summer vacation: part 1

This time last week, Darren, Connor, Coby and I were in Texas for a mini vacation. It shocked me to realize the boys had never been to Texas. I remember travelling there frequently with either my family or youth group for short weekend trips while growing up. It's just such a fun place to go for a quick getaway.

We left Cale at home as we knew this probably wouldn't be his kind of trip. We were going to stay rather busy and we really wanted to have some quality time with Connor and Coby. Don't think for a second though that Cale was left out. His time was divided between staying with Grampat & Papa and Nina & Poppy. He came home with several new toys and he told me more than once that he had eight suckers at GramPat's house. I'm not sure if that is true, but if it is, I think I'd rather not know for sure {wink, wink}! I think it's fair to say that he led a spoiled life while we were away.

Here is our trip from the start....

I truly believe that all vacations should start with a trip to Cracker Barrel for breakfast on the way out of town. There's just something about CB that starts out a trip just right!

We stopped in Gainesville so I could go to the Gap Outlet (which is about all that's there anymore) and we let the boys play for a bit.

Then we checked into our hotel which was FREE to us. Thanks to Clint for sharing your hotel points with us (I don't think he reads my blog...but just in case he does I want to say thank you).

Now it was time for fun...I couldn't wait to share Six Flags with the boys. I have SO many memories coming here for Nazarene Night during Fall Break each year. I still have a picture of me and Darren here from when we came with the youth group...we were all of 12 and 13 years old!

The boys and I had so much fun!!! I can't say the same about Darren. He does not like crowds or waiting in line. Not a good match for Six Flags, but the boys and I had a great time anyway! I hoped that the boys would fall in love with the roller coasters, but just as I had feared, they did not. Connor's favorite ride was the Mine Train and Coby's was the Mini Mine Train. We rode those rides over and over again! Luckily Kristen was in town (more on that tomorrow!) and she met us at Six Flags so she and I were able to ride some of our favorite more adventurous rides together (I can't believe I didn't get a pic with her in it...ugh!). It was fun spending time with just her for the few minutes that we were able to be away from the guys.

There was the most amazing light show at the end of the night. My picture doesn't do it justice. They had the Batmobile, the Mystery Machine (Scooby Doo), Tinkerbell, and on and on. The parade lasted a long time and Kristen, the boys and I enjoyed every miniute of it (meanwhile Darren couldn't wait for it to bo over so he could get out of there...what a grump!).

Tomorrow I will try to get the rest of the pics up. We went to a baseball game which is actually what brought us to Texas in the first place.

don't tell me lies

This came with conviction from the mouth of my oldest this morning, "Mommy, I did not hit Cale and this time I am telling the truth!" Thanks, I'm glad you clarified. Now I wish I knew which times you weren't telling the truth...or maybe I don't.

two peas in a pod

While swimming at mom and dad's last week, I overheard Coby challenge Poppy to a race across the pool. They got to one side and were ready. That is when I heard Coby say "Ready....Set....Goat!" To which Poppy responded "Why not Ready, Set, Sheep?" What a smarty pants my dad is!!! Now I know I got it honest. :)

I guess Coby has thought all this time that we were saying goat instead of go. Kinda reminds me how when growing up, I always thought my mom was saying that she needed the flosswater when she was really saying she needed a flyswatter! Boy did Darren get a kick out of me telling him we needed to buy a flosswater when we had a slew of flies in our house shortly after we were married. It took him months to convince me that it was in fact a flyswatter, not a flosswater. I can't believe I'm sharing this...I have no pride!

it's H-O-T

Summers here in Oklahoma are hot and they just seem to get hotter with each passing year. So hot, in fact, that we can't go outside and play at all unless we go out early in the morning or just before the boys bedtime. The only way you can go out at any other time is when water is involved, but sometimes I just don't feel like leaving the house in this heat to go for a swim. At the same time, however, I hate it when the boys don't get to be outside, so we found a remedy. We got out the blow-up pool from last summer and set it under the slide out back. I have found it provides hours of entertainment for our three energetic boys (or just Connor and Coby while Cale takes his afternoon nap!). The added bonus to this entertainment is it completely wears them out!

first they race to the top

next they slide down

then they start the race again

It's tough being a boy!

one year ago: moving day

I just saw the date and realized something: One year ago today we were moving into our house. I can't believe it's already been a year. Hopefully we'll never do that again!!!! Moving is not fun. I am so pleased to realize that we love our house more today than we did the day we moved in! It is like it was made for our family. Not too big for me to keep clean, but not too small either. It's just right for us.

We spent lot of time working on the outside landscaping last month and I just realized I never did post the pictures of our work. With lots of help from my mother-in-law we were able to transform our yard into something we're really proud of. I found these pics that I took a little over a month ago just before and also after the landscaping was done.

To begin, we spent a Monday digging out the grass and placing rocks and flowers around our existing tree. We also put rocks around the flower bed in front of Connor's windows which can be seen behind Coby (above).

Then we started looking at this area (above) and decided to spend the next day digging out this area of grass so we could plant a blue atlas cedar (I've wanted one forever!).

above: now

below: just before we moved in last July

first day of (summer) school

I wasn't expecting this. In May, Darren and I got a letter from the boys' school that informed us that Coby was invited to attend Extended School Year (ESY) this summer....summer school. What?

Coby is super artistic. He is into drawing and creating, but reading? Not so much. All throughout his Kindergarten year I was asking his teacher if she thought he'd be ready for first grade (because to be honest, I wasn't sure he would be). She always told me yes, she thought he would be as he does very well in the classroom setting, but the testing is always hard on him.

