memorial day weekend

Everyone seems to be talking about what they did for Memorial weekend so I thought I'd share mine. This will be a post without pictures. Why? Well, because I spent the ENTIRE weekend without Darren and the boys (and no one wants to see a pic of just me :)). We were invited to Darren's brothers lake house and I opted to stay home. I like his brother and I like the lake but what I do not like is spending holidays on the lake! So, Darren told me that he could handle the boys if I wanted to have the weekend to myself. Much to my surprise (and probably his too!) I took him up on it and it was pure bliss! In fact, I need to start planning their next getaway. Seriously. It was good for my soul.

The boys left mid morning on Saturday and I immediately headed out for a full day of shopping with my mom. We did take lunch and dinner breaks so that my dad could have the luxury of taking us out! ;) It was great and I felt so free all weekend. I haven't felt that way in SO long.

I spent Sunday cleaning and doing laundry. While folding laundry I watched the movie It's Complicated and it was SO funny. I laughed out loud many times. I only got out to see my sister's new place and hit the fabric store (I just brought home my grandma's old sewing machine and that is a post for another day!). I stayed up way too late both nights (til 2 am) and slept in until noon both days too. Heaven.

I cleaned all day Monday and the boys got home around 5. I had three full days to myself. Would it be terrible if I said it was the best Memorial weekend of my life? It just may have been. I love my boys, but it was nice to have a weekend to do whatever I pleased with no one to answer to. And now that I know that my boys can survive without me, I just might have to do this more often!

It was good while it lasted, but I am glad that they made it back home safe and sound. Oh, apparently the boys had a great weekend too. I am constantly hearing stories about their lake getaway. I think Memorial Day 2010 was a good one for all...a very good one.

Summer is now on full swing. No sleeping in for me as Cale has early morning swimming lessons for the next week and a half. We've got baseball practice and games (and it is HOT here!!!) then next week we start camps. Connor has baseball camp next week then in two weeks Coby starts art camp. They are so excited. Hopefully that will fill their mornings and in the afternoons we are just going to have to swim. It is too hot to do anything else right now. The boys spent the entire day playing baseball indoors. It is really cute to watch, but it makes me a bit nervous (even though they use a small nerf ball). I thought is was particularly fitting that Coby named his team the Cheeseburgers! The boys does like to eat...and he LOVES him some cheeseburgers.

Well, I'd better get to bed, I've gotta get up bright and early for swimming lessons. Hopefully Cale won't be too ornery tomorrow. That boy, he really makes his swim teachers work for their money. He is always being a goober. I just know I have a class clown on my hands. I am already praying for his Pre-K teacher. She is in for it!

rebel

Our water plant had a huge pipe bust last weekend and we're under a water ban. We have barely enough water pressure for the toilet to fill back up after it's flushed and every time I get in for a shower I debate whether it's even worth the time it's going to take to wash my hair as it takes forever to rinse when there is only a trickle or two coming out. Anyway, with that said....this may or may not have happened today (which is the first day of summer break by the way!!!!)...

But, If it did happen, it would have gone like this...

ME: Coby, can you stand by daddy's car and make sure no one is driving by while I water the flowers real quick.

Coby: Are you going to be under arrest? Daddy is a police officer, is he going to take you to jail?

ME: No, I would just get a ticket. But these flowers really need to be watered or they'll die.

Coby loves flowers so with that said, he was all in! However, he nervously asked me every five seconds, Are you done yet mommy? Are you about done?

Just remember, this may or may not have happened at all. Certainly I would never subject my child to helping me water the flowers while we are under a water ban. No, I would never do that. That would be wrong, very wrong. Plus, I am a rule follower and expect my kids to be as well...unless my flowers are at risk that is. Maybe.

happy mother's day

First and foremost, Happy Mother's Day mom!!!!! You are the best mom a girl could ask for. Not only are you my mom, but as I've grown older, you've become a friend as well...the one I go to when advice is needed or my heart needs mending. Thanks for always being there for me no matter what and loving me even when loving me is a hard thing to do. I love you!!

I awoke to the most beautiful flowers in my kitchen this morning. (I should mention that I didn't wake up early since Darren took care of the kids breakfast needs after getting home from work this morning and I was able to sleep in...very late. It was heaven!) One by one, I went to thank my boys (who were each playing quietly in their own rooms) for my flowers. I just have to document what they each said because the way they each reacted is so true to each of their personalities.

First, I went into Coby's room.

Me: Thank you for the flowers Coby!

Coby: (huge smile spreads across his face) You'ne (he always says You'ne rather than you're) welcome mommy.

Me: They are so beautiful.

