From Inmates to Playdates

Posts Tagged ‘Stevie’

For this week’s You Capture challenge, we had to go outside and get creative.

So, instead of the ceremonial pictures of my sweet boys, I thought I’d change things up a bit.

This little feller poked his head out of the grass and I snuck up on him from behind. IF he would have decided to jump while I was all “National Geographic Photographer” on him, you probably would have heard me squeal no matter where you’re located.

Because. I. hate. frogs.

Actually, I’m not a fan of anything that makes its home out of doors, but frogs are way up there near the top of my list.

Just under birds.

I snapped about 14 pictures of this booger trying to get all creative with the macro setting, but I never got it to come out just the way I wanted.

Oh Nikon.

You are calling my name.

I’d love to take credit for these beauties, but alas, they are not mine.

Because beautiful flowers require watering, and well, that’s something I neglect to do when I have flowers.

Lazy, much?

While I have no earthly idea what my child is doing, I couldn’t resist this picture of the sun shining betweeen the trees.

And no picture of the great outdoors is complete without a picture of the sky.

You knew that was coming, didn’t you.

If you are by chance the owner of this car, can you call me, please? Mkay. Thanks.

Head over to I Should Be Folding Laundry to see some more of the great outdoors.

NEXT WEEKS CHALLENGE: Mornings

It seems like just a second ago, I was feeling you kick in my belly and wondering what you would look like.

It seems like just a few seconds ago, you and I were ironing out the whole breast-feeding deal and coming to a conclusion that yes, yes indeed, we can do this thing.

It seems like a second ago, you were climbing into bed with me and daddy.

It seems like a few seconds ago, you were riding around in your cool car reciting the Liberty Medical Diabetes commercial, word for word.

It seems like a second ago, you were a sweet two year old who knew the makes and models of most cars on the road.

It seems like a few seconds ago, I was changing your diaper.

It seems like a second ago, you were off to your first day of pre-school.

So, how can it be that today is your first day of SECOND grade?

Here’s to a great year in SECOND grade, big boy.

Remember to always do the right thing even when no one is watching.

—–

This post is linked to Not Me! Monday,  because I most certainly did NOT tear up a second time today just thinking about this.

Summer is winding down and I am so sad.

We’ve had a great summer and we’ve made lots of memories. In a matter of four days, I will be answering to my stupid Homemedics alarm clock every morning and the thought of that makes me want to stick my fingers in my ears and say lalalalalalalala. The boys and I have fallen into a pattern of staying up late and sleeping late and that doesn’t bode well for an elementary school schedule.

We’ll do what we have to do, I suppose.

We’ve had many travel opportunities this summer and made plenty of great memories.

Here’s a recap of our Summer.

In no particular order.

1. Visit to Busch Gardens

2. Camping trips with great friends.

3. While camping in the Amish Country, we were treated to a buggy ride.

4. Learning to ride a bike without training wheels.

5. Time with cousins at the beach

6. A glorious week with McDaddy’s siblings and their families.

7. My cousin’s wedding on the beach in Ft. Myers, Florida

8. Boy Scout Day Camp, along with a gold medal win for a BB Gun high score at the range.

9. Saying goodbye to glasses after FIVE years of needing them.

10. Taking in a Yankee Game.

11. Music Camp Water Day Fun!

12. The Summer Centershot Program – Wednesday nights at our church

13. Spending time with McDaddy

Now, I’m off to enjoy the last three days of Summer.

Happy Thursday!

SUMMER IS…..

Sitting beside your brother on a ride at Busch Gardens

Going to a Yankee game with Uncle Dave

Many miles in the minivan as we travel the East Coast.

Music Camp Water Fun

Evening sunrise on the beach

Riding in fast cars

(You knew that was coming, didn’t you?)

This post is linked to You Capture.

To: Stevie and Alex

From: Mommy

Date: August 3, 2010

RE: Just So You Know

Dear Boys,

We have had a very busy summer. So busy in fact, I think I might have forgotten to write a Just So You Know post in July.

And June too, I think.

As soon as school ended, the two of you started swimming lessons. From there, we went camping, camping, and to Florida for a family vacation. I am so proud of the two of you. There have been so many firsts this summer its been hard to keep up with it all.

I am thankful that you guys are such wonderful travellers. We’ve logged many a mile over the past two months and never do we have to worry about how well you guys will be in the car.

