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.

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:

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!

What we're doing today:
* There's a free event at Toys 'R Us today for all of your Thomas-lovers. Rumor has it there will be stories, coloring and possibly giveaways. Just the boys are going today...a special "big guy" day. This is in preparation for our big weekend NEXT weekend where we're surprising Grant with THIS!

* Apparently there is some sort of big game going on today...vs.

but I went here...so who cares.

If I had to choose though....Gooooo school w/lowest tuition that my daughter may attend one day!

* I am determined to finish (ok..at least start) that Family Rules sign I mentioned here.

* Lauren and I might hit a couple garage sales (time is running out on these!)

* More weeding/fall garden/yard prep

* Dust (the ONLY disadvantage of having the windows open all week)

* and I want to watch "The Backup Plan." Last night we watched "Date Night" - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Hilarious! Tina Fey and Steve Carrell do NOT disappoint!

Have a great weekend everyone! (I love how I say "everyone" even though I know I only have about 2 people reading this - ha!)

I believe I've encountered a 2-yr-old boy's way of communicating "DO NOT ENTER!" (excuse the laundry pile in the background).

...And Later That Day

Lauren made it safely home from her first day of Pre-K, we enjoyed lunch together, read a couple library books and headed upstairs for nap. I was SURE both kids would settle in for naps today without any problems because they were both exhausted. So I tucked them in, shut their doors and quietly started gathering up a load of laundry to start before heading back downstairs. Just as I was measuring the detergent I heard Grant out of bed (eye roll). I opened his door, gave him the Mommy stink eye and told him to get back in bed...NOW! He bolted back into bed and jumped into the air to dive-bomb onto his pillow....

but...

he missed. :(

I took this picture when we arrived at the Urgent Care Clinic. The swelling/fluid had already gone down quite a bit in the first half hour. I soooo wish I had taken a picture before we left home, but I was too busy FREAKING OUT internally while trying to maintain an external calm. It was HUGE! INSTANTANEOUSLY HUGE! I bet that sucker stuck out 2-3 inches from his forehead and was at least that tall and wide too. It was scary looking! He screamed and cried for about 2 minutes. After that he was just sweet and kept saying "I need a Band-Aid!" Sweet boy!

He hit with such force I decided I wanted to take him in to be sure he didn't have a concussion. His neurological exam found him to be A-OK...but I still worried because he could NOT stay awake! And if you know Grant...you know this is NOT him! He was out before I left the parking lot and stayed asleep while I carried him through the grocery store, shifting him from shoulder to shoulder. But when he finally woke up an hour later, he was back to our normal, rambunctious Grant. SHWEW! The Dr. said he might end up with a black eye because all of that blood/swelling had to go somewhere. So far no black eye...we'll see what tomorrow brings. The Dr. also noted that Grant was in a year or so ago for stitches. (eye roll again!). He wasn't accusing me of anything, but just in case I thought I should mention that I have two girls at home who have never been to Urgent Care. =-) That boy is aging me!

All in all, he was one lucky boy. Now hopefully he learned a lesson! Beds are for SLEEPING! If I put you in there....SLEEP! =-)