Sweet Angel

Guard Dog on Strike

Rosco always guards me, especially at night. If I'm in the bathroom, he's sitting or laying in the doorway facing away. At night I usually take his water away at bedtime or else he drinks a lot and has to go out in the middle of the night.  (now that I finally don't get up for little humans, I'm not getting up to let the dog out!)  He never complains. He must have been extra thirsty last night because he went on strike, left his guard post and laid in front of his water bowl and just stared at it .... until I gave in and got him some more water. He's so funny. Message received, Big Dog :)

Ohio

Luke is running a big job right now in Dayton and hasn't been able to come home the last two weekends.  So this past weekend we went to him.  It was great to see him and good to get away too.  We had a great time.  Friday night we took the boys to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 (3D) (which I didn't realize was rated pg-13!) which was good.  Saturday we met my long time friend Courtney and her son at this place called Entertrainment Junction.  It was so super cool - I was so impressed.  It's something like 22,000 feet of these intricate toy train tracks and little cities and landscapes.  I guess there's over 2 miles of tracks all put together by volunteers.  It was so impressive.  There were also ride-on trains for kids, a huge play house, a ton of other hands on things as well as another whole side that was fun-house.  Very cool place.  Saturday night we did the boys' haircuts then went to a bbq place for dinner.  Sunday morning while Luke was at work I took the boys swimming at the hotel pool, then we had lunch with Luke and headed home after that.  It was a fast, full weekend.  But good to see him and the boys had a great time. 

 A room set at about a 45 degree angle.  Will was actually standing straight up. I couldn't hardly be in there.  It messed with my equilibrium.  I felt like I was falling over.  It was crazy.  It's hard to describe.

 Mirror Maze...stick close! Or you'll lose one another.

Courtney and I grew up in the same neighborhood so we've been friends since we were kids.  It was great to see her and her son Evan!

Hair cuts for the boys

So I don't have a routine for getting the boys' hair cut.  Usually I do it...until I've messed it up so badly that I have to have someone professional fix it.  Whether it's Aunt Lala or taking them to a salon, it's always last minute and usually a mess.  This weekend I kept noticing their hair was out of control long and scraggly.  So when we were in Ohio visiting Luke we decided to take them to get their hair cut.  Luke said there was a kids place he had seen nearby so we tried that.  They were closed...at 5:30 on a Saturday...? ... so we saw another place nearby called Sportclips.  It was a sports themed place and was SO CUTE.  I thought it was absolutely adorable.  They got "mvp" treatment which included a cut, back and scalp massage, shampoo, and warm towel treatment on their face.  They seemed so old and were so polite and it was just hilarious and precious.  I was "that mom" taking pictures of them.  Oh Well!  Especially since we'll probably never be back there :)

  

They put towels over their shoulders like basketball players when they walked anywhere.  I couldn't get over the cuteness!  And Dane walked with his arms straight down and didn't swing them at all...like a monkey.  I think he was afraid it would fall. 

Umm, Okay

We are at the hotel in Ohio and the boys are swimming.  I'm sitting in a chair reading a magazine.  Dane just got out of the pool and put himself in time out,  then started crying. I didn't see what happened and didn't say a word. Eventually I told him he could probably get back in the pool. Still have no idea why. .   Wish parenting was always this easy!  Haha!

We are visiting luke in Ohio this weekend. Having lots of fun!

The boys were in the bath the other night and Will remembered that he had made a fun discovery.  He informed us that he had (somehow) discovered that one of his Lego guys' head glowed in the dark!  He popped out of the bath, dried off as fast as he could and went in search of the glowing Lego guy.  He came back a minute later holding the head.  He turned off the light and sure enough, it was glowing brightly.  He looked mighty pleased with himself and said "I had no idea it glew!"

First Grade Progress

I have been really surprised and impressed with how fast Will is moving this year.  (At 2 weeks in!)  His reading is getting more and more fluid.  His printing is getting a lot better, taking the letters up to the solid or dotted line.  He's getting an A+ on everything he brings home.  He's passed his two spelling tests at the pre-test and not had to even take the real test on Fridays.  I just asked him what his favorite thing at school is:  PE :)  (shocker)   I think he does the best and has the easiest time with math.  His least favorite is reading.  But I took a video tonight during his homework because he's doing such a great job!

Will's First Day, 1st Grade

Not sure how I missed posting Will's first day pictures!  Here is my sweet big boy ready to head off to 1st grade.  He's such a brave, independent, strong, and smart boy!!!  We're so proud of him.
 

 Giving brother a goodbye hug before getting on the bus.

 Some mornings Fisher and Nellie get on the bus from our house.  

Stay At Home Mom, Kind Of, For Real Now?

Since Will was 10 months old, for over 6 1/2 years, I have worked 2+ days a week.  Always Mondays and Wednesdays. Then another 1/2 day or more at some point during the week.  This has always been perfect for me.  I get my patience restored with Luke being in Ohio all week long.  It gives the boys and me a change to miss each other a little bit. :)   I have also always thought it was important for the boys to be comfortable being with others besides Luke and me (and close family).  Learning to be in a new environment and to listen to and respect others in charge.  It's been great.  Perfect schedule for us.  This also meant that when school fell on one of those two days someone else has picked them up whether it was a pick up from preschool or getting off the bus at a babysitters (Pamalas last year). 

This year I realize it's my last year of "being home" with Dane.  Next year both boys will be in school all day, every day.  And while my future is uncertain with regard to what I'll be doing once they're both in school full time, I'm taking this year and being a "real" stay at home mom (while still working part time).  I'm doing all the drop-off and all the pick ups.  I get Will on the bus and then take Dane to pre-k.  I work while he's in school and then pick him up at 11:30.  I bring him to work with me for the afternoon on Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays, and then I'm back home every day for Will to get off the bus at 3:30.  I'm fortunate enough to work for Luke's mom, who loves her grandbabies.  She set up a little room beside my office with a nice soft rug and pillows for naps, a tv and lots of movies, and of course crayons and activity books.  (An awesome perk of working for her)   My mom has also contributed fun activities for him to do while he's at work with me.  While my schedule isn't all that different, it feels really different.  And I LOVE it.  I love being able to do all the care and pick ups and drop offs for them.  I know only too well how fast it all goes.  I'm savoring this entire sweet year down to the last drop, so to speak.