SHUT UP

Sean has learned a new phrase....SHUT UP. But he doesn't say it like shut up/get outta here he uses it to mean shut your mouth. So, I have been trying to explain to him that it's not nice to say. Earlier this week, he got mad at me over something silly and screamed SHUT UP to which I replied, "Sean mommy doesn't like it when you use those words. They are not nice and they make me sad. Instead of saying shut up, let's say....."

to which he interrupted and boldly said "if you would shut up, I would stop saying shut up"

fast as snot...

so AJ and I are at Dad's this weekend....and it poured rain here today. When the rain slowed, I ran out to drop a few things in the car and when I turned to run back to the porch, I realized that AJ had followed me outside. And as fast as SNOT he was jumping in the puddles and giggling. So of course, we just got the big wheel out to see just how wet and dirty he could get!!! (double click to get full effect of how wet he is!!!)

"E"

Our biggest challenge this year was even mentioning the "E" word because Sean celebrated Easter a week ago at school and ever since has denied that Easter is really today. He even took a marker and made a big X on Easter on the calendar.

We went to an "E" party yesterday with friends Anna and Daniel but the whole time we had to avoid the "E" word (and the word party) because Sean would say IT IS NOT EASTER, IT IS NOT A PARTY. ok.... He does however, like the act of partying and the concept of being showered with gifts and candy. Oh and apparently the kids got a little confused about the holiday so we wore costumes and hunted easter eggs :)

The weather is still cold here but AJ enjoyed some outside time with me on Saturday...and really liked smelling and picking all my pansies. I got a video of the kids on Easter morning but haven't had time to upload yet...

would Marge have a tattoo?

My mom was a stay at home mom. But before you get visions of June Cleaver in your head, she was the kind who watched Soap Operas all day, picked me up from school at 3, took me to Harper's for a three pack of twinkies and a coke and then we'd head to Uncle Harold's pond to catch dinner. (which she would fry in the fry daddy that I am pretty sure had the same batch of grease for more than 10 years. )

a few random thoughts about Marge:

• she knew at all times where ANY neighborhood kid was....and if you wandered too far away, the whistle would bring you back
• she was great at homemade remedies---alum would cure anything, duck tape would fix anything, vitamin E heal everything
• her specialty was making blackberry pudding which was kind of like a cobbler except the filling was all ooey gooey pudding like (and of course we picked the blackberries fresh)
• skittles ---she must have owned stock. And she would always eat the colors you didn't like....like green.

My mom passed away 11 years ago today. I will never forget the phone call I made to my friend Rachel. Through her tears she chucked and said "man it's just like your mom to do something like this on April Fool's Day." She was quite a character...

So today I fondly remember my mom. I told Jeff last night that if she were still living my guess is she'd have a tattoo to match one of Shelby's like the green star on his inner arm. Except she'd likely have it on her butt cheek.

either way it's cool....

When Sean was about 3 years old, we started realizing he could read words. At first, his teachers and doctors told us it was likely hyperlexia---where a child who is too young to really read just memorizes words. He could read street signs and complex words and it was amazing. Over time, we've come to realize he understands the words and as a 5 year old can read books that are at about a 2nd grade level and then answer questions about what he has read.


He pulled an old bag of flash cards out of the toy box today so just for fun I videotaped him reading the words. I can't remember him looking at these for over a year at least...so it's not like he's seen this group of words lately. Last time we were in Carmi he read all the words on a McDonald's sack to Sherri---she's a teacher ya know so it takes a lot to impress her and she was impressed!!!


hyperlexia or savant like....who knows....either way it's cool.


Enjoy the video --the quality isn't great but turn up the volume and use your imagination :)

more Texas shots....

We really enjoyed our family time in Texas. My random shots include AJ asleep on the airplane, Lucy with crazy balloon hair, Ken/Wyatt/Christian at the farm, me playing with the Longhorns and AJ trying to catch a Koi fish....we loved the 85 degree weather!!!!

Texas style fun

I am in Texas with my Dad and AJ...we are having BIG fun with our family. Pictures are of Christian, Lucy, Wyatt and AJ :)