It's The Little Things

Every morning Seth is ALWAYS the first one up in our house! Every morning is the same. I hear him get up, go "potty", brush his teeth, then he comes to wake me up. So I like to pretend like I am asleep, even though I wake up as soon as he shuts the bathroom door. He shakes me and tickles me, sometimes sits on my head:) It is a fun morning routine we have going. But what makes me smile the most...is that he brushes his teeth, every morning, without being asked or reminded 500 times! He just does it, he LOVES brushing his teeth, and then when Chase wakes up Seth nags him until he does it:) I like that too:) Seth is very concerned about having healthy teeth! And it is just one less thing I have to worry about in the morning...the crazy mornings now that we are back to school. And it just makes me smile! Like I said...It's the Little Things!

My First Grader

That's my first grader! This year we have turned over a new leaf he & I. We are not going to argue over what he wears to school...as long as he trusts me when I tell him something doesn't match. Other than that, I am letting him pick out his clothes, and you see what he picked out for his first day? Silly boy! He loves that shirt! His Granny gave it to him. There is a story behind it...but that is for another post. This post is about my first grader! We have made it through the first week of school and so far this is what happened:

1) He met his teacher at the back to school picnic and informed her his "worst enemy" was in his class and he was upset about it! I think I was proud of him for telling her...he made her aware that there was a kid in the class who wasn't nice to him.
2) On the first day of school his teacher asked his name--completely understandable not remembering all the kids names--but then she said, "did we meet at the picnic?" UH...I guess the bully conversation didn't make an impression on her?
3) He learned that "girls are bossy and only play what they want to play and all they do is giggle" welp...he learned that early & it is keeping him from playing with the girls and having a "girlfriend" so I am cool with that.
4) He has learned silly jokes that I don't think I am cool with & has started mocking Seth...and I am definitely not cool with that
5) He has learned that the swine flu is real and it kills people and the vaccine comes out in Oct & he has to get it!
6) There are foxes that like to play on the playground
7) He loves art and computers
8) You can see Mars next to the moon right now
9) Lunch is only 30min and that is not enough time for him to eat all of his food
10) His teacher is nice

As for reading, writing, arithmetic--not too sure about that--he did say he liked school. He is proud of his "big boy desk" that he can put things in. He does like his teacher a lot.

Chase obsesses over things, so the swine flu & the foxes have been a lot of the topic of the conversation at home...he gets worried easily! So...

I think it is safe to say CJ & I have our year cut out for us! I am just thankful that Chase talks and communicates with us...so that when things arise, like the mocking or the swine flu, we can combat it as his parents or reassure him as his parents!

Here is to a safe rest of the year! It is different for me this year, I don't know the teacher so well, I am not walking him inside school to his classroom anymore, we are walking him to school, which we all love including the dog! I can't believe he is in the 1st grade. He is growing up so quickly!

*sigh*

A First Grader

I am having a hard time with the summer coming to an end and with the fact that Chase goes back to school in two days!!!! We have had such a fun summer and I just don't want it to end! I love having them both home with me ALL day! CJ thinks I am silly and I need to realize that this is a good thing. Yes, my head knows that school is a good thing for oh so many reasons, but my heart...I will miss my boy! I am having an even harder time with the fact that I am a mom of a FIRST GRADER!!!!!!! See that fat baby in the picture...that is my first grader. *sigh* It truly seems like yesterday that he was my little butterball who would snuggle with me all the time! Where have the last six years gone?

Things That Make Me Smile

Watching my husband wrestle with the boys! This one of the things the boys LOVE to do the most with their Daddy! They wear him out!!!!!!

Things you do to keep four boys occupied!

Make air-popped pop-corn. Put it in way cool popcorn tins. Watch a movie! FUN!

Take them to a 2 year old's birthday party at a "bouncy" place. They are SURE to have FUN!


OR cause LOTS of TROUBLE! (this was after they were terrorizing each other!)

Have a "slumber" party. Remember "sleep overs" are for girls! But only do this if you do NOT want to get any sleep for yourself! But my boys think it is WAY cool!

Last BUT not least go to the POOL! Of course! That is what summer is all about. FUN in the sun!

It was fun having Kyle & Tyler visit two times this summer! Having four boys--sometimes all by myself, sure kept me on my toes. If you don't keep them busy then all...well lets just say, it gets a little scary if they aren't busy & I end up playing referee! I DEFINITELY was NOT made to be a mamma of 4 kids! But I DO enjoy ALL of my nephews and LOVE that we got to spend time with 4 of them this summer. Some of my best memories growing up were of hanging out with my own cousins, and we are still great friends to this day! I pray that will be the same for our kids. I think we are off to a good start making some GREAT memories! My MIL LOVES that I feed Kyle & Tyler giant waffles with powered sugar & whipped cream..then send them home to her house! ;-) That is what being an AUNT is all about! I think I love being an Aunt as much as I love being a mom!

This Is the Post I Posted Over on FB about 8-20.

It was just easier to copy & paste then try to come up with something new....

So, lots of things happened on 8-20:22 years ago one of my most favorite people in the world was born--my cousin Kimberly. I am wierd and like to call her Kimbo. Not sure if that annoys her or not, I have never asked, but I continue to call this 22 year old yound woman Kimbo. Sigh, maybe in my mind that keeps me & her both young! :) She has been more like my little sis & freind than my cousin! She is also one of the funniest people I know! My boys adore her, my husband loves her, she is just super awesome! She used to babysit for Chase when he was a baby with her BFF Hilary when they were in high school. And now she is getting married, she is a teacher, she is all growed up...I feel OLD! Happy Birthday Kimbo! We love you!

One year ago another of my most favorite people on this planet were born! My nepehw Hunter! It makes me sad because he lives in MO with his Daddy, my brother, I don't understand why my brother couldn't have just let me have him...he has 3 other boys, I mean, he could share ;-) Then we would have been even, he would have 3 and I would have 3...sigh. I mean, isn't Owen selfish? JUST KIDDING OWEN! I digress, it makes me sad that I haven't been able to meet him yet. Circumstances are such that I haven't been able to get my tailend out to MO to hug & kiss and love on my nephew! I am also sad that he hasn't been able to meet his Aunt Kerry...I am a cool Aunt Kerry for sure! How do I know he is one of my favorite people ever if I haven't met him yet? I mean, he is my nephew...how could he not be? I love hearing him jibber jabber when I am on the phone with my brother! He is a sweet baby! Happy Birthday Hunter. I better warn you, when Aunt Kerry does get to meet you, I have to make up for lost time...so there will be lots of hugs & kisses and cuddles! Just be prepared!

