Batman and...Batman!

There is no Robin involved in this picture. This was the week everyone outgrew their pajamas. Or, this was the week I finally noticed that their pajama bottoms only reached their knees. Either way, on a late-night Target adventure, I was determined to buy both boys some new PJ's. I am a little picky when it comes to the boys PJ's, as I look with the same eye as if I was buying for me. I want them soft, comfortable and cute. I looked high and low for 2 piece cotton jammies with zero success. As we were exiting the boys' section, the Batman jammies caught my eye. They didn't feel all that comfortable, but before I could move on, both boys yelled, "Batman, Mommy!" When I picked them up off the rack and saw the velcro cape, I was sold...as long as they had them in both boys' sizes. Check.

Since that evening, I have had to pry the jammies off the boys in the mornings. I was outside talking to my neighbor one evening when out of the corner of my eye, I saw JBS Batman flying by the cul-de-sac, cape flowing in the distance with his mask on. JLS Batman literally jumps and flies on his toes. I don't know how he does it, but he is so light on his feet he really looks like he is flying. Proud proud boys.

The best part about it is that they love to go to bed at night! Come to think of it, that's worth a load of wash a day!

Science Camp

This week it's Science Camp. Science Camp is actually a pretty cool deal that our church puts on every summer. Each day of the week is a different subject pertaining to science...sound, color, machines. They tie each of these subjects into a Bible lesson for the kids. I am really impressed with what I see. Of course, I don't know a thing that goes on, as JBS refuses to tell me. Moms like me are the reason they create summary sheets for the day. It is like pulling teeth getting JBS to tell me what he talked about...even when I have the cheat sheet in front of me! If I wait patiently, something usually sneaks out while JBS is deep in thought. For instance, yesterday, JBS said, "Mommy, did Jesus use a hammer?" I was so ready and pounced on the opportunity to discuss what he learned. "Yes, that's right, JBS. Jesus was a carpenter." To which JBS replied with complete resolution, "NO, MOMMY! I mean did Jesus use a hammer to make me?"

I absolutely love every precious word that comes out of his mouth. Keep 'em coming, baby. Keep 'em coming.
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It's All About the Trophy

Last night was the final game for JBS's first official T-Ball season. Afterwards we had a pizza party at Double Dave's and a trophy presentation. This will probably be the last time that trophies will come as a surprise. From here forward, JBS for one, will be playing in order to receive a trophy. The look on those kids faces when they heard they were getting trophies was priceless. They went nuts. We had a great team, great coach, and lots of fun.
JBS was definitely the most serious kid on the team. He surprised Babe and I both with his intensity and focus. He really takes T-Ball seriously when he is on the field. For now, T-ball is his thing. We'll see how that goes...

A father-son moment...



















See those cute little chairs?
A lot of teams have them as their "dugout". The second game, we had a "Shallow Hal" moment when JBS sat on one of the chairs and it completely broke right under him. For the record, they don't hold much more than 50 pounds safely. I told you he was big!

Letting loose at the end of the game.
The trophy moment. It's all about the trophy.

Precious Stone

I finally have a picture of the stone on our house. The stone ended up being a much greater debaucle than I ever thought. However, I am grateful for the debaucle as the original stone choices they gave me weren't that great. I was given two choices and I didn't like either of them.

The whole picking-everything-out-in-a-day process was pretty overwhelming. So, at the time, I had so much on my mind. I kind of forgot about it. Then, I saw a house down the street go up with the stone I had chosen and didn't like it at all. I panicked and called the builder and despite all the threats and strong encouragement not to change anything once the house has begun, they changed my stone without a problem. I should say "upgraded" my stone, as there was a price to pay for the stone I liked...of course. I found another house with the stone I liked and they were so gracious to figure it out and order that stone for me. Halleluiah!
If there is anything about this house I don't like when it's all said and done, I think Babe might have a heart attack. I am basically in charge of the building of the house, but you-know-who is working hard to provide the check. He wants it to be perfect. It's going to be great. It really is....especially since I got my stone! And if you don't like it, I don't want to hear it....:)

Soccer Camp

The one task I was able to accomplish this week was getting JBS to soccer camp every morning. It was hot in the shade, so I know it was hot on the field. The three amigos were able to take soccer together, so that made it all the more fun for the boys...despite the heat.

We aren't really sure what they were doing out on the field, as we didn't see much soccer going on. There was definitely more soccer going on with JLS on the sidelines than JBS was getting in the clinic. Lessons learned. However, it was still good organized entertainment for four days of otherwise unplanned time.

