We're still here!

Ok, this is terrible, I have not blogged in 3 weeks! Christmas has come and gone, Sonny's 6th birthday has come and gone and still I have not blogged. Bad, bad blogger.

Christmas was a whirlwind. We had Anne-Marie, Ian and Riley in town this year and it was such a pleasure to be able to have Christmas with the whole family. The new sunroom at Mom's house was finished just in time to be completely demolished with wrapping paper and boxes on Christmas Day. It took 3 hours to go through everyone's presents, halfway through, we all had to take a break just to get our energy back! Unfortunately, I still have yet to upload all the pictures we took.

Even though the kids got so many things, there was one thing that Sonny wanted, however he neglected to tell anyone about this wish until a few days before christmas, after all the presents had been picked out. It was a Nintendo DS. It was all he could talk about and I filed that thought away in my brain because his birthday was coming up in 3 weeks. Soooo... being the good mommy that I am, I convinced a few family members to help me come up with the money to provide this gift for him. $300 dollars later, we had the Nintendo DS, 4 games and Aunt Ashley gave him the coolest carrying case ever. It looks like a lunch box, complete with head phones, car charger, screen protectors, a Star Wars cover, Star Wars skins for his DS, and 3 new stylus pens that look like light sabers!!! And since he has gotten this gift this past saturday, I think that my child is suffering from "Can't hearitis" and possibly also "forgotten how to speak syndrome". I don't think he has said more than 5 words and those words were "thanks for my DS Mom." Other than that, he has been completely absorbed into his games.

Little does he know that he has provided me with the perfect leverage for his behavior. Don't want to eat your dinner? I'm taking the DS. Don't want to be nice to your sister? I'm taking the DS. Don't want to clean your room? I'm taking the DS. And it works....last night was the first test...and it worked like a charm. Not only am I the coolest mom in the whole world, I'm evidently one of the smartest too!

Life's experiences

I copied this from Lemira's blog (thanks Lemira). I thought it looked really neat and thought I would try it on for size. If it's bolded then it's something I have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen an eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason - 3 dozen of them to be exact. That was a great day!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - two of em!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Pneumonia!!! Aaaacckkk!

Hacking, coughing, runny noses and fevers. This seems to be the norm at our house this winter. Germs are running rampant at Sonny's school and at our house. Sonny caught a chest cold from school (we are assuming) and his chest cold has turned into walking pneumonia! Which basically is pneumonia but not severe enough for him to be hospitalized. Thank God for that! And of course the day that Sonny was taken to the dr and diagnosed is the same day I woke up with a scratchy throat and a cough. GREAT! Now I have caught the same chest cold that escalated into Sonny's pneumonia. And last night, guess who started coughing??? You guessed it, Lexi did.

So, Sonny is under doctor's orders to not go back to school until Monday. He's happy about that, cause that means he gets to stay home with grandpa all day! Yay for grandparents.

Despite all the sickness in our house, our spirits are surprisingly very high considering the severity of the sickness. It's the Christmas season and our days are filled with questions about Santa Claus and what we are going to ask him for christmas, construction paper chains to count down the days until christmas and a general thankfulness that this pneumonia is not as severe as it could have been.

I heard on the news this morning that a 4th grader in Henrico county, VA (not far from us at all) died yesterday of complications from pneumonia. I also heard that a young boy that lives across the street from our baby sitter was hospitalized due to complications from pneumonia and came close to dying. So I continue to count my blessings that my children's immune systems are strong and will fight off this bout of illness.

Kindergarten Turkey Day!!!

Occasionally I will get emails from Sonny's kindergarten teacher. Usually they consist of an update on Sonny's behavior (always good), a reminder on a class project, or information on any fundraisers they are doing. However, I sometimes receive little gems in the form of pictures that I think I can use later on to blackmail my poor child. And now, I will share them with you all! Muwhahahahha!

Halloween Pictures!!!!

Eating Candy with Grandma!

