Ding Ding Ding

Man, there are only a few things in life that I have been able to accurately predict. Experiencing first grade reading with Brad is one of those things. Ahh... my sweet B. He is very upset today about homework in general. One of the sentences doesn't make sense to him, so he refuses to read the whole page. He has quietly flipped through the booklet a couple of times and says "I'm done. I read it three times. I'm going outside." Brad will you read it to me aloud...... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! This is exactly how I predicted this experience to play out. Today was day 1 of homework. We have a full year ahead of us. Yea!

Summer Vacation

Last summer we spent the majority of it moving from one house to the other.... painting, unpacking, reorganizing. Lots of fun! I was really looking forward to this summer because we could actually enjoy it. Now I'm sitting here thinking WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SUMMER!?! Cole had a soccer camp with the Texans in June. In July we planned a trip out to Tennessee. We spent a couple days in Memphis looking around and trying to cram an entire city tour into 24 hours. The boys went to Graceland, to see the FedEx headquarters, Daddy's crash pad, Beale Street, Gibson guitar factory tour, Loraine Motel, Civil Rights Museum, the entire Memphis Zoo, Collierville Music on the Square with a slice of homemade cheesecake - ALL IN ONE DAY! Cole wasn't impressed. He just wanted to fish! We spent a day driving around and looking at houses/neighborhoods/land. We have a big decision to make as to where to live. It really deserves a post on it's own. Our hearts are so torn and we really aren't leaning for one place over another. After our house hunt, we drove out to Gattlinburg to meet up with the Thomas family. The McThomas family was all together again. We got a little cabin we camped in for a few days complete with a black bear. I almost lost my first born to said black bear - no lie. So, we spent the rest of the visit locked inside. The boys hated me. It was good to see Steve and Ashley, but next time we are going a little more urban ;-) Keith was able to take the majority of August off. We were **thisclose** to buying a camper and heading up to Colorado. Instead the boys wanted to vacation with their grandparents in Dallas. We loaded up MV and spent a few days with all of them. The plan was to save money and plan for a trip to San Diego in October. We were able to wrap the season up with a family trip to Castaway Cove. This is what the boys remember the most! Figures!!! Keith is playing soccer with the Air Force all of September. The last week of games are in San Diego. Since this is his last time as a player, we wanted to go out and watch his games! We blinked our eyes and school started. There was our Summer of 2012 in a nutshell!

Bradisms

Brad says a lot of funny things. He will say things that make NO sense to me and then things that make me melt. Here's a few things he said the past few days that have won my heart. "Mama, can I sit in your lap because you are beautiful, soft, and cuddly?" "Mama, this will make you cry.... look how awesome this clayball is!" "What about Mickey, will he drown in the pool?" No Brad "Oh, that's right. He's smart!" He was crying because he didn't want to get ready for soccer "Is this where I play in front of people?" Yes, it's a game. "I don't want to go, I hate soccer. I hate it when I score and they all cheer for me. I don't want people to look at me. Delete soccer!" "Delete soccer" "Delete soccer!" - can you tell I have a total gamer on my hands. "Mama, can you upload my itouch?" Oh, you want me to download new updates? "NO, UPLOAD MY iTOUCH!" Brad where do you want to go eat "At home, I just like to be at home" Brad what do you want to do if you quit soccer? "Nothing, stay at home" Brad want to go to the movies? "No, I just want to go home" He was playing with an ant bed and got bit by a red ant (screaming) "Owie... my finger!!! Am I going to die?" I painted a picture and he told Cole "Mama painted that all by herself because she worked very hard on it. Good Job Mommy" Cole was looking for Brad and said "Brad where are you?" and Brad said "a special little place I call hell" - I said WHAT?! And he replied "oh, I mean a dark and scary place. Where does he get this stuff?