For an hour and a half each day, each of my mommy friends sat on the sidelines in the heat entertaining a younger sibling with food, toys, drink, soccer balls...anything to pass the time and keep the little guys happy. I, of course, was charged with the duty of keeping JLS off the soccer field and away from JBS and the 4-year old group. While the other mommies were watching their one-year olds toddle around their lawn chairs, I chased JLS off the field at least a dozen times, tears included. With the way I felt the whole week, tears were considered on my part, as well. The perks...three hour naps every day. Sometimes you gotta work hard on the front side to enjoy it on the back side. Play hard=sleep hard in our family and it is the most beautiful equation I can factor.

One more week down. How many to go?

Sick as a Dog

sniffling. sneezing. coughing. aching. stuffy head. fever. That's me!

The nettie pot and I have become one over the last couple days. I guess the fatigue I was feeling on Monday was the onset of the sickies. When we got home from the doctor's visits on Monday at 3:30pm, we all crashed. Babe came home at 5pm. When I got up to see him, I couldn't breathe...in the way an asthmatic can't breathe. It scared me to death, as I have never felt that before. Knowing I was getting pretty sick, I went straight to the Minor Emergency Center and I am so glad I did. I was a mess in every orifice in my head. Seeing as how it is Wednesday and I still feel like poop, I am certain I feel much better than I should having gone to the doctor early.

Gratefully, Babe didn't go in to work today and it has given me the opportunity to sleep some more...as if I haven't the last few days. I have been in bed by 7pm the last two nights. I haven't been able to say that in a LONG time! I will return soon. Thanks for being patient with me.

The Three Amigos

We have had so much fun with our neighbor friends. Ironically, JBS's best friends and closest neighbors are two little boys that are three and four years old. One being our lovely Scottish friend and the other moved here from the Northeast. In fact, they are from the town where "The Perfect Storm" was filmed. They play and play all day together in our front yards and on their bikes. Then, we all end up at the pool together and play some more. Without planning it, the three little amigos are all enrolled in soccer camp this week at the YMCA. It sure makes it so much more fun to have friends in the heat! It's also nice to have mommy friends on the sidelines. JLS, of course, tags along everywhere they go. He so wants to be a part of it all. Someday soon, little man. Someday soon.

Pooped

Today, I am pooped...

After signing up to teach VBS all last week. (Mostly because it was full on the second day of sign-ups. The only way for JBS to get in was for me to teach:) I also wanted to meet people...) The boys and I were out of the house every day by 8am (a feat for me). I dropped them both in their classes and on to teach my class with 12 3-year-olds...mostly boys. I was exhausted every day! Never enough sleep.

Last Thursday, I met the Kanakuk buses that departed our great town at 1am. Why? To advertise that we are starting a new K-Life in The Woodlands and to sell The Woodlands K-Life T-shirts...they are really cool. Still, no sleep.

Last Friday, I had to do a sleep study. The doctor thinks something is wrong with my sleep. Nothing is wrong with my sleep...I just don't get any! Still, no sleep.

Today, JBS started a week-long soccer camp at the YMCA. I was so nervous of so much down-time this summer that I think I may have over-scheduled us for the month of June. Next week is Science camp...

We left soccer early to visit our new dentist. JBS did fantastic and for JLS's first visit, he did remarkably well. Praise the Lord!

We came home to eat lunch. Unfortunately for our whole family and for our allergist, we are skipping naps to take JLS to his first Allergy appointment. THAT tells you how worth it it is to see the allergist. We are literally living in the woods here and the allergies have not been so kind to this allergy diseased family. I never have allergies and I am struggling here.

So very tired that I can't think of anything better to say! Maybe tomorrow will be better...

The Energy?

The non-sleeper, who is actually making progress, is obsessed with the pool like none other. He was barely one when he discovered jumping in the pool, whether there was someone to catch him or not. He had his first swimming lesson this April (almost 2) due to the safety risk he presents combined with my terrible fear of my children in water. I can't even say the word. He is a machine when it comes to jumping off the edge. The person in the water is worn out far before he is. In fact, I can't say that I have ever seen him worn out. We always quit first.

I am so grateful that JBS is swimming now, as JLS is close behind. There is going to be a point one day that my wild and crazy (and younger) JLS does something first, before my steady and cautious JBS. I am not sure how that moment will play out, but it won't be pretty. We will all hold our breath until then...

Here is JLS getting frustrated with "Steady and Cautious" and pushing him out of the way so "Wild and Crazy" can get on with it and jump.

This is a rear view of "Wild and Crazy" demanding attention from Babe, so he can get on with it and jump...again. If you know JLS, you know the grunt/scream/gutteral what-have-you that comes forth! He means business.

Here he is with the wind-up. Despite being told not to run, he goes deep. He surveys the situation. He fearlessly launches...whether Babe is ready or not. Arms and legs flailing, JLS is on the go!

This is his thrilling moment. He comes up for air, immediately starts grunting and yelling to make sure there was not a moment missed on Mommy's part. As if I could have missed the grunting and yelling on the front half of the jump.

