Summer Vacation

*Don't forget to enter my Bea's Bows Giveaway in the post below this one!!!*

We are two days into our summer vacation! I'd like to say that we're already used to it...but we're not. I keep thinking we're still on the school schedule...but we're not. Schedule? What schedule? Routine? What routine? Ah, we'll get there.

So, what have we been doing to kick off our summer vacation? (Other than breaking fingers? Which, by the way, is incredibly painful, and incredibly annoying. I never realized just how much I used this "naughty" finger before.) Okay, okay, rant over.

I attempted to take a nice picture of the kids yesterday, in front of my favorite tree. It's in full bloom, and I'm desperately trying to capture a nice picture before the flowers fall off and it's just a plain tree.




They so weren't willing to pose. Notice the squishy cockroach in Lexie's hand? It has replaced the flamingo obsession. Part of the fun of photographing Lexie is seeing what odd object is in her hands.

We took a trip to a nearby candy store. I grew up going to Baldinger's, and they recently tore down the original building and relocated. Dylan loves going there! Lexie...not so much. She's even picky when it comes to candy.

Dylan gives real meaning to the expression "like a kid in a candy store." My healthy eater went crazy. Within minutes, he had his basket filled up with fun candy.



Lexie only chose a lollipop and a few Satellite (Flying Saucer) Wafers. Those things are delicious and hard to find! She much preferred the Silly Bandz.



The Silly Bandz trend is not big in our house. My mom bought them for the kids yesterday, and Dylan promptly declared that they were boring, and gave them to Lexie.

We had dinner with my parents, and the kids went to my nephew's baseball game with my dad, while my mom and I played Quiddler and Yahtzee. Thanks to my dad for giving me some kid-free time!

Tonight, Dylan had his first T-Ball game in almost 2 weeks. Last week's game was canceled, thanks to the rain. While he was practicing before the game, I took Lexie to the park that's beside the field.




When the game started, we joined Grant and my dad at the field, to cheer on Dylan.



Dylan hit really well, and had an awesome run in the last inning! He was very proud of himself! We're proud of him too!



Here's to the start of a happy summer!

BEA'S BOWS GIVEAWAY!!!!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! STAY TUNED FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNER LATER TODAY!

I am so excited for my first ever giveaway, courtesy of Bea's Bows!

I "met" Bea almost 5 years ago, on an online parenting forum. She is a wonderful mom to her beautiful daughter, a hard worker, and is very talented at making bows. I frequently browse her shop, and drool over the bows. I just ordered these very cute ladybug clips for Miss. Lexie!



Bea has a variety of clips, bows, and headbands in her Etsy shop. Here are some of Bea's items:











How would you like to win a bow of the month for 3 months from Bea's Bows?

Bea has generously offered to send the winner of this giveaway one bow, flower clip, or bug clip once a month for 3 months!!! How awesome is that?

To enter:

Visit Bea's Bows and tell me what your favorite item is! It's as easy as that!

For additional entries:

-Visit Bea's Bow's on Facebook and like her page.
-Purchase something from Bea's Bows and leave a comment telling me what you bought.
-Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.
-Let me know if you are a follower of my blog.

Giveaway will end on Thursday, June 3rd, at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be chosen by random drawing.

Good luck!

Accident Prone

I completely outdid myself today!

Remember that finger injury last month, that caused me to faint? That chipped bone is nothing compared to what I did today!



I'll get back to that.

Dylan had his End of the Year School Picnic today. He and Lexie had a blast, but I, however, was in serious pain. My hand ended up wrapped in an ice pack all morning, which definitely explains the fact that I only took 4 pictures.

The school picnic was held at a local park, with a huge wooden playground. It was our first time there, and we'll definitely be going back! Dylan had a great time running around with his classmates and talking to his teachers, and Lexie had fun playing with some of the younger siblings. Despite the injury, I had a good time talking to some of my favorite moms. Many playdates were planned for the summer!




When it came time to leave, Dylan and his girlfriend, Josie, had a hard time separating. They ran off to hide, and Dylan was the first to come out. After a big hug, and Josie begging to take Dylan home with her, we promised the kids that we would have a playdate very soon. When we walked away, Josie was clinging to her mom, crying.

