The long weekend

Ignore the 'timeline' as it's off - I'm just finishing up the post that I started last week...

Really I haven't got a lot to say about the long weekend - mostly I was just going to jabber about various things this past week.

We had a great time at my moms house last weekend. We spent all day Saturday at the lake. Jarod wanted to go ride on a boat soooo badly! But DJ showed up later in the afternoon fishing license and rod in hand and so they went fishing. DJ caught 3 little catfish and Jarod thought that was GREAT. However, the best part were the worms. Jarod took to two of the longest worms in the tub and well - put them through the ringer and had lots of fun talking to them and giving them instructions. Then when it was time to leave - he didn't want to leave them behind. My mother and sister were appalled that I let him bring his 'pets' along for the ride home.. In the car he put them on his blanket and was telling them to go to sleep now (my mother was making snide comments about 'that's the only thing those worms can do now' - meaning they were already dead dead dead). Then he was telling them to wake up and was rolling them around in his hands. It was really a complete riot! I attempted to get him to give me his pets by bribing him with Dairy Queen ice cream - even ice cream wasn't enough temptation to give those worms to me. Finally though he did give in and he traded me his worms for ice cream. Such a BOY!! Fast forward to the current week and he's been asking for worms. So we were at the grocery store and I bought gummy worms. I kept telling him he could eat these worms... and he's telling me 'no mommy'. I told him again when I put him in his car seat that he could eat the worms that they were yummy - he proceeds to tell the worms 'don't worry worms I won't bite you'. I don't know where the kid comes up with this stuff.

We've had a houseful of sickness. The first wave came in the form of ear infections for both boys. Zachary was up ALL night one night so I took him in and drug Jarod with me. So the doc looks at his ears and yep he's got an ear infection. As we were leaving Jarod said 'hey what about looking in my ears'. So she said 'ok I can look'. Then of course he didn't want to let her - but I made him let her and he had one too. Then Monday Zach was acting and sounding still sick. I called the doc and she wasn't terribly concerned so I decided to just wait it out. Tuesday night he was up all night again so back we go (I draw the line at being awake all night). While I was waiting for the doctor I noticed that the left side of his face was completely swollen. I have ZERO idea how I missed that. It was also hard as a golf ball right under his jaw. The doctor thinks it's just an infection in his lymph node there. She gave him a stronger antibotic and had us come back on Friday. He slept Wednesday night and on Thursday was acting way more like himself. His swelling also looked like it was going down and his fever hadn't been so constant. So when we went in she looked him over and double checked her 'books' and said she still thinks it's just an infection and to watch it. Yesterday I sort of freaked out b/c his swelling was back and he was being a cuddle buddy again - but today he's back to being more normal. We'll see how it goes. In the meantime of all that - Jacob decides that he's got to get sick too and came home on Thursday with flu-like symptoms. He stayed home from work Friday and Saturday but didn't have much choice and went back today. I think he's feeling better though - I'm just hoping whatever he had doesn't spread.

Last night Sarah convinced me that we should go to the NM State Fair. I really love the fair - but I'm TERRIFIED of taking my children and loosing them in the crowds. Zach stayed home with Jake (a nice combination they could cuddle each other) and I took Jarod. I told him we were going to go to the fair on the bus when DJ got home (keep in mind he doesn't know what the fair is - he does know bus and he can't wait til DJ comes over). So DJ pulls up and Jarod sees him out the window and runs out and tells him 'common DJ lets go to the fair on the bus'. Of course it was way faster that anyone could make out except for me who'd been telling him for an hour we had to wait for DJ. Jarod thought the bus ride was GREAT! We went straight to the animals and saw bunnies, chickens, horses, cows and sheep (we couldn't find the pigs and Sarah's allergies were so bad by that point that she made us leave the animal area). Jarod stayed in his stroller except to pet the horses. And I'm pleased to report I didn't loose him once! LOL We went to the indian villiage where there was great food, music and dancing. Jarod found a new food to love - beans... from my Navajo indian taco. When we were close to home he says to me 'mommy I'm tired can we go home and go to bed'. Sheesh it only takes a $40 trip to the fair to tire out my kid.

This weekend we have planned to go down to the lake. Rebecca turns 16 on the 21st and has started working at the marina. Part of being employeed there is she gets to rent any type boat she wants. She's going to have her birthday party on a house boat and then on Saturday take out a speed boat and go skiing with some of her friends that I'm taking down with me. It should be fun! I can't wait for Jarod to FINALLY be able to ride in a boat.

Wow! That was a handful! Sorry it's so long.... Enjoy the pictures.

Zachary Walking

I swear it wasn't that long ago that I was posting Zachary's first crawls and already I'm having to post his first walks. This toy is one of Jarod's favorites and it's been put up for over a year - it's fun trying to get Jarod to 'share'.