Happy to be in Daddy's arms, but already plotting his next move.

A Lesson in Humility

Despite JBS's birthweight of 5 lbs and 13 ozs, JBS is the biggest kid in his class...and on his T-ball team. He is the healthiest eater in the house and consumes fruits and veggies at a high rate of speed. He is just, for some reason, a big kid. A gentle giant, no less. With his big comes strong. Being a head taller than everyone else on the team just means he has more body and more strength to put behind his pitch and his hits. I definitely think he is going to be an athlete, but at this age, his skill is barely peeking out. Most parents are just enthralled with his size. My child is "That big kid" that parents whisper about on the sidelines. It's funny to overhear.

The other day, JBS was throwing the ball with JLS. He actually rocketed the ball and in the midst of his pride and moment of showing off in front of Mom, he kicked something and said, "Yes, that was good!" As I raised my eyebrows in complete surprise of his lack of humility, I told him to remember who gave him that arm. His whole body drooped and he immediately became aware of his over-confidence and said, "I know, Mommy, Jesus did."

I almost fell out of my chair. Of course, this was the lesson I was shooting for, but I had NO idea he would say exactly what I wanted to hear! Precious little toot. If he is some amazing athlete like his daddy dreams about, I pray that he continues to know where it all came from....me, of course. :)

Fairy Tale vs Veggie Tale

JBS has been so much fun lately. He is questioning life more and really asking good questions. Sometimes his questions are funny, but they really make sense with what he has learned in his little four-year-old world. The other day we were driving down the street and I looked in the rearview mirror and could tell JBS was in deep thought. In a matter of seconds he asked me where giants lived. I told him that giants were only in fairy tales and that they didn't really exist. I was thinking of the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, as we had just read it together. Of course, this one came back to bite me the next night as we were reading in his Veggie Tales Bible Atlapedia (I recommend this one!) about David and Goliath, and how David defeated a giant. He loves this book and even calls it his Bible...this isn't blasphemy, is it?

So, the next day while we were driving, the same question came up. "Mommy, where do giants live?" Of course, I said Goliath was a giant that we learned about in the Bible, but now, giants don't really exist." To which JBS replied, "Yeah, Mommy, giants are only in Veggies."

Sometimes we get those fairies and veggies confused...

Two Weeks Progress

The last time I posted the progress of our house was pre-Oklahoma trip. I can imagine at this point no one but my family really cares to see the pictures of the progress on my house. For the rest of you, assuming my family members don't read my blog 5o times a day, I apologize. However, this is the best way to show my mom paint colors and choices I have made. After all, she spent many hours studying this plan with me...and countless 1 minute phone calls confirming a quick decision. So, bear with me today. If it was someone else's blog I was reading, I would be all over watching a house progress. But, I am the nosey type when it comes to houses. I want to see the inside of EVERYONE's house. I love it.

So, here is the front...coming together with Toot #1 and Toot #2 monitoring the progress.

The back of the house. They painted on Friday. Those are really french doors, they just sprayed over the paper.Coming in front door, with stairs on right. Babe is standing right in the perfect place for my Christmas tree :)Looking from Den to front door. Living room on right, dining room on left.Looking into the Den/sunroom...Kitchen is to the right. Master bed is on the back of the house, to the left.From the kitchen into the den... Master bed behind Babe, looking at the fireplace, foyer to left.The only room upstairs I could get a decent picture of...the game room. The room where I hope all the toys and junk remain...upstairs and out-of-sight!Ta-da! This week they will start the stone and brick and finish up the painting outside. They will start sheetrock inside. The builder says we are still on track for September 1st. Woo-hoo!

It is TIME!

It is time for this little toot to sleep! JLS is now 2 years old. He can drink from a straw, he can do a somersault, he can even climb a climbing wall. You name it, he can do it. But he can't sleep past 5:30am. No matter what time JLS goes to bed, he wakes up some time in the 5 o'clock hour, I give him a sippie cup of milk and he goes back to sleep until 7am or sometimes 8am. I just want him to sleep straight thru. Is this too much to ask? Everytime we get him sleeping well, he gets sick and the good schedule goes to the birds.

So, the face off began again two days ago. He woke up yelling for "molk" at 5:30am and he didn't get it. I rocked him and he screamed. I rocked, he screamed for about half an hour until he finally went back to sleep until 7:30am. Oh! The future potential for sleep. Yesterday, he slept until 6am and wanted "molk". Unfortunately, the light is coming thru his blinds by then, so I couldn't very well make him scream it out. Today, 5am came and he woke up. I braced myself for the worst and went to his room to rock and appease him...without "molk". He went right back to sleep. Progress!

We have got to get this kid sleeping before we move to our new house. For me, the fact that the master bedroom is downstairs and the kids rooms are upstairs spells Momma walking up and down stairs too many times in the night. I am through. I need sleep.

