Thursday, September 30, 2010

Leaf surprises


okay...I seriously need to stay on top of this blog updating..but my time seems to run away from me. This week has been beautiful. The weather is FABULOUS. On Monday, I had the windows opened almost all day...the A/C never kicked on!! sweet! I'm gonna love the next electric bill.

With the cooler weather, we have been outside more. We took the kids to the park one evening to ride bikes. We all had a great time. The other day, I met up with my sister and her kids and the kids played around at the park. It's nice to go and enjoy being outside without sweating.


I started raking the leaves in our backyard....it's a task...and I found out sadly that the neighborhood cats are using our backyard as their litter box...ugh! I stepped right in it...super stinky! Lily seems to have a fondness for raking...and all power to her. I don't mind raking. It's fun when it doesn't HAVE to be DONE....make it a "have to" job, and then that takes the fun out of it. Slowly but surely, we'll get the backyard raked.

Dakota is doing good in school. This week's letter is "Ee" and they are learning about apples. The different colors, the tastes, etc. Dakota's homework was to bring 1 red apple to school this week. On Friday, the whole class is going to taste red, yellow, and green apples. Dakota keeps talking about eating apples.


Lily is doing good. We are almost finished with this round of antibiotics. The reason for antibiotics is a 2nd UTI....ahhhh!! Potty training was going great...but when we started this round, I went to pull ups in case the antibiotics hit her system hard. Thankfully, they did not. But the pull ups are making Lily lazy with potty training. She did kinda okay today. I had her in panties most of the day and she got to the potty just in time. Hopefully, we will have better luck tomorrow.

Jed is still working hard...he is doing work for an Army depot about 1 1/2 hours away...so he has a bit of a commute each day. He is hoping to get his old route back...but we are just waiting to hear back from the bosses. Jed works for Safety-Kleen...he picks up hazard waste/chemicals...cleans and restocks parts washers...does a whole of stuff. The kids look forward to Daddy come home each and every day...no matter if they are watching cartoons or already eating dinner, they leave what they are doing and run to Jed. I know this makes him feel great!


Me...just doing what Moms do...and then some. I'm trying to lose some more weight before the holidays get here...I keep fluctuating...up 5 lbs and then down 5 lbs...so I guess I can't be picky about that. I'm working on getting costumes together for the kids...Kota's costume pick changes everyday. Lily, I don't think she could care less what she does. But Kota is eager for Halloween...because after Halloween is Thanksgiving, Lily's birthday, and then.....CHRISTMAS!!

He has been asking for a Nintendo DS. I have been researching them...don't really know what is the best investment. He has a Leapster now...and I was looking at the Leapster Explorer...but I think the DS might be a better investment. He can use it for years to come. I don't know..but at least, I still have a few months.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Fall is in the Air...well, at least, the calendar says so!!


updates seem to be coming few and far between around here.


Fall is on it's way, though around here in East Texas, we won't see that much of a drastic change in seasons. Some leaves are falling already....it's a bit cooler in the morning, and it still feels like summer in the afternoon. I am eager for Fall...but with Fall comes a busy schedule. Once Halloween arrives, then Thanksgiving, Lily's 3rd birthday, Christmas, New Years, and more birthdays...and then throw in whatever school activities for Dakota...and the fun stuff we do with family. Jed's cousins all have birthdays starting soon...1 each month. But you know, I do LOVE parties...cake, food, getting together with family...that's what Fall is all about.

Well, Let's see...here's another update on life here at our house. Kota is doing great in school. We saw his teacher at the family night get together for his school last night. She sang Dakota's praises...saying he is "so sweet", loves to help, etc. Yay!! that makes me feel good...since some days it's a struggle to get him in the truck and off to school.
Talking about the truck...we are still without our van...It's not working. The mechanic looked at it for us...changed a few parts (small inexpensive parts) and I drove it home...yes, It drove home. I try to start it again, and nothing...so, it's back at the mechanic's and we are still using Grandad's red truck. I'm actually getting used to driving a truck around...makes me think what we might get for a new vehicle when the time comes.


Miss Lily is doing great with her potty training...we are usually in panties most days....and she is doing better at taking them off before sitting on the potty to go. Even with a few setbacks, Lily is marching on. I think I might have mentioned before that Lily had a Urinary Tract Infection. That was treated, but due to Lily's history, the dr wanted an ultrasound done of Lily's kidneys and bladder. Just to ensure that there was no scarring from the infection. That was the easiest test yet....the other test was a VCUG... wow! that test was a doozy. I would never wish that on anyone. But Lily did great. It took awhile, but afterwards, she offered grandma a "high five". Lily was consciously sedated for that test...though, I think she was VERY conscious. We are still waiting on results from her tests, but we DO know that the Dr saw NO reflux in her kidneys...which is spectacular news.

So, that's life here in the last week...

We have stayed busy, but we still managed to meet up with friends on Saturday for a quick trip to the zoo. It was nice to just take some time out and have fun.


So, until we meet again...whenever I get around to updating again....Enjoy your family, cherish every moment, and Happy Fall Y'all!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Busy, busy , BUSY!

This picture of Lily portrays how I feel lately...super duper tired!


I'm starting to do it, again....what is that you might ask? well, if you are all still keeping up with our blog, you will see that I have not been keeping up with it like I should be.