I figure if Zach is going to walk he might as well get a move on - it's definitely cleaner than crawling.

And so... here's my little boy... learning to walk. (Please excuse his lack of clothing. It was about 730 this morning and he'd just gotten out of the shower).

Will life be normal now?

It seems like the summer has flown by in a huge blur. It's been packed with vacations and moves and work trips and activities. It doesn't appear to be slowing down yet either. This weekend the boys and I are headed to my parents house to have a little 'fun in the sun'.

Last week I headed off to the ATL for work. It was a relatively productive trip. I got some training and cleaned up some things that have been 'dirty' for sometime. I can't say it was nice - but it's always good to go rub noses with my co-workers. They forget I do actually work out here!

On Saturday everyone was up super early and so I decided to take the boys to the zoo - by myself. We were there when the doors opened which was my plan... unfortunately the first series of exhibits were all being cleaned and so we missed all the monkey's. The earth may have stopped turning if the Rhino's had been put away - but thankfully they were out - eating. Then we hit the train and went over to the aquarium. Both great fun for Jarod who loves trains AND fish! Mostly it was just a HUGE accomplishment for me. I took them both myself, and we all survived and we didn't even want to strangle each other when we were done. It was fun to hear Jarod telling his daddy all about it when he got home from work.

Speaking of Jake he's got a panel interview for supervisor tomorrow afternoon. We've been waiting and waiting for this interview. I don't know how long it will be until he hears anything but we are hopeful. Also hopeful that he doesn't get stuck with an evening shift should he get the promotion.

I was prepared to spend some time downloading photo's when I realized my camera is DEAD and my charger is still at the other house. I'll swing by and pick it up at some point and get pictures up soon.

......and time flies

I'm horrible! Here I promised to keep updated and I've let some things slide. I hope you all will forgive me for not having rambled on for a few weeks... especially once I ramble about what's been going on.

As everyone knows my mom, dad and sister have been planning their big move. Well - 2 weeks ago my dad calls me at 10:30pm and tells me that some friends of ours are having a scuba certification training on next Tuesday at the lake - would I like to go. Now that's a really silly question! However, fundage is a problem. After discussing it, my parents graciously give me one of the best presents I've ever gotten! However, that moved our moving time line way up. So we worked and worked at the big house to get them ready to pack up and be at the lake by 3pm Tuesday afternoon. In the midst - my little brother got ants in his pants to move into his new bachelor pad (otherwise known as my old house - with my beautiful lawn). By Monday night he had all of our beds and dressers to the big house... everyone on top of everyone.

Scuba class was great! We started in the water Tuesday night and that was fun watching everyone orientate to life under the water. Rebecca was a natural - all of her set up and movements in the water came super natural. Sarah did great too - although she's more analitical and so she was a little slower. I won't go into me... I've been before, knew I'd love it, and hmmm I 'think' I know my way around the water (at least without a regulator). On Friday we took off to Balmorhea State Park, TX. Jake took off Friday and Saturday so he could keep the boys so I could go play. Balmorhea was NOT what I was expecting. Really I'd pictured something like Bottomless Lakes - a little beachy area, some water, a big hole. Uh think again.. yes.. it's almost really a big swimming pool, with a hole in the middle about 14 feet deep. The days were LONG we were in the water from about 3 until 7 on Friday, then we were back at it at 830 Saturday until almost 4. Then we had to drive the 5 hours back to T or C. But it was still GREAT!!! There were some fish - who think you are going to feed them if you hold your hand out (think trying to make a bird come onto your finger - that's the fish), there were soft shell turtles, and then there was just the awe of being underwater for long minutes at a time. Needless to say now I'm trying to figure out how to make time in my schedule for diving. A little difficult as I'm the mother of 2 small children, work full time and I'm a wife (really need I say more than, wife?)

So now we've been home a week - and things are going. A whole lot of my things are still at the green house. As Ben was in a bit of a hurry he just put all my stuff into my old guest room. We got the majority of my kitchen last week - but there's still a lot left. I haven't really been diligent in going and packing up. Work has crazily picked up and I've just been swamped. I'd planned on getting everything done on Friday and Saturday but then my mom and dad came into town and well we just sailed right threw the weekend and nothing got done.

This week I'm headed to the ATL for work. I thought I'd gotten out of having to go. But then I got an email from my boss summoning me to the mother ship. The same week he told me to come they laid off 7 people in the office - making it more important that I hurry up and get there b/c they need me to take on more work. We'll see how that goes.

I need to post pictures - but I haven't downloaded them off the camera and at this moment I'm pretty tired. When I get back from ATL hopefully things will slow down and I'll be able to catch my breath. Stay tuned...