Garrett's Love for Inflatables Continues.........

This one is HUGE and is his favorite.

Since Garrett was about three years old he has been fascinated with blow ups, i.e. inflatables. He loves all kinds. Any holiday, any shape, any size... he does not discriminate. Personally, I detest them. I'm just not an inflatable kind of girl. But, after seeing how happy they make him how I could I say no? One day in the near future, I'll miss them being in my front yard........right?

7' snowman, 8' Santa & pop up snowman in present

Garrett's First RCCC Performance

My two handsome boys

As I've mentioned before, Garrett auditioned for and was accepted to the Roanoke College Children's Choir last spring.  Their fall semester started in September.  Since that first gathering they have been practicing for the big Christmas concert.  That concert was today.  I could not have been more proud!

He looked so very handsome and did an outstanding job.  I honestly don't know how he learned those songs.  They sang one in French and one in Hebrew.  Amazing!

I'm one proud mom

Darrin's parents and brother came up to enjoy his singing as well, which thrilled Garrett of course.  He has three weeks off and then it's back to practice.  They now have to get ready for their spring concert.  They will also be competing in a choral festival in Williamsburg, VA in the spring.

A week ago they A, B and B+ choirs also toured three local schools to help spread the Christmas cheer.  I was fortunate enough to be a chaperon and was able to ride the bus with this great group of kids.  It was a whirlwind day but everyone really enjoyed their performances.

The school tour

A Visit with Santa

Today we visited Santa at our local mall.  It was a relatively short wait at just 45 minutes.  Since Garrett has figured out the whole Santa thing, he wasn't too excited.  However, he put on a good show for his little brother.  What did Payton tell him he wanted?   A paint ball gun and a new toothbrush! 

I do not Own "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

Photo from www.thegreenhead.com

Tonight, after carving our pumpkins, my boys are watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It's such a special treat every year. We make our hot chocolate, with all the trimmings, and settle in on our couch for an hour. I know they sell this movie at every major retailer in the country, but I refuse to buy it!

Having this movie in our personal DVD library would take away its special-ness. If the boys knew they could watch it in the middle of summer it would just lose it's magic. Just like everything else, it would be taken for granted. Therefore, we'll continue to look forward to that one hour a year when we can snuggle as a family and enjoy the greatness of the pumpkin patch.

I remember when I was little... I would look forward to the one night a year that The Wizard of Oz was on television. Oh how I loved that movie. It's so magical, so wonderful. I would sit, undisturbed, in front of our TV through the entire movie. The possibility of ever owning this classic never even crossed my mind as a child. That was never even in the realm of possibilities. This was before we even owned a VCR for Pete's Sake. Even if my mom could have purchased it, I'm glad I didn't own it. I'm glad I had to wait 364 days to see it again. To this day it is one of my favorite flicks. That's another movie that I refuse to buy too.

So here's to the Emerald City and the Great Pumpkin, whom I shall only see once every 364 days. May you each retain your magic for generations to come!

Darrin was attempting to be all spooky and took this picture in the dark, hence the orange glow!

New Models on the Block

Remember a few weeks ago when I was complaining about the price of the boys' school pictures? Well, Darrin and I took the boys to get their pictures made over the weekend. We spent less than the $80 we would have at school and got six different poses in all kinds of sizes! They turned out wonderful and now I think I'm going to put them to work as child models!!

Camping x 2

Both boys went camping this weekend. Luckily, Darrin and I got to stay home. How is that possible? Well, Payton was invited to go camping at Smith Mountain Lake State Park with his friend and family. They left Friday right after school and returned around 4:00 p.m. today. From what I hear he had a blast! He says his new sleeping bag we got him kept him "warm and toasty." Here's his top ten favorite things about camping:

1. Sleeping in a tent
2. Telling ghost stories
3. Fishing
4. Not having to take a bath
5. Eating smores
6. Cooking over the fire
7. Hiking in the woods
8. Being with his friend
9. Finding cool rocks
10. 
    
    Wading in the lake

He says he wants to go back again soon. Sure home Uncle Jim and Aunt Dawn have a camping trip planned soon so he can tag along. Unfortunately for him, Darrin and I art not camping folks.

Garrett was at the same lake, just on the other side of it. The Roanoke College Children's Choir had their annual Fall Retreat this weekend at the 4-H camp. It was a little shorter.... he had to check in my 9:15 a.m. Saturday and was home today at 1:00 p.m. Darrin and I took him bright and early Saturday morning. We got him all settled in his "cabin" {which was really a nice brick building with electricity, indoor plumbing and everything.} He hung around for a little bit to listen to the choir practice. Darrin hadn't had a chance to hear them before.


