Memorial Day Weekend

As evil as it was to have a four day taste of summer, it was also quite fabulous at the same time.  Memorial Day weekend was a much needed respite before the final stretch of the school year marathon.  Our little stinker is doing some very cute things right now (and, at times, some very naughty things like yelling at Mommy, pushing, not napping...) and I honestly don't always think of getting the camera out.  In fact, it's been so long since I used our small camera with the video on it that I had a slight panic attack when I couldn't find it on Sunday evening.  On Monday morning, I realized I'd put it (along with a thumb drive of pictures and a few other very important things) in a Ziploc and stashed it in our tornado kit.  Yes, the kit has been out many times lately with this insane weather we've had.  I just sent a donation for the Granbury tornado, then donated stuff for the Moore, OK tornado (pretty sure some parents in the carpool line thought I was crazy as I hauled several loads of diapers, water, and food onto the sidewalk and eventually into the school building on Thursday!!).  I can't imagine how it must feel to attempt and rebuild a great part of your life, but how uplifting that EVERY person I heard on the news last week with the Moore tornado mentioned something about their faith, or God, or both.  Seems like so many faith-driven people right now are especially being persecuted.  My sweet student from last year, who is going through chemo, had surgery, and will endure more chemo soon...his grandfather just had a heart scare.  Please, please keep this wonderful family in your prayers!!  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jjbryant

But I digress...  So back to our not-so-little guy who continues to amaze us each day.  He has loved the Dollar Tree tongs I bought him (so that I could have my own cooking tongs back) and practices picking up random things around the house.  The teacher in me realizes this is great gross and fine motor skill practice, so I'm all about it!  And he just has to do it in Mommy's sequined leopard slippers, of course.

 "Good morning, fishies!"

"Eek!  She caught me!"  Don't you love the deer in the headlights look?  And the fan isn't there for decoration.  Long story short, the aquarium leaked (not sure for how long, but it was the mildewy smell that alerted me to it, so that can't be a good sign).  We can't move it because it weighs so much, so I heavily Lysoled it and put several fans on it for at least a week.  Of course, the first box fan we put out proceeded to tip over and break off a blade.  Murphy's Law.   Not too long after that, Jason was doing yard work and  the weed eater caught a rock and shattered a window.  Good news?  Our glass is double paned, so the house wasn't open to flies and other creepy crawlies.  Bad news?  Our glass is slightly tinted green, so it was upwards of $300 to have it replaced this afternoon. Oh, and that was all on Mother's Day weekend.  Already a sore weekend for a gal who's been trying to get a bun in the oven for 2 1/2 yrs again AND ended up with bronchitis.  Yep, bronchitis...as in, in bed, antibiotics/oral steroids/codeine cough syrup/FIRST inhaler of my life.  Not our month.

But on a much happier note, Aunt Lala and the boys got to come visit for the long weekend, and Uncle Matt got to see our house for the very first time!  I ended up with not so many pictures because we were soooo active the whole time, but we made lots of memories.  Reid loves his cousins and we got to see the Grapevine Aquarium, go swimming at the pool, play in the sandbox, play lots of crazy games, and Reid's favorite?  Bath time with cousins.  I got no good "clean" pictures of that one.  He also decided he wanted to begin peeing standing up after watching the big boys.  Not such a good idea.  Let's just say there's no longer a bath mat in his bathroom, but it sure made for a good blackmail pic!

He also loved storytime with his cousins.  Aunt Lala read to the boys, so I (attempted) a pic but couldn't ever get them all looking at the same time.  Reid later "read" them The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Ben thought it was hilarious that Reid mumbled half of it and only said some of the words.  I'll have to get it taped because it really is pretty funny.

Dinnertime was also entertaining. Couldn't ever get a good pic, but it was funny.  This was as good as it got. As luck would have it, all the boys liked different things, but we made it a contest to see who could eat the fastest.  No one really won, but it was funny to watch!

It was so good to see family, and it gave us a little glimpse of our beach trip coming up in June.  I do wish Reid was closer to age with all of his cousins, but God has His reasons ;)  I am just glad he's at the age he can interact more with them, now. 

Derby Time

The past few weeks have been total chaos.  That's about the nicest way I can phrase it.  And I guess it's caught up with me because I have bronchitis.  For the first time in 36 years, I now have an inhaler (hopefully short term!) and four other meds I'm on as of Saturday.  I missed school today (no, it's not as glamorous as just calling in sick...since I'm a teacher, I have to find a sub, go leave plans after the building is open, but before the kids arrive, etc. etc. etc.  Let's just say it's easier to be there than it is to be gone!!) and am just now feeling human again.  Sleep has been nonexistent between my random coughing fits and the inhaler and/or steroids keeping me awake.  And I can't work out this week (GREAT use of my new gym membership, right?), which makes me sad because I'd gotten in a pretty good schedule.  But the bronchitis also explains why my lungs felt like they were on fire during/after last Thursday's Zumba class...  Ouch!

Somewhere in the chaos, I found a night to make my Derby hat.  I miss making crafts, so this is one thing I look forward to each year.  I also realized I never got a very good picture of the hat on me, so glad I snapped this one before we left.

