Three and Three Quarters

My big man with his girl"fray-end" at their end of the year school picnic.

I don’t know if there is anything magical going on around here, but Ollie has entered into a really fun phase. He is 3 and ¾ of a year old and the best way I can muster to describe is that he has started to “get” things. Jason and I have both noticed little things adding up.

The other day at the playground, I watched him run effortlessly like a kid- a full-blown, turn-on-a-dime run that didn’t have an ounce of awkward in it. He can climb, jump and slide with the greatest of ease and take down opposing pirates {some other kids across the playground} without a scratch.

Last week I got onto him for taking something away from his brother {or maybe it was form tackling him- who can remember?} and he replied, “But he broke the car tracks!”
OK- not only did he consider and deliver retribution, but also he RATIONALIZED his actions. Scary!

Every other night {Jason and I swap nights} when I put him to bed he asks me to sleep with him in his bed. I tell him that I can’t because I have to sleep with daddy.
Last night he replied, “The sissy”.

That last one might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the rest are happening. He is a full fledged kid. He has friends {or “FRAY-ends” if you’re from Alabama}, knows what birthday party invitations look like {and starts to plan as soon as we get them} and he pleads every day to not nap: “Pleeeeeeeeease, Mommy. I don’t neeeeeeed a naaaaaaap. I neeeeeed to plaaaaaaaaay.”
As annoying as that is to read, imagine hearing it every day. And then imagine convincing a whiny little guy that he does, in fact, need to nap. And he does.

One point for the mommy.

I’m sure that different kids develop at different ages and stages, but this entrance into “kid- hood” is interesting. It’s NEAT to see him remember things I promised the day before and never delivered. Or to hear him say, “I thought you said we couldn’t eat on the sofa. YOU’RE eating on the sofa…”
Uh huh. Really great.

So long my little man. You are a big boy now.
Go get those pirates.
And keep their pesky fruit snacks off the sofa.

Did you know?

Did you know that I run summer camps?
That's my job {and I need to update that picture in that link (click on Alabama)!} My office is in Akron, Ohio and I work from home in Huntsville, AL.
Because driving to Ohio every day would be a big time sucker.

Ten camps started yesterday and I have so much to write to you about, but I don't have the brain cells to muster up a complete thought. Or figure out a way to phrase that above sentence without double parenthesis.

Just know that I am here and I hope to get back in the loop soon. I have lots to share: a giveaway, our kitchen remodel pictures and an exciting birthday present/ trip for my hubs is on the horizon {depending on NASA... and I'm serious}.

*** above picture taken of blinds in living room. Please note that house suffers during the summer, as well. Thomas trains and boys are quite happy with this phenomenon.

Happy Holidays!

I'm a big fan of improvising. I hope you are, too!
This picture is from this morning- end of May- with Christmas muffin holders {they're just going to be thrown away anyway, right?}. This doesn't bother me at all and I find myself doing more goofy things like this all the time.

I have been known to:
- Buy girls shorts {for my boys} in a pinch and tear the ruffle out of them
- Use wet wipes to make hair flat {not mine- or Jason's for that matter}, clean toilets and floors and dust
- Safety pin my pants together for church. {There was a big hole in the seam around my inner thigh. I know the Lord is against fleshly thoughts and this would have been A LOT of flesh... I don't think people would have been able to concentrate on the sermon.}

Funny thing about all this is that there was a time when I was APPALLED when my mother did possibly might have done such things. I clearly remember her scotch taping the hem of her skirt before church one day and I just knew she was crazy and I was mortified.

Oh my. It has come to this. I guess there are much worse things to be in life than what is staring at you in the mirror- your MOTHER.

Love you, Mom! Happy Friday!

What have you improvised with lately?

A question for the cartoon creators

Not a mush brain child. Maybe a bucket {or bowl} head, but not mush brain...

It doesn't bother me at all for you to know that I watched my fair share of TV growing up. I still know the theme song to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air {and have to admit that I loved that the preppy girl's name was Hillary}, I can still name a majority of the Snorks, Care Bears and Smurfs {insert your own Smurfette-only-girl joke here} and I Sooo wanted Angela and Tony to get together on Who's the Boss {but was a little let down when they finally did}. OK, please. Before you go any further, you must click that Who's the Boss link if you ever watched that show at all. The lyrics are in the top right description portion of the youtube video and I GUARANTEE you that you didn't know them! It all makes sense now!

