Spoiled much?

Bennett, in the car this morning with an overly dramatic fake cough.

Me: "Stop, Ben. That's enough."

B: "But I need to cough to be sick so you will get me somefing to make me feel better."

Sigh.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Oh, deer

In an attempt to break from our usual haunts and get outside for something a bit different, we paid a visit to a local game ranch this past weekend. Long time blog viewers may recall the first (and only other time) we visited this place...4 years ago, when Owen was "got by a goat." Refresh your memory HERE.

Though we felt the need to wash our hands multiple times and bathe in hand sanitizer upon leaving, the boys did have a good time and we were able to snap some good pics of close-up animal encounters. The facility is in need of some upkeep and I think we won't feel the need to visit again for at least another 4 years or so. But, as with most adventures, the boys were none the wiser...that's all that matters I suppose.

Dinner in Utopia

Booth with our own flat screen tv tuned to nick jr, real firemen seated next to us (went to the truck to retrieve fire hats for us) and mommy/daddy let us split chocolate cake for dessert! Can we do this every weekend??
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Flashback Friday: Just Ordinary Days

So, I had planned to post about Bennett's last birthday party (2 years old) for this week's Flashback Friday. Considering that I blogged about a past party for Owen last week, I thought it was only fair.

But then, I received an email today from a friend.

This email was like so many others that we all get. One with the subject line that contains that telltale "FW:", which indicates that this particular link/anecdote/joke/etc has been around the block a few times before. I will admit that many of these forwards get deleted or given a cursory glance at best.

Today, I watched the video link. And am so glad I did.

It was nothing earth shattering. Nothing that we haven't heard or seen before in different words through different mouths. Just poignant for me today. A nice reminder to stop and take it in.

So, for this week's Flashback Friday, I present to you both the video link that moved me so and a series of shots from very ordinary days.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Click here to learn The gift of an ordinary day.

Happy Love Day!

We are wrapping up a great Valentine's weekend and hope you are too!

In the spirit of the holiday, it seems an appropriate time to share that Owen is experiencing his first real crush. He is very sweet on one little girl at school and has even blushed a couple of times now in response to talking about her. ("She's so pretty. And so nice too!") On Friday, we joined some friends...this particular little girl included...for a puppet show. At one point during the show, her mom and I look over to see her head on Owen's shoulder and his arm wrapped around her! So sweet. Let's see how long the romance lasts at 5.

Happy Valentine's Day to all our family and friends! We hope you had a great day with the ones you love the most.

Hard at work on his Valentines

The finished product

So proud of all that work. His little hand was SO tired! If you ask him though, it's because "Mommy wouldn't let me write in print!"

He was even MORE proud of his Valentine box this year. Would love to tell you how he "discovered" how to cut the teeth and feet to make them look the most monster like.

Flashback Friday--September 2008

This morning, we joined several friends for a show at the Center for Puppetry Arts (CPA). We are particularly fond of this theater and I find it to be a really unique and very worthwhile addition to our 'children's programming.' In fact, when we discovered CPA for the first time, we liked it so much that we booked Owen's 4th birthday party there. Hence the topic for this week's Flashback Friday...

September 2008

While I have to admit that out of all of the shows we've seen, the show that was running during his birthday was my LEAST favorite yet (it was a trippy day-glo kinda show about a little cockroach). That said, the actual party might have been one of my favorites yet!

Owen and all his friends gathered in the front rows on the theater for the one hour puppet show. Afterward, we made our way to the party room where Owen had his very own throne (he didn't enjoy that much at all) for cake and more entertainment.

We brought in the juggler/balloon guy/magician that always plays the mime for French Day at Owen's school. He was so great to work with...very laid back and very flexible...and was just the right mix of funny and captivating for the kiddos.

While I have enjoyed making both invitations and birthday favors for all the parties, I must say that the ones for this party were, by far, my favorites of all. These invitations were probably the most time intensive but SO worth it!

Making personalized puppets became my goal for the party and I was so very happy with how they turned out! Part of the fun was picking out all the "outfits" for each one. No 2 puppet kids had on the exact same patterened paper outfit. Yes, it's a sickness (but many of YOU suffer from the same disease, so...nah.)

While I was on a massive handmade kick for this event, I went ahead and made the coordinating cupcake picks...SUPER easy...and loved how they turned out too. ( I did NOT make the cake...that's a skill I have yet to tackle...but would like to!)

