Yay!

(For more unfinished projects....)

The landscaping bricks that we wanted went on sale, then Jake got his discount on top of that, so we had to buy! However, Jake's listening skills just never seem to shine when it involves me doing the talking. We tore out a ton of landscaping, and even took down a tree all around our front porch, so I was ready put a wall up and put some simple landscaping into it. However, the huge part that Jake seemed to miss, was that I wanted it on both sides of our sidewalk.... not just one. When he brought two loads of these bricks home, I was just sure it didn't look like enough to do the entire job..... I was right. He bought just over enough to finish one side. So this project will probably change little, until they go on sale again. Well, it just may have to wait for spring, anyway, for me to at least make the one side look pretty!

I went ahead and snapped a picture of my huge FAIL!

Happy Halloween!!

FAIL

Oh, my!!

Reece is constantly bugging me about decorations. ANY decorations.... Halloween or Christmas, anything. I had a little time to kill while Riley was at basketball camp, and just a few dollars I could maybe part with, so where do you go when you are in McPherson? Walmart. It's your only "local" option! Reece and I go browse the tiny "Seasonal" section, and boy was it disappointing!! So I go for the traditional spider webs with some fun spiders..... our porch is perfect for these. To add a little bit more, there was a "black light" light bulb that cost under $2.... why not?

We get home, and in the cold rain, I get out and dress up our porch. I did a pretty good job, if you ask me..... the next day came the wind. Now it's a disaster!! The web came undone in 70% of the places it was attached, and the wind got the web so tangled, it's not stretching for me the way it did at first. And the wind won't stop! Every time I go near the web, it sticks to me, but it won't stay where I put it! I am so annoyed, that I really just want to toss it all in the trash.... but that would crush Reece. So I have a countdown of 19 days until November 1st going on in my head....

Lastly, remember that "black light"? What a JOKE! It was a soft reddish~purplish glow, but it didn't light up anything! I joke that I think it made my porch darker when it was on! That will be returned..... instead Jake found a REAL black light at Lowes, and it was on clearance! That is the highlight our LAME (as Reece would say) attempt at having some Halloween fun!

Moral of my story.... well, I have lots of them.... I really dislike Walmart! I really MISS Target! And I really need to plan for these things in advance, since it seems Halloween is sold out before October begins.

Big Boy Robe

As a mom, I've reached a new chapter. I am losing control of what my boys wear..... I'm not too heartbroken about this, I actually do choose their daily outfits still, with zero complaint. I've actually accepted the loss of control, and for me it's a great thing! I've always liked to control things, such as this, so it's a big step for me. And they have every right to decide what they would want to wear, as long as it's decent.

Then my boy picks out a robe with skulls on it.

(struggling to tie it...followed by proud of his new robe)

It all started with Reece growing out of his "handsome blue" robe. We donated it to his younger cousin, Alex, who is still preferring his sister's old purple robe. (That's a whole other story...) Reece was really eager to replace his robe, even though we are no where close to winter weather.

(knock on wood)

Target had them on sale, and this is what we got. He loves it!

Part of me wanted to choose for him. The other part of me is excited to start letting the boys express their own personalities.....He is just so excited! Now I can't help but picture the lovely "Christmas Morning Pictures" with my 7 year old wearing a cozy skull robe! Should be classic!

Reminiscing.....

I got stuck looking at my old posts. I went WAY back. I found this footage of when Reece developed his tic.... which he has grown out of, thankfully. However, it wasn't the tic that caught me off guard. It was Reece's sweet, sweet voice. How did 2.5 years do this to my little boy? It's hard to even call him a little boy! He is a little man!! A little man who doesn't think his mom knows anything! Time is cruel..... guess I have to love every single minute I have with these kiddos, while he still lets me cherish them!

Heart Pain

Oh, it hurts! It hurts so badly!!

The boys have been attending a basketball camp every Sunday, put on by the high school basketball coach, Coach Kinnamon. I made the mistake of not putting a basketball in the boys hands at birth. My bad! To make things worse, here in McPherson, basketball is a religion (my dad pointed that out.) I have had the boys signed up for winter basketball and a couple camps, but I just don't see this in their future.... no more than possibly recreational fun. I kept a small bit of hope alive, then Reece smashed them. And he broke my heart with them.

Today, he told me he did not want to keep playing basketball. He told me it made him tired and it wasn't any fun. I told him he wouldn't hurt my feelings, and yes that was a lie, but those are the good lies, right? I then asked if he would grow up and enjoy watching basketball with me..... he was silent. Insert sad face. The only thing he wants to do is tumble...... he might try soccer, he says, so I will have to see what I can do about that. At least he still loves his KU blue!

Now, onto a more serious "heart pain"..... Riley started randomly complaining that his heart hurt last month. It's one of those things that bothers you, but you don't overreact because kids hurt all the time, or don't explain pain to you very well. I considered heartburn, but decided that he eats such a mild diet, because he is so picky, that more than likely that wasn't it. The pain would happen at all different times. When he woke in the morning, sitting at his desk, right when he got home from school, but not daily..... so I finally asked him what it felt like. He told me it felt like his heart was trying to tear out of his chest. WHAT?? I called the nurse immediately, and we got him in on Friday morning. Xrays were taken, and his heart looked and sounded just fine. Doctor thinks he is having growing pains..... seems like a funny place to have growing pains if you ask me. He suggested Motrin and heat if the pain is bad enough to disturb Riley. He says the muscles are usually cold when the pain happens, but if Riley gets active they warm up and the pain goes away. I'm not totally sold on this, but I am going to keep tracking Riley's pain, and if I feel it is getting worse, you can be we will check it out again. Riley seems to completely understand the doctor though. I understand pain in my legs, and I remember the pain as a kid.... I just don't understand growing pains in the chest, but we shall see.

Screams

It's been crazy, busy, exhausting fun here in Wichita. I just survived my 2nd weekend of the Field of Screams, and the Isle of Screams had it's opening weekend, this weekend. It amazes me, every year, the hard work my sister and brother in law put in to theses attractions (Field has been open 8 years, and the Isle is in it's 2nd), but when you see the crowds grow every season (if Mother Nature is kind) it all becomes so worth it, so fast! I'm not nearly as sleep deprived as they are, but they push through, and slave away for months, and the end results are very rewarding. Who really needs sleep, right?

Here are their new billboards that are up in Wichita. This is a new advertising strategy, and the artwork amazes me! These are billboards that will catch your eye, every time!

So how are the boys?

They are absolutely LOVING spending time with cousins on the weekends. They are so fortunate to have such great friends, in them, and it's great that they are the same age with very similar interests. However, kids will be kids, and sleep doesn't seem to be a weekend priority when they are staying with my mom, and I am working late. They will survive too...

Riley is LOVING bowling too! He is a beginner, and has had some rough days, but he keeps his head up, and has improved a lot in just a few short weeks! On Thursday, he bowled 162 in 3 games. He never gets down! He looks forward to this activity each week!

Then there is Reece, who is LOVING tumbling! He doesn't think he is learning anything, and I don't feel that this class is releasing as much energy as I would like, but he is still looking forward to this twice a week. He actually gets sad on days we can't work it into our schedule. I also had a friend who got her son in the class too, so Reece isn't the only boy anymore (which never bothered him anyway.)

Until next time......

School Mug Shots

Oh, school portraits. How overpriced, and poorly taken you always are.....

I can't complain, the boys are still so handsome, even if they look terrified of the person behind the lens.

Riley~4th grade

Reece~1st grade

It finally hit Reece..... the awkward stage. They grow too fast!!!