Once upon a time ...

This brown eyed cutie

and his 3K class went on a field trip to Lichterman Nature Center
on a cool crisp fall morning following a day of rain.

They explored "Signs of Autumn" including leaves, nuts and such
They even saw an owl perched high in a tree.

We came upon an arched bridge covered with wet leaves,
Our little boy took a spill
and Mommy came tumbling after.

NOTE:  Grant was not injured in the making of this fairy tale but Mommy has quite a bruise.  I have a picture but blogger is not cooperating right now. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Who doesn't love a list?  When I stumbled upon my friend Hillary's friend Amanda, I had to jump on the Top Ten Tuesday train. 

So here goes my first ever Top Ten Tuesday!   10 of the funniest things my kids have ever said incorrectly.

1. Patter-rin for pattern - Parker
2. Tight one for hug - Grant
3. Beach balls in spooghetti  for meatballs in spaghetti - Parker
4. Chup for ketchup - Grant
5. Interstake for interstat - Paker
6. bow-bow for mashed potatos - Grant
7. I already did already - Parker
8. I said pretty pease? - Grant
9. bailing suit for bathing suit - Parker
10. Crack-co for pretzel - Grant

I am so grateful I kept word documents with these funny things they say.  It's amazing what you forget in 7 years of parenting.   Hope on over to OhAmanda and join in the fun!

Love letters to our children ..

Best.Teacher.Note.Ever

Setting:  Yesterday @ 4:23 pm .. I'm at work, Brandon is home with the kids
Phone rings
Me:  This is Kelly (even though caller ID clearly shows it's hubby -- protocol and all)
B:  I found a note in Parker's backpack
Me:  (thinking ... oh no, what has SHE done? -- even though she has not gotten in trouble one single time in 2nd grade)  Okay, what does it say?
B:  He read it to me

Here it* is ....

WOW!

 





 

*names erased to protect privacy (ours and her amazing teacher's)

We had NO idea KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF existed in 2nd grade and were absolutely blown away by her teacher's observation and taking the time to share it with us. My favorite line: "I thought you'd like to know what an amazing daughter you have". Music to any proud parents ears.

Blog Ettiquette 101

There's an unspoken golden rule of blogging, facebook, email and it goes like this ...
IF YOU WOULDN'T SAY IN PERSON, DON'T BLOG IT, FACE BOOK IT OR EMAIL IT.

It's really not a hard rule to follow.  Why do people think a keyboard gives them the right to judge another human being?  I certainly don't agree with every blog I read but much like polite conversation, I just read past those discrepancies in my own belief system whether it be child rearing or religion.

What gives any of us the right to judge another? 

So here's the background on my little rant today:
Last week as I sat in my MBA class making small talk, the subject of people sending emails they would never say in person came up.  I mentioned I read several blogs and I think it's ridiculous when a blogger is personally attacked in the comments.  A much younger classmate of mine said do you read XXX?  And I said yes, sometimes.   She preceded to tell me what an idiot the blogger is and she has "railed" her before in the comments.  I asked her what gives her the right.  Youngster said "If the blogger is going to put her life on the Internet then I can".  No, no you can't!!!! I strongly disagree with this and it's haunted me for a week now. 

Granted very few people read my little blog and I'm hardly controversial but still this has me riled.  I can't stop thinking about it.  Now I'm trying to practice what I am preaching here ...

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

One day, you might have a blog, facebook and/or children .. do you want to be constantly "railed" about the choices you make for you and yours?  I think not.  

Guess who's learning The Ten Commandments?

Parker:  Mommy!  Daddy broke one of the Church's rules
Me:  He did, what did he do?
Parker:  He said "God, Jesus!" and you're not s'posed to do that!
Me:  Everyone makes mistakes, even Daddy.  Did you say anything to him?
Parker:  NOOOOOOO!

When I stopped laughing asked Brandon about it later, he said he had already been admonished by Parker.  We absolutely love our kids are free to express their faith any time of the day and it's sprinkled throughout their school day too. 

ONE day: TWO very different anniversaries

July 29, 2003 -- the day I became a Mommy.   Our sweet Parker Elizabeth was born at 2:14 am after 30 hours of labor.  We always knew she was going to hold a special place in our hearts and she does.  I'm a bad blogger, no pictues to share today.  We're having a Build-A-Bear party on Sunday, promise to upload pictures this weekend.