And while we are reminiscing, take a look at little Bennett. I do miss my guys in that 'baby' phase. :(

All in all, a fantastic party and Owen still talks about it to this day. Good to know Mommy's work wasn't in vain. Really was lots of fun for all of us!

Winter Wonderland

So, when I heard we were getting snow today, I wasn't fully prepared for the amount that ultimately came down. We are talking REAL SNOW. This Florida girl...now Atlanta mommy...is still in awe when the snow accumulates enough for snowballs, snowmen and such.

A family first today will be remembered for a long time to come...our first snowball war! Mommy and Owen paired up against Daddy and Bennett. We built up our arsenals and then went to town. So much fun...we were all laughing and freezing together.

This kind of day makes all the cold weather worth it!

For all the photos, click HERE.

oh yeah...it was one of THOSE days

Before I begin, let me just warn you that this post will be a bit heavy on the text and light on the photos (as in no photos at all). This is what we like to call a little bit of venting. Why? Well, because it was one of THOSE days.

If you can see the short book I have written here and yet you are still with me at this point, please set aside your skepticism when reading, as I assure you this all took place in the course of a single day…just as it is written here. (fellow moms of wee ones will likely find it easy to believe…particularly if they have children like mine).

The day began in the usual fashion with the kids up between 5:30 and 6:00ish. There was the typical mix of couch snuggling with mommy and arguing with each other. The first mishap of the day was pretty minor…a dropped cup of milk (full, of course) which managed to hit the hardwoods, end table, rug and couch. So, nothing to cry over, but certainly not fun to clean. Event #1.

It was a known factor that the remainder of the day would not be typical as Owen was home from school for an extra 24-hour waiting period, following a fever. He was home yesterday as well and stir craziness was beginning to set in. He was none too happy about having to stay home again. Knowing that MOMMY would be the one to lose her mind if we stayed in the house all day, I promised a fun adventure for the boys. (No fever…feeling perfectly fine).

In preparing to leave the house, the boys decided to kick up the ‘adventure’ a little early and got a bit overzealous with the running, jumping, and climbing. It wasn’t long before I heard the smack and the subsequent scream; Bennett had slammed his head against the window frame. Although I was quickly able to determine that this was not going to result in a need for medical care, it certainly amped up my stress level a bit. Again, pretty minor but still…Event #2.

After running a few errands, we decided to see if Daddy could meet us for lunch and we headed to Midtown. Amidst the endless chatter in the car, I miss my turn into the restaurant and end up having to take a detour of many blocks to get back around to my destination…gotta love the one way streets. While doing my little square dance, Bennett announces he has to pee. (oh yeah…did I mention, no more diapers?) I quickly pull over into a loading zone and scan the car for an empty cup, water bottle or other suitable container. No trees nearby…plus it is freezing out AND lots of suits walking by on their lunch breaks. I fish out the ‘car potty’ from under the passenger seat but Bennett makes it clear that I’m not going to have time to get it set up. So, I grab one of the absorbent potty liners and just hold it up for B to use. Well, he REALLY had to go and I was challenged to keep the liquid contained to the center of the liner. It reminded me a little of one of those little cheapy trinket mazes…you know where you try to balance it back and forth and get that tiny little silver ball into the hole. I manage well enough and we get back on the road. Event #3…but I’m still hanging in there.

We finally get to the restaurant and park to wait for Rob to arrive. I let the restless kiddos run around in the back of the car to kill some time (the back seats were laid down). Minutes later, I hear Bennett…”I have poop in my unnerpants.” Oh joy. Let me again reiterate the freezing cold weather so I’m not about to stand outside the car and attempt to clean up this mess. I climb into the way back, armed with a plastic bag and a pack of wipes and set about this fun task. Rob shows up just in time to watch me lumber out of the back of the car and we all head inside for lunch. Event #4…I’m a bit worn out.

After an uneventful lunch, we say good bye to Daddy and head on to the next part of our adventure…the Aquarium. As I am sitting at the light for the interstate on ramp, Bennett announces, yet again, that he has to pee. Luckily, there is a hotel driveway situated directly on the I-75 ramp and we pull over. This time, I feel pretty good about the situation…at least Bennett is telling me AHEAD of time and I still have my water cup from lunch. Perfect. The whole thing goes down without incident…until…Owen goes to “trap” Bennett with his feet and B stumbles backward into my hand. The cup o’ pee (iced, no less) spills all over my hand, down the back of my seat and onto the floorboard. Oh yes, it did. Event #5…I’m officially ready to throw in the towel.

