My girls are home…

…and I am so glad.

They had a WONDERFUL time with family. 

 

Happy 9th birthday, Hayden

I tell people that I had parenting all figured out until I had my first boy.  Your four sisters require a different type of mothering than you and your brother so I adjust frequently.  I’ve learned that behind that raucous, tough-guy exterior is a wonderful little boy who still loves his morning hug and his before-bed kiss and a lot of reassurance. 

It’s been surprisingly wonderful the last few months to not open a door myself or carry a single bag of groceries in your presence as you seek to be a true gentleman.  I’ve seen you sit back and think before you react to your brother and give away a precious treasure to keep a sister happy, examples of your budding maturity.

Hayden, you are more precious to me than I can adequately express.  Watching you change and grow into a young man is new and exciting to me.  You came into this world the loudest baby I’d ever heard.  I look forward to witnessing how you will continue to make your presence known to others.

I love you so much,
Mom

Girls’ getaway

Sutton (20), Reagan (15), and Keaton (12) were able to go on vacation with family but without mom and their little siblings…a much needed break for girls who deserve not only that, but so much more.  My car thermometer read 105 degrees in Texas today.  It goes without saying that the beaches of Florida seem much more appealing.

 

Playing hooky

Landon began to grow weary of school the last few weeks; in fact, the school nurse and I became fast friends as often as she would call me to say Landon wasn’t feeling well.  He wasn’t “sick sick,” as we call being truly yucky-sick, but rather it was the I’m-six-years-old-and-I’m-tired-of-school-and-just-want-to-play kind of sick.  He kept telling me “I just want to be with you, Mom.” Stab me in the heart, why don’t you? He’s a bit of a con-artist, I realize, but I love him:)

So one day I picked him up from the school nurse’s office and brought him to work with me.  He watched his dvd and ate snacks.  He flirted with the women in the office, especially Miss Danielle.

She made him signs for his room.  We went to lunch.

He got to watch some of the workers.

“I really REALLY want to play in this water, Mom.”

He took pictures.

He spun around in the chair ‘til he couldn’t see (or walk)straight.  He kept us all in stitches.

He also shredded a ton of paper for Miss Lisa, so much so that he earned $2…a veritable windfall when you’re six.

On the way home, he fell fast asleep.  Notice the $2 he’s clasping?

 

We went straight to the dollar store…

…and he went straight for the toys he’d been eyeing.

Guess who called me the next day?  Yep, my friend the school nurse.  Hayden decided that sick days are too much fun to miss.  Problem is, he said he felt like throwing up so I couldn’t take him to work with me. We stayed home and snuggled.  Pampering on the couch and a mom/son lunch out was still satisfying enough.

Phone dump

126 pictures.  On my phone.  It’s an issue.  A photographic issue.  I’d say I need a hobby.  But it appears I have one.

     

The end:)