So, since all that infinite wisdom gained from TV has gotten me so far in life {*ahem* yeah right}, I don't mind that my kids watch a little TV. I have to admit that I didn't want Ollie to watch any when he was a baby, because ALL THE BOOKS tell you it will turn their brains to mush, but somehow I could rationalize an hour of Praise Baby or Baby Einstein and be okay with it.
Then the real world started chipping into my beliefs of mush brain-ness and I had to fix dinner once that kid could move. So, he recognized the Barney theme song by 9 months. {Don't click that link or else you will hate me.}
There.
I said it.

Here's the thing that I've started to notice: on all the shows that my kids watch now, the characters talk to them {which is good} and give options for the children to solve a problem.

It goes something like this:
"We have to cross the rocky rock path to save the baby reindeer from being eaten by a coyote. My rescue pack/ mousekatools/ rocket/ backpack/ toolbox can help us!
Should we choose an umbrella?
{much too long pause} Nooooooo.
Should we choose macaroni and cheese? {pause, pause, pause} Noooooooooo.
What about Leeeenda the Llama? Will she take us across the path? YESSS! She will take us!"

I'm all for problem solving, but my children {particularly Ollie who is 3 - almost 4- and is catching on to these things} know that it's ALWAYS the third option! Have you noticed that? A.L.W.A.Y.S.

And the options are never really the best to begin with. I saw Mickey use BLOCKS to get grapes from a tree one day. Really Walt? I know you are an ice cube, but I'm sure you still have creative control. Come on. We are expecting a little more from the mouse.
And grapes grow on VINES, not TREES that are being grown to get away from the giant. Get your facts straight, Disney.

So, does anybody else have an opinion on this? Have you noticed it?
Are they being coddled?
Are they going to answer C for every question on the SATs one day?
Will they fail True/ False quizzes because there is no 3rd option?

I think we might have a new phenomenon called the "Diego Generation" where they stare at you for about 5 seconds before they answer a question. And then they jump and down and sing a song when they solve a problem. Or get to ride a llama- because that happens ALL the time at an office.

I guess I will just letting my kids' brains turn to mush and hope for the best. I think that's what the Seavers, Cosbys or Keatons would do in this situation, so I'll go with that.

For your viewing pleasure, one of my favorite Saturday Night Live TV Funhouses spoofing Dora: Enjoy!

We Did It!

Today was a good "God day" for me. You know when you “feel” God helping you in something? I hope you have felt that before.

I finished the Cotton Row Run 10K this morning in 1 hour and 10 minutes. I guess it’s not too terribly shabby since I just started training 2 weeks ago and all. {That’s #1598 of 1838 people- or 97th out of 127 in my gender/ age group if that makes me feel any better}.You know me and prep work just don’t get along.

I was just happy not to need that ambulance {that was calling my name} at mile 4.

Since headphones are “strictly prohibited”, I and almost everyone else there snuck in our contraband under shirts and through under garments. {I just put one headphone in so I could hear the ambulance if it actually DID call my name…}
If you would like to run to some fast paced Christian praise music {don’t think Christian rap is like Vanilla Ice; it’s actually good}, here was my playlist specifically for today:

• Movin - Group 1 Crew
• No Ordinary Love - TobyMac
• Here to Stay - Group 1 Crew
• No One Like You - Barlowgirl
• Feelin’ So Fly - TobyMac
• Get Your Back Off the Wall - Family Force 5
• Live Out Loud - Group 1 Crew
• Boomin’ - TobyMac
• Bring the Party to Life - Group 1 Crew
• One World - TobyMac
• Gimme that Funk - Group 1 Crew
• Grey - Barlowgirl
• I am God - Kirk Franklin and TobyMac {This is from “Be still and know that I am God.” Just so you know they don’t have the wrong impression here…}
• Let Go - Barlowgirl

There were a few more in there, but just shoot me an e-mail if you’d like some other suggestions.

It was a great race with people cheering you on the whole time, residents blasting the Rocky theme from HUGE speakers outside their homes, pop ice being handed out, etc. I think there is a great feeling of togetherness whenever you do something with 2,000 of your closest friends. It was much like a football game when your team wins and everyone is euphoric at the end. But here they give away free pizza and ice cream at the end. Can’t get much better, right?

As much as I covet and appreciate your comments and feedback, I’m going to turn off comments today. I have a feeling they’ll be something along the lines of “Great job, Hillary”, etc, and I really want to give that to God, so just say a little prayer thanking God for something awesome He is doing/ has done/ will do in your life.

And Happy Memorial Day. If you need a military family to thank, hope over here to my friend Leanne’s blog. Her hubs is headed to Saudi Arabia for a year in one week. What a great service. We sure do appreciate him and all the others who risk their lives every day so we can enjoy our freedom.

Love y’all!