Photo Shoot

Eating a leaf ended the picture taking

Outdoor Playtime

Scrapblog?

In the past, I have created awesome photo books on shutterfly.com. They come hard bound with beautiful pages and wonderful memories. However, the time it takes to organize and chronicle the events of our life takes more than I've had to give this year (I still haven't finished the 2007 book! Things got a little busy around Dec. 19 last year!).

What I want to do is turn my blog into a printed scrapbook as a memory of 2008. I haven't researched it that much myself so I'm turning to other bloggers out there who might have done the same thing and can offer some advice or a great site to visit. I know the blog is accessible online but the old timey part of me wants something I can hold in my hand and look back on the fun stuff we did this year. The whole purpose of this blog was to capture the everyday stuff, not just the holidays and special events.

Any thoughts?

Papa and Mama Bear

Tube Update

Tubes are in, we are home, and Lucas is doing fine.

It was after 9 before he was taken back for the procedure. It took about 10 minutes and then approx. 20 minutes of recovery. After that, we headed for home. He has been laughing, playing, and eating like crazy. Maybe he thought we were never going to feed him again since he had to go 12 hours (gasp) without food last night.

This Week

It's only Wednesday but it feels like it should be Friday already! I've had a whirlwind week between catching up at school (hard to do after a break) and coordinating efforts at home to prepare for the weekend (Brent will be hunting).

Part of the coordinating has to do with Lucas. Many of you know his battle with ear infections since entering day care in August (curses, curses). After the 3rd one, I insisted on being referred to an ENT (that's ear, nose, and throat) for tubes. We had the initial appointment today and, lo and behold, he has another infection. No surprise here. Sooooo.... he will be having tubes put in FRIDAY! Yes, Friday! I can't believe we are getting this done so quickly; I expected a longer wait. We will check in around 7 am Friday morning and should be done around 8:30. The trick will be keeping him distracted because he can't eat before the surgery. This is a routine procedure but prayers would be appreciated.

Date Night

Friday night was one for the history books! Brent and I hired a babysitter (2 to be exact) and had a real date to celebrate our 8th anniversary. We ate at my favorite restuarant (Olive Garden) and spent some time browsing Barnes and Noble (something I haven't done in ages!). I had been looking forward to this for soooooo long and it was worth the wait. We promised ourselves we would do this more than once a year; there's something about having 2 kids that increases the need for adult time. My big purchase was Trisha Yearwood's cookbook, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen. There are some down home, yummy recipes in there that I can't wait to try.

10 months

@ 10 months: has stood alone for a few seconds at a time, has taken a few steps while holding on to the couch, is down to 4 bottles a day as we start to transition completely to a cup, has given up on baby food and just prefers to feed himself, drops any food he doesn't like over the side of the high chair, is "talking" but we don't know what he's saying, likes to play peek-a-boo, giggles when tickled, still puts everything in his mouth.

He's growing so quickly! In 2 short months we will be celebrating his first birthday.

Fall Break Flashback

2 years ago, we took a trip with Brent's family to Branson, MO. Here is Lillian from that weekend with a little help from Photoshop.

Fall Crafts and Other Fall Break Happenings

Carving a pumpkin takes precision and skill, something I obviously lack. The mutilated Jack-O-Lantern proves it! We started with a well shaped pumpkin with just the right leaning to display a "face." I drew a face with a Sharpie to define my carving pattern. It took several minutes to get the top off. Lillian kept reassuring me it took her teacher a long time, too.

They finally start to remove the gunk from the middle. Lucas would rather kiss the pumpkin.
I was told she should pose for the picture first before getting her hands dirty because that's what her teacher said.
Lucas plays with the top, smearing it all over his clothes while chomping on a stray piece of cat food.

Switch from cat food to pumpkin- both equally delicious!
Resort to a big spoon when hands get too slimy... because that's what the teacher did. Seriously, enough with the hero worship of the teacher. (Just kidding- I wish some of my students would hero worship me. Maybe they would turn in an assignment on time so I'm not grading late work over Fall Break)

The finished product. Disgusting, isn't it? We added eyelashes to try to hide the mutilated eyes.