Halloween Day was "Wacky Hair Day" at Sonny's school. So we painted his mohawk red to match his red shirt. He thought he looked sooooo cool!

Trick or Treating at Grandma's house. She definitely gave them the most candy. It's what Grandma's do!

Thinking....

A thought crossed my mind today. It was more a memory than a thought. I was reflecting on my post below regarding things that children say and was remembering some of the things that have come out of my children's mouths over the years and there is one memory that I will never forget. It was a defining moment in my life to hear Sonny say what he did. He put my mind back into perspective at the time of what was and is most important in life. Family. It's not about money or posessions or material things.

We were all sitting at the dinner table one night and to be quite honest I don't remember what started this particular conversation. I think it was because they didn't like the dinner that I had cooked for them and they wanted me to buy them McDonald's or something like that. I ended up losing my temper and telling them that We did not have alot of money, We can't afford to always eat out and buy nice things. WE ARE NOT RICH!!!

A moment of silence ensued and then Sonny piped up. "I'm rich Mommy, wanna know why?"

Me (exasperated): "Why Sonny?"

Sonny: "I'm rich because I have a family. That's all you need to be rich Mommy, didn't you know that?"

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have." Hebrews 13:5

Halloween!

Wow, i am lazy! It's almost a week after Halloween and I still haven't posted any pictures.

Well, don't get too excited, I still don't have the pictures to post yet, but they are forthcoming, I swear!

I do want to fill you in on some cute trick or treating stories I have about Sonny and Lexi. Trick or Treating with them this year was a blast and I was happy to be able to take them. Sonny was Spider-Man and Lexi was Cinderella/a Princess. One of the first houses we walked to, an older gentleman opened the door with his wife and were telling Lexi what a beautiful princess she was.

Lexi's response: I'm not a real princess, it's just a costume.

The couple: Well, it's a beautiful costume but I bet you really are a princess to your mommy.

Lexi (indignantly and loudly shouted): NO I'M NOT, I SAID IT'S JUST A COSTUME! (angry face) Happy Halloween (said with a sweet smile on her face)

Luckily the couple had a sense of humor and got a good laugh out of her for that outburst. And I, red-faced and embarrassed, hurriedly ushered my children onto the next house.

A few houses down, another older gentleman handing out candy. As we are walking away, Sonny says "That guy was really nice" (probably due to the extra handfuls of candy he doled out) Then Lexi says "He was nice, I think I want to marry him......"

<~~~ shaking my head in utter disbelief.

I'm always amazed at the things my children say. At times, you have to marvel at the profound wisdom that they express in their thoughts and at other times, you just have to shake your head, laugh quietly and pretend that you didn't hear them...... for your own sanity

Ear Boogers

We can always tell when winter is coming to our house in Virginia. It's foreshadowed by numerous trips to the dr's office for various ailments, mainly the common cold and ear infections. And once again, Lexi and I found ourselves sitting in the sick child waiting room at Dr. Abernathy's office today. For an earache.....

When Lexi was an infant she had tubes put in her ears due to the numerous ear infections that she had at such a young age. About 2 years ago, the tubes fell out of her eardrum (as they usually do) but the one in her left ear had lodged itself in her ear canal and would not fall out. The dr. was not concerned about it at the time as it was not hurting her or causing any additional infection, so we left it there. And every dr. appt they would tell us that it was still there. Well, today when Dr. Abernathy was looking in her ear, he realized that he was able to pull it out with some tweezers. He laid the tube on a piece of gauze and let Lexi look at it. Well of course it was covered in earwax.

In a horrified voice Lexi yells: "It's got boogers on it!!!!!"

The dr. said: "It's just wax Lexi.... do you want to take it home and show your brother?"

Well of course she did, anything icky and gross she has to share with her brother who usually doesn't share the same morbid fascination as her.

As the Dr. was writing up his ticket, Lexi and I were looking at it and since i was so amused at her "booger" comment, I said to her with the hopes she would repeat herself: "ewww Lexi, look at those boogers."

