Back to school

All around the world parents are shopping & praising God this week. No, it's not Christmas. It's time for kids to go back to school!! Yay!! I can honestly say I will miss my kids. I enjoy the lazy days of summer & their friends running in & out. I enjoy play dates where they can all be present. If I was a black belt in patience like a good friend of mine I would home school. Don't get me wrong I would love to. But my kids would learn nothing & I'd become one those moms that drinks..during the day. Spending more time w/ Jennifer has afforded my kids the chance to see home schooling up close & personal. It's an all day, every day thing. Kids are always learning, we know this. So every experience is turned into a learning experience. So this year my kids have voiced several times they'd like to be home schooled. When I laughed out loud they stood their ground. "Jennifer can teach us. We can go to the Coppock Academy." (Yes that's what they call her house) Wanting to save my friendship I had to let them down easy. "She has a 3 person class limit," I lied. Groans & whines wafted through the air reminding me maybe I'm ready for school to start....soon.

Breakfast Shmeakfast

I saw this idea on another blog & as usual..ran with it. Using waffles to make a breakfast quick, easy & healthy..sign me up. Here is what we made our first go round: Elvis Special. Peanut butter & banana. While I was heating the waffles in the toaster I supervised the boys cutting their bananas using a butter knife. We spread the peanut butter on one waffle & placed the teeny tiny pieces of banana on top. We then placed the other waffle on top & PRESTO! Waffle Sandwich, Elvis style. It was easy, new & the boys ate very single bite!! I think it will be a great solution for those busy mornings!! Here are a few other toppings we are going to try:

Jelly
strawberries
cream cheese (all different flavors)
blueberries
egg, cheese & turkey
honey
cinnamon & sugar

It's awesome the way the boys are thinking of things to put on here & try. I'm thinking it would be easy to eat in the car as well. Anyway, they loved it & it made their morning. Mission accomplished.

Off the wagon

I fell off the bloggin wagon. But I'm back. So many new things to report I'm not sure where to begin. Reid is about to be a 5th grader. Both him & Reagan won 1st place in baseball. Although I was extremely proud of their trophy's I was more proud they recognized there is a reward for effort. Because they did work hard for those trophy's. Reagan will be in 1st grade & is learning more every day. Rowan has continued to amaze me. He is still the most stubborn child known to man. I pray he harnesses that power & uses it for good rather than evil. This summer has been fun & several lessons have presented themselves. We've met new friends, lost some & learned family is always there. A week ago we all lost my grandmother. She was the most generous, loving, christian example of a woman & my heart truly aches for my mothers loss. But I know she's home & dancing w/ my Papa. Football is about to begin & I will post pics as soon as we get Reid's pads & helmet. We're enjoying the lazy days of summer as I'm sure most of you are.

Ladies Man

As I watched Reagan strut to the car I noticed something was different. He slammed the door & threw a gun shaped piece of paper @ me & exclaimed
"Grace said to call her."
There it was in hastily scribed pencil. "Call me Reagan. Heart Grace." The number is written so huge, it can't be missed. Subtle. Reagans goofy smile was evidence of how pleased he was.
"So, can I use your phone?"
"Easy tiger, she's probably still here waiting for her mom. Later maybe."
This seemed acceptable so he sat back & relaxed. Upon hearing the big news Reid is rather disappointed it's his birthday & he hasn't been given such a gift from the universe.
"He's only 5. It's not fair."
After we get home & I endure a few rounds of "Can we call her now?" we call Grace. Her mother has been expecting us. Grace wants Reagan to come play. She just loves Reagan & talks about him all the time. He has his first "date" next week.

Bird nest/Kickball

After being on house arrest due to flooding this weekend my boys are all about outside. Fine with me. When I was younger playing outside meant finding whatever I could to entertain myself & doing it for hours. Because if I bugged my parents I had to come back inside. My kids however need a referee & help deciding what game to play. "Where is this ball?" & "I want that bike." They're in & out so much it hardly qualifies as playing outside. It's more stand-at-the-back-door-whine-fest. Anyway, the highly competitive game of kickball began like any other. Soon enough I was called to get the ball out of our neighbor's yard & then it was stuck in a tree. Really stuck. The little tykes plastic shovel wasn't going to cut it this time. Reid found the step ladder & when he lifted his head into the branches he discovered a nest. He knows I collect them so he stuck his hand in it & jerked it back quickly. "Momma the nest has an egg in it." I went up to investigate & saw that sure enough he was correct. One tiny perfect egg. I told them to move away & be careful because there was a baby in there. They quietly stepped back & stared at the tree. As soon as we moved away what I presume was the Mama bird came back quickly. They all took a vote & decided to leave the ball there to provide extra shelter for the baby. And to be honest Mama bird was giving us the evil eye.

Bragging rights

My oldest son Reid is about to be 10. The countdown has begun. In his short life there have been many things for me to brag about. He talked early, he's smart & I've heard many times..handsome. I agree with all of these things. But lately there is one comment I'm hearing that makes my heart leap more than anything. "I had no idea. " It's the response to many people seeing Reid & watching him participate in several activities like a normal kid. After they've learned he has Asperger's. A form of Autism. I have never been more proud of anything in my life. Reid worked so hard & went through so many things in the past 2 years. Physical therapy, ABA & medication changes. If the simplicity of those words imply ease I can assure you it was no small task. Physical therapy was a grueling, everyday task that was a true endeavor. ABA was a necessary evil. And the medication switch sent our family into a year long nightmare. But I can honestly say that my prayers & his were more than answered. For him to be able to play & go to school like "a normal kid" is nothing short of a miracle. Reid being on a 1st place baseball team & making A's is all music to my ears. But having someone tell me that he looks like a normal kid is literally the best thing I could ever hear. Normal never sounded so wonderful. I'll take it.

Locker Room

On any given day at our house you will see random boys in underwear, shirtless & I'm almost afraid to admit...sometimes both. Apparently clothing gets in the way of random activities. The Wii usually has it's competitor's sans shirt for Reid & pants less for Reagan. Rowan has shown no preference yet. However I will say that it does take quite a few moments to wrangle him into pj's after his bath. Sometimes I fell a bit strange. Like for instance the other day Reid was in the shower. Reagan & Rowan in the bath. When they all surrounded me for clothes & lotion I got a little...claustrophobic. I looked around & found I was surrounded by..male genitalia. I know they're my kids & whatever but can I just say sometimes it's a bit much. I also believe that a certain motto must be given it's due. Boys can be gross. Farting in faces, burping, slaps on the butt. All commonplace. It's not their fault though. I had enough boys to create the locker room mentality so I take full responsibility. I look at it as practice. My kids will never be uncomfortable in the locker room, or anywhere else for that matter, when it's time to change for P.E. or sports. I will wait a couple of more years to work on the perfect towel snap. For their own safety.

** For your own entertainment purposes & my embarrassment I've included a list of questions/quotes heard around our house.

1. Who wants to smell my armpit?
2. Did you smell that? I just farted.
3. ______ just farted!! Gross!! (while sniffing the air & rushing towards that person laughing)
4. Come here I have to tell you something (burp in face).
5. Oh my gosh my feet stink. Come here & smell my socks.
6. Can I have more underwear? Just trust me..