Dylan will continue to see some of his classmates, but won't be seeing his teachers for a long time. It will be over a year before we see them again, unless we happen to run into them. He hugged his teachers on the way out, and that fact hit him when he got in the car. He kept saying that he was really going to miss his teachers. I think it's going to take a few days before the new reality sets in.

The school picnic was a great way to conclude a wonderful year of Pre-K.

Now, let me rewind. I was in a rush to leave the house. My electric garage door is currently broken, so it has to be opened and closed manually. As I was slamming the door, two of my fingertips happened to get caught in the fold of the door just before it shut. I had to lift the garage door back open with one hand, in order to yank out my crushed fingertips.

Crushed is a good word. Garage door+2 fingertips=1 broken finger and 1 bruised fingertip.

I narrowly avoided fainting. I started to feel like I was going to, but the adrenaline from being in a hurry kept me going. I think the fact that both of my fingertips were completely numb helped. I immediately noticed a dark red bruise under the nail of one finger, and the middle finger was fine. An hour into the picnic, the blood returned to the area, and my middle finger began to swell to twice it's normal size. It is so swollen now that it feels like it's going to pop.

All I have to say is that it hurts. So bad. This is what it looked like when it started to bruise. I'll spare you the current pictures of my nearly black fingertip. You're welcome.



Did I mention that this is my right hand? Yes, I'm practically useless right now. Everything is incredibly difficult to do, including typing with a splint on my hand.

The finger with the bone chip was starting to heal. The swelling was gone, and I only felt pain when I bumped it. I guess I had to shake things up a bit. Painfully.



*Keep an eye out for my first giveaway tomorrow afternoon. Luckily, I typed it up before this happened! ;)

Tuesday Tidbits

Tuesday Tidbits is my day to remember all the cute and funny things my kids say and do...so I can remind myself just how sweet they once were when they become teenagers! ;)

The other morning, I gently shook Lexie to wake her up. Before her eyes even opened, she muttered, "Froggy Toe Food." Then she sat up, grinned at me, and said, even louder, "Froggy Toe Food!" I guess that's the new hello.

I overheard Dylan and Lexie discussing their favorite places to go. Lexie told Dylan, " I like Old Navy. It's a beautiful place to go. It's my favorite place to go!" Dear Lord, the teenage years are going to be expensive.

Our dogs are constantly trying to steal leftover food. The other day, Lexie yelled, "Mommy! Pepe is trying to get my eating stuff." That's the alternative word for food.

Dylan and Lexie insisted on wearing guitar (or Tah-Tar as Lexie puts it) shirts today. Dylan wanted me to take a picture. Lexie just wanted to brush her teeth.



(And, wow, he totally shot up another inch or two since he was measured two weeks ago!)

Lexie gets nervous walking down the stairs at my parent's house. She always says, "I'm afraid! I'm just a little girl!"

Mr. Matter of Fact informed me, as we were heading to the grocery store, "Mommy, if I'm acting bad I will talk to myself and say, 'Stop it! This is not the way you're supposed to act!'" I like that idea.

Dylan saw a rabbit in my parent's yard the other day. He said, "Hi Bunny! I'm Dylan. This is my sister, Lexie. She gets into trouble." Indeed, she does. But so do you, buddy boy!

The kids are having a great time with their new hermit crabs. Playing with Legos is so much more fun now!



And finally, Mr. I-Have-Had-A-Loose-Tooth-For-A-Year-And-It-Refuses-To-Fall-Out, now has FOUR loose teeth. It appears that the stubborn tooth is going to fall out very soon, and he's complaining about how it feels funny.

The Graduate

I do not like change. I embrace routine and sticking within my comfort zone. I like to keep my family and friends near at all times. I hate moving on, and leaving things behind.

All day, it felt like something was off.

Perhaps it was the odd dream I had last night, filled with images of the preschool moms and the road we used to drive on to get to my sister's house, in Virginia. We spent many years driving down that road to visit her, and I hated coming home, and leaving her far away. The dream was unsettling. Andrea moved back home, and has been here for two years already. I can barely remember traveling that road that we drove on so many times, and it bothers me that a time in my life was so easily forgotten.

Perhaps it was the fact that a wonderful man was buried today, well before what should have been his time.