A few stats
at birth:
21.5 inches long
9 lbs, 11 oz
today at 7:
47.5 inches tall
52 lbs

She was a big baby and now she's a tiny 7 year old!   I tried to convince her to go backwards this year and be 5 again instead of moving forward to 7 but she wouldn't have it. 

On July 29, 2008 ~ A Duvall County Sheriff called our house at 10 pm telling us my father's house had a fire.  

Parker brings us so much joy ... I can't imagine letting the sadness ruin her special day.  We chose not to tell her Poppy died on her birthday.   We held his ashes until the National Cemetery in Jacksonville, FL opened about 6 months later.  She thinks he died then and that's fine by me.

TODAY .. I try to balance my happiness for Parker and my sadness for Dad.

Nick names

At dinner last night, the following conversation took place at our table:
Parker:  Is that lady who sings really named Lady GaGa?
Brandon:  No, is your name really Lizzy Lu?
Parker: no, it's Parker Elizabeth
Brandon:  What is Lizzy Lu? A what?
Parker stared at him
Brandon:  It's a nick name like Mommy's name is not really Fred*, does she look like a Fred?
Parker:  (laughing) she looks like a Mommy who does a lot of laundry

*My husband rarely calls me Kelly unless he mad at me or we are with other people. He has an assorted list of pet names but the one that has stuck around the longest is Fred (Freddy).   It started many years ago when I used to ask him  "Ready to go Joe?"  and he would respond "Ready Freddy"   So now you know.

What unusual nick names do you have? 

I speak 3 year old fluently, do you?

Bath time conversation on Monday night
Grant:  Don't push that butt?
Me:  No sweetie, you will not like all the noise the button makes (referring to our jacuzzi tub)
Grant:  It sounds like funder?
Me:  Yes, it's very loud like thunder
a few minutes later ...
Grant:  is it my bedtime yet?
Me:  almost
Grant: is the sun sweeping?
Me:  not yet, but he's getting ready to go to bed
Grant:  okay

Some of my other favorite words he mis-says:
Seep = sweep  (btw little Mr. OCD loves to seep and mop!)
peet = feet
burdee = birdy
peas = please
cuse me = excuse me
May I pease be cused?  = May I please be excused? 
Bess you = Bless you
tight one = big hug (that's tight of course)

We're southern where manners matter!  I know one day he is no longer going to talk this way but right now we are enjoying it.  You may remember, he was a child of few words until he was 3.  We are very proud of how far he's come. 

I am so PROUD to be from Military family.

My Dad's headstone

His ashes are buried in Jacksonville National Cemetery, this past weekend my sister was able to go there and take this picture for me.  How appropriate it happened to be Memorial Day weekend.

My Grandpa (Mom's Dad) was a World War II Vet.  He stormed Normandy and survived.  We knew his brother died that fateful day and is buried there but we had no idea Grandpa was there too.   My Mom took my Grandpa to a traveling WWII exhibit and he told her he was there too.  He had never told any of us.  He was the strong silent type.   He only told me he loved me once but I never doubted it for one minute EVER! 

Who said she could be in 2nd grade already?

Meet Parker Elizabeth ... our pretty baby girl

(prior to surgery so I know this picture was before 10 weeks old)

Parker's last day of kindergarten 05/21/2009 with her teacher

(side note: her teachers husband is now my director)

Parker's last day of 1st grade 5/28/2010 with her teacher

Yesterday was Parker's last day of 1st grade!  She is very excited to be a rising 2nd grader, we are not as sure about that!   Look how much she has grown up since the last day of kindergarten?  WOW!  2nd grade is a big year for Catholic kids, they make First Reconciliation and First Communion. 

Because we are two parent working household, Parker will attend a summer day camp.  This will be her 4th year and she is super excited about seeing her "summer friends".   In August, Grant will join his sister at 'big kid' school in the pre-school program.   We couldn't be more excited to have our kids at the same place again, not too mention, no more daycare tuition.  Yes, Catholic school tuition is significantly less than daycare. 

I posted twice in the same week.  Who knew? 

I survived Managerial Accounting!

As I've mentioned, I returned to college life to finish my MBA degree.   The format works for me, my family and my employer.  It's a co-hort format, each class is 4 hours, one night a week for 8 weeks.  Way back in 1998 I started a MBA program but I failed to finish because it was interfering with my social schedule and wedding planning!   So for fun, I waited 11 years to return .. this time with a husband, 2 active kids and a career in tow because, you know, I have so much spare time on my hands.  :-)   Okay, maybe not but it's working out for us either way.  