Garrett was so excited to spend the night without me or Darrin around. He was in a room with four other boys and an adult male chaperon {a choir member's father}. Last night there was a 70's disco dance too. From what I hear Garrett, and 99% of the other boys, danced to one song and spent the rest of the time plastered to the wall just watching.
Garrett wants to go back too. I could handle his style of camping...... bed, electricity, TV, indoor bathroom with shower... That just may be do-able.
Oh, I almost forgot. The kids could choose some of the albums {as in record albums} that the DJ used at the dance to bring home. Garrett, for no apparent reason, chose Shaun Cassidy's album with Da Doo Ron Ron on it. Garrett had no idea, but I was a huge Shaun Cassidy fan back in the day. I had a light blue, satin SC jacket and a long pink SC night gown. Da Doo Ron Ron was my absolute favorite song too! I can't wait to listen to it...... I just have to locate a record player.

So what did Darrin and I do while the boys were gone? We spent yesterday shopping... we found flea markets, Goodwills and even stopped by the mall. Then we met his brother, Danny, at Red Lobster for their endless shrimp. After eating we went to his place and watched the funniest movie, Baby Mama. I thought it would be totally stupid but it kept us all laughing.

Chuck E. Cheese & Bowling

To celebrate the boys surviving the dreaded first day of school, we took them to Chuck E. Cheese... which we do every year. Darrin had as much fun as they did. It didn't take the three of them very long to go through 100 tokens!

I told them to act like they liked each other

Ready for some F-U-N!!

He's really my third child

Then, a few days later, we had family fun night and Garrett brought a friend with him. We ate at Applebee's {yummy} and then headed to the bowling alley. The kids bowled two games. Garrett won the first game and then Lindsey won the other. Payton came in a close third both times. He still has a little trouble getting the ball "all the way down there" to the pins.

Garrett & Lindsey sizing up the competition (Payton)

So serious

Back to school time

It's amazing how quickly the summer passed this year!  I thought that only happened when you were a kid.  Garrett was more than ready to go back to school this morning.  He's missed it since the day it went out.  He loves social interaction and school is great for that!  Payton, on the other hand, wasn't quite as happy to be returning to the "jail" as he calls it.  He told me this morning... "Mom, you just have to be a kid to know how boring it is."  I guess the idea that I was a kid once myself is just too much for him to grasp.  So, we're off to second and fifth grade.  Garrett's last year in elementary school.  Wow!!

Center in the Square

(Wall "Art")

Last weekend, before heading to WV, the boys and I visited Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke. They were celebrating their 25th anniversary and a family fun weekend with free admission. I love free!

It's a great five story building that houses a science museum, natural history museum, art museum, etc. It's great to be able to go to one building and have access to all of the arts right there.

All five floors were jam packed but we did manage to see everything, even a magic and puppet show. The boys had a great time and we plan to go back when we can take our time and when it's not as crowded.

I know, I know... you're just dying to see the pictures aren't you? Well, never fear, I'm here to please. Just go to flickr and they're waiting for you.

Back in VA

I'm happy to report that my Mamaw is doing better. She was moved out of CCU Tuesday. She did have surgery on Monday and came through great. The doctor's placed a filter in one of her veins to stop and break up a blood clot that is in her leg. Hopefully she will be going home real soon.

We came back to VA Tuesday evening. We brought a little something with us too... my three year old niece, Erin. She's staying with us until Sunday. We're having such a great time with her. It's definitely a new experience having another girl in the house. We plan to spoil her rotten and then send her home. (tee hee hee) She just loves her Uncle "Arrin" (she forgets to say the "D" for Darrin. She calls me Aunt "Shame." Isn't that precious?

Tonight is back to school night. The boys get to meet their new teachers tonight and see if they got the one they wanted. It's unbelievable that the summer is already over. I'm not even a kid, but that was F-A-S-T! Garrett will be in the fifth grade and Payton is in the second already. I have no idea how that happened so fast.

Taterisms & a Bubby Blunder

Last weekend the boys and I were in Oceana, WV (i.e. "home") for Mother's Day. Sunday afternoon there was a tornado watch in effect. Tater told his dad that it was really dark, high winds and lots of rain but he didn't see any funnel cakes in the sky!

Tater came home from school one day, unpacked his backpack as usual and then searched the bottom for "something important." He pulled out a little scrap of paper, held it up in the air and announced..... I finally got Madison's phone number! He is his father's child.

When his friend's mother asked Tater where his dad worked he replied, "At a hoity-toity grocery store where they play fancy music." She asked what he did there and he told her "Nothing much really. He just walks around all day and straightens stuff." For the record he's as assistant manager at The Fresh Market and says he does do a little more than that each day.

While putting lotion on Tater's legs after his shower I asked if he knew what those blue lines were under his skin. He assured me he did and said, "Yes, they're blood vines!"

