Posts from — November 2008

Today, after listening to Shea scream about something he wanted, but couldn’t have, Gage said, “Mom, you need to call the Super Granny for Shea.”  I started laughing for more than obvious reasons, but he had no idea.  I said, “Do you think he’s that bad, Gage?”, to which he replied, “Yeah, Mom, I think the Super Granny could help us out.”

Now, excuse me while I go explain to my distraught 3 year old why he can’t have bubble bath in the tub tonight.

I changed my blogroll around a bit by splitting it up into two categories:  “People I Know” and “Never Met ‘em But Love ‘em”.  I would love to know what blogs you enjoy reading, so leave me a comment and let me know what your favorites are!

My Uncle Chris and Aunt Sharon just might have the answer for you.  They own a business in Eastern NC called Mackeys Ferry Peanuts and you can order gift boxes online.  They were recently featured in a popular magazine, Our State, and the photographer for the article is an old friend from our college town.  If you visit his blog, you can catch a glimpse of the article.  My Aunt and Uncle have worked so hard in their business these past few years and would love to serve your Christmas needs.  Go check them out!

I’ve been kind of quiet on my blog lately, but have blogged plenty of posts in my head over the past week or so.  I guess it’s time to put something down on “paper”, so I’ll do it in the form of a rambling update.

~Life has been extremely hectic around here lately.  Jared is in crunch time for school, and that always makes things fun.  Actually, it makes me feel like pulling my hair out and screaming.  But, we’re making it through.

~I’m officially into the second trimester of pregnancy.  This is especially comforting, considering the scare we had a couple of months ago.  I really, really need to get back into my swim routine at the Y.  My most recent excuse has been that I need to shave my legs, and therefore I can’t go.  I do not like to shave during the winter, or when I’m pregnant, so it’s a pretty sad combination right now.  I did break out the razor tonight, so no more excuses for now.  It’s pretty sad when it takes 10 minutes to shave ONE leg.  So, so sad.  Thankfully, Jared doesn’t mind.  At least, that’s what he says.

~A couple of weeks ago, I was 99.9% sure that we were going to put Gage into public school in January.  It was going to be a little experiment to see how he would do and to give me a much needed break until I picked up homeschooling again after our move this summer.  I was feeling extremely overwhelmed because it had become more and more obvious over this past semester that the way we do school around here was going to have to change drastically.  I was not feeling like I had it in me to make the changes necessary.  After talking to Gage about it, my mind changed.  He wants to be homeschooled and became tearful when we told him about our thoughts.  He is so tenderhearted, and so my heart quickly melted and I somehow felt the strength once again to plug through this.  We implemented some major changes the next week, allowing him to start school on his own (he began at 6:30 every day!), and things have gone really well so far.

~Many of you know that we seem to have skipped the “terrible two’s” with our 3 year old Shea.  He has always been so easy and sweet.  Very compliant and easy to handle.  Lately, he has learned how to throw tantrums and how to demand things from his big brother.  Apparently, he is just a late bloomer in this area.  He’s still oh so sweet.  But, he is a NORMAL 3 year old, without a doubt.

~On a heavier note, Gage began asking detailed questions about his biological father a few nights ago.  In the past, his questions have been very brief and the mood light.  He has quickly moved on to other things.  This time, it felt heavy and difficult.  It became an hour long conversation and the questions were detailed.  It just seems too heavy for a 9 year old’s heart, and yet he asked, and we felt we had to answer honestly.    It broke my heart, but also filled me with joy as I was able to tell him of God’s protection over him.  He was able to hear, once again, of how his Daddy entered his life when he was 2 years old and chose to be his father.  Jared was able to tell him of going to the courthouse to get a new birth certificate because  “I chose to be your Daddy and will always be your Daddy.”  It was heart wrenching to see my son sad over the fact that his biological father lost so much.  My prayer is that as he grows older, Gage will be able to see the way God protected him and hand-picked a Daddy for him.  I would also be so bold as to pray that he will one day meet his biological father (years from now) and that he will be a changed man, delivered from an addiction that stole so much from him.  I told Gage to pray for “the man that used to be his Dad”, and I believe he will.

~I’m beginning to understand why I have been so tired lately.  Phew! I need to go to bed now.  Oh, yeah.  First I have to get Gage’s folder ready so that he can start school as the sun rises.  The kid is crazy, if you ask me.  But, it’s working, so I’m going with it.

It has become a tradition since moving to St. Louis for us to take the boys over to the park across the street for pictures each fall. This was the third (and last, sadly) year we were able to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL fall weather in St. Louis. I thought I’d share some of my favorite shots of the season. Enjoy!

I hope you all enjoyed your fall weather, wherever you are. I’m sad to say that it seems ours is over. Cold weather is on the way!

So, here’s the story.

Gage and some friends found a bat, in broad daylight, sitting on a bush. My son decided to reach out and touch it, and when he did, the bat bared it’s teeth at him and started making a clicking noise. It then, flew up into a tree.

Gage decided that he had not gotten a good enough look at the bat, and chose to figure out a way to climb up into the tree and capture the bat. First, he tried propping a bike up to the tree, and climbing up from that. Apparently the tree was not an easy climb. When the bike didn’t do the trick, he found a rope and began trying to lasso the rope around a branch, and then pull himself up into the tree. After failing at that attempt, he went back to the bike idea, and somehow found his way up the tree.

He carried his friend’s cape up with him into the tree and proceeded to drape the cape over the bat. He then tied the cape into a sack, placed the tied end into his mouth, and shimmied back down the tree, holding the bat, encased and dangling, in a cape between his teeth. By the way, if your kid ever does this, please take him to get rabies shots!

DISGUSTING!!!!!!!

Since this bat happening, let me fill you in on the other adventures my son has experienced. He was bitten by a chipmunk when he tried to extract it from it’s home in the ground. His finger was literally dripping blood from the bite, and he didn’t even cry. Then, the next week, he captured a wounded woodpecker and brought it home in a bird cage he borrowed from the neighbor. I’m telling you, this kid is the next Steve Irwin! Good thing he’s received those rabies shots.

I was greeted by this package at our mailbox a few days ago.  As I opened it, I could smell the sweet aroma of flowers.  Only my Mama  would think of something like this.  I absolutely adore this woman.  Take a look……..

Gage went camping this weekend with our church, and I had no clue I was going to be such a worried Mom.  I really am a pretty relaxed mom.  Gage stretches me so far, that if I didn’t relax, I swear I’d break.

But, somehow, this camping trip has been a big step for me in loosening those motherly strings.  Before the trip, I was so excited about the break I would have.  It was time for a break.  But, as soon as I dropped him off at the church, I began worrying.  My mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts such as,  “I hope there is a hospital close by.  What will they do if someone gets hurt?”  “Is he gonna be warm enough?  He didn’t even pack a heavy coat.”

I didn’t sleep well last night.  Every time I woke up, I was startled with the reality that my son was sleeping on a cold ground in the middle of the woods.  I couldn’t stop obsessing over whether or not he was warm.  If he had just listened and taken his coat, I would have slept fine.  I just know it!  Yeah, right.  I’m sure it would have been something else.  It probably would be something like “What if he gets up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and is attacked by a raccoon?”  I’m sure I could have come up with something.  Let’s hope I’m able to sleep better tonight.  Somehow, I doubt it.  I’m not going to sleep well until he is home.  Thankfully, that will be tomorrow.