The last two days...

Have been filled with a lot of this:

Say a prayer for me!

Random Ramblings with no pictures

It was blasted hot today. The 24th of September and the thermostat in my car registered 102! I am so ready for the fall weather, but we will probably go from this to snow in the matter of a week.

Today in the car on the way to pick up Cameron from school Mason was asking a question. "Moon go?" Last night we had what I think is called a Harvest Moon. It was big and full and bright orange and Mason kept pointing it out to us. So today, at 3:30 pm he was wondering where it was. I loved listening to Gavin try to explain how you have to wait for the sun to go to sleep before the moon comes out. And the stars too. They only turn on when it's dark outside. Sometimes we have our moments, people. Times when everyone is happy and loving each other. Those are the awesome moments I cling to.

Mason had a small milestone this week. We are officially a paci free home. One night we realized that those darn paci mice had come and chewed the ends off all the pacifiers and now they were "broken." He was so brave at first, acting like it was no big deal, but my heart ached for him as he woke up in the night asking, "Paci go?" He had a few tough days, especially at nap time and once he refused to nap and I just sat with him as he snuggled up to me and sobbed. He lost a good friend and that deserved a good mourning. But lucky for him, once the pacifiers are gone he gets a song every night like his brothers. I'm not quite sure how each of these songs came to be, but Cameron gets one that came from a Target wedding registry commercial that I couldn't stop singing when I was pregnant with him and Gavin gets my own personal rendition of "Golden Slumbers." For a while nothing struck me for Mason until one night it just did. I have always had a knack for remembering completely pointless things like commercials from when I was in 6th grade, (ask me to sing the McDonald's menu) or theme songs from TV shows, so not very surprisingly Mason's song came from a Flinstone's episode where Pebbles and Bam Bam sing together this song about the sunshine. Ha, ha I found it on youtube! I only remembered the chorus. Stop laughing, it was a poignant moment.

Up next is the removal of diapers from our home forever. I am a bit gun shy to go forth with that one after the fiasco Gavin put us through with potty training, but I don't think any kid could be as tough as that. Cross your fingers for me, ok?

Gavin and Cameron started swim team this week at our indoor pool. All summer Gavin practiced swimming all the way across the pool without stopping, the prerequisite for getting on the developmental team. He finally accomplished it mid August. I am so proud that he did it! He's only 4 and such a little fish! He is hilarious to watch in the water because he has no clue what he's doing, but he gets the job done. I need to bring my video camera and get it on tape. I am so glad that we have a sport for both boys at the same time on the same two days every week and no Saturdays! This mama is happy!

Cameron had his Back to School night this week and I am so in love with his teacher, Mrs. Vlach. She told me that Cameron is a very deep thinker and comes up with really insightful questions. She said he is quick to be a friend to those that are being left out and my heart swelled with pride. I was so worried about him making new friends in his class and it turns out he is being the friend to everyone else. What a sweet kid, I am so lucky. I am also lucky enough to be his room mom again this year. If you have any party ideas, send them my way!

Enough rambling for today. I am so pathetic that I didn't even take a single picture all week! Except of our trampoline in the back yard because we got busted for not having it approved by the HOA. My kids would be devastated if they made us take it down! Hopefully we will just have to fill out some paperwork and that will be that. Have a happy weekend, everyone!

Haymarket Howdy

Today was our annual Haymarket Day Parade. Every year we attend this event, usually because one of the kids is in the parade, but also because we love the down-home, small town feel of it all. Gavin and I rode on the 4 R's wagon and on the parade route we saw 5 or 6 families that we knew. This year they had a cowboy theme for the preschool and all the kids wore bandannas and cowboy hats and sang "Deep in the Heart of Texas" for the judges. Jeremy and the other two watched from along the street and Cameron grabbed enough thrown candy for us to give it out for Halloween. It's always such a treat to be a part of the festivities and a good time was had by all!

