Grayson and Kyle Field

So, Kyle field is a special place for Grayson...He truly believes it is HIS stadium...That it was built just for him!

He also loves football.

And, we have talked about his love for the Aggie Band...

So, needless to say when we begin to leave campus after step-off each weekend he ALWAYS starts to cry. He sees us leaving...just as the Aggie band walks into HIS field to play his favorite game! It devestates him!

So, for a while now he has been begging Eric and me to take him to a game. However, we have felt he was too little...the game was too long and too hot... and have let him stay with his grandparents while we attended the game.

One can only imagine how excited he was when he FINALLY understood that HE was going to be going to the game too!

He LOVED the game...He was mesmorized by the "shapes" the Aggie Band made, impressed by the "big tackles," terrified by the fly by, and fascinated with the "big tv;" however, I think that he was most facinated by the BATS that live in Kyle Field!

As we walked back to our car he said, "Thank you Mommy, I think Aggie football games are great!" His words warmed my heart...What three year old says those things? And, when I asked him if there was anything that he did not like about the game he replied, "I wanted Ella to come..."

More of a Great Weekend

Already 3 months!

Can you believe Ella is already 3 months old? I cannot...

A Knightly Time

I do not know that there are times when I am happer than the times when I am with my family. Yet, with a family so big it is not often that all of us get together.

However, this past weekend all of us (but Joe...who was working :() were able to be together. It was incredible to be able to spend time with those I love the most.

Thank you everyone for an awesome day...I am counting the days until our next time together.

Cousin Adam's 1/2 Birthday

Adam is 6 months old!

This weekend we celebrated my nephew Adam's 1/2 birthday. I had not seen Adam since the week Ella was born three months ago -

When I last saw him in July I thought about how BIG Adam looked compared to Ella. I remember thinking "it will be forever until Ella is that big and doing those things!" Yet, three short months have passed! Now Ella IS that big, and she IS doing those things I swore she would not do for the longest time...

6 short months from now Adam will be a year old...the next time I see him he could be walking! That is so crazy to me.

It was wonderful to be able to share in Adam's special day. Because he does not live close to us, we all cherish the time we are able to spend with him!

We love you Adam!

Aggie Game Day

One of those days...

Today was one of those days...

On more than one occasion today I wanted to either scream and pull my hair out or sit down and cry...Our house is a wreck, we are digging up the front yard, and I have 101 things to do for school. All of the "living things" in our house were off kilter...Grayson refused to take a nap and changed clothes at least 10 times, Ella was screaming for no appear ant reason and had a spitting up problem, the dogs would not quit howling and two of them escaped, the cat knocked over the 2nd candle in less than a week, the fish was playing dead so I tried to flush him (to then notice that he was swimming in the toilet!)...

It was wild!

And then, nothing would go my way...I lost my credit card and cell phone, I spend an hour on the computer to loose everything I was working on, they were out of the two things I wanted at the grocery store, the lady at Wendy's messed up our order, we broke a sprinkler head, I hung some clothes to dry and then turned the sprinkler on them, I broke the vacuum, all of the diet Coke was flat...Nothing went my way!

And do not get me started on the headache I had...

Now that it is almost midnight, things have finally have settled down. The kids and animals are all asleep, and the house suddenly seems so peaceful. I was so frustrated earlier...Yet, sitting here now, all the "bad" things that happened today seem so trivial. The fact that I was so frustrated seems almost ridiculous!

I just need to always remember that I am so lucky...and to thank the Lord that I am so blessed.

Happy Birthday Papa

Today would have been Papa's 80th birthday...

We love and miss you Papa.

Grayson's Fascination

Grayson definitely has his own opinion about things. Those of us who know him best are all aware of his distinct likes and dislikes...He shares them well!

Grayson HATES the Rattler mascot at Eric's football games, to wear ANYTHING that I pick out for him, tea with lemon, minty toothpaste and to wake up in the mornings. He LOVES to play football, take baths, chocolate milk in a sippy cup and to watch Signing Times. However, of all the things he loves is greatest love is by far the Aggie Band.

To be more specific, he loves the drums of the Aggie Band. All week long I bribe him, " You do___ and this weekend we will get to go see the Aggie Band!" It is amazing what he will do...even on Monday...if he thinks he might get to see the drums in action.