And lastly, but certainly not least, my Grandmother passed away one year ago on 8-20. I will never forget that phone call from my Dad(she was his mom) He couldn't even speak...and that's when I knew she was Home. In Heaven. With her Heavenly Father. It took my breathe away to hear my Dad cry. We knew she wasn't doing well. She suffered from alzheimer's. But no matter how "prepared" you are. You are never ready to lose someone as special as your grandmother. We called her Mamaw! I will never forget talking to my cousin Jessica, or Kimberly that day. My heart hurt, because Kimberly will always remember her Mamaw went to be with Jesus on her birthday. My Mamaw was a very special lady. A mother of 6 boys! (I don't know how she stayed sane!) I have so many great memories of her hugs and her cooking and spending summers with her...I have a quilt she made me before I left for college, it is one of my most cherished items! I still snuggle with it on a cold evening! It is so hard to believe she has been gone from us for a year! Thanksgivng will not be the same without her!

BUT how incredible is it, that on the very day she went Home, the Lord sent us Hunter? What an incredible gift Hunter is to us! I cannot find the right words to describe how awesome that was for our family to welcome this new life into our family that day. He brought each of us a ray of sunshine, a rainbow, a promise of new life, on a very dark day. God is so good. He is so faithful. One thing about my Mamaw--she LOVED her babies! LOVED her granchildren, greatgrandchildren, and it was so fitting that she had another great gran born on the day she went home! Her legacy lives on with my cousin Jessica's little girl, she named her Autumn Tennessee...after my Mamaw...that was her middle name! How cool & special is that?

8-20 CELEBRATES three very special people in my life! I am a bit emotional today, missing my Mamaw, wishing I could be sitting on the floor at my brother's house in MO playing with Hunter, and overwhelmed that my little cousin has grown up to be an INCREDIBLE woman! So I thought I would write about it -- and celebrate with them!

I LOVE you Owen! You are a great, incredible dad to Hunter, to all your boys! I love that baby--give him kisses & warn him about how crazy his Aunt Kerry is!

Kimberly, I will be thinking about you all day tomorrow! I LOVE you more than you may ever know.

Mamaw...I LOVE you and you will be in my heart forever! Thanks for all you taught me!

Here's to 8-20 a VERY special day for sure!

Mamaw

This is my Mamaw! Yesterday was the year of anniversary her home-going. I have tried three times to write a post about her and how special she is and I just can't get through it, I just can't find the right words, I can't type without crying...So I will just let the pictures say it all! I loved her and still do with ALL my heart! I miss her terribly and can't believe she has been Home with Jesus for a year!!!!

Surgery

This word scares me. It petrifies me. It makes me want to throw up. I have yet to blog on here about my surgeries....I have a blog about them, maybe one day I will transfer them on here, but I have a long sordid history with surgery! So when I was told Chase was going to need SURGERY, it was all I could do to stay strong and positive for my little man. I think that word scared him as much as it did me. Chase has been struggling since he was about 3 with "allergies". He would always get very sick every fall and winter. HIGH HIGH fevers, walking pneumonia the gamut. This year we switched pediatricians and this man listened to my concerns. So began our medicine regimen with Chase. At one point this year he was on 2 steroid inhalers, a steroid nasal spray and singulair! The poor kid! Well at some point he developed swollen lymph nodes in his neck that didn't go away with antibiotics and we started down the road of blood work and CT scans to figure out what was going on. The diagnosis, his adenoids were very swollen and were blocking his airway. So a trip to the ENT confirmed that he needed to have those pesky noids out! I knew it going it, I had a feeling, but I was hoping otherwise! For me, "in & out surgery" "routine procedure" "simple procedure" those phrases mean NOTHING to me!

So, we scheduled it and set out to be as positive as we could with Chase. He was PETRIFIED! We encouraged him this would help him breathe better and hopefully he could be off ALL the meds! He didn't care. He was still scared, rightfully so, surgery is scary for adults...and he is only 6! It broke my heart the day he said to me

"mom, what if they make a mistake on me like they did with you? what then?"

He was 4 when I went through all my surgical nightmares and he remembers very well the pee bag and staying with Granny & Grandpa for 2 months because mommy wasn't well, because the "doctor made a mistake" Boy do I regret ever saying those words to my boy! So we encouraged him he would be just fine. We prayed with him, Granny & Grandpa prayed with him, he got tons of encouragement from Gramma & Aunt Fara & Uncle Owen! But the unknown can be frightening! Especially for a 6 year old!

Well, Daddy was our HERO on surgery day. I was nervous, and it was all I could do not to cry listening to my boy be so frightened. I was proud of myself, I held it together, I was positive. I was in my mode, get there, paperwork etc. etc. But CJ, he was making Chase laugh from the minute we got in the car to go to the hospital!

WE get there, he & Chase dress in their gowns for the O.R. and CJ was putting the hat all the way over his eyes and telling Chase all the cool people wear their hats that way, he got the nurses involved, Chase & I couldn't help but laugh! The nurses were WONDERFUL!

So...CJ took Chase back to the O.R. they would only let one of us go back...Chase wanted CJ & that was fine with me, I couldn't have handled it. CJ had to hold Chase down...then we waited, and in the waiting room the doctor came out, everything went fine, Chase did great, etc. etc. big yucky adenoids, definitely needed to come out, on and on and then I hear my son...SCREAMING!!!!!! It broke my heart. It took my breathe away, I teared up, CJ took my hand, told me to get a hold of myself and they finally came and got us. It felt like an eternity, it was only like 1 minute!

Chase had a hard time waking up from the anesthesia and that was tough for CJ & I. He was in pain and scared. Trust me, I know how awful it feel coming out of General! BUT Chase did do great. We came home, he rested, and was playing the Wii with his brother in 10minutes flat! He was such a brave trooper! He was back to his old self in a few days and we are already seeing some benefits of the surgery. He sleeps better, his breathing isn't so labored when he sleeps, the dark circles under his eyes are gone. Now we wait and see. The time of the year is quickly approaching, we are praying he won't get sick!!!!

I HATED my son having to have surgery! BUT he was great! He got way cool "feel better" presents! My mom gave him a "sunshine bag" and she had something for him to open every day of his recovery(he was supposed to be "calm" for 7 days). He got a cool How To Make Paper Airplane book from Gramma & lots of craft activities! We had fun with all of it! I mean...I never got a "sunshine bag" :-) JUST KIDDING MOM;-) My sunshine was you helping me take care of my boys and me not having to worry!!!!! ;-)

I praise the Lord for answered prayers. We are seeing improvement. Now I pray he won't ever have to have surgery again!

I will never forget Seth looking out the window when we got home. He was so anxious to see Chase. When he saw Chase get out of the car he said " HE IS OK! HE IS WALKING AND AWAKE!!!!! YAY!" Chase walked in and Seth was SO melt my heart sweet. He gently hugged his big brother and said " how are your adenoids Chase are they all better" *sigh* I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing how much they love each other! When CJ called his mom after the surgery to give her an update, Seth was with her, and he asked my MIL "is Chase awake? is he OK" Sometimes it seems as though he isn't paying attention, but he is, and he was so concerned for his big bro!!!! And when Chase fell asleep, Seth covered him up with his blanket and put all of Chase's favorite toys next to him and even put his own special toys next to Chase to make him feel better" I am getting the chills just remembering how sweet it was watching him! He didn't know any of us were looking:)

*sigh* It is all over...but definitely there were things I wanted to remember! It is a part of their history!


