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!

byebye tonsils

Bright and early on Friday morning, we headed to the hospital for Coby's first ever surgery. He's had an ongoing strep infection over the past few months that was not going away despite many rounds of antibiotic treatments so the doc said his tonsils should come out. Out they came all right and Coby is holding the proof! Before the surgery, the doctor asked if we'd like to keep the tonsils. Coby and Darren immediately said no, and I said, Excuse me, yes we do to want to keep them!! Darren thinks I'm disgusting, but I just think he has no sense of adventure. I am a detail person and I wanted to see what they look like. Is that wierd? I think not! (By the way, the doc said both his tonsils and adenoids were very large and were partially obstructing Coby's airway...I'm glad they're outta there!)

Coby sitting with Sam (his Webkinz cat). Sam went to surgery with Coby.

Coby was so nervous before the surgery so I pulled out my phone so he could play Pole Position to take his mind off of it. It cheered him up immediately. (excuse the poor photos as I took my old camera since it is smaller, but causes a glare on all pic and the color is awful...oh well) I am not posting the post-op hospital pic because it just breaks my heart to even look at! When Coby was wheeled into recovery he was rolled up into a little ball on that big hospital bed. They let me pick him up and hold him the whole time he was in recovery and for the first 30 minutes he cried and cried (and Coby is not a complainer about pain so I knew it was hurting him terribly) and kept telling me "it hurts so badly". I've never seen him in such pain...it was awful. Thankfully the nurse finally got him some pain meds and he felt relief and fell asleep. I was happy that the pain meds took effect and knocked him out before they removed his IV.

Darren and I gave Coby got some legos when we got in the car to come home.

Then, he got legos from Nina/Poppy and GramPat. I think getting all those legos almost made the surgery worth it to Coby!

He immediately got to work on them...he was such a trooper! I hope the new legos keep him entertained because he can't go outside and play for an entire week and then the following week he is still not supposed to do much. How do you slow down an active 6 year old for two weeks?

Oh, in case you were wondering...Sam came out of surgery well too! She had her foot operated on! I'm happy to report three days later that both patients are doing well!

show us where you live Friday: master bedroom

I can't believe it's already Friday again! I am joining Kelly's Korner again this week for Show us where you live Friday. I am so excitited that I get to share my master bedroom with you this week. I'm not sure why, but it has become my favorite room of the house. Please come on in and take a look around....

Please excuse the view of the treadmill (we found that we used it much more when it is in our room rather than in the garage so in our room it is!) I just wanted to get a pic of all three windows. They bring in tons (almost too much) of light into the room.

I got our bedding on ebay several years ago. It's our first master bedroom set that I am really happy with.

I ordered my window panels from Target and I'm really pleased with them.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Friday!!