Our Summer from A to Z

A summary of our Alphabet Summer:

"A"irport

"B"aseball

"C"amping

"D"inosaurs

"E"tiquette

"F"ireworks

"G"arbage

"H"aircuts

"I"ce cream

"J"ust mom or dad dates

"K"ites

"L"incoln Memorial

"M"ovies

"N"ursing Home with "O"ld people

"P"ool

"Q"uarry

"R"odeo

"S"ailboats

"T"emple

"U"mbrellas

"V"olcano

"W"aterpark

OB"X" (abbreviation of Outer Banks) a stretch but what else was there?

"Y"oga

"Z"oo

It was a summer full of activities, but it made the days go faster and gave the kids something to look forward to. I enjoyed doing things that we never would've done otherwise and bonding with my boys. We will definitely do this again next year but it will take me that long to think of new ideas! Thanks for coming along for the ride!

And finally... Z is for Zoo

We almost finished before school started, but had one more little trip planned for our alphabet summer finale. It had to wait until this weekend and luckily we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! We headed to the National Zoo as a family early Saturday morning and got there at about 9:30, before the mad rush. I remember going to this zoo as a kid and we've taken our kids a couple of times, but it's been a few years and for some reason I remember there were more animals. Jeremy reminded me that it is free and there were several areas under construction, but I was sort of disappointed we didn't see any giraffes or hippos or rhinos. We did however see:

Lions

and Tigers

and elephants (no bears either). But they were some really cool elephants that did tricks!

One of my favorite guys was this cool anteater

And Jeremy loved the Orangutans (he covered himself with that piece of cloth)

Mason loved the crocodiles (that's his crocodile face)

Cameron loved the aviary with all of the pretty birds, like this peacock

And Gavin didn't want to stop and look at anything until we got to the farm area where you could pet the animals.

After 4 hours we called it quits and the zoo was getting really crowded. Another box we can check off and not have to do for a few years :) Or at least until we get to Z next summer!

The End

And not to be overshadowed by his older brother...

Gavin had his first day of preschool this morning. After seeing the special treatment his brother got yesterday, Gavin was certain to make sure he got the same. He asked for chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and got a new outfit and sneakers. I wasn't worried for his first day at all, he has been asking all summer when he can go back to 4 R's. There were no tears and I barely even got a hug before he was off to find his long lost friends. I have no doubt his first day will be fantastic!

Second Grade, here he comes!

Cameron woke up with a big smile this morning and a happy outlook about school. I was so grateful! He wanted me to drive him today and so I went in and met his teacher since we were out of town last week when kids were supposed to meet their teachers. She was so warm and friendly and I think she will be the perfect fit for Cameron. He gave me the biggest, tightest hug ever before I left and told me he didn't want me to go, but we were both strong and I know he will do great!

Nervous smile...

With Mrs. Vlach, doesn't she look so sweet?

Back to School Bash

As I type this, one little boy is in his bed, tossing and turning, trying to settle down his mind and his tummy, anxious for his first day of second grade. His backpack is filled with school supplies, his lunch is packed with everything he requested, and his new clothes are laid out ready for him to slip into when he wakes up. I remember these days when I would look forward with excitement and trepidation to what lay ahead. Would my teacher be nice? Would I make new friends and have someone to sit next to at lunch and to play with at recess? Cameron's greatest fear may be that he is missing out on something fun at home and missing his mama. This big lump of a boy is really such a softie and I love that he loves me so much.

Today we had one last hurrah with some friends that will be going through the same send off tomorrow. We had a BBQ at Rady park in the perfect, cooler weather. We swapped first day of school stories and the kids played their hearts out, knowing that this was their last chance to suck the life out of summer. I am not ready to send my boy back to school. I want him here with me just as much as he does although he does not know it. I put on a happy face and tell him he will have so much fun being with his friends and tell him that his teacher is the nicest one. But secretly I am just as scared as he is, hoping that he clicks with at least one special seven year old wishing for a friend too. I know this is good for both of us and that we will both make it through tomorrow just fine. But until I have him back at home my mind and tummy will also be turning, anxious to hear every detail of his day. Think of us tomorrow, will you?

There were lots and lots of horses in the pasture next to the park!

Mason and Luke, such darling little friends