But I have to admit...I am still nauseated thinking of having my own surgery....it isn't a fear I want to overcome...but I will....with God's help!

Mohawks

In March Seth asked Mr. Shawn (his barber) to give him a Mohawk. At that time Mommy said...NO. So Mr. Shawn said, maybe for summer your mom will let you. Well, summer came, it was time for a haircut and Seth remembered! This time they BOTH wanted a Mohawk. Daddy was ALL about the Mohawks, so mommy said, JUST for summer! Above is the result. I have to admit I LOVE it! They are SO cute, if anyone can pull off a Mohawk...it is my boys:) BUT, once school starts, they will have to go because I HATE doing them!!!!! But until then, we are enjoying our summer Mohawks. They draw a lot of attention when we are out--everyone LOVES them:)

Twins

In a rare but sweet moment today Chase told me he wished he & Seth were twins. Normally the two "fight". They grumble at each other a lot. Whose turn is it to play a game, that's mine, stop, hit, touch, stick their tongues out...BOYS! There are sweet moments though.

The other day I had to take Chase for his post - op appointment(post to follow about my baby having surgery) and the doctors office is in the same building as the surgical center. So Chase had his arm around his brother and talks softly to him about this was where we parked when he had surgery, this is the door we went through, etc. etc. Told him ALL about his surgery day. Seth was very intently listening. Then Seth says "Chase I am glad it is over and you are A-OK now!"

Sweet. Melted my heart! It melted my heart just to see Chase with his arm around Seth and talking to him the way he was. *sigh* If only it could be like that everyday. Trust me, as soon as we got back in the car...they started at each other again.

Today, driving home from church, Chase informs me he wished he and Seth were twins. I asked why?

Chase: "because then we could do everything together. Be in the same Sunday school class, go to the same school and be in the same class, ride on the same roller coasters together, just do everything together"

It was sweet. But really, they do do everything together...except those few things...and only because they aren't twins and Chase is older.

Seth: "We are twins Chase, we like the same things, we talk alike, we wear the same clothes, see Twins"

The conversation went on. Chase trying to explain to Seth why they weren't twins. I finally had to explain it to Seth. Not sure if he really ever got it though.

But for me, it was another sweet brother moment! Chase is the big brother. He is protective of his little brother for sure. But his personality, he isn't as adventurous as Seth and he likes having Seth with him...like a security blanket I guess. He even waits to see if Seth likes new food I make them try. Seth is Chases' "guinea pig". In his mind, if Seth likes it, so will he.

I love that they love each other. I love that they need each other in different ways...Seth needs his big brother too! I am dreading school starting, Seth will miss Chase terribly!

I love my boys. My prayer is that they always need each other, that they will always love each other, and that they will always be each other's best Friend until the end of time!!!!!

Boys are great though, they can fight one minute, be mad, upset, angry, but in the next second they are back to playing and having fun, like nothing ever happened! They forgive MUCH easier than girls...no grudges held! That is a BLESSING for this mamma:)

Remembering....

This is one I don't think I will EVER forget...

When Chase was about 3 he was having "issues" with his penis. It would "grow" as he put it. And when this happened it hurt him. He would cry and get upset and it was crazy. I didn't know what was happening...I thought something was wrong. Apparently not, apprently all little 3 & 4 year old little boys have these types of "issues" around this age. I am not sure how many of them cry about it...but it upset Chase A LOT! So we had to figure out a way to try to help him through. So we told him to pull his knees up to his chest and breath in and out and just relax. (we told him the obvious first...don't touch it!) Well, one night Chase was laying in the bed with with and he pulled his knees up to his chest and started taking deeps breathes. Then he says to me:

"Mommy, I am doing a really good job at taking care of my penis aren't I? Do you do a good job taking care of your penis?"

My reply " I don't have a penis"

Me: bracing myself for the question "what do you have" trying to think in my head what am I going to say, I really don't want to talk to him about this...then to my surprise and delight he says

" whelp, the next time we go to the store we will just have to buy you one!"

Ah...I still laugh when I think of that night! I still get other people laughing when I share that story! That's a funny story! I sent it in to Reader's Digest...I am still waiting for my $200.

This in comparison with Seth. The same thing is happening to Seth(he is 4) He doesn't get as upset as Chase...he doesn't' cry. But he does whine about it "mommy, my penis is getting big and I am not touching it" so it bothers him...So we have told Seth the same thing, breathe deep, pull your legs up to your chest, don't touch it!

So on Easter Sunday we were at my Dad's church, the singing had just ended and everyone was sitting down and quiet listening to the announcements or something. Did you read what I said it was QUIET! in a church, on Easter Sunday, my dad's church, we know these people, we have to see them again, and Seth sits down and promptly says VERY loudly

"MOMMY MY PENIS IS GETTING BIG AND I AM NOT TOUCHING IT"

Well, my dad said they couldn't hear him up front, but the people around me sure heard him. I was MORTIFIED! If I could have disappeared into that church pew...that is what I wanted to do!

Boys.....

Kids Make Birthdays Fun

CJ has always been bummed around his birthday. He, I guess, used to love it, but as he got older, he just doesn't like it. Calls it another day, doesn't take off work, gets depressed etc. etc. He has had some great birthdays since we have been together. Like the time I completely surprised him and worked it out with his boss to get him off on the weekend of his birthday, arranged for a place to stay in O.C. and that day he got up and I just told him we were leaving. That was fun. He was resistant, he may have even called his boss to check. But it was fun. My mom watched Chase(he was a baby) and we just went and had a REALLY fun weekend together! I try, I try hard to make his birthdays fun and memorable like that one but time and money sometimes doesnt' allow it. We used to go to the Chart House ever year before we had kids. But now, he just gets so ho-hum about his birthday. But I tell you as the boys get older, they get so excited for birthdays. They don't care if it is thier birthday or not. They love birthdays and birthday parties and especially birthday cake! This year for CJ's birthday my mom sent him a box with a present for every day of the week and the kids would get so excited to give it to him. I tried to do something similar...have a little something each day. Well, he worked on his birthday this year, but he worked in the morning so he was home by 4. So the boys and I went out and bought decorations and a big sign for the yard and streamers and hats and blowers and we had our own little family birthday party for Daddy! I had so much fun decorating with the kids, they were SO excited for Daddy! They couldn't wait for him to come home and see and open his gifts and of course eat his cake! I understand CJ being ho-hum about his birthday...the older you get, really, it is just another day...it isn't like when you were a kid and everyone fusses over you. It just isn't the same BUT having kids and seeing them so excited for you...they REALLY make your birthday fun and pretty special, no matter how old you get!

I did it again!