Lexi (with a roll of her eyes): "It's just wax MOM"

Excuuuuuse Me......

Reminders

Sometimes in life, we all need to remember that our little one's growing up are still little ones. As much as we want them to become self sufficient so that they can assist with day to day activities and chores, we must remember that the process is slow and laborious. We cannot expect them to suddenly be able to accomplish things in the same amount of time that we adults can.

Case in point, this morning, as we are rushing out the door to get everyone to the sitters, school and work, and we are running late as usual. As I'm hurrying everyone to the car and urging them to "speed it up kids we have to go, we are late again." I was reminded by Sonny that "Mom, we are still little kids, we can't hurry as fast as you, maybe you need to slow down so we can catch up."

I have officially been put in my place.

There are times in life that this happens. We get so caught up in the day to day struggles to make it to work on time all the while making sure that everyone gets to the right places on time that we don't realize that life is not lived in the rush, it's lived by slowing down, taking a deep breath and making the moment we are in count. When the end of our lives comes, we will not be held accountable for how many times we arrived to work in a timely manner or how fast we made it out of the house in the morning to carry everyone off to school, we will be held accountable for how many times we slowed down enough to appreciate and behold the beauty of the moment.

Mucinex....

Lexi is sick.... She has a horrible chest cold that sounds so bad when she coughs, that it hurts me. I think Sonny has brought home his first set of germs from kindergarten and infected his little sister. I picked Lexi up early from the sitters yesterday and she was pale and had dark circles under her eyes. (poor baby.....) We went to Walgreen's to pick up some heavy duty cough medicine (Robitussin) but Lexi picked up a bottle of Mucinex for kids and wanted that instead. Because it had a pretty box (whatever). After reading the box and determining that this medicine would not kill my daughter, I decided to try it.

OH MY GOD! I LOVE THIS STUFF!

After Lexi's first dose, she NEVER coughed again! Her face brightened up and after a good night's sleep without coughing once, the circles under her eyes are gone! She woke up this morning and said "Mommy, I'm not coughing anymore, I all better!" Little children are amazing, they bounce back so quickly after being sick that I wish I was able to do that. If I had that same cold, I probably would have been sick for a week.

The Spider Club

I have officially been excluded from my first "club". The Spider Club. Which by the way is not a club i necessarily would like to be a part of , however, seeing at it was my loveable son who excluded me, my feelings are naturally hurt.

Sonny has a rubber spider that I'm scared of. I know, I know, it's not real, but it looks real and when placed in drawers, on floors and the bathtub, my first instinct upon seeing this thing is to jump, scream, run and find the closest bludgeoning tool to completely demolish the offensive spider. Well, rubber spiders don't smash, leading me to continue beating the poor inanimate object senseless all the while screaming "WHY WON'T YOU JUST DIE!!"



Well, this past saturday, Sonny was tormenting me once again with his little spider and I had had enough. I told Sonny that I was tired of being tricked, that I didn't like his spider and I didn't want it anywhere near me anymore.

His response: "But it's not real Mommy, you can't be scared of a fake spider."

My response: "I don't care Sonny, I don't like it anyway, please get it away from me."

The last thing I hear as he is stomping away to his room: "FINE MOMMY, I'M STARTING A CLUB AND YOU AREN'T ALLOWED IN IT AND IT'S GONNA BE ALL ABOUT SPIDERS!"

cue door slam and you officially have witnessed that my son is exactly like me.

God save us all.....

Lexi Loo

I just realized that i have not posted anything about Lexi since I started this blog! We have been so wrapped up in kindergarten that Lexi has not had anything exciting to write about. She's been so very good while we have all been adjusting to the new things going on. She has been on her best behavior and is even letting Sonny teach her all the new things that he has been learning in school. She still hasn't not made up her mind as to whether or not she wants to go to school. I think she changes her mind every day! Typical woman...