Around our house...

-Take two.  My mom and I are going to try our shopping trip again this weekend.  It is going to be epic.  I have a list of restaurants and shops I am ready to go to.  One of the restaurants we are going to is Gas Station Sushi.  We will make a ham sandwich for my mother.    
-While I'm away Fred is taking the boys camping.  He was planning to take them to a local camp ground, but alas it is a federal camp ground and it's closed.  They may just camp out in our backyard.  I hate that I'm going to miss it.  I kid.  I will miss my time with the boys and the s'mores, but I will not miss the camping part.  Have fun boys!
-Clayton had his final flag football game of his flag football career last Saturday.  I could have cried (a lot!!), but I refrained.  Upwards flag football has been such a blessing to our family. Clayton has played since the league began here.  What a joy!

-Fall break is this weekend...Thursday and Friday.  I've been counting down the days this week each morning.  This morning I shouted "last day!!" when the boys came to the table for breakfast. Jack then said, "Yes!  Summer break!!"  Whoops, my excitement over fall break may have been a little much.  He is going to be really disappointed when Monday rolls around and they have to go to school.
-For my birthday Fred took us (I picked) to Jasmine in Murray.  It is my favorite restaurant!  We have never taken the boys, until Saturday.  I'm thinking it may have been a mistake.  We may never go on a date there alone again!!

This week

-Fred wrote a great blog post.  To read it, click here.
-We had pictures made this week while at a family function.  My sweet nephew was sad that he wasn't in our picture.  So, I picked him up for a quick photo op with just the two of us.  Before my sister in law could snap the picture all the boys in attendance were around me.  Really, is that not the sweetest group of boys you've ever seen?!?

-The big boys have been fussing and fighting this week.  It has worn me out.  I finally lost it.  In my rant I remember telling them that they were not Congress.  They needed to figure out a way to get along.  I also told them we were not a democracy in this house.  We were all on the same team, but dad and I were the autocratic leaders.  Figure out a way to get along.  Figure it out people!!  (I was on a serious roll!!)  They must have listened because they started to get along.  Thank goodness. 

-This cutie pulled his own tooth this week.  He informed me that since he pulled it himself (I usually pull teeth. I love it!) he should get paid more.  Funny kiddo.

 -The boys gave me flowers this week for my birthday.  I knew they were giving me flowers the day before my birthday because Andrew said in one long sentence..."You know what we are giving you for your birthday? Flowers!"  You must read it all in one breath, because that's how he said it.  Jack and I protested, but it just rolled off his tongue.  It was awesome.

-Andrew built this high dive (his words, not mine) at story hour.  He told me it was a high dive like at Holiday World.  I told him I was going to get his picture beside it to show dad.  He asked me to wait before getting his picture.  He picked up the dinosaur and then said he was ready.  I think the dinosaur really completes the picture.

Five on Friday

-Fred preached a funeral of a precious man from our church this week.  He lived 94 years.  He was married to his wife for 68 years.  You could find them every day sitting on the couch holding hands and watching television.  The last few years have rendered them bound to their house.  They didn't really seem to mind.  They were together.  94 years?!?  I've reflected on all the things his eyes and heart have experienced.  We was born right at the end of WWI.  He was a boy during the depression.  He was a WWII vet.  He buried an adult son.  His grandparents (or maybe great grandparents) were alive during the Civil War.  He spent his last day on earth on the couch holding hands with his wife.  He laid down to go to sleep and simply stopped breathing.
-Fred took a phone call this week and had to pull over to talk.  I looked around wondering what I was going to do to fill my time.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw it.  Goodwill.  I communicated to Fred my desire to go there.  Ten minutes later I left with a pair of shoes and two shirts for the boys.  Score.  I heart Goodwill.  
-Clayton's good friend from Jackson is turning 10.  He is taking a few friends with him to a University of Memphis football game on Saturday.  Clayton is pumped!  Hopefully I'll get a picture from the game.      
-I was supposed to go shopping with my mom this weekend.  I've been counting down the days...scheduling our plan of attack.  Got a call from Jack's school that changed all of that.  He had a fever.  Diagnosis...strep throat.  He has been sick twice in the last month.  We are never sick. Well...unless it's a holiday or major family event.  :-)
But honestly, to get things into perspective, there are worse things in life than snuggling with my growing boy on the couch.  I'll take it every chance I get.  
-Andrew and Clayton love Legos.  Below is a picture of Andrew's latest creation.  It had wheels on it and a few other things before the picture.  Had I known I was going to have three boys I would have worked on my skills with Lincoln Logs and Legos a little more.