Perhaps it is because I feel like time is going faster than I am. Life is flying by, and I just want it to slow down a bit so I can savor every moment! I feel like everything is changing but me!

Or...perhaps it was because all I could think about this morning when I woke up, was the little, pre-term baby that was placed in my arms 5 1/2 years ago. The little baby that stole my heart within seconds of meeting him. The little baby that I couldn't even imagine being 5 years old. The little baby that I woke up this morning so he could attend his last day of Pre-K.

Just 8 short months ago, we began our journey. It was incredibly difficult for me to let go of Dylan, and send him off to his first year of school.




It feels like he just had his first day. Yet, 8 months have flown by.

Today, I got him ready for his last day of Pre-K. In 8 short months, he has grown an inch, gained a pound, and matured in so many ways.




A lump was lodged in my throat as I walked him into school for the last time. I could barely speak as I handed him over to his wonderful teacher, one of the few people in the world that I trust with his care. I watched with pride as he handed his teachers the plants and cards that he had for them, and felt the tears well up as his amazing teacher embraced him and told him how much she was going to miss him. I know the feeling is mutual.

I managed to get through the morning without thinking too much, but in disbelief that it was his last day already.

And then I walked into his school for the last time to pick him up. I waited in line with Lexie, and thought about how the next time I enter his school, it will be to sign Lexie up for Pre-K. The next time I'm going to walk up those stairs and wait by the classroom doors will be on Lexie's first day of school.

Time. Slow down.

Dylan was dismissed from class for the last time. I could see him smiling at me from the floor of his classroom, just as he always does. He greeted me with a huge smile and a big memory scrapbook made by his teachers. I gripped his little hand, picked Lexie up, and walked out of his preschool with him for the last time.

My boy is a Pre-K graduate.



To say that he had an amazing year would be an understatement. I couldn't be any happier with his school, and he had the most wonderful teachers. I am so sad to leave them behind, and move forward in our journey. He made many friends, learned so much, and had a lot of fun.

He is moving on without many of his classmates. Some are being held back for another year of Pre-K. Some will be attending Kindergarten in another district. He is going to miss his teachers, and the friends that he made, so we are going to do our best to stay in touch with the ones he loves most.

I spent the entire day hugging Dylan and attempting to hold on to this moment. The next 3 months are going to fly by, and then, I will be sending my baby to Kindergarten.

Suddenly...suddenly...they seem so grown up to me.




Today reminded me to embrace every day. Every moment. It's the little things that truly matter. The days I spend with my loved ones are going to be the days I remember most.

I allowed myself to shed those tears as I flipped through his Pre-K memory book. He has come so far this year! I seriously can't believe it's over.

Congratulations on completing your first year of school, Dylan! You have had a wonderful year, and have grown in so many ways! You are turning into such an amazing little man. I love you more than words can say. I always will.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia!

It was a wonderful Sunday! It felt like a relaxing, summer day. It was hot and sunny, and filled with the sounds of summer: lawn mowers running and kids laughing! We spent the gorgeous afternoon outdoors.

The kids got Chia Pets for Christmas, from their Great Uncle Scott, and have been begging to plant them. I did not want those messy, gel-like seeds getting all through my house, so we took them outside! (Did I mention that the Chia Pet alarm clock that came with them went...ahem...missing a few months ago? I couldn't take the Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia song any longer, especially when it went off at 3 AM.)



After the Chia pets were planted, Lexie and Dylan took off to pick flowers.






The kids outgrew their toddler playset two years ago. It was a hand-me-down, and is faded and has a few small holes in it. There was no point in hanging on to it now that we have the big, wooden playset. Grant insisted that nobody would want it, but we sprayed it off, and minutes after I taped a FREE sign on it, a man picked it up for his three young daughters. He was very appreciative, and I'm so happy it's going to get some use!

While we were spraying it off, Grant sprayed the kids with the hose. That started the fun! They spent a half hour running through the spray of the hose. By the time they were finished, they were soaked!



They dried off quickly under the hot sun, and begged to be sprayed once more before heading inside for dinner! They had a great time playing outside. It was a beautiful, summer-like day, and I'm really looking forward to the next three months!

