December 2009

Honey - maybe we should limit the amount of TV that Cole is watching!

If you stay in Texas long enough......

There are two days difference in these pictures. A rare snow in November!

Chief Garrett

Garrett was so proud of his Thanksgiving outfit that he wore it to pick Cole up. He made everyone call him "Chief Garrett". What a little cutie!

It always seems that the boys are constantly arguing, but every once in a while a catch a peaceful moment. I love these guys with all of my heart.

Should I be Concerned??

Well I guess the boy likes a little bit of jewelry. (and yes, I am aware that he is wearing a Scooby-Doo top and Wonder Pets bottoms)

Do I really need to say anything?

I'm Glad You're Not in Health Class

Cole has always been very up front with me and has never been shy to tell me what's on his mind. I absolutely love the conversations we have and that we have open communication.

The other day he came home from school to find me studying at the kitchen table and he said, "what are you doing?" "Math" I said. He said, "Oh, I'm glad it's not health class. I've heard that you have to learn about the penis in health class." I simply said, "I'm thankful it's not health class".

Pumpkin Patch - Here We Come...NOT!

Garrett attends an awesome preschool that I absolutely love. When I was asked to go on a field trip with the 4 year olds, I quickly said yes! My assignment was to ride along with another mom to help keep the kids in order. No problem, right?

We made the 25 minute drive to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound. There was quite a bit of squealing from the backseat, but completely manageable. Unfortunately, when we arrived at the Patch, it was CLOSED due to the mud from all of the rain. The chaos quickly began. Garrett's teacher quickly sent us over to the next pumpkin patch which was also CLOSED! Well, let the madness begin. Brody (who's mom is driving the car), quickly verbalized his outrage by this with words I did not know that 4 year olds knew. I know my eyes about popped out of my head and his mom calmly said, "Now Brody, we don't say potty words like that". (That will teach him, lol) Garrett (who frequently gets car sick) started his normal ques of about release his partially digested food was quickly given a "barf bag" as he prefers to call it and was asking if we could please just go home.

About 30 minutes later, from the Texaco parking lot, Mrs. Corral found a place we could go where the kids could get a pumpkin. This was another 30 minute drive. The next 30 minutes were filled with me hearing: "Brody keeps saying potty words", "Can we please just go home", "I need to go to the bathroom", and my very favorite, "I think I'm going to throw up". The new patch had no bathrooms and thankfully the very nice gentleman from "Metro PCS" was sweet enough to let 13 four year olds use the bathroom in the back of the store. One very sweet mom was passing out Tylenol to all of the moms which we took with our children's juice boxes.

The kids were exhausted by the end of the day and were happy to get their pumpkins. I am now aware of where Garrett is hearing his new "potty words" and Jason was right when he said, "he didn't get that from me"!

Poor, poor Garrett -

As I mentioned earlier, Garrett was not feeling well with a stomach bug last week. He got the privilege of carrying the "bucket" with him in case of an emergency. He was very sweet when he asked me to take a "sick picture of him".

Yes, it has been a while......

I guess things have been a little busy lately. I have no new pictures since I have not had the camera out (or have been too exhausted to get the darn thing out) . We seem to be very busy lately and I can't quite figure out why. Cole is staying busy with fall baseball. We are all a little bit exhausted from baseball to say the truth. I don't know how some mom's keep up. Garrett is learning so much at preschool. He is so proud of himself.

The boys have been sick this last week. I am assuming that Garrett first blessed the family with the swine flu and later shared it with his brother. The boys were only sick for a couple of days, but Cole was not allowed back at school for one full week. At first, I thought I would go crazy, but we really enjoyed each other and ended up having a great week. The following week, Garrett came down with a stomach bug and I guess time will tell if he decides to share this with the family.

I am starting back to school (yes for real this time) and am getting used to the idea of "Internet" classes. The Internet was not around the first time I attended college, but have found it useful to attend school with a family and an existing career. While Cole was out of school with the piggy flu, we both sat at the kitchen table and did homework. He thought that was really weird.

Anyway, hopefully I can juggle life a little better and will keep up with my blog so my dedicated followers don't think I have fallen off the face of the planet.

o

Almost complete!

Now that school has started and it is raining, my boys are able to swim. Everything is not completed yet, but it makes things alot more fun when you can swim while you are waiting. Garrett brags about the pool to EVERYONE! Yesterday when I picked him up from school he said, " bye guys, I am going home to swim in my new pool at my house". He is such a little mess.

First Day of School 2009

Wow! Summer just flew by. You guys were both ready to start school this year.

Cole - you were mostly excited to be the oldest in your school. I thought I was ready also until I was driving you and you said: "Look at the little kindergartners walking in with their mommies". I took a deep breath and realized that this was you only a few short years ago. My eyes quickly filled with tears and I patted them away before you could see. You are growing so quickly and have matured so much in the past year. I absolutely adore you.

