Flash Back Friday

Renee, Ryan, Princess Hannah, Julie and Jeremy

This was taken in May, 2004 after my niece's baptism. Miss Hannah graduated from pre-school last night and will start kindergarten in the fall.

Where does time go?!?



Graceful, Graceful Me

The doctor and XRay technician at Emergent Care must have had a chuckle on Monday. Once it was determined that my foot was indeed broken, they sent me home with a splint, a prescription for Vicodin and two aluminum death sticks commonly referred to as crutches. Since I obviously have trouble on my own two feet which I have been using for 30 plus years, I'm thinking that they must have placed a wager on how soon I'd be back with a busted tail bone.

Sunday evening Jeremy and I were heading down to the family room in the basement to watch a movie. I was carrying the laptop and somehow missed the last step and ended up on the floor. The laptop did not suffer any injuries but I wasn't so lucky. "Dr." Guthrie convinced me that it was most likely all right so I waited until the next day to be seen.

Fortunately the orthopaedist determined on Tuesday that I wouldn't need a cast and my right foot would heal just fine in a walking boot. Grandma Guthrie flew in that evening to help take care of the boys...and me. As I trudged past the laundry room this morning she was just folding away. If she keeps this up-my recovery may take a little longer than expected (wink wink).



Wordless Wednesday; Picnic at the Park

Jeremy packed a picnic lunch of PB&Js Friday morning and we headed to the "park by speech class". I was amazed by how much they have grown since the we were there last. Ben is now climbing up to the top of the spider web and Owen can zip down the slides by himself.



Nursery Rhyme Time

When I was pregnant with Ben I bought a book of nursery rhymes for him for his first Christmas. That book has decorated the shelf and gathered dust for the last three years. A few weeks ago, Ben wanted it down for his bedtime story. I was brought to tears one evening when he started singing "Hush Little Baby". I sang this to Ben when he was a baby and still sing it to Owen when putting him to bed.

Just push play >



Muffins with Mom

Ben's preschool extended an invitation for "Muffins with Mom" last Friday. I'm a little behind in blogging but I wanted to mention this because he was adorable. We arrived a few minutes late and circle time had already begun. Ben, Owen and I scooted in to the empty spot next to my friend Leigh Ann and her sweet daughter Kayleigh. Ms. Claire was talking about what day of the week, month and year when Ben quickly raised his hand to start answering questions.

When circle time was over Ben showed us some of the projects around the room. He was so careful when taking things off the shelf and then putting them back where they belong. He was beaming while introducing me and his brother to all of his friends.

It wasn't long until we had muffins and apple juice. A few of the other boys were pouring their own juice and I was trying to keep Owen's little hands out of the muffin basket, when Ben knocked over the juice pitcher. I was absolutely amazed at what happened next. Ms. Claire simply said, "Ben please go get the bucket and a sponge." He comes back with a mop bucket and sponge and starts cleaning up himself!

I got to watch Ben play with his buddies on the playground. Owen had a ball going down the slide and riding behind Ben on the two seater tricycle. While they were playing I was able to talk to Ms. Claire and was to happy to hear that she thinks he is such a little sweetheart.

It was great to see him in that environment and since I saw him cleaning up after himself first hand at school, I've been having him help out a lot more at home. To my surprise- he actually seems to enjoy it.



Busy Bees

A big hug and thank you to my Mom and Aunt Doris for not only making the trip out to see us but for all that you did while you were here!!!

I sure wish that I had their energy. They arrived Saturday with milkshakes in hand and didn't sit still until they left on Tuesday morning. They played all kinds of fun games with the boys and showered them with hugs and kisses.
In between all this they managed to help organize and clean out our garage, mulch our landscaping and send Jeremy and I out for a date night. At one time Doris was making lunch (delicious potato soup) mom was vacuuming and I was mopping the floor. At that moment I seriously thought about holding them hostage. It is much easier to get things done with two extra set of hands!!!

Mom was able to see Ben's classroom at preschool when we dropped him off on Monday. When he got home from school, they planted a calla lilly plant that she had brought us. Ben had a blast playing in the potting soil and watering the plant.

Ben and Doris fetching a pail of water

It was sad to see them leave but each time I look at our sparkling clean garage and beautiful landscaping it's like getting a big hug from the both of them.



Wordless Wednesday; Read me a Story

Now for a flash back.....

Baby Ben on the rug with "Dog" at 11 months.



Wordless Wednesday; grumpy little boy



Wordless Wednesday; Choo-Choo!



