Lucky Number 7

Grey had a great birthday Wednesday. I went to wake him up for school and his first question is, "Can I open my gift?". So he opened his gift. He got a Nintendo GameCube with some accessories and a game from us. Then he reluctantly went to school. Mac, Holland, and I ate with him in his school cafeteria for lunch and got to meet his buddies from his class. Then he came home and we had his Pirate-themed birthday cookie. (Grey doesn't like cake, some sort of defect in his DNA.) We rounded the day out with dinner and then AWANA at church. He went to bed a happy 7 year old. Now it's only 363 days till his next birthday........

Sick Leave

When I signed on to be a stay-at-home mom (domestic engineer) 7 years ago, I forgot to ask about sick days and paid vacations. Turns out there aren't any. I sure could have used some sick days this week. I have been fighting a sinus and middle & outer ear infection. When I asked Holland if I could be off a couple of days, she said "nope". However, she did play by herself for several hours and give me a break. After the meds kicked in and it no longer felt like someone was shoving nails in my ear or that my head might implode, I was able to return to full-time mom.....well I was making sure she at least had some food and water and the toilet seat was down for her. Some days you just have to operate in survival mode.

Grey Day

Grey Day continued....

The last couple of years we have given Grey a choice for his birthday. He can either have a big party with all his friends and get a small gift from us, or he can get a big gift and have "Grey Day." Grey Day is pretty much what it sounds like; a day to do things that Grey wants to do. He even gets to pick where we eat lunch and dinner. Last year, he had the big party so this year he opted for "Grey Day" and the bigger gift. (I'm going to be honest and say I was lobbying for "Grey Day".) Since his birthday falls on a Wednesday which is school and then AWANA at church, we held Grey Day on Saturday. After his soccer game, he wanted to eat lunch at the Cracker Barrel. He loves chicken and dumplings. (My good southern boy) and then we went to Incredible Pizza. He played video games, air hockey, rode the bumper cars, and raced the indoor race cars, where we smoked the competition including Mac and Holland to take home the first place ribbon. Then we ate dinner at H.B., which is our favorite Japanese steakhouse. He got to wear the birthday hat and hold the Samauri sword. Then we got home and let him open one gift. Grey Day was definitely a success, and we all went to bed exhausted.

Under Pressure

Grey had his school picture taken a couple of weeks ago. Grey is notorious for messing up pictures. You would be hard pressed to find a family or group picture of him where he is not pointing, head lolled to one side, mouth wide open or leg kicked out. In his preschool class graduation picture, he is on the front row with his head tilted and tongue out. I know every parent looks at it and says, "See that kid, there's just something not right with him. Most likely, bad parenting." So this year, instead of picking a package, writing a check and hoping for the best, I warned him not to be silly or the TV would be cut off. Apparently, he took it to heart, because on picture day when I asked him how it went, he kept saying, "I was nervous, Mom. I was so nervous." So this is the picture we got. It's hard to be natural when you're under pressure.
Next year, I'll keep my mouth shut and let my handsome boy be himself.

FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST

My foot has been released from its fiberglass prison! It took the saw, some sort of metal pliers, scissors, a nurse and eventually Mac and myself pulling to remove the cast, but we got it. And when they tell you the saw only cuts the cast and not you, they lie. I have a cut, several nicks, a little bit of a burn and some bruising just from taking that sucker off. But who cares? It's off!!
Walking is still a little bit of a slow-go, but who cares? The cast is off! I want to say thanks to all who prayed, all the door-openers, the girl that would always help me get my tea at Panera, the waitress that caught me when my crutch slipped at Humble City Cafe, Sheri for carrying my stuff, loading my kids in the car, valeting my car for me, all my friends that helped me out, Mac for becoming Mr. Mom without ever complaining, (this is beginning to sound like an Academy Award speech and I hear the music so I will wrap it up), and all those who gave me encouragement, Thanks! Your kindness touched me.

Thanks, Annie

"Just thinking about tomorrow,
clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow,
till there's none.................
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow
You're only a day away........"


As I think about getting the cast off tomorrow, I reflect on this song.
Thanks, Annie for the words of encouragement, and for always making me feel better about my own hair.

Ladybug Boots

It was love at first sight between Holland and these Ladybug rain boots. She wears them all over the house. Maybe one day she'll wear them outside when it is actually raining.

