Pictures Taken Sunday

So Nice to Have Daddy Home

It has been so nice to have Daddy home! It is strange to have him home at 5:30 everyday (it will be even earlier when we move). He is just in time to help with all of the end-of-year stuff the kids have going on with school. Caleb has a state project due tomorrow (of course he chose to write about Texas), he is talking to the entire third grade class on Thursday for Career Day, Isaac graduates on Friday morning, etc.

Tomorrow is his last day of work here. He had six days of vacation accrued that he will be using and then he starts work in Louisiana on the 2nd. We will join him the following weekend (the boys get out on the 4th). It will be nice to have a week and a half of him helping to finalize things here and pack (since I have not started that yet - but hey, I DID get the supplies)!

I think this weekend we are going to go on one last Arkansas outing. Paul likes to watch a show called Exploring Arkansas. Last night he saw a park we had not been too that looked really neat. So, we are going to take the camera and check it out.

I have decided that in the new house we need to bring a little bit of Arkansas with us. There is a guy who writes hiking/kayaking books about Arkansas. We have several of his books. He is also a photographer and takes some AWESOME pictures around Arkansas. I want to get some of his pictures for the new house. Paul has a couple of them in his office, but I want some for our house too. Here is one I really want:


And this one is cool too:


But don't worry, I am not doing all pink pics in the house!! There are LOTS of pictures available and narrowing them down is VERY hard! If you are interested in any pictures like this, go here. Just beware - there are a LOT of pictures!

When I figure out my camera and can take pics like this - I will have a website too!! :) Which, by the way, he offers photography workshops! Too bad we are moving out of state :(

Sweet Andrew

When the boys get upset and sit on the floor in their anger, Andrew has gotten to where he goes to them and gives them hugs, plays with their hair, kisses on them, sits in their lap, etc. He will make faces at them and laugh at them - doing EVERYTHING he knows to do to make them happy again.

This is GOOD

Got this email today - too good to not post.


Summer Classes for Men
at
THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
by Monday April 28, 2008
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM

Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5
Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
at 7:00 PM

Class 6
Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7
Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8
Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined

Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11
Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM , location to be determined

Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14
The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

Bryce's Sweater

I found this picture on another blog that I read, but after the video of Bryce in their performance last night - I thought it was fitting for Bryce!!

I asked Bryce if he would wear it. He thought about it for a minute and said "No, I HATE being laughed at!"

Seriously, did the boy on that video look like a kid that hates being laughed at?

BAM!

I was scrubbing the boys bathtub yesterday. I had the door closed to keep AJ out. Bryce opens the door, sees what I am doing and shouts "BAM.....and the dirt is gone!" Then he goes and pees and leaves without saying another word.

He is a walking advertisement for that stuff! It also shows how much I use it!

When They Say They Don't Want to Sing....

Take them serious! Isaac and Bryce had their choir performance last night. Bryce kept saying he doesn't like singing and did not want to. I told him he didn't have to, but if he didn't he would not get to go to their party on Wednesday. So he decided to "sing" - more like be the comic relieve of the night. I think he has a future as a comedian! The kids would be doing their signing and all of a sudden Bryce would break out in dance. Then he bowed after every song - ALONE.

Here is a video of their performance. Unfortunately, Isaac was at the other side and I was not really able to get him. Every now and then you can see him between others. He is on the top row.

Make Your Mama Choke!

We were eating dinner this evening and I had just taken a sip of my drink when Caleb blurts out "Daddy has bad sperm!"

I choked on my drink - it about came out my nose! Then I had to leave the room because I was laughing so hard.

Moon Shot

We decided to try the camera out at night. It seems like everytime we look at the camera we find a new button or something cool it does. The manual is staying close to me!! We almost had a full moon tonight, so we thought we would see how the camera would do. These were taken with a smaller telephoto lense. Then I played with the software that comes with the camera. I think tomorrow night we are going to try and head out of town and see if we can get some star shots.
The original picture I took:

After cropping the photo:

After playing with the photo a little:

Sink 'Em

The boys had their school carnival Friday. One of the fun things was the dunk tank. Isaac threw the ball to try and sink his PE coach and the school's principal. HE SANK THEM BOTH!!! That's my boy!