Last weekend he sat by the front door for over 30 minutes waiting for GiGi and K-Dan to get to our house so that we might be able to leave to see the band...He practices marching, told me what they were going to be wearing, imitated how Kason stands, got angry because I could not find his "Aggie boots" and demanded that I "blow the whistle" to tell him when to start playing....all while the Aggie War Hymn is playing on repeat on the CD player!

Of course, his love is fueled because his Uncle Kason plays the drums in the Aggie Band...even better for Grayson! In Grayson's eyes Kason is the most incredible person in the entire world. He says, "I love Kason because he plays the drums so fast...I am going to do that too."

Only time will tell if he too will play the drums like Kason, but until then I am confident he will keep practicing with his spoons on my pots!

Making Friends

I was blessed to spend this past weekend with one of my dearest friends from college. My time with her reminded me of how important friends are...I was reminded of how much I "need" them...of how happy they make me...and, sadly, of how I sometimes take them for granted.

I have made a vow to myself to not take my friends for granted...and I hope that my children will see by example how these relationships should be cherished.

I know that as I watch my children grow they will make so many friends, and while these relationships are so young, they DO matter...

The New Friday Night Lights

Friday night marked the opening of the new, much anticipated Rattler Stadium! We were all super excited to be able to go to the game!

Even better...they won 43-0!

Ella Bella Ballerina Toes is 2 Months!

Since the day that Ella was born, I have called her Ella Bella. This HIGHLY offends Grayson! He says, "No Mommy! Her name is Ballerina!"

Even knowing what Gryason wants me to call her, I still make mistakes and call her Ella Bella, and EVERY time I am corrected. "It is ELLA BALLERINA!" he screams!

A couple of weeks ago I mistakenly called her Ella Bella, and Grayson frustrated with me to his limit he says, "Fine Mommy...She can be Ella Bella Ballerina Toes!"

So, this is her new name...Ella Bella Ballerina Toes.

We decided that the ballerina needed some pictures for her 2 month birthday dressed as a ballerina! Grayson thought that it was awesome!

We are family...

My parents have given me many great things in my lifetime. My spoiled self certainly never went without, and I must admit, I have received some fairly extravagant gifts...cars, a house, a wedding, a college education...just to name a few...

However, of all the gifts they have given me, the fact that they gave me 4 incredible siblings is by far the greatest.

Growing up I would never have said this. In fact, I think I sometimes felt cursed having 4 younger siblings...My naive eyes believed I did not get things because I always had to "share" with the "others," I sometimes grew weary of being the babysitter, and I longed for just a moment of solitude.

Yet, looking back, my greatest memories ALL involve one or more of my siblings...and today the only people I will ever completely understand me, that I trust whole-heartedly and that I feel the most comfortable around are them.

Ironically, it was not until I we were all "grown" that we ever really got-to-know each other. Afterall, Kason was only 5 when I left for college, and he still addressed me as "mam."

One by one we have all come to Aggieland (some of us never leaving), and it is here that the seeds my parents planted so many years ago have come into bloom...it is here the relationships blossomed. There are so many reasons why...but we will just say it was because of the "spirit" here. However, the relationships we now have with one another can never be described with words...

This in no way means that we are "chummy" all of the time. The opposite is perhaps more true...We have certainly been known to have some real good "grown-up" fights involving the hurling of frozen chicken at each other, the locking of one another in a bathroom resulting in a slightly dismantled door when the person inside attempted to escape, and the traditional pulling of hair as we roll on the floor. (Yes, these have all occurred within the last five years.)

There is also no group of people that I am likely to disagree with more than the four of them...I must say they (not me) make some pretty dumb decisions and have the most bizarre outlook on situations! :) Yet, now matter how we might disagree with each other, how angry we are at one another or how ridiculous one of us might be acting...No one but us will ever know. We are a united front...and we will never stray from one another.

Tonight...like every night, I will thank the Lord for the greatest gift my parents gave me, and I will pray that I will be able to plant the same seed for my children that they planted for us.

All of our bobble heads...

