Rest for the Weary

This weekend our family did a lot of resting. We had been as busy as ever last week while Grampy was here; Going this way and that way, meeting for dinner, playing until bedtimes were stretched to the limit. Thankfully, the boys cooperated and we all caught up with our sleep this weekend. Ahhhh.... My very favorite weekends are those in which we have no plans and just relax... This was one of those!

Food Coloring

The other night at dinner, the extended families gathered for dinner at a favorite TexMex restaurant. Braylon and Blaine were content to color while awaiting food and then while waiting for the grown-ups to finish eating. Grampy's attention was diverted away from his plate for a moment and when he looked back, noticed that Braylon was coloring on his food instead of his paper. Grampy told him to stop coloring on his food, to which Braylon replied, "Is that what you call food coloring?"

Curse Words

I hesitate to write this story, because it just won't be as cute as me telling it, but I will do my best.

Yesterday when I first saw Blaine after school (Grampy had picked him up from school early), I asked how his day was. He looked down, pitiful, and said, "I got in trow-bule today. Had to sit in time out." This is very unusual for Blaine, so I asked further and he said, "I say bad words."

Ok, in our house, it's pretty G rated material, so I just couldn't wait to hear what this was all about. I said, "What did you say, baby?" Blaine, eyes full of remorse, looked up and said, "Ms. Raw-byn told me to sit down and I said 'What the heck'?"

It was all I could do to seriously tell him, "Well, let's just not say that again at school, ok?"

Grampy Part II

We are continuing our tour 'o Grampy week where we let the boys saturate themselves as much as they can. Last evening he took them out to eat (I had to work late) and then we let the kids play in the mud while Grampy worked on the camper in the front yard. Kids had an ecstatic time, but no doubt they were bushed by the time we got home. This a.m. it was quite difficult to raise them - Hopefully they will make it for two more nights of the condensed fun before Grampy goes back to care for his mother.

Grampy!!

The boys thoroughly wore their Grampy out last night! We met at Jason's Deli, where both boys insisted upon sitting on either side of Grampy. Every question, every comment, every passing thought from the boys was directed toward Grampy. The other set of grandparents, sadly, were invisible and Mom and Dad were beyond invisible. In fact, when we got to Granny/Grampy's house after dinner last night, Braylon asked me, "Why are you here, Mom?"

If that doesn't say it all, what does?

Honey Doo

This morning when the boys were slowly getting ready for school, I reminded them that Grampy will be in town today to visit them!! That got their feet a moving to get ready. As I was carrying Blaine into the bathroom he asked me, "Is Grampy Granny's friend?" I replied, "Yes, but Grampy is also Granny's honey."

Blaine seemed confused, so I continued, "A honey is someone you like to hug and kiss a lot, like Daddy is my honey."

Blaine gave one of his cutest smiles, beaming that he had something sweet to say. He then said, "And Mommy is MY honey!!"

Shout Out

Guess I should start being a little more cordial in front of my kids. No doubt my dry sense of humor is rubbing off on my kiddos.

Last evening we went with my mom briefly to a large warehouse-type garage sale at her church. The garage sale hadn't yet started; we were just there to pick up one item and go home, but there were other people there getting things ready.

Blaine asked if there was a bathroom there, resulting in Braylon yelling across the very large room to Granny, asking if there was a bathroom. Granny said no, and the loudly relayed message from Braylon was, "Granny said no, Blaine - Guess you'll just have to pee in your pants!!!" He said this very seriously.

We left shortly after...

Happy Birthday Time

Braylon turned 5 yesterday. He celebrated by having a few of his little guy friends over to the house on Saturday for an extended play-date party. They all had a blast! For his actual birthday we let him pick the restaurant of his choice. When you give a 5 year old this power, you must be willing to eat just about anywhere. We dined and played at Chuck E. Cheese Pizza last evening. The boys had a fun time playing with family.

One of Braylon's gifts was a Transformers talking helmet. Basically, you put it on and it looks like Optimus Prime's head. You can push a button to make OP talk, or you can push a different button that alters your own voice to sound like his. The boys had a wild time last night playing with that helmet. Braylon was so gracious to share with his brother and they both laughed at Blaine's rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" as Optimus Prime. Even this Momma couldn't help but to laugh out loud... Ahhhh boys....

