Ten on Tuesday

1. Will had his first ever case of swimmer's ear this week. We knew something was up when we couldn't even take his shirt off without him crying.

2. The pool was closed this week because of filter issues. We were bored and hot and struggling for things to do by the end of the week when it opened back up.

3. Jason enjoyed his first week ever in civilian job world. He is twice the age of one of the girls he works with.

4. We have Isabella's open house tomorrow night and we FINALLY get to find out who her teacher is. I guess I can kind of see why they make the parents wait to find out, they don't want people calling to complain and trying to switch classes but seriously, this is kindergarten. This is huge. I need to prepare her for not knowing anyone and a completely new environment, with a new teacher she doesn't know. I have a feeling this is my welcome to the public school system.

5. The kids are in private Christian-based preschool programs. I'm so thankful for that environment. We've already warned Isabella that certain things will be different and there won't be praying to begin her day or before lunch. She's a little confused about why already.

6. There was an attempted kidnapping here last week at my favorite superstore. A man walked up to two little boys, waiting for their mom outside the dressing room and told them he was a police officer. He offered to buy them anything they wanted if they would come with them. He had a gun with him. As a parent this is my biggest fear and I've been talking to the kids about it since it happened.

7. Driving down the highway today, I hear "that is so stupid". I don't like the word stupid and look up and reply, "please choose a better word Bella." She says, "That is really dumb". I'm getting a little frustrated at this point and simply say "Isabella". She gives a huff and says, "fine, that is absolutely ridiculous.". Then I see what she's talking about. A teenager driving her wrangler pulls up beside me. Her foot, without a shoe is hanging out the door flapping in the wind. (Keep in mind the speed limit here is 70 and most people travel 80) and her arm, cigarette in hand is dangling there flapping in the wind. I'll give credit where credit is due - that is SO stupid.

8. I took the littlest three shoe shopping for BTS. Will is in an 11.5 double wide. His feet are huge. Bella only wears a 12. Amelia still measures a 8-8.5 but I made them put her in a 9 just in case she has a growth spurt. Maybe wishful thinking.

9. We are now carrying an EpiPen for Will incase of a beesting. The allergist doesn't think we will need to use it but because of the severe reactions he's had in the past, he thinks it's best to have it on hand. He's too young to test for a bee allergy right now and we just have to keep a close eye on him and hope he doesn't get stung.

10. Everyone in the house (with the exception of the father figure) loves Annie. Complete with moves from the movie. It's a nice break from our Saddle Ridge Ranch VBS songs we've been hearing all summer.

bibbity bobbity boo

Here's the conversation at our house tonight before dinner.

Jason: Amelia, you need to go upstairs and help your sister clean the toy room.
Amelia: I don't want to go clean the toy room. I want my fairy godmother to come and clean the toy room for me.
Jason: I don't think you're going to find the fairy godmother to come and clean the toy room for you. Go upstairs and help Bella.
Amelia: Yes, I will. The fairy godmother lives by Nene's house and I'm going to call her and have her come here and clean the toy room for me.

Go figure..

the one that completed my heart

I began negotiating Drew's arrival on December 3, 2007 and most of you know that is the day that Will is born. You may not know that I was sitting in recovery, with all kinds of tubes and monitors, minutes out of a c-section, holding a screaming baby that was only about 45 minutes old. I looked down at William and he was perfect. And beautiful. I looked up at Jason and simply said. "I guess I'm not done." He looked back at me with his mouth hanging open and was pretty much speechless. I had just delivered two babies in eleven months and I wanted another one?! Crazy, I know, but I knew at that moment that I definitely did.
Nine months later we were pregnant. I was sick from the time I found out I was pregnant until the day I delivered Drew. It was miserable. I was convinced he was a girl. I remember going in to get the ultrasound and he wouldn't unfold his legs. I said it doesn't really matter, I know it's a girl. My friend Amber was in there with us and she left, and came back with an assortment of caffeinated beverages and chocolate. I chugged a Mt Dew, ate some candy, laid down and tada - there he was. Jason especially, was ecstatic. I was so happy that our family would be even and Will would have a little brother. We had achieved perfection - two girls and two boys.
Drew has been the best baby by far. He's so calm and laid back it's amazing. He never cries. He slept through the night very early on. He loves to watch and laugh at his brothers and sisters. He really is the fan favorite of his siblings. They adore him and for the most part do whatever they can to make him laugh. When I watch them him, with his silly somewhat toothless grin and blond curls, my heart is complete.

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet boy. Your mama loves you.

Ten on Tuesday

1. It's HOT hot here. The thermometer in my car said 105 when I was pulling out this weekend. We are limiting the kids to the pool and playing outside a little bit before or after dinner. They're usually dripping in sweat and their little faces are beat red.

2. Open house is next week at Bella's school. We get to pick up all of her school supplies and finally meet her teacher. Some of our friends that go to other schools have known for weeks who their teacher is, not us.

3. Amelia is still carrying around her preschool letter announcing her new teacher. The paper is a wrinkled mess and I ask her frequently if I can throw the paper away yet.

4. I have been on allergy shots, twice a week for two months now. They are absolutely miserable. I'm severely allergic to grass and cats and my reaction to the shots are getting worse each visit. I can't for the life of me understand why they insist on mixing both of these serums into one shot.

5. Jason finally found a part time job. I say finally because his search for a part time job was becoming a bit of a joke and a lot ridiculous. Everywhere he applied he was "unqualified to work".

6. On his first day of work my husband did not take a lunch. His boss "Jason you have to take a lunch. It's the law." Jason, "I only worked 6 hours. I'm legally required to eat?" Ahh, welcome to the civilian world my dear. You get a smoke break too if you want one.

7. Being the only Yank, in a house of southerners is starting to affect my accent. I've recently caught myself saying y'all and more disturbing calling Will, "Wheel". A friend of mine said she heard herself say "fixin to" the other day and was completely mortified. I reckon I'm not quite there yet but it's only a matter of time.

8. Jason and I are both now licensed and tagged to drive here. Expect our driving skills to decrease rapidly. I need to go out and practice the legal left stoplight u-turn (yes, an actual traffic maneuver) a few times so I can get the hang of it.

9. We received Bella's schedule for kindergarten. She is attending school on the second day of school, not the first. The boys get to go on the first day, girls on the second. Bella (in true Bella fashion) is upset she isn't going to school on the first day. She must get this being first all the time from her father.

10. Drew (and Will) has become quite attached to his Daddy. He follows him around the house, saying DaDa Dadadada. It's pretty cute and he's going to miss him now that he's working again.

summer dance

The girls just completed 6 weeks of summer dance. Amelia is repeating preschool one this year. She was two and half when she began dancing and the youngest person in the studio. I've seen huge improvements in her maturity but I still don't want her to be in a class of 5 and 6 year olds. Bella is going into her fourth year of dance. This summer she took creative movement with one of her favorite teachers and really enjoyed it! She's looking forward to starting jazz in a couple of weeks!