Believe it or not, we head to the Aquarium anyway...me and my faint smell of urine. Perhaps this is where I consider possible masochistic tendencies? Believe it or not, we have a great time. It was a really nice outing with my boys…we laughed, played and explored. Believe it or not, we had Event #6.

I was kneeling down with Owen in front of a small crowd at the piranha exhibit. I was explaining why the fish were gnawing away at the fish head hanging from a hook in the top of the tank. Bennett was standing behind me, holding on to my backpack…or so I thought. As I’m talking to Owen, B sidles up next to me holding an unwrapped feminine product by the string. Yes, he did. And lots of people saw. Yes, they did. I glanced up to see who was watching and the man behind us was having a really nice chuckle…so much so that he apologized to me for being unable to keep it in. “It is what it is”, I say. “What can you do?”

Most definitely, most assuredly, most decidely one of THOSE days.

Oldies but goodies

Long-time blog viewer who misses the "old days" when the blog was always active? Stumbled over here for the first time and curious about what took place before we became FOUR Stones? Just bored and have some more time to kill surfing the net?

Well, whatever the reason, head on over to our first blog for a little while and poke around for a bit. Many of the older photo/video links are broken (back to '05). Maybe I'll get around to fixing those sometime. But, you'll get the gist.

Click the banner below to be transported to Memory Lane.

Flashback Friday--August 2009

Today, Owen's class celebrated Japan Day and the entire event served as yet another reminder of how much I love our little school. The intention to send Owen to a Montessori school was born some time ago...a story for another time. However, during the last 2.5 years, the decision has been confirmed and validated many times over. Owen is thriving, is learning in ways that I appreciate more and more each day and is confident and happy.

This photo, taken on the first day of this school year (his 3rd year in Primary) is one of my favorite shots of all time. At the risk of sounding sappy, I will just say that it completely sums up the beauty of the environment and what he gets from it. So grateful for our experience at Casa.

Flashback Friday--April 2009

This photo was taken in late April of last year...Bennett had just turned 2 years old. Since around 13 months, Bennett has not slept through the night and has been far less than a "good sleeper." He has fought us on naps, bedtimes and all sleep related matters in between.

This particular day, he was insistent that he was not going to nap. He was NOT tired, was NOT getting in bed and was NOT having any part of my efforts to mellow him out.

I finally told him he didn't have to sleep but he did have to stay in the room. Miraculously, he cooperated. After about 10 minutes, when I heard complete silence, I went in to find this...



Sleepytime paci in play, "Froggy" in his lap and his feet folded so adorably together...I couldn't help but smile about how NOT sleepy he really was.

Dang it, Darn it!

Yesterday morning, I spent some time working on school auction stuff while Bennett busied himself running between the office, the playroom and the kitchen. At one point, I heard, "Uh oh. Moooooommmyyy...I pilled my milk."

I ask if it's a big spill, readying myself for a huge puddle on the carpet or something similar.

"Yeah, it a big pill. But I'm going to cween it up." After verifying that it was on the kitchen chair (and not the carpet), I keep on working and allow him the space to take care of it hiimself.

A minute or 2 later, I hear "Dang it, Darn it!" This, of course, merits my further investigation. (and then warranted grabbing the camera to document).

Poor kid was trying hard to take care of the situation on his own and then just created another.















Making the scene even funnier is the fact that I have no idea what happened to his pants or why he would choose to put shoes back on with no bottoms.

And notice that diaper? Yeah well...i know it is poor form to make comparisons between your children, but Owen was out of those things well before this age. Little brother is taking his own sweet time.

And Bennett's take on the matter last week? "I'm going to wear dees diapers for da rest of my wife."

DANG IT, DARN IT!

(PS--This is where I add that of all the expletives the child might have possibly heard in his life, I am SO glad this is the one that stuck)

"A weel big boy!"

Last week, Owen's school hosted an event for the Primary students (pre-K and K). For this event, the students got out of school early and went to an off-campus location for lunch and a magic show.

The shindig took place smack in the middle of Bennett's usual nap time. With some reservation, I had him skip nap and tag along to the show thinking he might just hang with me while the 'big kids' enjoyed their celebration. Instead, he joined Owen and his classmates at the absolute front of the crowd and jumped right in the mix without looking back.

Much to his absolute giddiness, Bennett was even picked from the audience to help with one of the magic tricks. (never mind that he isn't a student and shouldn't have been there in the first place!) He was over the moon about his small part in the show.

When it was over, I asked if he had fun hanging out with Owen and his friends. His response? "Yeah! I'm a weel big boy, mommy!" So true, so true.