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I forgot to post this last night but David and I were up watching Inside Edition when they featured the story about a bumbling Miss Teen USA candidate. David and I were in stitches at about midnight last night watching this. It's one you'll want to see over and over again!
Today we went and picked up Nathan's gear for soccer which starts on September 8th. We met with his team and coach (who also happens to be his buddy, Brennan's, dad) who gave us our schedule, info on playing, snack and drink schedule, picture info and a list of recommended gear.
Nathan was so excited to get over to the sporting goods store today and get all the gear. We scored big time (no pun intended) at Dick's today since they were having a "soccer special pack" that you could get. For $39.99 we got a ball, pair of cleats, socks, and shin guards - all the junk we needed to get. The only additional I had to spring for were the ten dollar soccer shorts.
Nathan couldn't wait to show David his new look as soon as he walked through the door tonight from work. And, of course, he wanted a picture of himself.
His exact words when I asked him why he was getting his jersey on tonight:
"Well, actually I just want to wear my whole uniform so I can see how cool I'm gonna be."
Today we went to a get-to-know-you open house of sorts with Nathan's new Suzuki violin teacher, Mrs. Dexter (a.k.a., Jean). Nathan really enjoyed listening to all of the current students play some and also enjoyed the yummy treats afterwards! I could tell that the kids there really respect and enjoy learning from Jean. Nathan even got to see one of his buddies, Liam, perform since Jean recently became his violin instructor as well, although he's been playing for over two years now. The students that were there tonight played cello, violin, and one student even played the viola. Nathan is one of about five new students this fall. There is even a little boy named Nathan too, but he will be playing the viola so that may make it easier to keep straight - violin Nathan and viola Nathan.
The kids played a few games that were very entertaining for us adults and really were grounded in using your listening ears and music appreciation in general. Jean is very organized and to-the-point which I really like about her. She is also really big on making kids comfortable and letting them have fun with learning. Tomorrow I start my parent-only orientation classes for the next four weeks before Nathan starts his lessons. We're counting the days till Nathan gets his red box violin to start with!
David started taking the kids this weekend to a new playground. It's actually the play area at the elementary school in our subdivision. They were able to go both Saturday and Sunday (twice on Saturday!) and really love it! It's actually really cool for parents too because it's nice and spacious and the kids don't seem to get bored as easily.
Anyway, Nathan has been referring to it as the Spaceship Playground since there are three large vessels that you climb up that look kind of like flying saucers with ladders hanging down below. It's a cool concept, though David tells me that the first time N8 saw those, he wanted NOTHING to do with them. I couldn't tell, though. We went after having dinnner out on Sunday night and N8 seemed to make himself totally at home in the spaceships.
The playground also boasts cool monkey bars and swings and slides, of course. Then we went over on the paved part of the basketball area and did some hopscotch till it was too dark out. I think we've got a new favorite hangout in our 'hood.
Benadryl rocks.
Yeah, I am pretty sure this is written somewhere but until today, I had never actually tried it. I gave Will some Benadryl today and he's been asleep for two and a half HOURS! Next to the nine months he was in my womb, I'd have to say this is the longest he's been out, peeps.
Now before you go reporting me to CPS, let me just say that he's had a weird rash, like an allergic reaction to something since Thursday morning. I can't figure out what it is either. I DO have witnesses that can attest that they've seen the rash for the past two days, too. (You got my back, Erin, don't you??) Anyway, it's nothing like when I had hives recently and he's not been itchy, just red and splotchy on his face and back and belly.
Quite honestly the Benadryl couldn't have been given on a better day. After Spanish this morning and afternoon, I had tons to come home and do so I put both boys down for a nap at 3 p.m. N8 is still asleep too but this is nothing out of the ordinary for him. He's my little sleeper!
Alrighty, well even though I LOVE the effects of Benadryl, I promise not to do it unless need be for medical reasons. But darn, just having the taste of having Will nap for a while certainly makes using it extremely tempting.
