I have battled a cold this week like I haven't had in a long time and with Ryan out of town, I am single parenting it.
So after having a sour Sally attitude and calling a friend back to apologize for my shortness I made myself look at all the blessings I have instead of dwelling.
My biggest blessings...
The park to ourselves is so much fun!
yes, I was freaking out here and so thankful he made it.
I have so much to be thankful for. I am blessed for times when I can slap myself and realize it.
Part of this week's Tuesday 10 was intended to be last week's Thankful Thursday. I was so sleepy that I didn't hit publish.
Last Tuesday I was just distraught over what was going on with Blaine's (my easiest going kid) teacher. It was a battle with her to help open lunch items, yes completely silly, right? Yes but it wasn't getting done so he wasn't eating/drinking. Wednesday I went in and spoke to her, a tad more forceful than the 2 times prior, and things went great, much better than I expected and since then it's been smooth sailing.
I was most thankful for a great week following Monday and Tuesday.
1. Britton earned his first BRAG on Wednesday! I asked him what he did to receive it and he said he was quiet and listened. No surprise there! The teacher said he talks when spoken to but never out of turn, quite the opposite of Blaine!
2. That same day Blaine earned his first BRAG!! He wasn't sure what he did to receive it, which is so like him!
3. Also on Wednesday, Blaine rode the shuttle bus from his school to Brandon's. I was a nervous wreck. and that is putting it mildly. I spoke with his teacher that morning, his school secretary, Brandon's school secretary and the bus barn admin assistant. Does that tell you how nervous I was?? Brandon was kinda nervous too because he knows how Blaine is not always focused so we were standing right in front of the bus doors when he stepped off.
4. Have I mentioned that Gracelyn and I are having great girl gabbing and fun while the boys are away??
and this week's lesson includes acting like a lady.
5. Brandon had to make salt dough for awesome landform maps this week! He helped.
It was fun making the dough with him, hearing about the cafeteria's food and what he does and doesn't like. Oh and the cinnamon rolls that were palm sized have decreased by half this year! Blasphemy!
6. My mom and I went with some family to visit and celebrate baby Ellis' arrival from China. My cousin and her husband adopted this sweet baby and boy is she a sweetheart! She loves to fall backwards, with no warning, and hang upside down. She plays peekaboo and loves to be passed from person to person.
big smiles at her shower before we left.
my cousin sent me this today, a day of bloodwork to see what shots she has had.
7. Gracelyn was pretty much devastated about not going with me. She cried for "Mimi, Ellis, Mommy" over and over and over Friday morning. It was sweet but sad. Before I left and I knew she got too upset I asked if she wanted to make a video for baby Ellis.
8. This girl loves her Sperrys. So much so, that she only wants to wear dresses with black in them.
I first decided not to attempt a 10, then changed my mind in order to look at fun pics and reminisce of fun happy things over the last week. It's been a stressful first few days with Blaine's (yes, my easy going child) teacher. She is something else and I've tried to not cause waves but the time has come, tomorrow. Pray for me, please.
So let's do happy now!
1. Gracelyn is totally loving being an only child for two hours and forty minutes each morning. I thought she would miss Britton and ask when it was time to pick him up. Nope. We went to breakfast Friday,
the park Monday,
and today Ryan took the boys to school so she and I laid in bed and watched cartoons. rough life.
2. Blaine drew a family picture Friday at school.
Blaine in blue, Mom is first purple, G is second purple, Ryan in black, Britton first red and Brandon second red.
Gracelyn and Brandon were not pleased with their portrayal. Gracelyn exclaimed that her hair did NOT look like that and Brandon exclaimed that he was NOT hairy. Ryan asked Blaine if he was carrying a purse. The conversation this picture stirred was fantastic. It ended with everyone hysterically laughing.
3.
we call this the Vanna White.
4. Britton is playing soccer this Fall!!
celebrating soccer signup with ice cream!