I failed at keeping up with my blog daily! I knew & warned you about missing a day because I would be away...but I fully intended to keep on blogging the rest of the days of August. *sigh* But I am getting better! So I am diligently working on trying to catch up! But until then, please forgive me for my memories being out of chronological order! Hopefully you can keep up and hopefully one day I will be caught up enough that things will start to be in order and make sense. I must admit though, since I have been blogging more regularly I have really been enjoying it. Enjoying the memories and enjoying the thought of my boys as grown men reading the things they did and said as little guys! One day, when I am old and gray and an empty nester, at least I will have my blog to keep me company on cold dark nights! *sigh* I do not look forward to the day when my boys grow up and leave! Until then...I will keep on trying to capture all the memories I can here on this little blog!

Being Silly With Daddy

Starring: Daddy, Chase, Seth & Jazz
Camera-woman: Mommy

Oh the memories:-) I love my boys! All 3 of them! The biggest one is the biggest kid of them all:)

The Beach

This was the boys first trip to the beach!

Need I say more? No, not really, the pictures say it all, the boys had a BLAST! Will I say more? Yep...just a little bit. We had fun. We visited CJ's sis in Va Beach. His parents came along as well so it was a little reunion of sorts! We did the beach, rode bikes, saw fireworks on the beach, got ice cream from DQ, saw a movie on a rainy day, and just hung out as a family! We even took Jazz the terror dog and he did great, surprisingly enough, as long as everyone remembered to shut the front door, if they didn't, he did make a run for it a few times:) But all and all it was a great family vacation! The boys can't wait to go back! Chase & Seth LOVED jumping the waves! And mommy loved watching the boys have so much fun!!! I even got to just sit & soak the rays!

An Extra Post

Maybe this extra post will make up for my lack of posting August 1-6! But I wanted to put it down now before I forget!

Seth/Chase "isms"

CJ LOVES, I mean LOVES, I mean to the point of being OBSESSED, with Mustangs! And so, he has begun to cultivate his love for Mustangs in his two boys! They know the difference between a Shelby and GT etc. etc. Please, it is all mumbo jumbo to me. If you aren't talking about a Corvette to me, you are speaking a foreign language.

So one day driving home from work, we pull up beside a Shelby Mustang. It was black with racing stripes. VERY pretty car, I must admit. And my Sethers says:

"Look Mommy, a Mustang" then turns like he is talking to the driver as he passes us and says "Sweet ride dude" oh if only that 60sh "dude" could have heard my little boy!

Let me remind you...he is 4! Then Chase informs me it is a Shelby, one of the most expensive Mustangs and Daddy's favorite! Chase pays attention to his Daddy!

Tonite as we were getting ready to go outside to ride bikes I asked Seth to grab my cell phone in case Daddy called. So he is coming down the stairs steady typing on the phone.

Me: "Seth, what are you doing?"

Seth: " I am texting my girlfriend"

Me: "Who would that be?"

Seth: "I dunno, but I am texting her"

Sigh! Again, let me remind you he is FOUR! I think I am in big trouble when that kid gets older!!!!!

BUT- He definitely brought a smile to my face!

I am so thankful that no matter what is going on in my life. No matter what I am stressed or worried about. I can just look at my kids and it is OK. They make me laugh everyday and the stress just melts away! I can get lost in their stories & laughter and they make everything OK! It is all worth it because of them! I have got to be the luckiest Mommy on earth!

EEEEK Chase Graduated From Kindergarten!

Boy did this year FLY by! I am that sappy mom that looks at her children & can remember every little gory detail about their birth. I had a hard time with Chase going to Kindergarten and now it is OVER! He is going to be in the FIRST grade! *sigh* CRAZY how time flies.

His school doesn't do a "graduation". They have a Kindergarten Play/Celebration! It was the Letter Play. Each child was assigned a part. Chase had a speaking part he had to memorize!

Didn't he do great???? The camera-woman wasn't too great though, sorry...

When we got there & Chase's class was coming in to the gym he mouthed to me that he TWO parts and he was holding a jump rope! With each speaking part a child had an acting part too...so I thought, oh no he has to jump rope...I don't think he can jump rope...here he is...the hit of the show. The girl next to him looks like an Olympic jump roper & my poor Chase...His teacher said he was the only one who volunteered because the little boy who was supposed to jump rope didn't show up. So my Chase gets an A for effort!


When Chase was coming off the stage you saw him say to himself "whew, that was tough!"

It was a fun day! Both sets of Grandparents made it up for his day! He got gifts & cards & money!!! Daddy was able to be there too! Sometimes Daddy's work schedule doesn't allow him to be there for a lot of things...but he made it for ALL the important things!

AND thanks to Granny we got a FABULOUS picture of my little graduate!

Four Boys For A Night

Chase & Trent are my nephews! My brother's 2 oldest! His step-sons! They are here for a month visiting their dad! We haven't seen them since December! We were excited at the prospect of maybe being able to see them while they were here! (They live in MO now-so we don't see any of them very much at all!) And we did! Their dad called, and they were able to come stay the night last Sunday!

My boys reaction to the news that Chase & Trent were coming AND spending the night:

Screaming, yelling, wa-hoo-ing, clapping, running, jumping, Chase picking Seth up and spinning him around! You would have thought they won the lottery!

My boys on Sunday morning waiting for Chase & Trent to arrive: "what time is it?" "let's just go pick them up" "we cant' go to the store they might come while we are gone" "what time is it?" about 100 more times.

My boys reaction to Chase & Trent's arrival: Screaming, hugging, showing them every game, every toy, they possibly could in the first 2 minutes they were here!

Our activities: Outback for dinner (Big Chase LOVED the ribs & so did Seth--he wanted to be just like Big Chase & tried ribs for the first time! He love them) Big Chase announced to me that Seth was his "little buddy". Trent told me that "my" Chase wasn't little anymore that is why his new nickname was "Medium Chase". Tire Park after dinner, lots of running, playing capture the fort, and imaginations in motion. Home to a surprise...Uncle CJ came home early from work! Lots of Wii playing with Uncle CJ. Finished the day off with a "sleep over" NOT a slumber party--slumber parties are for girls! "Sleep overs" are for boys!!!! Lots of hugs given, lots of good talks, lots of I love yous passed out, movie watching, just hanging out being boys!

I LOVED every minute--including the noise level! Whew...4 boys are LOUD! But I wouldn't have changed a thing! ALL four were really good, I didn't really get after them AT ALL--they just had fun together & I had fun watching it all go down!!!!! I just wished they could have stayed longer! But...they are here to visit thier Dad...I get that...it doesn't mean I wasn't hoping! On Monday, after they left...I was really very sad. I think I still am....I didn't want them to go!

My second favorite name after "Mommy" is "Aunt Kerry" for sure!

We can't wait to see them again!!!!!!!

I Stink

Not literally stink, well, I guess sometimes I do if I have been playing outside with the boys and need a shower, but typically, I smell like beautiful flowers, like every girl should, even after playing outside in 95 degree heat with the boys! I am a girl, girls ALWAYS smell good...oh but wait, this is not about how I smell, this is about how I STINK at blogging. I STINK at making a commitment to blog once a day for 30 days, hoping to start a habit. I STINK!