We always said he would be athletic. He has never played baseball - but maybe he should start! He has always had a good throw!

Old Yeller Movie

Caleb read Old Yeller a couple of weeks ago. He was the only kid in his class to make a 100 on the test (he got a homework pass because of it!!).

Today, before and after the school carnival they watched the movie. Caleb came out all upset after school. After asking a few times what was wrong, he said that he had just finished watching Old Yeller and started crying.

The teacher told him she would not make him watch sad movies anymore.

WHY, do they make third graders watch that???

CONGRATULATIONS SWEETIE!!!!

Paul took his certification exam today. HE PASSED!! He is now a certified industrial hygienist!!!!

HOORAY!!!

A LOAD of stress taken off of him (us)!! Now we can focus on selling, moving, buying, etc!

We always knew he was certifiable!!!

Whirlwind

That is my life right now, a whirlwind. Between all of the end-of-the-year school stuff (carnivals, field trips, tests, parties, etc), trying to sell a house and keep it ALWAYS ready to show, trying to pack to move (while NOT having boxes all over the house when trying to show), normal life of a large family, AJ and his milk issue, Paul's BIG exam tomorrow.....AAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

There is so much to get done and we are QUICKLY running out of town before we move. It is not that I can't pack right now, time wise, but it won't look great trying to show a house that is full of boxes and our storage unit is getting full (not to mention it is warm, so you have to watch what you put in storage).

Andrew had his last GI appointment yesterday. As in the last one we will probably take him to). The GI here was not happy that we were moving, but what do you do! She was upset that I took him off the antihistamines that he was supposed to be on to make him hungry. He eats ALL the time - I don't think that is helping. After Isaac's last dentist appt, I see the effects of meds and I don't want to keep shoving medicine down his throat that is not doing anything. He has been eating foods with milk in them fine for a while now. Drinking milk, however....everytime he drinks milk, he has reflux problems for a day. I have done it off and on over the last month - no change! He won't drink his formula, they don't want him having juice or the purified water with a little juice in it. He is very picky about his drinks. I asked the GI dr whether I should keep fighting with the formula (he is taking 12 ounces on a GOOD day) or try soymilk or rice milk. She told me that was between me and our new GI dr. WHAT? She is his GI dr now. After waiting over two hours at her office yesterday, I get "that is between you and his new GI dr"

Needless to say I was not happy! Glad I am not going back to her!

We will just trial and error until we see what he can handle. I hate to start with another GI dr, but if he has milk issues (which he obvioulsy does) he probably needs to be seen by someone! She did say when she first came in and looked at his growth chart (gained 3 ounces in 1 month after a good weight gain between the two previous appts)that he was definently a mystery. Everything comes back normal, but he still has issues. Maybe that is why we need to move to LA!

Things will slow down, eventually....right?

When You Grow Up

Today we spent a lot of time in the car. Here is an intellectual coversation that Bryce and I had:

Bryce: "Mommy, when you grow up what do you want to be?"

Me: "I am grown up, Sweetie."

"No, I mean when you grow up for real, what do you want to be?"

"I want to be a Mom."

"No, that is what you are now, do you want to be a princess? I want to grow up and be a king!"

"I thought you were going to grow up and be a fireman."

"No, Mom... that is what I am going to be when I grow up for real. When I grow up though, I am going to be a king!"

Town Geese

For quite a while now there have been two geese that stay in our town. I see them all over town at various times and places. I saw them this morning when I went and got coffee, but I did not have my camera. I had to go home and get my grocery list and decided to grab my camera to play with IF I saw them again. Sure enough, they were behind Walmart - and the two geese had babies. Here are some of the pictures I took. Bryce did SO good staying quiet so they did not scared off (Andrew on the other hand...).

My Little Monkey

I Am LOVING My New Camera!!

I still have a LOT to learn about this camera, but I am having fun trying to learn it!


Bryce

Isaac

Caleb

Andrew

Don't you just want to tickle and blow raspberries

Caleb's eyes

Isaac playing outside

Caleb, Bryce and Andrew playing outside

Andrew

Isaac and Andrew

Andrew

Caleb

We checked on Andrew last night on our way to bed and we found this (picture above and below).


About to wake up Monkey!

Andrew - when he gets woken up in the morning instead of waking up on his own!