Blaine opted not to play once we found out he had graduated to competitive play. He will try swimming and basketball.
5. Brandon is enjoying playing computer games with Ryan about 30min before bedtime. It makes him feel big to be like dad and they've resumed baseball practices. I absolutely love that boy, I love his eagerness to help me as well as his sibs; Blaine get his daily reading done for school, getting Gracelyn a cup down for water and Britton's Legos to attach together. Simple things but they make the little ones happy and I am generally helping another little one while Brandon is helping one. Brandon is loving and kind and just has such a precious little heart.
6. Gracelyn is all about her babies and Lola tags along with us pretty much everywhere...
making the long walk around Blaine's school instead of waiting in my car in the long line to inch along every few minutes.
7. The first day of school, as the Pre-K kids were filing out of the building to be picked up, they were told to sit on the benches. Britton went right over and sat down. The teacher chuckled as she brought him to the car and said they could tell he watched Blaine very closely last year, he did everything he saw Blaine did last year. He told me proudly as he was getting buckled that he was so smart!
he's the handsome boy in orange.
8. Our favorite pastime as of late has included raiding the game closet, dusting off a few and having fun!!
The kids favorite one to play for now is Hullabaloo.
(pardon our messy living space. I have been selling lots of stuff that just present in our house and garage.)
9. I've sold so much of my kids' outgrown clothes and extra stuff laying around my house on a garage sale type page so I treated myself and finally ordered a sign that I have so desperately wanted for my house. It had even gone way down in price! Bonus!
it's slightly different than this but I cannot wait.
10. Finally and most excitedly! I am going to Texas with my mom, aunt, cousin and couple of others Friday to see my cousin's new baby that she and her husband adopted from China. She is beautiful!
I couldn't resist when I got the invite to the shower. You know, everything's bigger in Texas, right? It's nothing short of God's grace and mercy that baby Ellis has survived. The poor baby is malnourished and underdeveloped. The parents have a wonderful team of doctors to get that precious babe healthy. I can't wait to get there and celebrate her!
Friday, following the kids' first day of school, we went to the Hydro Free Fair, the oldest free fair in Oklahoma, as we do each year. It's always such a blast because the fair is small and just like something you would see in a movie.
Gracelyn and Britton screamed their heads off, in excitement!
The Ferris Wheel is the fastest I have ever been on. I heard it's the fastest in the state and I believe it. Your stomach goes up in your throat. BUT it's a blast and our kids agree! When G and B3 screamed, I double-checked with them to make sure they were having fun. They emphatically said YES! Then from the top they spotted their best buds Cayson and Taryn waiting in line so it became more fun waving and screaming!
ready for the train ride
he told me he was going to scream through the tunnel. He did!
Blaine and Gracelyn enjoyed the ride like this.
the littles. Brandon was off with friends.
we roped him back in for a family carousel ride.
our girl and her pink horse.
Blaine driving the green car
Britton driving the fire truck
Blaine's huge watermelon
she loved the airplane
action shot. my phone is horrible but G cheesed the whole time
BFFs at the fair. I love these too.
he got cotton candy!
It was a wonderful way to end a very fun and exciting day and start feeling like Fall! We all can't wait til next year!
Britton started Pre-K and I never could tell if he was excited or nervous, it was more like a mixture of both. I was the same way. He looked uncertain Friday and only cried after we dropped Brandon off and headed to his school. When we arrived at his school he didn't have a chance to be sad because Blaine was bounding up to the door and through it. Britton followed suit and did great! I was so nervous for both of us but we only cried in the car on our way to his school!
he loves his baseball backpack!
he wants to be Batman. When Blaine questioned his profession he said he wants to help people.sweet boy
Britton with Mrs. Boyd and Mrs. Hunt.
When he got in the car after school Mrs. Boyd told me that he knew a lot of what to do from watching Blaine last year when we were up there. Britton was by far my happiest yesterday following his day. He told me all about recess and class and that he was so smart!
