Our Animals with Some Animals.

One of the perks of WBH's job is the educator passes we can get, including passes to the fair.  While we felt like we might go crazy in the crowds at times, we we glad to take the boys, because ...

Stinky caught (and pet) a fish! 

Rotten gave us this look when we tried to have him pet a goat 

("With my HAND?!  That's disgusting!") 

but was more open to the idea of seeing a duckling. 

This kid... he's gotten so big.  

It was a lot of walking for little (and medium and big) feet, but we got this picture on the way back to the car. 

Priceless. 

Sunday Inspiration

found here

What I Wore Wednesday: 21 Day Challenge, Round 2

I'm re-doing the 21-day challenge again.  I'm enjoying it a lot more this time around- often, I think because I have more places to go now that we're out of summer.  Not to be too cheesy, but the challenge has been awesome- I dress better, I feel better, and I find I've been treated with more respect. I plan what I'm wearing a head of time, which has me more organized.  Not to shabby.  

 Here are a few of my favorites so far:  

Top row:  

Day 10: save a closet orphan.   good for a sick day: comfortable, but presentable.

Day 7: layer accessories plus a new dress for church.  necklaces wasn't my fave, but I liked the outfit. 

Day 6: Get creative: skirt cut from an ill-fitting dress

Bottom Row:

Day 5: belt it: favorite outfit so far, will be a go-to. 

Day 2: tuck it in, also featuring my re-mix slacks.  

Another change?  Taking a picture everyday has made me realize that I'm ready to make some other changes:  Weight Watchers starts again on Friday.

Stinky's last first day of preschool

2009

2010

2011

It's very surreal.   What a boy he's become. 

Shock and Awe

 How about something more awesome after yesterday's complaints?  This is one of my favorite memories from the summer.  A ballet corps was performing at the farmers market.  We were sitting to the side of  them, in the area they used for the 'wings' of their stage.  Stinky watched nicely for most of it, but a few minutes before the end we saw him covering his face.  When we asked him why, he said "Because that guy's butt is just hanging out of his pants!"      

I'm so glad my sister-in-law got a picture of that moment.  

September Mourn

Transition, I am learning, is something I do not do well.  I love to go places with my kids, and they're usually great once we get there.  I struggle with getting all of us out the door with the appropriate supplies for the day without getting snappy at everyone.   So it shouldn't surprise me that in spite of a deep love for autumn, September is not my favorite month.  It's a month of constant transition.

First, WBH goes to back to work, which is a change for all of us in schedule, and in not having a second parent at home.  Then, just as we've gotten used to that change, Stinky's preschool starts again.  I love the return to routine, but dread shifting gears.

I've been dreaming up ways in my head to change my attitude about this time of year.  Do I try to make it more fun by starting new traditions?  Should we do a back to school feast and discuss our goals and dreams for the school year?  Do I fill my home with autumnal scents by baking up a storm?  Do I get nest-y and do a very belated spring cleaning and get out the fall decorations as soon as the calendar page is turned?  Or do I allow myself to wallow in the sulky feeling that inevitably hits me on WBH's first day back at school for a little while, then move on once it's passed?  I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle ground, but I haven't found it yet.

Sunday Inspiration

found in this shop

So, that's my plan for the week.  How about you? 

Stinky on Stage

I used to do a lot of theater.  It wasn't uncommon for me to be in rehearsal for one show once I was performing another.  After I got married, it slowed a little, but once I was pregnant, it was a little bit harder to find roles  (C'mon, a pregnant nun in The Sound of Music would add a lot of depth, and you know it).  After Stinky was born, I played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.  That was a little more than four years ago.

I've missed performing, so on my 30 before 30 list was to get back on stage.  This time, though, I get a bonus:  Stinky will be with me.   I hoped that we would get this chance, and heaven knows this kid loves attention.  We're in rehearsals for a production at church to be performed just before Thanksgiving, and I'm really grateful he and I get to have this opportunity.    I got a little emotional at rehearsal tonight, thinking about it and hearing the director's plans for the kid's chorus.  I can't wait to see him perform, I hope he enjoys it as much as I have.

I Made it Monday: Rotten's Duck Birthday Party

I don't know why I thought doing a birthday party, Rotten's surgery, starting rehearsals for a play, and WBH going back to work all in one week wouldn't be a big deal. It was. It was a pretty stressful week, and as I look at the pictures of me from Rotten's party, it showed.

However, I think the party went off pretty well. We let kiddos play outside, then came in for the traditional birthday stuff. Here's how it looked:

favors - inside each bag was a rubber duck (colors coordinated on the outside, so you could choose), and some cookies (below).

Cross royal icing off my 30 for 30.  We'll try again, though! 

Unfortunately, our cakes were ill-fated and we had to call in a ringer.

Rotten didn't mind.

Until it got in his eyes.  

Shared at sharingtime, skip to my lou

sunday inspiration

source

Recovery

Rotten and Duck-Duck snoozing before surgery. 

Rotten had surgery yesterday.  He did really well, but spiked a pretty scary fever after (I believe in the power of ibuprofen and prayer!  Thanks, friends and family).  Today he is playing, climbing, and all the things he usually does, only resting in between more frequently.  Oh, and he has to be help on my lap and  fed morsel by morsel, but I guess that's his right.  Dude's junk hurts.

If I don't get to posting the rest of this week, you'll know it's because I'm snuggling this boy, or giving attention to big brother who is a little jealous of all the attention little brother is getting.  Or I've passed out from the stress of this week (we also have preschool meetings and Rotten's birthday this weekend!  No big!) .I have so much catching up to do, and I look forward to getting it posted.  Some time.

Darnit Day

Today is Darnit Day.  WBH's first day back at work after the summer always finds me sulky and a little unsure what to do with myself.  So... let's think about baseball.   We tried to make up for our bummer summer start by cramming in as much fun stuff into the last three weeks of August as we could, and baseball was a big part of that.

We were able to go to not just one, but two ball games with the boys.  Rotten isn't sure what he thinks about it yet, except  that he likes clapping and yelling..  Stinky, on the other hand, was awesome.  His attention span for the game kind of amazed me.  At one point, he turned and said to our friend Tealah "I think I could do that"  and asked us for a baseball bat.

Aidan got a game ball from a preschool friend that we took back to the second game and had it signed.  He has been bragging about it since. 

Thanks to Hope, Tealah, Bryan, Jason, Jim and Heidi for the great times at the games, and Rick and Jadyn for sharing the ball! 

There are more pics from cramming summer into three weeks, and I've got to get up the pictures from the last week of the 21-day challenge.  I'm re-doing it with some friends starting today, but won't post pictures daily here- maybe as a What I Wore Wednesday.   WBH also took on the boy's bedroom as a project this summer that is almost done, and it looks amazing!  I'm excited to share it.  This week my posting may be sporadic, as Rotten has a minor corrective surgery tomorrow, and I'm not sure what  he'll be like the rest  of the week.  Wish us luck?