This weekend was Cannon and Gunnar's first football game! Eric was unable to attend (his football season is also back in session), so I was asked to describe how the game went...
I was not then - and I am still not now- real sure how to describe the game! I think it is impossible to put into words a bunch of bobble heads running to a big pile! Even more, Cannon and Gunnar could not either! Gunnar told Eric, "Well, it was just real hot, and my head hurt a little." It was REALLY hot...
Grayson was undeterred by the heat...He was insistent that he should go in on the next play and that Cannon was going to bring him his helmet; however, once we introduced him to the playground this cheerleader lost interest in the game!
Ella is a bobble head herself these days...She holds her head up so well! In fact, she hates when she cannot see, and would rather be held on the shoulder than like a baby any day!

Today was a big day for Cannon. It was promotion Sunday at church, and Cannon received his own Bible. I doubt he knows or understands that this is one of the first steps in his personal faith. He can now read the Bible on his own! I pray he takes to heart the words he reads begins to understand what it means to be a Christian.

First Days of School

This past Monday was Grayson and Ella's first day of school for the upcoming school year. Needless to say, it was a pretty emotional day for me!
Both Eric and I have been back at work for a little over two weeks, but they have both been staying with family. Our daycare is affiliated with the school district, so it does not open until those on a regular teaching contact return...and Ella was not quite old enough to attend.
I think that is what makes me the most sad...She is only 7 weeks old! I have every confidence in the care they are in during the day (shoot, it is probably better than myself, and they are in classes with kids/babies of parents I work with), but not being able to be there with your kiddos is extremely difficult.
They have, however, had an awesome week. In fact, Grayson tells us he now has a girlfriend at school!
When he got in the car Friday, I asked him how his day had been. He said it was "pretty good," but that he was upset that a "friend" of his could not come over an play tonight because we had to go to the Meet the Teacher at Cannon and Gunnar's school. I asked him what friend he wanted to have over...and said that we might be able to do that Saturday. He said, "Well, my girlfriend."
"Oh, you have a girlfriend?" I asked.
"Yes, Mommy. I do."
"Oh, what is her name?"
"Karsyn..."
I found this story to be a little sketchy...Karsyn was what we were going to name Ella once upon a time...so, I asked him what she looked like, if she was in his class, if he loved her, etc. All of the real annoying questions a mother would ask their son about their first girlfriend.
He told me she wears pink and has black hair. She WAS in his class, sat next to him at lunch, took a nap next to Riley, liked to play with the books and connect blocks...and he DID love her a LOT!
"Oh," I commented, "that is wonderful!"
"I know Mom," he said, "I like having a girlfriend."
He has told all sorts of people today about his girlfriend, Karsyn. He seems to be very proud of her! However, just a few minutes ago he sat on the kitchen floor all sad, and when I asked him what was the matter he said, "I am just really missing my girlfriend."
I did not really know how to respond. I said that I understood and explained that I sometimes miss Daddy too when he is not around. Grayson looked at me like I was a freak! "Daddy is not your girlfriend," he said.
"I know," I rebutted, "but I love him too like you said you love Karsyn."
"But you and Daddy are married," he said still still confused.
"You are right...Daddy and I love each other, that is why we got married!"
"Then I DO NOT love Karsyn!" he proclaimed. "I am NOT getting married. I am a kid, and kids do not have weddings. That would be crazy."
Giggling...
"You are right...that would be a little crazy," I agreed, "but it is still okay to miss her."
"She is not real Mommy...so I guess it is all okay!"
He then got up and was ready for our walk. He has not mentioned Karsyn since...However, I will always remember that his first girlfriend was imaginary!

Our last hurrah!

Today Ella went to the doctor for her first round of shots! I am having such a difficult time believing that she is already six weeks old!

We had to have shots before Monday...when she goes to school for the first time. :(

Grayson was incredibly interested in this whole "shot thing." He felt strongly that he and I should also be having shots. It seemed so weird to me that he wanted so badly to get a shot! However, as we left I realized...It was all about the suckers and stickers! I should have known!

Ella now weighs over 10 lbs., and is over 23" long! The doc says she is perfect...but we knew that!

This afternoon was all about Grayson...

We spent it in Brenham at Blue Bell, and then came home and played some "wonderful" music for far too long! :)

Lazy Days of Summer

Every summer I have such big plans...This summer was no different. We had much on our calendar, and we had even more surprises. Between summer school, saying goodbye to my grandfather, moving, having a baby, and everything else this summer had to offer, it was sometimes hard to enjoy. (I will not even mention the 101 days of rain we seem to have had!)

