Let the Practices Begin

 

 

Today marks the first day of the Fall soccer season for Sir T.  He was not a happy camper when I said "time to start getting ready".  I know he will be back in it to win it once the routine is in place BUT today was not easy (on either of us).

 

We had to drop my van off this morning for some brake work.  Willy took it to get the July inspection done and the inspector said "I'll pass you but the back brakes are really bad".  Hmmmm seems if there is ever a reason to NOT pass someone, brakes should be it.  Oh well, we got it in this morning AND $1,000 later, it's fixed.  I can't complain really (but I will).  This is the first BIG repair to the car in over 7 years but it still hurt (and right before our vacation).  Well I guess I can have peace of mind that we will have no car worries.

 

We had our friends over this past Saturday night.  It's always a good time to visit with the Cs.  They have a son that is right in between Sir T and Sir K so it is all good when we have a visit.  The kids disappear and the adults can actually carry on a conversation and have a drink (or two).

 

Lady A did something fantastic on Sunday night.  I walked into the kitchen and found hair all over the place.  Before I could put it all together, she came around the corner with absolutely no bangs.  It's horrible.   Makes me sad every time I look at her.  The best part of all is when I picked her up at school today the teacher said "great news, picture day is in 2 weeks".  UGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

 

Hey if these are my biggest problems, LIFE IS GOOD.

 

 

Just a Quick Hello . . .

We had a bad episode with the XBox right before dinner tonight.  Willy and I sure do curse the day good old Santa brought that box into this house.  Damn Santa.

 

It's been brewing for a while now but Sir T and K have been battling it out for time on the machine.  It's totally my fault.  I knew about a year ago that I should BAN that machine from our house but I didn't.  I loved watching Sir T have a blast with his friends online.  Now that Sir K is starting to find his game, it's been a constant struggle.  Willy and I have been seriously thinking of banning ALL electronics in the house.  I'm not going to lie that scares me a bit (remember my addiction to Candy Crush).   We are leaving on vacation soon and the poor electronics will have to stay at home and entertain themselves.  Hopefully time away will heal all wounds.

 

The girls are great.  About a week ago I put the blow-up mattress on the floor in our bedroom and all 4 of them have been having a slumber party every night.  I love to sit in the dark and just listen to them interact.  Those are the most precious moments for me. 

HUMP DAY

 

 

I have a couple of minutes so I thought I would check in.  Things are going well.  All our vacation plans are in order and now it's down to the wait game.  I can do this.  I can do this.

 

In other news . . .

 

Sir T had a great day at SACC yesterday.  It's such a change from the whining constantly about it.  When I asked him what made it so great, I got the usual response of an 11 year old - I don't know.  Oh well - huge victory that he had a good day.

 

Sir K is so excited about a fashion show that they are having at SACC next week.  I think he is trying out for the part of MC.  I didn't get too many details but I'm happy he's happy.

 

Lady E had a terrible accident yesterday at SACC.  It seems while swinging on the monkey bars, she slipped off and hit her head on a metal pole.  When I reached SACC, she was walking down the hall with an ice pack on her head.  Other than a big bump, she seemed fine.  Once we got home, she was so lethargic that it scared me.  I checked the signs for a possible concussion and nothing.  She wasn't nauseous, didn't have dialated pupils, wasn't disoriented or confused and her appetite was good.  I could just tell she wasn't on her game.  Needless to say, I spent the whole night with one eye open watching her.  She woke up happy and just fine.  Stressful night indeed.

 

Lady A was on cloud nine last night.  I ordered the girls matching bathing suits and cover ups for our trip and the package arrived last night.  She was SO happy.

 

Willy's foot seems to be ALMOST back to normal and I'm having a relatively good day here at work.  Willy signed the family up to do a 5K run/walk in October.  I did my first OFFICIAL training session last night.  Sir K and I went for a 1 mile run/walk.  We went around the neighborhood and walked, ran, talked and even held hands for awhile.  Oh how nice it was.  I'm looking forward to our walk/run tonight.

 

Willy and I watched a super funny comedian named Sebastian Maniscalco last night.  This was one of my favorite parts of the special.  This segment really cracked me up.  I can SO relate to it. 

 

Have a great rest of the week.

