Cake and Stuff

This is the cake I made (Well, Drew and I made) for the luncheon at my school today. The luncheon had a Halloween theme and I wanted to play along. I found a picture of this cake in one of the magazines I read and thought I'd try it. The recipe calls for a red velvet cake and the "bones" are just meringue cookies. I didn't want to try a new cake recipe, but I wanted the look of the cake. Drew makes a wonderful chocolate cake, so I decided to ask him to make his cake and I would add the "bones." I think it turned out really cute. I am staying home with Addison today (She began running a temp early last night.) so I sent the cake to school with Bryson. I didn't trust myself with it in the house! I hope it was good!

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Addison is doing okay. She slept with us last night, so none of us got much sleep. I still went to the gym this morning and came home and got in bed with her. She slept for about an hour and woke up REALLY cranky. She didn't have a temp, but she had taken Motrin about 2 hours before. I am going to hold off giving her any medicine for a while and see if her fever comes back. She was also complaining of a headache and said her throat hurt. I'm pretty sure it's just a run-of-the-mill virus, but I'm no doctor! We will just wait it out and see what happens. She still wants to eat, so she can't feel too bad.

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Yesterday I pulled out another one of Bryson's teeth. He has two extra teeth that came in when he was a toddler, so I am hoping with this tooth gone his teeth will shift a little bit. That's what happened when he lost the same tooth on the other side of his mouth. Evidently, the tooth fairy was feeling generous last night because he left $2 for Bryson's tooth. I thought the going rate was $1 per tooth. It looks like the tooth fairy and I are going to have to have a financial meeting!

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Jackson is starting to realize that Bryson doesn't rule the world. For so long now Jackson would go along with anything Bryson told him to do. This is not the case anymore and we are starting to have some little battles between the two boys at home. This drives me crazy, but I am glad that Jackson isn't letting Bryson boss him around so much. I know this is a part of growing up and of being brothers/siblings, but does it have to be so annoying???

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I had a good time uploading some old pictures on Facebook this week. I have enjoyed reading people's comments and memories from when the pictures were taken. I am going to get up in the attic and search for some more pictures. (Drew, I hope you still love me after this!!!) I don't think Drew understands why I LOVE to look at old pictures so much. I don't completely understand it, except that I like to remember what it was like to have my sister and my mom with me. I just didn't appreciate them enough when they were here.

Now I Know My ABC's...

Addison has been singing her ABCs for a while now. She knows the letters in her name and started naming letters she sees in various places (signs, books, etc.). Yesterday I decided to see exactly how many letters she can name. She can name 13 upper case letters! She can recognize a few more when I ask her to find a certain letter. Example, "Point to the letter Y." She only knows the lower case letters in her name, so we still have some work to do. Not bad for a little girl who just turned two four months ago. She continues to amaze me with what she knows. The boys love to teach her things and she loves to learn from them. I know they are the reason she is so smart. It certainly isn't from me and Drew! One day, I am certain, she will even learn to use the potty! I just hope the boys don't teach her to use it standing up!

Our Weekend~ The good, the bad and the ugly!

Addison was not into getting her picture taken. This is the best Bryson could get of me and Addison.

The sun was shining bright and they were not cooperating at all. I think this is the only one I got of all three.

Look how tall my "baby" is. I can hardly believe it myself. I bet he will be taller than me in the next year or so. I think I will put a brick on his head!

Jackson had fun going down the slides. He is such a happy little thing.

Addison went down the slides, too. She wasn't scared at all and had a great time.

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This weekend was a busy one! It all started at 7:00 Saturday morning with me having my hair colored and cut. Veronica, who does my hair, called me Friday afternoon and said she could meet me at 7:00 if I wanted to get it done. Otherwise, I would have to wait another two weeks for my scheduled appointment. I told her I would find a way to be there! Drew had to be at the high school for their scouting report, so he brought the kids to me. Veronica had just finished, so the timing was perfect.

Then we had to go to Matthew and Carrie's kids birthday party at the pumpkin patch. That is where the pictures are from. The kids had a good time.

After the party we had to go up to our school for the school carnival. We got there late, but at least we got there! We stayed a couple of hours and had fun. Toward the end, I started feeling feverish. I have been coughing for several days and figured I was coming down with something.