*sigh*

Last week I posted that I would start doing a post everyday, starting August 1st, for 30 days. But I did start a few days early, posted about my son's 4Th birthday. On Friday, the last day of July, I thought, oh no I have already messed up and not kept to my daily posting. Then relief came over me that it wasn't August 1st yet. The end of the month is always crazy at work...so I was encouraged, and decided the next day, after coming home from work I would get to blogging. Welp, it is August 6Th and I haven't blogged yet! I STINK! I like blogging. I like the idea of my boys finding my blog one day and reading memories I wanted to save. But apparently, I STINK at it! Whew. Thank goodness for do overs! So I start over today! I must warn you though, on August 10Th I will be out of town and no where near a computer...so I will definitely skip that day! OYE!

OK...here's to trying again! I guess I wouldn't feel so much pressure if I hadn't missed so many months and had so much to catch up on. I mean, this is a blog about my boys! And a lot of things have happened to them & with them since April....

Seth's 4th Birthday With 4 Celebrations

Since it seems that my last post was on April 15Th, I am trying to remember what I have missed since April 15Th...I think the place to start would be Seth's birthday! My baby turned 4! He turned 4 on May 1st. The poor baby was born on the 1st of the month, the one day both CJ & I HAVE to be at the restaurant to close down the month before! I feel bad for him, I feel like he gets shafted on his birthday because we always have to work first. I am sure as he gets older we will start celebrating it on a different day, so he can actually, maybe, have a party...but up until now, he has been young enough, to probably not remember we always start his birthday at work...although I am sure he will remember this year!

Anyway...this year think he ended up have a great birthday...a great 4 different celebrations birthday! CJ & I went out of town for OB's annual conference, so M&D watched the boys & the boys went to Mom's school each day & was in Mrs. Platt's class. Mom, being the awesome Granny she is, took a cake in to Mrs. Platt's class for Seth's birthday! A Speed Racer cake, that is what he told her he wanted. He wore a birthday crown, he ate cake, he LOVED it! THEN Mom & Fara took Seth to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate his birthday with him then. Presents, pizza, games, enough said, he had a FABULOUS time. And even Aunt Fara's friends came to celebrate with him...and apparently Miss Lynn & Mr. Alan "just knew" he liked matchbox cars, they brought him matchbox cars for his b-day!

So we pick Seth up the day before his b-day, after our trip to San Diego. He has fun presents & left over Speed Racer cake & he is a very happy boy! But he KNEW those were his "pretend" birthdays and his "real" birthday was still coming! So, we had to go to work...but he got his favorite breakfast...Dunkin Donuts blueberry cake donuts! Then after work we all went Duck Pin bowling, he had a few friends there, pizza, more cake, more presents, his friends came back to the housed & played....I think he had a GREAT birthday! I was so glad, I was feeling 'mommy guilt' because we hadn't had a true party for him yet, like we had had for Chase....

The 4Th celebration was at his own preschool...since he missed preschool on his birthday week...the following Monday, after his birthday, we brought in Superman cupcakes and he got another birthday crown & was able to celebrate with his school friends!

So I think Seth made out this birthday! I am so happy he had so much fun! Nothing like a birthday week I say! My good friend Kate taught me that those were they best!

I can't believe my baby is 4! *tear* This year will fly by...and the next thing I know I will be dropping him off at Kindergarten...OH Lord, please prepare my heart now!

30 Days

So I hear it takes 30 days to make something a habit. So I am going to try to blog once a day for 30 days starting on August 1st. Because maybe, just maybe, I won't forget I have a blog and let oh, 3 1/2 months go by without blogging. Because, my memory isn't that great, I am sure I have forgotten so many fun things that I wanted to blog about and didn't, for one good reason or another I am sure! Whew...my boys will think I only wanted to remember a few months of their lives if I don't get cracking on my blog again! So much has happened in their lives, in our lives, I am going to try to remember my favorites and catch up! After 30 days maybe it will be a habit, and maybe I will get better at blogging & maybe more entertaining & funnier! So...here is to a goal! Maybe I will start right now....but let me warn you now...these memories may be out of order...oh well, the important thing is I get them written down somewhere!

I have been given the best gift by my husband~the privilege to stay home with my boys! I want to remember & cherish every second of that gift!

Chase & Seth "isms"

Seth "ism" "

Seth tells me yesterday out of the blue for no reason at at:

"Mommy I loved daddy more because he is a man and he understands my man things and you don't. But don't worry I still like you"

It didn't hurt my feelings, OK, well maybe a little, but it did make my heart smile. I am so glad he adores his daddy. And he is right, there will be things, that as not a man, I won't understand and he will need his daddy & not me, and that is OK! (well...it has to be I guess)

Chase "ism"

Last night CJ's back was really bothering him, I was upstairs doing my invoices and he was just hanging out with the boys. When I come down, he tells me how bad he is feeling and my first reaction was "OK boys lets ..." CJ cuts me off, he knew what I was going to do and CJ says " we just got done with our prayer session, they just laid hands on my back. Chase tell mommy what you just told me"

Chase: "that I love Jesus more than daddy"

Me: "awww Chase. why?"

Chase "because you are supposed to God, Family, others that is the way it goes"

I wish I could take credit for that. I try to live it. But we haven't really talked about it that I can remember.

Me: "well honey, he has his priorities straight"

CJ: "he sure does. we could all learn from him"

How blessed am I? I pray his priorities will stay that way forever! And CJ is right, I learn from my kids everyday!

I love being a mom!

Easter

What a wonderful time of year! What a great time to reflect on God's love for us! I love Easter. Having kids makes even more fun! This year we went to my dad's church for and Easter festivities the day before. There was an egg hunt, lunch, games, and the Easter story. They used the Resurrection eggs to help tell the story. Chase & I had been reading the scriptures of the Crucifixion & resurrection in the days leading up to Easter. He & I had some great talks. He is so inquisitive...so at church when they were telling the story, they would pull out the symbol from the egg and then ask if anyone knew what that meant. They pulled out the leather strap and told of how they soldiers used that to beat Jesus. Then Chase proceeds to tell them there was glass & stones in the whip they used...the pulled out the crown of thorns, and Chase proceeds to tell them what they did with that. The pulled out the spear...again, Chase answered the question. I was amazed. I know he listens, but it just struck me how much he soaks things in and remembers. My sister's friend told me he got an A for the day. I am humbled by his sensitivity to the things of the Lord.

Well when they got to the part about the stone, they were telling the kids how big the stone was and would they be able to push that away. After Chase's intellectual answers, Seth pipes up with

"Yep, I could roll the stone away! If I couldn't Chase for sure could!"

I just love their personalities....Chase my thinker, my feeler, and Seth my brute... my comedian! As I was telling CJ all this he said what I had been thinking...we fall in love with them more everyday. It is amazing to watch their personalities. It is amazing to watch them grow and learn. We are just truly in awe of them. We are so blessed to be their mom & dad! My heart just overflows with how much I love those kids!

