect is just too much expectation when it comes to your kids.





We had a really busy week last week, as I tried out single momming it for five days, but I am still feeling in a bit of a fog from the five days alone with the kids. I will say though, that military wives should receive vouchers for free beer. Or nannies. They earn all of it.

This picture cracks me up, he was feeling left out of Preston and Dad's fishing.

Ramblings of the sick

This week Grant has been sick. If you know Grant, you know that this has caused major disruptions. He is the most high maintenance sick child since the beginning of sickness. He doesn't mess around. He is pure misery and yells about his NOSE at least every 20 minutes. I made a game of it and started pretending to take off his nose. Then I heard more about his NOSE! At night he is awake at least once an hour. For the most part he just needs you to lay him back down and cover him back up. He does like to snuggle at least twice a night though for no less than 20 minutes. So you do the math on the amount of sleep and patience there is in this house right now. He finally broke me on Thursday and I took him to the doctor. Go figure, he has another ear infection. He can't just get a cold like regular people, has to get the ear infection, too!

In the mist of our Zombie fest week, we had all our normal activities to keep up with. Preston has been taking Karate for about a month now. He really seems to enjoy it, and the instructors are working on bringing him out of his shell. It will be a process, but he loves thinking he is a ninja.

Thankfully, there were no Wednesday night church activities, so we had a minute to dye eggs for Easter. Grant crashed by 7, so he didn't get to help. Preston had a great time with the shaving cream and food coloring.

He even decided to give himself a mustache with the shaving cream. Thankfully, though, his lip is no longer green.

Yesterday was absolute craziness and if Brandon's parents hadn't been around to help, I am sure that each of us would have had a meltdown by the end of the day. It was my Thursday to work, so I jumped up at 6am, and headed out, so that I could be done early, and get back to get Grant back to the doctor. Linda saved me and picked Preston up from school. By the time Grant and I got home, the bus was leaving the neighborhood. They were going to take Preston to Karate, and then we would meet them for Dairy Queen. I was so glad to have a minute to sit down and not be running somewhere. Preston decided he wanted to play with Grandma, so they skipped Karate and just went to dinner.

By the time they got home, I was able to have Grant bathed and ready for bed. After Bob and Linda left Preston remembered that his school was having a special night based on a book the whole school had ready. Of course, this occurs to him as I am getting ready to walk Grant into bed. Against my better judgment, we went and Preston was happy to be there. He did a couple crafts and we called it a night. Grant even got to sit with a giant hamster.

Brandon and I both have colds now, but Grant is sleeping more, so we are sleeping more, and hopefully we can all recover!