Skeptical, but hopeful. Any parental advice to share? Prayers are good.

Pitstop Update

Wow! Thank you everyone for all your nice e-mails about Penelope's Pitstop. I am so excited that you are excited, too. Don't forget, send me your favorite's. This is going to be lots of fun.

First comment, I am so sorry for the ad issues....I don't speak Spanish, but the ads keep coming up in Spanish despite my selecting English as my language. Who knows. I might just toss them altogether. Bear with me on that debaucle.

The most exciting discovery for me would be my new widget in the right column here. Hopefully it will work properly and show you what the latest blogs are. If you choose, you can put this widget on your page so you are always up on the latest and greatest. You may not love me that much, but I thought it was pretty cool. See, I am not considered computer-literate, so when I discover something new, I get really excited.

If you haven't already, click on over to Penelope's Pitstop and check it out!

Kiddie Park

In my home town there is a wonderful little amusement park called the Kiddie Park. It has miniature rides for miniature kids and its open only in the summertime. The rides are a quarter each and the entire park is run by volunteers. They sell cotton candy, snow cones, hot dogs, the regular stuff. Kiddie Park has been written up in Southern Living several times for the surprise that it is nestled in a small town in Oklahoma.
I remember when we first moved there how I loved going to the Kiddie Park...the rides were only ten cents each then. Now, I go to the Kiddie Park and see my friends with their kids. It's really a fun place for the kiddos to go in the evenings. If you are anywhere close, you should head over to Murphy's Steakhouse for a Jr. Hot Hamburger with gravy over all and then off to the Kiddie Park for a night of fun. That's how we do it in Bartlesville!

So, while we were in Oklahoma, of course, we went to the Kiddie Park. The boys love it. JBS and JLS were two peas in a pod. If one wouldn't ride a ride, the other wouldn't either. If JBS would ride next to JLS, JLS would hop right in. Unfortunately, JLS was devastated when he didn't make the cut in height to go in the jumping house. Other than that, everyone was happy the whole night.

Until next time!

Having Fun?

Last week while we were in Oklahoma, JBS's class had their end of the year program. We were so sad to miss it. The teachers really wanted me to see it, so I watched their last practice before we left. I was trying to hide in the back of the room so JBS wouldn't see me, thus the blurry pictures. However, it was too funny to see all the positions JBS was in while singing.

I don't remember a song he was singing, as I was so taken with his enthusiasm.

He was rockin'! Do you think he was having fun? Please note, all the other children were standing still. We might have future issues, do ya think?

That's my boy!

Birthday, Round #2

When we left last week (at 5:45am) to head to Oklahoma, we went directly to the lake where JLS celebrated his second birthday all over again with my family. He was in a better mood this time and a bit more festive. Grammy made a cupcake tower for him....and he even tasted the icing! That would be huge for Mr. Picky-pants. Very few things pass the gates of JLS's mouth, not even cupcakes!

When family members were asking what to give JLS for his birthday, I desperately (and selfishly) didn't want another toy in this "house with no cabinets". We have no place to put the toys that we have. The wooden train is a big hit, so I encouraged train set parts. What a hit and incredibly, everyone listend to my suggestions:) JLS raked in on the train parts from both sides of the family, which thrilled JBS as well.

Happy Birthday little JLS one last time. Now, that you are two, do you think you can sleep past 5am, please?

Penelope's Pitstop

This is big for me. Big in that now I have to keep up with TWO blogs, but I am going to give it a shot. TODAY, I launch my new blog, "Penelope's Pitstop." I am really excited about it. The premise, is my favorite things, or "Praiseworthy Parapharnalia." I have so many favorite things and I am a BIG on-line shopper. I always want to share these things with my friends and family, so why not share those things with anyone who will listen...or read?

Unlike this blog, it will be completely and entirely public, thus it will have nothing to do with my little toots or family, etc. etc. I promise to give it every effort to update it regularly during the week. My goal, however, is for all of YOU to share YOUR favorite things, too. We all have 'em and there are things we all want to shout from the rooftops that make our lives easier or more glam. (Is that really possible?) I will not be posting off-the-wall (I don't think) or outrageously priced (not at all) anythings. They will be things that I have found that I love...normal, affordable, and daily little beauties that make my days happy.

So, click on over to "Penelope's Pitstop, Praiseworthy Parapharnalia" and check it out today...and each subsequent day thereafter. I welcome your comments and suggestions. By the way, I was waiting for a graphic artist to create my blog page and it is just taking too long, so you can grow with me on this adventure. I hope to have a sassy new look sometime in the not too distant future. And there are definitely still kinks to work out, but I can't wait any longer!

Don't forget! Email me with your praiseworthy parapharnalia at penelopesstop@gmail.com and I would love to include you in my blog. Here's to Penelope's Pitstop!