Unfortunately, we had to go to a viewing tonight. A dear friend of Grant's family passed away on Friday, after a short battle with cancer. It was a big shock, because they didn't talk much about it. Jim was Grant's parent's neighbor, and I knew him almost as long as I've known Grant. His youngest daughter was the flower girl in our wedding, and he attended every picnic that Grant's family has. He was a wonderful man, and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and teenage daughters at this incredibly difficult time.

As we were driving home from the funeral home, the sun was setting, and the sky was simply gorgeous. I felt grateful and blessed for everyone and everything in my life.





*****Please check back later in the week for an awesome giveaway! This is my first one, and I'm so excited to share it with you!

Sick Leave

I thought I was in the clear. Almost a week had gone by since Lexie was sick. I was wrong. Very wrong.

As I was cutting up a bunch of fruit last night, the nausea hit. I brushed it off, and thought it was due to the soda I had that evening. I don't drink it often, and when I do, it sits in my stomach like lead. And then came the stomach cramps. Cramps that were so bad that they had me rolling on the floor, in tears.

It was a miserable night, and a shaky day, but I'm feeling much better! One thing's for sure: Mama NEVER gets sick leave.

Despite the illness, Friday wasn't too bad.

Dylan had his last full day of school. The hot weather and the end of the year excitement had all the students bouncing off the walls. I felt bad for his teachers! Since the SUV is out of commission until it the part comes in, my dad had to pick Dylan up from school. He was so excited for Papa to come in and pick him up. He came home with a giant art folder filled with his Art Show projects, and insisted that we display everything. I'm afraid that I don't have enough wall space!

We went over to my parent's house for a visit. Dylan and Lexie got to see the baby bunnies one last time before they left the nest.



It has been exciting for them to watch the bunnies grow! The hole is getting cramped, and the mama rabbit keeps uncovering it. As we were peeking at them, one of the bunnies jumped out of the nest and took off. The kids were so sad, and I had to explain to them that it was time for them to go off on their own. Truth be told, I wanted to chase after it, and keep it safe until it was bigger!

After shopping with my mom, the kids and I had dinner with my parents before heading home. Dylan was thrilled when he found out that they had watermelon!




Lexie did not enjoy the watermelon. I tried to get her to eat it, but she screamed and ran away to cuddle her baby doll.



We stopped at the pet store to get two hermit crabs. Our remaining hermit crab was getting lonely, and needed a friend. We decided to let Lexie pick out her own, as well. I had to talk her out of the $8 crab with the hot pink, rhinestone-covered shell. Instead, she picked the smallest one there.

After some begging for other pets (leopard geckos, frogs, guinea pigs, birds, more fish....), we managed to leave with SuperCrab and Yawna.



I have to say, Dick was not pleased. There was quite a turf war last night, as he kept chasing the hyper babies out of his house. This morning, the babies took over, and kicked Dick out of the house. (I have to admit, I still laugh when I mention the hermit crab's name.)

The kids love their new pets!



After being sick all night and all morning, we spent a quiet day at home. I stayed in my pajamas and attempted to rest. Like I said, though, Mama isn't allowed to be sick.

Lexie was not too thrilled when she found out that Daddy and Dylan were going somewhere with her Papa this afternoon...without HER!



Dylan, however, was super excited!



While the boys were gone, Lexie took a nap, and I did get to rest. I'm so glad that virus didn't last long!

An Unexpected Blessing

My morning started out incredibly rough. Grant took the SUV in to get checked out, and it was the worst case scenario. To the tune of $1400. I was angry and upset, and ended up in tears.

I know things could be a lot worse. I could be dealing with my worst nightmare. I am very grateful for the fact that I am not dealing with something truly terrible or life threatening. But, all these annoyances of major things breaking are really taking an impact on me. I feels as if we take several steps forward, and then all of a sudden, a giant leap back.

After hours of feeling miserable and depressed, my husband called with some great news. Our car is going to be taken care of.

Family is good.

A Wordful (and Way Back) Wednesday

My SUV overheated today. It's the first time I've had a major problem with it, and I'm really frustrated. It should not be having issues yet! Grant is taking it in to get fixed tomorrow, and I'm seriously terrified of how much it's going to cost.

