A life sized mouse

It’s really hard for me just to sit at home with nothing to do.  I dream up errands, projects, or chores to do.  I especially love a field trip.  We are always up for a good time.  Since school is starting back that means everyone gets super busy.  We don’t get to spend as much time with our cousins when school is in session so we have to seize every opportunity for a play date when possible.  Ashley, my sister in law, and I planned a trip to none other than, Chuck E Cheese.  

It’s a pretty safe and low key place to go during the week.  I’m not near brave enough to take it on during the weekend.  I spent a total of $7.00 in there and my boys had a blast.  

 I had to make Ford to take a picture with Molly Cate.  He was more interested in driving the train. 

 No tokens required when Bitty is driving.  As long as he has a steering wheel and a gear shift he is Good To Go!!!

 John Brantley had never seen a life sized mouse before and was completely unsure about getting too close.

 My $7.00 got us 2 tiny packs of nerds and 3 tiny packs of smarties.  Fortunately, Ford has never looked above the glass cabinet full of pencils, erasers, candy, and bookmarks to notice the real prizes up above.  You’ve got to have a lot more than 130 tickets to buy one of those prizes.  They were thrilled with their candy and I even convinced Ford to share with his brother.  That’s big time!!!

 John Brantley takes candy very seriously.

 We have a cute store in Mayberry called “Miller Station”.  It’s a precious store that rents out spaces to various vendors with unique gifts at reasonable prices.  I bought Ford a red stool several months back at Miller Station.  I was tired of him climbing on things when he couldn't reach them.  John Brantley has taken a liking to the little red stool we keep in the bathroom, so I decided he needed a stool himself.  I remembered seeing a blue stool at the store so I went back to get it.  The sweet owner gave me the blue stool for free and also painted on them for free too!!!!!  She made my day!  I thought that was extremely thoughtful of her when she definitely didn't have to do that for my boys.

 Bitty has been getting beaten up lately.  He hit his head on the floor at my parents’ house and got a goose egg and a lovely bruise.  Then two days ago we were playing outside and he fell off of Ford’s tractor.  When he fell he hit the carport mouth first.  Now he has a fat lip.  Poor child!! =(

 I have been so pleased with Ford’s new school and the smooth transition of moving there.  He is excited to go to school every morning and always tells me he had a great day.  Now getting details about the day out of him is a rather difficult task.  He isn't willing to tell me that he did very much.  I usually hear how cool the boys’ bathroom is and that he washed his hands 4 times.  Or he tells me who he played with, what he ate for snack, and that they aren't supposed to turn flips on the carpet because they might kick their friends!  Today, being Friday, I got his folder with all of his work inside.  I think I smiled from ear to ear the entire time.  I bragged on him and really felt his muscles about how hard he had worked.  They had done a lot of art projects involving the skills they were working on that week.  There were even 3 pictures in his folder….

I am so glad we chose to hold Ford back.  I love having him home with me two days a week and getting to spend extra time with him.  Last night as we were lying in bed saying our prayers and discussing the day he said, “I’m glad God gave me a momma.  I’m glad God gave me you!”  Can we say, Melt My Heart!!!  He is the sweetest child and I am so glad God gave him to me!

Another month older

I did a very good job of documenting each month of John Brantley’s first year.  However, at 13 months I failed.  That was during our 11 day hiatus to the beach, and by the time we got home and I blogged about the beach 3 times we left to be hippies out west.

So now here we are at 14 months.  Bitty might be the spunkiest child I have ever met.  He makes hilarious faces, noises, and high-pitched squeals.  So far he has only said: De-ta (Delta, our dog), Da-da (for Daddy), Ma-ma (Me!) and he makes the “F” sound... ffffffff (for Ford).  Even though he is extremely limited in the verbal department, he seems to get his point across to us just fine.

 He loves books.

Weight: About 20-21 lbs.
Clothes: Mostly 12 months and a few 18 months
Diapers: Luvs size 3
Shoe size: 3
Teeth: 7…. We FINALLY got another bottom tooth this week!!!!  John Brantley hadn't gotten a tooth since he was 8 months old.
Naps: 9:00-10:45 and 1:15-3:00 (times may vary).  He hugs a sleep sack when I put him to bed.
Bedtime: between 7:00 and 7:30.  He finally started sleeping through the night at 13 months!!!
Favorite foods: Mexican rice and grilled chicken, cereal, granola bars, sausage muffins, French fries, puffs, yogurt melts, goldfish, squeeze apple sauces with Tigger on front, chips, pizza, and ANYTHING sweet.  He has a sweet tooth the size of Texas.
Milk:  I nursed John Brantley until July 24^th, which made him 13 months and 11 days old.  He now drinks whole milk.
Juice:  John Brantley normally only gets water and milk.  Juice tends to hype him up, and he definitely doesn’t need any help in that department. 

Likes: outside, animals, bikes, tractors, pretend driving things, playing in the sandbox, balls, remotes, telephones, swimming, bath time, turning flips in the bed, playing chase (I’m going to get you), books, suckers, Ford, his momma and daddy, all of his grandparents, trains, snacks, DRINKS, stuffed animals, and feeding himself using a fork or spoon.