Another 1st

I dropped Cole off at soccer practice yesterday and left. I hated it. I have been to EVERY practice possible, and if I wasn't there, Keith was the coach. I just left him there trusting his coach to take care of him and keep his best interests at heart. I knew he would. My mind the whole time was playing "what if he gets hurt and I'm not there", "What if the coach tries to call me and his phone is dead", "what if Cole is passed out and can't give the coach my number to call on somebody else's phone?" And you can see where I went from there.... Crazyville. But, thankfully, all went well. Cole had a good time and a girlfriend brought him home just as the carpooling plan had been crafted. A first for me, I still don't like it. Sniff. Sniff.

One Would Think....

One would think I have so much free time on my hands that I should update my little bloggy blog a little more often than I have been doing. I don't understand how it happens either. The boys are older and a little more self sufficient. I don't need to spend tons of time hovering over them, but it's a small habit I've developed! They love it. Life just gets busier, in a good way. In a harder way. In a more complex way. I am really starting to miss the times when they were babies and we were trapped in a house all day long. We were looking at family pictures the other day and reality hit me like a brick. My babies are gone. We are done and out of that stage. How did that happen? It's over! Not a fun feeling. Cole and Brad are doing so great. They are fantastic kids and we are very very blessed to have such awesome boys. Cole is growing up so fast. He still plays soccer and we've started guitar lessons. His teacher thinks he is a child prodigy when it comes to how quickly he's picking it up. I find it equally shocking because he never practices at home! He loves it, and plays more than his fair share of Guitar Hero. I'm loving his interest in different types of music. He rocks out to the widest variety. I feel slightly proud of his music tastes. His interests go from Elvis, to Stevie Ray Vaughn, to ZZ top, and then back to Brad Paisley. Cole loves to be outside and has become addicted to fishing. The boy could fish ALL.DAY.LONG. He's a natural at everything with the slightest reservation to make him pause and think things through. Love him! Brad is such a kind hearted, sweet kid. To know him, is to love him. I'm soaking up every minute and am wrapped around his little finger. He's a mama's boy for sure. Perfectly fine with me! He's also the chick magnet. Little girls are knocking on the door all day long asking to play with Brad. It's totally innocent, but I'm wondering if this is a glimpse of the future?? He's been anxious about a few issues as school is starting up. We are working with him to help ease back into a routine. He's super smart, creative and funny. I'm so thankful to watch the world from his view. Keith is so busy you wouldn't believe everything he's involved in even if I wrote it all out. Ok, those who know him would absolutely believe it! He's a go-getter and that makes me one by default. Maybe that's why I long for sleepless children just so I have an excuse to stay at home with them and their nap schedules! He's loving FedEx, and the reserve squadron he flies with here at Sheppard. I'm loving the boy's elementary school! Life is good. I did lose my precious dog, Merlin, this summer. It was terrible and heartbreaking. I'm devastated to have lost him. He was my baby for 14 years. That poor dog was drug all over the country and tolerated moves, kids, LONG car rides, hotels, and a painfully long separation. I miss his little fox face like you wouldn't believe. Mickey is adjusting to life without MerMer too. It's so hard to watch him. If anyone ever says animals don't have feelings I beg to differ. Marty is a nut as usual. I swear she is one of the oddest cats to have ever lived. We love that loud sassy mouth and everything else that comes along with her. Ok, that is a quick update on things. I need to be better about updating. Life is traveling at neck breaking speeds! One day I will want to look back and read all these sweet moments.

Surprise Visit

Grandpa Greg and Grandma Ann came up for a visit on Tuesday night. They got to see Brad play a soccer game and then treated the boys to a dinner at ABC! The boys were surprised to see them. And it was a small rescue for me as well!

*Cole hid his backpack from me all weekend. I found it just before school started and noticed he had THREE conduct cuts last week. Interesting. He was only at school for THREE days. Grounded from his bike the rest of the week.

*Brad woke up and instead of getting ready for school he took off hiding in his room playing his DS. Taken away for the rest of the week.

*Brad came home and LOST HIS COOL when he realize I wouldn't let him play. Playa's gotta play. Major fit ensued for 90 minutes. Trying to get him dressed for his soccer game while throwing a temper tantrum and coming off his meds..... not a fun mommy moment.

*As this is happening, Cole is outside waiting on us...... RIDING HIS BIKE! = One crazy mommy.