—-

Dear Alex,

You had a lot of fun at swimming lessons. While you didn’t learn how to swim, you did become much more comfortable in the water and even learned to ‘go under’ all by your self. I am so proud of you for being a brave boy and working so hard at swimming lessons.

And then.

Then.

There was the little issue of you playing in the garage while Daddy tightened your training wheels. You picked up Stevie’s old bike and took off riding it.

WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS.

You go, big boy!

I was never so surprised when Daddy called me outside from the garage and you were riding a bike down the road. You go, sweet boy! You are such an independent, strong-willed little fella, and I love you so much!

One of my favorite things is when you walk up to me and ask me if we can cuddle. That makes me smile and I will always, always, always cuddle with you.

We are two peas in a pod, the two of us.

I see so much of me in you sometimes and that, my sweet boy, makes me smile.

I love you, Alex Ryan.

Love, Mommy

—-

Dear Stevie,

When you began swimming lessons, you didn’t really want to give it your all. Day after day I watched you really try to do your best. I was so proud of your progress even though you weren’t quite swimming after lessons were over.

But just weeks later, thanks in part to Boy Scout Camp, just look at what you’re doing now…

Sweet boy, you are a swimmer!

You attended Boy Scout Camp for the first time and you had a great time. You won a gold medal for a first place in BB Gun shooting and more importantly, you were chosen by the parent volunteers as the boy who most represented the characteristics of a boy scout. I wiped away tears as you were presented with the group flag.

Most importantly, you have experienced a major change this month.

We were told by your eye Doctor that you no longer need glasses.

I praise God that your left eye is completely normal and that after five years you no longer need to wear glasses.

I love you sweet boy!

Love, Mommy

Last weekend while we were in Florida, Stevie and I accompanied two brothers-in-law to a Major League Baseball game.

As far as baseball goes, it was a biggie.

Or so I was told.

Because me? I know nothing of baseball unless you count the fact that I’ve thought Derek Jeter was a hottie ever since I saw a picture of he and Mariah Carey on The View several years ago.

The New York Yankees were playing the Tampa Bay Rays and my brother-in-law, Mike, happens to be a huge Yankees fan. When he discovered the Yankees would be playing in Florida the same week we would be there he asked if any of us were interested in going. I myself had no desire to sit in the hot sun for nine L-O-N-G innings, but Stevie was all over the idea.

But when Mike mentioned that the field was actually an indoor stadium I was all, “Sign me up!”

And so this week’s What I Learned This Week post was born at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida.

I present to you the things I learned at the baseball field.

1. When you show up to a baseball game played by the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays wearing a bright orange shirt, you will stick out like a sore thumb.

Ditto if you happen to be wearing a Titleist hat and sitting directly in front of someone trying to snap a picture.

2. If A-Rod has made 599 career home runs and is up to bat, you can expect to see hundreds of flashes every single time he bats.

3. If A-Rod is playing in a baseball game and could possibly make his 600th career homerun, there is a good chance that blocks of seats (deep in the outfield) will be purchased by folks hoping to catch the coveted 600th home-run ball.

4. Because according to the guy behind me, the 600th homerun ball batted by A-Rod would “easily be worth about $100,000 and your chance of catching that ball is much better than your chance of winning the lottery.”

Wellalrightythen.

5. When you are sitting behind home plate seven rows from the VERY TOP FOR GOODNESS SAKE, there is no chance whatsoever that you will catch the 600th ball batted by A-Rod.

6. Regardless of where you are sitting Derek Jeter is indeed a hottie.

7. You are not able to purchase Yankee paraphanelia at a Tampa Rays home game unless you purchase something from the robber sorry sap selling stuff at a fold-up table outside of the stadium field.

8. A bag of Cracker Jacks at a Major League Baseball game will set you back $5.00.

9. You can expect to pay at least $20.00 for parking. $30.00 if you wish to park close to the entrance because it is 319 degrees outside and chances are pretty good that you’ll faint before making it inside.

10. Apparently when the Tampa Bay Rays are playing a less popular team, the cost of parking and seats is not nearly as expensive as when they are playing the Yankees.

11. I am all about the stealing of bases at a baseball game because that is much more exciting than the mundane hum-drum of balls and strikes.

12. The seventh inning stretch would be more effective if it were, oh, I don’t know, called the fifth inning stretch because by the seventh inning my legs were cramped and my foot was asleep.

