The Giving Tree

Who'da thunk that I would be having growing lessons in my thirties? Sure enough another light bulb moment yesterday at Borders Bookstore.

We were wasting time at the mall and I thought I would be the fun mom and take the boys in to read a book to them. We made our way to the back of the store and I scanned the shelves for a book the boys might enjoy. It's painfully sad when we have almost every book Border's carries. And there it was - The Giving Tree. It takes me back to 5th grade. Our class performed The Giving Tree. I was the voice of the Tree (since I read with such great inflection - some compliments stick with you forever). I remember loving the book about the tree even though it's kinda sad.

Naturally, I think the boys would love the book about a tree - simple pictures, not a lot of words on each page..... So I start reading to them - with great inflection - and then it happens. I wasn't expecting this at all - I started crying. Can you believe it? Reading The Giving Tree??? It dawns on me that it's not really about a tree at all. DUH! It about loving someone so much and giving everything you have for their happiness = a parent.

The past few weeks without Keith has been hard. Being the single parent takes all your effort and then some. I've felt like the tree. I just hope the boys will want to come back to sit with me one day. I should go sit with my parents too.

Isn't She Lovely

Here she is - I fell in love. I had to have it, but I'm not quite sure what to do with her. I imagined she would fit perfectly in the living room, but I'm not sure I like the look of it. Everything is very dark in contrast to the light floor and walls. Bummer. I will leave her in there to see if it grows on me. If not - I think it would be a PERFECT piece to put in our daughter's room. (calm down - not pregnant, but just thinking into the future) Carrie's trunk - to hold her toys and blankets, to hide in from her brothers, to place her journals, yearbooks and mums in, and to store her wedding dress. See - PERFECT



ps - how cute is that teny tiny MerMer?

I'm Such a Boring Mom

Since Keith has left, I guess Cole has found some time to catch up on his sleep. Here are a few interesting poses from the little man. Don't be fooled. All this sleep isn't keeping him out of less trouble.



I found him in our bed a few times (notice the clothes... CLEAN, I so wish Keith were here to put them up for me)


I know - I can't flip it yet. This is straight from the stick, I haven't downloaded to Picassa yet. Cole fell asleep waiting for Daddy to call back.

I love Brad in this one. He brought Cole the stick toy to sleep with.


He was so hungry he helped himself to a snack of peanuts, but somehow collapsed to the floor before he ate any.


He literally just demanded for me to bring him a snack. Before I got back to the living room this is how I found him. He looks relaxed enough to be shouting demands.


As I was uploading pictures I hear talking coming from upstairs. I sneak up the stairs and Cole is in Brad's crib. He says "do you want me to go ask your mommy if you can sleep with me?" "don't be scared, I will be right back" "we can eat cinnamon rolls and eggs in the morning, would you like that?" After each question Brad says "ya". They are sweet. They didn't know I was listening in. I will surprise them with cinnamon rolls in the morning. Thank you God for letting me hear that. I needed sweetness.

Messy Day

Continuing with my cool mom never-say-no-let's-do-it theme, we had messy play today. The boys love playing with goop. I got a little crazy with the food coloring because all of our hands are blue. I could cry at the mess it left, but hey - I only have 10 people coming over tomorrow night. Plenty of time to clean.



Yea, that didn't stay in the bowl.

The boys loved messy play so much it continued outside. Yes, that is Brad's poop floating in the pool. This clean up required immediate attention. As Oprah would say, I had a light bulb moment today. I remember pre-kids I use to say "they don't pay me enough to do this". Today I've come full circle. The girl in me now is telling that skinny flight attendant "try being a mommy".

Randomness

So today was a tough one. The absence of Keith hit hard. I just wanted to scream to everyone "my husband is gone and these children don't listen!" I was desperate for someone to take them. I was hot and yet had to carry Brad. Cole was darting everywhere and I had to hold his hand. I had to dig through my purse. I had to load them in the car, unload them, wipe them, feed them - I just wanted a break. Guess what... nobody is lining up at my door to take the job.

Keith's car is ruined. Bird poop ate through the paint while it sat at the Auto Hobby Shop for 5 weeks - great. I found out the boys punched a hole through the siding of the house - great. Actually, I found two holes - great, great. It's raining and the sprinklers are running. I don't know how to turn them off - great. I can't figure out my new phone - great. I think I'll move to Australia.

I am trying to figure out how to blog these pictures. I don't know how to type, show a picture, type some more. Trial and Error around here.

Cole's been saying "WHAT THE........." lately. It's shocking to hear. I don't know where he picked that up. He also says "holy cow" and Brad chimes in right behind him. Being the observant mom I am, I noticed the other day that Brad got another tooth in... probably a month ago! We now have 4 on the bottom. Whoo-hoo! Here's some pictures Keith - I love you and I hope they make you happy. Miss you bananas.



Here is the new shower curtain I bought for boys bathroom. It was on sale for $12 at BabiesRUs. It even came with cute frog hooks. Score.


She wants in so bad... dumb cat


Cole's teeth

Brad's teeth - notice the BIG new one on the lower right (his left)



They've been caught


These are of the boys today playing in the mud.

Say cheese!


Cole made the "chains" at the Mother's Day Out Program to count down to Christmas. He wanted to make a chain to count down to our trip to Texas. The Texas countdown is on their doors. We decided to make one for when daddy comes home too.... That one is a little harder to look at. It starts on the bathroom door, dips down and goes above Cole's door, across Brad's door, into a pile on the floor. We've been taking chains off for days and I see no improvement - sad.

Here's the boys on Father's Day at the River. They play really well together.

Whew - it's over!

Another big event crossed off the calendar. Tonight Ashley and I hosted the squadron coffee. It was a pretty large turnout considering it's summertime and there are several out of town. We made it "kid friendly". We had 4 babysitters in the backyard for the 21 kids that RSVPed and around 25 adults.

Ashley was so much help. Maybe I don't want them to start a family - It will cut into the extra set of arms around here and I would be forever lost!

The boys love playing with all the other kids, they are so social. Now, off to catch up on some sleep. Tomorrow calls for Cole's School Camp, Bible Study, and Swim lessons - all before noon. Maybe it's not all over.

It's Broken

Let's see.... Keith's been gone around 15 days and here is a list of things that have broke and/or need fixing since he's left:

1. The lawnmower (good riddance in my book)
2. The weed eater (another one I won't miss)
3. Our brand new Wii (shipping it off tomorrow)
4. My new coach purse (really upset over that one)
5. I took about 8 inches of paint off the side of the van (still in shock and won't look at it anymore because it turns my stomach)
6. My new cell phone
7. Jogging Stroller tire is flat (Keith doesn't know about that one yet... SURPRISE!)
8. AT&T overcharged us - we'll have to get that straightened out
9. The Auto Hobby shop overcharged us - put a call into the services commander

That's about something going wrong every other day. Nice... It's probably a norm around here anyway, it just we don't have Mr. Fix it around to take care of all this. If something happens to the computer I'm really in a world of hurt. Hurry home soon!