What a blessing to be able to be a part of their growth, their learning!!!! I am truly humbled by the gift of my children!

It was a great Easter for me! Because this year, it was more about teaching the boys about what Jesus did for us! Yes, we had fun, we bought candy & had Easter baskets and did all the fun stuff

but to hear Chase say

" even if there was no candy or baskets, it is really about Jesus and it would be OK if we didn't get anything at all"

I will hang on to that forever!

We had a great Easter! Praise the Lord....He is Risen!

Fun With A Box

This is what happens when you put 2 little boys in a room with a giant box:)

Kidney

CJ went for an MRI for his back...and not only did it show what is going on with his back, but it showed a "lesion" on his kidney...

Well, we were at the doctor's office waiting for the results of the cat scan they did on the abdomen to see what exactly was on his kidney...and Seth was sitting on the exam table behind CJ. I told him, why don't you put your hands on daddy's back & pray for him. So he put his hand where the kidney was and says in the most confident voice ever:

" Daddy I know what they problem is. I know what is wrong with your kidney. It is squishy!"

Oh...if only it were that simple:) It was very funny & a great stress reliever for us all.

Then today Seth & I were looking through a body book and I told him, I am trying to find a picture of a kidney so you can see what it looks like. I turn the page and there is a picture of a little girl doing something and Seth goes

" Hey there is a kid-knee" I laughed so hard I cried. The best part was, he didn't even know why it was funny....

Side note: CJ's kidney is fine. It is a cyst that they will follow with another cat scan in 6months! Such an answer to prayer!

Seth - isms

Seth keeps me laughing. I am never sure what will come out of his mouth...here are just a few things I found quite funny & want to remember, so I can tease him about it, in a few years;-)

Last Sunday when Chase got baptized we had lunch with my parents & CJ's dad. My dad was teasing Chase about the "most beautiful girl in the world" I guess when dad was doing that Chase told Dad "it must be Krista" just teasing my Dad, full knowing Dad was teasing him cuz he thinks Granny is the prettiest:-)

Well, Seth says, "nope, it's Mia" Who is Mia we all ask...."My girlfriend" you had to see him BEAMING when he said it. OYE! I have got my hands full!!! My 3 year old thinks he has a girlfriend!

Yesterday Seth helped me make macaroni for dinner. When we sit down to dinner, Chase, Seth & I Seth says:

"OK guys...Enjoy" to which Chase rolls his eyes and Seth promptly replies "I am the best cooker in the whole world, I said Enjoy"

We are eating, well Seth & I were, and Seth stops and says

"hey mom, can you get Chase his medicine for me...I think it is time" again Chase rolls his eyes...me I smile and thank my boy for being so concerned for his big brother;-) (Chase has been sick for a few days now)

Still at the same dinner Chase thinks he can eat some orange jello, so I asked Seth to grab it for him Seth: "On It!"

Seth delivers the orange jello and a spoon to Chase "Order up sir--Enjoy" (yes, Chase rolled his eyes again!)

Can you tell they work around the restaurant industry???

CJ & I were cracking up at that kid later on when I was relaying all his Seth-isms to Daddy;-) He is quite the character and the best part though, are his expressions and inflections! One day I will catch something on video & you will be able to see & hear!

CJ hates that he misses some of these, so I am trying to write them down as much as I can...

Lastly I will leave you with a Seth question to ponder

" If you poke your eyeball & it falls out, do you have to buy a new one?"

Yeah...I wasn't going to go there either, I just let that one hang...too afraid he was contemplating poking his eyeball!!

"WET"

Well, this could be a long post, so if you have the time grab some coffee & prepare to read.....

My dad is a pastor. I think that is really cool, he has been an ordained pastor for about 2 years now...before that he was preaching & teaching, he just didn't have the "official" title.

We live about an hour from my dad's church. He is the pastor of a church I have been affiliated with since I was 16-I am almost 33-that is a long time. I started attending the youth group there with a guy friend back then, when he left, I never did. I stayed involved with the youth. My parents started visiting, we went to Guatemala with the church, me, my mom & my dad, that was cool too. It is a great church. But, being that we live an hour from there, we don't attend regularly. We have found a pretty good church near us.

Anyway, one Sunday about a year ago we visited dad's church & little did we know, it was a baptism Sunday. Me & the boys got to see my dad baptize people! Chase was mesmerized. We watched, Chase asked a bazillion and one questions...we left and driving home the questions continued. He called my dad & told my dad he wanted to be bap-ti-tized when he was 5.

Periodically throughout this past year, Chase & I would talk about being baptized and what it meant. I always encouraged him that there was no magic age. It was when he was ready. The church we are going to up here, taught about being baptized in "kid zone" and he came home and asked "when am I going to be bap-ti-tized already?"So I told him we needed to talk to Daddy & Grandpa.

So he told CJ he wanted to be baptized and CJ asked him why & what that meant. My then 5 year old replied:
"it means that you want to show people you have invited Jesus to live in your heart & forgive your sins, it is a symbol that Jesus washes you clean"

I am sure I am getting the verbiage wrong, but it was something like thatSo CJ said, OK, that sounds good to me, call & talk to Grandpa. So we did. We set up his baptism.

A week or so before the baptism CJ at dinner CJ asked Chase again what it meant to be baptized. Chase basically said the same thing. Then CJ asked if Chase knew who baptized Jesus, and Chase replied "John the Baptist" and then CJ asked him why Jesus got baptized and Chase looked at me and said "uhh...because God told him to..."

So, Chase turned 6 on 3/18 and got baptized on 3/22/2009. It was a humbling experience for me. This whole process has been.

My conversations with Chase about Jesus and His love for us never cease to amaze me & Chase stumps me lots with all of his in depth questions:-) His concern for others is amazing! He prays about everything. If I don't feel well, if he doesn't feel well, if he is losing at bowling on the Wii, he will pray that God will help him get a strike:-) I hope he never loses that! Seems like he teaches me to pray without ceasing!

It was a really cool day. My dad....baptizing my son! I can't wait to see Seth get baptized by my dad...come to think of it, I can't wait to see CJ get baptized by my dad...I can't wait to see my dad marry my boys...it is pretty special thing, my dad being a pastor...like my grandpa was:-)

A friend asked Chase what it felt like or what he felt when he got baptized his reply...."Wet"

and from what dad & Chase say the water was FREEZING!

I sure am a proud mamma & very blessed mamma!

Surprise!!!

Chase turned six last week. I have just been too tired to write about it...so today I have some catching up to do on here. On 3/18 my baby turned six. I am always wondering, where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that he was born!

Enough with the sentimentalisms....Chase wanted a surprise party for his birthday. He was excited about having a house where he could have a birthday party. He wanted the cieling, the floor, everything to be decorated...and he wanted everyone to jump out & say "surprise". So...that is what we did. It was fun planning it. We had our famlies here & a friend from his class, just enough to keep me busy, but not too many to make me go out of my mind:-) I tried to make it a Mario party. They hunted for coins & had stars in the goody bags...it was fun. The look on Chase's face was priceless....CJ had taken him out when he came in, he shut the door on CJ, and was shocked! I was shocked he didn't notice my mom's car! It was really fun. I got choked up & a bit teary eyed!

