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.