Once we got home, my head was killing me. I took some Advil and tried to take a nap. Finally around 8:00, I took some Nyquil and went to bed. I slept until 11:30 this morning. I still have a headache and have taken some Dayquil. It feels like my brain is being pushed up to the top of my head. I know that's a weird description, but it's the best way I can describe it. I hope this goes away soon. Our weeks are always so busy and feeling bad will just make things worse.

Addison missed her nap yesterday and I was waiting for the big melt-down. She, surprisingly, did great.

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I'll stop whining and talk about what my wonderful husband has been doing today. He took all three kids with him to Walmart this morning while I was still sleeping. When he got home he started a big pot of chili for tonight and so we could have leftovers during the week. He made us lunch. He baked blueberry muffins and banana bread so we can have something different for breakfast this week. He cleaned the kitchen and is doing laundry in between all of this. Have I mentioned how wonderful he is??? He always does such a great job taking care of me and the kids. Thanks, Drew for taking care of us and being so great.

I, on the other hand, am sitting at the computer trying to type out a half-way decent post. My head is killing me, so that is my excuse for this post being so unorganized. I think I will go lay back down on the couch.

I Poo Poo, Mommy!

Let me just say that this little girl makes me laugh. Every. Single. Day. She just cracks me up! I started talking to her about potty training just before she turned 2 this summer. I got her the Elmo Potty DVD and my dad got her the Elmo with his potty for her birthday. She is smart as a whip so I knew potty training her would be no big deal. Well, let me just tell you that I was TOTALLY wrong! She has no interest in using the potty to go potty. She will use it as a step stool, a chair to read a book or look at a magazine and will even put her baby on the potty. But, she will not use it! At Miss Linda's house there are two other little girls around Addison's age. She started trying to potty train all three about a month ago. The other two girls took right to it, but not Addison. She does not want to go. I don't think she is scared. I just think that since everyone wants her to do it, she doesn't want to. I know she will eventually come around. In all my years of teaching I have yet to see a Kindergartner walk in with a diaper bag! I don't really make a big deal out of it. I will ask her if she wants to use the potty. Sometimes she says yes and sometimes she says no. When she says yes I take her to the potty and let her sit there. Nothing happens, she stands up and says she is finished. I don't praise or scold, I just say okay and put her diaper back on her. I have let her walk around with just panties on but then I just end up having to clean up after she wets in them. Plus, it drives Drew crazy. He would never admit that, though, but I can read it all over his face. So, I will continue to ask her if she wants to use the potty and eventually I'm sure something will actually happen. Until then, she will continue to pull about 20 wipes out of the container, position herself close to me and proclaim, "I poo poo, Mommy! You change me, please?"

Trudging Along

Man, am I TIRED! I think I need a B12 shot or something. I don't think I have ever had one, but I hear they are supposed to give you some energy.

Last night I had my light out at 7:30. I was so happy when Drew got home earlier than I expected. I saw him about 15 minutes and went to bed. I slept until 4:15, but I still woke up tired and sleepy.

Tonight, after yawning all the way home, I put Jackson and Addison in my bathtub. I left them in there for 45 minutes. Yes, I said 45 minutes. I was so tired and just needed some time to get dinner together. They were having a great time and I checked on them periodically, so they were safe. Happy and clean~ that's the way I like them!

Tomorrow I have a doctor appointment. Instead of trying to find a sub to work a half day I took the whole day off. I need some time to myself. I plan on spending some time sleeping and relaxing. I hope nothing ruins my plan.

It's pretty bad when I am looking forward to November 1st so I can get an extra hour that day!

I am SO looking forward to Thanksgiving break. I feel like I just need to get away and find a way to refocus. Although travelling is stressful with my kids (they are all prone to car sickness) once we get to Oklahoma I will be able to relax. I just hope the next 6 weeks so by quickly.

Well, it's almost 6:30 and the couch is calling. I wish I could go to bed but I have three things standing in my way~ Bryson, Jackson and Addison. The couch will have to do.

My Boys!

Today I want to focus my blog posting on my two wonderful boys. I am so proud of them and feel the need to give them a BIG shout out on my blog. So, here goes!

