Yea! August of O-V-E-R

Finally that dreadful month of August is over! Do you know how many posts I’ve seen today with people welcoming September with open arms? A bunch! I used to like August, probably because it’s my birthday month and the start of a new semester but I’ve come to dread August in recent years and this one was particularly hard, here’s why…

Of the 4 weeks or so, the boys were out of school for 3 of those. Normally this would be fine but during their weeks off, they each had a surgery and a period of recovery. For Vin with the tonsils this was ROUGH. We were not at all prepared for how difficult this was on all of us. He was in pain, didn’t sleep, cried when he had to take his medicine, which was Lortab every 4 hours for a week and a half, along with ibuprofen every 6 hours. Thus we never slept more than 4 hours at a time during his recovery while also still getting up to feed Reese. Woo Wee, ROUGH!

During this time I also wrapped up a semester of 2 classes, had finals week, processed the grades etc. then turned around 2 weeks later and started a new semester with 8 classes. There was little or no vacation from school this month and certainly not enough time to prep while the kids were home. I’m still in the weeds.

As of today the pool construction has begun. This after countless meetings with pool designers, bank refinancing and loan officers. Seriously this took forever to get worked out, not to mention the amount of paperwork that needed to be gathered. Pool glitch #1 – We have overhead electrical wires that had to be buried. This entailed coordinating with the pool builders, the electricians, the City of Dallas and the Electric company. Trenching the backyard and going through about a three week process, coordinating these 4 offices with permits, inspectors etc. etc. etc.

Did I mention how HOT it is? How about the fact that the City of Dallas was designated as a “State of Emergency” because of West Nile Virus. It’s not so scary for adults but for one kid and one infant who just had surgery, thus had comprised immune systems - this was scary stuff.

Toughest part though… My sweet wife is in Costa Rica for what we thought was 7 days which has turned into 12. Ugh… hurry home honey!

Bright spots in the month:
Happy – healthy kids again!
Reese is now smiling all the time, sitting up and rolling over.
I had a great birthday weekend!
We had an awesome weekend with the Perdue’s last weekend as we celebrated Wendy’s birthday. This included cake and bacon for breakfast – I highly recommend!
Kids dance party in the driveway.
Vincent buying me a “rainbow ring”. Oh so sweet that I cried.
Fun trip to Llano for Labor Day.Pictures coming soon.
The pumpkins and tomatoes survived the heat.

Ok, now that that’s off my chest I can start enjoying fall. For me and my house, summer is officially over.

First day of Pre-K

My baby went to Pre-K this week and he is so excited to learn to read. It's the schools goal to have all the kids reading by May. When  I picked Vin up yesterday and asked how his day was, he said "Good! but I didn't learn to read today." Apparently he thinks this is a simple endeavor.

He will also have art, Spanish and math classes along with music, hip-hop dance, skating and swimming. Lots of fun ahead for him!

Finally the weather has cooled off this week, it's overcast and sprinkling today so it definitely feels like the start of fall. Bring it on.

Birthday Celebration

I had an awesome 38th birthday celebration in Llano. Mayme arranged for a full day of pampering – a 2 hour facial, manicure and pedicure. Pure heaven!

All weekend we ate, drank, shopped, laughed and even caught the meteor shower. Mayme and Teri took such great care of me…Thanks guys!

In Fredricksburg shopping.

Tamale King birthday celebration

More shopping for fabric.

Belmar Bakery Birthday Cake! Mat was so jealous.

Mayme and chunky monkey.

Playing Canyland while eating homemade rainbow suckers. The perfect combination.

Exhausted with his cuddleupette.

Our boys

Happy Monday

Vincent's Entourage

Vincent is getting his tonsils and adenoids out on Thursday. As we were in the Dr.'s office he heard the Dr. say I should observe his sleep by getting up 7 to 8 times a night or let him sleep with us. Clearly the choice was to let him sleep with us, but then just minutes later, as the conversion progressed the Dr. said he was sure they needed to come out, no observation necessary.

But... the cat was out of the bag and Vin had heard "sleep in the Mommy bed!". He really loves to sleep with us and it makes him feel special, something I think he needs right now but... he's not the best co-sleeper. He likes to sleep upside down and sideways. Needless to say, when he's with us, no one sleeps well and I haven't even got to his entourage.

I said for him to got get two things to bring to bed and he brought 12!
1 whale, 2 money's, 3 pillows, 1 cuddleupuppet, 1 penguin, 1 batman, 1 squishy ball & 2 books. These are all the things he sleeps with every night. I usually go in a clear them off his bed once he's asleep, but he had the nerve to ask why there were all on the "mommy floor" the next morning.

 Ya'll pray for his surgery. It's a short procedure but a 2 - 3 week recovery time. Thanks!

High chair debut