What's going on in our world?

1.  Fred has been training for a half iron man this summer. (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run) He went on a 65 mile bike ride with his buddy this week as part of his training...the day before he ran 13 miles before I took the kids to school.  Mercy.    

 

2.  I started teaching this week.  I have many of the same students from last year.  They are such a blessing.  We are going to have a great time learning American History and Pre Algebra.  Yahoo!    3.  Tuesday night we had an associational meeting at church.  Some people from church brought food and the boys and I, along with several others, helped serve it.  Right as people were bringing food in the bottom fell out.  Unbeknownst to me Clayton went outside, got our umbrella and then proceeded to hold the umbrella over all the ladies (while he was getting wet) while they brought their food in.  Brought tears to my eyes. 
Friday night we surprised the boys and took them to a Jackson Generals game.  We had a blast.  Clayton caught a foul ball.  He was over the moon excited.  He even got it signed after the game. 

4.  While at my parent's house this weekend they presented Jack with one of the tough decision:  McDonald's or honey butter biscuits from a can for breakfast?!?  After much thought...and  I mean much thought...He decided on McDonald's.  In the end we wound up going to Latham's Meat Market.  It was great.  Delicious.  Good choice, Jack. 
5.  Andrew woke up crying the other night because his "face" was hurting.  We rubbed hydrocortisone ointment on it, gave him an ice bag and then let him get in to our bed.  After hours (yes, hours!!) of crying we finally decided to turn the light on to look at his face.  I told him to point to it.  He said, "It hurts RIGHT. HERE!!"  and pointed to his ear.  Duh.  Hydrocortisone ointment does not help an ear people.  After hours (yes, hours!) of crying we finally got some numbing drops and an antibiotic (Walgreens is not opened at 6:00 am when this stuff always happens.).   By that afternoon he was playing the Wii and jumping around.  You never would have known the trauma that had occurred...well except the bags under mine and Fred's eyes. 
Holding a sweet little boy all morning was not how I intended to spend my Friday morning, but I'll take it.  Little boys grow up way to fast to let them sleep on the couch when they are sick.  

Now that the boys are in school Andrew and I have a lot of time together.  It is great.  Here is Andrew during a rousing game of Headbanz.  Classic.  He selects the card to put in his band.  I give a couple of clues.  Then he takes the card off, looks at it and tells me what he is.  This is not how you play the game...but whatever...he sure is cute!

 Andrew wanted to go home with Fred and Renee.  This is the breakfast he picked out before church.  My question is...who wouldn't want to stay at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's?!? 

Beginning of School and Other Things

School started last Thursday.  Here we are not even a week out and summer is a distant memory.  Poor Clayton has to share his birthday every year with the beginning of school.  He had a friend party, but we celebrated on his actual birthday with a donut breakfast and Pi Pizza for lunch.  Pi Pizza is our favorite!  He requested a chocolate chip cookie with ice cream.  It was basically a big ice cream sandwich.  I just kind of made it up, but I think it was a success for sure!

The next day summer was officially over and we all got up super early to head to school.  We headed out and all was well.  The days of going in with my boys to get their picture are long over. Over.  I had to settle for a photo shoot outside.

 These boys look so big to me!  Second and Fifth grade...what?!?  They are growing in their relationship with each other and with our Savior.  It is such a joy to watch.

We pulled out of the driveway and headed for our drop off routine.  The boys go to two separate schools.  So, we pray before we get to the first school.  Let me just say, I'm not an emotional girly, girl.  For pete's sake, I live in a house with four boys.  No one has time for a weepy woman.  All was well until I pulled in to Jack's school to drop him off.  This will be Jack and Clayton's last year at their respective schools.  I turned around to tell Jack goodbye right before he got out of the car and I promise one year old baby Jack grinned at me and said bye.  One year old baby Jack.  Do you know how cute he was?!?  Here's a blast from the past. (Could you not just eat him up?!?)

The tears started flowing and I could not quit.  Clayton even offered from the back seat a hesitant, "are you crying, mom?!?"  I had to give him a yes in between sobs.  Good grief these boys.

Andrew and I have started "school" while the big boys are gone.  We've started with the letter b.  We are using a curriculum called Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve.  You can get it here.  We are thinking of everyone/everything we know of that starts with the letter b.  We are making brownie bites for the Burtons, Bennett and Mrs. Bettie (Oh, and the big boys at Jack's request. Grin.).  At one point this week Andrew tripped on a backpack.  While he was screaming on the floor I made sure he knew he had tripped on a b...b...backpack.  He did not appreciate my teachable moment.  Ha!  While we were making our brownie bites I asked him to tell me what letter we were working with this week.  His reply..."Six".  Yes, I have a degree in elementary education.  Yes, I do.

Ramblings

-Fred's birthday was yesterday.  I cannot remember his birthday being on a Sunday.  His parents and sisters came to Paris to help celebrate.  It was a special day.  Clayton also got up early to create this card...

 

It's a little fuzzy, but it reads, "We know you love us all, but I know I'm your favorite."  Funny kiddo.

A precious lady from our church knows Fred likes loves her chess squares.  She made him a full pan .  No lie, he was cutting them with his pocket knife before we left the church parking lot. 

-I cannot make this up.  We got new internet service at the house and I had to call the provider for technical support.  The first person I spoke to identified himself as "Brian", but his heavy middle east accent leads me to believe that was not his real name.  Any who...He started his call with, "How is your day going so far?" I said fine. Then I said, "How about your day?".  You know, just being polite.  He proceeded to tell me, "It is okay.  I'm a little hung over though.  Too much tequila and vodka for my anniversary party.  You have to party hard on those occasions though, right."  I was speechless.  That rarely every happens.  Ha!
-Clayton's birthday is this week.  We went to Gatti's pizza in Murray and then to swim in Paris.  We were supposed to eat lunch at Shogun (a hibachi grill), but some ones mother forgot to check the hours of the place.  Apparently, they are not opened for lunch during the week...only on Saturdays and Sundays.  Who knew?!?  We still had a good time, despite the change of venue.  This is a sweet group of boys.

-My nephews came to my parent's house last week.  We went for a few days of togetherness.  I am so grateful my boys have cousins (really on both sides) that are not just family.  They are friends. 

-Something is wrong with our plumbing.  I told the boys not to use the bathrooms unless it was absolutely necessary.  In other words go outside if you can until the plumber gets here.  Jack's eyes lit up.  Guess what??  He immediately needed to go to the bathroom.

-Andrew had food all over his hands the other day.  When the napkin was handed to him he said, "That's okay, I'll just taste them off."  (Instead of lick.) 

-Last night we were discussing what the boys talked about in Sunday School.  They talked about Solomon.  Fred asked them what Solomon asked of God when God told him he could ask for anything.  Andrew thought for a minute and then quickly and enthusiastically said, "Cookies!" 

-And just because it's cute...