Then, I got the letter about ESY. I asked his teacher about it and she said he actually shouldn't have recieved it as he was making great progress, but that he probably got in because he doesn't test well, therefore his scores put him into the summer school candidate category. I said, well, since he was sent the letter, I am sending him. I will never turn down anything that will better prepare him for his entry into first grade this August. I have no doubt that he needs this extra help and will greatly benefit from it. Although I never ever would've thought I'd be sending my soon-to-be first grader (or any of my boys for that matter) to summer school.

So, last Monday Coby had his first day of summer school. It is from 9-12 Monday thru Thursday during the month of July. Coby loves going and I just love the structure that it has added to our summer. I find that it helps us to have a bit of a schedule when all three boys are home for three months straight.

I am thrilled with the progress Coby is making this summer and am so glad our kids attend a school that offers ESY even for the youngest students. Coby has a wonderful, caring teacher and has made some new friends. I am so glad he was chosen (trying to look on the bright side here!)to be a part of summer school. The way I see it, it can only be a good thing.

what a find

Yesterday Coby and I ventured into Goodwill in search of a white pillow case that he needs for summer school (more on that topic later...). I got rid of so much stuff when we moved last year and of course the plain white pillow cases were sent to Goodwill. This is the story of my life...I get rid of something only to realize less than a year later, I (or my kids) need the item back that I gave away in a cleaning frenzy and then I wind up having to go spend money to replace said item! This is a frequent occurance for me. When will I ever learn?

Back to my Goodwill trip with Coby.....of course we couldn't find a white pillow case while at Goodwill, but I did find myself totally humiliated by my precious son. While looking around the bedding area Coby was looking at everything and taking it all in. He looked at me and said "This is like a junk yard!" To make matters worse, there was nothing quiet about the way he said it. I was totally mortified when he loudly continued on with, "It smells terrible in here. Why is it so stinky?" Seriously, my kids really need to get out more OR perhaps I should just get out more without the kids? Probably the latter.

Well, I have to say that my embarassment over Coby's loud mouth was totally worth it. I found this set of sheets.

Yep, Pottery Barn Kids sheets that are still selling at PBK for $69. I got mine for $4.97.

They complete Coby's bedding. And now I'm outta here. I am off to another Goodwill. I can't wait to see what I find next. Cale's room needs some decor. Perhaps I can find something for him this go around.

one year ago: Cale

I was looking at some pictures from last year and found one from July 4, 2008 and compared it to this years 4th of July picture of Cale. What a difference a year makes! Cale still had his baby face last year, chubby cheeks and all. This year his face is that of a little boy. It's still on the chubby side, but not nearly as chubby as last year. Luckily the chin still has it's dimple. Oh, how I love that dimple. He is the only one of our kids to have a "butt chin" (sorry, I don't have another name for it!) and I just love it that he does!

I noticed that Elmo was in last years pic which reminded me that we used to take Elmo everywhere with us. Not anymore...Elmo was SO last year! This year we lug his Leapster around.

It's funny how much Calebug has changed over the past year. He gets more fun all of the time and I just adore his quirky, honery personality. I never know what he is going to do next and that keeps me on my toes and (almost) constantly laughing! With Cale in our house, there is rarely a dull moment, that is for sure!

I have a few things that Cale has said recently that I don't want to forget....

• (after pottying) "I'm the man! I'm really good at potty training!" (he's been "potty trained for months, but is still very proud of himself!)
• (while pottying) "I'm a pottying machine!"
• "Why do you say so many questions mommy?" (What can I say I am a detail person therefore I ask a lot of questions...apparently, since even my 3 year old notices!)
• "Mommy, I found an icky thang! Oh, it's really dangerous! It's an ant. I want to wipe it and see what it is."
• "I see a rooey pooey." (rolly poly)
• (after someone passed gas in our house...which is frequently...there are 4 boys in this house!) Cale said, "What bottom did that come from?"
• Today, he thought he needed to go poop after he just went so I sat him down on the potty and when he realized he didn't need to go again, he said, "Oh, I don't need to go poop, it's just a skid mark! I was teasing that it was a poop."
• "Mommy, I just love your doo doos! I could just pop them." (Oh, brother. I'm sure you can imagine what he is talking about)
• (not wanting his teeth brushed part 1) "I want to get a cavity."
• (not wanting his teeth brushed the next day) "I want plaque all over my teeth mommy!"
• lovely, I just asked Cale a question and he answered, " I do not know. Now leave me alone."
• (while jumping around wildly) "I'm shaking up my blood."
• (lastly after a long day of swimming) "Mommy, I'm a tired little boy. I need to take a rest." OK, don't have to tell me twice ;)

happy 4th

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours!!

Darren has to work until 5, so it's been up to me to keep the boys entertained all day. I lucked out that we had a bit of a cool front come through so we were able to spend some much needed time outside. I even went against doctors orders and let Coby go out and play. He is supposed to take it easy for two weeks, but after a week of inactivity he is feeling great. I threw caution to the wind and let him have some outdoor fun! He needed it.

The outdoor play wore the boys out so they are resting before dinner and fireworks. It's been a good day and I am SO thankful that Darren will be off in time to watch fireworks with us. I seriously can't remember the last time he's been able to do that. I'm not sure he's had the evening of the fourth off since Coby or Cale were born. That's a long time!