O-the things he can do

May marks Owen turning a big 18 months old. I'm amazed every single day about something that he does. He melts my heart with his big smile a thousand times a day. He gives big hugs, sloppy kisses and his laugh is completely infectious.

He finds everything around him interesting. He has gone from walking to running and is nonstop on the go. Owen's favorite toys right now are tractors and cars. (Boys must have some inherent gene that allows them to make car noises.) Anything in Ben's room is of course far more fun than anything else in the house.

He is now trying to repeat everything that is said to him. It is so sweet to hear his little voice saying purple and Layla. I'm not sure how many words he has but "NO" has finally made it into his vocabulary. He can now vocalize when he doesn't want to do something, which is pretty funny...for now.He imitates his big brother perfectly. When Ben is practicing his "Kung Fu" moves Owen will kick his leg and say "haa" just like a big boy. When Ben is turning somersaults, Owen is standing on his head trying to roll over with him. Ben absolutely loves having him with him and gets disappointed when he doesn't want to do the same thing.

Owen loves to throw the tennis ball to Layla when we are playing outside. He also loves kicking a ball around with the other kids. I don't have a picture of it yet, but he wears Ben's helmet, which is hilarious to see, while I push him around on the bicycle.

He has been easy going to a fault up until this point. Owen now has his own ideas about what he wants to eat and when he is done eating. He can clear the table with one big swipe of his arm, which Layla loves. When he doesn't quite get his way, we now hear about it. It's hard not to laugh at his tantrums when he is throwing things, falling down on the floor, or even trying to head butt me or Jeremy. Not quite sure where he gets his flair for the dramatic but Jeremy seems to think it's all me...hmmm.

All tantrums aside, he is absolutely the cutest, sweetest little man I could ever ask for.



Boy's Day?

After opening my cards and wishing Grandma Terri and Grammy Guthrie a happy Mother's day,we headed out for a big breakfast. While we were waiting for a table Ben turned and asked me sweetly, "When is it going to be Boy's Day?" The mom next to us giggled too.

Big hugs and kisses to all the important Moms in our lives. We are so lucky to have such wonderful Grandmas, Aunts, Sisters and Friends.

Happy Mother's Day!



Time Flies

Whew, where did the week go? I'm never sure where to start with a post when it's been so long since I've written.

Last week Ben got into the car after pre-school and said proudly, "Mom- I didn't get ANY time outs today. The week before he was in time out during school twice in one day. As an incentive to promote good behavior for the rest of the school year I have bribed him with the BatMan Cave. If he stays out of "trouble" he will receive it on the last day of school as his summer surprise. Not sure if bribing a kid is the right way to get him to behave, but it seems to be working...so far.

I had a meeting with his speech teacher to discuss his progress. He is doing well and enjoys the sessions. Owen and I have been spending time with another little guy and mom during Ben's Wednesday sessions. I have officially traded numbers with someone other than a neighbor. We are hoping to plan a few play dates this summer with the boys.

The boy's spent their first night without me last Saturday. I went to St. Louis to celebrate Aunt Meme's (Mindy) birthday. It was very strange being without my boys and I realized when I was packing that I now only have "mom" clothes. I could go from a school meeting, to church then out to the park in every outfit that I own. Nothing seemed fun enough to wear "out" so I made an emergency phone call to Mindy to see if she would have time to go to the mall with me. After a quick trip through the Galleria I was outfitted in nothing else, but new "mom" clothes.

Jeremy was happy to spend the day with the boys, or so I thought. When I arrived home on Sunday, Ben was wearing a dreaded "character" shirt with not just one, but every superhero imaginable on the front of it. He was just so darn proud of his new shirt from daddy.

I'm certain that this was Jeremy's passive aggressive attempt to keep me close to home. I have never been a fan of character clothes and it's not a big secret around here. In fact people buy them for the boys just to see my reaction (ahem...Kelly). I know that when they are older they will want to dress themselves so I was enjoying what little control I had.

Don't tell Ben but Owen and I picked up Grandma Guthrie from the airport on Monday. Ben was upset that he couldn't go. His suggestion was that she just get out of the airplane at our house, so I let him think that's how she arrived. She came to stay with the boys while I took Jeremy to the hospital for his fifth sinus surgery.

The surgery was Tuesday and he is doing great. He is off pain meds now and is looking forward to less sinus problems in the future. Thank goodness his Mom is here, because my sympathy seems to run short after the 24 hour mark. Poor Jeremy.



Wordless Wednesday; Visit from Grammy

Grandma Guthrie is here for a visit!
I'll have an update soon on the boys, our patient and the character shirt Ben is wearing.

Ooh the suspense...