13. The player between second and third base is called the short-stop.

Which explains why Derek Jeter hangs out between second and third base.

14. The speed of a pitch was approximately 90 mph.

That is shocking to me.

15. Nick Swisher, an outfielder for the Yankees is a West Virginia boy. He graduated from Parkersburg South High School which happens to be about 45 minutes from where we live.

Now it’s your turn to share!

Please remember to link directly to your What I Learned This Week post and not to your blog home page.

Earlier in the summer, McDaddy and I talked about signing the boys up for swimming lessons.

I was skeptical because at the time, both of the boys were afraid to “go under water” and neither one of them had any interest whatsoever in doing anything in the pool besides playing on the steps. Each day before going into the pool, we held hands in the van and prayed for bravery, safety, and a willingness to try anything that they were asked to do during their thirty-minute lesson. And the first day, I might have added, ‘and please don’t let either of them have a big, hairy fit or cause a big nasty scene’.

Not that either of them have ever done either of those things, but, hey one can’t ever be too careful.

Despite the requirement to float (which required getting water in their ears) they had a great time.

They worked on freestyle, backstroke, floating, and becoming comfortable and confident in the water. At the conclusion of the lessons, Stevie was *almost* swimming.

I say *almost* because he gave 105% each day and worked really hard to be brave. I saw him go past his comfort zone and each day he pushed himself to do a little more. Yet, when it came time to give up the ‘boards’ he had trouble staying above the water.  He found that swimming was much easier while holding his nose and swimming under water.

That was before spending a week at Boy Scout Day Camp with eight other boys which concluded each day with pool time. On the last day of Day Camp, he climbed into the van and proudly announced that he could now ‘do the cannonball’ and ‘swim back to the side of the pool.’ My ears perked up and I replied, “Oh yeah?” I followed that up with, “Well, we’ll just have to make a trip to the pool tomorrow so you can show me.”

And that’s precisely what we did.

Our little family of four got suited up, lathered up, and heated up.

My sweet boy tucked his knees into his arms and flopped in the water like he had done it 382 times. Then, he worked his way back to the side of the pool doing freestyle looking like a drunken worm high on crack. His bony little body flipped and flopped and at the very core of all the movement, he *was* actually swimming.

But, I wouldn’t have asked Michael Phelps for his opinion on the matter.

We visited the pool several more times and worked on his form and making his movements smoother.

And now?

Now, he is swimming like a fish.

And when he’s feeling particularly rowdy, he flops over on his back and does the backstroke.

I am tickled to death that he can actually swim. It will make our vacation to Florida so much more enjoyable for him (especially since a couple of his cousins are swimming) and for us, too. 

That leads me to what Works For Me this fine Wednesday.

During swimming lessons, he had a tough time because he couldn’t keep his eyes open long enough to actually see where he was going.

So began my quest for swim goggles that actually kept the water out of his eyes.

I started my search at the dollar store which if I’m being honest was a mistake from the start because what can one expect from a pair of swim goggles that cost one hundred pennines?

You get what you pay for, right?

The stinkin’ strap wouldn’t even stay hooked.

The four dollar mask at the Mart of Walls ultimately had the same outcome even though they were more expensive than the first pair. They mask is probably manufactured at the same plant as the dollar duds.

The third pair ringing in at $7.00 each?

Were returned the next day.

At that point, it became a challenge to find one stinkin’ pair of goggles (well, two actually becuase even though Alex still isn’t a fan or going under water, I couldn’t ever justify not purchasing a pair of goggles for future bribery use) that did NOT fill up with water at the point of entry.

Oh shoot. It’s storming and the lights are flickerin’. I need to wrap this up before I lose it.

Anyway, to make an extremely long story short complete, I am happy to report that we found not one, but TWO pair of goggles that get the job done.

As it turns out, Buzz Lightyear knows a thing or two about swim goggles. Even a pair on the clearance rack for $2.77.

Two dollars and seventy-seven cents, people.

That’s unheard of  in the swim goggle industry.

And believe me, I know of what I speak.

Being the skeptical that I am, I also insisted on purchasing a high falutin pair of goggles at Dick’s Sporting Goods for $23.00. Because after you’ve spent 2/3 of your summer searching for a decent pair of swim goggles, it’s highly unlikely that Buzz Lightyear and his peeps know anything about swim goggles.