Pray for Me

In the wee hours of the morning on Saturday, Blaine awoke crying. I went into his room to find out what was the matter. He frantically said, "Momma, you need to pray for me." Confused and in a tired stupor, I managed to mutter out a two-sentence prayer. Immediately after the 'Amen' Blaine was snoozing again.

Now isn't that just the cutest?

Spookley

When Braylon was around 2 years old, his favorite book was a short rhyming board book entitled "Spookley's Pumpkin Patch." We read that board book until we were fatigued of knowing which pumpkin was which color and shape...

Blaine has followed suite. It's his favorite book these days. In fact, the board 'pages' are showing wear and I'm sure there are remnants of sticky food and residue - Sure signs of toddler usage.

Anyway, last night in bed, Blaine (who keeps this book in his bed at all times) again wanted to read Spookley. Big surprise. But this time he turned the tables - He recited the book page by page, nearly word for word back to me. I was both impressed and entertained...That kid is something else!

"This silly pumpkin is red and fat, this silly pumpkin is blue and flat.." You could hear the conviction in his voice - "Soooo many puk-kins and none of them match ... what onderful colors in Spook-ey's puk-kin patch."

In the Closet

Almost forgot this golden nugget moment:

Monday night a good friend was in town for just one day. I was not aware that Blaine did not feel well despite his bad mood. I thought perhaps he was just hungry. As we were rushing to get out the door, Blaine announced he did not want to go out to eat. I tried to twist his arm by reminding him we were going to one of his favorite places to eat. He wasn't budging. He announced to the household, "I will stay here in the closet!"

Then he proceeded to get into the coat closet, park his rear end on top of the vacuum cleaner head, pull the door mostly shut and fold his arms in a pitiful pout. Being the paranoid mother that I am, I had to ask at least 50 times, "Has anyone ever made you get into a closet???" He assured me at least 50 times, "No."

He didn't start crying until we actually left him in the closet. (Don't worry, I came back for him!!)

A Moment of Crisis

Blaine, while sick and extra whiney, had been down with a nasty fever virus all day. He finally perked up a bit late in the day when I went to pick up him up from Granny's. He was playing basketball in the kitchen while Granny and I talked. After just a few minutes, he came in whimpering and crying, saying, "My ball is wet!!!" -insert dramatic cry here - I said, "Why is your ball wet??" He innocently replied, "Because I put syrup on it..."

NEVER a dull moment...

Yes, That's Mud

The new picture includes the boys in a post-mud bath bath. Their bodies look relatively clean, yet their faces were left in the mud... Brandon says that's just part of boyhood. Hmmmmmmm..........

Left Behind: Lovie Edition

Last night was a sad night. A sad night, indeed. Blaine left his 'lovie' - a faded, small blue blanket my mom made years ago - at his Granny's house. We didn't realize it was missing until we were almost home and it was already past bedtimes. I told Blaine he would just have to be more responsible with it, knowing that Brandon would swing by and get it shortly after we got home.

Daddy took about 45 minutes to get home from the time we got home. That was a long 45 minutes! Blaine sobbed in his bed - SOBBED. Crocodile tears flowing freely. Braylon covering his ears as best as he could as he read a book. After 20 minutes of listening to this torture, I sat by his bed and patted him. This brought only mild comfort to him...

All was well when Daddy came home and his look of distraught turned to a small smile of peace. He closed his eyes and drifted off immediately.

'Special Lainey'

Braylon has been wanting to ride his bike a lot lately since the weather is starting to warm up. The last few evenings we've taken a walk to let him get some practice in. Blaine does not yet understand that he is not old enough to ride a bike (nor are his legs long enough to reach the pedals!). Braylon doesn't like to wear his helmet, so in what seems like a gesture of eagerness to ride a bike, Blaine wears it as he walks along with Braylon.

Brandon says this makes him appear 'special.' I think he looks pretty darn cute...