Coby: (bigger smile) Happy Mother's Day. I love you mommy!

Next came Connor...

Me: Thank you for the beautiful flowers Connor.

Connor: (confused look comes across his face) You're welcome...(insert LONG pause). Umm, did I really get you flowers?

Last, I went to Cale's room.

Me: Thank you for the flowers Cale.

Cale: You're welcome.

Me: Who got the flowers?

Cale: I did! (ha)

Then Cale came and wrapped his arms around me and gave me the biggest bear hug while saying, "This is what you get for Mother's Day...a nice hug!" And 30 seconds later, he hugged me again and said, "and then you get another nice Mother's Day hug!" And knowing Cale the hugs will continue all day long (along with a lot of arguing with me and time outs for him in between).

This is the first year that all three boys have been able to sign their name without help. I LOVE it that Cale was able to write his by himself.

I am spending the day at home with my boys while Darren sleeps (he worked until 7:30 this morning). Then, when D wakes up, he and the boys are taking me out to dinner. I'm thinking mexican food is in my future. Yummy!

Darren brought me this flower home on Monday just because. This is worth documenting because I have never got flowers from him twice in one week and likely never will again. It sure was nice while it lasted though!

how we've missed you FFF

We were thrilled to be able to spend a rare Friday night at home last night. We used to have family fun Friday every Friday night, but since Connor started baseball in March we have been spending every Friday night at the ball park. So, we were excited when we learned that there wouldn't be a game last night and we took advantage. We had tons of outdoor play, went to eat at our favorite Chinese food buffet followed by family Wii bowling and a movie. It was nice to spend a quiet evening together again. I love baseball games, but I'll be glad when we can have our family fun Fridays back on a regular basis!

4th grade Land Run

The 4th graders at the boys' school got to participate in a re-creation of the Oklahoma Land Run from April 22, 1889. Connor's class has been preparing for this for weeks. Cale and I were a little late so we missed the actual "run" but were able to see everything set up. I still remember doing this in elementary school too, but WOW, this one was much more involved that the ones I participated in.

The classes were broken up into families of 5 or 6 and each was given a part to play (mom, dad, son or daughter). Connor's "family" had two dogs, a covered wagon, a trading post, mattresses and a "fire" going. For lunch they dined on beef jerkey, apples, blueberry muffins and Connor took a Dr. Pepper (he never gets to drink caffeinated soda, but he pointed out that the can says it has been made since 1885...so, for this one day, he got a DP). Many of the "families" had large tents set up and each family was to choose a way in which to improve their land (having a bakery, mercantile, blacksmith shop, homestead, trading post, etc.). They also got to choose if they wanted to claim a larger country plot or smaller town plot of land and each family had a stake with their number on it. It was fun to walk thru and see all of the thought that went into this day.

Connor deals with his classmates who wanted to make some trades!

Finally he got fed up because all they had to offer were apples and he just wasn't interested! Here he was telling them to go away since they didn't have a proper trade :)

preschool spring program

Last Thursday night Cale had a Spring Program at school. It was really cute (and short...those

are the best kind!). It is so fun to watch Cale. He is the first of our boys to have no problem whatsoever getting in front of an audience to perform. In fact, I think he might even enjoy it! He has always thrived on attention. At the program I noticed that Cale looks and acts just as onery onstage as he does offstage!

One thing he does have in common with his brothers is that he looks really short when standing next to his classmates. Again, the apple didn't fall far from the tree (that's what our doc always says about our short boys!).

We went to Cale's classroom after the program for open house. Cale really was excited to show off his work, but he looks a little too cool for school in this pic doesn't he!?

just call me Bob

We have a little neighbor girl (and her brother) who have recently taken an interest in hanging at our house. I was asking Connor what the brother's name is since they've been playing together. Connor hasn't bothered to find out. He just tells me, "I hope that boy comes over to play basketball today." I told him it might be nice if he'd ask him his name rather than calling him "that boy". Coby heard this conversation and told me that the little girl had asked him his name and he told her Coby, "but she kept calling me CobyD so I told her just to call me BOB!" heehee

I asked Coby, "Do you want your name to be Bob?"

Coby: No, but she can't get my name right....."

Coby is SO funny! I guess he'd rather be called by the completely wrong name rather than be called his name wrong. He kills me sometimes.

Another funny thing that Coby told me is that I "looked hot" when trying on a new shirt! I asked him where he heard that and he told me he "just picked it up somewhere!" Oh my. Someone forgot to give him the memo that boys shouldn't think/say that about their own mom! However, it was sweet for me to hear!

Goodness. I've got my work cut out for me with this one!!! Oh, who am I kidding? We've got our work cut out with all three of them! :)