Especially ones that cost $2.77.

Sorry, Buzz. I owe you a big, fat apology for bad-mouthing you in Aisle 16 at the Toys-R-Us. I was sure your goggles would be junk.

I am pleased to announce that the 2010 Great American Hunt For Swim Goggles is officially over.

If you or someone you love (or someone that has spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for goggles) is in need of a decent pair of swim goggles, I suggest you start with Buzz and his friends.

That way you’ll have plenty left over to buy mama a new pair of shoes.

These swim goggles worked for me!

Visit We Are THAT Family for other things that might Work For You. And it’s doubtful that anyone else will use 975 words to talk about swim goggles.

What can I say?

A lot apparently.

 I had a wonderful day. So wonderful in fact that it is 11:04 P.M. and I have yet to start this week’s What I Learned This Week post. A few girlfriends and I met for dinner and afterwards, we all headed back to the McResidence for birthday cake cookie and laughs.

I love to spend time with my girlfriends. I’d love to do it more often, but quite frankly life gets in the way.

Life, Scouts, ballgames, homework, lessons, you name it. We generally stay so busy that it is difficult to plan a girls night out. Fortunately we had a great little get-togehter. It was an exceptionally wonderful time and as always, we enjoyed each other’s company.

As is generally the case, I learned some stuff this week.

This week I learned a tough lesson. 

I learned that it is very difficult to snap an action shot using an iPhone camera.

Especially an action shot involving a seven year old and a swimming pool.

Because the action?

The action, is well, action packed.

When attempting to take an action shot with my precious iPhone, I find that I either hit the button a bit too early, or a bit late.

It is really tough to hit the button at just the right time.

It was a bit frustrating if I’m being honest,

but each time, my sweet boy climbed right back up there time and time again

and it was quite clear that he was totally enjoying himself and his new-found ability to jump off of a diving board. 

What did you learn this week?

If you’re joining in for the first time, you can read all about the details here.

Don’t just stand there,

Join in on the fun!

 We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend camping with some families from our church.

As always, I learned all kinds of stuff that I thought might help one or two or ten of you, so let’s get right to this eclectic list of stuff.

1. When you are shopping for a folding drying rack, a metal one is better than a wooden one. If you don’t believe me you can ask my friend from church who broke one of the rods right in half as he attempted to show me how to put it together.

2. If you bring along Hershey bars for S’mores, and the temperature is, I don’t know, say, 112 degrees, you might want to place them in the camper fridge or else they will be a melty mess by the time dark thirty rolls around.

3. When you see this guy jet-skiing on the lake

it will cause quite the stir.

But not nearly as much stir, as this group does on the basketball court.

In fact, a certain blogger (who shall remain nameless) will be so excited, she will ask them to pose for a picture. If this should ever happen to you and you have even the slightest hint of OCD in your tendencies, you should not be embarrassed to ask blue guy to switch places with red guy so that their getups costumes outfits won’t blend together.

Cool, huh?

4. The word bigwig is a legitimate, legal word on Words With Friends. In fact, if you put it in the proper position, it will be worth mega points.

5. If you have a camper and you are in need of a place to hang a wet towel or two, these interdesign hooks will do the job beautifully!

6. No matter how much stuff you buy for your camper, you can always find one more thing you could use at Wal-Mart.

7. If your boys are seven and four, your boys will have the “best camping trip ever” because they are old enough to enjoy riding toys and piles of rocks at your campsite and young enough to not care about extremely hot temperatures.

8. If you are 36,  you will most certainly care about 182 degree extremely hot temperatures.

What did you learn this week?

If you’re linking up for the first time, you can go here to read more about the guidelines.

I love it when these guys

both end up in my bed so we can “cuddle” because they are the best cuddlers in the world and we talk about what we will do that day.

I love it when they wrap their gangly arms around my neck and squeeze me tightly.

I love it when they tell me I am “the best mommy ever!”

I love it that they are the sweet and compassionate boys.

I love it that they want me to watch Monster Jam with them.

I love it that they play with my hair.

I love it when they take their dishes to the sink. And throw things away. And do exactly what we expect them to do.

I love it when they get excited about doing their best or trying their hardest.

I love it that these two sweet boys play very well together 94% of the time!

I love it that they are mine!

I love it that I am changed because of them.

I love it that every night when I crawl into bed, I get to thank God for the opportunity to raise these two special beings.