Managerial Accounting is was not a new concept to me.  My undergrad degree is in business.   Our professor was not exactly what I would call "friendly" but somehow I managed to not only survive the class but I actually got an A.   This class was my be-all end-all though, I worked on accounting just about every night and went to tutoring 1-2 times a week.   I honestly believe everything I learned was from the adjunct tutor, she was awesome!

I've been an absentee everything through the last 8 weeks as I struggled to learn from the class.   I almost gave up facebook and certainly this blog.   We've had a 3 week break before the next class starts but I'm not worried about Finance in the least.   Surely, I will remember something from undergrad, after all it was my major!

1st grade to MBA?

Last year for Parker's Spring Break, we went to Florida.   It was a multi-purpose trip, we buried Dad's ashes and took the kids to Disney World for the first time. (I just realized I've never blogged about Disney.  I will, I promise.)   This year, we did things a little backwards ... my Mother (who lives in Florida) came to us!  Seriously poor planning?  Not at all, it was intentional.  My Mother wanted to spend time with her Mother who is 80 years old and not in the best health.   I started my MBA program in October and I don't get a Spring Break so this worked for everyone.

I have taken a few vacation days while my Mother (yes, I really call her Mother -- not Mom or Momma) is here.  On Tuesday, I had an appointment in the morning and took her to my Grandma's house after lunch - it's an hour drive.   Due the timing of when we arrived, I didn't have enough time to get Parker back to Brandon before my prep class for Managerial Accounting.  She attended her 1st college class!

We stopped at WalGreen's and loaded up on snacks, drinks and a Hello Kitty activity book to keep her busy.  Not too mention, she also had her Leapster 2 and DS with headphones.  She was a model child, only once did I have to remind her to be quiet.  She was playing Mario Kart with her headphones on and said "Missed me, missed me!" out loud.  I even got an email the next day from a classmate about how well behaved she was.  A proud Mommy moment ... OH YEAH!

How is your Spring Break?  I guess we get to relive them (tamer versions, of course) with our kids.  I am only working 2 days this week.  Yippee!

The rest of the story

In November, I wrote this post about our ordeal with Grant's speech issues.  He had surgery on December 1st.  Our ENT said he had so much fluid, medicine would never have cleared it, the only solution was to surgically suction it out.   On surgery day, Grant also had his adenoids removed. Within days (DAYS!), his speech was greatly improved.   People who saw him on Thanksgiving could not beleive the difference by Christmas. 

Thank goodness for parent's intuition!  What if we had gone the speech therapy route?  I am so grateful we second guessed the all powerful school for the deaf!  Our little boy is a changed child.  In the days following surgery he asked us "What dat noise?" over and over to sounds you and I take for granted ... a toilet flusing, the water running to the ice maker, rain hitting the steel of my car.   He started singing along to the radio and it's adorable.

Happy 2010!

When Brandon and I married 10 years ago, we had almost NO Christmas decorations.  Sure, I had bought a few over the years for the one day I had my own tree but basically we had to start from scratch the first year. 90% of our ornaments came from Target or Hobby Lobby that year and we could only decorate one side of the tree.  Fast forward to this year, we have so many ornaments that we can not use them all.  Of  course, our tree is carefully decorated, expensive and/or sentimental breakable ornaments up top, out of 3 year old's reach! 

I have a collection of snowmen that have been in hybernation for the last 2 years as well.  I am hoping 2009 was the last year for that.  I love my snowmen and have all kinds in different textures and sizes, most of them are breakable.  I was so scared Grant would break them that I kept them boxed up (another year).  I am happy to report Grant was awesome with the tree this year and we only broke 2 inexpensive (10 year old) ornaments.  Whew!  2010 Christmas will be the year of the snowmen @ our house.  

I am fortunate enough to work for a company (department/manager) that allows me to work from home when the kids are sick or out of school for holidays.  Both kids are out the week between Christmas and New Years, so I set up shop in our dining room so I wouldn't have to worry what the kids were doing downstairs while I was upstairs in our office/bonus/play/guest room (this room has an identity crisis).  Every call I returned had a disclaimer "I apologize in advance for yelling at my kids."  Most people found it endearing, I am sure others thought I was a nut. 

Cheers to a Happy Twenty-Ten!  May it bring you all the joys you deserve.