Singing

I like to sing. I actually love it...although, not sure if too many other people enjoy hearing me sing, but I subject my boys to it all day long! From jamming in the car with them to making up all sorts of silly songs at home...

I have made up a good morning song for them, a cuddle song for Chase, a variety of bathtub songs, I even made up a pooping on the potty song for Chase when he was being potty trained. For some reason the kid did not want to ever poop on the potty...so I sat with him and sat with him and made up a song! Craziness. CJ just shakes his head & laughs at me. I sing I love you to them, I sing pick up our toys & clothes songs, I sing songs about eating...my heart is full of joy when I hear the boys sing on their own. Chase is loving "kid zone" at church & he will sing songs he learns there...it is fun learning new ways to sing the old Sunday school favorites. I hear Seth singing in the bathroom...a lot...that makes me smile, never quite sure what he is singing, but he is singing!

Well, my make my heart smile moment happened on Monday. I picked Chase up from school & he runs out, gives me a great big hug--which I am relishing right now because I know these days of running out & giving mom big hugs aren't going to last for long--on a side note, I make Chase promise that when he is taller than me--as tall as CJ(6'7) that he will always hug his mamma--anywho, he seemed fine. But as we were walking to the car, he was staying back a little, mumbling to himself and then tearing up. It was very strange...we got in the car and he told me of a substitute he didn't like so much. I was confused, because he didn't get in trouble, but he said she was mean and should be fired(he is dramatic--always) So I made sure nothing happened, and figured he was tired.

We get home, he has his moment of sulking & crying, and then we sit down for dinner. As he is "preparing his food" salt, pepper etc. He just breaks out in song about his day...

"why oh why when do I have to have bad days. why oh why does that mean lady work at school. why oh why do I have to have baaaaaaaaad days at schooOOOOL....then come home and eat dinnnnnnerrrrrrRRRRR"

Trying to give you the full picture of his inflections and BIG finish.

He was trying to cheer himself up I think. He needed to just tell us he had a bad day...and that is how it came out....in song. While I was sad that the poor kid was tired & had had a rough day...my heart smiled because he was expressing himself in song:) And my heart smiled even bigger when CJ acknowledged that it was my doing by saying..."He is definitely YOUR child"

We all smiled and laughed and were able to end Chase's bad day on a good NOTE! (ha I make myself laugh)

Funny Boys

My boys spent the weekend with my parents...and loved it. They had so much fun, Chase never wants to come home. He told me on Sunday on the way back to our house, he wanted to live with Granny forever! Isn't that sweet? ;-)

So as we were driving a song comes on, that every time I hear it, it is my prayer for my boys. The chorus says "I wish for you that you would love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind" It is a very simple song by Nicole C. Mullen, but it is truly my heart's desire for my children & my daily prayer. So I tell them, hey guys, this is mommy's song to you...Chase listened for a minute & replies:

"I will never love you that much mom, you are too mean to us" *sigh* I did explain to him, not me, the Lord...and he smiled & says, "you know God loves us that much"

And the rest of the way home, every song was their song to me, or their song to daddy or their song to each other...it was fun.

After we got home CJ & the boys were hanging out playing Mario Party 8 on the Wii. It has all these little mini games & they challenge each other. Well, they are all good at trash talking, thanks to daddy, but it is all in good fun. So CJ tells Seth "you better watch out or you'll be toast"

Next thing I hear from Seth was "OH NO I just got toasted" and he dramatically fell to the floor!

I don't know why, but that just cracked me up! It is fun to hear how their minds work. It is also fun to see them have so much fun together! It makes my heart smile.

Fun & Not so Fun Conversations

Leaving the post office the other day this is the conversation I had with Seth:

Seth: "Mom you are shrinking"
Me: "No, you are just getting taller"
Seth: "Nope, you are definately shrinking"

In contrast this is the conversation I had with Chase last night:

I have a heating pad that I use for my abdomen sometimes for pain and Chase wanted to use it last nite & I said no because I needed it. He says why do you use it anyway...I told him it helped me when my belly hurt, so this is what he says after thinking for a moment:

Chase: " Mom you can only see the top of your belly and it doesn't look big to you, but if you looked at yourself straight on you would see your belly is big, it looks like you are pregnant"
Me: weeping, wailing, nashing of teeth!!!!

*sigh* No girl ever wants to hear that...even from a 5 year old! Better get back on that Wii fit eh?

Remembering

Today CJ was home to witness the FULL craziness of our dog! He believed me, he just isn't home that often to REALLY see him at his best or should I say worst! When CJ is home, the dog is all about him, they play & wrestle and it is so picture perfect (insert music here) they LOVE each other CJ & the dog (I can't even say his name I am so frustrated). Anyway, he was here to see him jump up and knock over Chase's FULL bowl of cereal! Chase just went to the bathroom, I was getting ready for church, is nothing sacred around here anymore? That was QUITE the mess, not sure if my kitchen chair will ever fully recover (thank the Lord for warranty plans).

So I think I have at least convince CJ to buy a "zone" system. It is discs you put in areas you do NOT want your dog to go....like on TOP of the kitchen table, and if they do, they get a little shock...I mean, we are talking little here, but enough that I am hoping he will get the picture! I will keep you up to date on the progress of that purchase! I need it for my sanity, I think, or to save the dog, cuz I am ready to take his collar off & "oops" leave the gate open......J/K well, ok, not really anywho...

onto remembering. This all makes me think of Seth. The dog was still little little puppy, I had just let him inside and was closing the sliding glass door, when I hear "TAKE THAT PUPPY" and then I hear the front door of the house slam shut. I go into the living room and there is Seth getting back to his game...and no dog. I open the front door & the dog is already to to the top of my street--near the BUSY road. I mean he is LITTLE at this point, so he isn't coming or responding to his name! We both almost got run over.....maybe in hindsight I should have just let the puppy keep on going...well, no, how horrible is that of me to even think.

Apparently, Seth was very frustrated with the puppy. He would not leave Seth alone and kept playing with him, which involved nipping at him, and Seth was just all done and thought, I will show him...and decided to set him free...

I am beginning to think, Seth may have had the right idea;-)

As badly as I am annoyed & frustrated with this pooch, I do have to admit, he is cute. He has been fun, the boys really love him, we have had fun playing with him, teaching him to catch and jump, man can he jump high! He does snuggle with me and not CJ when we are both home watching TV. Grudgingly I do have to admit, he is apart of our family now, and I would miss him if he were gone, well, not that much, but at least a little....