A Back to School note for your kids:
Kids, don't forget the wonderful mom in YOUR life this back-to-school season. She'll need jeans, tops, sweaters and of course a new pair of fall boots so she can look stylish at all those classroom parties. She'll need to look her best around all the other moms while they're waiting in the pickup line at school. And don't forget accessories! A fun, new shoulder bag with lots of inside wall pockets will keep all of her gear in one place and easy to find.
To get mom's schedule started off on the right foot, she of course MUST have a new BlackBerry that is not only a stylish techie piece, but will ensure she's got all the soccer games and violin lessons on her handheld calendar. She can also use it to surf the web and find a great dinner recipe while waiting, once again, in that after school pickup line.
Don't let your mom go hungry during lunch this school season! A nice reloadable gift card will keep mommy's tummy from rumbling and will keep her stamina up for the day's events.
Oh yeah, it also never hurts to start planning a fab spring break getaway.
David took this with his phone yesterday while he was home with the boys and I was out on some appointments. When he first showed it to me, he had me guess who was who and I guessed WRONG! Their heads are just so interchangable, it's hard to tell them apart in this one!
Today I had an errand to run at a local kids consignment shop. I managed to browse through since they were having a great sale and because I also had a store credit I needed to use. I managed to find a great Gap button down dress shirt for N8 as well as a fabulous Baby Gap winter coat for Will for only SIX BUCKS! Anyway, the last item I came across just struck me for some reason. I obviously don't have any girls but for some reason, I just HAD to buy the cutest little white button down Ralph Lauren cardigan sweater with the little soft baby pink polo horse in the corner. It is size 18 months and looks brand new. I have NO idea when and IF I'll ever use it for a kid of my own but it was clearance priced at THREE DOLLARS so it was a definite steal.
I guess if I don't get to use it I could always hold onto it as a great little girl's baby gift. It was such a find....the highlight of my day!
I wasn't sure whether Nathan was trying to play a firefighter, pirate, or golfer, but either way he looked too funny NOT to snap these.
When I later questioned him about his choice in costumes, he told me very matter-of-factly that he was a firefighter. The black pirate eye patch was actually acting as his oxygen mask (although he refers to it as a "gas mask") and the blue driver you see pictured was of course his water hose.
Silly me. Now why didn't I figure that out on my own?
Yesterday before leaving for errands I had sat Will down on top of the washer to put his shoes on before walking out the door. Nathan was standing in front of the dryer just patiently waiting for us to wrap up. All of a sudden he looks up at me and points to the dryer door and asks:
"Mommy, does that say 'heavy duty'?"
I of course, was like "WTF??!!" Then, I confirmed, telling him that our dryer did indeed read 'heavy duty' and that he was such a great reader! I was shocked to say the least and in all the years we've had that dryer have never even noticed that it stated that on the door. Sheesh!
Then, there's a whole other incident that occurred later that day. First off, the birthday party saga continues. Nathan changes his mind just about every time you ask him where he wants to celebrate his fourth birthday at. We had thought it was all decided on earlier this week when we'd actually made the reservation. Then, while we were out yesterday he decided yet again where he wanted to have a party. While we were stopped in the median waiting to make a turn, I all of a sudden hear Nathan say from the back seat:
"Hey, mommy, that looks like a great restaurant there. It's called Hot Wok. We should go there for lunch."
I immediately looked in my side mirror and saw that there was indeed a restaurant there called Hot Wok. I was pretty sure though that I didn't want to go there for lunch. I don't know what was so appealing about it; I certainly wouldn't have referred to it as something that looked "great". Nonetheless, I praised for the great reading skills and didn't really think anything more of it.
Well, later on that day while at home discussing his upcoming party, I was asking him if he was getting excited about having his party at the place we had decided on. It was then that he turned to me and said:
"No, I think I want to have my party at Hot Wok."
I busted out laughing. I then had to explain to him that somehow I didn't think Daddy would be too keen on that idea, plus, there probably wasn't anything even remotely fun to do there. He dismissed it and thankfully hasn't brought it up again.
And, on another note, David and I can no longer use spelling words as a means to communicate in Nathan's presence because he made clear last week during one of our conversations by paying attention and spelling the words out to figure out what we're talking about. Freakin' smarty pants.
Simply copy & paste the code below!