Dislikes: me dropping him off in the church nursery, someone else going outside and leaving him inside, changing clothes, changing a diaper, me putting him in his bed and not rocking, shots, vegetables, fruit, most food, and having his fingernails cut.

Yes, he has a bobby pin in his hair!!!!

John Brantley also has a shoe fetish.  Not so much that he wants to wear shoes, but he is constantly getting my shoes or Ford’s shoes and taking off with them.

Delta isn’t too fond of either of my boys.  However, she tends to appear rather closely to their sides during meal times.  She knows that John Brantley will feed her.  It really grosses me out when he gives Delta a bite and then finishes his snack.

And some Ford news….

Well, he’s now been to 3 days of his new school.  He seems to love it and for that I am so grateful.  You never know with Ford.  If the wind blows in a funny direction his mood can change and he’s difficult to deal with.  He has a small class, only a total of 10 children.  That would be a dream job for me!!!!  I am used to having 24.  But then again, 3 year olds are HUGELY different than 9 year olds. 

The other day Ford and I were discussing something and he didn't say “Yes ma’am”.  I said…
Me: “Where are your manners?”
Ford: “They went off.”
Me: “Well you better turn them back on.”
Ford: “The electricity went out on my manners!”

*** He’s such a smartie.

He’s in touch with his feminine side.  

Sunday night we went to eat with some friends.  Ford and Cooper are the same age and had a blast riding 4 wheelers in the mud after the rain.  John Brantley enjoyed licking the water puddles.  Ohhhh how I love my boys!  

 Before church on Sunday….

Round two of 3K here we come!!!!

Teachers dread the summer break coming to a close and parents love it.  They can’t wait to send their little ones back into the schools to learn and give them some relief.  I do need some relief because Ford has become super clingy this summer, but I am also sad to see him go.

We have REALLY been talking up going to school.  He’s at a new school this year and he has been very excited about discussing it.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, we chose to let Ford repeat 3K.  He is plenty bright, that isn't the reason.  Ford is young.  He has a May birthday.  We aren't in any rush for him to grow up so we decided holding him back would be best.  So when he goes to college he will be a year older and hopefully a year wiser!

2012

2011

 My child was so excited about going to school.  We got there 20 minutes early!!!!

I could EAT HIM UP in that uniform!

 Headed to the car…. He was over the photo shoot.

 We stopped by the office to pick up Daddy so he could partake in the first day of school “drop off”.

 Enough already, Mom!

 In his classroom…. (Bitty was ready for his nap).

 Ford’s stuff!

I stuck a note in with his snack….

 We made cookies for his teachers.

 His cubby

 Mrs. Laura helping his put his stuff away…

 Ford and Mrs. Laura…. (Mrs. Kristy wasn't in the room for a picture).

We are excited to be at our new school, Magnolia Heights!!!  Go CHIEFS!!!!

The end of our hippie journey

So, as we were out west “finding ourselves” (not really, but I find it humorous that people say that mess), we drove to Montana.  The couple we went with, Wynne and Jessica, had rented a car so we were able to stop and sight see along the way.

Our journey took us through Idaho….

 After a 4 ½ hour drive we arrived in Ennis, Montana.  It’s a very small town, population around 1,100.  Wynne’s grandfather built a house out there years ago and his family goes ever summer.

The house….

That was our room upstairs….

 The views were breathtaking.  Saturday night as we were eating dinner a deer came right outside the window to eat some corn.

 We rode around later to look for deer.  These western deer aren't like our Mississippi deer.  They don’t take off running when they see you driving around.  We were able to see tons.

 I found this to be interesting… It’s a “cowboy hotel” from the 1800’s.   

 Trey took this picture… I think it’s awesome.   

 On Sunday we went rafting again.  You can really get a good tan up in those mountains.     

I propped my feet up for the ride…      

Trey got a fishing license.  I opted to sit in the boat.  The water was COLD!      

At the house….

 Sunday night Wynne’s dad rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere.  Really it was gorgeous.  It was about 30 minutes from town off in the mountains.       

 Trey, me, Jessica, Wynne, Mrs. Sandy, and Mr. Steve

 It was chilly that night too.

 Some things I want to remember about my trip:

In Wyoming their stop signs say “Whoa”.
On the menus in restaurants it doesn’t say “Appetizers” it says “Shared Plates”.
Most of the time our water didn’t come with ice.
When you ask for tea they look at you oddly.
Not having air conditioning in a place is a normal thing.
My skin became insanely dry out there.  There isn’t any humidity. 
It stays light outside until 9:30 which is 10:30 our time.
Most people out there dress like hippies and wear hiking clothes.
It’s in the 50’s in the morning and at night.
You can’t find a store like a Wal-Mart or Target anywhere.
I never saw an African American.
There were a lot of foreign speaking people in WY and MT.
I didn’t see many churches.
Most of the buildings were a dark color and cabinish.
The water from the sink was freezing.

“No matter how great the trip is, it’s always good to be home.” – Trey Lamar