Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tuesday Tidbits...

As I am writing this, to the left of me sleeping on our pull-out bed from the coach is sweet Gracelyn. We just got home from the doctor where she was diagnosed with Flu A. $400 at the pharmacy later and she has Tamiflu as well as a steroid because we have to watch her closely to make sure she is breathing okay. The kind doc also prescribed preventative Tamiflu for the last 4 of us as we wait and see.
waiting to leave for the doctor

it's the flu. :(

Something happier! Brandon's Gifted/Talented class hosted an academic bowl last Thursday. I kept score in one of the three rooms where teams faced off. Unfortunately I didn't get to see Brandon in action because there was a messup with the bracket and his team played all 5 rounds in one room, and it wasn't the room I was in. He and I were both bummed but he knew I was there helping and we got to have lunch together, just the two of us. It was a great day!
 I went in before the competition started and snapped some pics of him at the table. I heard from 3 people, 2 of which I am not really friends with so I know they weren't just telling me what I wanted to hear, that Brandon did awesome. He knew so many answers and in one round where it was neck and neck with the other team, the coach kept him in and they won! All 3 of our school teams ranked 1,2,3. Brandon's team ranked second! I was proud of all the kids.
That day was a big day for Gracelyn and me. I wanted to help with Brandon's quiz bowl but Ryan couldn't watch her so I was going to have to find a sitter, someone other than family. It sounds stupid but I am pretty, okay really close with Gracelyn. I think it stems from her sickness but I do recognize it and am dealing with it, baby steps. Our wonderful church CDO program could watch her that day. It worked perfect. Ryan said she was already telling him bye as he parked. She walked in and gave a wave behind her head to Ryan. When I picked her up the teachers told me she was better than the kids who come every day. Total success.
It was a successful day! Britton went home from school with a friend and had a blast! 
 Great days call for cupcakes!




Sunday night, Blaine read to the family a book that was 1st grade, 10th month! He needed no help! I am so proud of him. He likes to have fun a lot so I never really know how much attention he pays to people or things.
not the best pic but you get the idea.
 Gracelyn doesn't like all animals but she loves Mimi and Pappy's puppy Bella. The thing is, Bella doesn't feel the same about G. She isn't really a kid-loving dog. In fact, Bella sticks close to Rick or hides out in her home. It doesn't stop Gracelyn from paying her some attention though, she just can't get away.
reading her new American Girl books to Bella
Yesterday was Britton's Per Parade. The kids were told to bring a stuffed animal...
go big or go home. Britton chose the bear that Brandon received when he was born. It's been well-loved over the past nearly 11 years and it's as big as Britton. The teachers told me he was so happy and proud and the kids learned about sizes as they lined up with their animals by size. We tried to change his mind to a different animal but it just wasn't happening.

Blaine has an allergic reaction to something on his back but I wanted to get it checked out just to make sure so I checked him out of school yesterday to take him to the doc. Very seldom do I get time with just Blaine and he is just so much fun. I never know what he is going to come up with next. He reminded me that Wednesday is his 100th day of school so we needed to decorate a tee. So after the doc where he was confirmed it was in fact an allergic reaction and Blaine invented a method to let the doc see his back while keeping his belly warm...
"it's not a gown though, Mom."
We hit Wal-Mart for a tee and paint, the pharmacy and the bank. I told Ryan later about how much fun I had and all of Blaine's one-liners

Have a great week!!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Monday FUNday!!

Not this Monday, last Monday! This Monday, Ryan is recovering from the flu, Blaine has an allergic reaction to something and Britton came home from school with a low grade fever. Last Monday was completely opposite from today. The kids were out of school for MLK day and despite the cold outside, we headed to OKC for some fun!
ready to hit the road!
Brandon had been wanting to visit the Museum of Osteology. Yes, a museum of bones. Several friends of ours raved about it and Ryan said it was ranked #1 on TripAdvisor (he loves that site.) So we went to the museum. It was definitely more for Brandon (and Ryan's) age. They had scavenger hunts for Brandon and Blaine and that made it a lot of fun. Confession: we did have to resort to Google via my phone for an answer before we could leave.
I absolutely love them.
We met Mimi and Pappy for lunch and then hit the park to run off some energy!
Brandon, king of the mountain.
They love their Mimi and Pappy!
Then ended our day 'o fun at Steak 'n Shake for shakes!

Over shakes we all talked about our favorite part of the day...Brandon's was the museum, Britton's was shakes, Blaine's was seeing Mimi and Pappy and Gracelyn's was the park! What a blessed day we had. There is nothing better than seeing their smiles!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Tuesday Tidbits on Wednesday?

Random post for sure but that's us!

Tomorrow is Brandon's academic bowl challenge. He asked me to help with it many months ago and since I help with the little kids projects often, I wanted to be there, even just as a cheerleader. (not in uniform, obviously. Those days are behind me!) So in helping at B1's school from 8-3 and having a 3 and 5 year old not in school all day, I have to find sitters. A sitter for Gracelyn is a definite challenge for me but I have and I pray that she and I do well tomorrow. Big prayers! And Go Eagles on your first quiz bowl this school year!!

Ryan was out of town recently for an entire week which mean responsibilities double, naturally. Getting 3 kids to school on time when the two schools are on opposite sides of town, a doctor appointment, a dentist appointment, a surprise big assignment due and then just the every.single.day craziness with 4 crazy kids and mom!
first AM with dad gone and we made it on time, like we did every day! YAY us!

Day 2, Blaine as Optimus Prime on the way to school

sister's first dentist appointment! She was a rockstar, scoring a balloon, princess toothbrush and star glasses!


our magnet of a "Star Patient!" from the dentist!

By Friday, we were ready for him to be home, all of us!

dad's home, happy day! and of course bearing gifts.
It feels like as soon as I recover from single-momming he has to leave again.We did great and while he was missed, the kids Skyped and we held down the fort quite well!

Blaine is so fun. So fun that when his dad took a sticker and wrote Hi, a church version of a kick me sign, all he did was laugh and leave it there all day long. He just has the best attitude about everything.
 

Some girls dress up as princess', this girl dresses up as a cowgirl with a sunhat and gymnast/supergirl!
She can be girly but she can be just as much of a tomboy!
my girly girl ready for her BFF Taryn's princess party!

Britton loves school, recess especially and making stuff for birds.
I asked a few times if this was really a bird feeder but he's certain this Apple Jacks treat is for the birds, literally.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Celebrate the Family

The Pre-K'ers put on a Christmas program to "Celebrate the Family." It's my favorite of all the elementary concerts. The kids are so little and adorable!
Britton is in the back row between the girl in red and the tall boy in green. He is probably the least participative but that's just him. :)













Christmastime pics, nearly a month after

Christmas this year was surrounded by family and it couldn't have been better! We had Ryan's extended family gathering the Saturday before Christmas, then went to Ryan's parents on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and finished up the Saturday after Christmas with my parents, my mom and stepdad!
I wasn't great at picture taking this year. I was just having too much fun. I got no pics of Christmas morning, no pics of Jesus' birthday cookies or Christmas at my mom's.
cousin Kenzee and Gracelyn modeling
caught peeking before it was time!
love them.
Chesapeake! Our first time to get out and walk around.
church
G and her BFF Taryn. Their hugs can get dangerous!
Blaine preformed A LOT of magic!
G working her magic on her daddy
what could be better for a showman than a microphone?!
she's been begging for a pink pony, only a real one!
a big guy sleeping bag as he prepares to crossover to from cubs to boy scouts.
a pic of a pic and the best one with 12 people!