A Small World After All

I love getting cards. Especially from my hubby. He tells me he loves me every day, multiple times a day, but in his cards, he just has a way with words. He really writes his feelings down and I love it. I think I have saved every card he has ever written. Well, when the restaurant opened and his work hours became increasingly more, it became more difficult for him to find time to go to a store and buy a card, and it also became more difficult for him to remember, lets be honest here:) So a few occasions go by, no card, I am sad, I try to understand, but he realizes how important it was to me. Then he discovered E-Cards! He didn't have to go anywhere, he could send them to me from work even and better yet, for FREE:) I love it, because, I get to still hear his feelings and press print and continue to save them and be a sap:)

Well, on our anniversary, he tried to send me a card, but he sent it to my old email account. A little bummer, but honest mistake. So here come valentine's day and he is determined not to make the same mistake. So that nite on his way home from work he calls and asks me if I liked the card...what card I say? So he tells me know I sent it to this address...nope, honey, I couldn't used my name kerry.johnston, it was taken remember? So he sent it to someone else completely. He was so bummed.

The next day the lady sends him an email saying she thought he had the wrong address. He replied, yes, I am sorry, but my wife thinks it is funny, to which he then gets another reply....

"i was a little confused. my husband's name is also Christopher Johnston and he also goes by CJ"

She was nice enough to forward it back & ended up with my card after all...and once I read it...now she knows how much CJ loves me:)

Such a small world. The spelling of my name isn't all that common, but there is another Kerry and Christopher Johnston out there living in PA! And we found them, thanks to cupid! Ha. I just thought that was one for the blog....

The prettiest girl in the world

Last night both of the boys ended up in my bed for a little while. I was pooped, I tried to put them to bed at 7:30 which didn't work out so well, so we hung out in my bed for a while. Seth passed out relatively quickly but Chase & I were talking. I wish I could remember what we were talking about but somehow we started talking about girls who were pretty. He had his list....
Chase: "Granny, Aunt Fara, Gramma, Kimberly(my cousin), Miss Lauren(thier fav babysitter)"
When he said Miss Lauren he got this funny smile and giggled a little. So I asked him was she the prettiest.
Chase: "Oh no, the prettiest girl of all is my Granny, for sure!"
Me: "aww Chase that is so sweet! You are so sweet! Why is Granny the prettiest?"
Chase: "because she is so nice to us, she loves me & Seth so much, she plays with us and hugs us, and I can ask her anything and tell her anything, she helps me with anything I need, like going crazy with the post card collection, she is just the prettiest girl in the world. Besides she has really pretty hair"
Me: speechless because I am too busy crying and hugging my five year old who, I think, recognizes true beauty, inside & out!
Chase: " mom you are the next prettiest girl...if you were nicer to us like Granny, then you would be the prettiest"
Me: now crying from laughter "its ok Chase, I don't need to be the prettiest girl, because I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you for my son!"
I am so blessed and privelaged that my boys have a Granny is who is so special & who loves them so much! Not all kids have that. I think it is so cool that they adore her so much and not just because she gives them things ;-) It makes my heart smile!

Shugy

What is a Shugy you ask? Well it isn't a what it is a who? Shugy is Seth's new friend. New monster friend who likes to drink Seth's milk. The other nite Seth had taken a nap late in the day, so he was awake pretty late at nite. He was laying in his bed, watching a movie, drinking his milk. A few minutes go by & he comes into my bedroom & says he needed more milk because a monster drank his milk. But he assured me it was a nice monster who "growled the other bad monsters away from our room". Then we had about a 20 minute conversation about Shugy. I learned his name, that he is an orange monster with a green belly & yellow spots. He has little ears & little feet & little hands. He likes to hang out with Seth at nite & watch movies, but the only problem is....he likes milk, and apparently every nite drinks Seth's milk. It was so funny, I was cracking up laughing. The next day Seth told me Shugy had left for the day and would be back at bed time. Apparently during the day Shugy hangs out at Chuck E. Cheese.

Ahh...his imagination! I love it!

Why My Dog Drives Me Crazy

Need I say more? I was upstairs...folding clothes or Facebooking...not sure:) I hear a crash, thump, boom...so I come downstairs to find my children playing the Wii(I told Chase he could play after his homework was done...see the table? homework was done, just not put away) and they were oblivious to the fact that the dog had jumped up on the table & knocked over a soda(notice the stains on the chair in the corner) My first instinct was to throw Jazz out the door. But I had to get proof! It doesn't matter what I do or how I discipline him...he still gets into everything & now...knows how to get on top of my kitchen table. Gross! Yes, I have disinfected it!

My funny valentines

So today is valentine's day. I know I know some people say it is a "hallmark" holiday and we should take everyday to show the people that we love, we love them. I do agree, yet, I am a mushy, sentimental, sap, period the end. I love these days. And having 2 kids, only makes it worse. I love shopping for them. Finding things I know they will love, or put a smile on thier faces. They are still only 3 & 5, so it doesn't take much...but, it is still so fun! This year was especially fun because they are both at the age that they love to do crafts. Sometimes, I get stressed out by the messed that are made during these activities...but this year was so fun. We celebrated Valentine's Day all week long.

My husband works in the restaurant industry, so for us, Valentine's Day does have to happen on another day. So they boys & I started off the week making cupcakes & a heart shaped cake for daddy. (I should have taken a picture--but still new at this blogging) They also traced thier feet, cut them out, decorated them with glitter & wrote cheesy sayings on them for daddy. Fun.

Then we did Valentine's for thier classmates & teachers. We had fun coming up with creative ideas for thier teachers. They cut out thier hands & taped it on little bottles of lotion with, again cheesy sayings on them. They turned out so cute. You just have to trust me on that one. I again did not get a picture.

We had fun going through all the valentine's cards they received from thier classmates. They both got A LOT!

Last evening, Valentine's Day Eve, the kids & I ate at the restaurant and Chase begins with "mommy what did you get us for Valentine's Day" I lovingly told him I was getting him hugs, kisses & my heart. And he rolled his eyes. So this morning when they got up, the look on thier faces when they saw thier favorite candies and a new cup was priceless. Chase says "mommy you do love us". I don't if I should be worried by that statement or not? Does my love have to be shown in material ways Chase?

When I get out of the shower Chase had made me a Valentine. Cut out a heart all by himself and it was the best Valentine I ever got:)

We had a birthday party to go to today. Then we went & visited with my parents & my sister. Chase calls my mom to tell her we were headed to her house and he says to his Granny " Valentine are your ready for your hugs & kisses Valentine" You see now why this blog's title is funny valentine's?

My sister arrives and Chase was anxiously awaiting his surprise. Well, my sister brought a Chuck E Cheese coupon to give to them(they love the Chuck E Cheese) Well, I think that was Chase's favorite Valentine of them all. He carried around that coupon, he wanted to go to bed with that coupon, and now the coupon is on the fridge as a reminder...we need to go to Chuck E Cheese.

We had a fun day. I have the best Valentine's in the world! I got lots of hugs & kisses today! And I loved every second! And as I went in to check on them tonite and kiss them one more time...I found them in bed together! And that makes my heart smile. They are brothers, competitive, brothers. But in the end...the love each other! I pray they will always be the best of friends!

Happy Valentine's Day! <3