Just last night we were watching a movie on TV and Tater told us that he doesn't like it when movies are in mail box. (letter box)

Tater says that he doesn't like it when he has nightmares and wishes he would have goodmares sometime.

Bubby recently helped his dad install a white picket fence at the side of our house. He was telling his nana about it and referenced the pence fost that he helped his dad set in concrete.

Our own little Christopher Newport

The entire 4th grade class at Bubby's school presented Sing to Know Virginia Studies this week. It was a great play about the history of Virginia. Bubby chose to play the part of Christopher Newport. Mr. Newport was a sea captain who founded the Jamestown Colony. It was up to each parent to assemble their child's costume, which was fun to say the least. We found everything that Bubby wore at Goodwill! The entire costume, from head to toe, was only $13. You can't beat that.

Bubby did an excellent job and really enjoyed the musical numbers. Singing is his "thing" after all! He even took the time to pose with an adoring fan after the performance.

Happy #11, Bubby!!

Blowing out the candles on his cookie cake at the mexican restaurant

Garrett & Lindsey (his friend)

With his new karaoke machine...

...and his new Taylor Swift CD from Lindsey

Tomorrow Bubby will turn 11. I know you've heard it from countless parents before, but it is just so true....... where has the time gone? How in the world can he be 11? My mind has been swirling.... in just five short years he'll be driving. Driving! Then, two years after that, he'll be off to college. College?! Then marriage, kids...... It seems like he grows an inch every night. He's getting more and more mature. He no longer likes Spongebob and Patrick. Now his attention has turned to Taylor Swift and mp3 players. He's interested in girls, one in particular. :) He's a good kid though. It's a pleasure to be his mommy and no matter how old he gets I will insist that he call me that. Happy 11th, birthday Bubby. I hope this truly is your best year ever!

What's up with us?

Darrin ~ 10 years old

Well, to start off with, the boys and I are getting over some kind of yucky crud. Tater started with it the first of the week then passed it on to Bubby. Not wanting me to be left out, they were kind enough to share it with me too. I don't suppose I can say much...after all, I have always taught them to share! Tater ended up coming home from school early on Wednesday and then missing Thursday all together. He had double pink eye. His doctor was gracious enough to just call in eye drops for us since the school nurse had already diagnosed him. You do not know how much of a blessing that was, unless, like us, you do not currently have health insurance. Some things we all just take for granted, you know? Health insurance is one of them. When you have it, it's no big deal. You just go on about every day as usual. When you don't have it, it's a totally different story though. And, the medication that we've used before has always been so expensive, even with insurance. I was dreading going to the pharmacy to pick it up. I knew he had to have it though and I would be buying it no matter what the cost was. God took care of us though! The Rx was only $26!! I even asked the clerk to double check the price. He's feeling much better now and was able to return to school yesterday.

On another note, he tried out for machine pitch Little League this morning. He is technically supposed to play tee ball until he's 8. However, they allow 7 year olds to try out for machine pitch if they feel like they can handle it. He did great! He hit every ball, ran like lightening, caught every grounder and just missed two pop ups. We should find out next week what team he's on and if he made machine pitch or not.

He's always played tee ball with the YMCA so he's super excited about playing Little League. He and Darrin had a great time looking at Darrin's old Little League pictures. He was able to pick Darrin out of all his team pictures.

Bubby is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his birthday in one week. He just can't wait to be 11! 11? How did that happen so darn fast anyway? He's decided he wants to go out to eat and then bowling to celebrate. We told him he could take a few friends with him. However, he only wants to take one friend, who happens to be a girl.....he is his father's son after all. I've ordered his gift from eBay and am just hoping it arrives in time.

Well, that's about it I guess. You can relax for the remainder of the weekend now that you're all caught up on our families goings on. Have a great one. :)

P.S. ~ I discovered a great website this week and wanted to share it with you. It is called Zunafish. It's a place to trade movies, music & games. You just list the items you have for trade and find another item to trade for. You pay the site $1 and they just pay to ship the item. I've already made a trade. I traded one dvd for another and was only out $3.50. It's a great service, check it out. Okay, bye again.

Upward Pictures

Boy, that was a fast season! The boys have been practicing and/or playing Upward since our move in mid-December and now it's over. They had their "day of celebration" last Saturday. This was Tater's fourth year and Bubby's second. Bubby really came into his own this season. He scored 8+ points every game. He's finally realized that he can use his height (5 feet) and really excel in basketball. Now we're moving on to Little League.

P.S. -- click on each picture to enlarge them

The 100th Day of School

The boys recently celebrated the 100th day of school. They brought home a cute paper relating to this special day that I wanted to share.

Tater's answers to "If I had 100..."