I realize in the grand scheme of life these are minor, but it's enough to make me cray cray. So, we head to ABC for dinner and wouldn't you know there's a carnival in the mall parking lot. As a child I was never allowed to ride those rides because my mom deemed them unsafe. We were so mistreated!

Grandpa buys the boys tickets and they carefully find the ride they want to do first. Brad picks the haunted house. Umm... Brad, you know this is scary right? Yes, I want to go. Cole immediately backs out. So I make Grandpa go in with Brad. 30 seconds later out they come. Brad was NOT amused. So he takes it to pencil and paper:



Notice he didn't really do what his school work wanted to do, but it was what was on his mind! Express yourself Son!

Good Gravy!

You would think that with all the bonbon eating time I have, I would be able to update this little ole blog more often! Nope!

Life doesn't slow down and I think my children are making bigger messes. Let's see... What's been going on?

Cole's still paying soccer. I think his "love" for the game is falling. And that's ok. He wants to try basketball and other things... and that's ok too. Brad is doing AWESOME on the Little Flames. His coaches and teammates are so kind. The parents are encouraging and friendly. Sorry son, you're gonna have to stick with this team ;-)

Cole is doing well in school. He has two little friends that he's really close with - Chris and Carson. I took them and a little friend of Brad's to the Monster Truck Show. Yet another thing I never dreamed I would do, or enjoy in my life. Thank you God for the gift of boys. They LOVED it. So funny to watch their excitement.

Brad went to Chuck E Cheese with his little buddy Kyler. He's a sweet kid and I really like his mom. She's going to be VP on the PTA board next year.

Speaking of.... gulp.... I will be next year's president. I'm excited and looking forward to it. However, the outgoing president was so ON THE BALL that I'm nervous about the shoes I'm filling! So, wish me luck and sanity. I'm so lucky to be in the position to do this. Thank you Keith.

I found out that Brad has been skipping school. My kindergartner hates PE and arm circles so if he can't talk his teacher into letting him stay and color, he's been hiding in the bathroom. Mrs Dylla thinks this is a higher level thinking since he's already been able to figure a way out of it. How do you like my higher level thinking that doesn't catch on till April?!

Me: Brad, have you ever been to the bathroom at PE?
Brad: Nope. But my friend Christopher took a camera in there and took a picture and showed me. That's how I know what the inside of it looked like.....
Me: Brad, do you hide in the bathroom to skip PE class?
Brad: Not everytime, but I always do the right thing.

Clear as mud. I now have added the "please help me get Brad graduated through High School" to my prayer list. He's such a little gamer. My fine arts kid, and that's ok.

Keith finished training with FedEx and flew his first trip. He loved it and surprised us and made it home early!! He's been off a couple of weeks, but I say that term lightly. He's been working like a dog with the reserves and screens. It's been good to have him home. So far the plan is to fly a week, maybe two with FedEx and spend the rest of the time home with Air Force and Screens..... ???

We went to the OKC Zoo during Spring Break. I drove the boys and sweet Aly and girls up there. As we were leaving my van broke. We were stranded at Sonic "in the bad part of town" The fireman who helped us was more concerned about that then we were! We got to have our first ride in a tow truck. Interesting. My van spent a while in the shop up there and I had a loaner van. Thank you very much Andrew!! I wanted to be so upset and mad, but I just couldn't. We were dealing with a broken van and not a wrecked van. The kids were safe, just added to the adventure. Mike Victor got an all over tune up and he's running like a champ. I think he's got a few more years left in him!! - just like Merlin!

Micky and Merlin are doing good. Too good, much to Keith's demise. Marty is as needy and clingy as ever. She still is loud and bossy. I love it!

I've started running. Little by little - Couch to 5K. My knees are trying to tell me I'm too old for this, but I'm still 26 at best! Pippa Ass by September for sure.

I can't believe school is wrapping up soon. We are trying to plan a couple of little trips with the boys this summer. Brad is planning his birthday party. It changes daily. And we are trying to fix up the house a little more at a time.

Life is good. God is GREAT. I have no complaints. I'm off to Brad's Easter Egg hunt at school!!