4 MORE DAYS, 4 MORE DAYS

That's the song we're singing at the Davis' house, because the cast is scheduled to come off in 4 more days. In anticipation of that moment, I have compiled a short list of the things I am looking forward to doing again:

10. Not carrying a plastic bag with me just in case it rains and I have to wrap the cast.
9. Making the beds without having to roll over them to get from side to side.
8. Opening a door without assistance.
7. Being able to carry a bowl of cereal from the kitchen to the table.
6. Taking a bath without hanging my leg out the side of the tub.
5. Carrying a purse (Holland has been most gracious in letting me borrow her shiny, red backpack for the past 5 weeks.)
4. Vacuuming (o.k., not really, but I thought it sounded good.)
3. Wearing a left shoe.
2. Walking up and down the stairs instead of crawling. (The 6:30 am crawls are the worst.)
1. Holding Holland's hand when she asks me to.

Game #3

Well it was another hot, hot, hot game. The parents were baking, and all we did was sit and cheer. Even in this neverending heat, the Panthers played hard. We were short 2 men, so in order to give each kid a break, we borrowed one of the other team's (the Wildcats) players. And yes, that gets a little confusing. The final score was Wildcats 6, Panthers 4. Though we lost, the boys played well and Grey scored 2 goals. The other 2 were made by the player we "borrowed". Hey, we'll take what we can get.



Pictures:
Jeshua, Grey, & Caleb
Prayer before the game
Grey playing goalie
Holland and her friend Miranda sitting in their Princess chairs. They also played with the extra soccer balls, and occasionally we'd look up and they would be playing in the goal in the middle of the game.

Another Successful Playgroup

This week's playgroup was at The Woodlands Children Museum. It's a smaller version of the downtown Children's museum. It was perfect for a playgroup, especially this age group. The kids played for awhile, ate lunch in the mall's food court, rode the carousel, and watched Curious George on the ride home.
The Pictures:
Holland, Trent, & Kendall digging for dinosaur bones
Holland & Phoebe in a game of chess
Holland & Phoebe at the Dentist
Holland in the Operating Room
Holland & Phoebe in the Playhouse
Holland & Madison on the thrones in the Castle

Holland has made friends with Grey's teammate's (Jeshua) little sister, Miranda. She and Holland are about a month apart in age. At soccer practice, they like to sit in their Princess chairs, play Polly Pockets, compare shoes, giggle, and run around the field. Oh, to be three....

Practice, Practice, Practice

It was a tough loss (3-1) to the Cougars last Saturday, but the Panthers are pressing on. "Technically" they don't keep score at this level, but every parent, player and coach knows the score of each game. Some of us even keep stats. So this practice, they are working on passing and footwork. In the group picture, they are having their devotional and reciting their memory verse for the week. And that is what it is all about. This week's verse: "And Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Date With Daddy

Today Grey went to a birthday party for a friend in his class so Holland went on a "date with Daddy". They went to Build-a-Bear. Together they picked out a bear, stuffed her, bathed her, combed her, and picked out cute pajamas and bunny slippers for her. (Holland's favorite clothes are pajamas.) Mac suggested they name her PJ, obviously after the pajamas. Never one to take suggestions, Holland named her AJ.

The Word of the Day

Indolent- (adj) Having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful
See picture of our cat, Texas

Playgroupies

This week's playgroup was at Eagle Springs Park. The Posse was back in action. When we first got there Holland evoked her self-imposed ban on grass and outdoor eating. But after about 15-20 minutes the ban was lifted and she played on all the slides and swings, etc. The kids also had a picnic lunch. There was also some hand-holding between Holland and her buddy Trent. I haven't told Mac about that yet.

Pictures:
Holland swinging
Holland and Trent
Kendall, Holland, Amy, Madison, Mia, Trent
Kendall, Holland and Amy (with the head tilts)
Holland

Swim Lesson #2 and #3

Well Holland had her 2nd and 3rd swim lessons or what I like to call her next to last and last swim lessons. Her enthusiasm and excitement for swimming lessons has vanished. Swim lesson #2 seemed like she was progressing; she stayed with her group in the pool. Granted she screamed for me whenever it was her turn, but when it wasn't her turn she entertained herself by splashing the little boy next to her and then saying," I sooo sorry", and then she would do it again. Swim lesson #3 wasn't so good. The whole time was spent alternating her screams. She would start with "I want my Mommy! I want my Mommy!" and then she tried, "Help Me!, Help Me! Help Me!" and when the instructor pulled out the kickboard she yelled,"Put It Back! Put It Back!" I think Grey summed it up best. When Mac asked him how it went, Grey's response was "Awful, Dad.... Awful."