• ...dollars I would buy a dirt bike and a four wheeler
• ...pencils I would sell them
• ... mosquito bites I would scratch them
• ...friends I would have a party
• ...legs I would take them off
• ...eyes I would poke them
• ...dirt bikes I would ride them
• ...four wheelers I would ride them
• ...mopeds I would ride them
• ...girlfriends I would sell them (okay, that one worries me a little)

Bubby's answers to the same question of "If I had 100..."

• ...dollars I would get a car
• ...pencils I would give some to my friends
• ...mosquito bites I would not be happy
• ...friends I would have them all over for a sleep over
• ...legs I would stay at home
• ...eyes I would be able to see everywhere
• ...books I would read all of them
  

A Four Day School Week?

We have been in Virginia for eight weeks now. Since the boys have been enrolled in the Commonwealth of Virginia's school system, they have only attended school four days per week! The first two weeks there was no school because of winter break. The other six weeks have gone as follows:

• Week of Jan. 1st: They started back to school on Wednesday, Jan. 2nd which made for a 3 day school week
• Week of Jan. 7th: Off one day for "teacher work day" = 4 day school week
• Week of Jan. 14: Off one day for a "snow day" = 4 day school week
• Week of Jan. 21: Off for Martin Luther King, Jr. day = 4 day school week
• Week of Jan. 28th: Off one day for "inclement weather" = 4 day school week
• Week of Feb. 4th: Off one day for "parent/teacher conferences" = 4 day school week
• Week of Feb 11th: Will be off one day because they haven't used all of their snow days = 4 day school week
• Week of Feb. 18th: Will be off for President's Day = 4 day school week
• Week of Feb. 25th: Will only go 4 1/2 days because one day is early dismissal because? = essentially a 4 day school week

Now, assuming there are no more "snow days" or inclement weather days" the week of March 3rd, they will finally have their very first full (5 day) week of school in Virginia. Isn't that incredible? They will have attended school here for 2 months before getting a full week of instruction. I just can't get over that! Also, in South Carolina, they went to school from 8am - 2:30pm. Here they go from 7:55 - 2:05. In SC they never got out of school for parent/teacher conferences, they did it after school hours. There was no 2 hour early dismissals. And, instead of taking the unused snow days randomly, they were used at the end of the year to get out a few days early.

As you can tell, I'm still adjusting to life in VA, especiallly school life. It's a big change to say the least. I did meet with the boys' teachers today though for our conferences. I received a good report from all of them. They had nothing but good things to report. Plus, we also ironed out Bubby's new IEP, which I am much more pleased with than the one he had in SC. So, there are definitely positives to the VA school system.....attendance just isn't one of them.

P.S. -- Please overlook any misspelled words. Bloggers spell checker isn't working for some reason!

"The biggest snow I've ever seen!!!"

Tater Tot was so excited to wake up last Thursday and see snow.....everywhere! "Mama, mama, that's the biggest snow I've ever seen!!," he said. He was only 3 when we left WV so he doesn't remember the mammoth snow we used to get in Morgantown. There would be weeks that we wouldn't even see our grass. Bubby missed entire weeks of school due to the snow. So, needless to say, Tater was anxious to get out and play in the white stuff. He and Bubby spent virtually all day outside. I joined them for the first hour or so and then I had to retreat to the warmth of the house. The were not phased by the cold though. Luckily I had prepared in advance and got them snow suits and boots. That's something I haven't had to buy in a while. We even picked up a new sled at (where else) Dick's Sporting Goods!


They went sledding nearby with friends in our neighborhood. Then, it was time for the mandatory snowman building. Santa brought them a snowman building kit for Christmas so we didn't have to search for a hat, scarf, eyes, etc.

They hated to see the snow melt the next day and are already planning how they'll spend their next snow day.

Tater was too tired to build the whole snowman, so he just settled for the head.

Tater ready to go down the hill again.

"You mean you can eat this stuff?"

Go Bubby, go!!

Bubby remembered how to make a snow angel.

All bundled up and ready to play.

The catch up post......

Happy 2008! We had a great New Years. Darrin parents, grandmother and brother were here to ring in the new year with us. Me, Darrin and the boys took our annual New Year picture. We always take a snapshot of ourselves as soon as the ball drops in Times Square. Darrin and I started that tradition our very first New Years together in 1991.

Then, on Jan. 2nd, we celebrated Darrin's 38th birthday. Everyone stayed to help us celebrate that too. Bubby frosted the cake and Tater decorated. It was a delicious red velvet cake....his favorite.

The next big event was Tater pulling his own tooth! It had been loose for several weeks and he'd been working on it earnestly. He wouldn't let anyone else touch it so he finally just pulled it out himself. He'd lost a tooth last summer but that was because the dentist pulled it. So, since this was the first one that came out on its own, the tooth fairy left him $5! He bought a dirt bike magazine with the money.