Bryson is such a sweet, sensitive big boy. (I can't believe my baby is only 5-6 inches shorter than me!) He is becoming a very good student and has learned that reading can be fun! He reads every morning after he gets ready for school and while we are in the car heading to school. He even loves to read to Addison. I swear, it is the cutest thing EVER! Today he received some awards at our schools' Celebration of Kids assembly. I know he loves the attention, but will never admit it! I fought back tears each time they called his name. My heart just swells with pride for that boy.

Jackson is turning into a wonderful student. He has always been a people-pleaser so I knew he would know how to behave in school. Before school started I was really concerned about his ability to learn. He was just never interested in wanting to learn how to spell his name, learn his letters, color or anything else that required him to sit still for too long. Here we are seven weeks into school and he is blossoming. He has learned all his letters and sounds and knows how to spell about 20 different words. He picks out the beginning sounds of various words he hears in daily conversation and tries to find rhyming words for them. He is beginning to read some simple words and is eager to color. What a change.

Today he received the Kindergarten Circle of Courage award for the 1st six weeks. His (wonderfully sweet) teacher wrote about his bright smile and positive attitude. She recognized him for his determination and positive attitude. I was so proud of him today and, of course, a few tears fell down my face while I was taking his picture. All was well until a group of 5th graders noticed and began to whisper to each other, "Mrs. Simmons is crying." They were real sweet about it and one even said, "Well, he is her baby." I get very emotional when it comes to my kids. I can't help it. It is just the way I am wired! Someone in Bryson's class told me that he even shed a tear when Jackson was being recognized. Bryson is just as sensitive as I am, if not more. He loves his little brother so much and is so proud of him! (Just another thing to love about Bryson!)

So today, I am choosing to highlight my sweet sons. I love them more than words can describe and I am so thankful that I get to be their mommy! I will highlight Addison another day!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

The Flu

I have been trying not to worry about the flu this year. So far, I have not been very successful. I will just admit it, the flu scares me. The day after my sister was diagnosed with the flu (back in 1992) I found her dead laying on my bed in my room. An autopsy revealed that she died from pneumonia brought on by the flu. Mistakenly, I always thought she died from something heart related. My family never talked about how she died. The memory of her death was so painful that we just didn't talk about her. It was our way of dealing with it, I guess. It wasn't until my mother died five years ago that I discovered what really happened. When cleaning out my mom's house I ran across Jamie's autopsy report. I had never read it, so I did. I was surprised to learn that her cause of death was pneumonia. I didn't understand, and still don't understand, how a seemingly healthy 21 year-old could die so suddenly. Since then, I have been afraid of the flu.

This year my fears are even worse. When I turn on the news that seems to be all they talk about. Each time I hear of someone dying from the flu the memories of that awful January day come flooding back. I know I can't control everything, but I sure do try. We are just at the beginning of flu season. I will be a basket case by the time it is over.

We have all had our flu shots, but I know that is no protection. We all had our shots last year and Jackson got the flu back in February and it turned in to pneumonia. The whole week he was sick I kept thinking about what I would do if he died suddenly. I was very protective of him that week and rarely left his side. He was so little and so sick. I was so thankful when he finally started feeling better.

This year it is the swine flu as well as the regular flu. I am constantly telling my kids to wash their hands and keep their hands out of their mouths and noses. When they go to kiss me, I turn my head and only let them kiss my cheek. When I kiss them I only touch my nose to theirs. Is this crazy? I don't know. I try to be as careful as possible, but am I being too careful? Is there such a thing as too careful right now? Jackson has started talking about germs. Bryson gets scared when he hears about the swine flu. Are my fears rubbing off on them? Obviously. I don't want to freak them out, but I want to teach them to take care of themselves. I don't know how to balance it all. Working in a school certainly doesn't help! I am going to drive all of us crazy before it is all said and done.

Jungle Book

Drew bought season tickets to Casa Manana for us. We went to our first show today~ "The Jungle Book!" I was worried about how Addison would do, but she did great. She sat and watched the entire production. The boys enjoyed it, also. The next show on the play list is "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." They will really like that one, too.

Afterwards, we stopped by the Botanic Gardens and walked around a little bit. The kids had fun playing and running. It was pretty wet, so they had to stay on the paths. We took some pictures and then went to eat some Mexican food.

Overall, we had a great day and a relaxing weekend. Now we are going to sit down and watch the Cowboy game. Drew has recorded it and has been avoiding all TVs and radios since 3:00! Have a great week! I plan on making this a good one, if it kills me! :0)