On Mother's Day, I noticed that one of Dylan's hermit crabs wasn't moving, and it fell out of it's shell when I picked it up. The thing with hermit crabs is to always assume they're molting, and not dead. This hermit crab molted last year, and was out of it's shell, looking dead, for almost 3 weeks. I isolated it from the other crab, but I think it's safe to say that Freddy actually died. He was not smelling too pleasant tonight. I haven't told the kids yet. I'll be hosting a burial ceremony in the backyard tomorrow. I guess we'll be making a trip to the pet store. Dick (yes, that's what Dylan named the other crab) needs a friend, since they are social creatures.

The cute baby bunnies we've been watching are going to be leaving the nest soon. Their eyes are open now and they are so adorable. I am really tempted to keep one, but I know that's not a good idea.

Dylan only has two days of school left! Today was his last Wednesday in Pre-K! He brought home a few art projects from the Art Show, and our home has been transferred into an Art Gallery.

I so predicted the Top 3 in American Idol, at the start of the season. The Hubs agreed with me then, so I can't brag that I was right.

I've been living in the same house as Mr. Snake for a week now. It's not too terrible. I'm not involved in his care, in any way. The most I'll do is gently pet him. What has changed? I now have to thoroughly check my sheets at night, JUST IN CASE, even if I've already determined that Apollo is in the cage. Every so often, I wake up in the middle of the night, and hear him slithering through his cage. That's a bit freaky.

And, finally, because I love pictures, I want to share two Way Back Wednesday pictures.

This is Dylan at 18 months. I dressed him and posed him for the pictures, and the store ended up featuring them on the wall!

Tuesday Tidbits and a Case of the Mondays

I haven't done a Tuesday Tidbits post in ages, and I'm feeling guilty about it. Tuesday Tidbits is my way of recording all the cute things my kids say and do!

This is my Lexie edition. She is the funniest little girl!

Tonight, at dinner, Lexie had a coughing fit. Grant jokingly commented that she was turning into a zombie. Lexie threw her hands up in the air and started giggling. "No I not, I Lexie! You a goof-a-ball, Daddy!"

Lexie's newest obsession? Flamingos. She has a flamingo statue, flamingo napkins, flamingo plates, and inflatable flamingos. Which she likes to carry around with her, and ride on.



Last night, my mother-in-law babysat Lexie while we were at the art show. Lexie said she was starving, so my mother-in-law made her some macaroni and cheese. As you know, Lexie is an incredibly picky eater, and will only eat certain varieties, shapes, and brands of macaroni and cheese. She took a bite of her food, and announced, "This mac and cheese is making me crazy!" She refused to eat another bite.

Lexie comes up with the strangest names for her dolls and stuffed animals. Pawny, Keyney, and Yawna are just a few.

Lexie very rarely gets sick, but when she does, she is very dramatic about it. After every cough this weekend, she would give us a pathetic look, and say, very sadly, "I am WEALLY sick."

I just love my girl!

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I had a horrible case of the Monday's yesterday. It was just one of those overwhelming days. Everything is breaking all at once (doesn't it always happen that way?), and it all happened right around noon.

Our SUV has been acting funny. This seriously ticks me off, because it is the most well maintained vehicle, with few miles on it. When I pulled into the garage, after picking Dylan up from school, the fan wouldn't turn off after I shut off the engine. I let the kids into the house, then went to pull the car out of the garage. When I hit the button to open the garage door, it began making a horrible grinding sound and wouldn't open. Just great. I called my husband, and he left work early to come help. As I was waiting for him, I became seriously irritated at everything that was breaking. My stupid laptop still isn't charging right, even with a new battery. My brand new, barely used, $1400 camera is having issues with the battery pack. My freezer is leaking into my fridge.

I decided to sit down and relax with a crossword puzzle. Wouldn't it figure that I got the puzzle made by a moron who wanted to wow everybody with his intelligence, by only using little known words and bizarre clues? I finished it, but I ended up more frustrated than before, and tossed Mr. I Brag Too Much About My Intelligence's puzzle into the garbage.

I decided that the only thing left to do was go back to bed.

It worked.

I woke up happier, and I ended up having a great night at the Art Show.

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Today wasn't much better. My car is still acting weird, my garage door can only be opened manually, my fridge is still leaking, and my laptop still won't fully charge.

It has been chilly since Saturday, and has been raining non-stop. Dylan's T-Ball game was canceled again, tonight.

I could seriously use a dose of sunshine and warm weather! STAT!