Slash in Class...

The first graders at New Century have been studying Reptiles.  Henry asked his teacher if he could bring our Bearded Dragon in to show all of his classmates.  After the principal approved the request, Peter and I brought Slash into school Friday afternoon...

To say Henry loved having Slash in class is a complete understatement.  Just look at that sweet, proud  smile...

Henry told his classmates all about Slash-- that he's an omnivore; he sheds; his body temperature changes to match his environment; he likes to be held; and his favorite foods (kale and mealworms).  We fed Slash mealworms in front of the class (if the kids' squeals were any indication of approval, I think they loved it!) and let him walk around the classroom for a little while.

I think it left a lasting impression on all of the children, especially Henry.

Fire Antz Hockey...

Last Sunday, Chris suggested we take the boys to the Crown Coliseum in town to see the Fire Antz hockey team play.  It turned out to be a lot of fun.  You can't beat $5 admission per person and $1 hot dogs for a few hours of fun on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Blue tongues from the obligatory (dye-filled) ice-ies.

It happened to be "First Responders Night" as well, so there were tons of firemen and police officers in attendance.  They did a half time presentation on the ice which was pretty cool.  Chris and I reminisced about how much James would have loved that several years ago.  It seemed like he would never tire of wearing his fireman costumes, going to fire stations (countless times we took him), talking to firemen, or reading about fire trucks.

Sweet boy... maybe he is just a teeny tiny bit still interested.

...but he'd never say. 

The times they are ahhh...changin'....

This is the second day in a row James's alarm clock went off at 6:30am.  To shower.  Yup.  You read that correctly.  He's waking up thirty minutes early to take a shower and "do his hair."

Have I mentioned he's taken up running?  Almost every day after school for the past few weeks, he goes for a run around our entire neighborhood.  One big lap is just short of one mile.

He has a renewed zest to get straight A's this semester and is working harder than usual.

He asked to wear his football jersey to school today.

He begged and pleaded for an Instagram account so he can start taking pictures and share them with friends.

He received Axe body spray from Grandpa and Ita for Christmas and even though it makes his skin break out, he still wears it.

Why??

You may have guessed....

James told me on Friday that he "has a girlfriend."

This is as preposterous as it sounds but I smiled and asked him who it is.

He couldn't have picked a smarter, cuter, sweeter girl and even though it's completely silly, I have indulged him just a little by asking a few questions but trying not to pry too much.  I want him to know he can trust me and tell me these things.

It doesn't hurt that I still volunteer in his class every Wednesday morning and the young girl's mom is a teacher at the school.

In the meantime, perhaps this extra incentive isn't so bad afterall-- he's clean.  He smells good.  He's exercising.  He's getting all A's.

She can stay.

3 years...

Not a single day goes by where I don't think of something my father said or did.  That last year when he was so very sick is fading out of focus a bit, so the majority of the memories I focus on are good ones.

I miss you, Daddy.  Sure wish you were here to play music, make a big breakfast, and joke around at the kitchen table again...

Broken heart...

Right after the big boys hopped on the bus yesterday, this bulldozer started demolishing the woods directly behind our house...

 According to the owner of our home, it was "never to be touched because it's protected land."  And for the entire time we've lived here, that statement held true (even though all of the other lots were built on).  Until yesterday.

Peter and I watched the bulldozer and truck all day...

For the past 3 1/2 years, our boys and all of their friends have been building a fort in those woods.  And in minutes, it was destroyed.

 Henry was heartbroken.

My sweet little nature enthusiast spent HOURS in that fort-- playing, building, working.  It really was his favorite pasttime.

He and his buddies have plans in the work for another fort... sure hope it works.

Pete's 4th Birthday!

This year Pete said he only wanted a birthday party with our immediate family.  Until the next day when he said he wanted to rent out a bounce house and invite all of his friends.  But only with Mommy, Daddy, James, and Henry.  No one else.  Except he wanted blue cupcakes because that's what his best friend, Cooper, likes.  Blue.  But only James and Henry and Peter can eat them.  And are we all going to Chuck-E-Cheese to celebrate?  Because he invited everyone in his preschool class he said.

So that's how that went.  Until I made the executive mommy decision to have all of the neighborhood kids over but only for (blue) cupcakes.

(Murphy's Law... the computer is acting up and won't let me upload my pictures.  I'll be back with photos from his birthday!) 

Long time, no talk...

Sorry for the two month delay.  I was definitely feeling a little like I've-said-it-all-already and needed a blogging break.  I'm going to try to start posting again regularly.  Easy posts that don't require too much time so that I'm more likely to stick with it.

So....

Chris has been traveling a bunch for work.  He's definitely been away more than around lately which is why the children had countless days off of school for snow rain.  It was on one of those fine rain days, a van loaded with children, that we came out of the grocery store to find... a dead battery.  Perfect.  Thank God for USAA roadside assistance who sent someone within 30 minutes to jump start the car.

A few days later, Chris still in Louisiana, I came out of the gym to find this...

Cute, right?  But not as cute as the mechanic telling me the brakes also needed to be replaced.  And the battery.  Oh, and don't forget the flat tire.  But, I have to be honest... I think he gave me a sweet deal.  Remember, I was in gym clothes.  In a tire shop.  In Fayetteville.  (Who's jealous??)

A few hours later, our van still at the shop, Pete and I made our way to the bus stop to greet the boys off the bus.

No sooner had his feet hit the pavement James announced, "My hair was HORRIBLE all day."

To which Henry replied, "I'm running home.  I have to poop."

All while Peter jumped on and off the grass taunting the bus driver, "You can't get meeee."

There you have it.  All completely typical (asinine) announcements from my children.

We spent the better part of the afternoon doing this until my girlfriend could drive me back to get our van...

Chris returned Saturday around 4am.  I imagine everything will be in working order until he leaves again at the end of the month for 6 weeks.  Maybe the washing machine will explode?