HOMECOMING WEEK

Last week was Homecoming week, which means lots of activity and crazy stuff. First up? CLASH DAY!

Tuesday: Favorite Sport Day

Cheer (of course)

Wednesday: Character Day

as "Oliver Oken" from Hannah Montana (insert my eyeroll here)

Thursday: Dress Up Day

Thursday Night: Community Pep Assembly! Guess who got a special treat??

Friday: GAME DAY!!!

Saturday: DANCE!!!

Sunday:

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

Today is your 3rd birthday! How can it be that you've gone and grown into a big boy in such a short time? I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. We knew exactly when you were coming - (scheduled c-section). You didn't surprise us...and you are still sort of predictable like that...in a good way.

I always know that you'll try to sneak out of bed during naptime. I know with certainty that if there is a surface to climb, you will...and then jump from it. I know for sure that you'll try to make your sister laugh with some sort of potty humor - even funnier for you if you attempt this at the dinner table. (this is NOT funny, Grant, nor is it polite). I can always expect you to ask for a snack 10 minutes after you've eaten a meal. I know for sure that no matter how bad my day is going, you can always remind me what an awesomely-blessed Mommy I am with your sweet smile, and snuggly hugs. I know if the subject of eye color comes up, you'll look at me, tell me we both have blue eyes...then you'll pause and say "TWINS!" I know you won't sleep past 7:30 a.m....no matter what I try. I know you are incapable of walking. It's RUN or nothing with you. I know that no matter how awful-naughty you are being, I will forgive you...and fairly quickly.

You are predictable in all these ways...but what I was NOT able to predict is just how much one little boy could capture my heart the way you have. I am so happy to have YOU, Grant, as my son. And I'm so very happy to watch you grow into such a sweet little boy.

God Bless America and Preschoolers!
(we'll work on where the heart is...oops...but still cute as heck)

Here's another song that I've listened to a lot before and appreciated the music...but lately I've been really listening to the words and am touched...really moved by it. Thought I'd share it with you, as well as the back-story video. YouTube won't let me embed it...but please, PLEASE click the link below to view the story. I have much admiration for this wife - for having the courage to speak the truth...and to her husband...for having the courage to listen:
CLICK HERE then come back and scroll down to view the whole song in a video

No School and a Trip to the Zoo

Lauren had a no-school day earlier this week, so we took full advantage of the perfect Fall weather and our free pass she earned from the library this summer and headed to the zoo!

Our zoo is small...dinky, really...but perfect for preschoolers. Just enough wild animals to keep their interest. And best of all...you can be done with it all in 3 hours or less. They LOVED the parakeet feeding exhibit and the giraffes! Luckily they came out unscathed from the x-rated giant tortoises (ick). I guess I'd never thought of HOW the giant tortoise breeding process worked...and I can honestly say I'd love to never think of it again. So. Gross.

Here are a few pics from our no-school day adventure:

Lauren - 2010

3rd year of dance

Tap/Ballet Combo Class

Book Club last night. Here's what we're reading this time:

What we just finished (and I'm just starting):

I've heard this a million times...but today I'm particularly moved by this one:

BAD HAIR DAY

(and this is the GOOD angle)

Trains, Tattoos, Apples, Tea Parties and Spray Paint

That pretty much summarizes the weekend. Grant went w/his Dad to Toys 'R Us on Saturday for a Thomas the Tank Engine play date. He came home will all sorts of goodies, including this visor and tattoos. Mark put on his tattoos. I think I might have gone for the bicep tattoo...but whatever. boy's day out...I didn't intervene.

Later on Saturday I took both little kids to the Master Gardener's Demo Garden to pick apples...FREE APPLES! The kids had fun helping to find good-looking apples and running in and around the trees. They also had fun trying to climb the sturdier branches. We came home with an entire beach bag FULL of apples. Now I'm trying to figure out how to make applesauce without the use of special equipment (I don't have anything special).

Lauren and I hit a few garage sales Saturday too (while the boys were having their fun). No super-great finds, but I DID find this wooden shelf/peg-hook thingy in a boring peachy-tan color for $3. I would have preferred $1....but I don't have bargaining guts...so I paid $3. I spray-painted it black and hung it over our entryway bench/cubby thingy. I still need to decorate it...so forgive the lack of cuteness on the shelf for now.

Side note: Bailey was invited to both the apple-picking and the garage-saling. Apparently a teen prefers sleep.
After a fun weekend, it was back to the routine for everyone this morning. Lauren and Bailey off to school, Mark off to work and Grant and I were home...cleaning and playing and cleaning. Lauren comes home just before lunch and they are always so excited to see each other. They immediately set out with a plan to have a tea party. (nothing political about that, by the way).

It looked like great fun...too bad it lasted all of 2 minutes before they were on to something else.

And now they are SCREAMING at each other because Lauren "ALWAYS wanted to be on a top bunk and it's NO FAIR that Grant ALWAYS gets to be on the top shelf." Good grief. Good thing they sometimes get along and are so sweet-looking when they do!