Yet, we did have some lazy days...and they were PERFECT! Of course, I was only as lazy as my two youngest friends, but we had an awesome time...vacationing in our backyard! :)

The last hour...

Sometimes being a mother you just have to laugh! Just when you think that nothing else can happen...that your life cannot get any crazier, it does!

So about 45 minutes ago we came in from playing outside with the neighbors. Ella was hungry, so I sat down to feed her on the couch. This is when I noticed that the couch and five (yes FIVE) pillows were covered in urine! Yep, Grayson must have peed himself during his nap. (how does one manage to get it on five pillows?)

I was not too disturbed by this. Afterall, this is what 2 year olds do.

I get up to move the things off the couch...still trying to feed Ella when I feel something warm dripping down my arm. Yep, she too had decided to dirty me. Awesome!

As she screams (leaving the couch a mess), I head to her room to clean her. I then discover that Grayson had thrown the wipes all over her closet, and subsequently, they had all dried up! Yes, I was wipe-less with a dirty little girl!

To the master bath we went.

In route I asked Grayson to join me there. As politely and as mature as he could be he said, "No thank you Mommy, I am busy with something you cannot see." Wonderful I thought, but there was poop dripping down my arm.

I took care of Ella quickly and rushed back to the kitchen to discover Grayson naked on the kitchen counter with a banana in one hand and M&Ms in the other. Once again, in a real matter of fact manner he says, "I didn't ask...I know...I know you are angry Mommy, but I wanted a snack...Okay, Mommy? Okay?"

I just looked at him there naked on my counter and watched as he opened the M&Ms and began to pee on my stove! (Who wants dinner at my house?) I was too flabbergasted to speak, and in shock, I almost dropped Ella! He said, "Sorry, Mommy...didn't mean...sorry."

I calmly walked over to the counter and lowered him to the floor, and I watched as his naked self went to his room proclaiming the entire way, "I just need some Scooby Doo underwear...just Scooby Doo!"

I began to clean.

I had laid Ella on a blanket on the floor (not a smart move), so when she began to cry when I was cleaning Grayson simply went and picked her up! Before I could get there, he was running with her across the living room (her feet dragging the floor) telling me to get her some milk.

I snatch Ella from him and head to my bedroom to sit and feed her. He says that he is going to watch t.v. (Who believes he was really going to watch t.v.?) Surely I will not be interrupted this time! However, less than two minutes later I Grayson walks in with his underwear off and tries to climb in the bed with me. Something did not seem right about his wanting to get in my bed so I asked what he needed. He said (as he sat on my pillow I must add), "I pooped, and I need you to wipe me."

I screamed, "What?" And, as I jumped up, I guess I started Ella because she spit up everything she had just eaten! Grayson had started running back to his bathroom...and I was in hot pursuit...However, I was sidetracked by the trail of poop from my room to his bathroom...I simply could not believe it!

Yet, the bathroom would prove to be much more shocking! There was poop everywhere!
I turned the tub on an put him in. I grabbed his dirty Scooby Doo underwear, the rug he had squished it all in and ran to grab some cleaner.

This story could continue...There was then a startling episode in the bath as Grayson pulled down the shower curtain, a scared cat hissing, a neighbor's we dog running through the house, someone knowing at the door wanting needing some help outside...I finally just gave up and started laughing...and writing!

Being a mother is the most incredible job in the entire world. Nothing can compare! :) Even during hours like this I know how blessed I am, and I cherish even these times! I know they will not last long.

Ella is now a month old...it seems so hard to believe. I wish time would stand still...I already miss hours like these.

Starting Back

This afternoon I go back to work.

I love my job...Yet, no matter how passionate I am about my work, how much I enjoy being at there or how dear my co-workers are to me, it just cannot compare to being at home with my family.

It is always difficult to go back in the fall...to get back into the swing of things; however, I am struggling now more than I ever had in the past. Perhaps it is because I have a barely 4 week old daughter...or perhaps it is because I have a son that for the first time understands...maybe it is because we did not do anything super special this summer...or maybe it is just because I just need more time...

Nonetheless, I am struggling...

The kids are both sleeping. I want so badly to wake them up...but I have too much to do.

I have complete confidence that I am not being a bad mother by returning to work...I know I probably want to be home more for myself than I do for them! In many ways I know that it is better that I have an outlet for myself that I love. I just pray they will someday come to understand that I did it for them.

Until next time...