Garrett - You were equally excited to go back to school. This is your last year of preschool and man do you think you are hot stuff. You had to take a lot of stuff in your backpack so I let you take Dad's "train" backpack. You showed everyone and strutted in like you own the place. I think you were the only 4 year old not crying. I also did great with you until I got into the car. By the time I made it home, I was a mess and Dad had to comfort me. I just can't believe you are growing so quickly.

My boys watching Farting videos on You Tube

Thirteen years, Baby!

Wow, how time flies. Jason and I will be married for 13 years on Monday. I can not believe how time has passed. Jason has given me two of the most precious children and I love him more and more each day.

We have water!

Will we ever get to swim.......Almost there!!

The Joys of Boys

THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

We had a pretty good idea that it would be Cole's night to pitch for his team the Georgia Bulldogs, but Cole was oblivious. Cole asked Coach Chuck what position he would be playing for the night and Coach gently handed him the baseball and said "you're pitching". I could see his mouth drop from the outfield. Jason had been practicing with Cole for weeks, but Cole still didn't think he was ready. I knew he could do it. Coach came over to the us before the first pitch and said "he is shaking. I'll let him throw a several and then ask him if he if finished". Well sure enough he threw about 10 pitches and told coach he was done. We were so proud. Our little slugger is growing up (way too fast I must say).

Maddness in the backyard

After years of begging for a pool, Jason finally broke down and took the plunge. Hopefully in a couple more weeks we will be avoiding the Texas heat by cooling off in our own back yard. Cole says that he is not excited because it does not have a diving board and is certain that he will not swim in the pool (let's see how long he can hold out). Garrett's only request is that he can wear his lifejacket (no complaints here). I have a feeling that Sam will get the most use out of the pool although Jason is a bit excited about the hot tub.

Have I mentioned SAM?

Sam is our extremely friendly 4 year old Labrador Retriever. I decided that I needed a puppy when I was on maternity leave after having Garrett (I was sleep deprived when I made this decision). Our family found Sam when Garrett was four weeks old. When I was researching about Labradors, I learned that they were family friendly pets who are loyal and great with kids. I thought sign me up. Sam is all of the above and oh so much more. The first week he ate a hole in my laundry room, chewed up a fountain in my backyard (hard to believe, huh), and ate an entire tree. In the four years that we have had Sam, I have probably vacuumed enough dog hair to fill a dozen garbage bags, replaced several flower beds and shrubs (one shrub was dug up with roots and all on my back porch), and failed dog training a Petsmart. Now that Sam is 4, he has become the best dog. He absolutely adores our family. He watches out the window as Cole walks to school and does not leave the window until Cole is out of sight. He lets Garrett jump on him, pull his mouth open and occasionally ride his back (this is only for a very short ride!). Jason is quick to complain about the dog hair and often informs me that we will never have a dog again after Sam, but I know that deep down he loves Sam just as much as the rest of us.

Time out at the Redden's House!

Garrett's an ALLSTAR

Garrett - you have been wanting to play baseball like Cole for as long as I can remember. You were so excited to get to play T-ball. I thought you would have a pretty good idea on how to play since you have seen Cole play since you were born. However - you were hilarious on the field. You picked all the flowers in the outfield and let every ball roll right past you. You seemed to have a blast though and I think you favorite part was getting a snack and juice after the game. The coach called you the "playmaker".

A trip to Glen Rose

We made a quick trip to Glen Rose to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. The boys had a great time and loved that the animals ate out of their hands. Garrett was a little freaked by the ostrich who was pecking at his window but was thrilled to be there. We later went to the river and searched for dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Everyone was exhausted after the trip.

Young Love?

The little girl who lives behind us seems to be climbing her fence lately and asking for Cole alot. I have asked him if she is his girlfriend and he says "no mom, she is only in second grade". I have noticed that he straightens his hair and checks himself in the mirror before he comes out to see her. We are in the process of putting in a pool and I mentioned to Cole that she might like to come over and he said "I hope so!".

Garrett

Now for my "Big G". Jason and I were shocked when we found out that I was pregnant again. We had almost given up on having another baby. Garrett came out screaming and full of attitude. This has not changed. Garrett - We absolutely adore you. You are the linebacker of the family and walk around like you are in charge. I tease Jason and say that you got "Daddy's temper". You love to wrestle with Cole and Cole is so very protective of you. Cole says that you are going to be a UFC (Ultimate Flighter Club) champ and I might possibly agree. You have absolutely no fear which worries me to death. You still love to "snuggle" me and I hope you don't grow out of this too soon. We laugh because you never walk anywhere and are always running. You are so independent, but I can tell that you listen to every word Cole tells you. My biggest hope is that you and Cole are the best of friends. I love you so much!