What is my excuse? well, which one should I use this time?

I have a few...Kota is in school, so going back and forth to drop off and pick up....Lily is potty training...we have only used 3 diapers in the last 2 days...woohoo!! Our van is still not running...but thanks to Boo (Jed's grandmother), she is letting us use Grandad's truck for the time being. It's nice having A/C again. Jed's truck doesn't have A/C...so, riding around to and from in it, isn't that comfy for the kids and I.

This past weekend, we celebrated Grandparent's Day. So, on Saturday, we headed out to Boo's house and did some cleaning...yard work, and cleaning windows.
It was hard work (my leg muscles were sore the next day) but Fun work. Anytime you can do it all together as a family, you know you are going to have a blast...and the memories you will make...priceless.

Our cousins, Katie and Jerilyn, cleaning windows...inside and out

Raking up the the magnolia leaves...Grandma, Boo, Jerilyn and myself

Kota and I bagging up the piles of leaves

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

We are still here...

This shot got me a frisbee to the camera face...haha!!

I know...it's been a week since I last updated...but it's been a busy week. Well, not really busy...just a time consuming week. We are at a week and a half since the van was running last...so I have been using my neighbor's vehicle (if all else fails) or getting up early and taking Jed to work to have the use of his truck. And thanks to the rain bands from Hermine...I haven't been able to walk Dakota to school...so getting up early is the main option.

It hasn't been too bad...kind of shows us what we most times take for granted. One thing I can say...Jed has become quite the mechanic...this time around, the van has him baffled....but we are down to 1 part to see if "this fixes it" before we go for outside help or look to trade in/up.

So, we have been home bound except for the quick trip to take Jed to work, Kota to school, or pick either of the two up.

And indoors home bound at that. We did venture out over the weekend...the weather was pleasant. Wonderful breeze...cooler temps....humidity is still hanging around...but nonetheless, I think Fall might come on time this year. Wooohooo!

Labor Day was eventful...Jed worked on the van a bit...and then we cleaned up the house (alot..haha) because some friends from our Sunday School class joined us for dinner. Jed made "beer can chicken"...oh! so yummy!! this time around he used some Lime Blasted Mountain Dew...that gave the chicken a wonderful juicy taste. I think it was more the spice rub that he put on the outside, but still...wonderful chicken.

Pictures in this post are random shots from this week...just let you know that we are all alive and well.

Nothing like a yummy ice cream sandwich on a balmy day

Do I have anything in my teeth?

Lily...having fun on Labor Day

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Practicing School





Little Miss Lily decided to do her own "school" today...she made circles and told me the different colors she was using. Now she does do a lot of guessing with her colors, but more times than not, she is guessing right! She has started counting, too. Here counting goes "...4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.." It's odd that she skips the 1, 2, 3 part. She is using more phrases and is pointing out letters as well. I am so proud.


Lily's new phrase is "Oh my gosh!" she uses it when watching Tom and Jerry. My kids love watching the Tom and Jerry cartoons...Lily calls them "silly mouse and kitty"...they are always running after each other. These are the kind of cartoons that I grew up on...so I enjoy watching them with the kids as well.

Lily was doing fantastic with the potty training, but we hit a roadblock/wall/whatever you want to call it. We are back in diapers just until Lily is off her antibiotics. She has a UTI...which the doctor thinks is odd. Usually kids her age don't get these...so we are doing lots of cranberry juice blends, taking the antibiotic, yogurt is a regular around here again....and giving big treats for going potty (even if it is in the diaper). She had started holding it in while wearing panties and I am wondering if that was contributing to the UTI. Anywho...we have about 5 days left on this round of antibiotics, then we will do another urine test and the doctor would like to run an ultrasound...just to make sure that all is okay with Miss Lily.

The picture below is of Kota...he got a card from my family in Florida for completing his 1st week in school. He was so excited to get a card. He is a BIG fan of the Hoops and YoYo cards that my older sister (Aunt Tammie) sends...He loves opening them and listening to them talk. But sadly, his card didn't "talk" when he opened it...bummer!! He made sure to tell Aunt Tammie, too. She promises a replacement in the near future.


Dakota is doing excellent in school...I think he might come home all green smiley faces this week...at least, I hope. He did tell me that his teacher had to turn off the lights 3 times yesterday to get everyone to pay attention...but I guess that's just the fun part of having a room full of 4 year olds.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Way Back When-esday: beginning of speed




school is school....Dakota seems to be enjoying it....due to some unplanned circumstances, our van is on the fritz....which for once, makes me happy that we live so close to the school...so I walked to school to pick up Dakota..Lily road in the wagon. Dakota was so proud to be the only kid riding home in a wagon...but when we left the crowds and the sun started beating down, the thrill was gone. Hopefully, we will only have to do this for a day or 2 more...the walk is fun for Lily and I...the humidity is what gets to you.
Well, the picture above is one for Way Back Wednesday...I know, I got it posted by the skin of my teeth...but better late than never, right?!
This was my Lily Lu...August 2008...trying to crawl...she was just learning how to get on all fours, she just had to get the arms working at the same time the legs worked. To see her now, she is Little Speedy...running all over. She was actually racing in the front yard with the neighborhood kids this evening...she loves running and playing with the big kids.