When are you getting that thing off?

6 weeks and 5 days since I broke my foot. After 3 weeks of the Hard Shoe and then 3 weeks of the cast and crutches, it was time for a follow-up on the foot. The doctor X-rayed it again (with the cast on) and determined that the foot is in fact healing. Thank Goodness!! BUT... I have to wear the cast for 2 more weeks and then be real careful for a while after that. Of course, Mac and I secretly hoped that it would be completely healed and I would return to my old life. ( I even had the matching left shoe in the car....just in case.) However, it could have been worse; I could have had to go for surgery, or I could have let the kids paint my cast last night like I was considering. Good thing I thought that through.

My Little Tulip

Season Opener

Today was the Season Opener for the Panthers Soccer Team. It was a hot and humid morning (are there any other kind around here?). But the team played well. Grey got to play offense, defense, and goalie. (All the kids get a chance to play the different positions.) The Panthers took on the Tigers and played on to victory. The final score: Panthers 2 Tigers 1. One of the Panthers' goals was made by Grey. So you can wrap this game in silver and black!
Next week: The Cougars.

The Little Mermaid

Holland had her first swim lesson ever. As with anything with Holland, it can be a smashing success or a total disaster. You just never know. This particular lesson was somewhere in between. She started out very excited and eager. Then she got a little discouraged at the chilly water. Then the instructor kept having to ask her to be quiet. (I know..I know.. the child that never spoke is now Chatty Cathy.) So she ran over to me for support. She did make her way back to the pool under the promise of a cookie when swim lessons were over. (I'm not above bribery.) But everytime she had her turn, she would go back to her step and raise her hand at me and yell, "I want my cookie now."

Shopping Therapy

Today is our usual playgroup day and today's was at a neighborhood park. It's a nice park with lots of shade, swings, slides, see saws, a sand box and other assorted climbing stuff. It's the ideal place for a playgroup. In fact, last Friday, we met up with a couple of friends there. The first 2 minutes were great, and then it happened, a mid-size beetle scurried past Holland. Pure terror took over Holland. No amount of consoling, pleading, rationalizing, bribing, or even the swift crushing death of the beetle could calm her. So we packed up and made the trek back to the truck taking concrete paths only. (No shortcuts thru the grass.) So when I heard that playgroup was at this park, I decided the wounds were still too fresh, so we did some fall shoe shopping together. We had a good time! My girl loves her shoes. I'm so proud.

Holland's Posse

I think the origin of cliques can be traced directly back to playgroups. This motley crew has been hanging out together since they were one. And since it is an all-girl group, it's a roller coaster ride of emotions the whole time.
I don't consider it a successful playgroup unless one or more of these things occur:
1. Someone gets her feelings hurt because someone else won't play with them.
2. Someone tells on her best friend because she won't play with them.
3. Someone falls and cries buckets of tears. (Boys don't even realize they've fallen.)
4. Someone's hair needs fixing.
5. Someone needs to go to the bathroom and a pack of 2-3 must go with her. (Men, this is where it all starts.)
6. Someone whines uncontrollably.
7. Someone cries for no apparent reason at all. (Holland)
But the solution to all these things is a simple one......Snacks. There's nothing like goldfish and juice to make the world right again.

(This playgroup was Wed. Sept 6, 2006, at Bounce City, a huge indoor moonwalk extravaganza)
Pictures:
Holland & Faith
Holland, Kendall, & Faith
The Posse: Holland, Kendall, Amy, Faith, & Madison

Livin La Vida Lola

I'm "Livin' La Vida Lola". For those who don't know, Lola was our 80 yr old next door neighbor in Joplin, Mo. and whenever she goes to "The Walmarts" she uses the motor scooter they provide to get her shopping done. Totally appropriate for her. Do you see where this is going? That's right, the family had to go to WalMart and guess who had to get the scooter. Right again, me with the cast and crutches. The kids loved it. I would try to keep a low profile and they would pretend I was chasing them and run in front of me with their hands in the air screaming (drawing as much attention to us as possible) and Mac kept wanting me to honk the scooter horn at people. And then there was that chip display I almost leveled. But I think the point I gave up any hope of salvaging my dignity was when I had to back the scooter up and I heard that little beep..beep..beep... I mean it's a scooter, for goodness sake, not a backhoe or school bus. So after that, I just decided to enjoy the ride. I even found myself waving and giving the "scooter nod" to all the other scooter riders. I wonder if there's like a club for scooter riders. I bet they have really cool jackets.