Sweet Child

Yesterday was not such good day for me and when I was writing my post about Dopey I forgot to add one of the sweetest things I have ever experienced. I was standing in the kitchen after Kevin buried Dopey for me and was still sniffling and crying a little. Next thing I know Todd is standing right next to me holding one of his little blankets. Holding the blanket out to me he says to me "mama, blanket." Of course I just started crying harder. Todd was upset that I was crying and went to get me a blanket for comfort just like when he is upset. He is just the sweetest child.

Dopey

Today is quite the sad day for me. Upon our return from Gainesville and Tallahassee (respectively) I learned that my Dopey had passed away. I am not sure when or how but I do know that I miss him terribly. For those who do not know the story, Dopey was a stray that I got in 1995 when I was still in college. He came up to me one night when I was going to the library to study. I of course started talking to him, petting him and told him I had to leave but that if he was still near my apartment when I got back I would see about getting him something to eat. Of course he was not there when I got back later that night. However, the next morning he was outside of my window crying as loud as he could. Woke me up. The thing about this was that I originally saw him in the front of my apartment in the parking lot. My room was in the back of the apartment on the complete other side of the building. When I let him in my apartment he came right up to me, jumped up in my lap, curled up and went to sleep. He chose me to be his person and I was happy to take on the job. Dopey was spoiled to excess by my father and generally loved by all who met him. He was quite the cool cat. My house does not seem the same now that Dopey is not waiting by the front door when I come home or sitting on the side of my chair as I sit and type this. He was my protector and will be greatly missed.

Kyle's 4th Birthday Party!

I can hardly believe that Kyle is turning 4 on September 3 of this year. I used to laugh at all those other moms who would tell me "oh, enjoy it now because they just grow up so fast". I would think, right, I am up to my armpits in nursing, changing diapers, spit up and no sleep. Yep. Please, please, please let this go on forever! However, it does all end too fast and before you know it you cannot even remember what your son looked like as a baby and when you do pull out the infant pictures, you think wow, was he really that small? his eyes that blue?

So, here we are embarking on a new chapter with Kyle. He is now officially a big boy...and will correct me when I call him my baby. Oh no, he is NOT the baby (Todd is). Time is coming for real school, school buses, bikes with training wheels and full conversations where I understand every single word he says. Even though I rarely call him my baby anymore to his face, I still know he is when he asks for hugs and kisses every day when I drop him off at school and before he goes to sleep at night. I pray he never stops.

For everyone's enjoyment...pictures of Kyle's 4th birthday party that we just had for him Sunday at the park. He had a ball and even told Kevin..."Daddy, that was fun!" We had a somewhat pirate theme party with a really cool treasure hunt (Thanks Auntie Paige!), water balloons, fish decorating, a pinata, play in the water park, lots of fun with cousins, 2nd cousins, friends and family.

Vacation - Real One This Time

We had quite a great time on vacation at mama's house in the Keys...wanted to post some pictures from our trip. Kyle got to do lots of great things: Snorkeling with fish, swimming and playing on the sand bar, tubing and best of all he caught his very first fish. Although the fish he caught was a real one to eat the fish was too small to keep. Todd played on the sandar, fed the fish from the boat and quite enjoyed just being in the Keys and not in school! We all had great fun and had a hard time adjusting to reality this week....

Bad Mommy

Apparently I have sunk to the low of being corrected by my soon to be 4 year old son. Monday the kids returned to school after a week vacation in the Keys. So, since we missed all the end of summer/school parties and the transition week from the old class to the new class, Kyle's teacher put his "gifts" in his box in his new room. Of course I am not paying too much attention when I get his stuff out of his box Monday. He of course asks me where his car and crayons are...the before mentioned "gifts". At this point I figure out that I was actually to take those things home...go figure. The next day I actually do forget to get his stuff out of his box. At this point, fully understanding a 3 year old's patience, Kyle asks me where his stuff is. He does this after we are in the car and actually driving away from school. He then decides that he has had enough of me and quite succinctly says...."Mama, you a bad girl!"

What is your definition of money???

We are at lunch today...me, Kevin, mama, Paige and the boys and we are ready to go. The waiter brings us our check in the little black folding thingy. Kyle, who is sitting on Kevin's lap at this point, grabs the check before Kevin can grab it. Kevin laughs a little and asks Kyle if he is paying the bill. Kyle looks at him and says yes, he is paying. So, Kevin asks Kyle what money is he going to pay with. Kyle looks at us all and says very importantly...."card." We all cracked up. Of course then I stared thinking, wow we have come a long way. I used to actually know what real money is....Kyle thinks money is the credit (debit) card.

BTW, my tomato is no longer....something big and nasty ate almost the whole thing. Left just a little bit of a shell at the top. I am quite upset about that, however I am glad that at least I did not kill it!

WOW...

I have a tomato...I can't believe it. I am adding a picture just to prove it. I had mama bring me some cuttings from GG's tomato plants on her return from Alabama and I have a new baby tomato. For all of you who do not know...I must explain so you can truly appreciate my giddiness over a baby tomato. I am the worst with plants. I love them and try really hard to not kill them, yet somehow they all die. It is very bad. So, I am rejoicing for the moment in my tomato cause it means I have done something right so far with the clippings!