 

 

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE TODDLERTOWN

Wow it's been a looooong time.  I know I really don't have much to add to the blog-world but I decided I was going to keep this up so that the kids would have something to read one day to remember stuff.  So this is just a quick update on what has been going on here at the ToddlerTown.

 

Sir T - He had his very first trip without the family.  Against every fiber of my being, I agreed.  He went with his best friend's family to their grandparent's house in Salisbury, Maryland.  God bless the father.  I think he saw how sad I was about the trip and sent pictures around the clock of their fun time.  I got pictures of them fishing, crabbing, boating, rafting, swimming in the lake and ocean, etc.  It made it easier for sure to see him having fun.  I'm not going to lie, it was the toughest 3 days of my life.  I know I have to learn to let go but man it isn't easy.  He is still cutting grass and making a nice little bankroll.  I love watching him mow.  He is very precise with his lines and does such a great job.  He is also getting ready for the soccer season to start up again.  Daddy has been doing short runs with him at night to get his endurance up.  As always, I am so proud of him.  He is growing up well adjusted and kind.  What more could a mommy wish for.

 

Sir K - He has discovered the XBox.  Ouch for Sir T that's for sure.  About 3 weeks ago, he hooked up with his cousin online to play Minecraft.  It's been quite a struggle ever since.  Sir T and him go around-and-around over possession of this little black box.  It's quite a sore subject at the ToddlerTown lately.  He has totally recuperated from his skateboard to the head accident back in early July.  The doctor did a great job.  He doesn't have any scarring.  I love the way Sir K cares about me.  He has been making my coffee every morning lately and is always there to help me with groceries, chores, etc.  I'm overwhelmed with joy when I think about how blessed I am to have him in my life.

 

Lady E - I love watching her play with Sir K.  They are like twins.  I don't know if I ever mentioned this before but Lady E had a twin that we lost shortly after 11 weeks in-utero.  Watching her play with Sir K always makes me think about what would have been if she truly had a twin brother or sister.  She is reading a lot this summer.  She recently got into the Junie B. Jones books.  We are trying this summer to go to the library more.  So far so good.  The biggest news of all - Lady E lost her first tooth.  I'd like to say it was a magical moment but Sir K actually karate-chopped it out.  Oh well, she was happy with the $5.00 from the tooth fairy.  I love the way Lady E is so strong and smart.  I see BIG things in her future.

 

Lady A - She is such a delight.  She keeps us laughing all day long.  She absolutely loves the water.  She is thoroughly enjoying water play day on Mondays at school and when she gets home, she can't get her bathing suit on and into the small baby pool we have in the backyard fast enough.  She loves to wear dresses (which is such a contrast to Lady E who wouldn't be caught dead in a dress) and carry a purse basically all the time.  She loves dresses in fact so much that she has at least 4-5 wardrobe changes a day.  She is a precious gift sent from God.

 

Willy - Willy got (I have no clue how) a bacterial infection in his foot.  I finally got him to go to the doctor after he couldn't walk for almost 2 days.  He was diagnosed and put on medicine but then it got worse.  He finally had to go to the ER on Saturday.  We think they have it under control now.  The medicine seems to be working and he is starting to be able to walk again. 

 

As for me, I'm still in a bit of a slump.  It's been going on for awhile now.  I get completely overwhelmed with all my duties and it just piles on during the summer.  It sure doesn't help watching everyone go on vacation for weeks at a time and we stay and fight the good fight.  Oh well - our time is near.  Our family vacation starts soon and we have a few surprises planned for the kids.  I'm really looking forward to time away.

 

In other news, the home right behind us caught fire a few weeks ago and did over $250,000 in damage.  We didn't know the people that lived there but every morning I just stare at the destroyed house and count every blessing I have.  It makes me sad to think of all the personal belongings that are just gone in an instant. 

 

In gross news, our neighbor called me at work the other day to inform me that their dog had a run-in with a cooperhead snake.  This is the same neighbor that shares a fence with us.  WAY TOO CLOSE.  I've been avoiding the backyard lately (for obvious reasons).

 

Until next time. . .