I was totally exhausted Friday because we'd had our zoo field trip.  I had my new kid (let's just say I'm thankful he hasn't been here all year--I know that sounds mean, but I can literally tell him something 19 times in a row and he still won't do it!!), a special friend, and then an injured friend in my group...all boys ;)  They wore me out!!  I raced over to Holli's to get Reid, raced to the house to finish loading our stuff, then attempted to race down to Jason's office.  Of course, there was traffic and it took us forever to get there.  I struggled to stay awake, but we made it and Jason drove us safely the rest of the way.  Reid was actually willing to try the headphones this time, but began yelling, "No more!!" about 20 minutes into the movie.  So Jason and I got a little music, but Reid was so happy to watch Cars 2 that we didn't mind.

The Frenches hosted us and took Reid to his first golf tournament on Saturday right after Jason and I left.  There are a few cute pics on Jason's phone that I'll have to download and share.  He had a blast and even got a ball from one of the players.  Jason and I headed down to the Heights for the Carlins' annual party.  So glad we were able to go this year, even though it was last minute, because they won't be in Houston much longer.  We finally got to meet their adorable twins, whom we have been praying for!  Their sweet family, all dolled up for the Derby:

Babies Ford and Lucy Cole even had drinks named after them in honor of Derby day!

This was a neat idea...one of our friends couldn't make the party, but had a bottle engraved in their honor.

Our annual Derby picture.  It's a golfer...it's a caddy...it's a very tall jockey?

Getting ready for the race...

"Who are you betting on?"

The Gents

The Ladies

Everyone

The Gents' After Party

We enjoyed seeing old friends and making some new ones.  It was a quick weekend with lots of driving, but so much fun!  The party gets tamer each year, and there are sweet new, little faces to meet.  So thankful for true friends :)

April

I know it's been a month since I've updated the blog, but holy moly has it been busy!!  This time of year is always nuts, but it seems like every year gets even crazier.  Our little guy comes up with the most hilarious things to do each day.  I am finally "allowed" to get on the treadmill to work out on occasion (but it's rare, so I just broke down and joined a nearby gym for the group fitness classes and Reid can play in the Kid Zone...way more fun than watching Mommy on the treadmill).  One day, Reid decided "Reid work out!" so he put on my shoes, hopped on the treadmill, and proceeded to "run, Mommy!" (we have it unplugged for just such events). 

So if the new gym membership wasn't keeping Reid and me busy enough, I also decided to enroll him in swim lessons.  Grammy and Grumpy are letting us, Laura, Matt, and the cousins all use their timeshare time at Galveston in mid June, so we are quite excited.  But I'm a little apprehensive about him being in the water (yes, we'll definitely have floaties) so I wanted to start lessons now.  Daddy happened to have a nearby walk-thru at work that was up this direction, so he was home early that day and got to join us.  This picture is pretty terrible of Reid, but I didn't want to be "that" mom who took a bazillion pics before the lesson even started.  Reid was very excited and kept asking to "go in big door" to the pool area. 

Lucky for us, we were the ONLY people signed up for the 5:00 time (so far)...so Reid's group lesson became a private lesson with Coach K.  He was soooo happy and had so much fun, which was a big relief.  He's not exactly the best listener in the world.  We couldn't hear what was going on through the big glass wall, but it looked like he was listening to pretty much everything and doing what she said!

 They had some really neat kid-oriented things at Aqua Tots, and one is a cute little canoe that comes out at the end. 

 With the big glass wall, we couldn't hear anything but splashing, but this at least gives you a general idea...

It also didn't hurt that Reid got to pick a lollipop out of the big treasure box at the end.  It doesn't seem to matter that he doesn't actually like lollipops because anywhere we go that normally has them (doctor, car wash, bank), he HAS to have one.  All he does is carry it around, so I can't complain!

Other cute things he's doing?  One is putting T (Teddy, his lovey) to sleep.  I finally found a "replacement" T online so I bought both of the ones they had (I've been looking for over a year).  Rather than being a replacement, Reid now has to have both T's, "old T" and "new T".  Thank goodness I didn't get out the third one!  The video won't load, but here's a picture where he just tucked them in and said his own version of, "Night, night.  Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite!"

Grammy and Grumpy were so kind to drive up last Thursday to stay with Reid so Jason and I could go to our friends' wedding in Tyler.  We got to catch up with them on Thursday, they got to see me teach for a little while on Friday, then we hit the road.  I didn't think there was much to Tyler, but I definitely could live in the place where they had their rehearsal dinner.  Gorgeous!  The pic doesn't really do it justice...

 But then when we saw the venue on Saturday, it was even better!  I never got a picture of the inside, but it was gorgeous.  This was one of the beautiful pieces of artwork.  Basically, if I decorated some place myself, this place would be it.  Very Italian, beautiful flooring and outdoor landscaping...you name it.

 Jason was an usher, so we had to be there pretty early.  It had been years since we'd been to a wedding, so it was really fun.  Everything was beautiful!  And it was so nice to get away for the weekend.  We missed Reid, but I think it's important to have that couple time (and blissful sleep!!) to reconnect.  Thank you, Grammy and Grumpy!