I Come to Report

that today is a MUCH better day.

Thanks for the comments and sympathy.

Not much changed, but a good night's rest, getting out of the house and a new attitude adjustment does wonders.

Here's Bear learning to shoot some hoops. Sorry it's quite shaky.

I Come to Vent

Ahhhh. Monday morning. Sweet, sweet Monday morning. Usually I don't mind Monday mornings but today I am on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

On Friday, April 9th I took Nolan in for a check-up on an ear infection he had been dealing with since January. It was clear! Hooray! However, he had a fever and that lasted until Monday morning. His sleep and appetite was off. He threw up at our friends' home and also 2 mins from our house all over his car seat. So sad.

April 11th (a week ago today) I took Kyle to the park. Suddenly he cries that his ear hurts and somehow we come to the conclusion that he stuck a rock down his ear. Rush him to the doctor. I had already called that morning about his allergies, so I was well on my way to becoming, "That mom." The one who calls and visits the doctor too often. No rock, but a bad ear infection with a blister in his ear most likely caused by... allergies.

April 13th a different appointment for Kyle. April 16th I take Nolan in for an unplanned visit due to Pink Eye and whatever else was going on with him.

So grateful for my doctor. I really am going to miss her. She's the best! Oh, but I am DONE with that place. I hope I don't have to visit there again.

Sunday morning I wake up with flu-like symptoms. Tim and Kyle head off to church. I entertain the pink-eye free Nolan but feel bad for the bad cough he still had. Sleep when he sleeps. Felt like I had a newborn again.

Today. Boys are fighting non-stop. Kyle, go to time-out. Kyle, be nice. Nolan, don't bite. Kyle, you're not the boss. Yes he can touch that. No he won't hurt it. Over and over again.

I had felt like we had come so far with Kyle. He was doing so well behavioral wise. A good listener, "I be example," he'd say. Now I feel like we've fallen off the top of a ladder. Where do I draw the line between Nolan invading his personal space and toys and Kyle needing to share?

Did I mention our humidifier (that was bought just a couple moths ago) leaked water all over Kyle's carpet? All the fans going non-stop there. I'm hoping it dries soon. I'm starting to get worried.

Tim is starting to get in "finals mode." We'll miss him. He won't miss us.

It's beginning to get hot and humid. Trying not to complain though since my sweet mother will have to brave the heat and humidity in Argentina for 3 years.

Our house is for sale, but the market is slow. Our realtor said, "Things will slow down in June, but I don't know what that means since it's already been so slow." Trying to hold on to the faith I have left.

What do I pack a month out? How do I pack when I'm playing referee?
I look homeless. Don't feel it though, since I have a house still (that I am trying to get rid of).

Things could always be worse. Way worse. These are not big problems. Just a bit of my 10 am headache. I am so grateful for my friends and family. I have a long list of families I'm praying for right now who are going through such tough things. I look to them as examples and such amazing faith.

Have a happy Monday.

Ladies Man

There are some traits Kyle definitely gets from his father.

Now, the question is would it be all the attention from the ladies? 

Or that he doesn't know how to handle it?

(Meet Sadie. She and Kyle have a love/hate relationship. Today Kyle told us that she tried to hold his hand during nursery. This picture just makes me laugh).

My Greatest Joy(s)

Love these two.

Spring Break 2011

Tim's last Spring Break has come and gone. We enjoyed ourselves doing nothing special. I always get nervous for Spring Break because it means Dad is home with us (except for when he studies), which disrupts all of our routines and we tend to get bored. But really, we love it! haha. I didn't meant to sound like I'm complaining. Some of you have to know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, Spring Break 2011:

My friend Ann-Marie and I started off the weekend before by ditching the husbands (or maybe the husbands ditched us??) and going to San Antonio's St. Patrick's day parade. It was probably the lamest parade I've ever been to but it was still tons of fun. The weather was perfect and Kyle perfected his wave at his very first parade:

He sat waving non-stop for so long.

Bear was as fat and jolly as ever. He loves being outside.

He also loves wrappers and the contents inside of them.

Some of the entertainment:

It was so nice to do something different and to be outside with my boys!

Later in the week I needed the boys out so I could clean. Luckily for all of us, Kyle's Great-Grandma and Papa Curtis sent him $2 for his birthday. When he opened the card he pulled the dollars out and yelled, "I got tickets!!" He has been earning money lately, but only in coins. Dollar bills were a new concept. At first he wanted to get an ice cream cone, but when his balloon popped he wanted a new balloon. Tim took him to Walgreens where he got his balloon and even had money for this:

He was sooo excited to show me. He unsuccessfully tried to bite it at first. Then he licked it for awhile and forgot about it. Thank you Papa and Grandma!

In other old but important news to us:

1. Kyle got a belt!

He wears it pretty much every day which means he's rotating between about two pairs of shorts right now. He loves his belt so much. So far he has told us that his belt is like Woody's, Buzz Lightyear's, Dada's, Brother Neeley (his nursery leader) and a cowboy's. 

We just love him, his quirks, and his fake smiles.

2. Bear ate spaghetti for the first time. And decorated himself with the sauce.

Nope. Not touching my camera!

3. Tim dared to kiss that irresistible face. Never knew he was such a fan of Italian.

4. Kyle has decided that copying Nolan is one way to get attention. For some reason 98% of the cute things a 10 month old does are not cute when a 3 year old does it! :)

We are all happy, usually healthy and feeling very blessed during this stressful time. Anyone want to buy a house?

Hey, Hey, It's your Birthday

Happy Birthday to mi Amor!

Celebrating the big 8th birthday:

I asked Kyle what he thought his dad wanted for his birthday and his answer was, "A Toy Story shave." (aka a Toy Story razor). Since that is non-existent I probed him for more ideas.

"A big Candyland."-- we already have Candyland
"A balloon."-- this was cheap. A very good idea.

So yesterday I took him to Walgreens to get the balloon Kyle was thinking of. Unfortunately when we got there Kyle tried to sell me for seriously ten mins on getting Tim this:

Some of our conversation went like this:

"Kyle, I don't have enough money with me for that."
"Well I have money Mom."
"Dada wants this. He wants to share it with me."
"Kyle, you already have lots of guns at home. We don't need another one."
"Dada wants a new one."

"What about the balloon?
"It doesn't match." 
"You can pick two balloons."
"He doesn't want that. He wants a gun."

I finally convinced Kyle that maybe Tim could get the gun for Christmas.

Tim, we love you! I hope you like your gift from Kyle today (and the other ones you aren't expecting!). I'm so glad I get to celebrate your birthday with you... even after all these years! :)

a month before we were engaged, 5 1/2 years ago! (I still wear that skirt! haha)

Here's hoping 27 is a great year for you! Graduating law school, moving states, taking the bar, finding a job. That sounds like so much fun!!

Happy birthday Love!
And Happy Birthday to my SIL Candace. I am so grateful for both of you!