Tuesday Tidbits

OUCH

Poor Sir K

 

Nothing really going on so far today.  I'm sitting here at my computer taking a quick break from a VERY busy morning.  We have a BIG transaction closing at the end of the month and somehow I got right in the middle of it.  I guess I shouldn't say somehow.  I asked to be on this transaction because it's new and very important to the company's future.  I think I have mentioned before that I work for a company that is winding down its businesses and will not be around in another 5-7 years (at least in the current form).  It's sad for me to think I won't be coming here for much longer.  I have grown to really love and appreciate many of the people I share my days with here at work.  I do know that change is (slowly) coming (and remember I don't do well with change) and it scares the bejesus outta me.

 

In other news . . .

 

Sir T went to bed last night with the IPAD.  We didn't know he did this and of course this morning he is a wreck.  He says he stayed up until around 11 pm (not sure if I believe him).  Tonight I will have the IPAD under lock and key.  God knows what he was googling.

 

Sir K is very excited to get his stitches out possibly tonight or first thing tomorrow morning.  The boys are going to a local pool with the SACC program so I'm praying the doctor says he's cleared to swim.  It would break his heart if he can't.

 

Lady E is going to her BFF's birthday party tomorrow.  It's a pool party and Willy is taking her.  The party is at the local "club" in our neighborhood.  We don't belong to the "club".  There is a 7-10 year waiting list AND it isn't even all that.  Go figure.

 

Lady A is all excited today for camp because she is making a bird's nest out of art supplies.  She couldn't wait to get to camp this morning.

 

Willy is doing fine.  He said he wasn't feeling well the other day but he seems to have rebounded.  I'm doing o.k.  I think I have pinkeye (REALLY?).  I haven't EVER had pinkeye before.  Good grief the stuff you contract with 4 kids.  Luckily we have an in-house clinic here at work so I'm going down this afternoon for a checkup.  Wish me luck.

 

Enjoy the rest of your day.   Count your blessings and I will catch up with you later.

 

 

Merriment Monday

 

 

 

Happy Monday.  We just spent 4 solid days together AND we survived.  Don't get me wrong, I love our children and EVERY second we spend together is a gift from God but Willy and I always get a little uneasy when we have long periods of time with the children and NOTHING really planned.  All in all it turned out great.  Lots of time in the backyard, a couple of quick outings and this one is in the books.

 

In other news . . .

 

Sir T is doing well.  He had a meltdown when his XBox headset broke.  Willy and I took our time getting it fixed/replaced.  Willy and I worry so much about the amount of time he spends on that machine.  He tends to spend more time chatting/playing with his friends online than he does actually playing outside with friends.  We are definitely starting to limit his play time. 

 

Sir K had an unfortunate accident.  We went to a friend's house for a 4th of July party.  It was an awesome party.  Tons of kids and plenty of adult time as well.  Just when we were about to pack it in, Sir K had a skateboard fall on his head.  Willy ran the family home and then took him up to the ER for a look.   He came home about 45 minutes later with 3 staples in his head.  He was such a brave soul.  Needless to say, he can't swim for 7 days and he is really bummed about that.  The good news is the SACC field trip to the local pool is on Wednesday and his stitches come out Wednesday morning so he should be able to go on the field trip. 

 

Lady E is also doing great.  We have a plastic baby pool in the backyard that her and Lady A are having a ball with.  I love watching them have fun together.  They are both little water babies that's for sure.

 

Lady A is AWESOME (as usual).  As I mentioned above, she is loving her little pool.  Over the course of the 4 day weekend, she was in the water basically non-stop.  At one point, all four of them were in the pool.  Makes me dream of a REAL pool in the backyard (maybe some day).

 

Willy and I are doing well.  Like every married couple, we have our ups and downs.  I guess it's the fact that we have absolutely no alone time anymore.  Somehow we make it work though but it's not easy and ocassionally it's not pretty.  I can definitely see how couples wake up one day and realize they don't even know each other anymore.   

 

That's about it.  We have SACC all this week for the kids.  I hope it goes better.  The greatest news of all is that we might have a vacation on the books soon.  Willy and I have been going around and around about renting a condo we found at a local beach.  We haven't pushed the button on it yet but we are close.  I'm planning a little picnic dinner out on the patio tonight.  Nothing fancy - just hot dogs, corn on the cob and a fruit salad.  I hope your plate is full of lots of good things this week.  Take care of yourself and I will catch up with you soon.