Lillian and I did this while Lucas napped this morning. Note the OSU and LY initials.The other shapes are ghosts, pumpkins, and a witch's pot.

Painting pumpkins

Stats

Both kids had checkups today. Lillian had a surprise when she learned she would get 2 shots after I had promised that she wouldn't get any today. She got a flu shot and chickenpox booster. That cost me a treat from Target for the feeding of misinformation! Lucas had a flu shot as well.

Basically, Doc said to make sure there was a basketball goal in the driveway because we grow 'em tall!

Lillian: Weight-50 lbs (95% of other kids her age) and Height- 48 in (off the charts!)

Lucas: Weight- 19 lbs, 2 oz (25%- some concern with low weight but is probably due to constant antibiotics which, hopefully, tubes will fix) and Height-31 in (97%)

Cheyenne

We spent last weekend with Grandma Retta and Granddad Connie. Brent did some work and we had a good time just hanging around the house.

Lillian helped with the painting. "What does this rock taste like?"

Stalking his prey
Lucky prepares to strike...

"Let's play some more!"

"Ah-ha! I got you!"

Lillian took the next 2 pictures. I think she did a great job.

Sunday morning

No. 8

That's right...we broke into the Top 10 after an impressive win over Missouri. The kids were decked out in OSU gear for the game even if we were deep in western Oklahoma where no one saw us but grandparents. Hey, fans wear their gear everywhere!

Things I Do With The 2nd Child...

I have been amazed at what I allow Lucas to do that would have chilled me to the bone to see Lillian attempt. Here are a few examples:

1. Need a makeshift teether? Here, chew on my keys (while standing in the Wal-mart check out line)

2. No need to vacuum the tile floor- Lucas will gladly eat anything dropped on the floor, especially if he dropped it from a previous meal!

3. Pulling up on bar stools, piano benches, rolling chairs, and anything else that has the potential to topple.

4. I will do anything to buy a few minutes of extra time. So you want to pull out all the clean silverware from the dishwasher and spread them all over my not-so-clean kitchen floor? Sure- just as long as I get to finish checking my email. Destroy the new magazine I haven't even read? Of course, little guy... I should have been reading the magazine while you were pulling out the silverware.

5. And finally... play with pots, pans, spoons, and other such loud noise makers without flinching at all the noise. In the grand scheme of things, that sound means he doing creative play and that thrills this mother's soul.

Lillian and The Turtle

Lillian found the cutest turtle in our driveway. She was brave enough to pick him up and transport him to a location that might prove to be safer than the main road with crazy drivers like Lucas cruising along in his walker. (The lucky 8 ball tattoo had everything to do with the find!)

Cousins

We had an unexpected visit from all the cousins this weekend for the funeral of Brent's grandma. We enjoyed getting the whole family together even for the somber occasion. We also saw Brady for the first time!

Grandma C. wrangles the boys on the piano.

"Why, yes, it is a lovely armchair cover, Jackson!"
Lillian gives Brady one of her famous Lily chef hats.
No one is ready for bed, especially the one on the left. He has ear infection #3.

Pistol Pete's Birthday

Grammy took Lillian to the zoo Sunday for a special OSU day to celebrate Pistol Pete turning 50. Of course, I tried to illegally copy the photo to the blog but wasn't able to do that so here is the link:

http://www.partypics.com/ver2/ViewImage.aspx?OrderNo=26346754&Roll=00001&Frame=0134

Wrestle-Mania

A left hook to the eye will take him down every time!

I Got Here All By Myself!

Boys And Their Toys

He started out with a doll.

Is it a kiss or a piece of food?
He drove this truck all over the living room tonight.
Seeing this in person is adorable!
The doll is abandoned in the background; Dad would be proud.
Lucas loves trucks and cars that he can hold in his hand and drive around. *Hint, hint* for anyone thinking about a birthday or Christmas in the near future!

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Sleep happens in odd places when Daddy is out of town!