Getting Ready

It's just about that time of night where I begin to feel like turning in. Sleep is creeping into my bones and the urge to lie down and shut my eyes becomes stronger with each passing moment. We saw this little boy at the grocery store a week or two ago and it reminded me of a photo my Mom had of one of my brothers, taken many years ago. He looked so peaceful and sweet, I couldn't help but take a photo of him.

My brain is also tired tonight. I've been thinking all day. We have invited some friends over for a little birthday party tomorrow. Four little children between 2 and 4 are coming over to play with Josh and celebrate his birthday with him. I am trying to get my act together and at least put on a good show of being organized and prepared. The thing that makes it most difficult is that we have been remodeling our basement and it is just about done (with the exception of painting the stairs). My focus has been mostly on getting the basement ready to hold a mini party and keeping it and the rest of the house clean. Our guests will arrive tomorrow at 11 o'clock and before the 11'th hour, I must roll, cut and bake pumpkin cookies and put lunch together. I think it is a doable task, as long as I get enough sleep in the mean time. So, now I shall turn in and hopefully sleep as peacefully as the little boy who slept during his mother's grocery store visit. (Don'cha just want to pinch his fat little cheeks?)

Two Years

Six short days ago it was my birthday. But enough about me...

Today we celebrated two wonderful years. Two years ago this evening, I was lying in a hospital bed with my arms around a new baby, struck with love and disbelief. I was a new Mommy. His name was Joshua. And he was beautiful.

Today he is just as handsome, but so much more boy. He helped me clean the house this morning, in preparation of his birthday celebration. I swept and he vacuumed the dirt piles. He's getting so big... That boy. This evening two sets of Grandparents showed up at our door, one of them bearing an ice cream cake. :) I had made some apple crisp too. Josh was very anxious to see what the packages were all about, especially the one with the truck on top. When I say he's so much more boy, it's because he's all about the boy stuff. Forget about the shirts and underwear that Mommy got for him, it's the trucks and the tools that are the important stuff. Especially the tools. Josh wouldn't go to bed this evening without his new tools. All three of his "real" tools. Saws that work and a real drill too. Boy, he couldn't get into that package fast enough! Grandma Jo and Uncle Andy bought Josh some "rainy day" movies... Bob the Builder and Veggie Tales, two of the town favorites. He'll be singing "Silly Songs with Larry" before I know it... He went to bed singing "Happy birthday to you". Happy as a clam, or rather a big boy.

And then he puked. Gross. Maybe I could blame it on too much cake, if he didn't have a slight fever as well. Hopefully he'll be all good tomorrow, because Mommy has been planning on having a few little friends over on Saturday to play. Oh dear...

I love you Josh! I am so glad that God sent you to us and have been enjoying your company so, so, much these past two years. I don't know what I'd do without you!

A New Dog in the Family

This evening I found myself at the local animal shelter, Lollypop Farm. My In-laws are looking for a new dog and, although I'm not entirely sure why, they are seeking my approval on their new pet. Perhaps it is because I was not very found of their last dog who, in all honesty, was not very fond of me either. And they want our little family all to blend nicely, with no quarreling family members, even if that includes me and their dog. We looked at two different dogs and both times, my Father-in-law looked at me and said, "Well, what do you think?" I don't really like being put in the position of "picking out" someone else's dog for them. After all, what if the one I approve of turns out to be bad? So, I tried to be open-minded about the whole process, while being honest at the same time. One dog made me nervous, with all it's rambunctious bouncing and the other proved itself to be much calmer and more family friendly. Adam had brought Molly along, and after an additional "test for compatibility," we're pretty sure that dog #2 is a match. Bob and Joanne go to pick up their new dog tomorrow and here's hoping for a good companion for them. (P.S. That is a picture of Molly, not the new dog.)

A Farm Market Sort of Day

I was going to clean my house today. At least that is what I had in mind before I climbed out of bed and found the sky to be, oh so blue, outside today. The outdoors look rather inviting, so I threw any plans I had made to stay in and clean, right in the garbage. I called my Mom and practically dragged her and the girls she babysits to the farm market. It was the perfect sort of fall day for playing. The farm market has all sorts of "playing" things. There is a wooden train, a wooden castle and a wooden big-wheeler. I'm not sure which Josh liked best, the train or the big-wheeler. The sand box was a big hit. I think the three kids (or should I say four?) spent the most time digging in there, making castles and footprints. Josh and I took a walk in the maze with Grandma, but Josh didn't care for the "flowers" that hung low in his face. (The flowers were actually the long grass bending down into his line of vision, which kept hitting him in the face.) I let him lead the way through the maze, and a"maze"ingly enough, we actually found the exit. I am so glad we didn't stay at home all day on such a beautiful sunny day. I really need to make more of an effort to get out in the sun throughout the year. There is so much for us to enjoy around here! And the house can always be cleaned later... Or not. ;)

The Ol' Blue

I think I have a problem. I have this favorite pair of jeans... They were hand-me-downs, but none-the-less, I feel as if they have been with me for years. I feel at home and just right when I wear these jeans. But the last time I put them on, Josh took quite a fancy to them. He liked how he could put his hands on my knees and took the time to point out every single hole to me. We counted the holes together... There were six. It seems that each time I put them on, a new hole sprouts across my thighs. *Sigh* Perhaps it really is time to dispose of the ol' blue denim, but when I think of it, I imagine how nice they look under my sleeveless blue plaid dress, or how I need a good pair of jeans to use when stacking wood, or how I wouldn't have anything to wear my purple striped leggings with if I got rid of them, or... Maybe what I really need, is someone to sneak in and throw them out when I am not looking. (No, I am not giving you permission!)

A Birthday Party

A couple weeks ago we went to a 1st birthday party in honor of Adam's little 2nd cousin. The birthday boy gave such a nice party! He played toys, threw his gifts on the floor, plastered his face with birthday cake and charmed all the guests. All in all, it was a nice relaxing afternoon spent visiting relatives, but we were surprised by how much older the birthday boy looked than expected...

Jam is the Thing That I Love Most

"Jam on biscuits, jam on toast, jam is the thing that I love most. I. Love. Jam." (Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban) I think Josh can relate. This was breakfast this morning. And after breakfast, he went right into the tub.

I am a bad blogger. I haven't felt like blogging this week. Maybe I will upload my week-old pictures tomorrow and blog then. We'll see. Keep your fingers crossed.